Finding God
in Our Pain

My guest, Constance Hastings, the author of ”The Trouble with Jesus: Considerations Before You Walk Away,” stops by to discuss her book, which explores controversial topics in faith and theology.

Constance shares her personal experiences with faith, prayer, and the transformative power of God’s love. We then explore themes like the authenticity of the scriptures, the importance of respectful conversations about faith, and the role of prayer in aligning oneself with God’s will. Along with those topics we also discuss the misconception of God as a divine fixer and the cultural hijacking of the concept of love. Constance emphasizes the necessity of knowing God to truly understand love and the significance of having a relationship with Him.

Through multiple personal losses and hardships, including the death of loved ones, cancer, her son’s addiction, and a house fire, guest, Lea Turner emphasizes the importance of being honest with God about one’s pain and questions, even when they are not considered godly. Leah highlights that true intimacy with God develops through these trials, and she shares that documenting moments of joy and reaching out to friends have been essential practices for her during tough times. She also stresses that God provides comfort and signs of hope, like the butterflies she saw amidst the ashes of her destroyed home.

Dr. Sheila Jackson shares insights on spiritual maturity, emphasizing it as a transformative journey towards embodying God’s character, as outlined in Galatians 5:22. Dr. Jackson highlights the importance of aligning one’s behavior, speech, and faith with God’s will. She helps us discern God’s voice vs our personal desires and the significance of spiritual dreams and visions as avenues for divine communication. Dr. Sheila wants us to know that nothing is impossible with God and the boundless lengths He goes to for His children.

Guest, Melinda Patrick shares a thoughtful conversation about her experiences as a mother of a daughter who identifies as LGBTQ. Melinda delves into practical advice for parents struggling with similar situations, including the necessity of not trying to “fix” their children but instead loving them and supporting them through their journey. Melinda recounts how her own journey has deepened her faith and transformed her understanding of God’s love and grace. The conversation underscores the importance of trusting God with the ultimate responsibility for their children’s lives and the significance of pursuing Jesus above all else. Melinda also highlights the need for community and resources to support parents, emphasizing that healing and transformation are long-term processes guided by faith and God’s timing.

In this episode, host Sherrie Pilkington explores the profound impact of the Bible study titled “Do You Love Me? Exploring Our Relationships with God and Others” by Debbie Swindall, published by Grafted Life Ministries. Sherrie shares how the study, facilitated by her friend Amy Heilman from Breathe Deep Ministries, has deepened her intimacy with God, highlighting the simplicity yet profound nature of knowing God. Sherrie emphasizes that true spiritual growth and healing come from intentionally making time to engage with God, particularly in moments of pain and suffering. She discusses her personal journey of finding healing through Theophastic Prayer and the importance of being still to hear God’s voice, especially in times of emotional and mental struggle.

Lindsey shares her story of overcoming a challenging past marred by childhood trauma, including her father’s sudden departure and subsequent sexual abuse by him. She describes how these early experiences impacted her mental health and self-worth, leading to severe anxiety, depression, and difficulty in forming healthy relationships. Lindsey also discusses her struggles in an abusive marriage, her journey through various forms of therapy, and her eventual realization that only through Jesus could she find true healing and freedom from shame.

Logan Hufford shares his journey from a seemingly stable Christian upbringing to battling severe sexual addiction, including addiction to pornography and multiple affairs. He details the internal conflict he faced, particularly after getting married, as he struggled with deep self-hatred, shame, and despair. Logan emphasizes the nonlinear nature of recovery and the role of temptation in his life. He also discusses the transformative impact of entering a Christ-centered, intense recovery program, which helped him address his addiction and rebuild his life and marriage.

Bridgett Dunbar shares her journey of grief, loss, and finding hope in God’s goodness after losing her baby boy at birth. Bridgett encourages those who find themselves doing their best to navigate the devastating loss of a child. Listen in and find out how she overcame depression and doubt to ultimately surrender to God (what she thought her life should be), remarry, and become pregnant again.