Our Hearts Are Home Podcast — Trusting God in Suffering

Today's podcast offers a special conversation with Ron & Nan Deal, authors, speakers, and Conner's parents. Ron is also a marriage and family therapist. Completely unexpectedly, Conner went to Heaven in 2009 from a sudden illness. Throughout the conversation, Ron and Nan share with honesty and transparency about the difficult journey of grief. They talk about protecting marriage through times of suffering and offer insights gleaned from their own journey. If you are in a place of suffering, this episode will encourage you and help you find a way to truly trust the One who can comfort your broken heart.

How do you hold onto faith when your world is shattered? In this episode, pastors and authors Levi and Jennie Lusko join us to share the story of their five-year-old daughter, Lenya, and her sudden entrance into Heaven following an asthma attack. They offer deep, hope-filled encouragement for anyone walking the painful road of child loss.

The conversation includes: spiritual truths about God’s presence in our suffering, early grief and how it changes over the years, how to guide surviving siblings through heartache, and what it looks like to anchor your heart in the reality of Heaven. Whether you are walking through your own dark valley or looking for ways to support a grieving parent, this conversation serves as an important reminder of God’s presence and comfort in our deepest pain.

On today’s podcast, author, speaker, and podcaster Rachel Wojo joins us to talk about experiencing God’s presence in the midst of suffering. In 2019, Rachel’s 22-year-old daughter, Taylor, went to Heaven after battling MPS IIIB, a rare disease sometimes referred to as “childhood Alzheimer’s.” As Rachel shares her journey, she offers biblical insights gleaned through suffering that remind us that we are never alone — our Savior is holding us.

In today's podcast, Teresa Davis shares about her son, Andrew, and his home-going. He was a private pilot and went to Heaven when the plane he was flying experienced a malfunction. After the accident, Teresa began an intense journey of wrestling with God. She shares her struggle with honestly and transparency, and how at the end of it all, she discovered the true character of God.

On today's podcast, author and blogger, Leanne Davidson shares her journey of grief and of the hope she has found in Christ. Leanne's son, Michael, went to Heaven after suffering with the disease of addiction. Through all of the pain and sorrow, she knew that God held her, and she challenges each of us to place ourselves under His loving wings.

In this episode, author and bereaved mother, Lori Layne shares her story of the loss of two of her triplets; one by miscarriage and the other, Calvary, in the NICU just days after birth. As Lori talks about the difficult journey, she gives a glimpse of how the Lord has fulfilled His promise to walk with us in the storms of earthly life.

In this episode, we welcome Shelly Johnson, a singer, songwriter, worship leader, and mother of three children- one of whom now lives in Heaven. Shelly is no stranger to grief, as she lost her father, her hero, when she was a young teen. In the midst of that heartbreak, God began stirring a calling on her life through songwriting. Years later, Shelly experienced another profound loss when she suffered the miscarriage of her second child. As Shelly discusses what she has learned through grief and loss, you will find comfort and new insights. She helps us realize that even in our deepest pain and darkest moments, God is near — and He weeps with us.

In today's podcast, Missie Durapau shares her journey of loss and of the hope she has found in Christ. Her son, Mason, went to Heaven after a golf cart accident. With honesty and transparency, Missie shares about the painful journey of child loss, the questions that come with grief, and the ways God has met her in the midst of it all. Whether you're walking through loss yourself or wanting to better support someone who is, this conversation offers encouragement, comfort, and hope.

If you’ve walked very far down the road of child loss, you have discovered that your suffering has changed you in many ways. Suffering can draw us closer to the Lord, and if we let Him, He will mold and shape us through our suffering.

What then? God can use our pain to help others. In this webinar, a panel of bereaved parents share what they have learned through their grief journeys and how they have experienced God's faithfulness along the way. They offer biblical encouragement, honest reflections on suffering, and testimonies of how the Lord has enabled them to continue walking with purpose and joy after devastating loss. They share a host of ways that bereaved parents can touch the lives of others.

We hope your heart will be encouraged, your faith strengthened, and that you more clearly see the ways God is working in your own journey of grief.

On today's podcast, Greg and Cathy Buffkin share their journey of grief after the tragic loss of their son, Ryan. With transparency and words that resonate with every parent who has experienced loss, they offer hope in the midst of the pain. The conversation covers a variety of topics including suicide loss, many of the realities of grief, finding a counselor, spiritual insights learned through suffering, how others can help, how grief changes through the years, and finding purpose again after the loss of a child.