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What happens when life throws you not just a curveball, but an ongoing series of challenges with no end in sight? Katie Schnack, author of "Everything Is Not Fine," opens up about her journey through her son Shepherd's diagnosis with a rare medical condition called VACTERL.

Rather than offering trite solutions, Katie shares how she's learned to hold both joy and sorrow simultaneously. She describes beautiful moments of divine reassurance, like when her three-year-old daughter spontaneously sang "Jesus Loves Me" exactly when Katie had been praying for a sign of God's love. These "everyday epiphanies" became anchors in the storm.

The discussion challenges conventional notions of what it means to be "inspirational" during hardship. As Katie's friend wisely told her, "Courage doesn't mean you're not scared; it means you're scared and do it anyway." This reframing allows space for honest emotional processing while still moving forward in faith.

For anyone navigating ongoing challenges—whether medical issues, grief, relationship difficulties, or other circumstances without clear resolution—this conversation offers both companionship and practical wisdom. Katie shares how community support, intentional grief processing, and "closing the stress cycle" through physical activity have helped her develop resilience.

Visit Katie's website: KATIE

Order Katie's book: Everything Is (Not) Fine

Listen to Janell's Meditative Exercise: The Waiting Room

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