What do you do when life doesn’t turn out the way you prayed it would?

In this honest and powerful episode, Willow sits down with Nicci Smith—known by many as Tanner’s mom from Love on the Spectrum—to talk about the journey she never expected and the God who met her in it.

When Nicci first received her son’s autism diagnosis, she was overwhelmed with fear, grief, and uncertainty. Like many moms, she found herself asking: What does this mean for his future? What does this mean for our family?

But what unfolded over the years wasn’t the story she feared—it was something deeper, richer, and more meaningful than she could have imagined.

This conversation is for the woman who:

• Feels like she’s living a story she didn’t choose
• Is grieving what she thought life would look like
• Is exhausted from trying to “fix” or control the outcome
• Wonders if God is still at work in the middle of it all

Nicci vulnerably shares how it took over a decade to move from striving and fear into true surrender—and how that shift changed everything.

You’ll hear how God used Tanner’s life not just to shape their family, but to impact millions through his joy, authenticity, and love for people.

• Why surrender—not striving—is the turning point in hard seasons
• How to redefine success when life looks different than expected
• The tension between pursuing help and trusting God’s plan
• What it looks like to grieve honestly and still hold onto faith
• How God can use what feels like weakness to impact others in powerful ways

• Instagram | instagram.com/nicci_smith6/
• Podcast: Talk To Me, Sis | Apple Podcasts

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Mentioned in this episode:

Book | Collide: Running Into Healing When Life Hands You Hurt

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