Our Hearts Are Home Podcast — Trusting God in Suffering

Have you ever wondered exactly what to expect if you come to an Our Hearts Are Home conference online or in person? How will it impact your grief journey? In today's podcast, Gary and Laura House share the details of what you'll encounter if you come. Also in the podcast are the thoughts about the conference from Melanie DeSimone, Bob & Sharon Glazebrook, and Kirk & Lisa Thacker. W...

In today's podcast, Russ and Nancy Sullivan share the story of their precious daughter, Amberly. For many years she suffered excruciating physical pain and the search for answers through new doctors and treatments was continuous. At the age of twenty-four, Amberly could not fight the battle any longer, and she went home to be with Jesus. As Russ and Nancy share their journey with honesty and t...

In today's podcast, Mary McNamera shares her journey of her son, Zack, and his homegoing four years ago from asthma. Mary shares with openness and honesty about the difficulty of grief, and offers more than a dozen resources that helped her find her footing in the midst of grief. Through all of the pain, she has seen the Lord strengthen her and give her His peace — a peace that “surpasses all...

In today's podcast, author, Pat Elsberry, shares her journey of grief after losing her beautiful daughter, Melanie. As Pat speaks, she gives insight into the devastating illness of addiction, and clearly communicates how the Lord has held and sustained her through each day.

In today's episode, Deb Rhodes shares her journey of loss. Her daughter, Natalie, at the age of thirty, went to Heaven after a battle with osteosarcoma. Then a few years later, Deb's thirty-eight-year-old son, David, was in a serious car accident and passed away shortly after. Through the unimaginable grief of losing both children, Deb has seen over and over, the faithfulness of God to car...

On today's podcast, Judi Merriam, an author, speaker, actor, and Jenson's mom, shares her experience of loss and of the hope that she has found in Christ. With transparency and honesty, Judi discusses the difficult journey of loss; the wrestling with God, the searching for answers, the discovery of the truth of God's character and love. Her words bring great encouragement and hope to those who are...

In this message given at the recent Our Hearts Are Home conference, missionary pastor, speaker, author, and bereaved father, Mark Roser, shares his heart and shows us through Scripture, the heart of God. "Enlargement by Grief" (aka Good Grief) is a deep dive into God’s redemptive purposes in allowing grief and sorrow. Because God loves, He knows full well what it feels like to have a heart full of...

For those of us who have experienced the pain of child loss, we need to draw near to God now more than ever. However, in the midst of our trauma, God can sometimes feel far away. Questions and confusion naturally arise. If we trusted Him and this horrible event happened, how can we continue to trust Him? Who is this God that allowed this to happen? Does He really care about me? Does it even make a...

In this podcast, Ernie and Karen Richards share the story of their son, Levi, and of the grief journey they have walked since his home-going. Levi was a remarkably talented young man who loved Jesus and was loved deeply by his family and friends. In 2016, without warning, he went to Heaven by suicide. If you are a bereaved parent, we hope you'll find the words of Ernie and Karen to be a comfort an...

For grieving parents, holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, can be especially difficult. This podcast airs the audio from a recent webinar that discusses strategies for navigating these special days, and also suggests a host of ideas of how you can honor and remember your loved ones during the holidays. If you've lost someone dear to you, we hope you'll find encouragement and new ideas in...

Today we welcome to the podcast, Mike Straley, a dad, author, and along with his wife Robin, founder of Leah's Legacy. An amazing and talented young woman, Leah suffered from addiction for many years. After she passed, he and Robin started an organization to help women in recovery. Incredibly, a few years after Leah died, they lost their son, Christopher, in a car accident. In the midst of the unf...

Today’s podcast features a conversation with Dave and Janet Boxx, bereaved parents who have three children in Heaven. Their first child, Cole, was born still, then Bethany and Katie passed after a car accident involving the whole family. As they share the story of their children, they share insights that are helpful to those who are new to this journey. If you are grieving the loss of someone you...

In today’s episode, Emily Matuza shares her heart about the deep losses of several family members and how the Lord has faithfully held her in her grief journey. She experienced the devastation that suicide brings in the loss of her precious son, Joey. In a short period of time, she also lost her brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and recently, her mother went to Heaven after suffering with Alzheimer's...

In today's podcast, we share a conversation with Dr. Yevgeniy Dovgalyuk, president of Liya Christian Ministry. The ministry was started in memory of his sister, Liya, who went to Heaven at the age of thirteen. The focus of the ministry is to share the Gospel and make disciples through the power of music. As Yevgeniy shares about the work of the ministry in Ukraine, music therapy programs for s...

In today’s podcast, speaker and author Nancy Guthrie, and Pastor Gabe deGarmeaux share their stories of child loss. With honesty and transparency, they recount their experiences and testify to the faithfulness of God throughout their grief journeys. They offer words of encouragement to those who are experiencing loss and share a wealth of spiritual insights that they have learned along the way. If...

In today’s episode, Leonard and Amy Bailey share the story of their daughter, Ilona, and of her homegoing, just two years ago. They share with honesty and transparency about their grief journey, and offer insights learned through suffering. Prompted by the Lord to use their pain to comfort others as they have been comforted, they founded the Ilona Foundation, a ministry to help other bereaved pare...

On today's podcast, we welcome Brad and Jill Sullivan, co-founders of the While We're Waiting ministry. The conversation is rich and covers a variety of topics. The conversation begins by talking about their daughter, Hannah, and her cancer journey, which took her to Heaven in 2009. Brad and Jill testify to God's faithfulness through grief, and offer such encouragement to those who are...

In August 2022, the unthinkable happened to the family of Kelly Brockman. A deranged neighbor murdered his daughter and granddaughter, and then took the lives of two other people in the neighborhood. In today's podcast, Kelly and his other daughter, Erin Ketchen, join us to share their story. As they recount the events that took Sarah and Kayla to Heaven, you'll be encouraged by the transp...

On the podcast today, Carol Brown shares some of the insights that she has learned over the past twenty-seven years since her daughter, Jackie, went to Heaven from a car accident. Carol shares wisdom learned through the crucible of suffering. In her comforting and gentle way, she brings encouragement to those who are grieving, and challenges us all to a deeper relationship with God. As she wrestle...

Today's podcast is the second of two broadcasts sharing the conversation from a recent webinar. In the webinar, a panel of parents shared their experiences of losing a child by suicide, and shared how the Lord has held them through their grief. If you are a grieving parent, we hope this will bring comfort and hope. And if you have not lost someone by suicide, we hope this will help you better...

Today's podcast is the first of two broadcasts sharing the conversation from a recent webinar. In the webinar, a panel of parents shared their experiences of losing a child by suicide, and shared how the Lord has held them through their grief. If you are a grieving parent, we hope this will bring comfort and hope. And if you have not lost someone by suicide, we hope this will help you better u...

On today's podcast, Cindy Shufflebarger shares the story of her daughter, Ashlynn, and of how God continues to use her story to touch other grieving parents. Several years down the road of grief, Cindy and her husband reflected on what had been instrumental to them in their early days of grief, and realized that the gift of a beach house for a few days alone had been a balm to their souls. The...

In today’s podcast, Brittany Liberto shares her daughter’s story. It’s a story of how God has used a tiny baby’s short life on earth to impact many. As Brittany shares her story of Talitha Rose, she provides us with glimpses of God’s heart toward us that she has discovered through suffering. With tenderness and compassion, the Lord carries us through the hardest moments of our lives and never leav...

In today's episode, Nancy Manos shares her story of loss and hope after the home-going of her daughter, Alex. In the deepest sorrow she has ever known, she sought to know if God was who she had always known Him to be. Is God still good, even in devastating loss? Listen in and be encouraged through the testimony of a bereaved mother who can answer that question.

In today’s episode, Mark and Pat Roser share the story of their son, Ethan. After a “freak” accident, Ethan went to Heaven, and the Rosers were thrown into a whole new existence. They share their journey, how they learned to lament, and what God has done in their lives. You’ll find comfort, encouragement, and so many insights learned through suffering, and you’ll discover the truth of the deep, de...