In today’s episode, I had the privilege of speaking with Cindy Saab, author of Beyond: Strength and Hope Through Unexpected Storms. Cindy shares her incredible journey of walking through multiple life storms, including the loss of her younger brother to cancer, her mother’s decline with dementia, and the devastating end of her 28-year marriage. Through each of these trials, Cindy has learned to lean into God’s presence, finding strength, peace, and hope amidst the chaos.

In her book, Cindy takes readers on a journey of restoration, using her personal experiences and the stories of others who have faced their own storms. She encourages those who feel stuck or broken to remember that God’s restoration is for them too and that He will walk with them through the darkest of times. She offers not only her testimony but also practical steps to finding hope in the midst of life’s most difficult moments.

Key Takeaways:

1. God is Our Refuge: Cindy emphasizes that in times of loss and brokenness, God is our refuge. He doesn’t want us to handle our struggles alone, and through surrendering to Him, He can carry us through even the most overwhelming storms.

2. Hope in the Midst of Pain: Cindy shares that even when emotions are raw and grief is heavy, God’s faithfulness can be seen in the small glimpses of hope. Romans 15:13, which speaks of being filled with joy and peace as we trust in God, has been a key verse in Cindy’s journey of healing.

3. Healing is a Process: Cindy’s experience has taught her that healing doesn’t happen overnight. In her Bible study, Beyond, Cindy walks readers through a six-week process where they can explore different levels of healing. From acknowledging their grief to finding joy, each week brings a deeper understanding of how God works in our lives through trials.

I pray that as you listen to her story , you will find encouragement to continue looking beyond what is in front of you and to the God who is holding onto you.

Bio:

Cindy is an intentional CEO—a Connector and Encourager to Others. She loves to inspire, empower, equip and coach those traveling through unexpected storms and motivate them toward new seasons of life. Cindy is an award-winning Bible study author, a passionate communicator, and a strong biblical teacher who participates in Christian writing and speaking conferences and coordinates for a nationwide Christian outreach ministry. The mother of two adult children, she can often be found at the local coffee shop or the inspirational beach near her New Hampshire home.

Anchor Verses:

Romans 15:13

Connect with Cindy:

Website: https://cindysaab.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/cindysaab

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

In today’s episode, we are celebrating the release of Restored: Partnering with God in Transforming Our Broken Places with Meshali Mitchell, a deeply personal and transformative story of healing. Meshali, a Dallas-based photographer, shares her journey of brokenness and restoration, revealing the powerful lessons she’s learned along the way. From childhood trauma to finding hope and healing through God’s grace, Meshali’s story will resonate with anyone who has experienced pain and longed for restoration.

Throughout the episode, Meshali talks about her personal experiences and how the the restoration of an 1800s farmhouse led her to write this book, offering hope and encouragement to those who feel stuck in their own ruins. Her words are filled with compassion and understanding, making this episode a must-listen for anyone navigating their own healing journey.

Three Key Takeaways from Meshali’s Journey:

1. No One is Exempt from Restoration: Meshali shares how, despite her years of ministry involvement and working with Christian influencers, she lived in a place of internal doubt and believed that restoration was for everyone else—but not for her. She reveals how God’s transformative power was meant for her too, and that no one is excluded from the healing He offers.

2. Healing is a Process: The journey of restoration is rarely a quick fix. Meshali talks about how her healing involved confronting deep pain, including the trauma from her parents’ divorce and the sexual abuse she experienced. Through a long process of seeking counseling and partnering with God, Meshali came to understand that healing takes time and intentional effort, but the results are worth it.

3. Grace and Hope are Key: For anyone feeling stuck in their own brokenness, Meshali’s encouragement is clear: there is grace and hope ahead. God has a unique and beautiful restoration story for each person, and Meshali prays that those reading her book will be deeply encouraged by the truth that God is in the business of renewing hearts and lives.

Bio:

Meshali Mitchell is a portrait artist who believes every human being has a story worth hearing and a story worth telling. An Arkansas native, current resident of Texas, and frequent traveler, she owns and operates Meshali Mitchell Photo, which is run out of her home but takes her all over the world. She is a creative image builder and storyteller, confident in her style, and recognized for her ability to capture the true heart of a moment.

Anchor Verse:

Joel 2:25

Connect with Meshali:

Website: https://www.meshali.co

IG: https://www.instagram.com/meshali

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meshalico

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

In this deeply powerful and raw episode, I sit down with Dr. Kim Maas—global minister, author, prophet, professor, and most importantly, a woman in love with Jesus. Kim’s story is one of deep heartbreak, radical restoration, and the miraculous power of God to redeem even the most broken places in our lives.

Her latest book, Our Muchness, released in May 2024, is a passionate call to women everywhere to reclaim their God-given identity, calling, and voice. But today, Kim takes us behind the curtain into her own freedom story—one marked by teenage salvation, a dark night of the soul, marriage, addiction, miraculous deliverance, and the still small voice of a Savior who refused to give up on her.

We talk about:

• Kim’s powerful encounter with Jesus at 13—and how it marked her

• The silent years and the pain of walking away

• Her marriage, divorce proceedings, and the miracle of reconciliation

• How God radically delivered her husband from addiction

• Hearing the voice of God—and choosing to follow, even in fear

• What Our Muchness means and why women need it now more than ever

From a living room chair and a crying-out heart to ministering on stages across the world, Kim reminds us that healing often starts with saying “yes” in the middle of our mess. Her testimony will stir your spirit and remind you that no one is too far gone for the grace of God.

Bio:

Kim Maas is a sought-after international speaker, author, and Christian minister. After a radical encounter with the Holy Spirit on March 22, 1994, Kim left her twenty-two-year nursing career to serve God full-time. She is the president and CEO of Kim Maas Ministries, the founder and director of Women of Our Time, and the host of the Move Forward with Dr. Kim Maas podcast and TV show. She can also be heard each month live on social media with the Voice of the Shepherds. Kim is ordained with the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel and the Apostolic Network of Global Awakening. She earned a Doctorate in Ministry at United Theological Seminary and a Master of Divinity at King’s University.

She and her husband, Mike, live in northern Idaho. They have three married children and a growing number of grandchildren.

Anchor Verses:

Hebrews 10: 19-39

Connect with Kim:

Website: https://www.kimmaas.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com kimmaasministries

FB: https://www.facebook.com/MoveforwardNowKimMaas

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

Today I had the absolute honor of talking with Aubrey Sampson—author, podcaster, pastor, and a woman who carries the kind of hard-won hope you don’t get without walking through the deep. Her newest book, What We Find in the Dark, releases today and it’s one I truly believe every person navigating grief, loss, or the silence of God needs to have on their shelf—and in their hands.

Aubrey shares the raw, powerful journey behind this book—how she cried out to God in her car while pregnant with her first son, begging for freedom from shame. She tells us about the Holy Spirit’s presence in some of her darkest moments, the redemptive power of truth-telling, and what it looks like to meet Jesus in the middle of trauma and heartache.

From losing her best friend to breast cancer, to grieving the unexpected loss of her father just two years later, to wrestling with the “dark night of the soul,” Aubrey’s story is not a neat testimony wrapped in a bow—it’s a holy invitation to let Jesus meet us in the night, even when He feels far away.

This episode is for the one who is still in the middle of it—for the one asking, “Where are you, God?” and needing to know they’re not alone. Aubrey reminds us that while answers may not always come, His presence does. And that is everything.

Bio:

Aubrey Sampson (MA, evangelism and leadership) coplanted and serves as a teaching pastor at Renewal Church, a multiethnic congregation in Chicagoland. She also speaks regularly at churches and conferences around the country. She is an award-nominated author, a coach with Propel Women Cohorts, and the cohost of The Nothing Is Wasted Podcast. Aubrey is the author of several books, most recently Big Feelings Days: A Book about Hard Things, Heavy Emotions, and Jesus’ Love (October 2023). She is passionate about helping hurting Christians find God’s presence in their pain. She and her husband, Kevin, and their three hilarious sons live, minister, and play in the Chicagoland area.

Anchor Verse:

Psalm 34, with an emphasis on verse 5

Connect with Aubrey:

Website: https://www.aubreysampson.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/aubsamp

FB: https://www.facebook.com/aubsamp/

The Nothing is Wasted Podcast: https://www.nothingiswasted.com/podcast

Buy What We Find in the Dark: https://www.tyndale.com/p/what-we-find-in-the-dark/9781641583121

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help build our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Dr. Deanna Shrodes to the show today. Her brand-new book, Uncommon Answers: Partnering with the Holy Spirit to Receive Extraordinarily More, comes out Tuesday, April 8th, and trust me—this conversation is packed with Holy Spirit fire, healing, and hope.

Deanna shares her story of being adopted into a Christian home, growing up with a grandmother who pointed her to Jesus daily, and the incredible miracle of reuniting with her biological parents—stories only God could write. From meeting her mom at the age of 27 to meeting her birth father for the first time when he was 91 years old and leading him to salvation… friends, this episode is a front-row seat to God doing immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.

We talk about:

— What it means to be anchored in identity through daily intimacy with the Holy Spirit

— Why your miracle might look uncommon—and why that’s a good thing

— What happens when you stop getting stuck on unanswered prayers and start pursuing the yet-to-be-answered ones

— The beauty of soaking in God’s presence and learning His voice

— How sacrifice and obedience can either unlock miracles—or hold them back

— The hope that it will turn around. Because friend, it’s often darkest right before the dawn

Deanna reminds us that God still moves, still speaks, and still saves. If you’ve been desperate for a breakthrough—whether in your family, your health, your marriage, or your heart—this one’s for you.

Bio:

Dr. Deanna Shrodes is an international speaker gifted in candid communication, an ordained Assemblies of God minister, an accomplished musician, a worship leader, and a recording artist. Dr. Shrodes has been featured on CBS News, People magazine, Woman's World magazine, the New Yorker, HuffPost, God TV, and more. She holds a master's in ministerial leadership and a doctor of ministry degree and also serves as an adjunct professor at Southeastern University. She lives in Tampa, Florida.

Anchor Verse:

Joshua 1:5

Connect with Deanna:

Website: https://www.drdeannashrodes.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/ddshrodes

FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ANdujGhG1/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Amazon Book Link for Preorder: https://a.co/d/6T4sMhz

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help build our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

Today’s episode is one that’s both weighty and freeing. We’re joined by Tabitha Westbrook, licensed therapist and author of Body & Soul, Healed & Whole, which releases today! Tabitha specializes in working with survivors of complex trauma, domestic abuse, and spiritual control in the church—and she’s walked this road herself.

In this conversation, we dive into:

💔 How the church can often mishandle trauma and abuse
💔 The impact of purity culture on women’s identity and healing
💔 Breaking free from cycles of shame and legalism
💔 How God’s heart is for people, not just institutions
💔 The shocking realities of pornography addiction among Christian women—and why no one is talking about it

Tabitha’s story is raw, real, and full of God’s faithfulness. If you’ve ever struggled to reconcile your faith with deep wounds, this conversation is for you.

Bio:

Tabitha K. Westbrook, LMFT-S, LCMHC-QS, LPC-S, LPC, is a licensed therapist who helps people who have messy, funky pasts (and sometimes messy, funky presents) live amazing, empowered lives. Tabitha graduated with her bachelor's in psychology from North Carolina Central University and her master's in professional counseling from Liberty University. In addition to being a licensed counselor and supervisor, Tabitha is an EMDRIA Certified Therapist, EMDR Approved Consultant, Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT), and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), and Certified Christian Trauma Care Provider (CCTCP).

She is the founder and CEO of The Journey & The Process, a private practice with offices in North Carolina and Texas. Tabitha and her team specialize in complex trauma, with a focus on domestic abuse and coercive control. A nationally known expert and speaker, she provides training to churches, therapists, and agencies and helps train domestic abuse advocates through Called to Peace Ministries. Tabitha is the proud mom of an adult son and lives in Dallas.

Anchor Verse:

Hosea 6:1-3

Psalm 27

Beatitudes

Connect with Tabitha:

Website: https://www.tabithawestbrook.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/tabithathecounselor

Purchase Book: https://www.tyndale.com/p/body-and-soul-healed-and-whole/9781496490667

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help build our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Emily Berning, the President and Co-Founder of Let Them Live and the author of Let Them Live. Emily shares her incredible journey from recognizing the heartbreaking reality that financial hardship is one of the leading reasons women choose abortion to founding an organization that provides real, life-saving assistance.

During our conversation, Emily opens up about:

✨ The Story Behind Let Them Live – How one phone call changed everything and led her and her husband, Nathan, to create a nonprofit that has now helped over 800 mothers choose life for their babies.

✨ The Role of Financial Hardship in Abortion Decisions – Why many women feel like they have no choice but abortion and how Let Them Live steps in to provide rent assistance, groceries, medical care, and emotional support to mothers in need.

✨ Powerful Testimonies of Hope – Hear real stories of mothers who were on the brink of abortion but chose life because of the financial and emotional support they received.

✨ Faith, Calling, and Action – How Emily’s personal faith journey has shaped her passion for this mission and why she believes we are all called to step in and help in practical ways.

✨ How You Can Make a Difference – Whether through donations, volunteering, or simply spreading the word, Emily shares tangible ways you can be part of the pro-life movement and support mothers in crisis.

Emily’s book, Let Them Live, dives even deeper into these stories and the mission behind the movement. If you’ve ever wondered how you can truly make an impact in the fight for life, this episode will inspire and equip you to take action.

Tune in now to hear Emily’s incredible story of faith, hope, and action.

Bio:

Emily Berning's story is one of passion, perseverance, and tangible impact. Her work with Let Them Live offers a fresh perspective on addressing the complex issues surrounding abortion, making her an ideal subject for features on women in leadership, social entrepreneurship, or the evolving landscape of reproductive rights advocacy.

Anchor Verse:

Esther 4:14

Connect with Emily and Let Them Live:

Website: https://letthemlive.org

IG: https://www.instagram.com/emilyberning

LINKTREE: https://linktr.ee/emilyberning

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help build our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

In today's episode, I get to spend some time with my friend, Niki Hardy. We have been friends for quite some time, even doing an event together back in 2019!

Niki's journey from England to the U.S. to plant a church has been filled with both challenges and profound insights. She opens up about her battle with cancer and how it reshaped her understanding of an abundant life—not as one free from pain, but as one rich in intimacy and connection with God and others.

Niki introduces us to her latest book, God, Can We Chat?: A Daringly Honest Guide to Growing Closer to God, One Doubt at a Time, releasing on March 25, 2025. In it, she encourages readers to embrace their doubts and questions as pathways to a deeper, more authentic relationship with God. She shares practical tools, including the CHAT acronym, to guide us in honest conversations with God, transforming our uncertainties into opportunities for spiritual growth.

Key Takeaways:

• Embracing doubts can lead to a stronger, more intimate faith.
• Practical steps to engage in open dialogues with God.
• Understanding that an abundant life includes navigating hardships with hope and connection.

We both pray that you will find this episode both encouraging and challenging to your relationship with God. Do not be afraid to ask the difficult questions. Doing this will help you to grow as His child and into the person He is calling you to become.

Bio:

Niki Hardy is the author of the Audi Award-nominated Breathe Again and One-Minute Prayers for Women with Cancer, and has been featured on the Hallmark Channel, Life Today, and Premier Radio.

Having left corporate life, been to seminary, moved continents, planted churches, started businesses and nonprofits, and navigated loss, cancer, church hurt, and painful uncertainty, she firmly believes God loves a cheerful doubter. Niki lives in North Carolina with her husband and ridiculous Doodle, Charlie, who is the main reason their three grown kids come home.

Anchor Verse:

Psalm 62

Connect with Niki:

Website: http://NikiHardy.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/niki.hardy

FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/16ETWymGuM/?mibextid=wwXIfr

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help build our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***