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

Life has a lot of twists and turns. Some things are hard. Some things are all about perspective.  For comments on the podcast, questions, topic suggestion and prayer needs, email Laurie@lauriecooklyons.com    

Growing up in church has a lasting impact. Sometimes we stray or turn away but God doesn't even though it can feel like the church does. Ciarra shares parts of her past when she experienced these things and how she found her way back. For comments on the podcast, questions, topic suggestions and prayer needs, please email Laurie@lauriecooklyons.com

I am excited to talk with my son, Luke, today, the one who moved 2300 miles from home. We talk about the different perspectives of having an adult child move so far away as a parent and the kid who is a grown man. We tell you how it's done. Only kidding, we share our stories in hopes of helping you as you adjust to the differences in family dynamics. For comments on the podcast, questions, topic s...

Do you make New Year's resolutions? I have but now I don't. They feel like a recipe for failure to me. I hope you listen in and share your thoughts. To resolute or not to resolute, that is the question. For comments about the podcast, questions, topic suggestions and prayer needs, please email Laurie@lauriecooklyons.com

Friendships fall apart sometimes whether from a betrayal or natural circumstances. It's important to be intentional with friendships.

Finding hope for the holidays is the goal of this episode. A lot of people don't like the holidays for a lot of different reasons. Finding something to hold on to can help.

When dealing with chronic health issues there are plenty of opportunities to choose to trust God. Heather shared some of her journey with Rheumatoid Arthritis. 

Parenting, in all the phases, can be difficult. Each phase presents challenges of its own. Some are harder than others. Learning to let go is a lesson we, as parents, need to learn.

The holidays are here and so are the holiday blues. You may not experience the down feelings that come before, during or after the holidays but a lot of people do. Loneliness can be harder to overcome during the holidays than other days. Join in for the holiday blues coversation. 

There are so many things vying for our attention in this society. We can get caught up in a lot of things that don't have eternal value. They can be important. Some things are but living with the end in mind is a good way to approach life.

The homes we grow up in matter. Trauma and dysfunction have a way of playing out in our adult lives if we aren't aware. We have to be intentional about making changes and stopping the chaos. Talking with Amy about breaking the patterns and the positive effects on our children is where we landed on this episode.

Embrace the suck, run to the roar, and face the giant are all sayings of what it looks like to stand up to the hard things in our lives. Hard things come whether we like them or not, whether we want them or not, whether we get a say or not. We get to choose how to respond. Embracing the suck is one of our choices. 

God can take the worst situations and turn them into good. It may not be your choice or anything you wanted to go through, but when you allow God to work in your heart and life event, He can turn things around. Renae Green talks about the hard situations in her life that God used for good.

The things that are political seem to have a spiritual basis. I talk through the things going on in our world and what lies behind it. 

Betrayal is hard. Being betrayed by a co-worker, trusted friend or spouse is no small thing to work through. But when all three come into play, there aren't enough words. My friend experienced this situation and dealt with it in stages of anger, grief, and a lot of grace. With the well-being of his kids in mind he continues to take it one days at a time. 

We are a society that longs for connection. Maybe all the generations before have too, but it seems to be a bigger deal these days. Talking with Sarah uncovers how we can wander down a path we never intended to take. Longings of the heart show up in different ways. 

This episode is about wanting your old life back. Life can change in an instant. Usually, we are ill-equipped and unprepared to handle those times. People who lose the ones they love, the life they love, the job they love. Life can be difficult. Trusting God when things don't turn out the way you plan can be hard but in the end, it's all that really matters.

I'm not one who typically talks about body image issues. Although I am no different from all the rest of American women who have definite opinions about my body, it's not something I talk about, at least not in public but I was delighted that my conversation with Heather Creekmore about body image issues went a little deep and we talked about Barbie.

It seems we spend a lot of time talking about grief. Life is full of things to grieve whether big or small. Amanda talked about traditions of grieving and how we don't know how to grieve well as a society nor do we want to take the time. Slowing down to grieve is important to living an emotionally, and physically healthy life.

Life is a series of losses that need to be grieved. Not all life, and not all losses need to be grieved. Just the important ones, the big ones. The ones that change who you are. Trusting God during times of extreme pain and loss can be difficult. But you don't have to do it alone. We have each other. And we have a friend that sticks closer than a brother. Jesus. For comments about the podcast, que...

When you are young and called to Japan, it's all good. But what about the things you leave behind? Nathan has been preparing for a few years to go to Japan, raising funds, and learning the culture and all the things. How you can support him and what it looks like to move to a different country are things we talk about. For comments about the podcast, questions, topic suggestions and prayer needs,...

Andrena has a passion for helping other women pursue God and their career paths. But sometimes life doesn't go the way we want. Andrena makes the most of the gifts God has given her.  For comments about the podcast, questions, topic suggestions and prayer needs, email Laurie@lauriecooklyons.com.

Meghan was getting on with her day attending to her five-month-old daughter when she received the news that her husband suddenly passed away on his way to work. They tried to revive him, but it was too late. Meghan's life clearly didn't turn out the way she had planned but she was left to carry on regardless. Her story is one of courage and God's faithfulness when life throws us unbelievable circu...

When Lisa's husband of 25 years dies suddenly leaving her to raise 7 kids alone, moving felt overwhelming. It wasn't her choice but she did what she had to do to survive and thrive. Her courage to talk about the hard times and move forward is inspiring. For comments about the podcast, questions, topic suggestions and prayer needs, email Laurie@lauriecooklyons.com/

Talking with Diane Anil about her ministry Take Courage. She has an August blessing for women. For comments about the podcast, questions, topic suggestions and prayer needs, email Laurie@lauriecooklyons.com.