Vaneetha Risner shares her story of suffering and faith, discussing the importance of reading and studying the Bible as a Christian. She reflects on her childhood experiences and anger towards God, and shares her crisis of faith. Risner recounts the tragedy of losing her two-month-old son and learning to trust God through lament. She also talks about her experience of suffering as a mother and finding unexpected love on E-Harmony.
Finding hope and encouragement in turning to Christ during times of suffering.
The profound historical insights gained from the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Appreciating the accessibility and transformative power of God's Word in modern times.
Embracing the transformative power of God's presence and care in the midst of suffering.
Deep dives
Venitha Reiser's Story of Suffering and Faith
Venitha Reiser shares her personal journey of suffering and faith, which includes childhood bullying, the loss of an infant son, developing post-polio syndrome, and going through an unwanted divorce. Despite her hardships, she found hope and encouragement in turning to Christ in her pain.
The Discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls
The podcast episode discusses the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and their impact on our understanding of the Old Testament and the Psalms. The speaker highlights the preservation of God's Word despite the efforts of ancient sects and the profound historical insights gained from this discovery.
The Importance of God's Word
The podcast emphasizes the significance of God's Word and its accessibility in modern times. It discusses how we often take for granted the privilege of having numerous copies of the Bible and access to it through various mediums. The speaker encourages listeners to appreciate the majesty of God's Word and the transformative power it holds.
The Role of Faith in Personal Growth
The episode touches upon the relationship between faith and personal growth, highlighting the importance of reading and thoroughly understanding the Bible. It explores the difference between a theological understanding of the Word of God and a devotional, worshipful approach, emphasizing the need to embrace the transformative power of God's wisdom found in His Word.
Dependence on God in Times of Suffering
The speaker shares her personal experience of going through difficult and painful times, including the death of her husband and her own health struggles. She emphasizes the importance of being honest with God and expressing our pain and complaints to Him directly, rather than complaining behind His back. Through her own journey of lament and dependence on God, she discovers the transformative power of God's presence and care in the midst of suffering.
Finding Beauty in Loss and Dependence
The speaker reflects on how her life drastically changed due to her post-polio syndrome, causing her to lose her ability to do things she loved, such as painting and cooking. Despite the challenges, she realizes that God took away certain abilities to reveal Himself to her in a deeper way. The speaker embraces the idea that when God takes something away, He replaces it with something better - Himself. She finds that the harder things are, the more God reveals Himself and provides for her needs.
The Unfolding of God's Faithfulness
The speaker shares her journey of meeting and marrying her current husband. She talks about the initial struggles of her daughters and how they experienced a transformation in their faith. She also recounts how God brought restoration and love into her life through her husband. The speaker highlights the importance of recognizing the long game in parenting and the need to trust God's plan, even in the darkest moments. She concludes that suffering is a gift that reveals the true gift, which is God Himself.
This month’s episode features one of Paul’s heroes, Vaneetha Risner, who shares her story of suffering and faith.
Vaneetha writes and speaks about finding hope in suffering. Her story includes childhood bullying, losing an infant son, developing post-polio syndrome, and going through an unwanted divorce. Her books, "Walking Through Fire: A Memoir of Loss and Redemption", as well as her devotional, "The Scars That Have Shaped Me", encourage readers to turn to Christ in their pain.
Vaneetha writes regularly for Desiring God. She and her husband, Joel, live in Raleigh, North Carolina and she has two daughters, Katie and Kristi.
