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A grateful heart brings peace in pain, and practicing thankfulness reshapes our perspective when life feels overwhelming. Megan J. Conner highlights Psalm 107:1, showing that gratitude is rooted in God’s enduring goodness, not our circumstances. When we intentionally look beyond what hurts, we begin to notice the often-overlooked blessings around us, even in the hardest seasons.

Highlights

• Gratitude starts with God’s unchanging goodness, not life going “right.”

• Pain makes thankfulness harder—so it must be practiced, not assumed.

• Our brains remember hurt more than joy; gratitude rewires that default.

• Small moments of goodness (sunrise, quiet, creation) carry spiritual weight.

• Daily gratitude builds resilience and steadies a hurting heart.

• Thankfulness grows stronger the earlier and more consistently we choose it.

Gift Inspiration: Crosswalk's Holiday Gift Guide

Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the season? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide—from beautifully illustrated Bibles and devotionals to novels, greeting cards, and picture books, there’s something for everyone on your list. Wrap up stories for loved ones, tuck a book into your own nightstand, and join us in celebrating the wonder of giving this Christmas!

Full Transcript Below:

How to Be Thankful When Life Hurts

By Megan J. Conner

Bible Reading:
“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” - Psalm 107:1 (NIV)

Do you feel like your current season of life is so hard that you struggle to find reasons to be thankful? Perhaps your relationships are strained, your finances are tight, or your health has become a daily battle. These challenging circumstances can crush your spirit and your ability to recognize the good when the bad screams so loud it deafens any other thoughts. 

This discontentment can feel especially acute during the holidays. For many of us, these festive seasons can be reminders of all that appears missing. However, no matter what is going on in each of our lives, there is always something to be grateful for. Likely, there are more reasons than we realize to be thankful. But it takes intentional effort to see the good rather than the bad. 

If we look to scripture for guidance in this area, it is abundantly clear we are not the only ones who wrestle with faithfully fostering a thankful heart. The psalmist and king, David, shares his angst and feelings of displeasure and dissatisfaction when he declares:

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God…” (Ps. 42:5, NIV).

I am not sure what David was facing when he penned these words, but it is clear his soul needed a forced redirection towards the goodness of God. Beyond this example, we can see repeated exhortations throughout the Word calling us to stir up a spirit of gratitude, even when we feel nothing of the sort. The Bible tells us we should always give thanks t

Advent invites us to slow down, quiet our hearts, and prepare for the coming of Christ.
In this guided Christian meditation, you’ll reflect on Scripture and rest in God’s peace as you anticipate the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

Be Still: Advent Meditations for Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love helps you create space in this busy season to experience the presence of Christ and the peace He brings.

Download your FREE Advent Guide here.

The first week of Advent, we focus on hope—the hope we have because Jesus came once and the hope we hold because He will come again.In Psalm 62, David reminds his own soul to rest and trust in God alone. As you meditate on these verses, you’ll be invited to do the same—to find rest, peace, and renewed hope in the God who keeps His promises.

Because this season can be hectic, I’ll release a short guided prayer each Wednesday during Advent to help you pause midweek and stay grounded in God’s peace.

If you loved the music this week, it was used by permission of the artist Simon Wester. You can find more of his excellent music on Spotify here.

Helpful Links:
Download your FREE companion journal for Advent here.
This beautiful guide includes:
• All the Scriptures for this series
• Weekly reflection prompts
• Space to record what God is revealing to you

Additional links:

You can find out more about me, Jodie, at http://www.jodieniznik.com/

Follow me on Instagram @jodieniznik

Follow me on Facebook @JodieGNiznik

Learn more about Scripture meditation and download a FREE Guided Scripture Meditation Journal here.

Join my Monday email newsletter here, where I send links to the newest meditation every Monday morning.

Find out more about my partner, Life Audio, at lifeaudio.com.

Download FREE sample chapters from my Bible studies here.

Meditation Scripture:

Psalm 62:5–8 (NIV)

5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

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Have you ever looked in the mirror and felt stuck with your own body—in a similar way you’ve felt stuck with alcohol?
That exhausting push-pull. The promises. The shame. The “why do I keep doing this?” on repeat. If that sounds familiar, this conversation is for you. For the woman who’s tried willpower, plans, promises, and prayers—yet still feels stuck in the cycle of body image battles, emotional eating, and quiet self-criticism. Friend, you are not alone. And you are not broken. 

Leanne joins us to share her powerful story of moving from food addiction and shame to true healing—rooted in both neuroscience and the unshakable love of God. What once felt like a personal failure of discipline became a holy revelation: real change happens when we understand our nervous system, renew our minds, and invite God into the process with us.

In this episode, we talk honestly about how self-image shapes our choices, why “knowing better” isn’t the same as healing, and how faith and neuroscience beautifully work together to bring lasting freedom. Just like with alcohol, you’ll hear how the breakthrough didn’t come from trying harder—but from partnering with God differently.

You’ll also hear how Leanne learned to separate who she is from what she struggled with—and how that shift opened the door to peace, empowerment, and a new identity grounded in Christ.

If you’ve ever wondered why you keep doing the very thing you swore you wouldn’t—whether with food, alcohol, or anything else—this episode will remind you: you’re not failing—you’re in formation. And God isn’t standing at a distance. He’s right in the middle of your becoming.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How Leanne’s journey began with years of wrestling with food, shame, and body image
• Why understanding your nervous system can change everything about emotional eating
• The role of free will—and why God invites us into transformation rather than forcing it
• Why self-image work is essential for lasting change
• How neuroscience helps explain the patterns behind our behaviors
• Why healing requires both head knowledge and heart alignment
• The freedom that comes from separating your identity from your struggles
• How God’s unconditional love becomes the foundation for real self-acceptance
• Why true transformation is always a partnership between you and God

Mind–Body Renewal Practices to Try This Week

• Speak one truth about your identity in Christ every morning
• Pause and breathe when a craving hits and ask: “What is my nervous system needing right now?”
• Replace negative self-talk with: “This is who I was. This is who I’m becoming.”
• Invite God into your healing with a simple daily prayer: “Renew my mind, Lord.”
• Keep a small journal of “behavioral wins” to train your brain to notice progress

Practice mirror gratitude—thank God for one part of your body each day

Links & Resources

You can learn more about Leanne's work at LeanneEllington.com and StresslessEating.com
or follow Leanne on instagram @leanneellington.

Join our community: https://butjesusdrankwine.com/community 

Order your copy of Love Life Sober: A 40 Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind  https://amzn.to/42l7z9C

True success doesn’t happen overnight. In his new book Gradually Then Suddenly, bestselling author and pastor Mark Batterson reminds us that God is often doing His deepest work slowly—beneath the surface, over time—so that when the breakthrough comes, we’re ready for it.

In this conversation, Mark and Alan explore how faithfulness in small, daily choices prepares the way for unexpected moments of transformation. They talk about persistence, conviction, “cathedral thinking,” and how God grows us at what Mark calls the speed of a seed.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your quiet obedience still matters, this episode will encourage you to trust that God’s gradual work always leads to sudden grace.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why what looks like “overnight success” is really the fruit of long obedience.
• How small, consistent actions create a “compound effect” of spiritual growth.
• What it means to live and lead at the speed of a seed.
• How to hold a long view of faith—what Mark calls cathedral thinking.
• Encouragement for weary hearts who feel stuck in slow seasons.

Resources Mentioned:

• Gradually Then Suddenly by Mark Batterson
• Learn more at markbatterson.com

Connect with Alan on LinkedIn or learn more about Unhurried Living programs on their website. 

Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Some wounds are visible — a broken bone, an injury, an unexpected physical setback. Others lie beneath the surface, carried quietly in our hearts, hidden beneath forced smiles and the weight of daily responsibilities. But whether our pain is physical, emotional, or spiritual, Scripture assures us that God sees, God cares, and God heals.

Jeremiah 30:17 was spoken to a people who had lost nearly everything. They carried wounds of exile, shame, fear, and despair. Yet into their darkness, God declared a promise: “I will restore you. I will heal your wounds.” It was a message of hope to a hurting people — and that same hope is extended to us today.

Alicia Searl shares a deeply personal story of brokenness colliding with the holiday season — a broken foot, a fractured normal, and then a shattering conversation with her daughter that pierced deeper than any physical injury could. Yet even in that painful moment, Christ met her with a strength she didn’t have in herself. The Lord replaced reaction with compassion, anger with unexpected grace, and despair with a reminder that the enemy does not get the final say.

Perhaps you also approach this season carrying wounds. A diagnosis. A broken relationship. A difficult child. A weary mind. A hurting body. Something you never saw coming.

Take heart — the God who healed exiles, raised the dead, restored the brokenhearted, and bound up the wounded has not changed.

He is Jehovah Rapha — the God who heals.
He restores what is shattered.
He binds what is broken.
He breathes hope into hopeless places.

Healing may not come instantly, but in Christ it is certain — whether through restoration in this life, or ultimately in His presence where all pain will cease forever.

Bible Reading:
“‘But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord, ‘because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.’” — Jeremiah 30:17

Takeaway Truths

• God sees every hidden wound — physical, emotional, and spiritual.

• His healing begins with His presence, even before circumstances change.

• Hope doesn’t deny the hurt; it invites Christ into it.

• Jesus meets us in moments where we feel weakest and gives strength that isn’t our own.

• God restores His people — then and now — and His promises remain true.

Let's Pray

Jehovah Rapha,
God of healing, God of faithfulness, and God of unfailing promises — I come before You today seeking Your healing hand upon my heart, mind, body, and soul. I surrender every burden: the pain, the fear, the diagnosis, the disappointment, the emotional wounds, and the uncertainties ahead.

You are the God who restored a broken nation.
You are the God who heals incura

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.  You can also become a regular supporter of this podcast on the website.

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If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

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To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

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As parents, our love for our children runs deep. Every fear, every ache, every worry for their safety comes from a place of fierce love. But imagine the depth of God’s love—the Father who sent His only Son, Jesus, into a broken world to die for us. In this short devotional, we explore the incredible truth that God understands a parent’s heart because He lived it. When anxiety for your child feels heavy, you can rest knowing the same God who gave His Son for you is watching over your children too.

Scripture Focus: John 3:16, Romans 8:32

Main Takeaway:
God’s love for us isn’t distant—it’s personal and parental. He knows what it means to love deeply and to let go in trust.

Listen in to learn:

• Why God’s sacrificial love gives comfort to every parent

• How to shift fear for your child into faith in God’s care

• A reminder that the cross proves God understands our love and pain

Perfect For:
Parents walking through seasons of worry, fear, or surrender—this short reflection will help you remember that the God who watches over your children loves them even more than you do.

Don’t forget: You can also download our free devotional, “Mind, Body & Soul,” designed to help strengthen your walk with God through Scripture, prayer, and practical habits.

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Learn more about HEARTBEAT- https://salvationarmysoundcast.org/heartbeat

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

You can order a copy of "Making Faith Magnetic" on Amazon at this link:  https://amzn.to/48qP9aO

.

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.  You can also become a regular supporter of this podcast on the website.

.

If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

.

The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

.

To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.  You can also become a regular supporter of this podcast on the website.

.

If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

.

The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

.

To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Don't forget to grab your free scripture journal at ⁠⁠⁠PrayingChristianWomen.com/journal ⁠⁠⁠today!

This week’s guest on the Praying Christian Women podcast has seen God’s hand at work in some of the most desperate corners of the world.

Kristy Graham, host of the On the Ground with Samaritan’s Purse podcast, invites us into a behind-the-scenes look at what it means to bring the hope of Christ to places marked by disaster, war, and deep need, and how you can be an integral part of this ministry through the Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Catalog.

In our conversation, Kristy highlights one of the little-known gifts in the catalog: sponsoring a hospital chaplain. Kristy recently visited a partner hospital in Tenwek, Kenya and describes how she saw firsthand how desperately the staff and patients need chaplains. Through prayer, as well as practical and spiritual support, chaplains are making Kingdom difference as they meet people at their place of deepest need with the love of Jesus.

You won’t want to miss Kristy’s moving testimonies, her contagious passion for the gospel, and some creative ways the Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Catalog can make gift-giving extra special this year.

Visit samaritanspurse.org/praying to browse the catalog today!

Discover More:

Explore additional episodes of Praying Christian Women, Mindful Christian Prayers, and other Christian podcasts at Lifeaudio.com

Check out our new podcast, Christian True-Crime Junkies!, on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen to podcasts!

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