In this extra-special episode of Lord Have Mercy, I sit down with my sweetest guest yet—my six-year-old daughter, Mercy.

Together, we share the story behind her name and, in many ways, the story behind the name of this podcast. After miscarriage and two years of waiting for another pregnancy, God met me in the middle of my longing and reminded me that He is a good Father who gives good gifts—not because we’ve asked enough times or somehow earned them, but because He is good. Months before I ever held her in my arms, God began weaving the word mercy into our story.

Now, six years later, I get to tell Mercy how her life became such a beautiful picture of God’s kindness to us—and hear her own six-year-old perspective on trusting God when we’re waiting for something we really want.

Of course, when your podcast guest is six, the conversation also includes American Girl Dolls, Legos, first grade, plenty of interruptions, and a whole lot of laughter.

If you’re in a season of waiting, praying the same prayer over and over, I hope this episode reminds you that God’s goodness isn’t determined by how quickly He answers. His mercy is present in the answer, but it’s also present in the waiting.

Sometimes we just have to look back at our story and say, Lord, have mercy… You’ve been so good.

What if your testimony isn’t about how far you ran from God—but about how faithfully He kept you close?

In this episode of Lord Have Mercy, I sit down with my 23-year-old nephew, Preston, to talk about what it has looked like for him to follow Jesus from childhood into high school, college, marriage, and now the beginning of adulthood.

Preston gave his life to Jesus at eight years old, and while his story may not include a dramatic season of walking away from God, it is a powerful testimony of God’s mercy all the same. We talk about the heartache, baggage, and scars that God can spare us from when we choose to walk in His ways—and the people and practices that helped Preston remain rooted in his faith when the world offered plenty of other paths.

We talk about the influence of parents who didn’t just talk about faith but lived it in front of their children, the importance of honest conversations about past mistakes, the power of godly friendships and mentors, and why community is so essential to staying close to Jesus.

Preston also shares what it was like navigating public high school and a large public university while holding onto his faith, how seasons of isolation affected his walk with God, and why continually filling our lives with truth matters in a world constantly competing for our attention.

This conversation challenged me deeply as a parent. We cannot guarantee that our children will follow Jesus—but we can intentionally build homes where they see what following Him looks like. We can pray for them, point them toward truth, surround them with godly community, live authentically before them, and trust God with the rest.

Because sometimes the greatest testimony isn’t how far God brought you back.

Sometimes it’s how faithfully He kept you walking with Him all along.

In this episode, we talk about parenting with intentionality, godly friendships, Christian community, resisting isolation, navigating faith in school and college, the influence of mentors, vulnerability about our own sin, daily time with Jesus, and raising the next generation to know and follow Him.

No matter what your story looks like, we all need Jesus—and there is mercy in both the rescue and the keeping.

What if the thing you've been relying on to cope is actually keeping you from healing?

In this episode of **Lord Have Mercy**, Whitney sits down with Rev. Dr. Ben Gosden for an honest conversation about sobriety, addiction, recovery, and the surprising freedom that comes from surrendering control to God.

Together they discuss why alcohol overpromises and underdelivers, how recovery is about far more than simply quitting drinking, and why learning to regulate our emotions, trust God, and live one day at a time changes everything.

Whether you've struggled with alcohol, another addiction, or simply find yourself reaching for anything other than God to numb pain or quiet anxiety, this conversation offers hope without shame and reminds us that healing begins when we let God do what only He can do.

In this episode you'll hear about:

• ​ Why addiction is more than a lack of willpower
• ​ The connection between anxiety, perfectionism, and coping
• ​ How faith and the 12 Steps beautifully complement one another
• ​ Learning to let God be God
• ​ Why freedom is found one day at a time
• ​ The hope available to every person longing for lasting peace

No matter your story, God's mercy is still reaching for you.

Twelve years ago, we packed everything we would need for a year into backpacks, raised $15,000 each, and left home for an 11-month mission trip around the world. None of us could have imagined that saying "yes" to God would lead to lifelong friendships, stronger faith, future spouses, and countless reminders of His mercy.

In this episode, we're reminiscing about our World Race adventure—from fundraising and culture shock to living in the developing world, navigating challenges, and seeing God move in ways we'll never forget. We share hilarious travel memories, unexpected love stories, and the ways God used one year to shape the next twelve.

More than a conversation about travel, this is a story about obedience. It's about how one step of faith can change the trajectory of your life in ways you never could have planned.

We hope this episode encourages you to trust God's leading, even when the destination feels uncertain. His mercy is often waiting on the other side of your "yes."

What if the very thing you've begged God to take away becomes the place where you know Him most deeply?

This week on *Lord Have Mercy*, Whitney sits down with one of her dearest friends, Danielle, for an honest conversation about living with panic disorder, OCD, and anxiety for more than 30 years.

Although many people know Danielle as a successful realtor, devoted wife and mom, and someone who has it all together, few see the hidden battle she's fought behind the scenes. Together, they discuss trauma, panic attacks, therapy, medication, friendship, and the faithfulness of God through every season.

This episode is a reminder that healing doesn't always look the way we expect, that asking for help is not a lack of faith, and that God often meets us most powerfully in the places we'd rather hide.

If you've ever struggled with anxiety, loved someone who has, or wondered why God hasn't removed your thorn, this conversation will remind you that you're not alone—and that His mercy is present even in the middle of the struggle.

In this heartfelt conversation, Whitney sits down with longtime friend, author, and Bible teacher Jill Hill to talk about how seasons of anxiety, panic attacks, unanswered questions, and uncertainty became the very places where God's mercy met them both.

Jill shares the story of opening her Bible for herself for the first time, how Scripture transformed her battle with fear, and why hiding God's Word in our hearts changes everything. Together they discuss spiritual friendship, raising children in faith, the power of ordinary obedience, and how God uses our stories to bring hope to others.

Whether you're walking through anxiety, waiting on unanswered prayers, or simply longing to know God more personally, this conversation is a gentle reminder that His mercy is often found right in the middle of the story.

**In this episode you'll hear:**

• ​ How anxiety became an invitation to intimacy with God

• ​ Why Scripture became Jill's greatest source of peace

• ​ The importance of memorizing God's Word

• ​ Finding faithful friends who point you to Jesus

• ​ Why God uses ordinary obedience in extraordinary ways

• ​ How God's mercy is often clearest when we look back

**Scripture Mentioned:**

Psalm 23

Psalm 91

Psalm 34:5

Philippians 4:6–7

James 1:2–4

Daniel 3

Thank you for listening to **Lord Have Mercy**, where every story points back to the faithfulness and mercy of God.

In this episode of *Lord Have Mercy*, Whitney sits down with her first boss, longtime mentor, and dear friend, Kim Jensen. What began as a conversation about entrepreneurship and owning a successful women's boutique quickly becomes a powerful testimony of God's faithfulness through seasons she never would have chosen.

Kim shares her journey through divorce, disappointment, and uncertainty, and the moment God used Jeremiah 29:11 to remind her that He still had good plans for her future. Through a bracelet, a church sign, and an unexpected confirmation, Kim experienced God's personal care in a way that changed her life forever.

Together, Whitney and Kim discuss faith, business, community, marriage, and the beautiful ways God redeems painful chapters. This conversation is a reminder that even in our most unwanted circumstances, we are never outside the reach of God's mercy.

**Where have you seen the mercy of God in your life?**

In this very first episode of *Lord Have Mercy*, I sit down with my brother to share the story that shaped our family—and ultimately pointed us to the mercy of God. We talk openly about addiction, abandonment, broken relationships, shame, and the struggles that marked much of our childhood. But more importantly, we talk about God's faithfulness through it all.

This conversation is not about having a perfect story. It's about a God who meets us in the middle of our mess, redeems what feels impossible, and writes a better story than we ever could on our own. Together, we reflect on where we've seen God's mercy in our individual lives, in our family, and in the generations that follow.

Whether you're walking through your own season of pain, carrying the weight of your past, or simply wondering if God is still at work in your story, we hope this episode reminds you that His mercy is never far away.

*Where are you seeing the mercy of God in your life?*

Life is messy, but God's mercy is greater. Join Whitney Merritt for honest conversations about faith, redemption, and the ways God meets us in our hardest moments. Through real stories of struggle, healing, and hope, each episode explores the beauty of God's grace in everyday life. Whether you're walking through a difficult season or simply looking for encouragement, you'll be reminded that no one is beyond the reach of God's mercy. Where have you seen the mercy of God in your life?