Christians With Chronic Illnesses

L. A. Sprague
  • 5.0 (4)
  • CHRISTIANITY

Magnifying the voices of chronically ill brothers and sisters to inspirit their health journeys and their faith.

  1. 4D AGO

    Depression, Epilepsy, and Praise with Becca Sugg

    She broke her nose from a seizure a week before a major show and still performed. That single detail captures the tension we explore with Becca Sugg: the call to create, lead, and serve while living with chronic illness that can interrupt your life without warning. Becca is a Christian rock musician, lead vocalist of Reclaim the Day, studio owner, mentor to young artists, and she brings a rare mix of grit and tenderness to the realities of faith, health, and work. We trace her journey from the Christian music scene into full-time music, including running Reclaim the Day Studios and teaching at Rock Stars of Tomorrow. From there, we get specific about epilepsy and seizures, including focal seizures that feel like a “reset,” plus the auras, fatigue, and lifestyle triggers that can build toward bigger episodes. Becca shares what helps her manage epilepsy while touring and performing, how she navigates stage lighting, and why hydration, sleep, stress management, and nutrition are not “nice extras” but part of staying alive and stable. Then we move into the parts many people avoid saying out loud: depression and anxiety that can distort reality, create spirals, and strain a marriage. Becca talks about irritability, suicidal thoughts, and what changed when she accepted help, including fluoxetine (generic Prozac) as a medication that felt more neutral for her. We also talk about practicing gratitude, praising God in the storm, and learning to see ourselves through God’s eyes rather than through diagnoses like rheumatoid arthritis or labels like “medically frail.” If you’re looking for Christian encouragement for chronic illness, epilepsy support, and honest mental health conversations, you'll find it here. Subscribe for more stories like this, share with a friend who feels alone in their health journey, and leave a review so more listeners can find Christians with Chronic Illnesses. https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show  Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.comContribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses:https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcastFollow us: Facebook: Christians With Chronic IllnessesTikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty Visit our websitehttps://christianswithchronicillnesses.buzzsprout.com/2552643/about

    1h 13m

  2. MAY 11

    Reading Your Messages with L. A. Sprague

    You can love Jesus and still be worn down to the bone. Today we're doing something simple but surprisingly powerful: reading your messages and responding in real time, with the deep breaths, low energy, and imperfect moments that come with life as a Christian with chronic illness. If you’ve ever wished someone would ask “How are you doing?” and actually mean it, this one is for you. We talk about depression and chronic illness without sugarcoating it, including what it’s like to be the person who “seems joyful” while privately fighting major depressive disorder. We share why toxic positivity is not the goal and why faith doesn’t require you to pretend you’re okay. Grief, honesty, and real mental health support belong in Christian spaces, and we want this podcast to be one of them. We also respond to listeners who feel validated for the first time while navigating flares, doctors, and spiritual doubt, plus a parent facing POTS and the daily grind of parenting with chronic illness. We touch on community resources for faith and chronic illness, including Broken and Mended, other podcasts, and how you can connect with us through Discord and our Facebook group. If your faith feels fragile, you’re still welcome here. If this brought you comfort, please subscribe, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more chronically ill believers can find us. What part of your story do you wish someone would finally understand? https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show  Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.comContribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses:https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcastFollow us: Facebook: Christians With Chronic IllnessesTikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty Visit our websitehttps://christianswithchronicillnesses.buzzsprout.com/2552643/about

    31 min

  3. MAY 4

    Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Psoriasis, and Hope with "Jordan"

    A “bad stomach bug” nearly took Jordan’s life and it became the moment she stopped trying to muscle through and started reaching for God again. Jordan joins us as a homesteader, artist, and future certified herbalist to share what it’s like living with IBS, PCOS, psoriasis, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and how chronic illness can expose both the cracks in our support systems and the places where real hope can take root. We get practical about gut health, chronic inflammation, and why IBS can impact everything from energy to nutrient absorption. Jordan explains the changes that helped her most, including removing trigger foods, cutting processed foods, minimizing sugar, avoiding gluten, and using a gut bacteria test to identify overgrowths and missing strains. She also walks through PCOS symptoms like insulin resistance and stubborn weight gain, plus the long fight to find a doctor who actually listens. Her experience with direct primary care, targeted labs, gradual strength training, supplements, and a few key medications shows how much management can improve when care is personal and thorough. The faith side is just as real. Jordan shares the Scriptures that hold her steady, including Revelation 21:4 and the story of Elijah being cared for with rest, food, and water. We also talk about unhelpful Christian responses to sickness, why “pray harder” can wound, and what’s better: listening, praying with someone, and refusing to condemn what they can’t control. If you need encouragement, better language for your pain, or a healthier way to support chronically ill believers, press play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s tired of carrying it alone, and leave a review so more people can find Christians with Chronic Illnesses. https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show  Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.comContribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses:https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcastFollow us: Facebook: Christians With Chronic IllnessesTikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty Visit our websitehttps://christianswithchronicillnesses.buzzsprout.com/2552643/about

    48 min

  4. APR 27

    Navigating Relationships with Chronic Illness with L. A. Sprague

    Chronic illness doesn’t only change your body. It changes the way plans get made, the way texts get read, and the way silence can start to feel personal. We’ve both seen how quickly a flare-up can turn into guilt, defensiveness, or that awful question underneath it all: “Do you still want me in your life if I can’t show up like I used to?” We talk through the relationship skills that make friendships, dating, marriage, and family dynamics more sustainable when chronic illness is part of the story. I share practical communication tools like asking permission before a heavy conversation, saying “I can” and “I can’t” without overpromising, and using “I feel” statements to address conflict without attacking. We also slow down for a quick box breathing reset, because sometimes your nervous system needs support before your words can land well. From there, we dig into trust, patience, and boundaries. If you’re the healthy friend or caregiver, trusting an invisible illness like POTS can be hard when you can’t see the symptoms. If you’re the chronically ill friend, it can be just as hard to trust that someone’s need for space isn’t abandonment. We also get honest about when repeated disrespect, ableism, or constant one-sidedness means it’s time to reevaluate the relationship and set boundaries you will actually keep. Finally, we end on intentionality: small, thoughtful actions that communicate love when life is limited. If you’ve been wondering how to keep relationships strong with chronic illness in the mix, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the support they need. https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show  Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.comContribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses:https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcastFollow us: Facebook: Christians With Chronic IllnessesTikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty Visit our websitehttps://christianswithchronicillnesses.buzzsprout.com/2552643/about

    40 min

  5. APR 20

    CRPS and Refinement with Benjamin Buckland

    Pain can make you feel like your whole life has been reduced to symptoms, setbacks, and survival. Ben Buckland’s (Tried by Fire Podcast) story refuses that ending. After a workplace injury, Ben develops CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome), one of the most severe chronic pain conditions, and he describes what it’s like to live with a nervous system stuck in fight-or-flight, unpredictable flare-ups, and sleep that never feels like rest. We talk through the real-world side of chronic pain management: the overwhelm of medication overload, the hard work of self-advocacy, and the practical experiments that actually moved the needle for him, including a Mediterranean diet that turned into a more holistic nutrition approach, low dose naltrexone (LDN), and the surprising impact of an H-Wave device compared with a standard TENS unit. Ben also explains how an exoskeleton-style brace and other assistive devices help him walk by shifting weight-bearing, plus the emotional challenge of learning to trust support when your body feels unreliable. But the heart of the conversation is faith under pressure. Ben shares the turning point from demanding “Why, God?” to asking “How can I glorify You in the middle of this?” and how gratitude, worship, counseling, and Scripture reshaped his identity. We also get honest about marriage and parenting with chronic illness, repairing relationships after pain-driven reactions, and how recovery from pornography addiction connected to learning his worth as God’s beloved child. If you’re looking for Christian chronic illness encouragement, CRPS awareness, chronic pain resources, and a grounded story of hope that doesn’t deny reality, this one is for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help more listeners find these stories. Explore Ben's Tried by Fire Podcast and Book project! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/triedbyfirepodcast/tried-by-fire-a-podcast-and-book-project https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show  Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.comContribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses:https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcastFollow us: Facebook: Christians With Chronic IllnessesTikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty Visit our websitehttps://christianswithchronicillnesses.buzzsprout.com/2552643/about

    1h 9m

  6. APR 13

    Trusting People with Invisible Illness with L. A. Sprague

    Skepticism about chronic illness is more common than people admit and it can quietly damage friendships, workplaces, and church community. So we tackle it head-on. Our host, L. A. Sprague, is answering listener questions while managing a rough POTS day, and she walks through why fluctuating symptoms can look like “flakiness” from the outside even when someone has real integrity and a strong work ethic. We get practical and specific about discernment versus dismissal. We share a simple way to understand flare-ups using a cold and flu comparison, why invisible illness can be confusing for healthy people, and how to respond with empathy without turning off your brain. We also talk about patterns: what honest communication looks like, when boundaries are healthy, and how chronic illness is not the same thing as manipulation. Then we shift into everyday life with POTS and chronic illness: what a “good day” means when you still have symptoms, how light sensitivity and brain fog shape your ability to be present, and what helps. Finally, we have some fun with a POTS starter pack, including electrolytes, sodium, compression socks, migraine tools, mobility aids, and the underrated idea of building one clean “safe room” at home for recovery and peace. If you’ve ever wondered how to love chronically ill people well or how to advocate for yourself without shame, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find Christians With Chronic Illnesses. https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show  Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.comContribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses:https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcastFollow us: Facebook: Christians With Chronic IllnessesTikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty Visit our websitehttps://christianswithchronicillnesses.buzzsprout.com/2552643/about

    35 min

  7. APR 6

    PCOS, Endometriosis, and Pastoring with Kylie Wicker

    She’s a family pastor in Alaska, a lifelong Nazarene, and someone who goes home after church and crashes on the couch in pain. Kylie joins us to talk about what it’s like to lead in ministry while living with PCOS and suspected endometriosis, including chronic fatigue, inflammation, brain fog, and the quiet grief of realizing you can’t do what you used to do. If you’ve ever wondered how faith holds up when symptoms don’t let up, this conversation gets honest fast.  We dig into what PCOS can look like beyond the textbook, why endometriosis is so hard to diagnose, and how daily management can affect everything from food choices to motivation to energy for work. Kylie also shares how getting a clear diagnosis can be both heavy and relieving because at least you know what you’re up against. Along the way, we talk about church life, accessibility, and how chronic illness can make you more attentive to the needs people rarely say out loud.  Then we go deeper into theology and hope. Kylie explains why “God gives us everything we need” doesn’t mean “God gives us everything we want,” and how she resists prosperity-gospel pressure while still trusting God’s presence and provision. We talk about 2 Peter 1:3–4, what to hold onto in flare-ups, and how to think about God’s care when someone is terminally ill. We also share practical ways to encourage pastors with chronic illness, because pastors are people too.  Subscribe, rate, and share Christians With Chronic Illnesses, then leave a review and tell us what part of Kylie’s story you want to hear more about. https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show  Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.comContribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses:https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcastFollow us: Facebook: Christians With Chronic IllnessesTikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty Visit our websitehttps://christianswithchronicillnesses.buzzsprout.com/2552643/about

    1h 18m

  8. MAR 30

    Is God Good? Q&A with L. A. Sprague

    A chronic illness diagnosis felt, to L. A. Sprague, like both a punch in the gut and a deep exhale at the same time. Having lived with unexplained symptoms, she understood that the real torment was often the unknown and the fear that nobody believed her. She explains why receiving a name for what was happening brought relief—not because she was glad to be sick, but because validation changed everything. From there, she discusses navigating the medical system. Some doctors, she notes, hand patients a label and send them back to life with no guidance, while others take the time to listen, explain, and connect them to meaningful resources. She shares what it felt like to be on her own, why that experience can push patients into advocacy, and why community support matters so deeply for those living with chronic illness. She also addresses the mental health dimension, emphasizing that chronic illness does not only affect the body. L. A. Sprague opens up about living with major depressive disorder alongside POTS, describing the cycle of progress and setbacks, and how a single virus can undo months of effort. She then turns to a question she hears often: when does it get easier? While she does not offer a simple answer, she describes a path forward that includes grief, one small gratitude, and one small next step. Finally, she reflects on the theology of suffering with honesty. Chronic pain, she explains, can reshape how a person sees God and may even introduce doubt about God’s goodness. She frames belief as trust without certainty and points to the image of taking Christ’s yoke and allowing Him to carry the heavier side. If this conversation helps you feel less alone, please subscribe, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review so that more chronically ill Christians can find the community. https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show  Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.comContribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses:https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcastFollow us: Facebook: Christians With Chronic IllnessesTikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty Visit our websitehttps://christianswithchronicillnesses.buzzsprout.com/2552643/about

    32 min
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5
out of 5
4 Ratings

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Magnifying the voices of chronically ill brothers and sisters to inspirit their health journeys and their faith.

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