How do we begin to experience the strength of God in the middle of our weaknesses? How can we allow the Creator of all to enter into our greatest place of need? For author and podcaster Emily Jensen, walking through her son's medical challenges revealed weaknesses in her spirit that were unlike any she had faced before. The missed milestones, the extensive plans for intervention, and her own grief in the midst of it all revealed to her a need for God's strength where she felt the weakest. It was learning to navigate the waters of parenting a child with special needs that led her to a greater reliance on the Heavenly Father's power in her life. Through co-hosting the Risen Motherhood podcast and her recent book, He is Strong: Devotions for When You Feel Weak, Emily explores what it looks like to truly lean into the supernatural strength we all need when it comes to all the ways we experience brokenness this side of heaven. In this honest conversation, Eric sits down with Emily to talk about the different kinds of weaknesses we can face, the challenges of parenting a child with special needs and how the gospel applies to all of our weaknesses. If you've ever found yourself at the end of your own strength, this episode will serve as an encouragement that it is in that place that God's power is most magnified in your life.   Website: https://emilyajensen.com https://www.risenmotherhood.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyajensen/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmilyAJens Book: He is Strong: Devotions for When You Feel Weak https://a.co/d/gkOMney Has a recent loss, trauma or tragedy upended your world? Let us guide you through those early days: https://www.nothingiswasted.com/everythingchanges Do you need resources to help guide you in your specific pain point? Our Curated Pathways are designed to give you everything we offer in one place when it comes to your unique journey: https://www.nothingiswasted.com/pathways Life is difficult and pain is real. Join Davey as he helps you move through your pain and on to a life of purpose and meaning in a LIVE Zoom call. https://www.nothingiswasted.com/starthere

How do we live in the most connected generation and yet feel so alone? What do we do when we find ourselves struggling with loneliness? Author and lawyer Justin Whitmel Earley argues that loneliness isn't the way God intended for us to live because we were made for deep and intentional friendships. It was his own journey through a season of depression and anxiety led him to discover the power of spiritual disciplines including the practice of embodied community. In his latest book, Made for People: Why We Drift into Loneliness and How to Fight for a Life of Friendship, Justin looks at how we as a culture have gotten to this epidemic of loneliness and how we can find our way back to what God has for us when it comes to friendship. In this episode, Davey talks with Justin on how spiritual disciplines can help us in our suffering, the ways in which our daily decisions are forming us and how to combat loneliness with true, Christ-centered connection. If you are struggling with feeling alone even though your life is full of interactions each and every day, this conversation will help you recognize how to take the first steps towards the life-giving friendships God has for you.   Website: https://www.justinwhitmelearley.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinwhitmelearley/ Book: The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose in an Age of Distraction https://a.co/d/jc0XVmY Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms https://a.co/d/gNVJHGk Made for People: Why We Drift into Loneliness and How to Fight for a Life of Friendship https://a.co/d/akLPtMI Life is difficult and pain is real. Join Davey as he helps you move through your pain and on to a life of purpose and meaning in a LIVE Zoom call. www.nothingiswasted.com/starthere Want to see healing and life transformation after the pain you've encountered? Check out the Pain to Purpose course and start the path towards healing today: www.course.nothingiswasted.com Pastors, looking for a way to establish a path towards healing and redemption within your church? Join Davey Blackburn for a live call on how Nothing is Wasted can help: www.nothingiswasted.com/pastors

How does suffering shape our hearts? How do we tell the story of our pain in a way that both heals our own ache and helps others in theirs? Author and recording artist Andrew Peterson is a storyteller. His beloved Wingfeather Saga Series tells an epic fantasy-adventure tale about three children caught in a great mystery. Exploring themes of courage, sacrifice, and redemption, Peterson masterfully captures the attention of audiences young and old alike. His understanding in the power of story came from his own love of story and through navigating his own valleys as he walked through a deep season of depression and seeing God's story reveled more clearly to Him throughout his life. As an artist, Peterson has deeply connected to audiences through his honesty in his music and writings. In this conversation, Davey and Andrew talk about his personal journey through depression, the connection between writing and processing our lives, how we can hold both joy and sorrow in tandem, and what needs to happen before we start sharing our stories with others. If you are wondering how to tell the story God is writing through your life, this episode will show you how to take the first steps in sharing the remarkable ways God is shaping you through both the ups and downs of your experience and will remind you of who the ultimate hero is in the story.   Website: www.andrew-peterson.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/andrewpetersonmusic/ www.instagram.com/wingfeathersaga Facebook: www.facebook.com/WingfeatherSaga/ www.facebook.com/andrewpetersonmusic/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/andrewpeterson Book: A Ranger's Guide to Glipwood Forest https://a.co/d/4WiQ2SY The God of the Garden: Thoughts on Creation, Culture, and the Kingdom https://a.co/d/0SpDxfC Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making. https://a.co/d/2QUjOlA Are you a pastor or church leader who wants to see redemptive healing take place in your church? Find out more about how you can bring Pain to Purpose to your church: www.nothingiswasted.com/churches Do you need a reminder in your pain that God isn't done with your story? Sign up for our free, 7 day devotional delivered straight to your inbox: www.nothingiswasted.com/7-day-devo Have a friend who is walking through something difficult? Invite them to our next 5 Steps to Taking Back Your Story zoom call with Davey Blackburn. Send them this link to sign up: www.nothingiswasted.com/starthere

Guest: John Mark Comer - Author and Bible teacher leading others towards an apprenticeship with Jesus. Topics: John Mark Comer discusses spiritual formation and the importance of spiritual disciplines in times of pain. They explore the concept of the dark night of the soul and its impact on spiritual growth. The podcast also highlights the launching of a pain-to-purpose course for churches and addresses trauma and tools for healing. They share guidance on navigating the dark night of the soul, seeking God's presence, and the power of storytelling.

Have you ever wondered if you are still truly healing when the pain feels as fresh as the day you experienced a past loss or grief? How do we know that healing is happening as time moves forward, but our ache remains? Davey Blackburn, Aubrey Sampson, and Eric Schumacher are not only hosts on the Nothing is Wasted podcast, but all have experienced their own seasons of deep grief, loss, trauma and tragedy. With pastoral wisdom and the heart of fellow sojourners in the valley, this episode is a unique roundtable conversation of what healing truly looks like at different points in our journey. Speaking from raw vulnerability, our Nothing is Wasted hosts share their own personal walk through pain and the often times messy, winding path towards healing. In this conversation, Davey, Aubrey, and Eric tackle the role time plays in our pain, what to do when it feels as though God is absent in the days after loss, and how the journey towards healing is never a perfectly straight one. If you are struggling to recognize whether or not healing is happening in your own life, this episode is a gentle comfort in knowing that hurt may remain for your days here on earth, but there is a hope beyond what you can see that will one day undo all the pain you've encountered.   Aubrey Sampson: Website: www.aubreysampson.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/aubsamp Facebook: www.facebook.com/aubsamp Nothing is Wasted Episode 75 with Aubrey Sampson: https://www.nothingiswasted.com/podcast1/episode-75?rq=Aubrey%20Sampson Latest Book: Big Feelings Days: A Book about Hard Things, Heavy Emotions, and Jesus’ Love https://a.co/d/gcJu4mC Eric Schumacher: Website: www.emschumacher.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/emschumacher Facebook: www.facebook.com/emschumacher Nothing is Wasted Episode 267 Finding The Hope Of The Gospel In Miscarriage With Eric Schumacher: https://www.nothingiswasted.com/podcast1/episode-267 Latest Book: Ours: Biblical Comfort for Men Grieving Miscarriage https://a.co/d/7YEwPu6 Do you need a reminder in your pain that God isn't done with your story? Sign up for our free, 7 day devotional delivered straight to your inbox: www.nothingiswasted.com/7-day-devo Life is difficult and pain is real. Join Davey as he helps you move through your pain and on to a life of purpose and meaning in a LIVE Zoom call. www.nothingiswasted.com/starthere Are you looking to move from your pain into newfound purpose? Learn more about the Pain to Purpose course and start your healing journey today: www.course.nothingiswasted.com

Davey Blackburn, a guest who has experienced loss and trauma, shares his personal journey after losing his wife Amanda and provides practical ways to walk into a new year after loss. The podcast discusses the emotions and challenges faced in healing, emphasizing the importance of holding two truths together. It also explores the power of expressing honest emotions to God, setting a rhythm to navigate through pain, and finding comfort and hope in Psalm 23.

The holidays can feel especially tender for those of us who have recently experienced a loss, trauma or transition. Figuring out how to move through a season where it can seem like the whole world is experiencing happiness while we are struggling with feelings of grief and sadness is hard. How do we begin to find hope for the holidays? How do we navigate the waves of emotions and the changes in traditions we once held so dear? In this special release episode, join Amy Sylvestre, Community Director here at Nothing is Wasted, as she shares practical wisdom from a previously recorded masterclass called Hope for the Holidays: Navigating the Season When it Hurts. This podcast episode is a special gift to you, our Nothing is Wasted listeners, as you walk through this season. If the holidays feel different than years past because of the pain you are enduring, let this episode offer you tangible ways to honor your grief and make it through this Christmas season.   Find this and other masterclasses available in our store: www.nothingiswasted.com/masterclass or as part of our Community Plus Membership: www.nothingiswasted.com/communityplus Do you need resources to help guide you in your specific pain point? Our Curated Pathways are designed to give you everything we offer in one place when it comes to your unique journey: www.nothingiswasted.com/pathways Has a recent loss, trauma or tragedy upended your world? Let us guide you through those early days: nothingiswasted.com/everythingchanges Want to help Nothing is Wasted to share more stories and resources of hope and healing? You can give now at: www.nothingiswasted.com/donate

Grief can feel crushing. How do we begin to take the steps to move through the pain we encounter? How do we help others who are experiencing loss? Author Beth Marshall has felt the pangs of loss in her life. In one season, she lost three family members and began to wonder if the feelings she was experiencing were normal. Wondering if she could ever love her life again, Beth began taking some practical steps towards healing. It was through that journey that she began to learn from herself and others what was most helpful when people were walking through grief. It was those lessons that became the message of her latest book, Uncrushed. In this conversation, Davey sits down with Beth and talks about how we can begin to track God's faithfulness in the moments where He seems absent, how to find the support you need when you are hurting, and practical ways to love those who are walking through loss. If you are grieving or if you know someone who is, this episode will give you helpful wisdom on how to get through grief and find hope in the midst of it.   Website: https://bethgmarshall.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GriefSurvivor/ Book: Uncrushed: Real Steps for Healing your Grief and Restoring your Joy https://a.co/d/5ramA8z Episode 57: https://www.nothingiswasted.com/podcast1/episode-57?rq=beth Are you a pastor or church leader who wants to see redemptive healing take place in your church? Find out more about how you can bring Pain to Purpose to your church: www.nothingiswasted.com/churches Need some hope right now in your valley? Or have a friend who could use some encouragement through suffering? The Pain to Purpose 42-Day Devotional is the perfect companion in your pain. Get your copy and gift one to a friend who needs it: www.nothingiswasted.com/store/pain-to-purpose-devotional Do you have a child in your life dealing with some big feelings? Aubrey Sampson's new book, Big Feelings Days, can help kids and their adults process the pain of life. Get it now wherever books are sold: www.aubreysampson.com/big-feelings-days/

What do we do when the things we are seeing in church or with Christian leaders is leading to disillusionment? How do we deal with the disappointment in the ways Christians behave in the public square, online and in the pews? Author and Editor in Chief Dr. Russell Moore has experienced the pain of denominational turmoil and sharp political disagreements that have led to hurtful slander and unkind discourse. He has found himself at the center of conflicts that he never intended to be a part of. It was through his own personal experiences and the experiences of others that he began to consider the ways in which the American Church was drifting from the heart and purposes of Jesus. In his book, Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America, Moore explores how the American Church has lost its way and offers an invitation to repentance as a new start forward. In this conversation, Dr. Moore sits down with guest co-host, Eric Schumacher and discusses how to navigate the current cultural unrest as believers, what to do with our disillusionment in the Church, and how to help our friends who are struggling to trust in God based on the behaviors of those claiming to follow Him. If you've struggled with the headlines of fallen leaders and the vitriol of those proclaiming Christ in the midst of current affairs and have been left feeling like the American Church doesn't align with the way of Christ, this episode will give you hope that nothing we are experiencing in this generation is a surprise to Jesus and He is not done yet with His bride.   Website: https://www.russellmoore.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/russellmoore Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/russellmoore Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/drmoore Book: Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America https://a.co/d/cTXM7WA Want to see healing and life transformation after the pain you've encountered? Check out the Pain to Purpose course and start the path towards healing today: https://www.course.nothingiswasted.com Join us for the final 5 Steps Zoom Call of 2023 and start your journey towards healing now: https://www.nothingiswasted.com/starthere Need some hope right now in your valley? Or have a friend who could use some encouragement through suffering? The Pain to Purpose 42-Day Devotional is the perfect companion in your pain. Get your copy and gift one to a friend who needs it: https://www.nothingiswasted.com/store/pain-to-purpose-devotional

What if the perpetrator of your pain isn't something on the outside, but your own sinful choices that have led to your suffering? How do we navigate the self-inflicted hurt caused by our own destructive decisions? Author and Pastor Max Lucado knows the feelings that can come from sinful decisions. In his own life as a young man, he began to see the dangerous trajectory of his choices if he didn't surrender to God's leading. Later as a well-known pastor and author, he would experience a similar reckoning when the weight of leadership became overwhelming and he turned to alcohol to ease the pain. It was through those experiences that Max's heart grew for those who have felt like Jacob in the Bible, wrestling with God and wondering if God had given up on them. In his latest book, God Never Gives Up on You: What Jacob's Story Teaches Us About Grace, Mercy, and God's Relentless Love, Max explores Jacob's story and how it relates to each of ours. In this honest conversation, Davey talks with Max about how we can truly believe that God doesn't give up on us, how to approach our self-induced pain, and the importance of authenticity in leadership. If you've ever wondered if God has given up on you after the mess you've made in your life, this episode will serve to remind you that no matter how far you've gone or how long you've wrestled, God's grace, mercy, and love never runs out.   Website: maxlucado.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/maxlucado Facebook: www.facebook.com/maxlucado Book: God Never Gives Up on You: What Jacob's Story Teaches Us About Grace, Mercy, and God's Relentless Love https://a.co/d/fod5gGU Pastors, looking for a way to establish a path towards healing and redemption within your church? Join Davey Blackburn for a live call on how Nothing is Wasted can help: www.nothingiswasted.com/pastors Do you need a reminder in your pain that God isn't done with your story? Sign up for our free, 7 day devotional delivered straight to your inbox: www.nothingiswasted.com/7-day-devo Join us for the final 5 Steps Zoom Call of 2023 and start your journey towards healing now: www.nothingiswasted.com/starthere