Grace When Suffering Lingers | K.J. Ramsey | DD 124

We are made to hold the presence of God … the God who holds all things together holds us. K.J. has been reckoning with an autoimmune disease, ankylosing spondylitis (AS), for 11 years. It's been an "unpredictable companion" in her life that not only propelled her into her counseling career but also propelled her to experience and hold the presence of God. K.J. Ramsey (BA, Covenant College, MA, Denver Seminary) is a licensed professional counselor, writer, and recovering idealist who believes sorrow and joy coexist. Her writing on the integration of theology, psychology, and spiritual formation can be found in publications including Christianity Today, RELEVANT, and The Huffington Post. She and her husband live in Denver, Colorado. K.J.'s first book, This Too Shall Last: Finding Grace When Suffering Lingers, invites us to the wonder that before God ever rescues us, he stands in solidarity with us. It's the book that she wished she could've had as a 20-year-old who's suffering never went away. K.J. says these four things about herself: "I ended up at Denver Seminary where I got my Masters in Counseling…after seeing my own counselor and realizing A, we all need space to process the suffering in our lives but B, that it could be a career that was a lot more flexible for what my body needs. And then I also needed a better climate and the more dry climate of Colorado is a lot better for my body." "One time we saw someone with a German Shorthaired Pointer at a restaurant sitting outside, and it was the most beautiful dog we had ever seen and it was so sweet. We caught the bug and about 5 weeks later, we got one. His name, Merton, is after Thomas Merton, who is one of my favorite authors." "I was a figure skater growing up." "I am a total nerd." Listen in to my timely conversation with K.J. In seasons like we're all in right now sheltering-in-place, we have the invitation to pay special attention to the hurt in our lives in a way that we can't when we're so hurried. We all have pain that persists … K.J. reminds us that our present pain is always experienced in the presence of God and the more we learn how to be present to our pain and to our hard circumstances, the more we get to experience unity with Jesus and the grace God gives us. I think she will comfort you with her heart and wisdom. SHOW NOTES K.J. Ramsey's website Get K.J.'s book, This Too Shall Last: Finding Grace When Suffering Lingers Find K.J. on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter Snag your ticket for Cookies & Conversations via Zoom with Melanie Shankle and me! Get the free Soul Care Kit here! Click here for the free PDF of my prayer for you and your people. Big shout out and thank you to Austin Christian Fellowship who is sponsoring the podcast. ACF wants you to know about Community First! Village, a 51-acre master-planned community that provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for men and women coming out of chronic homelessness. Listen to the DD Podcast Episode with Alan Graham, founder of Community First! Village Deeply grateful for Sara Davis Regan for providing her music. Order the Grace Gift bundle! It includes a signed copy of The Grace Guide PLUS Lavender Lotion No. 145 from Hummingbird Farms.