How can sharing our brokenness with others help us heal? Join me for a deeply moving and vulnerable conversation with my friend and author, Ann Voskamp, as we explore how gratitude can be a weapon against darkness and a powerful way to find healing in the midst of suffering. 

Ann opens up about her own childhood tragedy at the age of four when her sister was accidentally killed. She talks about the profound impact it had on her family and the subsequent struggles they faced. Despite the pain, Ann firmly believes in God's sovereignty and the redemptive power of His story. She shares how her practice of gratitude, expressed through counting gifts, helped her find wholeness and trust in God's provision even in the midst of suffering.

We talk about the role of the Church in supporting those who are hurting. Ann stresses the importance of sitting with people in their pain and being a non-anxious presence, offering practical acts of service and heartfelt prayers. She also highlights the need for the Church to address mental health issues with sensitivity and compassion, creating a safe space for individuals to share their trauma and find healing in the embrace of the body of Christ.

Finally, we explore the power of Scripture in providing hope and comfort during times of suffering, and the importance of being part of a supportive community. Join us in this honest exploration of finding wholeness and hope through gratitude, faith, and leaning into the loving embrace of our Heavenly Father.

EPISODE CHAPTERS

(00:00) - Introduction to Ann Voskamp

(08:22) - Finding Wholeness Through Gratitude

(18:41) - Church as Safe Haven for Mental Health

(25:11) - Living Cruciform

(36:37) - Finding Hope and Comfort in Scripture

(51:02) - Gratitude, Faith, and Community in Suffering

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GUEST BIO

Ann Voskamp is a Canadian author, blogger, wife and mother of 7 children. She has written multiple books, including the New York Times bestseller, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are and WayMaker: Finding the Way to the Life You’ve Always Dreamed Of.  

GUEST RESOURCES:

• WayMaker: Finding the Way to the Life You’ve Always Dreamed Of. 

• One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

• The Greatest Gift

• The Broken Way — A Daring Path into the Abundant Life

• Annvoskamp.com

• Instagram

RESOURCES

• Buy the Desperate for Hope Bible Study from Lifeway

• Use discount code: HOPE for 25% off 1 item from Lifeway through August 31, 2023.

• Vaneetha’s Books: 

  - Walking Through Fire: A Memoir of Loss and Redemption

  - The Scars that Have Shaped Me

• To learn more, visit: https://www.vaneetha.com/

FOLLOW

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Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.