Amber Smith—wife of former country music artist Granger Smith and author of The Girl on the Bathroom Floor—shares the heartbreaking and hope-filled story of losing their three-year-old son, River, to a drowning in 2019. She highlights the tender and powerful ways the Lord ministered to their family, grew their faith, and restored hope. She helps us enlarge our view of God and uncover the power of faith in the darkest of times. 

Verses: Romans 12:12; Proverbs 3:5-6

00:00 Choosing Each Other

03:48 Remembering River

04:54 The Night Everything Changed

07:53 Helping Kids Grieve

09:51 Finding Joy Again

15:01 Fighting for Marriage

17:45 Truths That Anchored Her

20:03 Enough Seek Me

22:27 Comparison and Gratitude

24:55 Hope for the Bathroom Floor

27:39 Scriptures to Hold Onto

Connect with Amber: ArisewithAmber.com Instagram: @AmberEmilySmith

Book: The Girl on the Bathroom Floor

Connect with Kelly: KellyHall.org

Free Held in the Wilderness devo

Rosann Coulon, in an unguarded moment, admitted she was struggling to trust God with the devastation of her pastor dad's addiction to medication. This loss was piled on top of debilitating chronic illness, the loss of her career, and the realization she could not have children. Rosann shares the tender ways the Lord met her with the power of His healing love. She discovered that although life had deeply disappointed her, Jesus never disappoints.

Verses referenced: Psalm 84:6; Numbers 23:19; Lam 3:22-23; Isaiah 43:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:18

01:53 Leaving A Well: Psalm 84:6

03:25 Rosann’s Faith Journey/ Struggle

07:04 Do You Trust God?

09:35 Lord, Give Me Fresh Eyes to See You

12:00 Tell the Truth. Name the Grief.

13:13 First Lesson of God’s Healing Love

21:00 The Power of Praise in Dark Times

23:00 Trusting God's Faithfulness in the Storm

27:28 Losses of Dreams

29:00 How to Pray in our Grief

31:00 Read the First Chapter Free

Roseann's Website: LeavingAWell.com

Rosann's Book: 40 Days to God, My Father: Finding Shelter in the Heart of God

Connect with Kelly: KellyHall.org

Email: [email protected]

Receive your free devo: "Held in the Wilderness: 30 Stories to Secure Your Worth in God's Love"

Angela Donadio, an anointed ministry leader, author, and podcaster, shares profound lessons of dependency and surrender that help us cultivate fierce faith when life doesn’t make sense. Out of her near-death experience, she shares two questions that reframe our suffering as well as deep insights from the faith-in-action stories of Rahab and the bleeding woman. We discover the power of God to transform our lives and our stories as we remember that God’s unwavering love is with us in our suffering. She also enriches our understanding of the Bible with fresh insights from her recent time in Greece. We’re drawing from her book Fearless: Ordinary Women of the Bible Who Dared to Do Extraordinary Things.

Verses: Romans 12:1-2; John 16:33; Joshua 2; Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25; Mark 5:25-34

00:00 Living in Dependency on God

04:02 Angela's Insights from Greece: “Follow Me”

09:32 Angela's Near-Death Experience

19:40 Which Biblical Women Encourage Faith?

27:12 Rahab’s Story of Redemption

29:20 Faith in Action: Rahab's Courage

32:08 The Scarlet Thread: Symbol of Salvation

34:47 The Bleeding Woman: Packed with Hope

42:24 Living in God's Love When We Suffer

48:25 Obedience as Worship: A Life of Faith

Connect with Angela: AngelaDonadio.com

Angela's book: Fearless: Ordinary Women of the Bible Who Dared to Do Extraordinary Things.

Receive Free 31 Day Devo: KellyHall.org/resources

Dr. Michelle Bengtson, a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist and bestselling author, discusses how to navigate pain, suffering, and emotional scars through faith and resilience. She shares her personal journey of overcoming physical and emotional challenges, including childhood illness, miscarriage, depression, and cancer. Michelle highlights how God can redeem our pain for a greater purpose, encouraging listeners with real-life examples and practical advice on dealing with shame and embracing God's love. We’re drawing from her wonderful book, Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise that Your Past is Not Wasted.

Verses Referenced: 2 Corinthians 12:9; Romans 12:2; James 1:2-4; Psalm 34:18 

01:25 Free Devo: 31 Stories of Hope

05:21 Michelle's Early Life Struggles

08:01 Finding Purpose in Suffering

11:21 Developing Resilience Through Faith

14:28 The Redemptive Power of Scars

18:52 God's Transformative Power in Our Lives

26:10 How Does Shame Impact Our Lives?

28:39 How Do We Rewire Our Brains with God's Truth?

37:18 Can We Find Strength in Our Scars?

38:42 Embracing God’s Redemption

44:55 Practical Steps to Remember God's Faithfulness

Michelle's Website: DrMichelleBengtson.com

Sacred Scars: Resting in God's Promise that Your Past is Not Wasted

Free Devotional: KellyHall.org/resources

Lisa Saruga, counselor and trauma therapist, shares her formidable journey from surviving a violent assault in the 1980s to having her attacker identified 35 years later. Lisa discusses how her faith in God and His goodness anchored her through her healing journey. She explains that trauma doesn’t have to define you and that feelings of hopelessness, loss, and grief can be overcome. Her story of redemption, packed full of God’s tender love, eventually led her to become an advocate for legislation to protect victims. We're drawing from her book: The Trauma Tree: Going Beyond Survival, Growing Toward Wholeness

Verses referenced: Psalm 27:13-14; Psalm 119:81

00:00 Introduction: Facing Death and Finding Hope

03:30 The Assault: A Life-Changing Moment

05:09 The Aftermath: Suppressed Trauma, Becoming a Therapist

05:56 The Cold Case Reopens

08:06 God's Presence in the Journey

13:42 Meeting the Perpetrator

20:00 The Pear Tree Analogy

23:23 Theresa and Elise: Different Paths to Healing

27:55 Understanding Basic Needs and Trauma

34:23 Raw Journaling that Heals

38:00 A Message from God in the Mess

45:05 Seeing God's Goodness in Dark Times

Connect with Lisa: LisaSaruga.com

Book: The Trauma Tree: Going Beyond Survival, Growing Toward Wholeness

Connect with Kelly: KellyHall.org

How do we experience the peace of God when we’re worried, fearful, or overwhelmed? Rachel Wojo, author, speaker, and host of the Untangling Prayer podcast, shares her journey, including caring for her terminally ill daughter, financial struggles, fears on multiple levels, and embracing God's word for daily sustenance. We find practical advice on how to pray God's promises and trust His faithfulness even in the most challenging times.

Verses: Proverbs 3:5,6; Isaiah 43:2; Job 42:2; 2 Chronicles 20:12; Ephesians 3:14-21

02:54 Rachel’s Family and How Ministry Started

04:29 The Power of Praying God's Promises

08:15 How God Encouraged Rachel in Fear

17:40 How Do We Trust God's Promises

24:05 Missionary's Peace Amidst Danger

25:35 Facing Legal Battles with Faith

28:55 God's Provision During Unemployment

34:41 The Power of Writing God's Promises

37:14 Long-Term Faith and God's Timing

Connect with Rachel: RachelWojo.com

Praying God's Promises

Connect with Kelly: KellyHall.org

Related episodes:

Ep 61: How Do We Pray When We're Desperate?

Ep 04 Finding Hope when Dreams are Crushed

Rachel's Untangling Prayer podcast: Deep Waters Don't Last Forever

Darlene Larson, a certified Grief, Loss, and Life Purpose Coach, encourages us with the hope she found through significant hardships, including emotional abuse, divorces, and family losses. Darlene shares her journey through deep valleys of grief, her struggles with faith, and how God's unwavering presence led her into fresh strength and healing. Drawing from her book, Leading You Through the Valley, we emphasize ways to trust God's heart during delays and unanswered prayers as well as highlight God’s power to transform our pain into purpose.

Verses referenced: Luke 22:32; I Samuel 1:10-18, 2:1-10; Psalm 147:3; Psalm 139:1-18

02:36 Darlene's Journey Through Grief and Loss

05:15 Finding Purpose Amidst Pain

07:28 The Second Marriage and Betrayal

10:12 Healing Through Faith and Scripture

13:16 Overcoming Emotional Abuse

22:41 The Power of Declaring God's Word

Darlene's website: DarleneLarson.com

Book: Leading You Through the Valley

Connect with Kelly: KellyHall.org

Jackie Freeman recounts her experiences as a caregiver for her husband who battled stage four glioblastoma and how she discovered the strength and presence of the Lord during the hardest times. She also shares the transition from feeling responsible for fixing everything in life to learning to trust God fully. Jackie found solace and healing in unexpected places, including writing music and immersing herself in pickleball, which inspired her to write Pickleball Parables. The conversation touches on themes of surrender, God's faithfulness, and finding joy and purpose even in the midst of grief.

Verses referenced: Psalm 23; Luke 8:39; Hebrews 12:1-3

00:00 Introduction: The Illusion of Control

03:24 Jackie's Journey of Surrender

03:41 The Struggle with Control and Codependency

06:17 Finding Strength in Vulnerability

07:01 The Healing Power of Honesty

09:20 The Comfort of God's Presence

11:07 A Caregiver's Faith and Strength

17:38 The Final Moments and God's Faithfulness

29:48 From Grief to Pickleball: A Surprising Healing Journey

34:46 Conclusion: Resting in God's Unshakeable Arms

Contact Jackie: JackieFreemanAuthor.com

Pickleball Parables

Contact Kelly: KellyHall.org

How does trusting God rescue our hearts from cynicism and apathy? Kelly Hall and Jennifer Slattery delve into God’s love and timely interventions during crises of faith. This second portion of Kelly’s story emphasizes practical ways to navigate heartache with trust in God and helps us cultivate tenderness with the Lord when disappointments pile. The relentless, rescuing love of God radiates hope into our weary hearts. Do we seek wholeness over quick fixes? Do we trust God holds us when we fall apart? Stories from Moses and John the Baptist provide hope for wrestling through our own doubts when God’s story doesn’t unfold the way we expect.

Psalm 18:16-19; Isaiah 43:18-19, Colossians 1:17; Matthew 11:2-11; Jeremiah 31:3-4,; John 10:10; Psalm 27:13,14; Exodus 5:22-6:9; Mark 14:36

08:20 Trusting God in Unanswered Prayers

14:03 Crisis of Faith and God's Healing

29:12 God's Pursuit and Our Response

30:04 Staying Tender-Hearted in Tough Times

30:12 Curiosity Over Cynicism

30:51 Seeking Wholeness Over Quick Fixes

31:16 Trusting Jesus' Intentions

36:45 Dealing with Unmet Expectations

45:45 Finding Strength in Others' Stories

50:10 Moses' Example of Trusting God

56:06 Answered Prayers and God’s Generous Heart

Connect with Jennifer: JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud

Check out her Faith Over Fear Podcast: https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com/faith-over-fear/

Related episodes:

How do I pray through a crisis? (Pt 1)

How do I pray through a crisis? (Pt 2)

How do I walk through suffering without giving up on God?

Resources from KellyHall.org:

Wildly Loved: 31 Original Identity Statements (and other encouragements)

Hope for the Weary Collection

In this 100th episode, Kelly Hall shares powerful stories of God’s faithfulness and miraculous provisions from her family’s journey. She's joined by her talented friend, Jennifer Slattery, who enriches this conversation with her biblical wisdom and insights. We discover the tenderness of our Lord who draws near in our heartache, speaks words of hope over our grief, rescues our wounded hearts from “mom guilt,” and creatively cultivates joy and intimacy in our long waiting seasons. This uplifting message reminds us that even when life feels uncertain, God is weaving His goodness into every area of our lives.

Verses referenced: Isaiah 40:31; Romans 8:28; Psalm 139; Deuteronomy 31:8

00:32 Celebrating the 100th Episode

03:19 Introducing Jennifer Slattery

07:33 Discovering Her Daughter's Deafness

11:11 God's Comfort and Reassurance

14:37 Overcoming Mom-Guilt

19:34 Grieving the Loss of Expectations

23:33 Finding Joy Amidst Overwhelm

27:58 God as the Perfect Counselor

31:15 Finding Hope in Abraham’s Long Wait

31:59 Trusting God's Timing

33:18 Hearing God's Voice

37:06 Foundations of Faith

53:51 A Miracle Story: God Knows Your Name



Connect with Jennifer: JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud

Check out her Faith Over Fear Podcast: https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com/faith-over-fear/

Related episodes:

How do I pray through a crisis? (Pt 1)

How do I pray through a crisis? (Pt 2)

How do I walk through suffering without giving up on God?

Resources from KellyHall.org:

Wildly Loved: 31 Original Identity Statements (and other encouragements)

Hope for the Weary Collection