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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 Jan 20, 2021
Wednesday Jan 20, 2021
Dominique Bennett - Divorce, Single Mom
God's heart for marriage is that it would model the love and devotion that He has you and I as His Bride. Even though divorce is prevalent today, the God of the Holy Bible is still the God who takes a vow very seriously. After all, He has given His daughters a vow to never leave nor forsake us. No. Matter. What.
When faced with a divorce the uncertainty can spin questions through your mind and heart. Will God be mad if I abandon my vow? Will He turn His back on me? Will He love me? Will I be worthy of anything good in my future?
From no fault of her own my guest Dominique Bennett had to face the reality of divorce. She questioned how God would take care her and her five sons. Fear and anxiety threatened to overtake her.
Can we trust God when uncertainty and failure want to submerge your mind and heart? Listen to what Dominique discovered about God's heart for a divorced woman.
Live Loved and Thrive @ alifeofthrive.com
Transcript for today's episode: https://www.happyscribe.com/transcriptions/afa02c520ae745309a7d14d72889ddec/edit_v2
Wednesday Jan 06, 2021
Wednesday Jan 06, 2021
Amy Heilman - Identity
Identity is everything! How you see yourself will determine what you accomplish and obtain in life. Be it a job/raise/promotion, relationship/love/friendship, health/wealth/freedom, body image etc. you will pre-qualify yourself for what you think you are worthy of.
When my guest Amy Heilman experienced overwhelm, anxiety and chaos in her mind and heart she made the decision to explore the various triggers that threw her into crisis.
What she discovered is freedom to be who God created her to be. She shares her experience in a free book that you can find on her website: https://www.breathedeepministries.org/soul-stripper-book. She has been known to do a bible study on identity so stay connected with her and her ministry.
Start Chapter 2021 with a strong identity. It will serve you well for many years to come!
Live Loved and Thrive @ alifeofthrive.com
Transcript: https://www.happyscribe.com/transcriptions/80cc2ad9d9364aa3a9c4eda5e26b03d2/edit_v2
Bio: Amy Heilman’s specialty is soul care. Her approach is genuine and authentic. Amy is passionate about helping others grow in a vibrant and intimate relationship with our Triune God. She has 30 years experience in different capacities of church ministry. Amy graduated from Bible College at Hope International University (formerly known as Pacific Christian College) in Fullerton, California. She is also a trained Spiritual Director through SDI (Spiritual Direction Institute) and a Chaplain through UCI (United Chaplains International). She moved to Virginia in 1997 and has worked alongside her husband on two successful church planting teams. In 2009, Amy founded Breathe Deep Ministries. Through this ministry she leads contemplative women’s retreats and serves as guest speaker for events. Amy also works with Journey Mates Ministry guiding women in spiritual formations. Amy uses the difficult life experiences she has endured as well as her unique spiritual gifts. She ministers with a compassionate heart full of discernment, grace and mercy. Amy has a deep and abiding love for the Word of God and a steadfast desire to see others live in the fullness of who God created them to be as sons and daughters of the King.
Wednesday Dec 23, 2020
Wednesday Dec 23, 2020
Ann Shaw - Birth Defect, Spina bifida
I would not know anything about spina bifida if not for my friend Ann Shaw. Her son Cameron was born with this birth defect. Let me set you up for the conversation by sharing the definition so that you will have a reference point (if need be) for our discussion.
Spina bifida - A congenital defect in which the spinal column is imperfectly closed so that part of the meninges or spinal cord protrudes, often resulting in hydrocephalus (A usually congenital condition in which an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the cerebral ventricles causes enlargement of the skull and compression of the brain, destroying much of the neural tissue ) and other neurological disorders.
Neurological disorders are indeed part of the journey for Ann and her family. In this episode Ann shares how she and her husband Joe, navigate the challenges of life with their son Cameron who is now 18 years old. He has endured 40+ surgeries and a little over a year ago his life hung in the balance as doctors called on every resource they knew to use and/or had available.
What are Ann's questions for God especially when she sees her son in pain or bullied? When the quality of life is called into question what does that mean in a real time, real life and a real God whom we profess to be good? Could it be that any perceived imperfection in this life is merely a mirror to the imperfection in one's heart?
Lived Loved and Thrive @ alifeofthrive.com
Transcript: https://www.happyscribe.com/transcriptions/7a3914e60db54e85955a643702dc63c4/edit_v2
Bio: Ann Shaw is a devoted wife and mother. She has been married to her husband, Joe for 31 years and they have an 18 year old son, Cameron.
Ann worked in the dental field for more than 20 years managing the front office. When she gave birth to a son with Spina bifida, she made the decision to stay home to care for him. Cameron was in and out of the hospital since birth and was faced with many surgeries. As a result, he has a permanent cecostomy tube in his stomach, he can’t feel his feet and is prone to infections.
Ann quickly learned that this would be her new normal. With her continued effort, she wanted to make Cameron’s life as normal as possible. There were lots of struggles along the way, but she has always managed to maintain her joyous, positive attitude.
Wednesday Dec 16, 2020
Wednesday Dec 16, 2020
Erin Honeycutt - Infertility and Miscarriages
I want to share this bonus podcast episode because the God of the Holy Bible does not shy away from the tough questions or the hard subjects. I wanted to talk about miscarriage and infertility. As we approach Christmas with the main focus being the birth of a baby, it's not lost on my heart that some women stare into an empty crib or feel the void in their womb and my guest today is no exception.
On this episode Erin Honeycutt shares the desire of her heart and why she still believes in the goodness of God. Near the end of our conversation she pours out her heart revealing how and why she can't stay in a place of anguish and torment.
Some of the other topics we talked about, one was the fact that God catches our tears and because He is purposeful, intentional and wastes nothing, we pondered what He might be planning to do with our tears.
As we continued to look at life through the lens of miscarriage and infertility, we considered the fact that each of us have a time in our life when God asks us, "Am I enough even if you don't get the desire of your heart?" That conversation caused me to consider the reference point that He is using when He asks us that question.
Your heart will find renewed strength as you hear the truth that Erin's heart clings to despite the miscarriages she has endured. She is blessed with one son but her heart has always been to have a big family. She is the oldest of 6 children.
If you've ever suffered deep and bone aching loss, what Erin has learned and shares can be applied in your life too. Pain like that does have a place to rest. Listen in to find out why she continually trusts the One who is seemingly withholding the desire of her heart.
Live Loved and Thrive @ alifeofthrive.com
Transcript: https://www.happyscribe.com/transcriptions/b37c91138f9b43b7809db10215196867/edit_v2
Sunday Dec 06, 2020
Sunday Dec 06, 2020
Shelley Darabos - Cancer
Shelley's husband, Marcello gets a completely unexpected cancer diagnosis and is rushed to the hospital for immediate treatment. They're told that the treatment plan will take 4 months and at the end of those 4 months he'll either be cured or he'll have passed away.
Where do you turn when your life gets flipped upside down that hard? Is there anything that can help you orient yourself to this life or death diagnosis!
Live Loved and Thrive @ alifeofthrive.com
Transcripts for this conversation: https://www.happyscribe.com/transcriptions/60f19b3be8264099a5a01a7f0dbbd782/edit_v2
Wednesday Nov 25, 2020
Wednesday Nov 25, 2020
Meredith Bunting - Living with Chronic Illness
If you have chronic pain be it physical or emotional, Meredith can give you insight to using your pain to bridge your reality with heaven. She lives with 2 chronic illnesses that do not have a cure. But rather than cave to the loneliness and depression they create she has found holy moments where she knows God's presence and experiences His great love for her.
Make sure to read her blog post The Essence of Pain. The post includes the main page plus 4 additional pages that break down the word PAIN. The pain of this world braided together with the beauty of God's presence in the midst of it all. You can find her at meredithbunting.com
Live Loved and Thrive @ alifeofthrive.com
Transcript: https://www.happyscribe.com/transcriptions/ba4cd2021edb48aa903e06ecd88649ba/edit_v2
BIO: Meredith Bunting, formally called “Fluff Ball” as an endearment close to the mark, is prone to whimsy while bent to wisdom, drawn to emotion, yet thrives in compassion and is besought with questions and always surprised by God’s answers. Her driving passion is seeking the essence within the days given by God.
Her thirty-year battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis has rendered her joints weak, her hands deformed and her feet plain sore. The life changing diagnosis to a former Health and Fitness Instructor developed into a writing ministry she calls, “Faith Fitness and Fruit”, which will be published in the near future.
Meanwhile, “The Essence of Pain”, which she wrote during episodes of chronic pain, is available through this website.
Meredith lives in her new home in Naples, Florida. She and her husband have three daughters and are blessed with ten grandchildren and one “best friend”, their Schnauzer, Sophia. Excerpts from “Faith, Fitness and Fruit” can be found on meredithbunting.com.
Wednesday Nov 11, 2020
Wednesday Nov 11, 2020
Dyan Lollis - False Imprisonment
My guest, Dyan Lollis is no stranger to pain and suffering. In this episode she tells us what it's like to be convicted, sentenced and doing time ... for something she didn't do. How in the world can God use a convicted felon and why would He tarnish His reputation by doing so?
Live Loved and Thrive @ alifeofthrive.com
She's written a book on her experience. You can get it on Amazon but she said if you contact her directly she's cheaper :) dyanlollis@ymail.com. Here's the Amazon link:
https://www.amazon.com/Behind-Glass-Innocent-Woman-Tells/dp/1603832556
Transcript to today's episode: https://www.happyscribe.com/transcriptions/207280aa8d924aeab27e0450edc53805/edit_v2
BIO: I live in Florida with my husband Walter. I love sharing Christ with others and I am a leader in the youth group at my church and I teach Sunday School for 3rd through 6th grade.
I love all God’s creatures so I rescue all forms of wildlife; reptiles, mammals, and birds. I take seriously that we are to be caretakers of the earth and I would rehabilitate a bumble bee if it needed me.
I am an avid reader, reading at least one or more books a week. I also love crafts and I constantly have some project going at all times. When I want to unwind I visit Disney World and all the other theme parks in Florida as I love thrill rides.
Wednesday Oct 28, 2020
Wednesday Oct 28, 2020
Michele Poe - Mental Illness and Suicide
Michele Poe or Meiche (pronounced Meesh) has one of the most generous hearts when it comes to passionately championing those who suffer with mental health issues and thoughts of harming themselves. You'll find her to be authentic and transparent as she shares her personal journey of what it looks like to be a Christian who suffers from mental illness and who attempted suicide in 2016. She'll be the first to tell you that labels and titles do not define you, Christ does.
Live Loved and Thrive @ alifeofthrive.com
If you want to reach out to Meiche please use her email: meichepoe7@gmail.com
Transcript: https://www.happyscribe.com/transcriptions/17ce498a9d7846e5803a6e8f5e4796f1/edit_v2
BIO: Meiche Poe has been married to her high school sweetheart Evan, for 26+ years. They have four successful adult daughters whom they take great pleasure in watching as God draws them into all that He has for them. In addition to the girls, they currently have two young grandsons who fill their hearts with exceedingly abundant joy.
Meiche has successfully fought depression, anxiety and insomnia for the past twenty years. She has found peace and perseverance for the journey with help from the Lord, her family and a wonderful treatment team.
Her passion is to share her story with those who suffer from mental illness. It is her heart’s desire to remove the feeling of hopelessness and give hope to those who struggle with similar issues.