How do you prepare yourself for loss? What do you do in the days before your world encounters a seismic shift? Can you ever truly be ready to face your greatest pain?
For Melissa Swain, nothing could fully prepare her for the unexpected loss of her husband, Chris, in 2021 but in the days long before such a tragic grief, she had made the decision to trust God no matter what. Just a few years before in 2019, her family faced the unexpected death of her brother, Aaron. In a way, the Lord used that difficult time to prepare her heart for more grief she would walk through as a widow. As Melissa wrestled through the pain of losing her sibling and then her husband, she was faced with more unexpected circumstances when the fate of her husband's almost finished manuscript laid in the hands of his publisher. Was she the one to take his work and bring it across the finish line? She did and the book they completed unexpectedly together called "Write it On Their Hearts: Practical Help for Discipling Your Kids" was not only a way to keep her connected to Chris after his death, but it also served as a means for him to continue to love and parent his children in the days that followed while helping other families as well.
In this candid conversation, Davey talks with Melissa about what it looks like to grieve well, why our pre-decisions about God are so important when it comes to preparing us for pain, and how to wait on God when you aren't sure what is next.
If you've ever wondered how you could prepare your heart for the suffering that inevitably comes this side of heaven, Melissa's hard-won wisdom will encourage you to decide who you think God is before you ever get that phone call that changes everything.
Website: www.WriteItOnTheirHearts.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/WITHtheSwains
Twitter: www.twitter.com/WITHtheSwains
Book: Write It On Their Hearts: Practical Help for Discipling Your Kids
We want to partner with you this holiday season and help you give the gift of healing. From now through December 9th, you can get a discount on any of the products in our store: www.nothingiswasted.com/store
Just use the promo codes:
HEALING5 ($5 off $25)
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Want to find everything Nothing is Wasted offers for your specific pain point? Check out our Curated Pathways: www.nothingiswasted.com/pathways
Episode 321 - Seeing the Miraculous in Adoption and Pain with Joyce Dalrymple
Episode 320 - The Need For A Wise Guide in Your Healing with Ken Roberts, Teresa Glantz, Jen Ball and Karissa Sprinkle
Episode 319 - Don't Give Up Just Yet with Nick Connolly
Episode 318 - If I Don't Laugh, I'll Cry with Molly Stillman
Episode 317 - When Your Way Isn't Working with Kyle Idleman
Episode 316 - Even If He Doesn't with Kristen LaValley
Episode 315 - Finding Purpose through Vulnerability with Raleigh Sadler
Episode 314 - Grace and Suffering with Philip Yancey
Episode 313 - Holding Onto Faith in Our Doubts with Laura Wifler
Episode 312 - In His Hands with Jessika Sanders
Episode 311 - Incurable Faith with Andrea Herzer
Episode 310 - The Marriage Gift with Aaron and Jennifer Smith
Episode 309 - Experiencing God's Strength in Your Weakness with Emily Jensen
Episode 308 - Made for People: Why We Drift into Loneliness and How to Fight for a Life of Friendship with Justin Whitmel Earley
Episode 307 - How Suffering Shapes Our Hearts with Andrew Peterson
Episode 306 - Practicing the Way with John Mark Comer
Episode 305 - The Continual Journey Towards Healing with Davey Blackburn, Aubrey Sampson and Eric Schumacher
Episode 304 - Walking into a New Year After Loss with Davey Blackburn
Episode 303 - Hope for the Holidays with Amy Sylvestre
Episode 302 - Practical Steps for Walking through Grief with Beth Marshall
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