Today's conversation is about holding grief and grace at the same time, and how God meets us in crisis moments we never saw coming. My guest is Leah Outten, author of The 16th Year, a memoir about becoming pregnant at 16 and choosing open adoption for her daughter. Leah's story is marked by an unstable childhood and searching for love and acceptance in all the wrong places. But at 16, when she found out she was pregnant, that rock bottom moment became the turning point that drew her to the Lord.

We talk about how God has used her story, helping adoptive parents know how to love their child's birth mom well, and improving adoption relationships across the country. Leah also has a devotional called Flourishing Hope inspired by fireweed, a flower that pops up after forest fires, the first sign of life returning after devastation. That's what her story is. God can regrow a forest and beauty even when everything feels burned down to ashes.

If you or someone you know is facing an unplanned pregnancy or walking through the aftermath of adoption, Leah reminds us: remember what God has done in your life. If you haven't seen it yet, look to stories like hers. Hold onto hope.

Chapters

00:00 | Introduction and Background

05:29 | The Turning Point: Teen Pregnancy and Faith

08:23 | Choosing Open Adoption: A Unique Perspective

11:32 | Navigating Fears and Building Relationships

14:20 | Parenting After Adoption: Lessons Learned

17:31 | Grief and Grace: Holding Both Together

20:32 | The Impact of Sharing Your Story

23:25 | Encouragement for Those in Crisis

26:28 | The Role of Community and Support

29:31 | Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Leah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahoutten/
Leah's Website: leahoutten.com

Leah's Memoir: https://amzn.to/42tE6ew  

Leah's Devotional: https://amzn.to/4n69Qyy