Unshakable Hope Podcast

In 2019, Kari Hoffman’s little boy was thrown off a third-story balcony at the Mall of America and survived a 39-foot fall. God’s faithfulness and power are highlighted through a series of jaw-dropping miracles, along with an amazing example of how He prepared Kari’s heart in childhood to trust Him through this crisis. We see the power of forgiveness, the choices to guard our hearts from fear, and...

Maria Morgan shares honestly about a difficult season marked less by outward events and more by an intense internal battle that ultimately led to psychosis. She was surrounded by loved ones yet disconnected from the reality of love and security. The powerful ways God healed her heart and rescued her from hopelessness and despair will remind us that nothing can separate us from God’s unstoppable lo...

Emily Wickham joins Kelly Hall for an encouraging conversation about prayer. We share thoughts on trusting God with our fears and worries, and discuss ways to draw closer to Him and hear from Him through His Word and Spirit. We share stories and explore scriptures that encourage us to draw closer to God as we pray. Verses referenced: Proverbs 3:5,6; Isaiah 26:3; Psalm 46:10; 1 Samuel 2:1; Isaiah 4...

Jodi Hudson, author, speaker, and Lyme disease advocate, shares how her daughter, Alex, endured a 10-year medical mystery, saw 40 doctors, and faced misdiagnoses before being diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2017. Jodi shares the intimacy Alex developed with the Lord throughout her suffering and how Alex’s conviction that God hadn’t forgotten her brought deep spiritual transformation to others. Alex...

Pat Domangue and I celebrate the truth that nothing is impossible with God. She shares how a sexual assault at 13 shaped years of shame, rebellion, alcoholism, and divorce before she truly came to know Jesus at 30. She describes a long process of transformation—learning to stay in Scripture even when she didn’t understand it, trusting God’s Word over physical circumstances, and experiencing Holy S...

Lynn Jackson opens up about how God's Word carried her through weariness, burnout, and the long, uncertain road of walking alongside her daughter through chronic illness. She shares how God rescued her from spiritual malnourishment through a simple process described in her book, The Recipe: Food for Your Soul, written for women too exhausted to open their Bibles. Verses referenced: Psalm 34:18; Ps...

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...