Encounters at the Well

Amy Donathan
  • 5.0 (5)
  • CHRISTIANITY

Encounters at the Well is a heartfelt and meaningful podcast aimed at creating a supportive community for women in their faith journey. By sharing stories from different stages of life and addressing both the joys and challenges of walking with Jesus, the podcast can offer listeners encouragement, inspiration, and a sense of connection. 

  1. APR 17

    People Pleasing vs. God Pleasing

    The episode explores the theme of people-pleasing and the impact of performance-based worth on individuals. It emphasizes the contrast between people-pleasing and God-pleasing, highlighting the freedom and assurance found in God's love and acceptance. Takeaways Performance-based worth leads to people-pleasing and a constant need for approval.God's love and acceptance provide freedom from the burden of people-pleasing and the assurance of worth.Living from a place of God-pleasing rather than people-pleasing brings freedom and authenticity. Chapters 00:00 Freedom from People-Pleasing

    27 min

  2. APR 10

    Body Image, Aging, and Our Identity in Christ

    The conversation explores the topics of body image, aging, and identity in Christ, focusing on the experiences and insights of Jessica Nelson, a gerontology professional. It delves into the cultural messages about aging, the importance of health, and the need to embrace aging while prioritizing self-care and mental well-being. The conversation explores the themes of embracing aging with grace, the impact of faith on aging, the lies women believe about aging, the joy of aging, and practical steps for embracing aging. It emphasizes the importance of volunteering and highlights the positive aspects of aging, encouraging a shift in mindset and behavior. Takeaways Body image and agingIdentity in Christ Embracing aging with graceThe importance of volunteering Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Struggles07:13 Aging and Identity in Gerontology12:59 Cultural Messages About Aging25:29 Embracing Aging and Self-Care32:01 Embracing Aging with Grace39:36 The Lies Women Believe About Aging50:29 The Joy of Aging56:07 Practical Steps for Embracing Aging

    1h 2m

  3. MAR 21

    Comparison Culture and Social Media Envy

    The conversation delves into the comparison trap and its emotional impact, particularly in the context of social media and the church. It explores the feelings of jealousy, inadequacy, and resentment associated with comparison, and emphasizes the importance of recognizing and naming these emotions. The episode concludes with a call to action to notice, name, and bring these emotions into the light, moving toward freedom and self-acceptance. Takeaways Comparison trapImpact of comparison on self-worth

    21 min

  4. FEB 25

    What Happens When You Don’t Have Time to Grieve?

    Send a text What happens when you don’t have time to grieve? In this deeply honest episode of Encounters at the Well, Amy sits down with Kellie Bradshaw to talk about delayed grief, survival mode, and what faith looks like when loss keeps coming and life keeps demanding more. Kellie shares her story of profound and repeated loss, including stillbirth, miscarriage, and the tragic death of her 18-year-old son while in military training. Within one year, she buried two children. At the same time, she was caring for a medically fragile baby, navigating serious health diagnoses within her family, supporting her husband through cancer, building a home, homeschooling, and simply trying to keep everyone afloat. There was no quiet space to fall apart. No season where everything paused. Grief was squeezed into the cracks of time. In this conversation, you will hear what “delayed grief” can really look like: Living in constant triage modePushing emotions aside to surviveFeeling robbed of the opportunity to mournCarrying anger toward God without realizing itStruggling to feel joy even during beautiful milestonesWondering if it is too late to process what happenedKellie vulnerably shares how she coped when counseling wasn’t an option. She talks about journaling, including what she calls a “junk journal” where she poured out raw, unfiltered prayers to God. She describes putting in an “emotional epidural” just to keep going, and how that wall of protection eventually became something God gently began to crack open years later. You will hear about the moment God prompted her, three separate times, to attend GriefShare more than a decade after her losses. Through that process, she realized that grief buried is not grief healed. Amy and Kellie also talk about faith in the middle of unanswered prayers. What does it mean to trust a loving God when the plan feels unbearable? How do you reconcile asking God to “keep my baby safe” and then watching that child go to heaven? This episode explores: The difference between peace and the absence of painHow heaven becomes deeply real after lossWhy grief does not follow a textbook timelineThe side effects of living in survival mode for yearsWhat it means to walk toward Jesus even when you are not ready to fully open the doorKellie shares a powerful image God gave her during one of her lowest moments: standing at the edge of a collapsed bridge, unable to fix the rubble, and seeing a cross stretched across the ravine. The invitation was simple. Keep walking toward Him. If you are the woman who had to be strong for everyone else…  If your grief only shows up when you are alone at night…  If you feel like you missed your chance to mourn properly…  If you are afraid to revisit what you buried… This conversation is for you. It is not too late to grieve.  It is not too late to heal.  And it is never too late to let God meet you in the cracks. The episode closes with a prayer for women who are busy, weary, and quietly carrying loss. If you or someone you love is navigating delayed grief, share this episode. Healing begins when we stop pretending we are fine and start walking toward the One who already knows. Website: www.hopeandhealinglifecoach.com Email: amydonathan@hopeandhealing.faith

    51 min

  5. FEB 9

    Can God Really Forgive This? The Grace That Holds Even After Failure

    Send a text Shame rarely shouts.  It whispers. It tells us this sin was too much.  This failure crossed a line.  God may forgive others, but He could never forgive me. In this teaching episode, Amy Donathan gently addresses the kind of shame many Christian women carry quietly. The shame that lingers long after confession. The shame that shapes identity, relationships, and how close we allow ourselves to get to God. This episode grew out of a recent conversation with Regina Thompson from Grace Haven Pregnancy Resource Clinic about meeting women in crisis with compassion and truth. While that conversation centered on unplanned pregnancy and abortion, this teaching expands the lens. Because shame does not stay in one category. It shows up in many stories, many past decisions, and many hidden places of the heart. Together, we slow down and look honestly at what Scripture actually teaches about forgiveness. You will learn:  • Why shame often feels louder than truth, even when we know Scripture  • The difference between conviction and shame and why confusing them keeps us stuck  • Why forgiveness is not based on the severity of your sin  • What covenant grace really means and why it changes everything  • Why consequences are not rejection and discipline is not disqualification  • How biblical grace holds even after failure Amy walks through powerful biblical examples including David and Peter to show that covenant grace is not canceled by sin. God may lead us through repentance and healing, but He does not revoke His love, His forgiveness, or His calling because of our failure. This episode also includes a gentle, practical reflection to help you identify where shame may still be hiding. You will be invited to name the lie you have been believing and replace it with truth from Scripture, not as homework or pressure, but as an invitation toward freedom. Scriptures referenced include:  • 1 John 1:9  • 2 Corinthians 5:17  • Isaiah 54:10  • Romans 8:1  • Romans 11:29  • Hebrews 8:12  • Romans 5:8 This teaching is for the woman who believes in grace but struggles to receive it personally. For the woman who wonders if she has failed too many times. For the woman who loves Jesus but still carries shame she cannot seem to shake. You are not disqualified.  You are not condemned.  You are not too far gone. Grace still covers this. At the end of the episode, Amy prays for both the woman who knows Jesus and the woman who is still searching. If shame has been keeping you distant from God, this episode is an invitation to step back into the light and live from the truth of who you are in Christ. You can also find Amy on social media and reach out by email. She would love to hear how God is meeting you in your healing journey. Blessings, friend.  You are deeply loved. Website: www.hopeandhealinglifecoach.com Email: amydonathan@hopeandhealing.faith

    17 min

  6. JAN 26

    What Happens at a Pregnancy Resource Clinic

    Send a text In this episode of Encounters at the Well, Amy Donathan sits down with Regina Thompson, a licensed clinical social worker and the manager of GraceHaven, a pregnancy resource clinic in Mt. Vernon, Illinois and a ministry of Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services. Regina has worked with pregnant women since 1990 and shares what it looks like to offer truth, compassion, and practical support when an unplanned pregnancy feels overwhelming. Regina explains what happens when a woman walks into GraceHaven for the first time, including pregnancy testing, time to talk in a private advocacy room, and two key questions every client is asked: “Are you feeling pressured?” and “Do you feel safe at home?” These questions help women slow down, feel seen, and realize they are not alone. Amy and Regina discuss a powerful ultrasound story involving a 21-year-old who believed she was only a few weeks pregnant and was considering abortion. She discovered she was actually 16 weeks along, saw her baby moving, and heard the heartbeat. That moment helped her recognize the reality of life growing inside her and gave her space to choose a different path. The conversation also addresses common misconceptions about pregnancy resource clinics, including the fear that women will be pressured or abandoned. Regina makes it clear that GraceHaven meets women where they are, offers education and support without judgment, and continues to care for women even if they choose abortion. GraceHaven provides free and confidential services, including pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, STI testing and treatment, live parenting and prenatal classes, diaper giveaways, help with Medicaid applications, and an “earn while you learn” boutique program that allows parents to earn brand-new baby items by attending classes. For women carrying shame or grief after abortion, Regina shares about the eight-week Bible study Surrendering the Secret by Pat Layton and how God brings healing, forgiveness, and restoration. The episode also explores why secrecy deepens shame, especially with chemical abortions, and why safe community and truth matter. If you are scared, unsure, or carrying regret, this episode is for you. You are not alone. You are loved. And help is available. GraceHaven Contact Information Phone: 618-816-7526 Website: https://gracehavenprc.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GraceHavenPRC Website: www.hopeandhealinglifecoach.com Email: amydonathan@hopeandhealing.faith

    46 min

  7. JAN 12

    What Does the Bible Really Mean by "Good?"

    Send a text What does the Bible really mean when it calls something good? For many of us, the word good has become shorthand for comfort, ease, or life going according to plan. When things are smooth, relationships are calm, and prayers seem answered the way we hoped, we’re quick to say God is good. But what about the seasons that are full, messy, painful, or unfinished? What does good mean then? In this teaching episode, we take a closer look at the biblical definition of good and how it differs from the way we often use the word in everyday life. Instead of viewing good through the lens of circumstances, Scripture invites us to see good through the lens of God’s redemptive work in us. Using James 1:2–4 (ESV) as a foundation, this episode explores why trials are not meaningless interruptions, but purposeful tools God uses to grow and mature His people. We unpack what James means when he says believers become “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing,” and why that language does not describe a flawless or pain-free life. Instead, perfect in the biblical sense means fully formed and mature, a life where every season is being used to shape us into the likeness of Jesus. Complete points us to the finished work of Christ on the cross, reminding us that our identity and standing with God are secure, not earned through performance or suffering. And lacking nothing speaks to God’s faithful provision, that He supplies exactly what we need in every season to grow in faith, perseverance, and spiritual maturity. This episode also gently addresses the tension many believers feel when trying to reconcile a good God with hard experiences. Rather than offering easy answers or spiritual platitudes, we hold space for real pain while anchoring ourselves in biblical truth. We reflect on how God’s goodness is often revealed not in the removal of hardship, but in His presence, purpose, and faithfulness within it. Whether you are a woman who knows Jesus and is learning to trust God’s process more deeply, or a woman who is searching, questioning, and wondering if God can truly be good, this conversation offers a grounded, Scripture-based perspective that brings clarity, hope, and reassurance. This episode includes: A biblical explanation of what good means in ScriptureTeaching from James 1:2–4 (ESV)A reframing of suffering through God’s redemptive purposesEncouragement for believers in stretching or refining seasonsA gentle invitation and prayer for those who are seeking faithIf you’ve ever wondered how God’s goodness fits with real life, this episode invites you to see good the Bible’s way, purposeful, redemptive, and rooted in Christ. Website: www.hopeandhealinglifecoach.com Email: amydonathan@hopeandhealing.faith

    18 min

  8. 12/01/2025

    You Can't Earn Salvation: The Thief on the Cross and The Truth About Grace

    Send a text Do you ever feel like you are not doing enough for God? Maybe you have moments when you wonder if you should pray more, read more, serve more, or somehow “be better” so God will be pleased with you. For many Christian women, this pressure becomes a quiet but constant weight that whispers, “You are falling behind spiritually.” In today’s episode, we confront that pressure head-on by looking at one of the most powerful and freeing stories in Scripture, the thief on the cross. This episode explores how easily we slip into a performance mindset without even noticing. We begin thinking God approves us when we are consistent, disappointed when we fall short, and closer to us only when we are spiritually productive. Yet this mindset is not biblical, and it is not how God relates to His children. Jesus dismantled this pressure with one declaration: “It is finished.” Not “it is started,” not “keep trying harder,” but completely, fully finished. Salvation is the gift of God, rooted in grace from beginning to end. To show this clearly, we walk through Luke 23 and revisit the moment when the dying thief looked to Jesus. He had no good works, no spiritual résumé, no time to change his behavior, and no opportunity to clean up his life. He simply believed. And Jesus responded with mercy: “Today you will be with Me in paradise.” This moment reveals a deep truth we often forget. The thief brought nothing but trust. Jesus brought everything else. His story becomes a living illustration of salvation by grace alone. In this episode, we also talk about the drift that happens when fear, shame, comparison, and old patterns make us feel like we must earn God’s approval. Many women feel like their spiritual worth rises and falls with their performance, which leads to anxiety, discouragement, and distance from God. But the Bible reminds us again and again that we are saved by grace through faith, not by works, not by effort, and not by our ability to maintain perfection. God is not waiting for us to impress Him. He is inviting us to trust Him. We walk through the Romans Road to show how Scripture outlines a simple and beautiful path to salvation. Every verse highlights our need, God’s love, Christ’s sacrifice, and the invitation to believe. The thief on the cross mirrors these truths perfectly. He confessed, believed, and received the gift of eternal life. His story silences the fear that we are not doing enough and replaces it with confidence in what Jesus has already done. This episode also includes a powerful sermon excerpt, read word for word, that explains why the only correct answer to “Why are you saved?” is never “Because I…” but always “Because He…” It is a stirring reminder that most of our Christian life rests not in our performance, but in what Christ accomplished on our behalf. Whether you struggle with comparison, spiritual perfectionism, or fear that you are disappointing God, this conversation will help you breathe again. You will hear that God is not keeping a performance scorecard. He is not tallying your successes and failures. His love is not fragile, conditional, or dependent on your ability to maintain momentum. He looks at you through the finished work of Jesus. By the end of this episode, you will walk away with a renewed understanding of grace, a clearer picture of the gospel, and a heart that feels lighter. The thief on the cross reminds every one of us that salvation is not earned. It is received. And once you receive it, you are held securely by the One who finished the work. If you are ready to break free from the pressure to perform, this episode will encourage you, ground you in truth, and help you rest in the freedom Jesus already purchased for you. Website: www.hopeandhealinglifecoach.com Email: amydonathan@hopeandhealing.faith

    14 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Encounters at the Well is a heartfelt and meaningful podcast aimed at creating a supportive community for women in their faith journey. By sharing stories from different stages of life and addressing both the joys and challenges of walking with Jesus, the podcast can offer listeners encouragement, inspiration, and a sense of connection. 

Information

  • Creator
    Amy Donathan
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Amy Donathan
  • Show Website
    Encounters at the Well