Today, we are thrilled to be joined by Nicholas Sparks, a renowned author whose novels like The Notebook and A Walk to Remember have touched hearts around the world. While many know him for his captivating love stories, few realize that Nicholas’ journey to writing was born out of personal setbacks and unexpected moments of faith. He’ll let us in on his latest book, Counting Miracles, ​​a powerfully emotional novel about wondering if we can change—or even make our peace with—the path we've taken.

Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Mattie Jackson Smith—author, speaker, and daughter of country music legend Alan Jackson—as she shares about the process of grieving her husband, Ben, and the identity loss that came with it. As Mattie struggled to trust God in the face of unimaginable suffering, she watched as God turned her life story around in a way she never could have imagined. 

 

Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:

Jesus Calling Podcast

Jesus Calling

Jesus Always

Jesus Listens

Past interview: Willie Robertson

Upcoming interview: Dr. Sarita Lyons

Jesus Calling commemorative edition

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Nicholas Sparks 

The Notebook 

A Walk to Remember 

Counting Miracles

Notre Dame

Book of Job

www.nicholassparks.com

Other Jesus Calling interviews about forgiveness

 

Mattie Jackson Smith

Alan Jackson

Mattie’s first interview on the Jesus Calling Podcast

John 11:35 NIV

www.mattiejackson.net

Through the Valley of Grief

Other Jesus Calling interviews about making peace with our circumstances

 

Interview Quotes:

“I’ve learned a couple of things about myself [while becoming a writer]. Number one, that I had it in me to finish a story once I started, and number two, there were parts of telling a story that I really enjoyed.” - Nicholas Sparks  

“It's the nature of life for challenges to happen. And I think in the end, what is most important to God is that we choose to still believe.” - Nicholas Sparks

“All of a sudden a widow at twenty-eight, it upends everything about your life. The loss and grief of him and our love, but also our future and everything else we had planned for. There is this devastating emptiness of that person not being in your life. But there is also this emptiness in this really painful and unwanted shift of our identity in relation to that person.” - Mattie Jackson Smith 

“God didn't design us to hold the weight of death on our own.” - Mattie Jackson Smith 

“He is always faithful not to fix our circumstances, but to meet us in them over and over and over again.” - Mattie Jackson Smith

“What's the balance of really asking God for what I want and surrendering it to Him? He keeps writing our stories into more joy and into more beauty and into a more abundant life.” - Mattie Jackson Smith

“You think back to being a kid and If you're afraid of the dark, it's still dark. But when your parents hold you tightly, what's around you doesn't change, but you feel secure. And I think that's the way that I experience the peace of God. And I think that's one of the most miraculous things that we experience as believers.” - Mattie Jackson Smith 

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Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel!

Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 

Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw 

Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C 

Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj 

Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u 

What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj 

Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY 

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