Sometimes the resilience of humans astounds me. On this week’s episode, I talk with author and speaker, Bonnie Gray, who is an incredible model of resilience and persevering faith. In her most recent book, Sweet Like Jasmine, Bonnie recounts her past, growing up as a Chinese American daughter of a mail-order bride and a busboy working in San Francisco Chinatown. Though Bonnie’s early years were fraught with verbal and emotional abuse and loneliness, she has persevered to become an encourager of others.

Bonnie loves inspiring women to experience deeper intimacy with God, specifically addressing topics of soul care, stress recovery, and emotional healing through storytelling, visual arts, nature, prayer, and meditation. She has written three books and her writing has been featured in outlets such as Relevant Magazine, KLOVE, and Christianity Today.

In this week’s episode, Bonnie shares about her struggles with anxiety and panic attacks, what drew her to God as a child, how she’s found soul care to be essential in her own journey, and how she’s been able to keep her heart open to God amidst all the trials she’s undergone. My hope is that as you listen today, you might know that your story matters, and that in the midst of whatever you are going through, you are seen, known, and loved.