God is Good…We Promise, Vivian’s Story 

About the Episode

In this conversation, Vivian Cate shares her journey as a caregiver and mother navigating the complexities of raising children with special needs and addiction. She reflects on the challenges faced, the importance of faith, community support, and the transformative power of prayer. Vivian emphasizes the significance of seeing God's goodness in difficult times and encourages parents to hold onto hope and not give up on their children. Her mantra, 'But God,' serves as a reminder to look beyond circumstances and trust in God's plan.

Related Links:

Books written by Vivian:

VEGAN CUISINE: Biblical and scientific information, menus and other helpful forms, fun anecdotes,  plus over 100 recipes!

Moment of Reflection: 

One powerful takeaway from Vivian’s story is the simple phrase, “but God.” In seasons that didn’t make sense—when the pain felt heavy and the answers felt far away—those two words became a declaration of trust. Not a denial of hurt, but a reminder that God is still present, still working, and still good.

Where in your story do you need to add “but God”?

Clarity may not have come yet. The waiting may not be over. But even there… but God.

God is Good…We Promise- Carrissa’s story 

Summary:

In part two of our series, “God Is Good… We Promise,” we continue sharing real stories of God’s goodness—even when life doesn’t make sense. This week, we’re joined by Carrissa Mackie, Director of Operations for Rising Above who bravely opens up about an incredibly challenging season in her life.

Carrissa shares how a serious leg injury became an unexpected place where God revealed His goodness in a deeply personal way. Through vulnerability and honesty, she reflects on how her faith was tested, how it grew, and how she learned to truly trust God’s will—especially when the future felt uncertain. Her story is a powerful reminder that God is still good, even in pain, waiting, and unanswered questions.

Related Links:

Practical Ways to Come Alongside Families

Moment of Reflection: 

For this week’s Moment of Reflection, Carrissa shared how, after her injury, she experienced a deeper desire to draw close to God. She explained that she now strives to make no decision and take no step forward without first seeking assurance that it aligns with God’s will for her life.

As parents of children with disabilities, there are countless decisions to navigate—many of them heavy and life-altering. Are there areas of life right now that feel unsettled or uncertain, leaving questions about which direction to take?

This week, consider bringing those questions to God. Spend intentional time with Him, asking for clarity, guidance, and wisdom for the next step, and for a greater ability to recognize and hear His voice.

Series: God is Good…We Promise, Stories of God’s goodness when life doesn’t make sense

Episode Summary:

This week’s episode kicks off a brand-new February series, “God Is Good… We Promise,” where host Becky Davidson invites listeners into honest, hope-filled conversations about trusting God’s goodness when life doesn’t make sense. Becky is joined by Carrissa Mackie from the Rising Above team to share the heart behind the series and why these stories of faith, pain, and perseverance matter. Becky also opens up about her own journey, reflecting on moments when God’s goodness was present even in seasons marked by confusion, loss, and deep hardship.

The episode closes with a powerful time of reflection, encouraging listeners to consider where their trust in God may feel shaky. Becky shares a meaningful reminder often spoken by her husband during suffering: “When we feel we cannot trust God’s actions in our life, we must trust His heart.”  Listeners are invited to bring their doubts and questions to God and ask Him to reveal His good heart for themselves, their children, and their families. Be sure to join next week as Carrissa shares her own story and how she experienced the goodness of God through a very challenging season.

Related Link:

Check out the Jerri Cross video on the app!

Moment of Reflection: 

For this week’s moment of reflection, I want to come back to something my husband often said, even in the middle of his pain and suffering:

Are there areas where your trust feels shaky right now? Places where doubt has quietly crept in? I want to encourage you to spend some time talking with God about those things. Ask Him to help you see His heart for you, for your child, and for your family—and to remind you that His heart is good, even when life doesn’t make sense.

About the Episode

This episode is part of the series “I Don’t Know How Special-Needs Families Survive Without…” where caregivers share the one thing they believe makes survival possible.

In this conversation, Susan Lomax speaks vulnerably about a season marked by deep grief after losing both her mother and mother-in-law, while continuing to care for her adult son with autism and support her grieving father. She shares how grief shows up unexpectedly in everyday life and how survival sometimes meant simply staying present, moment by moment.

Susan reveals her answer to the series question: creativity. Through music, journaling, doodling, and crochet, she found grounding, peace, and a way to reconnect with herself beyond the caregiver role. For Susan, creativity is not a luxury—it is a lifeline, an act of worship, and a vital tool for mental, emotional, and spiritual survival.

This episode offers hope and permission for special-needs parents to take even five minutes to create, reminding them that they are still people, still here, and still worthy of care.

Related Links

Respite for Your Mind

Moment of Reflection: 

And now for this week’s moment of reflection.

Susan challenged all of us to take a moment for creativity and beauty—even if it’s only five minutes a day. So this week, let’s accept that challenge and see where we can make space, even for just a few minutes to create something or to discover something beautiful in God’s creation.

Carrie Holt: I don’t know how special needs families survive without… 

🎉 Milestone Episode: 300 Episodes of Rising Above 🎉

In this meaningful milestone episode, Becky Davidson is joined by Carrie Holt for the second conversation in the series “I Don’t Know How Special Needs Families Survive Without…”. Carrie’s answer is both honest and essential: processing grief and lamenting.

Parenting a child with disabilities often carries layers of ongoing, unspoken grief—grief that doesn’t always come from a single loss, but from continual adjustments, unmet expectations, and the weight of long-term caregiving. In this episode, Becky and Carrie create space to name those realities with compassion and faith.

Together, they explore how grief shows up in the lives of special needs parents, why acknowledging it matters, and how lament can become a sacred practice rather than something to avoid. Carrie shares how lament is not a lack of faith, but a form of worship—an honest, biblical way of bringing pain, questions, and sorrow before God while remaining anchored in hope.

This conversation also offers practical encouragement for parents who feel overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or unsure how to begin processing their grief. Becky and Carrie discuss the importance of community support, permission to feel what you feel, and the ongoing work of reorienting the heart toward God’s presence in the midst of suffering.

Whether you are navigating fresh loss, long-term grief, or emotions you’ve never quite had words for, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone—and that hope can coexist with sorrow.

Thank you for being part of the Rising Above community for 300 episodes. This milestone is a reflection of shared stories, resilience, and the reminder that even in the hardest places, we rise—together.

Related Links

“There is no Yet Study” 

Dustin Rawls: I don’t know how special needs families survive without...

About the series

This January, Rising Above with Becky Davidson launches a brand-new series called “I Don’t Know How Special Needs Families Survive Without…”—and we’re kicking it off with a powerful conversation featuring Dustin Rawls, dad to his teenage daughter Madison, who has spina bifida.

In this episode, Dustin opens up about the realities of raising a teenager with special needs—the challenges, the laughter, and the moments that stretch your faith to its limits. He shares how his journey as a father has shaped his relationship with God, walking through seasons of doubt, surrender, and deep spiritual growth.

Becky and Dustin talk about the role faith plays in their family, the importance of discipleship at home, and the unexpected ways God shows up in everyday moments. Dustin also shares a meaningful story involving Madison that reminded him of God’s peace and presence when life felt overwhelming.

So what is Dustin’s answer to the question, “I don’t know how special needs families survive without…”? You’ll have to listen to find out, but his response is honest, hope-filled, and deeply encouraging.

Whether you’re part of a special needs family or simply walking through a hard season, this conversation will remind you that you’re not alone—and that faith can transform even the most challenging journeys.

Moment of Reflection

Dustin shared so honestly about how Jesus has transformed his life—and how that transformation doesn’t happen all at once. It’s a process. Sanctification is ongoing, and when we really allow Jesus to change our hearts, our lives begin to look different over time. Who we are today shouldn’t look the same as who we were five years ago. And with God’s grace, five years from now, we’ll look even more like Jesus than we do today.

So, now for this week’s moment of reflection.  I want to invite you to sit with this question for a moment:

And if the answer feels like “not really” or “I’m not sure, spend some time asking what might you need to surrender? What space in your life might Jesus be gently asking you to open up so He can continue that work in you?

Episode Title

Jesus Stories: Becky Davidson 

Episode Description

In this week’s episode, our host Becky Davidson shares her very own Jesus story as we wrap up the “Jesus Stories” series and close out 2025 on the show. In an honest conversation, Becky opens up about her journey of faith, resilience, and what it has meant to truly know Jesus—not just as a story, but as a living presence in her life.

Growing up in middle Tennessee, church was always part of Becky’s routine, but it wasn’t until adulthood that her faith became deeply personal. Through life-altering moments—including the birth of her son, Jon Alex, and the heartbreaking loss of her husband, Jeff—Becky found herself leaning on Jesus in new and profound ways. These seasons of joy and sorrow reshaped her understanding of faith and revealed the strength found in trusting God through uncertainty.

Becky’s story is a powerful reminder that faith doesn’t require all the answers—it simply invites us to trust, to lean in, and to walk closely with Jesus through every season. Her testimony offers hope, encouragement, and reassurance to anyone facing life’s challenges.

Join us for this meaningful finale as we reflect on faith, community, and resilience—and celebrate the transformative power of a life anchored in Jesus.

Related Links

Messages from Jeff - Download the app!

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Title: Jesus Stories- Steve Chatman

About the Episode:

In this week’s episode of Rising Above with Becky Davidson, the Jesus Stories series continues with a conversation featuring Steve Chatman. Steve shares his personal Jesus story and reflects on the ways Jesus has been present through both the joyful and challenging seasons of his life. His experiences offer a thoughtful reminder of Jesus’ faithfulness, even in moments that feel overwhelming or uncertain.

About Steve

Steve and his wife, Lori, are parents to five children and grandparents to three. As parents to two daughters with Down syndrome, they have long been connected to the special needs community. Steve has been ministering to families since 1993, serves as Rising Above’s Vice President, and hosts the Rising Above Dads podcast.

Related Links

Rising Above Dads podcast

Moment of Reflection

Steve talked about how there are moments when it feels like Jesus isn’t there—but just like when Jesus was in the boat with His disciples during the storm, He is with us. Even though Jesus was asleep and the disciples were frustrated and felt like He didn’t care… He was still right there in the boat.

So now, for our moment of reflection:

Take some time to invite Jesus into those places. Ask Him to show you how He’s been present—even if you couldn’t see it at the time.

Title:

Jesus Stories- Mikayla McKenzie

About the Episode:

This episode of the Jesus Stories series features a meaningful and insightful conversation with Mikayla McKenzie. Mikayla and her husband, Brandon, have been married for 11 years and have three children—Bear (8), Daisy (5), and Georgia (3). Their family recently made a bold move to Maryville, Tennessee, to plant a church, and Mikayla shares how God has guided and provided for them throughout that transition.

The episode also walks through the McKenzies’ journey with their son Bear, who has profound special needs and complex medical challenges, including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, and deafness. In the past year, he has had more than 20 hospital stays and undergone over five surgeries. Mikayla offers a clear, honest perspective on navigating ongoing hardship while remaining rooted in faith.

If you’re looking for a story that is both real and encouraging, this episode offers a thoughtful look at resilience, trust, and God’s steady presence in every season.

Related Links:

Restore Retreat Experience 

Moment of Reflection: 

And now for this week’s Moment of Reflection.

Mikayla talked about seeing God’s goodness in ways that may look different from what the world would consider “good.” As special-needs parents, it can be challenging to see the good in the hard we face each day, but God’s goodness isn’t limited to easy moments or tidy outcomes. Sometimes it shows up in the quiet ways He sustains us, the peace that slips in when we’re exhausted, the people He places around us, or the strength we didn’t know we had.

So take a moment to pause today. Where have you seen God’s goodness — even if it looked different than you expected? What small glimmers of grace showed up in your week?

Jesus Stories- Sandy Ramsey Trayvick

About the Episode

In the second installment of the Jesus Stories series, Becky Davidson welcomes back longtime friend Sandy Ramsey-Trayvick for a deeply personal conversation about faith, resilience, and the unexpected ways God meets us in our hardest seasons.

Sandy shares the profound journey of raising her son Miles, whose complex health and developmental challenges became the catalyst for a deeper, more intimate walk with God. Through honest reflections and tender storytelling, Sandy and Becky explore the beauty that can emerge from adversity—how pain can lead to spiritual growth, how God shows up in moments of fear and uncertainty, and how joy can be found in the most unlikely places.

Together, they remind us that no family’s story is beyond God’s redemption and that even the most disrupted dreams can reveal His faithfulness. This episode offers encouragement, hope, and a powerful reminder that you are never alone on your journey.

About Sandy:

Learn more about Sandy, her work, and her blog at www.UNDisabledLIVES.org and on Instagram @undisabled_lives.

Related Links:

Even If

Moment of Reflection:

Sandy talked about the difference between knowing about Jesus and actually having a relationship with Him. It’s easy to be familiar with Scripture or understand who Jesus is in theory, but that’s not the same as engaging with Him in the real, practical parts of life. Relationship shows up in how we trust Him, how we respond to challenges, and how we invite Him into our everyday decisions and emotions.

Ask yourself…