The Caretaker's Journey

One of the hardest parts of change isn't what we're facing today...it's releasing what we thought life would be.

Whether you're grieving a loss, adjusting to caregiving, facing retirement, or letting go of a dream that didn't happen, God invites us to trust Him with what we're surrendering.

In this episode, Carole shares how to release expectations, embrace God's timing, and find peace in the middle of life's disappointments.

✔ Why surrender is essential for healing

✔ How to release unrealistic expectations

✔ Biblical encouragement for seasons of loss

✔ How to move forward without having all the answers

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

Letting go, grief recovery, caregiving support, emotional healing, surrender, trusting God, overcoming disappointment, Christian encouragement, faith through change.

Summary:

In this episode, Carole explores the challenging process of letting go, grief, and trusting God during seasons of change. She shares practical steps, biblical insights, and personal stories to help listeners navigate transition with faith and peace.

Takeaways:

You are allowed to grieve what was.

Naming your loss helps in the healing process.

Releasing is an act of trust, not forgetting.

God invites us to not live stuck in the past.

Practicing small acts of surrender can lead to peace.

Chapters:

00:00 Navigating Change and Grief

02:56 The Process of Letting Go

06:32 The Power of Surrender

09:07 Resources for the Journey

11:24 Resources for the Journey

Resources:

You're Not Too Late by Rebecca George - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0830784373

Are You Ready to Find Joy When Life Gets Messy? - https://www.amazon.com/Ready-Find-Your-Messy-Life/dp/B0BRM1V94L

Embracing the Change Workbook (Upcoming) - www.thecaretakersjourney.com

Connect with Carole:

Website - https://www.thecaretakersjourney.com/

To join the mailing list, go to the website and join the community

Email - [email protected]

Social Media - 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/carolesjourney/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/carolesjourney

Book - https://www.carolesjourney.com/book

Life changes. Caregiving begins. A diagnosis arrives. A loved one dies. A dream disappears.

If you're struggling with unexpected life transitions, grief, caregiving challenges, or emotional overwhelm, you're not alone.

In this episode, we'll explore how to let go of the life you expected and trust God with the future you didn't choose. Through biblical encouragement and practical wisdom, you'll discover how God meets us in seasons of loss, disappointment, uncertainty, and change.

We'll talk about grieving what was, embracing what is, and taking your first steps toward healing and hope.

In this episode you'll learn:

• How to process grief during major life transitions• Why letting go is a spiritual act of faith• How God creates new beginnings after loss• Practical ways to move forward when life changes unexpectedly

Summary:

This episode explores how life-changing events, especially in caretaking, are opportunities for transformation rather than just survival. It emphasizes trusting God's presence in seasons of upheaval, embracing growth, and finding joy amid messiness.

Chapters:

00:00 Embracing Uninvited Change

01:51 Grounding in Scripture and God's Presence

04:19 Navigating the Grief of Change

06:38 Finding Stability in Uncertainty

09:04 Understanding the Purpose of Change

11:50 Resources for the Caretaker's Journey

Connect with Carole:

Website - https://www.thecaretakersjourney.com/

To join the mailing list, go to the website and join the community

Email - [email protected]

Social Media - 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/carolesjourney/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/carolesjourney

Book - https://www.carolesjourney.com/book

 Resources:

Where's God? The Grief Journey by Dr. Alan Gates - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7F4XK7X

Easter reminds us of a powerful truth:

The story is not over.

In this final episode of the series, Carole shares encouragement for weary hearts, caregivers, and anyone walking through a difficult season.

Even when life feels uncertain, God is still bringing life, hope, and restoration.

In this episode:

• What Easter means for everyday life
• How God works in silent seasons
• Understanding “Saturday” faith
• What resurrection looks like in real life
• Finding hope when things feel finished

Scripture:

Psalm 34:18

Key Takeaway:

Resurrection still comes...God is not finished with your story.

Connect with Carole:

Website - https://www.thecaretakersjourney.com/

To join the mailing list, go to the website and join the community

Email - [email protected]

Social Media - 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/carolesjourney/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/carolesjourney

Book - https://www.carolesjourney.com/book

Palm Sunday reminds us that God’s plans don’t always unfold the way we expect.

In this episode, Carole explores what it means to experience hope that arrives differently—and how to trust God when life doesn’t match our expectations.

If you’ve ever felt disappointed, confused, or unsure about how God is working, this episode offers a gentle reminder that His plans are still good.

In this episode:

• Why our expectations can shape our faith
• What Palm Sunday teaches us about God’s plan
• How to process disappointment with God
• Trusting the bigger story God is writing
• Finding hope even when life looks different

Scripture:

Luke 19:38

Key Takeaway:

God’s plans may look different—but they are always leading toward redemption.

Connect with Carole:

Website - https://www.thecaretakersjourney.com/

To join the mailing list, go to the website and join the community

Email - [email protected]

Social Media - 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/carolesjourney/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/carolesjourney

Book - https://www.carolesjourney.com/book

Waiting seasons can feel long, quiet, and uncertain.

In this episode, we explore what it means to trust God in the in-between—those moments when prayers feel unanswered and nothing seems to be changing.

Carole shares encouragement for caregivers and anyone navigating a season of waiting, reminding us that God is still working even when we cannot see it.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why waiting seasons feel so difficult
• The truth about “nothing is happening”
• How God works beneath the surface
• What faith looks like without visible results
• How to find hope before the outcome arrives

Scripture:

Proverbs 3:5–6

Key Takeaway:

God is working in the waiting—even when you cannot see it.

Connect with Carole:

Website - https://www.thecaretakersjourney.com/

To join the mailing list, go to the website and join the community

Email - [email protected]

Social Media - 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/carolesjourney/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/carolesjourney

Book - https://www.carolesjourney.com/book

In this episode of Hope Is Still Coming, we step into one of the most tender parts of the journey—letting go of what was.

Caregiving and difficult seasons often bring unexpected change, and with that change comes a quiet kind of grief. Not always visible. Not always spoken. But deeply felt.

In this episode, Carole gently walks you through:

• How to recognize hidden grief in caregiving
• Why letting go is so difficult
• What Scripture teaches us about seasons of change
• How to surrender what you cannot carry anymore
• Finding peace in the middle of emotional transition

If you’ve been holding onto a version of life that no longer exists, this episode will help you release it with grace and trust God with what comes next.

Scripture:

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Key Takeaway:

Letting go is not the end of your story—it’s where healing begins.

Connect with Carole:

Website - https://www.thecaretakersjourney.com/

To join the mailing list, go to the website and join the community

Email - [email protected]

Social Media - 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/carolesjourney/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/carolesjourney

Book - https://www.carolesjourney.com/book

Summary:

A comforting and reflective episode for caretakers during Lent, focusing on weariness, God's strength, and slow spiritual growth.

Carole Leathem offers encouragement to embrace weariness as part of faith and invites listeners to walk slowly towards hope.

Takeaways:

• God gives strength to the weary, not the strong.
• Weariness is a part of faith, not a sign of weakness.
• Waiting on the Lord renews strength and deepens trust.
• Small acts of obedience can be meaningful during exhaustion.
• Surrender can be a form of strength, not weakness.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflection

00:49 The Call to Slow Down in Lent

01:47 Scripture Reflection: Isaiah 40:28-31

02:37 Naming Our Weariness in Caregiving

03:48 God's Compassion for the Exhausted

05:07 The Power of Waiting on the Lord

06:13 Changing the Question: How Does God Meet Us?

07:18 Closing Prayer and Encouragement

Connect with Carole:

Website - https://www.thecaretakersjourney.com/

To join the mailing list, go to the website and join the community

Email - [email protected]

Social Media - 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/carolesjourney/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/carolesjourney

Book - https://www.carolesjourney.com/book

Summary:

Carole Leathem shares her personal journey of healing and recovery, emphasizing the importance of patience, self-compassion, and honoring the healing process. She discusses how caretakers often push themselves too hard and the need to accept that recovery is non-linear and requires gentle, intentional care.

Takeaways:

Healing is not a straight line; it requires patience and acceptance.

Rest and honoring your pain are essential parts of recovery.

Lowering expectations can reduce frustration and promote healing.

Healing is a spiritual process, not just physical or mental.

It's okay to not be 'okay' and to take time to heal.

Chapters:

00:00 The Journey of Healing

06:38 Embracing the Process of Recovery

Connect with Carole:

Website - https://www.thecaretakersjourney.com/

To join the mailing list, go to the website and join the community

Email - [email protected]

Social Media - 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/carolesjourney/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/carolesjourney

Book - https://www.carolesjourney.com/book

Summary:

In this episode, Carole Leathem shares a personal story about injury and the importance of setting boundaries for self-care. She emphasizes that boundaries are acts of protection, not punishment, and discusses practical ways to listen to our bodies and honor our limits.

Chapters:

00:00 Unexpected Interruption: A Caregiver's Journey

02:42 Understanding Boundaries: The Caregiver's Dilemma

05:04 Gentle Practices for Self-Care

07:20 The Importance of Listening to Your Body

Connect with Carole:

Website - https://www.thecaretakersjourney.com/

To join the mailing list, go to the website and join the community

Email - [email protected]

Social Media - 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/carolesjourney/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/carolesjourney

Book - https://www.carolesjourney.com/book

Caregiving often feels like learning a foreign language.

New terms.
New routines.
New responsibilities.
And no one hands you a dictionary.

In this episode of The Caretaker’s Journey, recorded from EPCOT, Carole offers Christian encouragement for new caregivers who feel overwhelmed, unprepared, and unsure of what comes next. If you’ve recently stepped into caregiving and everything feels unfamiliar, this episode will help you breathe, slow down, and find your footing.

Rooted in Proverbs 3:5–6, this episode reminds caregivers that you don’t need to have all the answers—you just need to take the next step with God.

💛 In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why caregiving feels confusing at first (and why that’s normal)

• Encouragement for caregivers who feel like beginners

• Real-life caregiving examples and honest faith moments

• Christian support for learning medical systems, routines, and decisions

• How God guides caregivers one step at a time

• Gentle practices to reduce overwhelm and caregiver stress

This episode is for:
✔️ New caregivers
✔️ Caregivers feeling overwhelmed or unsure
✔️ Spouses and adult children learning caregiving roles
✔️ Christian caregivers seeking peace, clarity, and encouragement
✔️ Anyone searching for faith-based caregiver support

📖 Scripture Anchor:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5–6

If caregiving feels unfamiliar and overwhelming right now, you are not failing—you are learning. God is with you as you take this journey one step at a time.

👉 Subscribe for weekly Christian encouragement for caregivers
👉 Share this episode with a caregiver who feels overwhelmed
👉 Visit The Caretaker’s Journey for caregiver support, resources, and community

Connect with Carole:

Website - https://www.thecaretakersjourney.com/

To join the mailing list, go to the website and join the community

Email - [email protected]

Social Media - 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/carolesjourney/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/carolesjourney

Book - https://www.carolesjourney.com/book