Through the Lens

Today we're hearing a personal testimony from our friend, Alex Johnson, At her 18-week anatomy scan, Alex learned that her daughter was missing an essential piece of her brain and would likely fight for her life. As she began to mentally prepare for an unbearable loss, Alex cried out to God for a miracle that would astonish her daughter's medical team. We know that many of you did not receive the miracle you asked for. We understand that many of you may feel "burned" by God, after begging on your knees for healing. We've been there, friend--we've questioned, we've shaken our fists at the sky, and have asked why. We've battled against doubt--doubt that God hears us and that He has the power to heal. Oh friend, we're with you--and we want to take your hand today and ever-so-gently remind you that God does hear you, He loves you, and He is sovereign over sickness and death. We feel led so strongly to share Alex's story because it shows another side of prayer and God's power--a side that many of us may have forgotten in our grief. Alex speaks with the utmost sincerity and humility as she shares the story of God's miraculous work in her life, while acknowledging and aching with those of you who did not receive the miracle you hoped for. No matter your questions, your doubts, or your hurts, we invite you to join us to a special interview with our friend Alex.

Connect with us via Instagram @throughthelenspodcast or Facebook. We'd love to hear your story.

In the months following our sons' diagnoses, we often found ourselves on our knees praying for miracle. God, in all his loving kindness, chose to heal our children in the eternal sense rather than a physical one. Perhaps you've found yourself there too--perhaps you've prayed with such faith and been handed sorrow rather than the celebration you had hoped for. Perhaps you've even felt burned by God and have questioned the purpose of prayer. We've been there. Today we're releasing the first in a four-part series on prayer and healing. Join us as we share more of our stories, explore what the Bible says about miracles and prayer, and point one another toward the unshakeable hope we have in Christ's faithfulness even when the answer is "no".

Connect with us via Instagram @throughthelenspodcast or Facebook. We'd love to hear your story.

We're back! In today's episode, we simply chat about the things God has been teaching us over the break and share more about Kristin's 10-week hospital stay prior to the birth of her son, Andrew. We get really real about our personal struggles with prayer after losing a child, our fears surrounding pregnancy after loss, the tension of having a healthy child after losing a sick baby, and the ways God is sufficient through every question, heartache, and valley. No matter what this season of life looks like for you now, we hope you'll be encouraged by our conversation and ultimately the hope we have in Christ.

Visit Kristin's blog for cute Andrew pictures and to read things she's shared about her time in the hospital with Andrew.

Connect with us via Instagram @throughthelenspodcast or Facebook. We'd love to hear your story.

Our friend Caroline Maclaga joins us today to share her story of loss and the important role scripture played following the unexpected stillbirth of her firstborn daughter, Emma, and throughout her pregnancy with her second daughter, Nora. Caroline discusses the ways the Bible makes room for lament and sorrow, while drawing us toward the hope and joy we have in Christ. We hope you'll be encouraged by Caroline's story and the hope she has in Jesus.

Connect with us via Instagram @throughthelenspodcast or Facebook. We'd love to hear your story.

This episode takes on a different format as Holly announces the birth of Kristin's baby Andrew and recaps Kristin's 10 week journey on hospital bed rest to where she is now, in the NICU with baby Andrew, born at 32 weeks gestation. Holly shares about how she and Kristin have both been leaning into the concept of God's daily bread, and how "just enough" is also "abundantly enough."

For more of Kristin's current circumstances, visit her blog.

Holly's blog as referenced in this episode can be found here.

Vaneetha Risner's book The Scars That Have Shaped Me.

Connect with us via Instagram @throughthelenspodcast or Facebook. We'd love to hear your story.

Burying a child is perhaps one of the most painful and unnatural experiences a person could face. We expect our children to bury us, not the other way around. Yet when we look at the grave through the lens of the gospel, the grave truly has no merit from an eternal standpoint for those who are in Christ. Thanks to Christ--His death and resurrection--the grave has no power over those who know Him.

Join us as we candidly discuss our own experiences with the devastating process of burying a child, and explore the promises we have in scripture regarding the implications of Christ's resurrection, our new bodies, and the gift of eternal life.

Connect with us via Instagram @throughthelenspodcast or Facebook. We'd love to hear your story.

In this week's episode, Vaneetha Risner joins us to share her story of suffering and sanctification, and the comfort we have in Christ. Vaneetha has been a sort of spiritual mentor to us from afar through her writings, and we cannot wait for you to hear her story. When faced with unimaginable suffering, Vaneetha cried out to God to spare her. In the depth of her pain, Vaneetha found God's sustaining grace. We think you'll be encouraged by Vaneetha's words, just as we have been.

Check out Vaneetha's book, The Scars that have Shaped Me, available for purchase or free download.

Visit Vaneetha's website and browse the blog posts she's written for Desiring God and other organizations.

Connect with us via Instagram @throughthelenspodcast or Facebook. We'd love to hear your story.

We don't know about you, but we like to be in control.

While our hearts yearn to live a life of full surrender to God, this hasn't always been easy. Time and time again we find ourselves desperately clinging to certain areas of our lives, rather than wholly entrusting every detail to an all-powerful God. Yet even in this struggle, we are gently called us to lay everything down at His feet--the big things and the small things. We see this call over and over again in the gospels, as Jesus calls his followers to lay themselves down--or in other words, to surrender--and to follow him.

Episode 11: Surrender is now available on iTunes and Stitcher. Come join us as we discuss what it means to surrender, why God calls us to surrender, and also discuss why it has been so frustratingly difficult for us to do.

Connect with us via Instagram @throughthelenspodcast or Facebook. We'd love to hear your story.

The hashtag pops up frequently as we scroll through our social media feeds. It's often found tagged on photos of smiling families, cozy homes, new cars, and exciting life events. #Blessed.

The posters behind these photos are indeed blessed. All of those earthly gifts--friendships, comfort, success, provision--are unmerited gifts from God that we don't deserve and could never earn on our own. Each of these gifts certainly warrant gratitude and giving Him all the glory. But this is only part of the picture.

You lose your house. The cancer returns. Your child becomes ill. Your friends turn their back on you. Your baby dies. We'd rarely feel inclined to add a #blessed to those posts, but the truth remains. In our suffering and in our pain, He is still good and we are still blessed.

Episode 10: #Blessed is now available. We hope you'll join us as we candidly share ways the phrase "so blessed" has stung since losing our sons, dig deeper into the definition of a "blessing", and talk about the greatest blessing of all.

Connect with us via Instagram @throughthelenspodcast or Facebook. We'd love to hear your story.

We've found such encouragement through the communities around us--our small groups, our churches, our families, and even in online communities just like this. Being in community is arguably the main way that we show Christ's love to others--in loving others and serving others, people both inside and outside the Kingdom will know that we belong to God.

In this episode, we dive deeper into the concept of community--why it's important, the challenges that come with it, and how to be more intentional about creating community in each of our own lives, especially in the wake of trials and suffering. Regardless of whether you've lost a child or not, we think this one will be relatable to most of us! (Because we've all experienced suffering to some level, am I right?)

Connect with us via Instagram @throughthelenspodcast or Facebook. We'd love to hear your story.

Here is Holly's blog post mentioned in the episode.