Unshakable Hope Podcast

Amy Joob, author of Arise: From Grief and Flourish, shares her story of enduring what she calls “grief storms.” Just as she launched her ministry, she was devastated by the sudden loss of her father, followed closely by the loss of her church community. God guided her as she sought counsel and pursued healing through GriefShare. Amy faced another crushing blow when her brother died by suicide. She...

Dyann Shepard shares her faith journey from a chaotic childhood, through a failed marriage, and the loss of a wonderful husband of thirty-one years to Alzheimer’s. She describes humble God-inspired prayers that strengthened her when she was weary, mini-pity parties, and the daily renewals of lament and gratitude. A “spiritual fracking” lesson in repentance powerfully highlights the blessings of hu...

Doreen Steenland, author and trauma-informed neuroscience coach, describes her childhood history of abuse, the self-protective patterns she learned, and how coming to Christ as a young adult started her journey to experiencing the power of God's love, transformation, and healing. We discover how brain science supports Romans 12:2 and how transformation happens through small "micro-shifts" rather t...

Michelle Rahal, award-winning author and storyteller, strengthens our faith with modern-day stories of God’s miraculous care, healing, presence, and power. We’ll be drawing from her research and weekly newsletter, A Glimpse of Holy, as well as a few jaw-dropping stories from her own life. These God-stories will fill our hearts with a biblical view of the greatness and nearness of our holy God. Ver...

Lori Armstrong describes God’s faithfulness and countless answers to prayer following her baby’s diagnosis with retinoblastoma. Although he was expected to lose his eyes and his life, God miraculously preserves both. He also blessed her son with a precious childlike faith that continues into adulthood. Lori describes how God provided treasures in the darkness after the loss of her husband and both...

Lara Silverman, a Stanford Law graduate and former U.S. Attorney’s Office hire, shares how a sudden, rare neurological illness left her mostly bedridden for eight years, forcing her to resign and endure years of misdiagnoses, failed treatments, and isolation while God repeatedly comforted her through Scripture and community. In a story only God could write, Matt, newly diagnosed with stage four in...

Cara Shine grew up as the only Jewish child in her area where antisemitic bullying left her feeling rejected not only by peers, but also by Jesus. Her perspective shifted years later during the terrifying Beltway sniper attacks. Overwhelmed by fear, a simple prayer offered by a colleague opened her heart to Jesus' love. Cara describes her awe and joy as she came to know and fall in love with the o...

Jodi Allen shares her story of a marriage impacted by her husband’s long-term pornography struggle, culminating in a two-year attempt at healing and eventual divorce. Learning that “shame is a choice” empowered her to step out of hiding and trust her faith community with their story. Jody highlights God’s miraculous provisions for their family and the emphasizes God’s presence, kindness, and gentl...

Cheryl Scanlan shares powerful and practical examples of how we can live a life of rest and how we can access all of Christ's spiritual blessings in our everyday. We'll discover how to intentionally open our hearts and receive God's peace, comfort, and guiding voice rather than rush past these divine invitations. Cheryl describes peace as "resident" but not always "president" and helps us explore...

Amber Smith—wife of former country music artist Granger Smith and author of The Girl on the Bathroom Floor—shares the heartbreaking and hope-filled story of losing their three-year-old son, River, to a drowning in 2019. She highlights the tender and powerful ways the Lord ministered to their family, grew their faith, and restored hope. She helps us enlarge our view of God and uncover the power of...

Rosann Coulon, in an unguarded moment, admitted she was struggling to trust God with the devastation of her pastor dad's addiction to medication. This loss was piled on top of debilitating chronic illness, the loss of her career, and the realization she could not have children. Rosann shares the tender ways the Lord met her with the power of His healing love. She discovered that although life had...

Angela Donadio, an anointed ministry leader, author, and podcaster, shares profound lessons of dependency and surrender that help us cultivate fierce faith when life doesn’t make sense. Out of her near-death experience, she shares two questions that reframe our suffering as well as deep insights from the faith-in-action stories of Rahab and the bleeding woman. We discover the power of God to trans...

Dr. Michelle Bengtson, a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist and bestselling author, discusses how to navigate pain, suffering, and emotional scars through faith and resilience. She shares her personal journey of overcoming physical and emotional challenges, including childhood illness, miscarriage, depression, and cancer. Michelle highlights how God can redeem our pain for a greater purpos...

Lisa Saruga, counselor and trauma therapist, shares her formidable journey from surviving a violent assault in the 1980s to having her attacker identified 35 years later. Lisa discusses how her faith in God and His goodness anchored her through her healing journey. She explains that trauma doesn’t have to define you and that feelings of hopelessness, loss, and grief can be overcome. Her story of r...

How do we experience the peace of God when we’re worried, fearful, or overwhelmed? Rachel Wojo, author, speaker, and host of the Untangling Prayer podcast, shares her journey, including caring for her terminally ill daughter, financial struggles, fears on multiple levels, and embracing God's word for daily sustenance. We find practical advice on how to pray God's promises and trust His faithfulnes...

Darlene Larson, a certified Grief, Loss, and Life Purpose Coach, encourages us with the hope she found through significant hardships, including emotional abuse, divorces, and family losses. Darlene shares her journey through deep valleys of grief, her struggles with faith, and how God's unwavering presence led her into fresh strength and healing. Drawing from her book, Leading You Through the Vall...

Jackie Freeman recounts her experiences as a caregiver for her husband who battled stage four glioblastoma and how she discovered the strength and presence of the Lord during the hardest times. She also shares the transition from feeling responsible for fixing everything in life to learning to trust God fully. Jackie found solace and healing in unexpected places, including writing music and immers...

How does trusting God rescue our hearts from cynicism and apathy? Kelly Hall and Jennifer Slattery delve into God’s love and timely interventions during crises of faith. This second portion of Kelly’s story emphasizes practical ways to navigate heartache with trust in God and helps us cultivate tenderness with the Lord when disappointments pile. The relentless, rescuing love of God radiates hope i...

In this 100th episode, Kelly Hall shares powerful stories of God’s faithfulness and miraculous provisions from her family’s journey. She's joined by her talented friend, Jennifer Slattery, who enriches this conversation with her biblical wisdom and insights. We discover the tenderness of our Lord who draws near in our heartache, speaks words of hope over our grief, rescues our wounded hearts from...

Sarah Griffiths Hu shares vulnerably about her journey from crippling anxiety to courageous faith, including her experiences with childhood assault, a miscarriage, financial difficulties, and her son's battle with addiction. She emphasizes the importance of surrendering control to God, trusting His guidance, and using scripture in prayer. Throughout the conversation, Sarah offers encouragement and...

Rachel LeMaster is a remarkable young woman whose story of survival and faith has been featured on national platforms such as The Katie Couric Show and The Today Show. Rachel, born with Turner’s Syndrome, shares her journey of surviving a catastrophic car accident that left her with severe injuries, including internal decapitation and traumatic brain injury. Despite these challenges, Rachel's fait...

Christine Hoy, shares her transformative journey of breaking free from the exhausting cycle of perfectionism and embracing a life anchored in grace. We’ll enjoy God’s purposeful creativity in revealing strongholds of control and guiding her into deeper surrender. Christine emphasizes the joy found in intimate time with God and shares practical steps towards achieving peace. We will draw from her b...

God’s love is big enough for your darkest moments. Amanda Scarborough, shares her harrowing experience with severe postpartum depression that threatened both her life and her son’s. She describes the beautiful war she fought and rescuing power of Jesus’ love. Through her journey Amanda highlights the faithfulness of God and offers important insights into mental health struggles. Verses shared: 2 T...

What happens when tragedy meets the unshakable love of Jesus? Sheila Preston Fitzgerald shares how her near-death motorcycle accident became the backdrop for an extraordinary testimony of faith, resilience, and God’s miraculous care. From the night she was cradled in the arms of Jesus on the pavement, to years of painful recovery, multiple surgeries, and learning to walk again with a prosthetic, S...

Carol McCracken recounts her extraordinary journey through a myriad of challenging circumstances. From happily married to divorced single mom to happily remarried to the same man a decade later. Her journey includes parenting a son with multiple special needs, alcohol addiction, and healing in a grace-filled community of believers. God continues to anchor Carol through His promise to do immeasurab...