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GPS Hope
  • 5.0 (52)
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This show discusses many topics that only those who have lost a child can understand, and is hosted by award-winning author, speaker, singer and (most importantly) bereaved parent, Laura Diehl

  1. 342: Turning Pain into Peace (with Angela Alexander)

    3D AGO

    342: Turning Pain into Peace (with Angela Alexander)

    In this powerful and deeply moving episode, Turning Pain into Peace, Laura sits down with Angela Alexander to share a story marked by unimaginable loss and remarkable faith. After enduring multiple tragedies, including the devastating loss of her two young sons in a car accident, Angela opens her heart to reveal how God met her in the depths of grief and began a journey of healing. Her story is not one of avoiding pain, but of walking through it and discovering that even in the darkest places, peace is possible. As they talk, the conversation gently unfolds into what it means to begin turning pain into peace; not through quick answers, but through surrender, forgiveness, and a deep, personal relationship with God. Angela shares practical and spiritual insights that helped her move from overwhelming grief into a place of purpose, offering hope to bereaved parents who may feel stuck in that suffocating darkness. This episode is a reminder that while the pain of child loss never fully disappears, God can meet us there and lead us into a life that holds both sorrow and peace. A sister, an Air Force Reserve retiree, a wife, a mother, an inspirational speaker, and now an author and executive producer of her own documentary film. She is the narrator of her autobiography, Miracles in Action: Turning Pain into Power and Grief into Peace. Rather than succumbing to darkness and despair after facing continuous hardship and loss, she chose to find strength and inspire others facing similar challenges, guided by God himself. Angela has been actively speaking at ceremonies in churches, retreats, and conferences to inspire and encourage people to stay hopeful and never give up. (Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)  Links Mentioned in this episode: To connect with Angela Alexander: miraclesinaction.com Click here to get The Bible’s Grieving Parents Click here to get The Bible’s Grieving Parents and Companion Journal Click here to get My Grief Journey Coloring Book and Journal for Kids To support this podcast and, keep it ad-free, and get exclusive content, visit us on Patreon. Birthdays: We lovingly remember and celebrate the lives of: Jonda Steinkamp was born on April 2 and is forever 4.5 months.  Visit gpshope.org/birthdays to submit your child’s name and date so we can honor them, too. The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here. Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE! www.gpshope.org To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at office@gpshope.org. Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose. It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

    1h 4m
  2. 341: Heaven Feels Closer When Your Child Is There

    MAR 24

    341: Heaven Feels Closer When Your Child Is There

    For grieving parents, heaven is no longer just something we believe in—it becomes deeply personal. When your child is there, heaven feels closer in a way you never expected, yet the pain of missing them here remains just as real. In this episode, Laura gently shares five heartfelt truths about heaven that can bring comfort, even in the middle of deep sorrow. If you’ve ever wrestled with questions about where your child is, longed more to see them than anything else, or wondered how to hold onto hope while living with their absence, this conversation will meet you right where you are. As we shift our focus from where our children are not to where they are, we begin to see that while our pain is deep, the glory they are experiencing is beyond comparison—and that can bring a quiet sense of peace to our hearts.   Links Mentioned in this episode: Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents Click here to register for the Bereaved Mother’s Day Luncheon. Click here to get your copy of The Bible’s Grieving Parents and Companion Journal. Click here to get your copy of Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents To support this podcast and, keep it ad-free, and get exclusive content, visit us on Patreon.   Birthdays: We lovingly remember and celebrate the lives of: Jeremy Capots was born on March 26 and is forever 47. Visit gpshope.org/birthdays to submit your child’s name and date so we can honor them, too. The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here. Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE! www.gpshope.org To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at office@gpshope.org. Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose. It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

    19 min
  3. 340: When God’s Ways Don’t Make Sense After the Death of a Child

    MAR 17

    340: When God’s Ways Don’t Make Sense After the Death of a Child

    After the death of a child, many grieving parents struggle to understand God’s ways. Questions about why tragedy happens and how a loving God could allow such deep loss can shake even a strong faith. In this episode, Laura gently speaks to bereaved parents who are wrestling with these difficult questions, sharing encouragement about trusting God even when His ways don’t make sense. Through Scripture and compassionate insight, this episode reminds listeners that faith does not require having all the answers. Many people in the Bible experienced profound suffering, yet discovered God’s presence and strength in the middle of it. If you are struggling to trust God after the death of your child, this conversation offers comfort and hope, reminding you that God sees your pain and walks with you through every step of your grief journey. Links Mentioned in this episode: Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents Get your free copy of Rebuilding Your Life: A Gentle Guide Toward Hope and Healing After Child Loss The Bible’s Grieving Parents and Companion Journal To support this podcast and, keep it ad-free, and get exclusive content, visit us on Patreon.   Birthdays: We lovingly remember and celebrate the lives of: Matthew Branca was born on March 15 and is forever 23. Rohit Matthew was born on March 16 and is forever 23. Joey Miller was born on March 17 and is forever 48. Daniel Wilson was born on March 21 and is forever 30. Visit gpshope.org/birthdays to submit your child’s name and date so we can honor them, too. The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here. Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE! www.gpshope.org To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at office@gpshope.org. Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose. It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

    28 min
  4. 339: Your Grief Does Not Have to Define You (with Jody Hudson)

    MAR 10

    339: Your Grief Does Not Have to Define You (with Jody Hudson)

    In this episode, Laura talks with bereaved mom Jody Hudson, whose daughter Alex died at the age of 22 after a long battle with undiagnosed Lyme disease. Jody shares the heartbreaking journey of watching her daughter suffer through years of unanswered medical questions and treatments, and the deep grief that followed Alex’s death. Yet in the midst of unimaginable loss, Jody made a conscious decision not to allow grief to define her identity, but instead to seek God’s direction for how to move forward.  Through faith, honest conversations with God, and a desire to honor Alex’s life, Jody found purpose in helping others, including starting a foundation to support Lyme disease patients. Her story offers encouragement for grieving parents who feel lost in the darkness, reminding them that while grief is real and lasting, it does not have to define their future. With God’s help, it is possible to carry our children with us while still finding meaning, hope, and purpose again.  Jody Hudson is a faith-filled mother, author, and speaker who shares hope from the depths of loss. After walking alongside her daughter Alex through years of medical uncertainty (which was correctly diagnosed as Lyme disease in 2017), Jody now speaks honestly about grief, identity, and choosing how we show up after life-altering loss. She is the author of My Promise to Alex, an award-winning memoir woven with themes of faith, resilience, and a mother’s enduring love. Jody encourages grieving parents to trust God, move forward with purpose, and remember that grief may shape us, but it does not define us.  (Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.) Links Mentioned in this episode: Jody’s website and book: My Promise to Alex: Through Pain Comes Purpose Reflections of Hope: Daily Readings for Bereaved Parents Get your free copy of Rebuilding Your Life: A Gentle Guide Toward Hope and Healing After Child Loss To support this podcast and, keep it ad-free, and get exclusive content, visit us on Patreon.   Birthdays: We lovingly remember and celebrate the lives of: Jeremiah Wofford was born on March 9 and is forever 44. Steven Kowalewski was born on March 11 and is forever 28. Quintin T. Flowers was born on March 12 and is forever 54. Kirsten Brown was born on March 12 and is forever 25. Visit gpshope.org/birthdays to submit your child’s name and date so we can honor them, too. The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here. Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE! www.gpshope.org To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at office@gpshope.org. Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose. It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

    41 min

  5. MAR 3

    338: When Jesus is Holding Your Baby (with Ashley Opliger)

    In this tender episode, Laura welcomes Ashley to share the story of her daughter, Bridget, who was stillborn at 24 weeks after a complicated pregnancy.  Ashley speaks candidly about the trauma of delivering a baby who never cried, the sacred hours they were able to hold her, and the heartbreak of leaving the hospital without her. She also addresses the unexpected layers of grief that follow pregnancy loss—returning to an empty nursery, physical reminders like milk coming in, and the deep struggle with self-blame, offering reassurance that these painful realities are both common and valid. Out of that sorrow, Ashley describes how surrendering her pain to Jesus transformed her faith and eventually led to the ministry of Bridget’s Cradles and her book, Cradled in Hope. The conversation explores biblical lament, holding both joy and grief at the same time, resting in God’s sovereignty, and finding healing through Christ-centered support. With honesty and hope, Ashley reminds listeners that grieving with hope means trusting in eternity while allowing Jesus to walk closely with us in the present pain. Ashley Opliger is the USA Today bestselling author of Cradled in Hope and the founder and executive director of Bridget’s Cradles, a national nonprofit providing hope and healing to more than 30,000 bereaved families each year in over 1,600 hospitals across all 50 states. She hosts the award-winning Cradled in Hope podcast and is a sought-after speaker and writer. Ashley also leads in-person and online support groups and organizes Wave of Light, an annual remembrance event held on Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. She lives in Wichita, Kansas, with her husband and two sons.  (Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)  Links Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Ashley at AshleyOpliger.com and BridgetsCradles.com. Send email to laura@gpshope with Bridget in the subject line for book drawing The Bible’s Grieving Parents paperback and Companion Journal are now available; order now on Amazon or directly from GPS Hope. Click here to support the podcast, keep it ad-free, and get exclusive content. Click here to receive a Weekly Word of Hope from Laura. Birthdays: We lovingly remember and celebrate the lives of: Miesha Grimes was born on March 1 and is forever 24, Patrick Palazzo was born on March 2 and is forever 24. Aaron Wright was born on March 3 and is forever 32. Courtney Harris was born on March 4 and is forever 34. Jonathan Van Verdegem was born on March 6 and is forever 19. Visit gpshope.org/birthdays to submit your child’s name and date so we can honor them, too. The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here. Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE! www.gpshope.org To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at office@gpshope.org. Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose. It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

    47 min

  6. FEB 24

    337: Renewing Your Mind after Child Loss

    After the death of a child, the darkness can feel suffocating. In this deeply personal episode, Laura shares from her own journey of losing her daughter, Becca. The panic attacks, the desperate prayers and the overwhelming thoughts told her that she would never survive this kind of pain.  When everything inside us says life will never be worth living again, how do we begin to move forward? Rooted in Romans 12:2, this conversation gently explores how transformation begins in the mind, even when the heart feels completely shattered. With both biblical truth and insights from neuroscience, this episode addresses how repeated thoughts can shape beliefs and identity, and how intentional, faith-filled shifts in thinking can begin creating space for light. Renewing your mind after child loss is not about denying grief or minimizing love; it is about challenging the lies that keep grieving parents trapped in despair and learning that it is our love, not the pain, that keeps us connected to our child. With deeply heart-felt compassion and clarity, Laura offers encouragement that, with God’s help, it is possible to move forward without leaving our child behind. Links Mentioned in this episode: The paperback and Companion Journal are now available for orders on the GPS Hope webstore, along with the free gift of My Grief Journey when ordered in February. Click here to order. (They are both also available on Amazon.) Click here to support the podcast, keep it ad-free, and get exclusive content. Click here to receive a Weekly Word of Hope from Laura. Birthdays: We lovingly remember and celebrate the lives of: Mark Patrick King II was born on February 22 and is forever 29. Dharahan Walker was born on February 23 and is forever 31. Nolan Sanders was born on February 24 and is forever 28. Paul Huprich was born on February 24 and is forever 19. Ian Rodriguez was born on February 26 and is forever 33. Dylan Paul Yancey Clarke was born on February 26 and is forever 17. Visit gpshope.org/birthdays to submit your child’s name and date so we can honor them, too. The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here. Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE! www.gpshope.org To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at office@gpshope.org. Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose. It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

    39 min

  7. FEB 17

    336: Clinging to God After the Death of a Child (8 Heart Skills – Part 2 with Linda Dillow)

    What does it look like to cling to God after the death of a child, when the pain feels suffocating, forgiveness feels impossible, and trust feels fragile? In this powerful continuation of Laura’s conversation with Linda Dillow, they explore the remaining heart skills that help grieving parents hold on to God and not give up. They talk honestly about lament as worship in a minor key, choosing trust over fear, the ongoing act of forgiveness (even when it must be repeated again and again), finding encouragement in God’s presence, and allowing praise to slowly become the language of a surrendered heart. If you are walking through child loss and wondering how to keep going, this episode will gently remind you that you are not expected to “get over” your grief. This is a journey taken one step, one breath at a time. God meets you in the mess, in the anger, in the questions, and invites you to experience His love in a deeper way than head knowledge alone. You may not know what tomorrow holds. But you can learn, even in grief, to trust the One who holds tomorrow. Linda’s new book is Hope for my Hurting Heart. She is also the author of several bestselling books, including Calm My Anxious Heart, Satisfy My Thirsty Soul and Intimate Issues. Linda and her husband, Jody, ministered in the former East European Communist countries and in Asia for eighteen years, training the leadership of the church. They have four grown children (one in heaven) and ten amazing grandchildren. Linda loves to encourage women to hope in God and trust in His faithfulness! (Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)  Links Mentioned in this episode: Click here to preorder The Bible’s Grieving Parents paperback and Companion Journal on the GPS Hope webstore. Order in February and receive a free My Grief Journey. Also available on Amazon starting February 19th. Click here to order Linda’s book Hope for My Hurting Heart.  (Note: This is an affiliate link, which means a small portion of your purchase price will go to GPS Hope.) Click here to support the podcast, keep it ad-free, and get exclusive content. Click here to receive a Weekly Word of Hope from Laura. Birthdays: We lovingly remember and celebrate the lives of: Sean Kraus was born on February 19 and is forever 24. Jason Zimdars was born on February 20 and is forever 35. Visit gpshope.org/birthdays to submit your child’s name and date so we can honor them, too. The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here. Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE! www.gpshope.org To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at office@gpshope.org. Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose. It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

    43 min

  8. FEB 10

    335: Hope for My Hurting Heart (with Linda Dillow)

    In this first of a two-part conversation, Laura sits down with Linda Dillow to explore the heart behind her book “Hope for My Hurting Heart” and the personal losses that shaped it, including the death of her daughter, Joy. Together they begin unpacking the first three of eight “heart skills” designed to help hurting hearts cling to God and not give up.  As they discuss loss, Linda shares how grief must be faced rather than resisted, drawing from her own experiences of multiple life-altering losses. She offers gentle wisdom on endurance, perspective, and allowing pain to become a transforming work in God’s hands, setting the stage for part two of this rich and hope-filled discussion. Linda’s new book is Hope for my Hurting Heart. She is also the author of several bestselling books, including Calm My Anxious Heart, Satisfy My Thirsty Soul and Intimate Issues. Linda and her husband, Jody, ministered in the former East European Communist countries and in Asia for eighteen years, training the leadership of the church. They have four grown children (one in heaven) and ten amazing grandchildren. Linda loves to encourage women to hope in God and trust in His faithfulness! (Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)  Links Mentioned in this episode: Click here to order Linda’s book Hope for My Hurting Heart.  (Note: This is an affiliate link, which means a small portion of your purchase price will go to GPS Hope.)\ Click here to support the podcast, keep it ad-free, and get exclusive content. Click here to receive a Weekly Word of Hope from Laura. Coming soon: The Bible’s Grieving Parents paperback and Companion Journal. Birthdays: We lovingly remember and celebrate the lives of: Brenton Smith was born on February 10 and is forever 24. Gage Purcell was born on February 10 and is forever 11. Visit gpshope.org/birthdays to submit your child’s name and date so we can honor them, too. The special song written for our children’s birthdays I Remember Well can be heard here. Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE! www.gpshope.org To have Laura come and minister at your event, contact us at office@gpshope.org. Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose. It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.

    38 min
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5
out of 5
52 Ratings

About

This show discusses many topics that only those who have lost a child can understand, and is hosted by award-winning author, speaker, singer and (most importantly) bereaved parent, Laura Diehl

Information

  • Creator
    GPS Hope
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    342
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 GPS Hope
  • Show Website
    All Episodes

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