Joy in Suffering

A conversation on MS, grief, caregiving, and trusting God with the threads you can't see💛 Episode Summary:What do you do when your dreams for your life get rewritten — more than once? In this episode, I'm joined by my friend Brooke Bendell Stark, a writer living with multiple sclerosis, who opens up about the invisible losses of chronic illness and the picture that has carried her through it all — God as the Master Weaver, seated at the loom, turning our frayed threads and broken dreams into something beautiful we often can't see from our side of the tapestry. This is an honest, tender conversation about grief, chronic illness, and holding onto faith when nothing goes the way you planned.In this conversation, we talk about:- What it's really like to live with MS — the unpredictable symptoms, the loss of control, and learning to plan "in the moment" instead of far ahead- The invisible losses that come with chronic illness — grieving plans, energy, and even small things like a note you meant to handwrite- Trusting God as the Master Weaver — handing Him the broken threads and resting in the tapestry He's making, even when you can't see the pattern⏱️ Episode Timestamps:0:00 — Cold open: what do you do when suffering comes in layers?1:28 — Welcome to Joy in Suffering + introducing Brooke2:41 — Brooke on their shared bond of Christ and chronic illness3:19 — Brooke's story: six kids, foster care and adoption, her creative background3:58 — The three types of MS, explained5:30 — The "Master Weaver" metaphor: God at the loom8:05 — What living with MS has looked like day to day8:19 — The diagnosis that changed their mission field plans11:04 — Learning to rest in Him instead of planning ahead13:53 — Letting go of the illusion of control14:44 — Surrender and stewarding her body well17:06 — Trusting God's presence even when the day doesn't change19:37 — The invisible losses of chronic illness20:03 — Serving alongside her husband, and adjusting to physical limits22:39 — Grieving the "small" losses no one else would notice24:08 — Surrendering those losses and seeing what really matters24:30 — Wrap-up + what's coming in Part 2📖 Scripture:Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) — "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." ✨ Word of the Week: SurrenderBrooke's own word from this episode: "It's a surrender, yes. And we mistakenly battle the Lord with this — continually." Surrender isn't giving up. It's handing the threads you can't control to the One who can see the whole tapestry.💭 Reflection Question:Where are you still gripping tightly to something you were never meant to control? What would it look like to surrender that thread today?💛 Signature Truth:Your story isn't over.God can bring purpose to your painAnd somehow- even here- joy still remains. Mentioned in this episode:A Quick Favor"I'm looking for 3-5 women to hop on a short, no-pressure 15-minute call with me, just to hear a little about your journey with chronic illness, grief, or a hard season, and the words you would use to describe it. No catches, no upsells, just me wanting to understand my listeners better so I can serve you well. As a thank-you, I will send you my free faith quiz, "What Is God Growing in Your Life Right Now?" If you're willing, just send me a DM on Instagram and I will set up a time that works for you."

Subtitle (SEO Boost):A conversation on faith, chronic caregiving, grief, and trusting God when prayers aren't answered the way we hoped💛 Episode Summary:What happens when life asks you to carry more than you ever imagined? This week I'm joined by Paula Romang — wife, mother, Bible study and devotional writer, and a woman whose faith was refined through years of caregiving and profound loss. Paula's son Matthew lived with severe special needs and passed away at age twelve, and in this conversation she shares what it actually looked like to trust God on the days trust didn't feel like a given. If you're walking through chronic illness, grief, or caregiving, this one is for you.In this conversation, we talk about:- What "choosing faith over feelings" looked like in the daily, unglamorous grind of caregiving — no warm fuzzy feelings required- The specific lies suffering tempted Paula to believe about her worth, and the truth from Scripture she returned to instead- How immersing herself in God's Word and prayer became the lifeline that carried her through Matthew's twelve years and beyond📖 Scripture: [12:40]"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." — Deuteronomy 33:27 (NIV)Additional verses referenced: Isaiah 40–41 [13:40]; Psalm 147:3-4 [14:11]; Isaiah 57:15 [14:44]; Matthew 11:28-30 [19:33] 🎶 Songs Mentioned:- It Is Well With My Soul — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QUqo37M0wM- All the Way My Savior Leads Me — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEOtFEs0Jos- Praise You in This Storm, Casting Crowns — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YUGwUgBvTU- Oceans (Where Feet May Fail), Hillsong UNITED — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI-Z0lq-LIE- Goodness of God, CeCe Winans — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sE5kEnitqE✨ Word of the Week: TrustTrust isn't a feeling you wait around for — it's a choice you make, over and over, to believe God is who He says He is, even when your circumstances say otherwise. This week, may you choose trust — not because it's easy, but because He's already proven He's worthy of it.💭 Reflection Question:Where in your life is God asking you to trust Him even though the outcome doesn't look the way you hoped it would?🔗 Resources Mentioned:- Paula's book, Thriving in the Barren Place: How Trust in God Fueled My Journey Through Heartache and Loss — https://www.amazon.com/Thriving-Barren-Place-Journey-Heartache/dp/B0FCTWBHSX- Paula's website — www.paularomang.com- Paula on Facebook — Paula Romang- Paula on Instagram — @promang869- Paula on YouTube — Paula Romang💛 Signature Truth:Your story isn't over.God can bring purpose to your painAnd somehow- even here- joy still remains.Mentioned in this episode:A Quick Favor"I'm looking for 3-5 women to hop on a short, no-pressure 15-minute call with me, just to hear a little about your journey with chronic illness, grief, or a hard season, and the words you would use to describe it. No catches, no upsells, just me wanting to understand my listeners better so I can serve you well. As a thank-you, I will send you my free faith quiz, "What Is God Growing in Your Life Right Now?" If you're willing, just send me a DM on Instagram and I will set up a time that works for you."

Subtitle (SEO Boost):A solo episode on grief, chronic illness, and the dreams that never came to beEpisode DescriptionSometimes grief isn't about losing a person — it's about losing a version of your life. In this solo episode, Melissa opens up about a kind of grief that rarely gets talked about: the grief of the future you quietly imagined but never got to live. From navigating chronic illness to the long, tender grief of never becoming a mother, Melissa shares how she learned this loss had a name — and how Scripture met her in it. If you've ever wondered whether you're even allowed to grieve a life you never had, this episode is for you.🌿 In This Episode:- What "non-finite" or ambiguous grief is, and why it so often goes unrecognized- Melissa's own story of chronic illness, the loss of five years of her life, and the long grief of not becoming a mother- Why grief isn't a competition, and why comparing losses only keeps us from healing- How Jesus meets us in grief without asking us to rank our pain first- What it means to notice what still remains, even in loss📖 Scripture:"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." — Revelation 21:4 (NIV)Also referenced: Matthew 5:4🎶 Song Mentioned:"Even If" by MercyMehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6fA35Ved-Y✨ Word of the Week: RemainGrief has a way of pulling our attention to what's missing — the dreams that didn't come true, the life we thought we'd have. But even there, something still remains. God's love remains. His presence remains. His promises and His faithfulness remain. The dream may have changed, but He never did. This week, when the loss feels loud, come back to this one word and ask: what still remains?💭 Reflection Question:What still remains in your life, even in the middle of what you've lost?🔗 Resources Mentioned:- Joy Even Here (Substack) — melissajw74.substack.comAmbiguous loss: when closure doesn’t exist | Connect MagazineChronic Illness and Ambiguous Loss | Psychology Today💛 Signature Truth:Your story isn't over.God can still bring purpose to your pain.And even here, joy still remains.Mentioned in this episode:A Quick Favor"I'm looking for 3-5 women to hop on a short, no-pressure 15-minute call with me, just to hear a little about your journey with chronic illness, grief, or a hard season, and the words you would use to describe it. No catches, no upsells, just me wanting to understand my listeners better so I can serve you well. As a thank-you, I will send you my free faith quiz, "What Is God Growing in Your Life Right Now?" If you're willing, just send me a DM on Instagram and I will set up a time that works for you."

SubtitleA conversation about faithful friendship, miscarriage, grief, fear, and the quiet power of simply being present.Episode SummaryWhat does it look like to love someone through suffering when you can't fix what's broken?In this deeply personal episode of Joy in Suffering, Melissa is joined by her lifelong friend, Carrie Barresi, whose friendship has spanned more than forty years. Together they reflect on growing up together, navigating chronic illness, walking through miscarriage and the loss of a parent, and discovering that some of the greatest acts of love aren't found in having the right words—but in faithfully showing up.Carrie shares how watching Melissa's lifelong health journey shaped her own faith, the loneliness she experienced after multiple miscarriages, and how Psalm 23 became an anchor during the devastating loss of her mother. Melissa and Carrie also discuss the well-meaning comments that often hurt those who are grieving, why grief is never linear, and how God's presence meets us in every valley.Whether you're walking through suffering yourself or wondering how to support someone you love, this conversation offers hope, wisdom, and practical encouragement for the journey.In This EpisodeHow a friendship of more than forty years has shaped both Melissa's and Carrie's faithLoving someone through chronic illness when you can't fix their painThe hidden grief of miscarriage and why people often don't know what to sayLosing a parent and finding peace through Psalm 23Why grief isn't something we simply "get over"Common phrases that unintentionally wound people who are sufferingLearning to surrender fear instead of trying to control the futureWhy faithful presence is often the greatest gift we can offerWhat "just showing up" really looks like in everyday lifeScripture for the SeasonPsalm 23 (NIV)"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing..."Carrie shares how this familiar psalm became a lifeline during the loss of her mother and continues to bring peace whenever fear begins to rise.Song for the SeasonBe Not Afraid – John Michael TalbotA beautiful reminder that God walks beside us through every valley and every fearWord of the MonthPresenceSometimes the greatest ministry isn't finding the perfect words.It's showing up.God's presence changes us—and our presence can become one of His greatest gifts to someone who is hurting.Reflection QuestionWho in your life needs your presence more than your answers this week?What would it look like to simply reach out, listen well, and remind them they're loved?Resources MentionedBearing the Unbearable – Joanne CacciatoreFaith Over Fear: Trusting God Through Life's Uncertainties –(Featuring a chapter by Melissa Winters)The Courage to Say Yes –(Featuring a chapter by Melissa Winters)Connect with MelissaIf this episode encouraged you, I'd love to continue walking this journey with you.Subscribe to the newsletter on Substack for monthly encouragement, Scripture, and reflections for women navigating chronic illness, grief, and hard seasons.Share This EpisodeIf someone came to mind while listening, would you share this episode with them?Sometimes the greatest encouragement begins with one simple act of showing upMentioned in this episode:A Quick Favor"I'm looking for 3-5 women to hop on a short, no-pressure 15-minute call with me, just to hear a little about your journey with chronic illness, grief, or a hard season, and the words you would use to describe it. No catches, no upsells, just me wanting to understand my listeners better so I can serve you well. As a thank-you, I will send you my free faith quiz, "What Is God Growing in Your Life Right Now?" If you're willing, just send me a DM on Instagram and I will set up a time that works for you."

Subtitle (SEO Boost):A Christian podcast conversation on anxiety, depression, faith, and finding hope in the darkest seasons💛 A Quick Favor?I'm looking for 3-5 women to hop on a short, no-pressure 15-minute call with me, just to hear a little about your journey with chronic illness, grief, or a hard season, and the words you would use to describe it.No catches, no upsells, just me wanting to understand my listeners better so I can serve you well. As a thank-you, I will send you my free faith quiz, "What Is God Growing in Your Life Right Now?"If you're willing, just send me a DM on Instagram and I will set up a time that works for you.💛 Episode Summary:In this episode, we're talking about walking through anxiety, depression, and psychosis — and finding your way back to trust in God's goodness. If you've ever wondered whether you've gone too far to come back, or if the silence between you and God feels too heavy to carry, this conversation will encourage you to trust that hope is still there, even when you can't feel it yet.🌿 In This Conversation, We Talk About:The moment fear and distorted thinking took hold, and how it became a spiritual battle for trustWhat happens when the songs that once lifted you start to feel like accusation — and what God is doing in that silenceHow unconditional love from a small group of faithful friends became the crack of light that led to healing📖 Scripture (NIV):"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." — 2 Corinthians 12:9"Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." — Psalm 42:5Also referenced in this episode: Genesis 3, Psalm 51:6, Joshua 1:9, Romans 8:28-29, Galatians 6:2🎶 Song Mentioned:"Joy in the Morning" by Tauren Wells, performed by Anna Holand on the Hope Ignited live albumWatch/Listen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0NLneSBJg4Listen to the full Hope Ignited Live Album on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5iTjrMryenlLgHLtLXhDJn✨ Word of the Week: HopeWhen everything in you wants to believe the darkness is permanent, hope is the pinpoint of light that says otherwise. This week, we're holding onto hope, not as a feeling, but as a choice to trust God even before we can feel Him.💭 Reflection Question:Where in your life right now do you need to trust that God is weaving something beautiful, even from the broken pieces?🔗 Resources Mentioned:Hope Ignited: Set Free from the Grip of Anxiety and Depression by Maria I. MorganOrder on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hope-Ignited-Free-Anxiety-Depression/dp/B0GT2298FMAbout My Guest:Maria I. Morgan is the award-winning author of Hope Ignited: Set Free from the Grip of Anxiety and Depression, a book born out of her own journey through chronic anxiety, depression, and the long road back to wholeness through faith. Her passion is helping women find freedom through a faith-centered, holistic approach to healing that addresses the body, soul, and spirit. She lives in Georgia with her husband, Steve.Connect with Maria:Website: https://www.mariaimorgan.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariaimorgan/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WriterMariaIMorgan🎧 Listen & Subscribe:If this episode encouraged you, be sure to follow the podcast so you don't miss what's coming next.💛 Signature Truth:Your story isn't over.Your pain has purpose.And somehow… even here… joy can still grow.Mentioned in this episode:A Quick Favor"I'm looking for 3-5 women to hop on a short, no-pressure 15-minute call with me, just to hear a little about your journey with chronic illness, grief, or a hard season, and the words you would use to describe it. No catches, no upsells, just me wanting to understand my listeners better so I can serve you well. As a thank-you, I will send you my free faith quiz, "What Is God Growing in Your Life Right Now?" If you're willing, just send me a DM on Instagram and I will set up a time that works for you."

Subtitle (SEO Boost):A Christian podcast on chronic illness, fatherhood, and faith in sufferingEpisode Summary:In this episode, we're talking about what it looks like for a father to love his daughter through a lifetime of chronic illness. If you've been walking through chronic illness, caregiving, or wondering where God is in the hard seasons, this conversation will encourage you to find hope even when nothing seems to be getting better.In this conversation, we talk about:What it was like for my dad to watch me suffer and not be able to fix itHow our family moved across the country more than once searching for healingThe moment my dad's faith was tested most — and how it came back strongerScripture:Proverbs 3:5-6 — Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.Romans 5:3-5 — We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.Song Mentioned: My Little Girl — Tim McGrawhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZVsGVE1qCgWord of the Month: FaithfulnessThrough every move, every setback, and every moment faith was tested, what carried this family through was faithfulness — both God's faithfulness to never leave, and the faithfulness it takes to keep showing up for someone you love even when you can't fix their pain.Reflection Question:What would it look like for you to keep showing up for someone you love, even when you can't fix their painResources Mentioned:The Courage to Say Yes — a collaboration book I'm honored to be a part of, releasing June 18th. Want a signed copy? DM me! Otherwise you can grab it on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0d4rUZNfLISTEN & SUBSCRIBE:If this episode moved you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it — whether that's a woman walking through chronic illness or someone who loves her. And be sure to follow the podcast so you don't miss what's coming next in the View from the Valley series.Your story isn't over.Your pain has purpose.And somehow… even here… joy can still grow.