From Hardship to Hope

Nuggets of Wisdom* “I found key times throughout the day to give myself permission to grieve.”* “Lean into Jesus. Lean into the grief and let myself feel.”* “Express what you’re feeling.”* “Ask for help.”* “Pray. Pray, pray, pray.”* “Surrender it all to Jesus.”* “People may hurt us, but people also help heal us.”About the AuthorAmy Robnik Joob is an award-winning author, certified life coach, and empowerment speaker. Amy is commissioning pioneers through her Arise and Flourish and Arising Author coaching programs.Amy has weathered her own grief storm along with her family and relocated to southwest Florida recently after decades of living in Chicagoland. Her mission is to bring hope and healing to others and see them fulfill their God-given destiny!Amy’s newest book, Arise from Grief & Flourish Again, launched in the Fall of 2025 and went to #1 on Amazon as a Best-Seller and Hot New Release.Visit Amazon to order a copy of Arise From Grief & Flourish Again—or, listen to it on Kindle. You can contact Amy at [email protected] or connect with her on Instagram, FB, or LinkedIn.As always, feel free to reach out to Tammy with your prayer requests or for more information about life/mental health coaching or inner healing prayer at [email protected]. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tammykennington.substack.com/subscribe

Nuggets of Wisdom * “I needed mature Christian women around me to say, “I love you. I am sorry. This is really hard.”* “The enemy thought he was going to derail me. And God was like, ‘I will not waste this.’ “* “I try to make sure that rather than going into spiritual mother mode...(I ask) how can I love you in this season?”* “Pray and ask the Lord to give you wisdom on who is safe community.”* “God has always been faithful to show me His nearness.”* “I believe that hope is active. I can stare at my circumstances, or I can gaze at God.”* “God invites us to participate and hope—even when we’re going through heavy things.”About the AuthorAmy Eaton is an author, speaker, and encourager whose work centers on helping women find hope in Christ through life’s hardest seasons. Her book, Hope When It’s Heavy, offers a gentle, honest walk through suffering anchored in God’s faithfulness. With experience in ministry, psychology, and human resources, Amy brings insight and authenticity to conversations on spiritual resilience, emotional health, and trusting God in the everyday.You can connect with Amy at amyeatonauthor.com, or at @amyeatonauthor on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTokBe sure to pick up your copy of Amy’s book, Hope When It’s Heavy. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tammykennington.substack.com/subscribe

“Sometimes you just need those sweet little truths. Those sweet little, one-sentence Bible verses.”“It’s a mental battle—dividing that line between what I’m feeling and what is fact.”“While our emotions and our feelings can often give us insight to what is going on inside of us, they are not the truth to hold onto.”“Those feelings are real, but they aren’t reliable.”“God is not going to mess up His plan.”“There is great peace and rest knowing someone else has control of this.”About the AuthorYou can order Valerie’s book, Beneath the Hood, on Amazon. Or, follow her on Instagram. What about today’s episode impacted you? What is one practical step will you take today that will help you, a friend, or family member? Reach out and let Tammy know at [email protected]. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tammykennington.substack.com/subscribe

Nuggets of Wisdom “He doesn’t give us grace in advance of what we’re going to need. He gives us grace for today. Grace for the moment.”“I realized there was a huge connection between joy and purpose in suffering.”“Whatever you’re going through—even a terminal illness—you can trust the One who died for you.”“My focus was, ‘Alright, Lord, how are you going to use this?”“That conversation brought Job to the point where even if he didn’t know the purpose, He knew the God of purpose.”“There are no lone rangers in the body of Christ. We’re connected.”“I’m going to trust You no matter the outcome. I purpose to trust You.”“There’s always a deeper level of intimacy.”“That doesn’t mean we walk through life plastering on a fake smile and pretending everything’s wonderful. We have to be real with each other.”Don’t miss our next episode of From Hardship to Hope!Connect with AvaAva Pennington is an author, speaker, freelance editor, and certified coach. Her newest book is Flourish: Grace-Centered Practices to Protect and Grow a Fruitful Life in Christ (Kregel). Other books include Reflections on the Names of God (Revell) and 2 children’s books. She has written for Christian periodicals and contributed to 30+ Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Ava also teaches a weekly Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) class of 200+ women and is an inspirational speaker. Learn more at www.AvaPennington.com.Or, follow Ava on Facebook, X, or Instagram. You can also find a copy of her beautiful book on Amazon. Join Tammy on From Hardship to Hope in two weeks when she speaks with author, Valerie Fentress, about managing post-partum depression. I am praying this episode ministered to your heart.Peace and grace,TammyThanks for listening! Please share this episode if you know of someone who might benefit from its message. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tammykennington.substack.com/subscribe

Nuggets of Wisdom“The Lord taught me to begin to relinquish that dream to Him so that He could replace that dream with a better dream, a better plan, or he could affirm and confirm that was his dream for me.”“As we begin to ask the Lord, ‘In my pain, God, will you use me to bring joy and encouragement to others?’ That is not a prayer He will overlook.”“I began to see there was something in this journey. This barren season could bring joy.”“Ian helped others bridge this issue of racial reconciliation. It’s been a beautiful thing to witness.”“You are good, and what You do is good.” (Psalm 119:68)“When we praise in the midst of pain, it’s our ladder out of despair.”“It brings some sort of joy and peace to the journey of pain when you can see you are actually being used to help others walk through their own.”Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to receive more hope in your inbox. Connect with MaureenMaureen Miller is an award-winning author with stories in numerous collaboratives. She contributes to Guideposts’ All God’s Creatures, her local newspaper, and several online devotion sites. Married for thirty-six years to her childhood sweetheart Bill, they live on Selah Farm, a hobby homestead nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina. She blogs at Windows and Wallflowers (maureenmillerauthor.com)—telling of God’s extraordinary character in the ordinary of life. Her debut novel, Gideon’s Book, is now available.Thanks for listening to today’s episode. If you need someone to pray with you, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Remember to subscribe so you don’t miss any upcoming episodes or author updates, freebies, and hope-filled words.Peace and grace,Tammy This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tammykennington.substack.com/subscribe

Nuggets of Wisdom* “The only one that can fix us is the One that created us.”* “Do we keep fighting to save it, or do we cut the loss and go forward clean?”* “Don’t be afraid. We gotcha. You’re going to be okay.”* “Joy isn’t circumstantial. Joy is a heart attitude or heart posture.”* “Anchor into what is never gonna move. And the only thing that never changes—ever, ever—is Jesus.”Author BioSheila Preston Fitzgerald is alive today only by the Grace of God. A near-death motorcycle accident that should have taken her life, instead, filled this godly woman with a passion larger than life itself. Sheila’s love of people, love of life, and most importantly her love for Jesus, radiates in all she does. Sheila is the author of “One Foot in Heaven”; the miraculous true story of finding hope in the hopeless, and a new devotional book series, “Foot Notes ~ Adventures With Jesus.” She has appeared on numerous TV, video, and podcast shows shining the light of Jesus around the world. You can connect with Sheila at http://www.sheilaprestonfitzgerald.com/ or pick up a copy of One Foot in Heaven. Sign Up for a Free 30-Minute Coaching CallAre you struggling with difficult circumstances? A strained relationship? Anxiety or burnout? Schedule a free, 30-minute coaching call with Tammy. Dually trained as a life and mental health coach, Tammy specializes in inner healing prayer and loves walking alongside women in their journeys. She combines faith-based guidance and personalized support to help you achieve lasting change.Peace and grace,Tammy This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tammykennington.substack.com/subscribe

Nuggets of Wisdom* You can have confidence while shaking in your boots.* if we’re fearful, he will meet us in those fears, too.* Look for the doors of opportunity.Bible Study PDFDeborah Rutherford is a poet, author, and podcaster dedicated to sharing hope and encouragement. She speaks from the experience of being a redeemed prodigal daughter, using her life as a vibrant testament to God’s unwavering love and transformative grace. Deborah is also an award-winning makeup artist and the voice behind the Behold-Her Beauty Podcast and the author of Unexpected Blessings:40 Days of Discovering God’s Best and the new poetry collection Prodigal Daughter: Poems of Light for the Lost Ones (The Way Back Books 2025). When she’s not writing, she loves being a wife to Don, singing old hymns, and taking long walks in nature.LINKS:https://deborahrutherford.comhttps://www.instagram.com/deborahrutherfordwrites/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tammykennington.substack.com/subscribe

Nuggets of Wisdom* Esther teaches us what to WEAR to a crisis—Working with othersEradicating the (spiritual) EnemyActing wiselyRemembering who you are* If He has a plan, He provides.* The B in bold reminds me to be on the lookout.O means being open to whatever is in your hand.The L in bold means to let the Holy Spirit lead.The D means to put down any lies of the Devil.Author BioMarlene Houk is an author, speaker, and teacher who merged her strong background in church training with a degree in ministry to pursue a study of women in the Bible and for more than ten years she has read, researched, and analyzed their multifaceted stories and their messages to us.Connect with Marlene Houk* Website* [email protected]* 30 Essentials for Emotional Resilience (Affiliate Link) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tammykennington.substack.com/subscribe

Nuggets of Wisdom* God's Word and His promises became the anchor and the things I stood on in themiddle of the battle.* It was a spiritual battle.The enemy comes to seek, kill and destroy.And that was my aha moment—when I realized I wasn't fighting against my children. I was fighting against a spiritual battle.* The key essential weapon is prayer.* It's the blood of Christ that can change everything.* God chose you,whether you adopted that child or whether it is your child by birth,that you are a steward of God's masterpiece.* I had to learn a new level of surrender.in my own life to God.Laine Lawson CraftIntroducing Laine Lawson Craft—best-selling, award-winning author, TV, and podcast host based in sunny Fort Walton Beach, Florida. More than a devoted wife and mom, she’s a powerhouse of hope, turning life’s impossible into breathtaking realities. Her newest book, Warfare Parenting: A Daily Battle Plan to Fight for Your Child, is a 365-day comprehensive daily devotional that combines scriptural insights, practical guidance, and powerful prayers to equip parents in their spiritual battle for their children’s lives. Each daily reading offers hope, inspiration, and Biblical strategies, helping parents maintain their faith and strength while navigating challenges, including substance abuse, legal troubles, rebellion, and faith struggles. Written by bestselling author, winner of the 2023 Nonfiction Book of the Year with her book, The Parent’s Battle Plan: Warfare Strategies to Win Back Your Prodigal, and a top-rated podcast host of the Warfare Parenting Podcast in the top 10% globally, all of these resources draw from both Biblical wisdom and personal experience.Emerging from a near-collapsed marriage and financial hardship, Laine understands firsthand the transformative power of faith. Her real-life victories over spiritual warfare resonate, turning her into a magnet for parents seeking guidance and solace.In her highly acclaimed book, “The Parent’s Battle Plan: Warfare Strategies to Win Back Your Prodigal,” Laine lays bare her spiritual toolkit that brought her own prodigal children back to the fold. The book recently clinched the prestigious 2023 Nonfiction Book of the Year Golden Scroll Award, adding to her growing list of accolades like CAN Awards, Illumination Awards, and being a Selah Award Finalist.Connect with Laine* Website-https://lainelawsoncraft.com/* Warfare Parenting Freebie* Warfare Parenting:A Daily Battle Plan to Fight for Your Child – Comfort for the Parent of a Rebellious Child (Laine Lawson Craft)Is your child on a prodigal journey? I keep an ongoing list of those who’ve wandered off the path or don’t yet know the Lord. Feel free to share your loved one’s first name if you’d like me to keep them in my prayers. I would be honored.Peace and grace,TammyP.S. I strive to offer encouragement, biblical truth, and hope to women navigating life’s challenges. At times, I may share books, products, or resources through affiliate links if I believe they are worth your time and investment.If you choose to purchase through one of these links, I may earn a (teeny-tiny) commission at no additional cost to you. I will never promote a book or resource that made me think, “meh.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tammykennington.substack.com/subscribe

Companion Bible Study for Today’s EpisodeScripture Reading PlanCalled for This Moment-Living Your Esther SeasonNuggets of Wisdom* It's going to be different, but there is a whole second act. This is a time to look back at what you did well...and move into your next thing.* What are you going to do to build the Kingdom now?* I heard the Lord speak in my spirit. He said three words, "Am I enough?" I heard Him say, "I Am." And at that moment, the burden lifted. I remember saying, "Lord, if You don't give me one more thing in my life, You are enough.* Pray. Pray. Pray. That's our best weapon.* Don't be afraid of what God may have for you.* It's not an empty nest. It can be an empty next.* The impossible is God's comfort zone.* Figure out what the next thing is and then step into it with courage.About Kate BattestelliKate Battestelli is an author, speaker, podcaster, and former actress from the Broadway theatre world. Her heart’s passion is to equip you to walk into your unique hand-picked destiny, trust Jesus with your future, and give you the courage to move fully into your next chapter.Connect with Kate Kate’s website or Instagram account.The After Party of the Empty NestMy Utmost for His HighestWhat does your Esther season look like right now? How can I pray for you?Until next time,TammyP.S. Don’t miss this month’s fabulous book bundle giveaway! Enter by August 30th.P.P.S. I strive to offer encouragement, biblical truth, and hope to women navigating life’s challenges. At times, I may share books, products, or resources through affiliate links if I believe they are worth your time and investment.If you choose to purchase through one of these links, I may earn a (teeny-tiny) commission at no additional cost to you. I will never promote a book or resource that made me think, “meh.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tammykennington.substack.com/subscribe

Nuggets of Wisdom* Esther models what it means to lead with discernment.* Influence is not always loud.* Printable Scripture Plan and Journaling Prompts This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tammykennington.substack.com/subscribe

That's my prayer for you.You are positioned on purpose for such a time as this.Maybe this is your Esther moment,and maybe this season will be what gives you courage to say yes.We invite you to subscribe and share this podcast with a friend who needs it.Perhaps journal through Esther for this week.Pray about where God might be calling you to act in faith.So thank you for joining me.I'm Tammy Kennington, and this is From Hardship to Hope.Until next time, keep holding on to His promises.Download your free printable scripture reading plan and journaling prompts. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tammykennington.substack.com/subscribe

Download one month’s worth of free prayer prompts. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tammykennington.substack.com/subscribe

Click the link and let me know how I can come alongside you in future seasons, articles, and posts.https://tammykennington.substack.com/i/161934271/how-can-i-come-alongside-youPeace and grace,Tammy This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tammykennington.substack.com/subscribe

Have you lost a loved one? Do you long for the sound of their laugh? The inside jokes? Moments only shared by the two of you? Whether you know the pain of losing a beloved spouse, child, parent, or other precious one, you know the loneliness the loss of that dear one’s presence creates. Today’s guest understands your heartache and offers practical strategies to help you manage, cope, and move ahead. International author and speaker Haddasah Treu shares about her painful experience with loneliness after the unexpected loss of her husband and how her faith in the Lord gave her hope and direction.Listen in to hear more of her story.Nuggets of Wisdom * I needed human presence.* Connect to the Lord, connect with people, and engage in meaningful and joyful activities.* I still don’t have the answers, but I have peace.* Healing is a messy process.* We need the empathy of someone. We don’t need solutions or answers.* Every one of us should take responsibility for…his or her own thoughts, our own feelings, our own decisions, and not make somebody else responsible for our well being or our happiness.* Turn to the Lord…He’s our life and He’s the source of life.More About HadassahHadassah Treu is an award-winning international author of "DRAW NEAR: How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings," freelance writer, poet, speaker, and motivator, living in Bulgaria. She loves encouraging people to draw near to God in the dark valleys of life. From the platform of her greatest pains equipped with lessons gathered on the way, she delivers a powerful message of comfort and hope, found in God’s Word.Hadassah is a contributing author to several faith-based platforms like Proverbs 31 Compel Blog, and 13 devotional and poetry anthologies. She has been featured in The Upper Room, (In)Courage, Proverbs 31 Ministries, Today's Christian Living, Living by Design Ministries, and many other popular sites and podcasts. Read a chapter for free from Hadassah's book here.LINKSWebsite:https://onthewaybg.com/Join my community:https://subscribepage.io/joinmycommunityFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/onthewaybg/X:https://x.com/onthewaybgPinterest:https://www.pinterest.at/onthewaybg/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@hadassahtreu-authorMedium:https://medium.com/@hadassah.treuAmazon:https://www.amazon.com/Treu-Hadassah/Draw Near Book:https://a.co/d/gWfmBE3Gumroad Shop: https://hadassahtreu.gumroad.com/Draw Near This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tammykennington.substack.com/subscribe

(00:00:02):If you're thinking you'll always be stuck in loneliness,(00:00:05):I have an amazing guest who shares practical steps you can take today to help you cope,(00:00:12):overcome,(00:00:12):and draw closer to God.(00:00:15):I'm talking about the lovely Julia Fisk,(00:00:18):nationally board-certified health and wellness coach,(00:00:20):functional medicine-certified health coach,(00:00:23):award-winning author,(00:00:24):podcaster,(00:00:26):speaker,(00:00:26):and creator of the Dear Food program.(00:00:29):I'm so glad you're joining us today.(00:00:58):Bye.(00:01:05):Well, Julia, welcome.(00:01:06):I'm so excited to have you join us here on From Hardship to Hope today.(00:01:10):I can't wait for the listeners to hear from you and all you have to share.(00:01:17):Would you tell us a little bit about what role your faith has played in helping you(00:01:22):navigate feelings of loneliness and how others can lean on their faith in similar circumstances?(00:01:30):Yes, hi.(00:01:30):Well, it's so great to be here today.(00:01:32):And my faith is everything for me when it comes to loneliness.(00:01:37):I love the Lord Jesus.(00:01:39):I have loved Jesus since I was five years old.(00:01:41):And so one of the verses that has meant something to me from a child,(00:01:46):even till now,(00:01:48):is in Matthew 28,(00:01:50):20,(00:01:50):when he said,(00:01:50):Lo,(00:01:51):I am with you always,(00:01:52):even to the end of the age.(00:01:54):And I would cling to that in lonely moments as a youth.(00:01:57):And(00:01:57):a teenager and in college and as a young mom,(00:02:02):just knowing that Jesus is alive and he loves me and he is with me and he promised(00:02:07):to be with me always and forever.(00:02:10):So being able to cling to that is an amazing gift as a child of God.(00:02:16):What a beautiful verse to remind ourselves of the love he has for us.(00:02:23):Would you share a little bit from your story about a specific moment or season in(00:02:28):your life when you felt the most isolated?(00:02:34):Well, I have had several moments in my life where I've felt isolated.(00:02:40):When I think about it, I think that I can be isolated for different reasons.(00:02:45):So sometimes I'm isolated because I'm physically stranded in a place with no one(00:02:51):around and I can't get community.(00:02:54):And I remember this so well when I was a new mom and my husband and I adopted twins(00:03:01):who were born at 26 and a half weeks and(00:03:04):And all of a sudden,(00:03:06):we got the call that we were chosen to be parents for these beautiful twin girls.(00:03:13):And we went to the hospital and learned that there was a very traumatic situation(00:03:20):with their birth and that everything was fine,(00:03:24):but they weren't eating.(00:03:26):And so we ended up putting some G-tubes into their bellies before we left the(00:03:32):hospital because they didn't eat.(00:03:34):And we went home, and we were at home with new twins, and we were gavage feeding them.(00:03:42):You put an open tube, and then you pour the milk into their stomach.(00:03:46):So we had this whole setup for being able to feed the girls, but they also were throwing up.(00:03:52):And RSV was going around that year, so we couldn't have anybody over.(00:03:58):So my husband and I were very isolated at home with this very difficult situation.(00:04:04):challenging and new situation and i remember one of my friends walked in the door(00:04:09):to say hi and encourage me look at the situation we had plastic on the floor(00:04:15):because they were vomiting and and we were feeding them and we were crazy and i(00:04:19):don't think i had slept in weeks and um i'm exaggerating i had slept a little bit(00:04:25):but and she just she looked she took one look and she walked out(00:04:30):it wasn't something that she could process at all.(00:04:34):And that can happen,(00:04:35):right,(00:04:36):when we're in a really,(00:04:37):really traumatic,(00:04:38):stressful situation of the death of a loved one or a sickness diagnosis,(00:04:43):or in my case,(00:04:45):you know,(00:04:45):care for special needs babies.(00:04:48):Like people around us, some friends can stay and some friends just can't.(00:04:53):And that's okay.(00:04:53):That's their journey.(00:04:55):And we accept that.(00:04:56):But(00:04:56):what do we do when we're so isolated?(00:04:59):And so my husband and I were together in this, but my friends had kind of disappeared.(00:05:08):There were a few that were able to help now and then,(00:05:10):and they would come over and let me take a nap,(00:05:13):and I'm so thankful to them.(00:05:15):And what I did was I prayed for God to give me(00:05:19):some help and some support.(00:05:21):I asked him, I begged him.(00:05:23):And this is what I love about the Lord.(00:05:25):When we ask him for help and we go to him and ask for ideas or resources or something,(00:05:32):anything,(00:05:33):Lord,(00:05:33):and let me see it.(00:05:34):Let me

(00:00:45):Do you long for hope amid mental, emotional, or everyday struggles?(00:00:49):Join mental health coach,(00:00:50):inner healing prayer warrior,(00:00:52):author,(00:00:53):and trauma survivor,(00:00:54):Tammy Kennington,(00:00:55):on From Hardship to Hope,(00:00:57):the podcast for Christian women navigating motherhood,(00:00:59):mental health,(00:01:00):or matters of faith.(00:01:02):If you need biblical support, encouragement, and actionable tips, this show is for you.(00:01:08):Welcome.(00:01:09):I'm your host, Tammy Kennington.(00:01:11):Today, we're discussing loneliness.(00:01:14):within the framework of Scripture.(00:01:17):We'll delve into the life of Elijah and consider some takeaways,(00:01:21):and at the end of the episode,(00:01:24):discuss specific ways to grow through and beyond loneliness.(00:01:29):So let's get started.(00:01:33):The article read,(00:01:35):Lonely old man in his 80s,(00:01:37):strong-bodied,(00:01:38):can shop,(00:01:38):cook,(00:01:39):and take care of himself.(00:01:41):No chronic illness.(00:01:43):I retired from a scientific research institute with a monthly pension of $946 a month.(00:01:50):My hope is that a kind-hearted person or family will adopt me,(00:01:53):nourish me through old age,(00:01:55):and bury my body when I'm dead.(00:01:58):This is taken from a 2021 news article written by a man named Han in China.(00:02:06):I often wonder about Han.(00:02:09):Did someone usher him into their family?(00:02:12):Did a Christian community invite him to church?(00:02:16):Did they meet his need for friendship, for companionship, for protection?(00:02:24):The book Project Unlonely by Dr. Jeremy Noble exposes what he terms the loneliness crisis.(00:02:31):And he notes that trauma,(00:02:33):aging,(00:02:34):illness,(00:02:34):and differences all contribute to loneliness,(00:02:39):one of the world's gravest social issues.(00:02:43):Yet we know from Scripture the story of loneliness is as old as time.(00:02:48):In Genesis 2 we read, Soon after Adam was created,(00:02:54):that God said it is not good for man to be alone.(00:02:57):We were made to commune with God and one another.(00:03:03):But after the fall, that need for companionship became altered.(00:03:11):Men no longer walked with God in the garden.(00:03:14):There was a gap in that relationship.(00:03:18):And the relationship between men and women was altered.(00:03:22):And we see that all throughout Adam's family with his sons having such struggle(00:03:30):that one rose up and killed the other.(00:03:34):That discomfort that loneliness brings with it reminds us of the importance of relationship.(00:03:42):Many people from Scripture also experience that same struggle,(00:03:46):and we can learn a lot from what the Bible records about them.(00:03:49):So today we're going to talk about one of the greatest prophets in the Old Testament, Elijah.(00:03:57):He was a powerful, influential man at the time.(00:04:00):He reprimanded King Ahab, who had let all of the northern kingdom of Israel into idolatry.(00:04:06):Elijah called fire down from heaven on Mount Carmel, yet he experienced acute loneliness.(00:04:14):In 1 Kings,(00:04:15):we discover that he was fearing for his life after revealing to Ahab that there(00:04:20):would be a famine in the land that would only end at his command.(00:04:26):The prophet, led by God, hid by the brook Cherith.(00:04:32):And out of curiosity, I looked up the meaning of that Hebrew word.(00:04:37):I discovered it means community of misfits and off the mainstream.(00:04:44):It intrigues me that God sent his faithful follower to a creek that reflected Elijah's light(00:04:52):Elijah didn't align with society's values.(00:04:55):In fact, he opposed the idolatry of those in the mainstream.(00:05:00):And I wonder how many of us feel like we've camped by the brook designated for(00:05:04):those swimming upstream.(00:05:06):Maybe you feel that way.(00:05:09):Maybe your family sees you as the Bible thumper.(00:05:14):Maybe you're the only Christian in your family.(00:05:17):Maybe you struggle to connect with co-workers because instead of using Jesus as a(00:05:24):curse word,(00:05:25):it's said in prayer.(00:05:28):Maybe you feel abandoned by a loved one.(00:05:35):Maybe you are lonely for a prodigal in your life.(00:05:42):A well-known author,(00:05:43):Lisa Turkhurst,(00:05:45):once wrote on Proverbs 31 about attending an event and how she felt so rejected and overlooked.(00:05:56):She says,(00:05:57):I couldn't wait to be with these people,(00:05:59):and I couldn't wait for the deep friendships that would surely bloom as a result of(00:06:03):our time together.(00:06:04):Walking into the meeting room, I quickly located the table of the people I was excited to meet.(00:06:10):Every seat had a name tag attached, so I circled the table looking for mine.(00:06:15):As I got to the last chair and realized my name wasn't there, my heart sank.(00:06:20):Finally, at a table on the opposite sid

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Do you long for hope amid life's struggles and challenges? Then join author, certified mental health coach and inner healing prayer practitioner Tammy Kennington on From Hardship to Hope, the podcast for Christian navigating life through a faith based lens.If you need biblical support, encouragement and actionable tips, this show is for you. Welcome. I'm your host, Tammy Kennington. Today we continue delving into the topic of loneliness with guest expert Don Dawn Ward.Dawn is a speaker, writer and Bible teacher. She is the founder of the Faith to Flourish, a ministry offering support encouragement to women with addicted loved ones. Don also equips women to live transformed lives through inspiring teaching, mentoring and biblical resources.She's married to Steve and mom to three adult children. Her book From Guilt to Hope and Healing for Christian Moms of addicted children, published September 24, is now available.John, thank you so much for being here. Welcome.Speaker A: Thank you for inviting me, Tammy. I look forward to our conversation.Speaker B: I do too.Well, let's go ahead and and start with the question of what role has your faith played in helping you navigate feelings of loneliness? And how can others lean on their faith in Christ in a similar sort of circumstance?Speaker A: When I first looked at loneliness, I thought how can you be lonely when you're busy and you're a mom and you have kids and you have family and you have friends and you have work and your career and church and all of that.And so there's so many people around us. But loneliness is not always about the number of people we have in our lives or the number of relationships we have. Often we feel lonely and isolated because of circumstances that we're going through.In my case, it happened to be children who were struggling with addiction and especially when it started in our family close to 20 years ago. I remember feeling very isolated, not knowing who I could talk to because I was a woman of faith.And I often found that the circles that I was in, while maybe they discussed higher power and those type of things, I didn't feel the connection that I needed to with my faith to help me to be able to be just open and honest and sincere and really be myself and know, talk about those hard things like when David cried out in the Psalms and just lamented.I think that was something that was missing for me in that I felt the need to appear strong and to have a strong faith and to believe for the, for my children's welfare.And I couldn't bring myself to feel like I felt comfortably in a circle where everyone was really depressed and hopeless. But I also didn't feel like I fit into a circle where it was all faith and everything is, you know, going to be fine and just trust Jesus and.And so I felt like I kind of wavered and that is where my faith helped me. But at the same time, I struggled and was a little bit in limbo in there too.Like, who can I be open to in the church and who can I talk to? So I could often go into a room full of people and feel just very lonely and isolated.Speaker B: You have a similar experience to me in that I have a couple of precious children who walked through addiction struggles. I too felt very alone in that because I wasn't quite sure who was a safe enough person, even within my faith community to share that with without feeling judged.And I think it's so important that we not only deal with stigma having to do with addiction or mental health, but also with the stigma of loneliness, because it's not a topic we deal with much.Do you have any tips or insight on how people can navigate that difficult situation?Speaker A: I would say find your people. It's. It's instinctual to want to pull away. And I feel like an animal sometimes. It's caught trap where they're hurt and they need help, but the very person who's there trying to help them, they're pulling away from and they're.And they're afraid of. And they might even be lashing out. And sometimes our support system doesn't look like what we think it should look like. In other words, we may feel like our husband should get us like the, you know, the children's father should understand what we're going through or be able to communicate in such a way as to offer us support.Or maybe we feel like we should be able to talk to our family of origin, our parents, or our siblings, but because of history there, we really can't even talk to them.And so we have to look outside of who we would think would normally be our circle of influence and would be those closest people to us because they just might not be the ones equipped to help us go through this.And so finding someone that you can connect with, who relates, you know, it could be another mom, it could be another person going through what you're going through, whatever your circumstances are, if you're dealing with a terminally ill loved one or maybe your career was just swept away from you unexpectedly, finding those people

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(00:00:18):Do you long for hope amid life struggles and challenges?(00:00:22):Then join author and life coach Tammy Kennington on From Hardship to Hope,(00:00:27):the podcast for Christian women navigating life through a faith-based lens.(00:00:32):If you need biblical support, encouragement, and actionable tips, this show is for you.(00:00:37):Welcome.(00:00:38):I'm your host, Tammy Kennington.(00:00:40):I'm so glad you've joined me for the first episode of season two.(00:00:45):Today,(00:00:45):and for the next several episodes,(00:00:48):we're going to discuss a topic that is often not one we grapple with regularly,(00:00:55):at least in public.(00:00:58):That is the topic of loneliness.(00:01:01):While it's not something we may always talk about,(00:01:03):it is something we'll all experience at some point in our lives.(00:01:07):And I would guess that most, if not all of us, have experienced it before.(00:01:12):Whether we are going through a tough season,(00:01:16):we're recently divorced or single,(00:01:19):or maybe just feeling disconnected from those around us,(00:01:22):loneliness can sneak up in unexpected ways.(00:01:26):But here's the good news.(00:01:27):Loneliness doesn't have to be something that we fear or avoid.(00:01:31):In fact,(00:01:32):it's something we can learn to navigate through faith,(00:01:35):just like many of the women and men we read about in the Bible and whose lives(00:01:40):we'll discuss throughout this series.(00:01:43):Let's first begin by defining what loneliness is,(00:01:47):understanding some of its characteristics,(00:01:49):and then exploring how we as Christian women can walk through loneliness with hope.(00:01:57):So what is loneliness?(00:01:58):Loneliness.(00:02:01):It's defined as an unpleasant emotional response to perceived isolation.(00:02:07):Loneliness is also described as a social pain,(00:02:10):a psychological mechanism that motivates individuals to seek social connections.(00:02:17):In that way, loneliness can be a good thing, right?(00:02:21):Because we are recognizing there's something we need from someone else.(00:02:26):We know in and within ourselves that we are not enough.(00:02:31):People are made for connection.(00:02:34):But loneliness is often associated with a perceived lack of connection with intimacy.(00:02:43):Many researchers, however, do make a distinction between loneliness and isolation or solitude.(00:02:51):Solitude is really just the act of being apart from others, but not everyone who is(00:03:00):Experiencing solitude feels lonely.(00:03:03):As an emotion, loneliness can often be felt even when we're surrounded by other people.(00:03:12):So loneliness is sometimes misunderstood.(00:03:15):It's not just a single aspect of one's life.(00:03:20):It's not just about being physically alone.(00:03:24):it can be a deep emotional feeling of disconnection.(00:03:28):It's when we have that deep ache in our hearts and feel like no one else(00:03:32):understands us,(00:03:33):or when we long for connection with someone,(00:03:36):but it just seems out of reach.(00:03:40):Research indicates there are several different types of loneliness.(00:03:44):These are emotional loneliness,(00:03:46):which is an absence of meaningful relationship,(00:03:51):social loneliness,(00:03:52):which is a perceived deficit of(00:03:54):and the quality of contacts or the number of people involved in our lives or(00:04:00):quality of those relationships.(00:04:03):And then there's existential loneliness,(00:04:05):which is a feeling of being separate from others and the world at large.(00:04:12):Now, these feelings of loneliness often overlap.(00:04:17):If you imagine a Venn diagram,(00:04:19):emotional,(00:04:20):social,(00:04:20):and existential,(00:04:21):they'll often overlap with one another.(00:04:25):They are experienced for different durations of time and different intensities.(00:04:30):They can be transient, meaning they come and go.(00:04:33):They might be situational.(00:04:36):So some of us may have struggled with feeling lonely during the Christmas season,(00:04:43):for example,(00:04:44):or on certain dates,(00:04:45):maybe our birthday or a Father's Day or a Mother's Day.(00:04:49):And loneliness can also be chronic.(00:04:54):So for some of us,(00:04:55):loneliness can manifest as a feeling of emptiness,(00:04:58):like something might be missing,(00:05:00):while others may experience it as profound sadness or even,(00:05:04):again,(00:05:04):that isolation from others.(00:05:07):And it's really important for us to recognize that loneliness can affect anyone,(00:05:12):whether we're in that room that's crowded again or we're sitting alone at home.(00:05:19):Loneliness does not play favorites, and it doesn't have a favorite role.(00:05:24):place to call home.(00:05:27):So what else do we know and why should we address loneliness?(00:05:33):Well, the U.S.(00:05:34):News and World Report recently had an article entitled, Loneliness is Plaguing Amer

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tammykennington.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tammykennington.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tammykennington.substack.com/subscribe

(00:00:21):Do you long for hope amid mental, emotional, or everyday struggles?(00:00:26):Join life coach,(00:00:27):author,(00:00:27):and trauma survivor Tammy Kennington on From Hardship to Hope,(00:00:31):the podcast for Christian women navigating the intersection of motherhood,(00:00:35):mental health,(00:00:36):and matters of faith.(00:00:38):If you need biblical support, encouragement, and actionable tips, this show is for you.(00:00:43):Welcome.(00:00:44):I'm your host, Tammy Kennington.(00:00:46):In today's episode, we'll explore effective methods to treat PTSD.(00:00:53):We did in the last episode consider one of those methods when we spoke with Sally(00:01:00):Miller about inner healing prayer.(00:01:03):And I'll put a link in today's episode if you haven't yet listened.(00:01:07):That's a very valuable and helpful episode.(00:01:11):But there are other methods.(00:01:14):that are commonly used to treat people who struggle with PTSD and or complex(00:01:21):post-traumatic stress disorder.(00:01:24):And that's our focus today.(00:01:26):The three types of intervention and healing methods I want for us to consider are(00:01:33):cognitive behavioral therapy,(00:01:35):eye movement desensitization and reprocessing,(00:01:39):and then prolonged exposure for PTSD.(00:01:44):So I've done a little bit of research about these.(00:01:47):I personally never attempted to integrate or reintegrate parts or deal with any of(00:01:54):my PTSD symptoms using prolonged exposure therapy,(00:01:58):but I do know people who have used it very effectively and have been in counseling(00:02:05):sessions on a regular basis with that particular method.(00:02:09):I did, as I've mentioned before,(00:02:13):begin utilizing EMDR or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing as one(00:02:20):technique to help me deal with my symptoms.(00:02:25):And of course,(00:02:27):cognitive behavioral therapy has been around the longest,(00:02:29):and that was the first type of therapy I ever was introduced to in my journey for healing.(00:02:38):So let's get started.(00:02:39):If you have not yet visited any of our earlier episodes and aren't familiar with(00:02:45):the common characteristics,(00:02:47):definition,(00:02:48):symptoms,(00:02:50):and causes of post-traumatic stress disorder or complex post-traumatic stress disorder,(00:02:56):I'll place a link in this episode.(00:02:58):You can just hop over to episode one, Hope for Those Who Live with PTSD, and(00:03:05):and learn a little bit more about all of those areas and really what PTSD actually is.(00:03:15):Today, let's start with discussing EMDR.(00:03:20):Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing always makes my tongue trip,(00:03:25):but that is a type of psychotherapy that helps people heal from those traumatic(00:03:30):memories and distressing experiences.(00:03:33):And by(00:03:36):either moving their eyes back and forth or listening to a rhythmic sound.(00:03:40):So in my situation,(00:03:43):my therapist held two clickers,(00:03:46):one in each hand,(00:03:48):and each of them had a light and I was to follow as she clicked.(00:03:54):Her approach incorporated both the sound and a visual representation.(00:03:58):The idea is that bilateral stimulation in the brain helps process a memory in conjunction with(00:04:08):the emotion and helps us to connect those.(00:04:13):The research seems to indicate that people who are dealing with PTSD were not able(00:04:20):to initially connect that cognitive process of the trauma with that emotional(00:04:27):process and that the two need to really be able to meld in order to heal.(00:04:33):Research does suggest that this is one very highly effective means of healing in(00:04:39):treating trauma across age groups.(00:04:42):One study, for instance, found that EMDR was(00:04:47):equally effective whether it was administered weekly in one-on-one sessions or(00:04:52):in intensive 10-day group sessions.(00:04:56):Some studies that I've read also reveal that up to six sessions can really help(00:05:03):mitigate those symptoms that people with which they're struggling.(00:05:08):So it is recognized as an effective treatment by the American Psychiatric Association and(00:05:15):and the Department of Defense,(00:05:17):which is interesting because many of our soldiers who've gone to the battlefield(00:05:24):repeatedly also struggle with PTSD.(00:05:29):Let's then consider prolonged exposure therapy.(00:05:33):This is a therapy in which people with PTSD(00:05:39):are exposed,(00:05:40):as one might suspect,(00:05:42):to the feelings and situations that actually inhibit them from recovering.(00:05:48):It helps us, in other words, to face our fears.(00:05:52):As we've learned, avoidance is one of the key ways(00:05:59):Hallmarks of PTSD,(00:06:00):avoidance of symptoms,(00:06:02):rather avoidance of those feelings,(00:06:04):avoidance of memories and so forth.(00:06:06):So by talking about details of the event or events and by confronting

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tammykennington.substack.com/subscribe

(00:00:19):Do you long for hope amid mental, emotional, or relational struggles?(00:00:24):Join life coach,(00:00:25):author,(00:00:25):and trauma survivor Tammy Kennington on From Hardship to Hope,(00:00:29):the podcast for Christian women navigating the intersection of motherhood,(00:00:33):mental health,(00:00:34):and matters of faith.(00:00:36):If you need biblical support, encouragement, and actionable tips, this show is for you.(00:00:42):Welcome.(00:00:44):On today's episode, we will consider safe spaces.(00:00:49):creating a place of safety as we heal.(00:00:52):In the previous episode,(00:00:57):when I met with special guest Sally Miller,(00:01:00):we introduced the idea of inner healing prayer as an effective means of counseling(00:01:08):and therapeutic recovery.(00:01:12):And during that episode, Sally told us that(00:01:16):When a person begins that journey at the beginning of each session,(00:01:21):he or she will be invited to imagine a place that feels very safe to them.(00:01:30):Some people will imagine maybe a place in the mountains.(00:01:34):Perhaps they think of the beach.(00:01:37):Maybe they think of their favorite chair in their home.(00:01:40):Whatever that safe space might be.(00:01:43):can represent a wonderful opportunity to step into and further healing.(00:01:52):So why is imagining a safe place so useful?(00:01:57):Why do trauma survivors benefit from this?(00:02:01):Well, most trauma survivors have experienced a lack of either physical and or emotional healing.(00:02:11):situations that were not safe.(00:02:14):And many of these have been ongoing over a period of years.(00:02:19):So what happens is that a person's limbic system is impacted.(00:02:25):And the limbic system is the part of the body that involves our flight and fight reaction, our response.(00:02:33):It releases stress hormones that flow throughout our body.(00:02:37):It increases blood flow to our muscles.(00:02:39):It makes us ready to respond to a threat.(00:02:44):But trauma like this can really impact the amygdala and hippocampus that are key(00:02:53):components of that limb extraction.(00:02:55):What happens is that those areas of the brain actually act as though they are an alarm system.(00:03:05):that is constantly going off.(00:03:06):It's hard to turn those parts of the limbic system off when one has experienced(00:03:13):chronic and ongoing stress or trauma.(00:03:16):So our goal then is to teach our own selves and to rewire our own neurobiology in(00:03:22):such a way that we create personal safety.(00:03:27):It can be really challenging because if we're feeling triggered by an event(00:03:33):at home or at work or any other place,(00:03:37):we may just respond with high levels of anxiety,(00:03:42):panic attacks,(00:03:44):a variety of different responses.(00:03:46):But we can learn to create that safety for ourselves.(00:03:52):So a couple of ways we can do this are to, first of all, say aloud to ourselves, I am safe.(00:03:59):In this moment, I am safe.(00:04:03):It helps us to think about the present moment,(00:04:07):even though our body is being triggered in such a way we're reminded,(00:04:12):even involuntarily or unconsciously,(00:04:15):of the past.(00:04:17):And of course, there's a lot of information and research that supports breathing techniques.(00:04:26):And some of the simple ways to incorporate this(00:04:30):I even teach to little children.(00:04:34):One of them is called flower candle breathing.(00:04:37):You inhale, imagining your favorite scented flower for a count of four.(00:04:44):Hold that breath for that four count and then blow it out gently as though you're(00:04:50):blowing out a birthday candle for another count of four and repeat this four times.(00:04:56):Pretty simple.(00:04:57):Some people,(00:04:58):rather than envisioning or pretending that they're smelling a flower,(00:05:03):imagine their favorite drink or coffee that they might enjoy.(00:05:10):So flower candle breathing is one easy technique, and another is called 5-4-3-2-1.(00:05:18):Many counselors will share these if you're in session with them.(00:05:22):But the 5-4-3-2-1 breathing technique involves looking around the room and noticing(00:05:31):five specific things that you can see,(00:05:35):hearing four different noises,(00:05:38):smelling three different items or environmental scents,(00:05:47):touching two specific items,(00:05:51):Maybe it's the chair you're sitting in.(00:05:53):Maybe it's a blanket on the couch or petting the dog.(00:05:58):And then one is tasting something.(00:06:01):So taste is very powerful.(00:06:04):And maybe you want to grab a mint.(00:06:07):Maybe you take a sip of your Perrier or something like that.(00:06:15):So 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 is also a very simple way(00:06:20):to work on that safe space, teaching your brain to rewire itself.(00:06:27):Beyond that, we can also invite Jesus into our safe space.(00:06:34):And if you feel comfortable doing that, then he can provide so much

00:00:02):Welcome to Hardship from Hope, Sally.(00:00:06):If you are just joining us for this episode, I'm so excited to introduce you to Sally Miller.(00:00:14):She is a wonderful woman who I've come to admire so much and Sally has a lot of(00:00:21):expertise in inner healing prayer.(00:00:24):Sally is also an author.(00:00:27):If you don't mind, Sally, would you share about your book and(00:00:33):then we can just dive in and you can share your story and(00:00:38):how you first learned about inner healing prayer.(00:00:42):Well, greetings, everybody.(00:00:44):I'm so glad to be here.(00:00:46):About three or four years ago, the Lord just put it on my heart to write a memoir.(00:00:57):I was not real happy about it.(00:00:59):It's a very...(00:01:06):a difficult thing to do, especially when it's around trauma.(00:01:13):But God was just so faithful in it.(00:01:17):He provided a group of writers, like a little writer's group.(00:01:23):And I had a love-hate relationship with them.(00:01:28):I hated what they would say about my writing.(00:01:32):But it was so helpful.(00:01:35):And then I did an online little thing and my spiritual director actually is an(00:01:43):incredible artist and she gave me some of her art for the cover.(00:01:47):It's called Beyond Beautiful.(00:01:51):The book is, but the art is called The Resurrection.(00:01:57):And that's really what I feel like the Lord did.(00:02:01):in my story. I've read it, Sally. Your cover is beautiful and it's(00:02:09):a story that so many can relate to it really touched my heart and I(00:02:15):will put a link to your book in the show notes for our listeners. (00:02:22):Would you like to share a little bit about how you first learned about inner the(00:02:26):inner healing process? (00:02:30):It's my story,(00:02:32):of course,(00:02:33):the way it plays in,(00:02:35):but I was diagnosed about 35 years old with major depression,(00:02:42):the kind where you can't get out of bed.(00:02:45):And ensued doctors, drugs, psychiatrists, counselors, everything.(00:02:52):My husband and I said I was depressed because I was sick.(00:02:58):But the doctor said I was sick because I was depressed.(00:03:03):So I changed doctors because I did not like hearing that at all.(00:03:09):But this was the bedridden kind of depression.(00:03:13):My worst memory was braiding my daughter's hair every morning for school from bed(00:03:21):because I just couldn't function.(00:03:24):And eventually during counseling, I began to have memories of physical, sexual, and spiritual abuse.(00:03:33):And then more and more just kept coming to light that I had no idea about.(00:03:41):You talked about not having memories of childhood in your last podcast.(00:03:46):And my friends would talk about when they were two years old, they did blah, blah, blah, you know.(00:03:52):And I'm like,(00:03:53):Wow, you know, I hardly had any.(00:03:57):There were two or three that, you know, stood out, maybe a handful.(00:04:03):Yes.(00:04:05):From about three years old to 13.(00:04:09):Yes.(00:04:09):I really didn't have much at all.(00:04:12):I was conscious of the severity of my father's physical abuse.(00:04:19):He was a very severe authoritarian man.(00:04:25):but there was much more that I was totally unaware of and I got in some good(00:04:33):Christian counseling for 12 to 15 years and it was pretty much once a week and(00:04:41):sometimes twice got really expensive and I got better but I did not get well and I(00:04:49):was determined to be well and(00:04:52):And then God brought me to a counselor that was just beginning to use Inner Healing Prayer.(00:04:59):And that's when I really began to get to the bottom of all that had happened.(00:05:07):I mean, the 12 or 15 years of counseling prepared me for what I was about to enter into.(00:05:14):Yes.(00:05:16):But I spent about five more years(00:05:20):Excuse me.(00:05:23):Again, once or twice a week.(00:05:26):And it was pretty horrific memories.(00:05:30):And I thought it was never going to end.(00:05:34):But I finally convinced her that I thought I might be dissociative.(00:05:40):And God gives children this incredible gift of dissociating mentally and emotionally.(00:05:48):kind of leaving your body and watching what is happening.(00:05:53):And that's why some memories can get into your unconscious and your fully aware of them.(00:06:05):The marriage suffered three separations and it was awful for about 10 years.(00:06:13):And the breakup actually in most marriages could be resolved if people would(00:06:18):address their own work,(00:06:20):right?(00:06:21):Do their own inner healing.(00:06:25):Your history is just being triggered by the other person.(00:06:34):And that is unintentional, and often we don't even know that's what's going on, right?(00:06:40):Exactly, exactly.(00:06:42):I had no idea, right?(00:06:47):And it's interesting.(00:06:48):He never did much counseling.(00:06:50):I mean, he did some here and there, but he didn't do

Welcome to this season’s fifth episode. This session will prove helpful to anyone living with trauma—not just those with PTSD. If you know someone who would benefit from this scriptural look at overcoming harmful thought patterns and/or habits, would you consider sharing?You’ll find a transcript and closed captions at www.tammykennington.substack.com or on Apple.Thanks for listening.Peace and grace,TammyIf this was helpful to you, would you subscribe?24:12You can find me at TammyKennington.substack.com.24:17That's TammyKennington.substack.com.24:20And you can also listen to the previous episodes in this first season.24:25I look forward to our next episode and appreciate you and will be praying for you.24:35Thanks again.0:24Resources and Reads:You can listen to my Healed playlist here. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tammykennington.substack.com/subscribe

I hope today’s show provides the encouragement you need in your journey toward healing. Helpful resources are listed below.Reads and Resources* Coping with Trauma-Related Dissociation: Skills Training for Patients and Therapists by Suzette Boon, Kathy Steele, and Onno Van Der Hart* His Healing Light Ministries* EMDR Resource with a link to practitioners* Self-care Kit Suggestion ListPlease share this episode if you know someone who might benefit. Also, feel free to leave a message at (719) 425-9911 if you would like me to answer a question about either (C)PTSD or DID or address another topic in an upcoming episode. Peace and grace,Tammy This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tammykennington.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s episode, we learn about:* the God-Who-Sees and what that means for trauma survivors.* the future of promise God has for you.* the importance of leaving Egypt behind.* becoming a survivor instead of a victim.* how to develop a warrior mindset.* keys to resilience.I’d love to know—what action step will you take this week to build resilience? If you’d like, download a weekly mood diary to get started. Thanks for listening to From Hardship to Hope. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tammykennington.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to From Hardship to Hope—the podcast for Christian women navigating the intersection of motherhood, mental health, and matters of faith.Recommended resourceJourney to Heal: Seven Essential Steps of Recovery for Childhood Survivors of Childhood Sexual AbuseShow NotesDo you long for hope amid mental, emotional, or relational struggles?0:05Join life coach,0:06author,0:06and trauma survivor Tammy Kennington on From Hardship to Hope,0:10the podcast for Christian women navigating the intersection of motherhood,0:14mental health,0:15and matters of faith.0:16If you need biblical support, encouragement, and actionable tips, this show is for you.0:22In today's episode, we'll discuss King David's trauma and what it has to do with you.0:31I grew up with a giant in my life.0:33He represents the trauma that's tracked my steps from childhood into adulthood.0:40And I'm guessing that if you've suffered abuse,0:43whether as a child or adult,0:45that you too have a giant or two of your own.0:49My giant,0:51as I said,0:51was my stepfather,0:52a six-foot-four former Marine with a tattoo of a bulldog on his upper arm.1:00and a handlebar mustache.1:02Prone to drunkenness,0:29he would crash through the door of our trailer,1:07shouting curses and swearing and asking,1:13where are those kids?1:14I never wanted to be their father anyway.1:16You see,1:17my stepfather had adopted my brother and I shortly after my parents divorced and my1:22mom remarried.1:24And it wasn't long before his true colors showed, before carousing became1:30a regular habit.0:38And beatings became part of what my brother and I witnessed night upon night as our1:40mother cowered on the floor,1:42battered and bruised.1:44But not only that, this stepfather threatened us with violence and we feared him greatly.1:52And he would sneak into my bedroom night after night and commit unholy acts2:01Well, this giant of mine and the giants in your lives will stand in front of God.2:08They will face him and there will be justice,2:11whether or not it happens here on this earth or in the world that's to come.2:18But this story always reminds me,1:31my story reminds me a bit of David and Goliath because I was just this young child2:27and teen2:28trying to stand up to a giant in whose presence I absolutely crouched in fear.2:37He twisted my stomach in knots.2:38I'm guessing you probably experienced that.2:42And I struggled between loving and hating him.2:45I wanted to love him because he was the man representing fatherhood in my life.2:50But at the same time, he did horrible things.2:53It was so confusing.And this giant, Goliath, was almost 10 feet tall, larger than life.3:05And David was just a pubescent boy going to the battlefield, intending to give his brothers food.3:12But instead, he ended up fighting this man, going against Goliath, because Goliath had mocked God.3:22He had mocked the Israelite troops.3:26David was intent upon becoming a victor,3:31he wasn't going to allow the giant in his life to have victory over those who3:36believed in the Lord.3:38And that's how I like to look at my trauma.3:42You see, for the longest time, I held God responsible for the unholy acts of an unholy man.3:49And I know just like Goliath,3:51My stepfather did not hold either men or women or children in any sort of regard,3:57and he certainly didn't have any regard for the Lord or fear of him.4:02But I refuse to give the enemy the ability to shut off any opportunity for4:11spiritual relationship with my father in heaven because of the sin committed4:16against me at the hands of that giant.4:20So we as survivors have a battlefield of our own and we can make a decision.3:41Are we going to agree with the enemy that God is incapable of moving,4:33that the enemy is greater than the one who sits in heaven?4:39We know the truth.4:41He who is in us is greater than He who is in the world.4:48This leads me to4:50a story of the 12 disciples and Jesus.4:54They too struggled with Christ's identity.4:56They struggled to understand his goodness,4:58his mercy,4:59his love,5:00his compassion,5:02even though they witnessed healing miracle upon healing miracle,4:27the lame walking,5:07the blind seeing,5:10the dead rising.5:13One day Jesus turned to his disciples and asked them, who do you say that I am?5:19Some of them responded, some say you're Elijah.5:22Some say John the Baptist.5:24And again, he said, Who do you say that I am?5:29And Simon Peter looked at him and said, you are Jesus Christ, the Lord.5:34He knew Jesus was the Messiah.5:37And that is the same person who has loved us from the beginning of our lives and5:05even before,5:45from the time of our conception.5:47And he does have good things planned for us.5:51So when we can hold to who Christ's true identity is,5:55refute the lies of the enemy,5:58then we'll start to tear down that giant in our lives.6:02The giant represented by one or more individuals.6:07who thrust all of that trauma into our lives we can conquer because you see god is6

Welcome to the first season of From Hardship to Hope—the podcast for Christian women navigating the intersection of motherhood, mental health, and matters of faith. If you’re looking for Biblical insight and actionable tips, this show is for you. Two resources I mention in today’s episode that may prove helpful are The Wounded Heart by author and counselor, Dan Allender, and Healing Every Day by Mary DeMuth—one of my favorite writers who happens to be a survivor. Please join me in two weeks for our next episode, The Battle Within: King David's Trauma Struggle (and Yours).Peace and grace,TammyShownotes(00:00:03):Do you long for hope amid mental, emotional, or relational struggles?(00:00:08):Join life coach,(00:00:09):author,(00:00:09):and trauma survivor Tammy Kennington on From Hardship to Hope,(00:00:13):the podcast for Christian women navigating the intersection of motherhood,(00:00:16):mental health,(00:00:17):and matters of faith.(00:00:19):If you need biblical-based support, encouragement, and actionable tips, this show is for you.(00:00:24):I'm your host,(00:00:25):Tammy Kennington,(00:00:26):and welcome to today's episode in which we'll be discussing post-traumatic stress disorder,(00:00:33):the trauma wound that makes a difference in so many lives and affects so many people.(00:00:41):So let's get going.(00:00:44):I thought I was going crazy.(00:00:47):I'd been married for several years to my high school.(00:00:49):Sweetheart had a wonderful marriage, two little ones running around home.(00:00:56):I adored being a mom.(00:00:58):We had our first house, good friends, a strong church community.(00:01:02):And internally I was at complete unrest, completely overwhelmed by anxiety.(00:01:13):at times so low,(00:01:15):I considered the possibility of suicide and even began to research how people might(00:01:24):die by committing suicide.(00:01:27):It was a very frightening time.(00:01:30):While I dealt with some of these issues before, I'd been able to push them aside.(00:01:34):And I really thought that once I had my life in place and everything(00:01:42):Running smoothly, I could forget the past.(00:01:44):I could forget the horrors of my childhood.(00:01:48):I could leave those things behind.(00:01:50):But I was so wrong.(00:01:52):I drug a lot of baggage with me into marriage and motherhood.(00:01:57):And it impacted my family in ways that absolutely still break my heart today.(00:02:05):So what was going on at that point in my life?(00:02:07):Well, I mentioned the anxiety.(00:02:09):I did struggle with depression, although I was really good at covering it up.(00:02:14):And I would just suddenly have these desires to stop living, escape.(00:02:23):I longed to escape my past.(00:02:26):I longed to escape myself.(00:02:30):But that was impossible.(00:02:34):So after struggling for quite some time with these really clear mental health issues,(00:02:43):my husband convinced me to seek help.(00:02:47):And I began seeing a Christian counselor, and we engaged in some talk therapy, some prayer.(00:02:56):Most of it was journaling, though, and talk therapy.(00:03:00):And many of my symptoms did improve for a time.(00:03:04):So I thought I was done at that point and continued to move on with my life.(00:03:10):How wrong could I have been?(00:03:15):So despite my thinking I was going crazy, I wasn't.(00:03:20):I just hadn't realized that I had a condition known as post-traumatic stress disorder.(00:03:28):And I didn't discover that particular struggle(00:03:33):until many years later when,(00:03:35):once again,(00:03:35):I wound up on the couch of another therapist because I had actually blacked out at(00:03:46):one point due to fear.(00:03:49):And I didn't understand what was happening.(00:03:51):I knew something was terribly wrong.(00:03:54):I woke up curled up on the floor, my arms wrapped around my legs in a fetal position.(00:04:02):And I had no idea what had happened.(00:04:03):I had no memory after a certain point in the discussion with my husband and was(00:04:10):completely and utterly confused.(00:04:13):So sitting on the couch across from this counselor, I was very wary, very uncertain, very frightened.(00:04:23):And she took a sip of her water bottle and gently said,(00:04:30):spoke into my life and said, Tammy, did anyone ever tell you you have PTSD?(00:04:37):I was absolutely stunned.(00:04:39):I didn't think I could handle one more thing wrong with me.(00:04:44):I couldn't handle something added to the anxiety or the panic or the fear or the(00:04:50):nightmares or the depression or the desire to just sometimes give up.(00:04:58):But that day,(00:05:00):was actually the day I believe that I really stepped into the long journey toward healing.(00:05:09):And that's what I want for all of the listeners here to know.(00:05:13):There is hope for healing.(00:05:15):If you or a loved one struggle with PTSD, there is hope.(00:05:19):And that's what we're going to explore for the entire first season of thi