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When life as we know it is flipped upside down, we struggle to make sense of it all. Why would a good God allow this to happen? Hi, I’m Sherrie Pilkington, your host of Finding God In Our Pain. In 2018, when I unexpectedly lost my husband of 32 years, questions erupted out of my deepest despair. Since then, I’ve continued to search the heart of God for what He has to say about pain and suffering. In this podcast we’ll discover how God enters into our pain, shepherds us through our darkest valleys, and leads us to green pastures once again. I’ll bring you firsthand stories from women who allow us into their authentic struggles, along with professional advice from experts, counselors, and others who can help us navigate pain. Join me, as we discover God’s answers to the deepest cries of our shattered hearts.
Episodes
Wednesday Oct 27, 2021
Wednesday Oct 27, 2021
Rachel Fahrenbach - Identity, Purpose, Belonging and the Sabbath
Today's guest, author Rachel Fahrenbach has some valuable insight to share on what rest can do for you in all the areas of your life, and rest in the form of practicing Sabbath. Our conversation was based on her new book, Rest & Reflect: 12-Week Guided Sabbath Journal.
Through her guided journal you will explore these 3 areas with God:
Identity
Purpose
Belonging
To me, identity, purpose and belonging are key areas that are foundational for us when navigating this thing called life. When those 3 areas are healthy we get to enjoy things like peace, clarity, and joy for the journey.
This isn't a legalistic practice. It moves with the ebb and flow of life and it looks original to the families that define how they want to focus on God. It’s truly a beautiful thing.
Because resting in God is a spiritual inheritance that we have access to as His children, you know God has a beautiful exchange for us when we practice the Sabbath. Anytime we draw near to Him He showers us with His affection and generosity. And He always gives more than we can imagine.
God’s value system is such that when we discover who He is in the type of rest that He has for us we get more. More peace, less anxiety. More relationship with less work. More life, less overwhelm.
Giving God our focus helps us to begin to see things through the lens of God’s heart for us and that sweet friend is transformational!
Talking with Rachel about practicing the Sabbath reminds me that it offer us the opportunity to have that garden of eden experience...in the here and now…..daily perceiving Him, walking and talking with Him.
Rachel shows us that resting is not being lazy, it shouldn’t make you feel guilty and you’re not adding something to you To Do list. I want to challenge you to give God your time by practicing a Sabbath and see what He has for you. Test Him, taste and see that He is good.
Live Loved and Thrive! @alifeofthrive.com
Wednesday Oct 13, 2021
Wednesday Oct 13, 2021
Diana Winkler - Abusive Christian Marriage
As with any of my interviews, I’m talking with real people about their personal life, and the way they, as the individuals they are, experience trauma. Today I’m talking with Diana Winkler. She shares her story about suffering abuse at the hands of her Christian husband, having the courage to leave, get a divorce and what healing looks like for her.
As I explored Diana’s journey with her it was for the purpose of trying to understand what she experienced, through her individual lens of looking and discerning the world she lives in and the God she’s struggling to discover.
Our relationship with Christ is personal, and our learning curves are at different paces. God is patient with us and so I have no judgement about where any one person is on their maturing process with Christ, I’m open to the fact that it can look different because we are fearfully and wonderfully made. The One who formed our inward parts; the One who knitted each of us together in each of our mother's wombs….speaks of such an intimacy that I trust Him with our struggle even when we make mistakes, even when we completely miss the mark.
Just like any of our human relationships when we spend more time with each other there is more depth with which we know each other. The same can be said about God, we experience an ever increasing intimacy with anyone that we spend more time with. I say that to say this, some of us have a solid footing, a rich intimacy with God and others of us are still leaning.
This conversation is not the Proverbs 31 woman….the woman we’re talking to needs healing…..so this conversation is for the Proverbs 13:12 woman ….. the one whose hope deferred has made her heart sick, she’s the one who would say she has no solid ground to put her feet on, no peaceful place to rest her heart. I want her to know she’s not alone…that God sees her and that He sees the pain, the anguish of her shattered heart and He has something beautiful for her. I want her to know that God embraces her search for Him in the painful places….He welcomes her questions, her pain, and He hasn’t allowed anything that He does not plan to redeem.
Are you in a Christian marriage that you know in your heart God does not approve of the abuse you’re experiencing? Keep this close to your heart, God has a plan of redemption for you. Theres extravagant grace in Gods covenant with us. He doesn’t turn His back on you. He meets you where you are and shepherd’s you through into healing.
Lived Loved and Thrive! @ALifeOfThrive.com
A story I chose to encourage your heart today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz81dIfwf4Y
Transcript: https://www.happyscribe.com/transcriptions/49cb3400e11f43559ce1524835b96ec2/edit_v2
Connect with Diana Winkler:
Website: https://dswministries.org
Email: diana@dswministries.org
Social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DSW-Ministries-230135337033879
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DswMinistries
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxgIpWVQCmjqog0PMK4khDw/playlists
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dswministries/
My podcast: The Wounds OF The Faithful https://dswministries.org/subscribe-to-podcast/
Bio:
Diana Winkler is a singer, songwriter, speaker and abuse advocate. She served as a missionary, planting churches for 13 years, while enduring abuse that was enabled by the church. 10 years ago, she started her ministry, DSW Ministries. She uses her music to help survivors in the church heal from domestic violence, abuse, and trauma. She is the host of The Wounds of the Faithful Podcast and is a certified facilitator for Mending the Soul small groups. Diana is passionate about helping victims discover that, not only can you survive, but you can be victorious!
Wednesday Sep 29, 2021
Wednesday Sep 29, 2021
Meredith Bunting - Crisis, Chaos, Surrender and Celebration
My sweet friend Meredith Bunting is back, and she was one of the original seven women who agreed to get my podcast off the ground. And at that time she shared her journey with chronic illness that included paralyzing pain that would seize her body and leave her balled up in a fetal position for days until it decided to let her go. And she had no promise that it would get better, and no one had a cure for her.
Additionally, you might remember, in our original episode, we briefly talked about a book that she had in the works. Well, she's back today to talk about that book because it's been published, and it will be available for purchase in February. At the current moment, you can preorder it and I'll give you the info below.
The title of her book is "Cutting and Pasting Truth: Snapshots of a Life Lived Through Faith and Fitness." The book is broken down into four parts, crisis, chaos, surrender and celebration. We talk about the journey of pain and what it looks like through those 4 phases but I want to share with you my favorite part of our conversation. Here's some amazing news. A month or two ago, Meredith's pain went away, disappeared. It has not returned.
She'll tell you it's been somewhat of a struggle to go from living with that level and frequency of pain to no pain at all. That in itself brought on a whole different struggle with God. Meredith knows crisis, chaos, surrender and she has entered into the celebration phase.
Now that she had been supernaturally healed, I had a question for her that centers around people who, without a supernatural move of God, will not receive an answer to their prayers. What if their mountain will not be moved? What does God have for those who are in a holding patter of chaos or even surrender but no proof that things are changing?
My question comes at a time in Meredith's personal life when she just recently laid to rest one precious friend and is watching another dear friend who is slipping into the arms of Jesus. Her answer is so beautiful, and it reveals the God we serve in a way that He never wastes a thing and that we're never alone. I immediately wrote about it in a blog post as well.
If you've ever wondered if God has something for us when we suffer, don't miss what she has to share. I feel sure your heart will be infused with a deep measure of peace and joy.
Live Loved and Thrive!
Amazon Book Link: Cutting and Pasting Truth - Snapshots of a life lived through faith and fitness
Connect with Meredith:
Email: mbunting3195@gmail.com
Website: meredithbunting.com
Thursday Sep 23, 2021
Thursday Sep 23, 2021
Finding God in Our Pain Podcast Turns ONE!!
Bonus Episode!
It’s my one year podcasting anniversary! I'm ONE YEAR OLD! It’s celebration time for Finding God in Our pain because my learning curve was real but I can testify that God is faithful!
Today’s episode is my year in review. What did I learn in this past year from hearing the stories of others? How have their experiences shaped my understanding of who the God of the Holy Bible is when it comes to pain and suffering?
It has been such a precious experience because of the places I’ve been allowed to go and by places I mean, my guests have allowed me to enter into their intimate pain, their vulnerable places and their genuine struggle with God. To me that is sacred ground where our pain meets Gods sovereignty.
I have been extravagantly encouraged to learn, in deeper ways that God never leaves us. That is pure gold in this life. With each story my heart has been given significant revelation in my understanding of God’s heart for us in the midst of this life's trauma, trials and disappointments.
In todays episode I’ve asked my friend Amy Heilman to be the interviewer and to help me reflect on the past year of guests and topics with a focus on what I’ve learned in my own life through the concept of shared story. You may remember Amy's episode on Identity. She kicked off 2021 having an in-depth conversation with me on our identity in Christ.
To date, I have produced 27 podcast episodes (a couple of which are bonus episodes) and I currently have 2600+ downloads. As you know, Finding God in Our pain is a bimonthly podcast so I release episodes every other Wednesday.
The majority of my listeners are in the states but here is a short list of the areas where I also have listeners: Switzerland, Ireland, Russia, India, Netherlands, Germany, Guatemala, France, New Zealand, Austria, Australia, United Kingdom, Jamaica, Canada…just to name a few
Of my 27 episodes to date I share who the top five are with regard to number of downloads only. I’ve had my head in the learning curve on how to produce a quality product and give you something worth listening to so I haven’t had a chance to learn analytics nor what the measurable aspects are other than downloads.
Of the 27 current episodes, 2600+ downloads I get an average of 96 downloads per episode. I’l be honest, I have no idea if that’s good or not so good but to me, its phenomenal. When I look at it I see progress, I see God’s intimacy of calling and equipping.
Every time I get to talk with a guest I get a front row seat to someone’s redemption story. With each testimony God is continually showing me who He is. You want to talk about building faith… I am richly rewarded over and over again
To my listeners….Thank you for listening! Where would I be without you? Granted I'd still be learning some beautiful things about God but my heart would still be longing to reveal these things to your heart too. May these stories of the God who never leaves us in our distress, give you the courage to take the next breath, the next step and give you hope in a better tomorrow.
Also, I deeply appreciate any time you share my podcast with those whom you have influence with or someone you want to bless with an encouraging message. That is a blessing to me. I love and appreciate YOU! Thank you!
As a Side note: I’m open to suggestions on what I can do better or the type of guest you want to hear from or maybe there is a topic you want to hear about. Are you ready to share your story? I’d love to talk to you! Maybe you know someone who needs to share their story that will encourage others. Should any of that apply to you, please Visit the home base for my podcast and it’s the website A Life of Thrive .com. Use the contact link and let me know your thoughts, give me your suggestions, let's talk about your story or introduce me to your friend who has beauty to share with the world.
Again, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Much love to you sweet friend!
Live Loved and Thrive @ alifeofthrive.com
Transcript: https://www.happyscribe.com/transcriptions/9aa609a97c394a908e5b7d0289a217b5/edit_v2
Wednesday Sep 15, 2021
Wednesday Sep 15, 2021
Charlie Griffin - Facing the Lie that I'm Never Enough
I’m so happy you’re here because my guest Charlie Griffin is the sweetest, I mean the sweetest young woman who has a precious story of transformation. She’s been set free from the lie she once believed, “I’m not enough.” She’s left addiction behind, a failed marriage when her husband returned to his addiction and the revelation that sometimes what we think are God’s plans for us turn out to be exactly that … what WE thought He wanted.
Charlie and I really dug into regret, guilt, shame and looked at it through several different angels because I wanted to find all the different ways that it surfaces.
Charlie’s transformation began when she learned that God did love her and begin to understand that He says she is enough. Period. No matter what she’d done or where she found herself God saw the beauty of who He had made her to be.
The power of her transformation really grabbed major traction when she moved from what she thought she knew about God to discovering Him for who He truly was. From what she believed and reasoned in her own mind to what she discovered about Him with her heart.
As you listen to her talk you will hear that she is thoughtful about what she says and how she reveals the heart of God. You’ll also hear her love of God pour forth and you’ll understand why as she tells you about her journey through addition, trying her best to save her marriage only to realize she’s fighting against God, how God used her 4 year old daughter to give her a reality check and the beauty of the knowledge that she lives in and with today.
Friend, since you’re listening in, I want to encourage you. Hang on to this truth - No matter what this life wants to label you with or put on you, keep the eyes of your heart on God because He is writing a much bigger love story with you as the individual He created you to be.
Connect with Charlie:
https://www.facebook.com/charlie.griffin.589
charlie@thatmediagirl.org
Transcript: https://www.happyscribe.com/transcriptions/f18fb18e05794ca88a6c1c08b90250dd/edit_v2
Wednesday Sep 01, 2021
Wednesday Sep 01, 2021
Sara Salazar - Autoimmune Disease and Pulmonary Fibrosis
When I originally recorded this episode with today’s guest Sara Salazar there were 2 things that stood out to me then and they stay with me even now. The strength of such a small family unit, Sara, her brother and their mom and the influence of a mother’s unwavering faith.
Sara had watched her mom overcome obstacle after obstacle, challenge after challenge. Sara held onto the hope that they’d be able to catch that needed break and things would level out for them and be a little easier.
So what would they do when a health diagnosis shakes the one foundation that their mother stands on? Solid. Unwavering. This mom’s faith in Christ alone was non-negotiable. But what happens when the expectations we have of God our ways of defining what it means for Him to show up are not fulfilled?
In my conversation with Sara, now a young woman in her mid 20’s, she shares the story of her mom through the eyes of a young teen. When Sara was 14 she received devastating news. Her mom who had scleroderma, an autoimmune disease finds out it has brought the onset of pulmonary fibrosis. It is a rare lung disease that affects 1 in 20,000 people. pulmonary fibrosis would scar her lungs making it difficult to breathe.
Upon receiving the bleak diagnosis, her mom stepped out in faith and shared that she believed God would heal her. Sara stood in agreement with her mother. They joined together in shared faith, believing that God would heal her. The faith community joined in faithful prayer for healing.
We all know that God has promised to never leave us alone especially in our pain and suffering but we also have to admit that there are times that God in His Sovereignty does not move the mountains that we so desperately pray for Him to move. And that was Sara’s experience. God did not heal her mom on this side of heaven. When Sara was 19 she laid her mother to rest.
I’ll admit that a believer’s death is the ultimate healing but what about those left behind to deal with the pain of separation? How would Sara make sense of a good God and the reality that He did not intervene in her mother’s suffering nor did He stop her death.
The good deposit that Sara’s mom made in her life, a fierce faith, the kind that weathers the storms and deeply painful seasons was then and is now, the life preserver of truth that keeps Sara firmly planted on solid ground.
May you be as blessed as I was to hear this precious woman’s story of genuine struggle, the revelations she received and what it looks like for her to arrive at a place of peace despite her deep pain.
Get Connected with Sara
Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/justbeingsara/
https://www.facebook.com/sara.salazar.3323/
https://www.joinclubhouse.com/@justbeingsara
Website - Need help through your journey of grief? Get more info about all the ways Sara is there to help.
https://www.justbeingsara.com/
Transcript: https://www.happyscribe.com/transcriptions/1f62b5446cf34ffe810dc9397ac4eb0f/edit_v2
Wednesday Aug 18, 2021
Wednesday Aug 18, 2021
Bonnie Rawlins - Divorce and Personal Restoration
My guest today is Bonnie Rawlins and she shares her personal experience of being a mom of 3, rushing into marriage, discovering she’d made a terrible mistake, and what it was like to get through her divorce.
Bonnie prayed for a man that was Godly and would lead the family with biblical values. Bonnie was confident God had brought the right man into her life. But what would she do when she realizes she'd rushed ahead of God? Would God shame her for not being patient, for doing what she wanted and not really listening for His leading?
Does God care about us when we make mistakes or is it our fault and He lets us get the consequences we deserve? Did God turn his back on her? Did He provide for her? Does God have a future for Bonnie?
I hope your heart will be as encouraged as mine to hear of God’s presence in the midst of what we define as mistakes.
If you've ever rushed ahead of God only to realize you'd made a mistake, listen in to discover the various ways God showed up.
Get connected with Bonnie: You can reach her through her coaching and heart healing services: withaservantsheart@gmail.com or via Facebook at With a Servants Heart Breakthrough Coaching, @withaservantsheartcoaching (https://www.facebook.com/withaservantsheartcoaching)
Transcript: https://www.happyscribe.com/transcriptions/8dee003b893c45e18e9bf5bc40214ceb/edit_v2
Bio:
I am a survivor of domestic abuse, which began as financial control and kept me "prisoner" for 7 years, and yet, I can see all the ways God was protecting me and how He kept me going. What felt like being crushed was really my road to healing because it turned out to be the way God was preparing me for His call on my life. Once set free of the abusive cycle, God began connecting me with other women who were in or had been in similar situations. In doing so, I was able to meet various needs as well as help in different ways with their healing process.
At 44 years of age I graduated from college and now enjoy each day working with children who have special needs. God has brought purpose and redemption from my pain because I am also the Owner of With a Servant’s Heart. Through this opportunity I have the honor of coaching women to find healing and purpose through their pain.
Wednesday Aug 04, 2021
Wednesday Aug 04, 2021
Sherry Jones - The Power of Speaking Life
Bible scripture can feel so empty when tragedy and trauma hit us. We struggle to right ourselves and make sense of what has happened.
My precious guest Sherry Jones is no different. What started out as hanging with friends turned into a night that would bring confusion, shame and regret. But God never leaves us in our suffering and He proved Himself faithful as the pain and confusion ran its course in Sherry's mind and heart.
It was the word of God, the scriptures that would rewrite her darkest fears. It was God's presence that brought the ink on crinkly pages to life and made His promises real to her. It was God's promises that would set her on a new path, into healing and restoration, a deeper understanding of His heart for her.
Do you have any regret and shame? Ask God for a promise that you can set the eyes of your heart on and begin to believe Him for. He's the Father that never leaves, is never offended and does not give ultimatums. You're free to choose Him and you're free not to choose Him but do know that He waits patiently to restore, heal and redeem. That's His heart for you!
Transcript: https://www.happyscribe.com/transcriptions/1cc3b4302f584107bf19f5e841f64ad1/edit_v2
Sherry Jones believes in the power of speaking life! She is passionate about helping women push past their limitations so that they can pursue their purpose. She does this by empowering them to make speaking life a lifestyle, transforming the negative words spoken over their lives into positive words and thoughts rooted in the Word of God.
Sherry is the author of two books. Speak Life Moments: A Transformational Journey is a 21-day devotional that shares moments in her life that taught her how to speak life to herself and her circumstances so that her readers can do the same. Trouble Don’t Last Always is a Christian fiction novel that tells the story of a young woman struggling with her faith and takes readers on her journey back to God. These books are available on Amazon.
The How to Speak Life with Your Story Coaching Program is for first-time authors who know they have a book inside them but don’t know where to start. Sherry will help you determine what to share and how to share it in a way that will bless and encourage your readers. Learn more about this program at bit.ly/speaklifewithyourstory.
Sherry believes in the power of prayer and wants to encourage you to speak life through prayer. Infusing speaking life into your prayer life strengthens your connection with the Lord, increases your confidence in who God says you are and empowers you to confess that truth boldly. You’re invited take the 7-Day Speak Life Prayer Challenge and join Sherry on this journey at bit.ly/speaklifeprayerchallenge.
Sherry is the founder of Glory Carriers Women’s Network, a Facebook community for Christian women. The mission of GCWN is to uplift, support, and encourage Christian women to glorify God in every aspect of their lives. Not only do they carry the glory, but they are #spreadingtheglory to the masses.
Learn more about Sherry and listen to her podcast, We Are The Church with Sherry Jones, at sherryspeakslife.com. Enjoy words of encouragement and interviews with Christian thought-leaders, business owners, and ministry leaders about today’s issues from a Christ perspective.
Follow Sherry on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube @sherryspeakslife. She would love to connect with you!