If you’ve ever felt desperate in your suffering, wondering if you’ll ever laugh again, this podcast is for you. Join me, Vaneetha Risner, and my guests as we honestly discuss the realities of suffering and loss, the questions we asked God in our pain, and our hope that is anchored in the goodness of God.
If you’ve ever felt desperate in your suffering, wondering if you’ll ever laugh again, this podcast is for you. Join me, Vaneetha Risner, and my guests as we honestly discuss the realities of suffering and loss, the questions we asked God in our pain, and our hope that is anchored in the goodness of God.
What does resilient faith in the midst of relentless suffering look like? Join me as I sit down with my friend and author, Michele, as she shares her story which includes an unwanted divorce, single-parenting, the challenges of a blended family, surviving cancer and foster-adopting children with trauma backgrounds. Michele's story is one of hardship, but also one of unwavering faith in God as she has leaned into Him, trusting He is redeeming her suffering.
In our heartfelt conversation, Michelle recounts her upbringing in a Christian home and her dreams of a Christian husband and children. She shares her feelings of shame after her divorce, the unique struggles of blended families, and the resentment she felt over her unmet expectations. Then she was diagnosed with tongue cancer three separate times and describes the intense treatments, surgeries, and the lasting impact on her health, including permanent disabilities. In the midst of that came the challenges of adoption, which were largely unexpected, so Michele offers invaluable suggestions on how to come alongside adoptive parents.
Michele’s story is a testament to God’s kindness, the power of a resilient faith, and the profound hope that can be found even in deep suffering. Her courage and faith will inspire you as you wrestle with your own challenges or walk with those in a difficult season.
EPISODE CHAPTERS
(00:06) - Michele’s Story
(08:11) - Navigating Suffering and Finding Hope
(23:12) - Challenges and Realities of Blended Families
(31:58) - The Challenges of Foster and Adoption
(43:15) - Wrestling With Faith
(51:10) - Finding Humor and Hope
GUEST BIO
As an experienced communicator, Michele Cushatt speaks internationally to a wide variety of audiences and has published four books, including A Faith That Will Not Fail and Undone. A three-time head and neck cancer survivor and parent of “children from hard places,” Michele is a (reluctant) expert on trauma, pain, and the deep human need for authentic connection and enduring faith. She and her husband, Troy, share a blended family of six children, including biological children, stepchildren, and foster-adopt children. They live on eight acres outside of Denver, Colorado.
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Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.