EPISODE · Jul 1, 2026 · 46 MIN
#43 Don’t Give Up: Avriel Barnett on Choosing a Hard Road and Finding the Strength to Keep Going
from Resilient Souls · host Stewart Bogle
When Avriel Barnett met a handsome young man as an 18-year-old trainee nurse in 1968, his life had already been changed forever.As a teenager, Glenn had suffered a high-level spinal injury that left him with permanent paralysis. What began as an unexpected love story became a long but rich journey of marriage, ministry, caregiving, disappointment, faith, quiet sacrifice and resilience.But this is not just Glenn’s story.It’s Avriel’s too.In this honest and quietly powerful conversation, Avriel reflects on the choice to walk a road she knew would not be easy, even if she could not have understood at the time just how much it would ask of her.She talks honestly about marrying Glenn, supporting him through decades of ministry and the daily realities of his physical challenges, facing the painful rejection of their hopes to adopt, carrying responsibilities most people never saw, and wrestling with God when life felt unfair.She also shares the moments of grace that sustained her. The faith that grew in the middle of hardship. The strength she found when God didn’t remove the difficulty, but changed something in her. The friendships, carers and community who walked with them, created memories, and brought unexpected joy along the way. And the new freedom and purpose she continues to find in serving, sharing her faith, volunteering, travelling and expressing more of her own gifts in this next chapter of life.This is a conversation about resilience that doesn’t look polished or dramatic. Because sometimes resilience looks like taking the rubbish bin out all on your own, again and again.Sometimes it looks like pulling weeds from gardens you’ve planted.Sometimes it looks like accepting help after years of trying to carry too much on your own.And sometimes it looks like choosing to keep trusting God, even when the road remains long and hard.For anyone who feels forgotten by God, disappointed by life, unsure how to keep going, or simply wants to be inspired by an unassuming life that has been faithfully and beautifully lived, Avriel’s story is honest, humble and deeply powerful.She shares her story not to draw attention to her own life, but to encourage you in yours.And that encouragement can be summed up in the simple words she offers near the end of the conversation: Don’t give up.In this episode, you’ll discover:How to keep going when the life you’re living is not the life you imaginedWhy resilience often begins with a change in attitude, not just a change in circumstancesHow faith can grow in the middle of hardship, even when prayers are not answered the way we hopedWhy carrying everything alone can feel necessary, but accepting help can become a giftHow small rhythms, honest prayer, trusted community and purposeful service can help sustain us through long seasonsWhat it can look like to keep choosing joy, trust and faithfulness when the road remains hard… and much more.Explore More from Resilient Souls: Resilient Souls WebsiteResilient Souls Podcast or search ‘Resilient Souls’ wherever you get your podcastsResilient Souls Blog on Substack Stewart’s BookFollow Resilient Souls on: Facebook / Instagram / LinkedInGet Involved or Reach Out: Join the CommunityBook Stewart to SpeakSupport the WorkContact UsNeed Help? In Australia or for Overseas
What this episode covers
When Avriel Barnett met a handsome young man as an 18-year-old trainee nurse in 1968, his life had already been changed forever.As a teenager, Glenn had suffered a high-level spinal injury that left him with permanent paralysis. What began as an unexpected love story became a long but rich journey of marriage, ministry, caregiving, disappointment, faith, quiet sacrifice and resilience.But this is not just Glenn’s story.It’s Avriel’s too.In this honest and quietly powerful conversation, Avriel reflects on the choice to walk a road she knew would not be easy, even if she could not have understood at the time just how much it would ask of her.She talks honestly about marrying Glenn, supporting him through decades of ministry and the daily realities of his physical challenges, facing the painful rejection of their hopes to adopt, carrying responsibilities most people never saw, and wrestling with God when life felt unfair.She also shares the moments of grace that sustained her. The faith that grew in the middle of hardship. The strength she found when God didn’t remove the difficulty, but changed something in her. The friendships, carers and community who walked with them, created memories, and brought unexpected joy along the way. And the new freedom and purpose she continues to find in serving, sharing her faith, volunteering, travelling and expressing more of her own gifts in this next chapter of life.This is a conversation about resilience that doesn’t look polished or dramatic. Because sometimes resilience looks like taking the rubbish bin out all on your own, again and again.Sometimes it looks like pulling weeds from gardens you’ve planted.Sometimes it looks like accepting help after years of trying to carry too much on your own.And sometimes it looks like choosing to keep trusting God, even when the road remains long and hard.For anyone who feels forgotten by God, disappointed by life, unsure how to keep going, or simply wants to be inspired by an unassuming life that has been faithfully and beautifully lived, Avriel’s story is honest, humble and deeply powerful.She shares her story not to draw attention to her own life, but to encourage you in yours.And that encouragement can be summed up in the simple words she offers near the end of the conversation: Don’t give up.In this episode, you’ll discover:How to keep going when the life you’re living is not the life you imaginedWhy resilience often begins with a change in attitude, not just a change in circumstancesHow faith can grow in the middle of hardship, even when prayers are not answered the way we hopedWhy carrying everything alone can feel necessary, but accepting help can become a giftHow small rhythms, honest prayer, trusted community and purposeful service can help sustain us through long seasonsWhat it can look like to keep choosing joy, trust and faithfulness when the road remains hard… and much more.Explore More from Resilient Souls: Resilient Souls WebsiteResilient Souls Podcast or search ‘Resilient Souls’ wherever you get your podcastsResilient Souls Blog on Substack Stewart’s BookFollow Resilient Souls on: Facebook / Instagram / LinkedInGet Involved or Reach Out: Join the CommunityBook Stewart to SpeakSupport the WorkContact UsNeed Help? In Australia or for Overseas
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#43 Don’t Give Up: Avriel Barnett on Choosing a Hard Road and Finding the Strength to Keep Going
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