In this episode of Singing Through Fire, Lara Silverman sits down with Michelle Bader Ebersole, author, speaker, founder of Widow Goals, and host of the podcast Widowed 2 Soon, for an honest conversation about faith, grief, suffering, and finding hope after devastating loss.

Michelle's husband, Luke, battled cancer early in their marriage and ultimately lost his life after years of illness. Michelle shares what it was like to walk through cancer, amputation, chronic illness, hospice, and eventually widowhood while raising their three children.

But Michelle's story doesn't end with loss.

She shares several powerful experiences that changed the way she understood her suffering—including a vision in which Jesus told her, “I chose you.” What had felt like punishment suddenly became something entirely different: a calling and a privilege.

Chapters
00:00 Chosen Not Punished
00:33 Show And Guest Intro
02:27 High School To Wedding
04:11 Cancer Diagnosis And Pregnancy
05:27 Chemo Fails Amputation Choice
07:25 Years Of Chronic Illness
09:06 Cancer Returns In Lungs
11:22 Dream Foundation And Making Memories
13:20 Hospice And Caregiving Strength
20:42 Final Days And Sudden Death
23:11 Supernatural Peace At Deathbed
28:12 Grief Retreat Visions
34:42 Widowhood And Kids Grief
36:11 Grief Dark Tunnel
36:53 Memoir Singing Through Fire
38:04 Healing Like A Job
39:47 Widow Goals Ministry Launch
41:37 Book Workbook Leaders Guide
44:08 Churches And Widow Care Gap
48:08 God Meets Us In Despair
53:58 Mourning Into Dancing
58:41 Remarriage And Dating Again
01:02:58 Loving Two Men
01:06:39 Signs And Eternity Hope
01:11:58 Feel It God Heals

Resources and Links:
Michelle's website
Michelle's book, Widow Goals
Widow Goals Workbook
Widow Goals Leader's Guide
Michelle's Instagram
Michelle's TikTok
Michelle's Facebook

Watch the Singing Through Fire podcast on YouTube
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PODCAST DESCRIPTION:

Welcome to the Singing Through Fire podcast! I’m your host Lara Silverman, and this is where we:

• Worship when it hurts
• Discuss hot takes from the furnace of affliction
• Explore a biblical theology of suffering with a side of sass and sarcasm 

From lamentations to laughter, this podcast is for anyone desperate for hope who has ever asked, "Why, Lord, why?”

Don’t forget to follow/subscribe because I upload content every Tuesday and Friday! 

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2nd Corinthians 4:17.

What do you do when you’ve already walked through years of suffering—and then the suffering comes back in a new and unexpected form?

In this episode of Singing Through Fire, Lara Silverman sits down with Sara Willoughby to talk honestly about chronic illness, unanswered prayer, lament, and what it means to keep trusting God when you cannot understand what He is doing.

After years of debilitating illness and significant recovery, Sara is now facing a new season of suffering, including suspected TIAs, a traumatic brain injury, migraines, and brain rehabilitation.

And yet, Sara continues to cling to what she knows about God: He is loving, He is all-powerful, and therefore, He is trustworthy.

Together, Lara and Sara explore:

- Why God allows suffering
- How lament and faith can coexist
- What it means to trust God without having answers
- Grieving the dreams that chronic illness takes away
- Finding joy in the middle of suffering
- How our suffering can become a source of comfort for others
- What it means to “take up your cross”

Sara also shares how 2 Corinthians 12:9—“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”—has carried her through difficult seasons.

If you're walking through chronic illness, grief, unanswered prayer, or a season where God feels far away, this conversation is a reminder that you can lament, grieve, and ask why—and still choose to trust Him.

Chapters
00:00 Trusting God Again
00:26 Meet Sarah Willoughby
02:42 Illness Begins at 14
04:29 Collapse and Diagnosis
06:54 Slow Road to Recovery
08:20 New Crisis TIAs and TBI
10:31 Faith Under Pressure
13:51 Feeling Gods Presence
16:41 When God Feels Silent
20:10 Glory in the Suffering
26:31 Take Up Your Cross
29:13 Choosing Trust Without Answers
31:14 Trust In The Fire
32:08 Lament As Trust
32:58 Why Suffering Helps Others
34:07 Comfort In Weakness
35:47 Hope Beyond This Life
36:00 Thorn And No Quota
37:18 Memoir And Redemption
38:30 Praying The Psalms
40:40 Dreams That Died
46:07 Joy And Grief Together
51:22 Eternity Perspective Shift
52:44 Renewed Day By Day
54:05 Grace In Weakness Verse
01:00:57 Invisible Chronic Burden
01:03:49 Sprinkles Of Joy
01:06:17 Final Blessing And Sendoff

Resources and Links:
Diamonds Conference
He's Making Diamonds devotional freebie
Sara's website
Sara's Instagram
Sara's Facebook

Watch the Singing Through Fire podcast on YouTube
Listen on your favorite podcast streaming platform
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple podcasts
Connect on Facebook
Connect on Instagram

PODCAST DESCRIPTION:

Welcome to the Singing Through Fire podcast! I’m your host Lara Silverman, and this is where we:

• Worship when it hurts
• Discuss hot takes from the furnace of affliction
• Explore a biblical theology of suffering with a side of sass and sarcasm 

From lamentations to laughter, this podcast is for anyone desperate for hope who has ever asked, "Why, Lord, why?”

Don’t forget to follow/subscribe because I upload content every Tuesday and Friday! 

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2nd Corinthians 4:17.

In this episode of Singing Through Fire, Lara Silverman explores the Bible’s picture of the Christian life as an intense race that requires training, endurance, and perseverance through suffering. She explains how trials strengthen “faith muscles,” calls listeners not to quit when bitterness or doubt hits and, encourages offering God a sacrifice of praise even in pain. Lara describes the ultimate prize as Christ Himself—eternity with Jesus—and highlights the hope of hearing God’s commendation, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” She also unpacks the idea that earthly suffering is not wasted but somehow produces an “eternal weight of glory,” potentially enlarging our capacity for joy and shaping our future roles of service and leadership in God’s kingdom. She shares personal stories of loss, promotes her memoir, and closes with encouragement that God will sustain believers to the finish line.

Chapters
00:00 Life Is a Race
00:28 Welcome and Prayer
01:20 Race Metaphor in Scripture
03:45 Trials as Training
06:40 Sacrifice and Perseverance
08:16 The Prize Is Christ
09:47 Grace Not Earned
11:22 Break and Book Plug
12:36 Eternal Weight of Glory
16:23 How Suffering Becomes Glory
20:09 Training for Reigning
26:17 Encouragement and Finish Line
29:44 Final Blessing and Next Episode

Resources and Links:
Watch the Singing Through Fire podcast on YouTube
Listen on your favorite podcast streaming platform
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple podcasts
Connect on Facebook
Connect on Instagram

PODCAST DESCRIPTION:

Welcome to the Singing Through Fire podcast! I’m your host Lara Silverman, and this is where we:

• Worship when it hurts
• Discuss hot takes from the furnace of affliction
• Explore a biblical theology of suffering with a side of sass and sarcasm 

From lamentations to laughter, this podcast is for anyone desperate for hope who has ever asked, "Why, Lord, why?”

Don’t forget to follow/subscribe because I upload content every Tuesday and Friday! 

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2nd Corinthians 4:17.

What happens when life changes overnight—and the healing you've been praying for doesn't come as quickly as you'd hoped?

In this episode of Singing Through Fire, Lara Silverman sits down with Lauren Watt, whose life was turned upside down by a sudden illness at age 14 that left her mostly bedridden for eight years. But this isn't simply a story about chronic illness. It's a conversation about discovering God's faithfulness in the middle of an unfinished story.

Lauren shares how suffering reshaped her identity, why she stopped praying only for healing and began praying for joy, endurance, and strength, and how Scripture became an anchor when God felt silent. Together, Lauren and Lara explore what it means to trust God's sovereignty, grieve honestly, find purpose in pain, and rebuild a life that hardship doesn't define.

Whether you're facing illness, loss, disappointment, or a season where God feels distant, this conversation offers biblical encouragement and practical hope for anyone learning to sing through the fire.

In this episode you'll hear about:

• Trusting God when healing doesn't come on your timeline
• Finding identity beyond suffering
• Learning to pray differently in seasons of waiting
• Why gratitude can coexist with deep grief
• How God uses ordinary people to carry us through extraordinary pain
• Rebuilding a meaningful life after years of hardship

Chapters
00:00 Clinging to the Cross
00:22 Meet Lauren Watt
02:18 Sudden Illness at 14
03:14 Misdiagnosis and Decline
05:06 Wheelchair and Chemo
06:49 Hormone Breakthrough
09:54 COVID Setback
10:10 Limbic Retraining Turnaround
12:13 New Life and Work
14:12 Identity After Trauma
16:58 Purpose in the Valley
21:53 Bitterness and Sovereignty
24:11 Faith Tested and Scripture
26:32 God's Silence and Comfort
28:36 Worship in the Dark
29:03 Unseen Footprints
29:57 Feeling God Differently
31:12 Cards and Community
33:12 Clinging to the Cross
35:25 Choosing Gratitude
38:30 Humor in the Valley
41:32 Family Caregiving Toll
45:38 Adult Life and Limits
50:07 Redemption and Flowers
52:15 Writing and Substack
55:22 Hope for Sufferers
56:39 Final Encouragement

Resources and Links:
Lauren's Substack
Lauren's website
Lauren's Instagram

Watch the Singing Through Fire podcast on YouTube
Listen on your favorite podcast streaming platform
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple podcasts
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PODCAST DESCRIPTION:

Welcome to the Singing Through Fire podcast! I’m your host Lara Silverman, and this is where we:

• Worship when it hurts
• Discuss hot takes from the furnace of affliction
• Explore a biblical theology of suffering with a side of sass and sarcasm 

From lamentations to laughter, this podcast is for anyone desperate for hope who has ever asked, "Why, Lord, why?”

Don’t forget to follow/subscribe because I upload content every Tuesday and Friday! 

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2nd Corinthians 4:17.

In this episode, Lara Silverman interviews Susan Mellen, a mother of three who was wrongfully convicted of murder sentenced to life without parole, spending 17 years in prison before being released in 2014 and later declared factually innocent. Susan describes the trauma of her arrest, the crushing reality of life without parole, and how her faith became real behind bars. She shares moments she believes were God’s reassurance—like seeing a rainbow on the way to sentencing and being prompted to write “freedom” on the soles of her shoes—and explains how forgiveness, surrender, and choosing joy helped her endure and minister to other inmates. Now free, she continues prison ministry, speaks publicly, and points listeners to true freedom in Christ.

Chapters
00:00 Wrongful Conviction Teaser
01:01 Podcast Intro and Guest Welcome
02:52 Arrest at McDonalds
05:47 Interrogation and Trial Fallout
07:21 Faith Awakens in Prison
09:29 Life Without Parole Reality
13:07 Resting in God and the Rainbow
17:51 Finding Purpose Through Scripture
20:44 Prison Ministry and Transformation
25:29 Freedom Shoes and Full Surrender
31:37 Joy in Waiting and Bible Anchors
35:36 Returning to Prison Ministry
37:10 Identity in Christ
40:19 Loving on Purpose
41:49 Grace Moment to Moment
43:12 Beach Vision Ministry
44:52 Double Mattress Resolve
47:55 Thanking Your Enemies
52:21 Spiritual Warfare Inside
54:58 Prison Not in Me

Resources and Links:
Watch the Singing Through Fire podcast on YouTube
Listen on your favorite podcast streaming platform
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple podcasts
Connect on Facebook
Connect on Instagram

PODCAST DESCRIPTION:

Welcome to the Singing Through Fire podcast! I’m your host Lara Silverman, and this is where we:

• Worship when it hurts
• Discuss hot takes from the furnace of affliction
• Explore a biblical theology of suffering with a side of sass and sarcasm 

From lamentations to laughter, this podcast is for anyone desperate for hope who has ever asked, "Why, Lord, why?”

Don’t forget to follow/subscribe because I upload content every Tuesday and Friday! 

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2nd Corinthians 4:17.

In this episode of Singing Through Fire, Lara Silverman unpacks how God can redeem personal suffering by advancing the gospel through it—turning “tests into testimonies.” She explains Paul’s “suffering to salvation” principle from Philippians, showing how courage in affliction can become a witness to unbelievers and embolden other believers to speak without fear. Lara connects this to the early church’s view of suffering as a privilege and shares how her husband Matt’s public battle with terminal stage-four cancer became a powerful testimony that strengthened their community, echoed by God’s repeated comfort through Genesis 50:20. She also describes how her own chronic illness shaped her calling, impacted her family, and deepened her father’s faith. Lara closes by urging listeners to trust that God is working eternal purposes through suffering, even when they can’t yet see the fruit.

Chapters
00:00 Why Suffering Spreads Gospel
00:34 Show Intro and Prayer
01:53 Paul in Chains Philippians
03:56 Trials Become Testimony
07:51 Apostles Rejoice in Pain
08:45 Suffering Builds the Church
11:27 Matt Cancer Testimony
13:14 Book Break and Promo
14:28 Prophetic Sermon and Joseph
19:37 Witness Through Death
22:57 My Illness and Dad Saved
27:13 Privilege of Suffering Call
28:55 Final Encouragement and Outro

Resources and Links:
Watch the Singing Through Fire podcast on YouTube
Listen on your favorite podcast streaming platform
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple podcasts
Connect on Facebook
Connect on Instagram

PODCAST DESCRIPTION:

Welcome to the Singing Through Fire podcast! I’m your host Lara Silverman, and this is where we:

• Worship when it hurts
• Discuss hot takes from the furnace of affliction
• Explore a biblical theology of suffering with a side of sass and sarcasm 

From lamentations to laughter, this podcast is for anyone desperate for hope who has ever asked, "Why, Lord, why?”

Don’t forget to follow/subscribe because I upload content every Tuesday and Friday! 

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2nd Corinthians 4:17.

What does it look like to trust God when suffering never seems to end?

In this episode of Singing Through Fire, Lara Silverman sits down with chronic illness blogger Katelyn Friesen to discuss a lifetime marked by profound hardship—and the unwavering faith that has sustained her through it all. From years of unanswered questions, abuse, and chronic illness to countless hospitalizations, Katelyn shares how God met her in the darkest places and taught her to find peace in His providence.

Together, Lara and Katelyn explore lament, choosing hope, the power of Scripture and worship, God's nearness in suffering, and how Christ transforms even the deepest pain into opportunities for His glory. This conversation is a powerful reminder that while the fire is real, God's presence is even more real.

If you've ever wrestled with the questions, "Why would God allow this?" or "How do I keep trusting Him when life hurts?" this episode is for you.

Chapters
00:00 Trust God in Pain
00:41 Meet Katelyn Friesen
02:40 Childhood Mental Health Spiral
04:50 ECT and Lost Memories
08:04 Abusive Rehab and Conversion
10:50 Mystery Illness and Fainting
15:20 POTS Diagnosis and COVID Crisis
17:10 Feeding Tubes and TPN Life
22:55 Explaining POTS and Seizures
26:59 Advocate Finds Tick Illness
33:25 Book Promo Break
34:35 Bitterness Bullying and Identity
36:35 How She Keeps Faith
38:06 Worship in The Hospital
39:04 Choosing Hope Daily
40:55 Gospel Through Suffering
44:56 Miracles in The Mundane
48:08 Caregiver Faith and Fear
55:28 Upside Down Kingdom
01:01:48 Trust When You Cannot Eat
01:04:26 Grieving Dreams and Warfare
01:16:07 Final Encouragement and Sendoff

Resources and Links:
Katelyn's blog
Watch the Singing Through Fire podcast on YouTube.
Listen on your favorite podcast streaming platform.
Listen on Spotify.
Listen on Apple podcasts.
Connect on Facebook.
Connect on Instagram.

PODCAST DESCRIPTION:

Welcome to the Singing Through Fire podcast! I’m your host Lara Silverman, and this is where we:

• Worship when it hurts
• Discuss hot takes from the furnace of affliction
• Explore a biblical theology of suffering with a side of sass and sarcasm 

From lamentations to laughter, this podcast is for anyone desperate for hope who has ever asked, "Why, Lord, why?”

Don’t forget to follow/subscribe because I upload content every Tuesday and Friday! 

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2nd Corinthians 4:17.

In this episode of Singing Through Fire, Lara Silverman asks a question many hurting Christians have wrestled with: Is God really near when our hearts are breaking? Drawing from Psalm 34:18, she explores what the Bible says about God's presence in suffering and shares how He has faithfully comforted her through some of life's darkest seasons. From losing her dream career after developing a rare neurological illness to spending three years bedridden and later grieving the death of her husband, Matt, Lara offers personal stories of God's timely encouragement through Scripture, the Holy Spirit's gentle whisper, and the support of fellow believers. She closes by encouraging listeners to cling to God's Word, resist discouragement, and trust that Christ is with them in the fire—even when life doesn't unfold the way they hoped.

Chapters
00:00 Heartbreak Questions
00:43 Prayer and Promise
01:12 Psalm 34 18 Explained
03:00 God With Us Scriptures
04:45 Furnace in Daniel
06:41 How God Speaks
09:21 Receipts and Diary
10:15 Dream Job Lost
12:45 Bedridden Comforts
18:07 Book and Hope Plug
19:17 Grief After Loss
24:00 When God Feels Silent
27:16 Practical Next Steps
30:58 Intimacy Through Suffering
32:36 Final Timely Encouragement
34:31 Closing and Sendoff

Resources and Links:
Watch the Singing Through Fire podcast on YouTube
Listen on your favorite podcast streaming platform
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple podcasts
Connect on Facebook
Connect on Instagram

PODCAST DESCRIPTION:

Welcome to the Singing Through Fire podcast! I’m your host Lara Silverman, and this is where we:

• Worship when it hurts
• Discuss hot takes from the furnace of affliction
• Explore a biblical theology of suffering with a side of sass and sarcasm 

From lamentations to laughter, this podcast is for anyone desperate for hope who has ever asked, "Why, Lord, why?”

Don’t forget to follow/subscribe because I upload content every Tuesday and Friday! 

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2nd Corinthians 4:17.

In this episode of Singing Through Fire, host Lara Silverman continues the Faith in the Furnace series with Emily Curtis, president of Hope in the Morning, compiler of Hope in the Morning: A Hope-Filled Guide Through Grief, and host of the Hope in the Morning radio and podcast.

Emily shares the story of her lifelong journey through suffering—from her parents' divorce as a young child and the gift of a loving stepfather to his heartbreaking 39-day battle with pancreatic cancer. She also opens up about losing five babies through miscarriage, the physical and emotional realities of pregnancy loss, and how God met her in seasons of profound grief.

Together, Lara and Emily discuss:

- How to trust God when suffering feels relentless
- Why grief is not a sign of weak faith
- The unique pain of miscarriage and pregnancy loss
- The importance of compassionate community
- Why some well-meaning words can do more harm than good
- Postpartum depression, spiritual warfare, and telling ourselves the truth
- Living with hope while longing for heaven


Chapters
00:00 Grief Is Not Sin
00:40 Meet Emily Curtis
02:36 A Father Figure Found
04:31 Cancer Diagnosis Shock
07:31 Baby Loss Amid Grief
10:24 Another Pregnancy Ends
13:06 Facing Death With Hospice
19:48 Singing At His Passing
22:32 Heaven Minded Hope
26:47 Miscarriage Reality Check
30:24 When Losses Compound
33:45 Surrendering the Losses
34:57 When God Feels Mean
36:02 Hands Open in Trust
36:55 Finding a Why
37:34 Grief Is Not Sin
39:08 Memoir and Hope
40:19 Why Pain Sanctifies
47:09 Comforting Others Well
49:58 Faith Without Answers
52:47 No Good Thing Withheld
56:06 Spiritual Warfare and PPD
01:01:45 Does Church Prepare Us
01:06:11 Blessed Are Those Who Mourn
01:08:36 Sweet Suffering Poem
01:11:04 Singing and Farewell

Resources and Links:
Emily's website
Watch the Singing Through Fire podcast on YouTube
Listen on your favorite podcast streaming platform
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple podcasts
Connect on Facebook
Connect on Instagram

PODCAST DESCRIPTION:

Welcome to the Singing Through Fire podcast! I’m your host Lara Silverman, and this is where we:

• Worship when it hurts
• Discuss hot takes from the furnace of affliction
• Explore a biblical theology of suffering with a side of sass and sarcasm 

From lamentations to laughter, this podcast is for anyone desperate for hope who has ever asked, "Why, Lord, why?”

Don’t forget to follow/subscribe because I upload content every Tuesday and Friday! 

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2nd Corinthians 4:17.

In this episode of Singing Through Fire, Lara Silverman shares the extraordinary ways she believes God has met her during eight years of profound suffering. After becoming bedridden with a rare neurological disease that left her dependent on full-time care, Lara recounts a series of deeply personal experiences—including vivid dreams, providential Scripture passages, remarkable timing, and unexpected encouragements—that strengthened her faith and convinced her that God was speaking to her through her affliction. She also reflects on meeting and marrying her late husband, Matt, while they were both facing life-altering illnesses, and how God continued to reveal His presence through both joy and devastating loss. Throughout the episode, Lara emphasizes the importance of testing every spiritual experience against Scripture, rejecting prosperity gospel assumptions, and trusting that God's greatest gifts are often found not in the removal of suffering, but in His nearness within it.

Resources and Links:
Watch the Singing Through Fire podcast on YouTube
Listen on your favorite podcast streaming platform
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple podcasts
Connect on Facebook
Connect on Instagram

PODCAST DESCRIPTION:

Welcome to the Singing Through Fire podcast! I’m your host Lara Silverman, and this is where we:

• Worship when it hurts
• Discuss hot takes from the furnace of affliction
• Explore a biblical theology of suffering with a side of sass and sarcasm 

From lamentations to laughter, this podcast is for anyone desperate for hope who has ever asked, "Why, Lord, why?”

Don’t forget to follow/subscribe because I upload content every Tuesday and Friday! 

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2nd Corinthians 4:17.