312 | Light Up the Dark (Part One) with Heather Oden

2026-06-17

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My guest today is Heather Oden of Sterling, Kansas. Heather is a woman who wears many hats ... She's the executive director of a nonprofit called Light Up the Dark, a worship leader at her church, the wife of a fifth-generation farmer, and the mom of five children. Today, she joins me to share the story of her son, Jacob.Jacob was an athlete, an encourager, and a young man with a remarkable gift for noticing people who were hurting and speaking life into them. But on August 3, 2016, Jacob and his older ...

My guest today is Heather Oden of Sterling, Kansas. Heather is a woman who wears many hats ... She's the executive director of a nonprofit called Light Up the Dark, a worship leader at her church, the wife of a fifth-generation farmer, and the mom of five children. Today, she joins me to share the story of her son, Jacob.

Jacob was an athlete, an encourager, and a young man with a remarkable gift for noticing people who were hurting and speaking life into them. But on August 3, 2016, Jacob and his older brother, JJ, were driving home for lunch when their pickup was struck by a driver under the influence. JJ survived. Jacob did not.

In this first half of our conversation, Heather introduces us to Jacob and shares what those early days of grief were like after losing him so suddenly. She talks honestly about the shock, the questions she brought to God, and the unexpected ways God brought comfort in the midst of unimaginable pain.

This is a conversation filled with sorrow, certainly, but also with deep faith and the quiet reassurance that God is near to bring light to the darkness. I believe you'll be blessed by listening in.

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** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

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