In this episode of the Hope + Help Podcast, host Christine Chappell interviews Vaneetha Risner about the complex emotional landscape of navigating life after divorce and her new book, This Was Never the Plan: Walking with God Through the Heartache of Divorce. During the conversation, Vaneetha shares her personal journey, discussing the challenges of processing grief, anger, and shame, while also emphasizing the importance of faith and community support. They delve into the role of lament in healing, the necessity of forgiveness, and the hope found in trusting God amidst uncertainty. Vaneetha encourages listeners to engage their pain, seek community, and recognize that rebuilding life after divorce can lead to new beginnings.

Key Takeaways:

- Divorce can bring feelings of shame and isolation.

- Emotions after divorce can be a roller coaster.

- Community support is crucial during difficult times.

- Lamenting is a biblical way to process pain.

- Healing takes time and is not linear.

- Trusting God means leaning into Him during uncertainty.

- Rebuilding life after divorce can lead to new possibilities.

View the full show notes & links for this episode: https://ibcd.org/after-divorce-vaneetha-risner

Learn more about IBCD's 2026 Summer Institute in June on the topic of navigating emotions at ibcd.regfox.com/2026summerinstitute

The Hope + Help Podcast offers biblical conversations about life's challenging problems. The podcast accomplishes this by offering a mix of interviews with seasoned biblical counseling professionals and ministry leaders on a variety of topics. Hosted by Christine Chappell. To learn more about the show and to access helpful resources, visit ibcd.org/hopeandhelp.

Connect with host Christine Chappell at https://christinemchappell.com.

IBCD's Hope + Help Podcast is available on most podcast streaming platforms, so please don't keep the show a secret! If you know someone walking through a challenging season of life, please share the Hope + Help Podcast with them.