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

Sarah Griffiths Hu shares vulnerably about her journey from crippling anxiety to courageous faith, including her experiences with childhood assault, a miscarriage, financial difficulties, and her son's battle with addiction. She emphasizes the importance of surrendering control to God, trusting His guidance, and using scripture in prayer. Throughout the conversation, Sarah offers encouragement and practical advice for those feeling overwhelmed by fear, highlighting God's faithfulness and presence in every situation.

Verses: Luke 15:1-7; Matthew 18:12-14; Proverbs 3:5,6; Ephesians 6:10-17; Psalm 25; 2 Chronicles 20:12-17; Psalm 121:5; Isaiah 30:21; Ephesians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Philippians 4:6-7

Contact: SarahGriffithsHu.com

Sarah's book: Courageous Trust: A Journey of Faith Over Fear

Contact Kelly: KellyHall.org

01:20 Meet Sarah

02:55 Sarah's Journey with Fear and Anxiety

06:16 The Impact of Assault and Shame

08:04 Finding Trust and Overcoming Fear

11:14 Early Marriage Challenges

18:01 Financial Struggles and God's Provision

23:02 A Mother's Comfort in Crisis

24:03 Finding Strength in Faith

24:40 Practical Ways to Pray Through Fear

26:13 The Power of Praying Scripture

28:04 Trusting God's Plan

34:22 Humor and Homeschooling

38:32 Overcoming Fear with Faith

40:45 The Importance of Waiting on God

Rachel LeMaster is a remarkable young woman whose story of survival and faith has been featured on national platforms such as The Katie Couric Show and The Today Show. Rachel, born with Turner’s Syndrome, shares her journey of surviving a catastrophic car accident that left her with severe injuries, including internal decapitation and traumatic brain injury. Despite these challenges, Rachel's faith in God remained unshaken. She delves into her miraculous recovery, the power of prayer, and how she found contentment and purpose through the darkest times.

Verses mentioned: Daniel 3:25, Matthew 14:22-33; Philippians 4:11-13

01:00 Rachel's Early Life and Turner’s Syndrome

01:31 The Life-Changing Accident

03:48 Rachel's Recovery and God's Presence

10:12 Overcoming Bullying and Finding Purpose

14:54 The Journey to Physical and Emotional Healing

38:35 Meeting Her Husband and New Beginnings

41:05 Rachel's Message of Hope and Faith

46:10 Conclusion and Call to Action

Authentically Rachel Podcast

https://authentically-rachel.com/about-rachel

KellyHall.org

Christine Hoy, shares her transformative journey of breaking free from the exhausting cycle of perfectionism and embracing a life anchored in grace. We’ll enjoy God’s purposeful creativity in revealing strongholds of control and guiding her into deeper surrender. Christine emphasizes the joy found in intimate time with God and shares practical steps towards achieving peace. We will draw from her book, Peace Beyond Perfection: Overcoming the Fear of Not Being Enough.

Verses: Proverbs 3:5-6; John 14:27; Matthew 11:28-30

00:00 A Divine Intervention: The Message to Stop

02:27 A Story of Transformation: From Perfectionism to Peace

05:47 Realizing the Need for Change

08:59 A Year of Surrender and Trust

11:36 Identifying Perfectionism and Finding True Peace

21:25 Scriptures and Surrender: Anchoring in God's Word

27:27 Embracing Rest and Intimacy with God

Connect: ChristineCarterHoy.com

Book: Peace Beyond Perfection: Overcoming the Fear of Not Being Enough.

Connect: KellyHall.org