Episode 9 | Stuck in the refining fire? Me too. | Trusting God When Storms Rage On

Stuck in the Refining Fire? Me Too. | Trusting God When Storms Rage OnTranscript here.Episode Summary:In this episode, I am raw and real about being in a relentless season of refining fire. I share my experience - what it looks like to walk in faith when there's no break between crisis after crisis: brain cancer, job loss, legal battles, and the daily struggle to not numb out from it all. I dig into Jeremiah 17:7, talk about listening prayer, and how God keeps bringing me back to trust, even when I don’t see the purpose or outcome. If you’ve felt abandoned, exhausted, and unsure how to keep going - pull up a seat, friend. I’m right there with you, and I hope a little commiseration and a big dose of encouragement makes a difference in your day.Key Points with Timestamps:Introduction (00:00:46):I jump in unscripted, sharing that I’m in a hard season and inviting anyone feeling the same to join me.Scripture Meditation & Listening Prayer (~00:03:00):How I use Jeremiah 17:7 as an anchor verse, plus what listening prayer has shown me about trust and feeling the drought.Life’s Chaotic Trials (~00:08:00):My journey through my husband’s cancer, job loss, single parenting, and tough legal battles.Purpose in the Pain (~00:14:00):Honest talk on how pain and instability force me to find my roots in God ... and where I’m seeking stability now.Stop Numbing the Drought (~00:20:00):Real confessions about how I’m tempted to numb with social media and snacks, and encouragement to ask God for the strength to feel it all.Practical Encouragement & Community (~00:27:00):A call to reach out, cultivate rhythms (not routines!), and build authentic fellowship as we process the hard seasons together.Closing & Subscription Reminder (~00:30:00):Hopeful encouragement: this earth isn’t our home, and your story matters. Please subscribe, share, and keep moving “further up and further in.”Mentioned Links:Blue Letter Biblehttps://www.blueletterbible.orgA free, in-depth Bible study app I love for commentary and word studies.The Bible Projecthttps://bibleproject.comPodcast and videos that help me dig into scripture and context.Crafted Prayers by Graham CookeBook I recommend on creating intentional prayers for your life.Supporting Verses:Jeremiah 17:7, ESV“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.”What’s Next?Notice and name the numbing behaviors you tend to go to when life feels too hard - whether it’s social media, food, “busy” distractions, or something else.Invite God to help you feel the “drought” (the hard stuff) instead of running from it.Swap one numbing routine - just one - for something nourishing: a prayer, a podcast like The Bible Project, or reaching out to a friend.Ask for community or connection if you need it; shoot me a message or join a group for support.Remind yourself you’re not alone in this refining fire, and it’s okay to not have it all figured out.Topics Covered:Enduring hardships with faithTrust and surrender in chaosEmotional honesty vs. numbingListening prayer and spiritual practicesChristian encouragement for tough seasonsFinding stability in instabilityRelated Posts and Episodes:Recent Blog Posts & Podcast Episodes Social Media Links:Instagram: @rachelgritTikTok: @rachel.gritPinterest: @rachgritYouTube: @rachelgrit