Thrive Through the Fire

In this episode of Thrive Through the Fire, I open up about a question that’s followed me through some of the hardest seasons of my life — where is God in the midst of suffering?

As a mom, wife, and stage 3 cancer survivor, I’ve wrestled deeply with the tension between faith and pain. Today, I’m diving into what Scripture says about suffering, what I’ve learned through my own battle with cancer, and how we can hold on when God feels silent.

Together, we’ll explore:

• What suffering really is and why it challenges our faith
• Biblical stories that show God’s presence in pain — from Job, to David, to Jesus Himself
• My personal journey of wrestling with fear, loss of control, and finding hope again
• Practical ways to cling to God when answers don’t come quickly — through honesty, Scripture, community, and surrender

If you’re in a season of waiting or wondering where God is, I pray this conversation meets you there. You’re not alone.

Join me as we walk through the fire — and find the God who still meets us in it.

In this week’s episode of Thrive Through the Fire, I sit down with my dear friend Evelyn — a woman whose warm hugs and kind spirit carried me through some of the darkest days of my life. I first met Evelyn in the sanctuary doorway at church, where she greeted every person who walked in with a smile and a heart full of love. What I didn’t realize then was that God would use her presence to remind me of His own, constant, comforting, and full of grace.

Evelyn shares her beautiful perspective on trusting God completely, even when life doesn’t make sense. She talks about what it means to truly see God as our Father, one who loves us, cares for us, and provides for every need. Her gentle wisdom and unwavering faith will leave you feeling encouraged and seen, no matter what season you’re in.

We talk about:

How God uses ordinary moments and people to reveal His extraordinary love

What it means to trust God as a Father, not just as a distant figure

Finding peace and purpose when life feels uncertain

How simple acts of kindness can become divine appointments

Whether you’re walking through a storm or basking in a season of peace, Evelyn’s story is a tender reminder that God’s love never stops pursuing us — and sometimes, it comes through the hands of a friend at the church door.

In this episode, we’re talking about the biblical importance of fasting, how it impacts our health, and why it can be especially powerful for people walking through cancer or recovery. I’ll also share some of my personal experiences, the ways I’ve fasted, what I’ve learned, and how God has been changing my mindset through it all.

Fasting isn’t just skipping meals, it’s a posture of humility that says, “God, I need You more than I need food.” Scripture gives us several examples:

• Moses fasted 40 days on Mount Sinai while receiving the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:28).
• Daniel fasted from certain foods as he sought wisdom and favor (Daniel 10:2–3).
• Esther called her people to fast before approaching the king (Esther 4:16).
• Jesus Himself fasted 40 days in the wilderness before beginning His ministry (Matthew 4:1–2).

Jesus didn’t say if you fast — He said when you fast (Matthew 6:16–18). It’s expected, sacred, and meant to align our spirit with God’s will.

For me, fasting became less about trying to earn God’s favor and more about quieting the noise — the constant worry, the need to control, and the fear that came with my health journey.

Before my faith deepened, I fasted purely for health and detox reasons. I often did 48–72 hour fasts, motivated by the physical benefits — weight loss, detoxing, and resetting my body. But fasting as a mom and caregiver wasn’t easy, especially while still preparing meals for my family. Back then, my focus was physical; now, I understand fasting’s spiritual purpose.

Here’s where faith and science meet. God designed our bodies with an incredible ability to heal — and fasting activates that design.

• Cellular repair: Around 12 hours into fasting, your body starts a process called autophagy, clearing out damaged cells and toxins.
• Reduced inflammation: Fasting lowers inflammation markers linked to chronic disease, including cancer.
• Balanced insulin and hormones: Fasting gives your system time to reset, reducing insulin resistance.
• Improved immunity: Studies show fasting before chemotherapy can protect healthy cells and even improve treatment outcomes.

Fasting isn’t a cure, but it’s a way God allows the body to rest, repair, and reset. He built this healing rhythm into us for a reason.

When I began learning about fasting’s health benefits, I tried to do it monthly. I loved how it made me feel — lighter, clearer, more energized. When I was diagnosed with cancer, I read about fasting’s potential to support treatment, and it became an even greater focus.

Beyond the physical, fasting opens your heart to hear from God more clearly. When you remove distractions — food, social media, noise — you make room for His whisper.

Isaiah 58:6 says,“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free…”

True fasting is about release — releasing fear, control, anxiety, or even the need for answers.

Not everyone will have a huge spiritual moment while fasting. You might not see a vision or hear God’s voice — and that’s okay. Sometimes fasting isn’t about hearing something; it’s about clearing space. It’s making room for God to move in ways we may not recognize right away.

I’ve had friends fasting for months without clear answers, but they’re seeing blessings in other areas — peace, opportunities, unexpected strength. God often speaks through silence, peace, or timing.

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

It doesn’t say hear Me right now — it says know.

Isaiah 30:18 reminds us, “Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you… blessed are all those who wait for Him.” Waiting isn’t punishment; it’s preparation.

If you’re fasting and wondering why you haven’t heard from God, maybe the silence is the answer. God may be building something in you before revealing something to you.

Fasting looks different for everyone. Here are some options:

• Traditional fast: Water or liquids only for a set period.
• Partial fast: Like Daniel’s — fruits, veggies, and simple foods.
• Intermittent fast: Eating within a specific time window each day.
• Soul fast: Taking a break from media, sugar, or anything that’s become a distraction.

If you’re dealing with a health condition or recovering from cancer, always talk to your doctor first. Even fasting from negative thoughts or fear can shift your spirit. Fasting isn’t about deprivation — it’s about devotion.

Personally, this is only my second time fasting in prayer. I’ve realized food isn’t always my biggest distraction — social media is. So moving forward, I plan to do a social media fast to quiet the noise and focus more on God.

When we fast, we’re saying: “God, I trust You with my hunger, my healing, and my hope.”

Whether you’re facing cancer, anxiety, or any tough season — fasting helps you thrive through the fire. Not because it changes God, but because it changes us.

Psalm 63:1 says,“O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh faints for You, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”

Today’s episode is on a topic that’s often misunderstood—PTSD. Most people think it only belongs to soldiers or first responders, but the truth is, trauma comes in many forms: cancer, abuse, sudden loss, medical crises, or any life-shattering event. I share both my husband’s journey as a Marine Corps veteran who returned from combat with scars you can’t see, and my own story of how PTSD showed up after my cancer treatments ended.

We’ll talk about what PTSD really is, how it shows up in everyday life, and the biblical examples that remind us God sees and meets us in our struggles. From Elijah’s fear in the wilderness, to David’s cries in the Psalms, to Jesus sweating blood in Gethsemane—Scripture is full of reminders that God doesn’t dismiss trauma. He draws near to the brokenhearted and offers peace where fear tries to take over.

I’ll also share some of the practical and spiritual tools that have helped me—things like prayer, Scripture meditation, worship, community, and professional counseling. These are ways I’ve learned to take steps toward healing and wholeness, even when the memories and fear try to come back.

If PTSD has touched your life, this conversation is for you. My hope is that by the end, you’ll walk away knowing you’re not alone, you’re not broken beyond repair, and there is a God who heals, redeems, and restores even the hardest parts of our story.

Anchor verse for this episode: John 16:33 – “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

In this episode, I open up about something that often gets overlooked when we talk about illness—the actual dollars and cents of being sick. When I walked through my cancer journey, I was blessed to have insurance, but even then, the out-of-pocket costs were overwhelming. From upfront payments to waiting for reimbursements, the financial side of cancer was a burden I never expected.

I’ll share how my situation was unique—I wasn’t working in the hospital at the time of my diagnosis because I had stepped away to homeschool my kids during the pandemic. Looking back, I see how God’s timing protected me, because I can’t imagine working long shifts while dealing with the side effects of chemo. But not everyone had that luxury. I sat next to people in the infusion chair who went straight back to work the same day because if they didn’t work, they didn’t get paid.

We’ll talk about the hidden costs of being sick, from missed work to medication expenses, and how families are forced to make tough decisions. I’ll also share how God provided for me through work-from-home opportunities I had said “yes” to years before—something that became an unexpected safety net for my family.

To give perspective, I’ll also look at biblical stories of people who struggled with both illness and financial hardship, like the woman who spent everything on doctors and only got worse, or the paralyzed man who had no way to provide for himself. These stories remind us that God not only heals, but also restores dignity and provision.

This episode is for anyone who has felt the weight of medical bills, missed paychecks, or the financial uncertainty that comes with sickness. My hope is that you’ll walk away encouraged, reminded that God sees the unseen costs and that He can bring purpose and provision even in the middle of pain.

In this episode, I’m unpacking the weight we put on names like “cancer,” “divorce,” or “unemployment.” These things are experiences, not identities. They’re what we go through, not who we are. I’m sharing how God often uses difficult seasons to rewrite our stories, and yes — even to rename us. In the Bible, we see this when Abram became Abraham, “father of many,” when God promised to make him the father of nations. Sarai became Sarah, “mother of nations.” Saul, once a persecutor of Christians, became Paul, the apostle who helped spread the Gospel. And Simon became Peter, the “rock” Jesus would build His church on. Their new names represented a new identity and a new calling.

When I first heard the word “cancer,” it felt like my whole world stopped. Just hearing the name was enough to make my stomach drop. Isn’t it wild how much power a single word can carry? When I started telling people I had cancer, almost everyone’s first question was, “What kind? What stage?” — as if the stage number somehow determined how scared they should be for me. But the truth is, people can pass away from the most basic forms of cancer, and others survive the most advanced. These labels — stage, type, grade — aren’t the whole story.

For me, cancer became the tool God used to change my name. I went from being the overly-controlling planner who thought she had to hold it all together to someone who slowed down, trusted God, and let Him take the wheel. It wasn’t easy, but God doesn’t waste pain — He uses it with purpose.

Today, I want to give you hope that whatever label you’re carrying — cancer patient, divorced, unemployed — doesn’t define you. You are who God says you are, and He has a way of using even your hardest seasons to shape your future.

I’ll also share practical tips on not letting a diagnosis or situation dictate your peace, and how you can start speaking life over yourself instead of fear.

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Stephanie Latchford to talk about how God has been wooing her closer to Him in this season of life. Stephanie shares how she’s stepping out of her comfort zone and learning to trust God even in the unknown, holding tight to the truth of Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous.”

We dive into why it’s so important to practice Sabbath and truly unplug , not just from work, but from technology , so we can be present with our families and recharge spiritually. We talk about the idea of a technology fast and how it helps us realign our priorities and quiet the noise. And Stephanie shares a season where God encouraged her to turn off the radio (and noise) in the car and sit quietly with her thoughts and in the presence of God.

Stephanie also shares how God has been reminding her that her testimony matters, and how sharing it not only strengthens her own faith but encourages her daughters to live boldly and confidently in theirs. And the importance of asking people if they are willing to give their life to Jesus.

We discuss the deep human desire to feel needed and why community matters so much. Friendship is a big part of this conversation, how we can lift each other up, rally together, and encourage one another when life feels heavy. Stephanie shares how she organized an event for our kids this summer and gathered so many volunteers so that they could feel a sense of being needed and collaborate by sharing their strengths.

We even talk about those moments when we ask God “why,” and why sometimes simply bringing that question to Him is more important than having an answer. And Stephanie shares her life verse Matthew 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and righteousness and all will be given to you as well", and the importance of putting God first above all things.

If you’re looking for encouragement to be bold in your faith, to slow down and rest, and to surround yourself with people who make you better, this episode will speak to you.

In this episode, I’m talking about the difference between knowing about God and actually knowing Him—walking with Him, having a relationship with Him, and trusting Him no matter what comes.

I share my own story of how I began seeking God before my cancer diagnosis and how that made all the difference when my world was turned upside down. My testimony didn’t feel dramatic at first—it was simply me loving Jesus in the middle of ordinary life. But when crisis hit, I learned the power of already having a relationship with God instead of waiting until I was desperate to seek Him.

We’ll dig into what the Bible says about suffering, why bad things happen, and how God’s presence shows up in the middle of it all. I’ll share how I knew He was with me in my hardest season, plus practical ways you can grow your own relationship with Him so you recognize His voice even when life doesn’t make sense.

Some of the scriptures I share in this episode:

• Romans 8:22 – Creation groaning under the weight of sin
• Genesis 50:20 – God bringing good out of Joseph’s suffering
• 2 Corinthians 12:7–10 – God’s power made perfect in weakness
• John 10:27 – Recognizing the Shepherd’s voice
• Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever
• James 1:22 – Do what the Word says
• Psalm 34:18 – God is close to the brokenhearted
• John 11:35 – Jesus wept with His friends in their grief
• Romans 8:28 – God works all things for good

If you’ve ever wondered whether your story with God “counts,” I want to remind you that every testimony matters because God is always the hero. And if you’ve only known facts about Him but haven’t yet experienced a real relationship, this episode will give you encouragement and practical steps to take that next step of faith.

Thanks for joining me. If this episode encouraged you, I’d love for you to share it with someone who needs to hear that knowing God is about more than head knowledge—it’s about a relationship that brings peace, strength, and hope in the fire.

In this episode, I’m sharing some of my favorite book recommendations that have encouraged, challenged, and filled my mind during difficult seasons. Whether you’re the one sitting in a hospital room, going through treatments like chemo, or you’re a family member waiting and watching alongside someone you love, books can be a lifeline.

I truly believe that what we feed our minds matters. When we’re in the middle of a waiting season—whether it’s in an infusion center, at the bedside of a loved one, or just walking through uncertainty—having the right words, truth, and encouragement can help anchor us.

I’ll be talking through a handful of books that have personally impacted me and sharing why I think they’re worth adding to your reading list. My hope is that these resources give you strength, comfort, and maybe even a fresh perspective for your own journey.

Books Mentioned in This Episode:

Life Without Limits - Nick Vujicic

The Tears That Taught Me- Morgan Richard Oliver

God So Close- Becky Thompson

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry- John Mark Comer

What Women Fear- Angie Smith

Fruit- Alabastor Company

You’ll find some more bible study recommendations HERE on my website.

In this episode of Thrive Through the Fire, I’m sharing one of the most personal parts of my story — what it’s really like to walk through chemotherapy. When I first heard the word “chemo,” I didn’t know what to expect. TV shows and stories painted one picture, but the reality was far more complex and personal.

I talk through my experience with Oxaliplatin, the side effects I never saw coming, and the practical things I wish I had known before I started treatment. More importantly, I share how my faith sustained me when my body was weak and my spirit was weary, along with the scriptures that carried me through the hardest days.

You’ll hear:

• What chemotherapy actually does and why the side effects happen
• My personal journey with Oxaliplatin and how I managed the unexpected
• The verses and biblical encouragement that gave me strength when I felt powerless
• Practical ways to prepare emotionally, physically, and spiritually for treatment
• Why you are never truly alone, even on the hardest days

My hope is that this episode equips you with tools, encouragement, and truth — whether you’re facing chemo yourself, walking alongside a loved one, or simply wanting to understand more deeply what this journey is like.

If this episode encouraged you, would you share it with someone who needs hope today? And if you haven’t yet, subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss future episodes where we’ll continue to walk together through life’s fires with faith, hope, and grit.