What do you do when you were living the life you always dreamed of and find it taken away in a matter of moments? How do you learn to trust God after a tragic loss? How can you forgive when a grave injustice is done against you and your family? Laura Hao had to answer these questions and so many more when she lost her husband in a senseless murder in 2018. Laura had always dreamed of becoming a missionary since she was a little girl. She realized that dream and moved to Asia as a young woman. There, she met her husband, had her four children and began working as missionaries in the place the Holy Spirit had planted a seed of a dream in her heart so many years ago. Together, they experienced blessing and favor as they served the Lord and sought to build the Church in a closed part of the world. But that all changed just two days after returning to the United States for a time of refreshment and visiting loved ones. While packing her daughter's bag for camp the next day, gun shots echoed just outside the door. She opened it to find a traumatic scene, her husband was lying lifeless on the ground after being shot in a random act of violence. Laura experienced the depths of the darkness that grief can bring. Feeling buried like a seed, she felt as though she was frantically grappling her way out of the dark. But through it, she also experienced the illuminating light of truths that can only be found in the recesses of pain. In this raw conversation, Davey and Laura talk through a shared experience of learning to live in the darkness of a painful loss, how to trust the Lord in the seasons for grief, and how justice, mercy and forgiveness all coexist. The truths Laura and Davey share are ones that will help you as you navigate the most difficult parts of your story with honesty and hope, whatever it may be. Do you have questions in your pain to purpose journey? Join Davey and one of our Certified Coaches as they deep dive into what you want to know in monthly, free Live Coaching. Register at: www.nothingiswasted.com/livecoaching Sign up for the FREE 5 Steps to Taking Back Your Story Webinar: www.nothingiswasted.com/starthere

It's every parent's worst fear to lose a child. How do you continue to trust God when you're experiencing unrelenting pain? The journey after such a tragic loss is never linear and it can be full of chaotic feelings and opposing emotions. Yet God offers us an invitation to meet Him in the messiness of grief. For Esther Lee, that invitation was often on the cold, dirty hospital bathroom floor where she cried out to the Lord so many times during her daughter, Ava's, cancer journey. And while her grief began there and continues on well after her devastating loss of sweet Ava, she has learned that the Lord graciously allows for the anger, the questions, the fears and the doubts in the messy middle of our suffering. Esther has walked a long road of first being a parent of a child with life-threatening allergies to later receiving a diagnosis that no parent wants to hear as well as the non-stop rollercoaster of doctors and hospital visits. And while her circumstances have felt impossible and her grief has been messy, God has met her in it all. Her story doesn't tie up in a neat, tidy bow when it comes to her pain, but instead, it is honest and authentic, one that allows for the raw emotions she feels while leaving room for the truth of God's goodness and kindness as she grapples her way through every parent's greatest fear. In this moving conversation, Davey sits down with Esther to talk about how vital community can be after experiencing loss, the true wrestlings that can come in regards to God's goodness in our pain, how purpose shows up in small ways instead of big oftentimes, and learning to worship when it feels hard. No matter your story, you will be able to relate to Esther's wrestlings in the messiness of heartbreak and pain and find comfort in knowing that we serve a God who is not alarmed by it when we do. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teamavabright

According to current statistics, we are facing a crisis when it comes to mental health and our kids. With an increase in suicide rates, depression and anxiety, many kids and teens are facing so much more than they can begin to know how to handle. What can we do as adults to be a safe place for a young person? How can we help a child heal from trauma and crisis? Kim Tschirret knew from her own personal story as a child with an abusive and alcoholic father that healing was possible through Christ and the help of a seemingly unlikely source: horses. Kim found solace in spending time with a horse as a young girl and knew that others could find healing too by engaging with these magnificent animals. It is what led her to start Hope Reins, a non-profit organization in Raleigh, NC, that "pairs kids in crisis with rescued horses to find hope and healing." What has transpired is a beautiful story of redemption as horses and children, both facing painful emotional wounds, have found healing through the power of their connection with one another. Since its' inception in 2010, Hope Reins has helped over 2,600 kids in crisis at no-cost to the families it serves. Davey sits down with Kim to talk about how our past pain can lead us into an incredible redemption story for others, what kids need to feel safe, and how any adult can be a trusted source of hope in a hurting child's life. Resiliency after trauma is possible and Kim's story shows us what a powerful salve love can be for both discarded animals and wounded hearts in the quest for restoration.   Website: hopereins.org Facebook: facebook.com/hopereinsnc Instagram: www.instagram.com/hopereinsnc Twitter: www.twitter.com/hopereinsnc Book: Joey: How a Blind Rescue Horse Helped Others Learn to See: https://www.amazon.com/Joey-Blind-Rescue-Helped-Others/dp/1496421752/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1657739526&sr=8-1-spons Sign up for the next NIW Masterclass: https://www.nothingiswasted.com/masterclass Find a Curated Pathway for your specific pain to purpose journey: https://www.nothingiswasted.com/pathways

What happens when you find yourself in the middle of a national tragedy, when your story is part of a collective one on every news outlet in the country? How do you find healing after a trauma played out on a national stage? For Christina Stanton, that was a lifelong question that began on a fateful day in New York City on September 11, 2001. Running for her life after the Twin Towers attack left her facing the rubble well beyond that infamous day. Wrestling with the aftermath of PTSD and the devastation that came from surviving such a horrific scene, Christina was searching for answers and she found them within the walls of a local New York City church. Finding God in the midst of such wreckage and having the people of God bear witness to her pain while providing practical help brought her hope and revealed the power of the Church. As if living through that national tragedy wasn't enough, Christina would find herself once again a part of a story that made national headlines when she contracted Covid-19 in early March 2020 and fought for her life in a hospital room, hundreds of miles from home. Living through two tragic marks in American history gave Christina a deeper understanding of who God is, even when we face the worst. In this episode, Davey and Christina talk about the value of the Church witnessing the pain of others, what suffering teaches us and the importance of community in finding healing from post-traumatic stress. Your suffering may not have been experienced on such a global scale, but you will find comfort and encouragement towards hope and healing in this conversation.   Website: https://christinaraystanton.com https://lovingallnations.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinaraystanton/ Book: Out of the Shadow of 9/11: An Inspiring Tale of Escape and Transformation https://www.amazon.com/Out-Shadow-11-Inspiring-Transformation/dp/1733745203/ Faith in the Face of Covid-19: A Survivor’s Tale https://www.amazon.com/Faith-Face-COVID-19-Survivors-Tale/dp/1733745238/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

So often when it comes to the topic of singleness, there is this sense that many believe significance comes only when you finally find "the one." But the truth is, leading a life full of purpose doesn't have to wait until there is a significant other. In fact, singleness, no matter how long that season lasts, can be a fulfilling, purposeful time that the Lord uses in your life and in the lives of those around you. For Mandy Hale, it was coming to this realization that provided her the freedom to find joy in fulfilling her life's purpose as a single woman. Rather than focusing on the one kind of love she didn't have, she learned to see the love all around her through friendship, community, and family. She was able to connect with others through her writing and not get in stuck in waiting for a future with her present right in front of her. In this episode, Davey talks with Mandy about finding purpose right where you are, the impact the pandemic and other difficult life events can have on a single person, and paying attention to the love you already have in your life. Whether you are single or just waiting for something in your life, this conversation will remind you to choose to live fully in whatever circumstances you find yourself in.   Website: https://mandyhale.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheSingleWoman/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSingleWoman Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSingleWoman Book: Turn Toward the Sun: Releasing What If and Embracing What Is https://www.amazon.com/dp/0800738829/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_Z2DBPTPDBNRR36V0JDG8?linkCode=ml1&tag=thesinwom08-20

Sometimes life can break your heart after one unexpected tragedy. But, what about when circumstances seems to break your heart all throughout your story? How do you find healing when it seems heartache is woven into the fabric of your life? For Christian recording artist, Blanca, it felt like her whole life was marred by heartbreak. As a child, she was a victim of sexual abuse. As an adult, she lost both her parents and went through a devastating divorce. Finding healing in life when it seemed like the pieces were shattered has been difficult, but through her journey with the Lord, through her music and with the help of a counselor, Blanca has begun to experience healing from her wounds. In this episode, Davey sits down with Blanca to talk about facing the pain in order to heal, the value in sharing your healing process with others, and how creativity can be a tool God uses to mend a broken heart. Healing is never an easy endeavor, but Blanca's story is proof that God is in the business of binding up the wounds of the brokenhearted.   Website: officialblanca.com Instagram: @officialblanca Facebook: facebook.com/officialblanca

How do you live life with the end in mind, especially when you are told your days are numbered? We all know that Scripture calls us to live life through the lens of heaven, but how do we really do that? For Colleen Chao, finding out she had Stage 4 Cancer forced her to think about living the way God called her to in spite of the fact or perhaps because of the fact, that she is dying. Having expected life to go in a much different direction, Colleen has been learning to see the beauty in the most unexpected places like suffering and pain. In this episode, Davey has a raw conversation with Colleen on seeing God's beauty in the darkness of suffering, the transformative power of gratitude, and how the blood of Jesus can keep us from dwelling in our regrets. You don't have to have a life-altering diagnosis to be encouraged by Colleen's story of living life fully when heaven is closer than you anticipated.   Website: http://www.colleenchao.com Book: Hands of a Fiercely Tender God: 31 Days of Hope, Honesty, and Encouragement for the Sufferer https://www.amazon.com/Hands-Fiercely-Tender-God-Encouragement/dp/0802429904/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3LLTTB8E59IIY&keywords=colleen+chao&qid=1656337889&sprefix=colleen+chao%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-1

Have you ever felt like you've gotten stuck in the grief? Instead of allowing the pain to bring something new and beautiful forth in your life, do you find yourself struggling to move forward? Any loss can leave us feeling stuck, but for a parent, losing a child can make it feel like there will never be life past the devastation. For September Vaudrey, losing her beautiful, 19 year old daughter in a car accident in 2008 made her wonder if life would ever look different than it did in the aftermath of that tragedy. And yet, step by step, she began to see God's goodness as He took her pain and created beauty from ashes. It was not an easy journey by any means, but a rich one. In this episode, September sits down with Aubrey to talk about what it looks like to get unstuck in our grief, why facing our pain head on matters so much, and how to give permission to others around us as they grieve in their own unique way. Full of practical wisdom, this conversation is for anyone who has ever felt like moving through the pain in their story is an impossible feat but wants to try and experience the good God has on the other side of it.   Website: http://septembervaudrey.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/septembervaudrey/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeptemberVaudrey.Author/ Book: Colors of Goodbye: A Memoir of Holding On, Letting Go, and Reclaiming Joy in the Wake of Loss https://www.amazon.com/Colors-Goodbye-Holding-Letting-Reclaiming/dp/1496408179/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458922175&sr=8-1&keywords=colors+of+goodbye

What do you do when you feel disconnected from God in the middle of a hard season? How do you learn to trust Him when circumstances make you angry and confused? For Emmanuel and Adrienne Threatt, this was the wrestling they navigated after experiencing multiple miscarriages over a period of time in which other losses seemed to come at them unrelentingly. Trust can come easy when things are going our way and when our prayers are being answered the way we want, but learning to put your hope and faith in God after disappointment after disappointment can feel daunting. For the Threatt's, this process of learning was arduous. It came through vulnerability and transparency with themselves, God and others. Sharing their journey through the valleys of miscarriage helped them to find purpose in the seemingly never-ending pain and helped them to be honest with the Lord as to what they were feeling in the midst of it. Even after receiving the news that they were finally pregnant with triplets, there was still so much to work through with the Lord. In this episode, Davey talks with the Threatt's about what to do with the feelings that God is far away from you in your pain, how to process anger towards the Lord and using worship as an act of faith in hard times. The vulnerability and transparency the Threatt's share will encourage anyone walking through a painful season to continue to trust God, even when the path seems dark.   Website: www.HopeUnleashed.Me Socials: @OhBoyPhresh @YoAdrienneCLT for IG, FB, TW, TIK YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC28DPAwoFPnpLoVEMn8ZJDw Book: How to Fly to the Moon in a Cardboard Box https://www.amazon.com/How-Moon-Cardboard-Kardboard-Kids/dp/1733635602/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8TMWBODVR1OH&keywords=how+to+fly+to+the+moon+in+a+cardboard+box&qid=1655907323&sprefix=how+to+fly+to+the+moon+in+a+cardboard+box%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-1 ——- Hope Vibes (ministry) Www.hopevibes.org @HopeVibesCLT for IG, FB, TW, TIK, LI YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCQwUP_tsO7KirMz0cSMh-Dw

What do you do when life takes a turn you never saw coming? How can you step into a story you didn't plan for yourself? For Kelley Scites, the wrestling with those questions began after an unexpected surgery. What had promised relief from pain and a new lease on life ended with having to be put on full time oxygen. The life she had imagined as an active mom came to a screeching halt as she had to adapt to this new pace of living. But it was through this shift in her story that Kelley began to see the importance of perspective. Living focused on Heaven rather than her current circumstances began to give her hope in what at times felt hopeless. In this honest conversation, Davey sits down with Kelley to talk about why perspective is so important in circumstances that won't change, learning to trust God with the outcome of our story and choosing growth over bitterness. The details of Kelley's story may be different than yours, but they offer a rich insight into how our perspective can make or break us in the middle of hard things.   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelleyscites/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelley.scites Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Heaven by Randy Alcorn https://www.amazon.com/Heaven-Randy-Alcorn/dp/0842379428/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=heaven+by+randy+alcorn&qid=1658268326&sprefix=heaven+by+%2Caps%2C190&sr=8-1