In this moving episode, we sit down with Mattie Jackson, an author, speaker, podcaster, and co-founder of NaSHEville, a philanthropic organization supporting orphans, widows, and victims of human trafficking. After experiencing the tragic loss of her husband just three weeks shy of their first wedding anniversary, Mattie has transformed her pain into a message of hope and resilience. Through her books Lemons on Friday and Through the Valley of Grief, as well as her podcast In Joy Life, she offers a heartfelt guide for navigating grief with trust and joy in God.

What We Covered:

• Choosing Joy in the Midst of Grief: We discuss how Mattie’s podcast, In Joy Life, inspires listeners to choose joy despite challenging circumstances and the power of embracing both joy and sorrow simultaneously.
• The Importance of Community: Mattie emphasizes the significance of connecting with a supportive community, including Christian friends and widow mentors, and how these relationships helped her avoid isolation in her early years of grieving.
• Spiritual Practices in Suffering: Mattie talks about the spiritual practices that sustained her, such as wailing, worship, connecting, and hoping. She explains how these practices shaped her healing journey and offers advice for those struggling to find hope in their grief.
• Being Rooted in Defiant Hope: In the face of loss, Mattie discusses how she chose to be rooted in hope, even when her circumstances seemed hopeless. She shares practical ways to combat fear, anxiety, and spiritual attacks during difficult seasons.

Resources Mentioned:

• Mattie’s Books: Lemons on Friday: Trusting God Through My Greatest Heartbreak and Through the Valley of Grief: A 365-Day Devotional of Spiritual Practices for Hope in Suffering
• Mattie’s Podcast: In Joy Life Podcast
• Website: mattiejackson.net

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