Chasing Hard-Trusting God when life doesn't turn out the way you planned

When you go through trauma as a child and even as an adult, unless you become intentional and get help, you will have a trauma brain. Amy talks about what it's like to be an adult who experiences trauma thinking.

Once trust is broken, no matter the circumstances or relationship, the rebuilding requires intentional, consistent work. It takes time. No one can really say how much time. It's up to the individuals involved. While you are working, is makes sense to build it back better.

In one weekend I attended a wedding ceremony, simple, small but so very sweet. The next day, I watched my friend pay tribute to her best friend and partner for life, just as sweet but for totally different reasons. Post-wedding blues are as real to me as bidding a final farewell on this side of heaven. Can you relate?

Life is full of disappointments. It doesn't matter how old you are either. In fact, the older you get the more opportunity you have to deal with the disappointments that will surely come your way. It's a curse and a blessing. The difficult, disappointing things give us the chance to learn and grow. It's up to you to decide.

Parenting adults is a real thing in the twenty-first century. Maybe it always has been but today, more than ever before, it is more prevalent for different reasons. Parenting adults is different than when your kids were minors. It takes intentionality and discernment. Parenting adults isn't something you want to do alone. You need a tribe.

When it comes to relationships and marriage, it's never an either/or situation. There are different ways to make a marriage work. How to stay and stay well are important things to keep in mind.

The desire to embrace emotional wellness usually stems from a lifetime of dysfunction. There is no shame in going through emotionally difficult times. Embracing the tough events to allow God to work mental and emotional health in your life, is worth it. Allow God to use the hard stuff so you can become whole.

Losing a spouse is one of the most difficult life events. People handle grief differently. Sharon talks about what it looked like to lose her husband eight years ago, the ways she has grown, and the doors God has opened along the way.

Loneliness is a very real part of our culture. To live in the most connected yet disconnected society is something we all have to navigate. Loneliness is a part of the human experience that we all have to learn to deal with. Longings of the heart lead to feelings of loneliness.

Raising kids is a true chasing God endeavor if you're striving to be the best parent you can be. Sometimes the circumstances of life are stacked against us but we do the best we can with what we've been given.

When Garett and his wife welcomed their second child to the world, they learned the news of his condition which changed their lives. Garett talks of the joys and challenges of having a special needs child.

Being self-aware can be tricky. Even though those who tend to be in tune with what's going on mentally and emotionally can get caught off guard and wander down the familiar path of wrong thinking. No worries, you can start over at any given time.

Talking with Lora was an interesting mix of sadness, joy, acceptance, gratitude and Jesus. The Jesus part came from her eyes and demeanor. How does one go through such a horrific event and exude the love and grace of our Lord? Read her story Song of a Wounded Heart: Regaining Hope and Trust After Personal Tragedy: The Incredible True Life Story of a Woman Who Lost Everything

Cameron knew at an early age he was called to be a missionary in Mexico. Sometimes callings cost a lot. Sometimes the gains are better than you can imagine. And sometimes you get to experience them both.

Debbie talks about the dysfunctional hard places in her life and how God turned things around so she can walk with women in difficult places. Check our her book I Got This - God and her website, https://womenatthewell.us/home

People can say some rude and insensitive when we go through hard times. We touch on a few things during this episode.

There's something about going to college that often challenges our faith while becoming an adult and discovering who we really are and what we believe. Heather shares parts of her young adult years and the pivotal point giving encouragement to families with grown kids who may have walked away from their faith for a time

Being the mother of littles brings joys and challenges, often at the same time. Listen in as Tessa from http://raisingyoungins.com shares tales and tips about mothering young kids.

No person or family is totally dysfunctional or functional. Whether you live in a healthy home environment or one riddled with chaos, there is always functionality to be found.

My friend Pam and her husband were relocating to Florida to continue to work for the companies they were employed by but after they bought their new place and sold their home, her remote job went away. They moved anyway, trusting that God would provide.

My friend, Jarod, talks about wanting a child and the struggle of waiting, the excitement when his wife got pregnant, and the heartache that often accompanys parenthood, due to the physical condition his son was born with. It's a story of pain, joy and faith that they continue to walk.

It's never easy to start over, no matter your age. Being in your 50s, losing your home, your family and friends, and even fellow believers is challenging at best. Mary talks of struggles and growth during a difficult season of starting all over.

Marshall and his wife decided to foster while raising their biological children. Marshall shares the struggles and joys and the nuances of parenting while fostering. 

In honor of our first podcast anniversary, Blake from Confessions of a Crappy Christian, my podcast mentor, joins me again to talk about her decision to start the homeschool journey. She talks about the excitement, of she and her husband being on the same page with it all, and the joy of this new chapter in their family's life. I was reminded of my homeschool tenure as we talked.

We talk about staying when you feel called to stay in a relationship or situation that is toxic or has unhealthy circumstances surrounding it. What does staying well look like? What about called to stay? How can you stay well in situation you feel called to?