Joy in Suffering

Melissa Winters-Christian Author & Chronic Illness Faith Advocate
  • 4.9 (16)
  • Christianity

Are you a Christian woman living with chronic illness, chronic pain, or deep grief — wondering where God is in the middle of your suffering? Welcome to Joy in Suffering: a Christian podcast for women navigating chronic illness, grief, anxiety, stress, and the quiet heartbreak of lost dreams. Hosted by Melissa Winters, who has lived with chronic illness since she was one year old, this podcast offers gentle, faith-filled conversations rooted in honest stories, Scripture, song, and hope that actually sustains you through the hard places. Each episode creates space to wrestle honestly with suffering while remembering that God is present, loving, and still working — through stories, Scripture, and song. Whether you're navigating chronic illness, walking through grief, struggling with anxiety and fear, grieving the life you thought you'd have, or simply exhausted from a season that won't let up — you'll find honest conversations, compassionate encouragement, and biblical hope designed to help you discover that joy is not the absence of pain. It is the presence of Christ within it. What you'll find here: 1) Faith and hope for Christian women with chronic illness and chronic pain 2) Biblical encouragement for grief, loss, and hard seasons 3) Honest conversations about suffering, doubt, and holding onto God 4) Scripture-centered hope for anxiety, fear, and uncertainty Stories of real women finding joy and purpose in the middle of limitations 5) Gentle encouragement for women who feel unseen, forgotten, or alone If you've ever asked: -Why does God feel so distant in my suffering? -How do I find joy when nothing in my life is changing? -Is it okay to struggle and still call myself a woman of faith? -How do I hold onto hope when healing hasn't come? -Does my life still have purpose even with chronic illness or grief? You're in the right place. This podcast is for Christian women who are tired of pretending they're okay — women who want real, Scripture-rooted encouragement that meets them right where they are, not after the storm passes. New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Follow the show so you never miss an episode, and join Melissa on Instagram and Facebook at @melissawinters1974 for encouragement between episodes. Your story isn’t over Christ can bring purpose to your pain and even here-Joy still remains

  1. 3d ago

    #15 Chronic Illness Through a Sister's Eyes: What Growing Up Beside It Taught Her About Joy

    Subtitle (SEO Boost): A Christian conversation on chronic illness in the family, grief, miscarriage, and finding comfort and joy in hard seasons 💛 Episode Summary: What does chronic illness look like through the eyes of the little sister who grew up beside it? In this encore episode of Joy in Suffering, my sister Jenny Zimmerman shares what it was like to grow up in a family shaped by chronic illness, the year everything changed when she was 13, and the grief and fear she carried through her own hard seasons as a mom. This week, as our church family grieves, I'm bringing this conversation back with a new introduction and a prayer for anyone who is grieving. If you love someone with chronic illness, or you're the one living with it and wondering how it touches the people around you, this episode is for you. In this conversation, we talk about: What it's really like to grow up beside a sibling with chronic illness, and how it quietly shapes who you becomeThe year everything split in two, and learning how to show up when you can't fix someone's painJenny's own valleys of grief and fear, two miscarriages and her daughter in the ICU, and how God brought comfort through the people who showed up 📖 Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 (NIV) "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." Also: Matthew 5:4 · Galatians 6:2 · Psalm 37:5 🎶 Songs Mentioned: "Wonder" by Natalie Merchant ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zpYFAzhAZY "Standing Outside the Fire" by Garth Brooks ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ftI4gpprfw ✨ Word of the Week: Comfort Comfort doesn't always look like answers. Sometimes it's a mom who shows up without being asked, a friend who holds your hand and says nothing, or a sister who finally walks into your room and asks, "How was your day?" God comforts us in our grief and our chronic illness, often through the people He places beside us. 💭 Reflection Question: Who has brought you comfort in a hard season, and is there one person you could let a little closer this week? 🔗 Resources Mentioned: Connect with Jenny Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenny.winters.3597Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennylzim Connect with Melissa Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissawinters1974Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissawinters1974Substack, Joy Even Here: https://melissajw74.substack.comEmail: encouragement@melissajwinters.com My Books The Courage to Say Yes (Hope Books Publishing): https://a.co/d/0d4rUZNfFaith Over Fear: Trusting God Through Life's Uncertainties (I'm one of the contributing authors) 💛 Signature Truth: Your story isn't over. God can bring purpose to your pain And somehow- even here- joy still remains.

  2. Oct 14

    #14 Can God Bring Beauty From Your Hardest Seasons? With Sarah Brown

    What happens when the life you carefully planned suddenly falls apart? My guest today, Sarah Brown, knows what it's like to watch the future she imagined disappear. A marriage she believed would last ended in divorce, leaving her navigating heartbreak, questions about her identity, and a season of single motherhood she never expected. But Sarah's story doesn't end in those ashes. Sarah is the author of Even the Ashes Bloom, a memoir about heartbreak, forgiveness, faith, and the quiet ways God brings new life out of places that seem beyond repair. In our conversation, Sarah shares how she learned to release shame, bring her honest emotions to God, and trust Him when she couldn't see what He was doing. One of my favorite parts of our conversation is when Sarah talks about wildflowers whose seeds can lie dormant beneath the ground for years, only to bloom after a fire. What a beautiful reminder for those of us walking through chronic illness, grief, or a season we never would have chosen. Just because we can't see something growing doesn't mean God has stopped working. In this episode, we talk about: The six words that changed Sarah's life and everything she thought her future would look likeWhy forgiveness and healing don't happen overnightFinding refuge in Scripture when you don't know how to praySarah's BLOOM framework for growing closer to GodHow friends can carry hope for us during difficult seasonsLearning to notice God's presence in ordinary moments Scripture for the Season: Psalm 57:1 (NIV) "Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed." Psalm 121:1–2 (NIV) "I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." Sarah's story reminds us that when life doesn't turn out the way we planned, we don't have to figure everything out on our own. Our help comes from the Lord, even in seasons of heartbreak, uncertainty, and becoming. Additional Scriptures Mentioned:Psalm 91 (NIV) — Finding shelter in the shadow of the Almighty.Hosea 2:15 (NIV) — God transforming a valley of trouble into a door of hope.Psalm 56:11 (NIV) — Choosing to trust God rather than live in fear.2 Timothy 2:13 (NIV) — God's faithfulness even when ours falters.Psalm 37:4 (NIV) — Delighting in the Lord. Song for the Season: "Marvelous Light" — Christy NockelsSarah shares how this song carried her through one of her darkest seasons. Hearing it in church reminded her that shame and heartbreak didn't have to define the rest of her story. Listen on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Christy+Nockels+Marvelous+Light Word of the Week: Becoming: Becoming is the gradual process of growing into who God created us to be. Sometimes we think growth should look like moving forward, making progress, or finally getting past whatever has been hurting us. But as Sarah reminds us, some of the deepest changes happen beneath the surface, long before anyone else can see them. God can still be shaping our hearts, deepening our faith, and helping us become the women He created us to be—even in seasons we never would have chosen. Reflection Question:What might God be growing in you during this season, even if you can't see the changes yet? Resources Mentioned: Meet Sarah BrownSarah Brown is the author of Even the Ashes Bloom, a memoir exploring divorce, forgiveness, faith, and God's work of bringing hope through difficult seasons. Through her writing and resources, she encourages women to notice God's presence and grow closer to Him even when life hasn't gone as planned. Website: https://sarahsbrown.com Instagram: @authorsarahsbrown Book: Even the Ashes Bloom — available through major online booksellers. Sarah's BLOOM FrameworkB — Believe: Hold on to a truth from God's Word.L — Linger: Spend time with that truth.O — Observe: Notice how it applies to your life.O — Offer: Bring it to God in prayer.M — Magnify: Put what you've learned into practice. Other Resources:Jesus Calling — Sarah received a copy from her sister during the first months following her divorce.Faith Over Fear: Trusting God Through Life's Uncertainties — a collaborative book featuring a chapter by Melissa Winters.The Courage to Say Yes — a collaborative book featuring Melissa's writing. A Final Reminder:Your story isn't over. God can bring purpose to your pain And somehow—even here—joy still remains. Mentioned in this episode: A Quick Favor "I'm looking for 3-5 women to hop on a short, no-pressure 15-minute call with me, just to hear a little about your journey with chronic illness, grief, or a hard season, and the words you would use to describe it. No catches, no upsells, just me wanting to understand my listeners better so I can serve you well. As a thank-you, I will send you my free faith quiz, "What Is God Growing in Your Life Right Now?" If you're willing, just send me a DM on Instagram and I will set up a time that works for you."

  3. Sep 30

    #13 Chronic Illness and the Guilt of Resting When Your Body Needs It.

    Why rest isn't a moral failure — even when chronic illness or grief makes it feel like one 💛 Episode Summary:If you live with chronic illness, grief, or a season that's left you running on empty, you know a very specific guilt — the one that shows up the moment you finally stop. In this solo episode, Melissa shares an honest, hard night that started with a genuine mistake and turned into a spiral of guilt for needing to rest and heal. Walking through three places this guilt shows up in her own life, she looks at what Scripture actually says about rest, and why needing it was never the failure. 🌿 In This Episode:- The story behind the episode — a forgotten record button and the guilt that followed - Why rest was never optional, from the very rhythm of creation itself (Genesis 2:2-3) - The guilt that shows up around a monthly infusion treatment and a lost evening (Psalm 23:2) - The comparison trap of watching everyone else's pace online (Matthew 11:28) - A practical step for naming the guilt out loud instead of believing it ⏱️ Episode Timestamps:00:00 — Intro: the voice that says you haven't earned the right to rest 01:09 — The story behind this episode 03:28 — Rest was never optional (Genesis 2:2-3) 04:42 — The infusion center and guilt 07:00 — The comparison trap 10:23 — Practical steps 11:13 — Song recommendation: "Just Be Held" 12:31 — Word of the Week: Held 📖 Scripture:Featured: Genesis 2:2-3 (NIV) — "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work." Also referenced: Psalm 23:2, Matthew 11:28 🎶 Song Mentioned:"Just Be Held" — Casting Crowns YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIZitK6_IMQ ✨ Word of the Week: HeldNot held together by your own strength — held by Him, especially on the days you can't hold up anything else. 💭 Reflection Question:Where in your life right now is guilt telling you that rest has to be earned — and what would it look like to let yourself be held instead? 🔗 Resources Mentioned:Melissa's book colaboration projects- The Courage to Say Yes (Hope Books Publishing) — Stories of finding courage to do hard things and take the next step God is leading you toward Faith Over Fear: Trusting God Through Life's Uncertainties - more on trusting God through hard, uncertain seasons like this one 💛 Signature Truth:Your story isn't over. God can bring purpose to your pain And somehow- even here- joy still remains. Mentioned in this episode: A Quick Favor "I'm looking for 3-5 women to hop on a short, no-pressure 15-minute call with me, just to hear a little about your journey with chronic illness, grief, or a hard season, and the words you would use to describe it. No catches, no upsells, just me wanting to understand my listeners better so I can serve you well. As a thank-you, I will send you my free faith quiz, "What Is God Growing in Your Life Right Now?" If you're willing, just send me a DM on Instagram and I will set up a time that works for you."

  4. Sep 16

    #12 Finding Hope After Loss and Chronic Illness: No Tears are Wasted Part 2

    Subtitle:Learningl to receive help, trusting God with grief, and Avery's story Episode Summary:What happens when you stop trying to hold everything together and let someone else carry it for a while? In Part 2 of my conversation with writer Brooke Bendell Stark, we go deeper into what it's meant for her to receive — not just give — as she's lived with MS, and we sit with one of the hardest and most tender parts of her story: her daughter Avery's traumatic brain injury and what it taught her about a God who wastes nothing, not even our tears. In this conversation, we talk about:- Learning to receive help instead of always being the one holding it together, and what actually sustains Brooke day to day - Trusting God with what you can't explain — Romans 8:28 and the story of Avery's birth and traumatic brain injury - Writing through grief: Brooke's memoir "The Master's Loom," and a closing word for the woman who feels done ⏱️ Episode Timestamps: 0:00 — Cold open: Avery's story and "your tears aren't wasted" 1:13 — Welcome back to Joy in Suffering + recap of Part 1 2:08 — How living with MS has shaped her faith 3:37 — Day-to-day adjustments — walking, balance, being prepared 4:29 — Learning to receive help, not just give it 7:00 — What sustains her: scripture, prayer, and worship 8:48 — "No tears are wasted" — God gathering our grief 10:19 — Romans 8:28 and the story of Avery's birth and traumatic brain injury 16:50 — Writing her memoir, "The Master's Loom" 21:43 — A message for the woman who feels exhausted and alone 25:03 — The song that carries her: "I Can Only Imagine" by MercyMe 28:03 — Where to find Brooke and her writing 📖 Scripture:Romans 8:28 (NIV) — "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." — 🎶 Song Mentioned:"I Can Only Imagine" by MercyMe https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=I+Can+Only+Imagine+MercyMe ✨ Word of the Week: ReceiveNot just give — receive. Brooke put it simply: "I've had to learn to receive. And in learning to receive, I've learned how to give." You don't have to be the one holding it all together. Letting someone else carry something for you isn't weakness — it's part of how God cares for us through each other. 💭 Reflection Question:Where do you need to trust that your tears, your grief, and your unanswered questions aren't wasted — that God is keeping every one of them? 🔗 Resources Mentioned:- Brooke's website: brookebstark.com - Brooke on Instagram: @BrookeBStark - Brooke on Facebook: The Weaver's Porch - Brooke on Substack: The Weaver's Porch - Brooke's upcoming memoir: "The Master's Loom: Weaving Beauty Through Broken Dreams and Frayed Hopes" 💛 Signature Truth:Your story isn't over. God can bring purpose to your pain And somehow- even here- joy still remains.

  5. Sep 9

    Chronic Illness Grief: The Losses No One Told You to Expect

    A conversation on MS, grief, caregiving, and trusting God with the threads you can't see 💛 Episode Summary:What do you do when your dreams for your life get rewritten — more than once? In this episode, I'm joined by my friend Brooke Bendell Stark, a writer living with multiple sclerosis, who opens up about the invisible losses of chronic illness and the picture that has carried her through it all — God as the Master Weaver, seated at the loom, turning our frayed threads and broken dreams into something beautiful we often can't see from our side of the tapestry. This is an honest, tender conversation about grief, chronic illness, and holding onto faith when nothing goes the way you planned. In this conversation, we talk about:- What it's really like to live with MS — the unpredictable symptoms, the loss of control, and learning to plan "in the moment" instead of far ahead - The invisible losses that come with chronic illness — grieving plans, energy, and even small things like a note you meant to handwrite - Trusting God as the Master Weaver — handing Him the broken threads and resting in the tapestry He's making, even when you can't see the pattern ⏱️ Episode Timestamps:0:00 — Cold open: what do you do when suffering comes in layers? 1:28 — Welcome to Joy in Suffering + introducing Brooke 2:41 — Brooke on their shared bond of Christ and chronic illness 3:19 — Brooke's story: six kids, foster care and adoption, her creative background 3:58 — The three types of MS, explained 5:30 — The "Master Weaver" metaphor: God at the loom 8:05 — What living with MS has looked like day to day 8:19 — The diagnosis that changed their mission field plans 11:04 — Learning to rest in Him instead of planning ahead 13:53 — Letting go of the illusion of control 14:44 — Surrender and stewarding her body well 17:06 — Trusting God's presence even when the day doesn't change 19:37 — The invisible losses of chronic illness 20:03 — Serving alongside her husband, and adjusting to physical limits 22:39 — Grieving the "small" losses no one else would notice 24:08 — Surrendering those losses and seeing what really matters 24:30 — Wrap-up + what's coming in Part 2 📖 Scripture:Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) — "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." ✨ Word of the Week: SurrenderBrooke's own word from this episode: "It's a surrender, yes. And we mistakenly battle the Lord with this — continually." Surrender isn't giving up. It's handing the threads you can't control to the One who can see the whole tapestry. 💭 Reflection Question:Where are you still gripping tightly to something you were never meant to control? What would it look like to surrender that thread today? 💛 Signature Truth:Your story isn't over. God can bring purpose to your pain And somehow- even here- joy still remains. Mentioned in this episode: A Quick Favor "I'm looking for 3-5 women to hop on a short, no-pressure 15-minute call with me, just to hear a little about your journey with chronic illness, grief, or a hard season, and the words you would use to describe it. No catches, no upsells, just me wanting to understand my listeners better so I can serve you well. As a thank-you, I will send you my free faith quiz, "What Is God Growing in Your Life Right Now?" If you're willing, just send me a DM on Instagram and I will set up a time that works for you."

  6. Aug 26

    #10 When God Doesn't Answer Your Prayers the Way You Hoped-Trusting Him Anyway

    Subtitle (SEO Boost):A conversation on faith, chronic caregiving, grief, and trusting God when prayers aren't answered the way we hoped 💛 Episode Summary:What happens when life asks you to carry more than you ever imagined? This week I'm joined by Paula Romang — wife, mother, Bible study and devotional writer, and a woman whose faith was refined through years of caregiving and profound loss. Paula's son Matthew lived with severe special needs and passed away at age twelve, and in this conversation she shares what it actually looked like to trust God on the days trust didn't feel like a given. If you're walking through chronic illness, grief, or caregiving, this one is for you. In this conversation, we talk about:- What "choosing faith over feelings" looked like in the daily, unglamorous grind of caregiving — no warm fuzzy feelings required - The specific lies suffering tempted Paula to believe about her worth, and the truth from Scripture she returned to instead - How immersing herself in God's Word and prayer became the lifeline that carried her through Matthew's twelve years and beyond 📖 Scripture: [12:40]"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." — Deuteronomy 33:27 (NIV) Additional verses referenced: Isaiah 40–41 [13:40]; Psalm 147:3-4 [14:11]; Isaiah 57:15 [14:44]; Matthew 11:28-30 [19:33] 🎶 Songs Mentioned:- It Is Well With My Soul — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QUqo37M0wM - All the Way My Savior Leads Me — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEOtFEs0Jos - Praise You in This Storm, Casting Crowns — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YUGwUgBvTU - Oceans (Where Feet May Fail), Hillsong UNITED — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI-Z0lq-LIE - Goodness of God, CeCe Winans — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sE5kEnitqE ✨ Word of the Week: TrustTrust isn't a feeling you wait around for — it's a choice you make, over and over, to believe God is who He says He is, even when your circumstances say otherwise. This week, may you choose trust — not because it's easy, but because He's already proven He's worthy of it. 💭 Reflection Question:Where in your life is God asking you to trust Him even though the outcome doesn't look the way you hoped it would? 🔗 Resources Mentioned:- Paula's book, Thriving in the Barren Place: How Trust in God Fueled My Journey Through Heartache and Loss — https://www.amazon.com/Thriving-Barren-Place-Journey-Heartache/dp/B0FCTWBHSX - Paula's website — www.paularomang.com - Paula on Facebook — Paula Romang - Paula on Instagram — @promang869 - Paula on YouTube — Paula Romang 💛 Signature Truth:Your story isn't over. God can bring purpose to your pain And somehow- even here- joy still remains. Mentioned in this episode: A Quick Favor "I'm looking for 3-5 women to hop on a short, no-pressure 15-minute call with me, just to hear a little about your journey with chronic illness, grief, or a hard season, and the words you would use to describe it. No catches, no upsells, just me wanting to understand my listeners better so I can serve you well. As a thank-you, I will send you my free faith quiz, "What Is God Growing in Your Life Right Now?" If you're willing, just send me a DM on Instagram and I will set up a time that works for you."

  7. Aug 12

    #9 Can You Grieve the Life You Never Had?

    Subtitle (SEO Boost):A solo episode on grief, chronic illness, and the dreams that never came to be Episode DescriptionSometimes grief isn't about losing a person — it's about losing a version of your life. In this solo episode, Melissa opens up about a kind of grief that rarely gets talked about: the grief of the future you quietly imagined but never got to live. From navigating chronic illness to the long, tender grief of never becoming a mother, Melissa shares how she learned this loss had a name — and how Scripture met her in it. If you've ever wondered whether you're even allowed to grieve a life you never had, this episode is for you. 🌿 In This Episode:- What "non-finite" or ambiguous grief is, and why it so often goes unrecognized - Melissa's own story of chronic illness, the loss of five years of her life, and the long grief of not becoming a mother - Why grief isn't a competition, and why comparing losses only keeps us from healing - How Jesus meets us in grief without asking us to rank our pain first - What it means to notice what still remains, even in loss 📖 Scripture:"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." — Revelation 21:4 (NIV) Also referenced: Matthew 5:4 🎶 Song Mentioned:"Even If" by MercyMe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6fA35Ved-Y ✨ Word of the Week: RemainGrief has a way of pulling our attention to what's missing — the dreams that didn't come true, the life we thought we'd have. But even there, something still remains. God's love remains. His presence remains. His promises and His faithfulness remain. The dream may have changed, but He never did. This week, when the loss feels loud, come back to this one word and ask: what still remains? 💭 Reflection Question:What still remains in your life, even in the middle of what you've lost? 🔗 Resources Mentioned:- Joy Even Here (Substack) — melissajw74.substack.com Ambiguous loss: when closure doesn’t exist | Connect MagazineChronic Illness and Ambiguous Loss | Psychology Today 💛 Signature Truth:Your story isn't over. God can still bring purpose to your pain. And even here, joy still remains. Mentioned in this episode: A Quick Favor "I'm looking for 3-5 women to hop on a short, no-pressure 15-minute call with me, just to hear a little about your journey with chronic illness, grief, or a hard season, and the words you would use to describe it. No catches, no upsells, just me wanting to understand my listeners better so I can serve you well. As a thank-you, I will send you my free faith quiz, "What Is God Growing in Your Life Right Now?" If you're willing, just send me a DM on Instagram and I will set up a time that works for you."

  8. Jul 29

    #8 Just show Up: Loving Someone Through Chronic Illness and Grief

    SubtitleA conversation about faithful friendship, miscarriage, grief, fear, and the quiet power of simply being present. Episode SummaryWhat does it look like to love someone through suffering when you can't fix what's broken? In this deeply personal episode of Joy in Suffering, Melissa is joined by her lifelong friend, Carrie Barresi, whose friendship has spanned more than forty years. Together they reflect on growing up together, navigating chronic illness, walking through miscarriage and the loss of a parent, and discovering that some of the greatest acts of love aren't found in having the right words—but in faithfully showing up. Carrie shares how watching Melissa's lifelong health journey shaped her own faith, the loneliness she experienced after multiple miscarriages, and how Psalm 23 became an anchor during the devastating loss of her mother. Melissa and Carrie also discuss the well-meaning comments that often hurt those who are grieving, why grief is never linear, and how God's presence meets us in every valley. Whether you're walking through suffering yourself or wondering how to support someone you love, this conversation offers hope, wisdom, and practical encouragement for the journey. In This EpisodeHow a friendship of more than forty years has shaped both Melissa's and Carrie's faithLoving someone through chronic illness when you can't fix their painThe hidden grief of miscarriage and why people often don't know what to sayLosing a parent and finding peace through Psalm 23Why grief isn't something we simply "get over"Common phrases that unintentionally wound people who are sufferingLearning to surrender fear instead of trying to control the futureWhy faithful presence is often the greatest gift we can offerWhat "just showing up" really looks like in everyday life Scripture for the SeasonPsalm 23 (NIV) "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing..."Carrie shares how this familiar psalm became a lifeline during the loss of her mother and continues to bring peace whenever fear begins to rise. Song for the SeasonBe Not Afraid – John Michael Talbot A beautiful reminder that God walks beside us through every valley and every fear Word of the MonthPresenceSometimes the greatest ministry isn't finding the perfect words. It's showing up. God's presence changes us—and our presence can become one of His greatest gifts to someone who is hurting. Reflection QuestionWho in your life needs your presence more than your answers this week? What would it look like to simply reach out, listen well, and remind them they're loved? Resources MentionedBearing the Unbearable – Joanne CacciatoreFaith Over Fear: Trusting God Through Life's Uncertainties –(Featuring a chapter by Melissa Winters)The Courage to Say Yes –(Featuring a chapter by Melissa Winters) Connect with MelissaIf this episode encouraged you, I'd love to continue walking this journey with you. Subscribe to the newsletter on Substack for monthly encouragement, Scripture, and reflections for women navigating chronic illness, grief, and hard seasons. Share This EpisodeIf someone came to mind while listening, would you share this episode with them? Sometimes the greatest encouragement begins with one simple act of showing up Mentioned in this episode: A Quick Favor "I'm looking for 3-5 women to hop on a short, no-pressure 15-minute call with me, just to hear a little about your journey with chronic illness, grief, or a hard season, and the words you would use to describe it. No catches, no upsells, just me wanting to understand my listeners better so I can serve you well. As a thank-you, I will send you my free faith quiz, "What Is God Growing in Your Life Right Now?" If you're willing, just send me a DM on Instagram and I will set up a time that works for you."

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4.9
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

Are you a Christian woman living with chronic illness, chronic pain, or deep grief — wondering where God is in the middle of your suffering? Welcome to Joy in Suffering: a Christian podcast for women navigating chronic illness, grief, anxiety, stress, and the quiet heartbreak of lost dreams. Hosted by Melissa Winters, who has lived with chronic illness since she was one year old, this podcast offers gentle, faith-filled conversations rooted in honest stories, Scripture, song, and hope that actually sustains you through the hard places. Each episode creates space to wrestle honestly with suffering while remembering that God is present, loving, and still working — through stories, Scripture, and song. Whether you're navigating chronic illness, walking through grief, struggling with anxiety and fear, grieving the life you thought you'd have, or simply exhausted from a season that won't let up — you'll find honest conversations, compassionate encouragement, and biblical hope designed to help you discover that joy is not the absence of pain. It is the presence of Christ within it. What you'll find here: 1) Faith and hope for Christian women with chronic illness and chronic pain 2) Biblical encouragement for grief, loss, and hard seasons 3) Honest conversations about suffering, doubt, and holding onto God 4) Scripture-centered hope for anxiety, fear, and uncertainty Stories of real women finding joy and purpose in the middle of limitations 5) Gentle encouragement for women who feel unseen, forgotten, or alone If you've ever asked: -Why does God feel so distant in my suffering? -How do I find joy when nothing in my life is changing? -Is it okay to struggle and still call myself a woman of faith? -How do I hold onto hope when healing hasn't come? -Does my life still have purpose even with chronic illness or grief? You're in the right place. This podcast is for Christian women who are tired of pretending they're okay — women who want real, Scripture-rooted encouragement that meets them right where they are, not after the storm passes. New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Follow the show so you never miss an episode, and join Melissa on Instagram and Facebook at @melissawinters1974 for encouragement between episodes. Your story isn’t over Christ can bring purpose to your pain and even here-Joy still remains

Information

  • Creator
    Melissa Winters-Christian Author & Chronic Illness Faith Advocate
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Melissa Winters
  • Show Website
    Joy in Suffering