Joy in Suffering okładka

Joy in Suffering

Joy in Suffering

Autor: Melissa Winters-Christian Author & Chronic Illness Faith Advocate
Słuchaj bezpłatnie, bez subskrypcji

Saisonale Sparangebote | 0,99 € pro Monat für die ersten 3 Monate

Danach 6,99 €/Monat. Bedingungen gelten. Monatlich kündbar.
Are you a Christian woman living with chronic illness, chronic pain, or deep grief — wondering where God is in the middle of your suffering? Welcome to Joy in Suffering: a Christian podcast for women navigating chronic illness, grief, anxiety, stress, and the quiet heartbreak of lost dreams. Hosted by Melissa Winters, who has lived with chronic illness since she was one year old, this podcast offers gentle, faith-filled conversations rooted in honest stories, Scripture, song, and hope that actually sustains you through the hard places. Each episode creates space to wrestle honestly with suffering while remembering that God is present, loving, and still working — through stories, Scripture, and song. Whether you're navigating chronic illness, walking through grief, struggling with anxiety and fear, grieving the life you thought you'd have, or simply exhausted from a season that won't let up — you'll find honest conversations, compassionate encouragement, and biblical hope designed to help you discover that joy is not the absence of pain. It is the presence of Christ within it. What you'll find here: 1) Faith and hope for Christian women with chronic illness and chronic pain 2) Biblical encouragement for grief, loss, and hard seasons 3) Honest conversations about suffering, doubt, and holding onto God 4) Scripture-centered hope for anxiety, fear, and uncertainty Stories of real women finding joy and purpose in the middle of limitations 5) Gentle encouragement for women who feel unseen, forgotten, or alone If you've ever asked: -Why does God feel so distant in my suffering? -How do I find joy when nothing in my life is changing? -Is it okay to struggle and still call myself a woman of faith? -How do I hold onto hope when healing hasn't come? -Does my life still have purpose even with chronic illness or grief? You're in the right place. This podcast is for Christian women who are tired of pretending they're okay — women who want real, Scripture-rooted encouragement that meets them right where they are, not after the storm passes. New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Follow the show so you never miss an episode, and join Melissa on Instagram and Facebook at @melissawinters1974 for encouragement between episodes. Your story isn’t over Christ can bring purpose to your pain and even here-Joy still remains2026 Melissa Winters Chrześcijaństwo Duchowość Higiena i zdrowy tryb życia Psychologia i zdrowie psychiczne
Odcinki
  • #14 Can God Bring Beauty From Your Hardest Seasons? With Sarah Brown

    #14 Can God Bring Beauty From Your Hardest Seasons? With Sarah Brown
    Oct 14 2026
    What happens when the life you carefully planned suddenly falls apart?My guest today, Sarah Brown, knows what it's like to watch the future she imagined disappear. A marriage she believed would last ended in divorce, leaving her navigating heartbreak, questions about her identity, and a season of single motherhood she never expected.But Sarah's story doesn't end in those ashes.Sarah is the author of Even the Ashes Bloom, a memoir about heartbreak, forgiveness, faith, and the quiet ways God brings new life out of places that seem beyond repair.In our conversation, Sarah shares how she learned to release shame, bring her honest emotions to God, and trust Him when she couldn't see what He was doing.One of my favorite parts of our conversation is when Sarah talks about wildflowers whose seeds can lie dormant beneath the ground for years, only to bloom after a fire.What a beautiful reminder for those of us walking through chronic illness, grief, or a season we never would have chosen. Just because we can't see something growing doesn't mean God has stopped working.In this episode, we talk about:The six words that changed Sarah's life and everything she thought her future would look likeWhy forgiveness and healing don't happen overnightFinding refuge in Scripture when you don't know how to praySarah's BLOOM framework for growing closer to GodHow friends can carry hope for us during difficult seasonsLearning to notice God's presence in ordinary momentsScripture for the Season:Psalm 57:1 (NIV)"Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed."Psalm 121:1–2 (NIV)"I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth."Sarah's story reminds us that when life doesn't turn out the way we planned, we don't have to figure everything out on our own. Our help comes from the Lord, even in seasons of heartbreak, uncertainty, and becoming.Additional Scriptures Mentioned:Psalm 91 (NIV) — Finding shelter in the shadow of the Almighty.Hosea 2:15 (NIV) — God transforming a valley of trouble into a door of hope.Psalm 56:11 (NIV) — Choosing to trust God rather than live in fear.2 Timothy 2:13 (NIV) — God's faithfulness even when ours falters.Psalm 37:4 (NIV) — Delighting in the Lord.Song for the Season:"Marvelous Light" — Christy NockelsSarah shares how this song carried her through one of her darkest seasons. Hearing it in church reminded her that shame and heartbreak didn't have to define the rest of her story.Listen on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Christy+Nockels+Marvelous+LightWord of the Week: Becoming:Becoming is the gradual process of growing into who God created us to be.Sometimes we think growth should look like moving forward, making progress, or finally getting past whatever has been hurting us.But as Sarah reminds us, some of the deepest changes happen beneath the surface, long before anyone else can see them.God can still be shaping our hearts, deepening our faith, and helping us become the women He created us to be—even in seasons we never would have chosen.Reflection Question:What might God be growing in you during this season, even if you can't see the changes yet?Resources Mentioned:Meet Sarah BrownSarah Brown is the author of Even the Ashes Bloom, a memoir exploring divorce, forgiveness, faith, and God's work of bringing hope through difficult seasons.Through her writing and resources, she encourages women to notice God's presence and grow closer to Him even when life hasn't gone as planned.Website: https://sarahsbrown.comInstagram: @authorsarahsbrownBook: Even the Ashes Bloom — available through major online booksellers.Sarah's BLOOM FrameworkB — Believe: Hold on to a truth from God's Word.L — Linger: Spend time with that truth.O — Observe: Notice how it applies to your life.O — Offer: Bring it to God in prayer.M — Magnify: Put what you've learned into practice.Other Resources:Jesus Calling — Sarah received a copy from her sister during the first months following her divorce.Faith Over Fear: Trusting God Through Life's Uncertainties — a collaborative book featuring a chapter by Melissa Winters.The Courage to Say Yes — a collaborative book featuring Melissa's writing.A Final Reminder:Your story isn't over.God can bring purpose to your pain And somehow—even here—joy still remains.Mentioned in this episode:A Quick Favor"I'm looking for 3-5 women to hop on a short, no-pressure 15-minute call with me, just to hear a little about your journey with chronic illness, grief, or a hard season, and the words you would use to describe it. No catches, no upsells, just me wanting to understand my listeners better so I can serve you well. As a thank-you, I will send you my free faith quiz, "What Is God Growing in Your Life Right Now?" If you're willing, just send me a DM on Instagram and I will ...
    Rozwiń Zwiń
    49 min
  • #13 Chronic Illness and the Guilt of Resting When Your Body Needs It.

    #13 Chronic Illness and the Guilt of Resting When Your Body Needs It.
    Sep 30 2026
    Why rest isn't a moral failure — even when chronic illness or grief makes it feel like one

    💛 Episode Summary:

    If you live with chronic illness, grief, or a season that's left you running on empty, you know a very specific guilt — the one that shows up the moment you finally stop. In this solo episode, Melissa shares an honest, hard night that started with a genuine mistake and turned into a spiral of guilt for needing to rest and heal. Walking through three places this guilt shows up in her own life, she looks at what Scripture actually says about rest, and why needing it was never the failure.

    🌿 In This Episode:

    - The story behind the episode — a forgotten record button and the guilt that followed

    - Why rest was never optional, from the very rhythm of creation itself (Genesis 2:2-3)

    - The guilt that shows up around a monthly infusion treatment and a lost evening (Psalm 23:2)

    - The comparison trap of watching everyone else's pace online (Matthew 11:28)

    - A practical step for naming the guilt out loud instead of believing it

    ⏱️ Episode Timestamps:

    00:00 — Intro: the voice that says you haven't earned the right to rest

    01:09 — The story behind this episode

    03:28 — Rest was never optional (Genesis 2:2-3)

    04:42 — The infusion center and guilt

    07:00 — The comparison trap

    10:23 — Practical steps

    11:13 — Song recommendation: "Just Be Held"

    12:31 — Word of the Week: Held

    📖 Scripture:

    Featured: Genesis 2:2-3 (NIV) — "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work."

    Also referenced: Psalm 23:2, Matthew 11:28

    🎶 Song Mentioned:

    "Just Be Held" — Casting Crowns

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIZitK6_IMQ

    ✨ Word of the Week: Held

    Not held together by your own strength — held by Him, especially on the days you can't hold up anything else.

    💭 Reflection Question:

    Where in your life right now is guilt telling you that rest has to be earned — and what would it look like to let yourself be held instead?

    🔗 Resources Mentioned:

    Melissa's book colaboration projects-

    The Courage to Say Yes (Hope Books Publishing) — Stories of finding courage to do hard things and take the next step God is leading you toward

    Faith Over Fear: Trusting God Through Life's Uncertainties - more on trusting God through hard, uncertain seasons like this one

    💛 Signature Truth:

    Your story isn't over.

    God can bring purpose to your pain

    And somehow- even here- joy still remains.

    Mentioned in this episode:

    A Quick Favor

    "I'm looking for 3-5 women to hop on a short, no-pressure 15-minute call with me, just to hear a little about your journey with chronic illness, grief, or a hard season, and the words you would use to describe it. No catches, no upsells, just me wanting to understand my listeners better so I can serve you well. As a thank-you, I will send you my free faith quiz, "What Is God Growing in Your Life Right Now?" If you're willing, just send me a DM on Instagram and I will set up a time that works for you."
    Rozwiń Zwiń
    17 min
  • Finding Hope After Loss and Chronic Illness: No Tears are Wasted Part 2

    Finding Hope After Loss and Chronic Illness: No Tears are Wasted Part 2
    Sep 16 2026
    Subtitle:

    Learningl to receive help, trusting God with grief, and Avery's story

    Episode Summary:

    What happens when you stop trying to hold everything together and let someone else carry it for a while? In Part 2 of my conversation with writer Brooke Bendell Stark, we go deeper into what it's meant for her to receive — not just give — as she's lived with MS, and we sit with one of the hardest and most tender parts of her story: her daughter Avery's traumatic brain injury and what it taught her about a God who wastes nothing, not even our tears.

    In this conversation, we talk about:

    - Learning to receive help instead of always being the one holding it together, and what actually sustains Brooke day to day

    - Trusting God with what you can't explain — Romans 8:28 and the story of Avery's birth and traumatic brain injury

    - Writing through grief: Brooke's memoir "The Master's Loom," and a closing word for the woman who feels done

    ⏱️ Episode Timestamps:

    0:00 — Cold open: Avery's story and "your tears aren't wasted"

    1:13 — Welcome back to Joy in Suffering + recap of Part 1

    2:08 — How living with MS has shaped her faith

    3:37 — Day-to-day adjustments — walking, balance, being prepared

    4:29 — Learning to receive help, not just give it

    7:00 — What sustains her: scripture, prayer, and worship

    8:48 — "No tears are wasted" — God gathering our grief

    10:19 — Romans 8:28 and the story of Avery's birth and traumatic brain injury

    16:50 — Writing her memoir, "The Master's Loom"

    21:43 — A message for the woman who feels exhausted and alone

    25:03 — The song that carries her: "I Can Only Imagine" by MercyMe

    28:03 — Where to find Brooke and her writing

    📖 Scripture:

    Romans 8:28 (NIV) — "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." —

    🎶 Song Mentioned:

    "I Can Only Imagine" by MercyMe

    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=I+Can+Only+Imagine+MercyMe

    ✨ Word of the Week: Receive

    Not just give — receive. Brooke put it simply: "I've had to learn to receive. And in learning to receive, I've learned how to give." You don't have to be the one holding it all together. Letting someone else carry something for you isn't weakness — it's part of how God cares for us through each other.

    💭 Reflection Question:

    Where do you need to trust that your tears, your grief, and your unanswered questions aren't wasted — that God is keeping every one of them?

    🔗 Resources Mentioned:

    - Brooke's website: brookebstark.com

    - Brooke on Instagram: @BrookeBStark

    - Brooke on Facebook: The Weaver's Porch

    - Brooke on Substack: The Weaver's Porch

    - Brooke's upcoming memoir: "The Master's Loom: Weaving Beauty Through Broken Dreams and Frayed Hopes"

    💛 Signature Truth:

    Your story isn't over.

    God can bring purpose to your pain

    And somehow- even here- joy still remains.
    Rozwiń Zwiń
    32 min
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
Brak recenzji