Ep 135 // Singing Through the Fire: Lara Silverman on Chronic Illness, Surrender, Love, and a Theology of Suffering

What happens when it seems God opens the door to your dream job…and then, the door slams shut?

Lara Silverman—a Stanford-educated lawyer, jazz singer, actress, and now author—was on the cusp of a thriving career when a rare neurological illness left her largely bedridden. In this raw and hope-filled conversation, Lara shares her powerful journey through suffering, surrender, and a breathtaking love story with her late husband, Matt.

With honesty, humor, and deep faith, Lara invites us to wrestle with the hard questions: Why does a good God allow suffering? How do you keep hope alive when healing doesn’t come? Can beauty really rise from ashes?

Her new memoir, Singing Through the Fire, is not just a story—it’s a testimony of courage, intimacy with Jesus, and a love that even death cannot extinguish.

Key Takeaways:

• Surrender in the Valley: What Lara learned when God asked her to release her dream job and later her health.
• Theology of Suffering: Why prosperity gospel clichés don’t hold up in the face of chronic illness—and what Scripture really says.
• A Holy Love Story: How God brought Matt into her life at the height of her illness, and the eternal hope their marriage continues to embody.
• Finding God’s Intimacy in Pain: How surrender opened space for Lara to experience God’s presence in powerful ways.
• Eternal Perspective: Why heaven reframes our questions about love, loss, and the goodness of God.

Quotable Quotes:“Trust me in confusion. Trust me when this doesn’t make sense.” – Lara Silverman“The story never ends in tragedy. Sometimes the redemption just takes until eternity.” – Lara Silverman“A wild and holy hope is what God offers—even in the middle of suffering.” – Megan NilsenResources & Links:

• Buy Lara’s Memoir → Singing Through the Fire (Available now on Amazon)
• Follow Lara Silverman on Instagram: @singingthroughfire_author

Stay connected with Megan:

• Website: meganbnilsen.com
• Social: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
• Grab the Book: Untangled Faith + Companion Journal
• Free Gift: Wanna learn how to make Holy Spirit-led decisions? Go to holyspiritstoplight.com for your free guide!
• Book a free discovery call to see if Kingdom Life Coaching could help you unlock your next right step!

Keywords/Concepts:

Lara Silverman memoir

Singing Through the Fire book

Christian memoir suffering

faith and chronic illness

theology of suffering podcast

Christian hope in suffering

surrender to God’s will

hearing God’s voice in hard times

love story in suffering

Christian encouragement podcast

Christian marriage

Grief and loss