SUMMARY:-Lori Ann shares her journey of faith through ongoing uncertainty, particularly after her heart disease diagnosis.-Despite being physically healthy, she later discovered her heart condition that she had no point of reference or expectation of this type of diagnosis.-Lori Ann emphasizes the importance of maintaining faith during difficult times, discussing how grief and gratitude can coexist.-She encourages embracing the practice of lament as a way to deepen one's relationship...
SUMMARY:
-Lori Ann shares her journey of faith through ongoing uncertainty, particularly after her heart disease diagnosis.
-Despite being physically healthy, she later discovered her heart condition that she had no point of reference or expectation of this type of diagnosis.
-Lori Ann emphasizes the importance of maintaining faith during difficult times, discussing how grief and gratitude can coexist.
-She encourages embracing the practice of lament as a way to deepen one's relationship with God.
-Through her experiences, she highlights the significance of community support, the need for open conversations about pain, and the importance of relinquishing control to God.
-Her book, "Divine Detour" is structured around three key questions inspired by Jesus' temptations in the desert, addressing doubts about life, God's goodness, and control over circumstances. Three questions that can be applied to every type of pain and suffering.
-In closing Lori Ann encourages others to hold on to their faith, recognizing that God desires an ongoing conversation with them, regardless of their circumstances.
PODCAST INTRO:
My guest Lori Ann Wood has discovered so much beauty in the midst of a life detour that could only promise uncertainty and yet it became a divine detour. Hard fought beauty, as she sifted through layers of questions and gave God her deep heartache. What she’s discovered and shares here today, is going to be gold for your heart.
Lori Ann shares the journey she entered into when her life hit a major detour, based on an unexpected diagnosis of heart failure. Married to her high school sweetheart and mother to three adult children, Lori's life was bustling with activity and health consciousness. However, a shocking diagnosis challenged her understanding of control, faith, and God's presence in suffering.
Lori Ann candidly discusses the initial disbelief of her diagnosis and the silence from God that she experienced, comparing her questions and search for understanding and the struggle with answered prayer to a spiritual wrestling match. Despite her pristine health metrics, she overlooked minor symptoms, not knowing those symptoms were pointing to her life changing detour.
Throughout the conversation, Lori Ann delves into the duality of grief and gratitude, acknowledging the coexistence of pain and thankfulness. She emphasizes the significance of lament in her faith journey, a practice she initially hesitated to embrace but found crucial for expressing her deepest fears and doubts to God.
I especially loved when our conversation turned to her book, Divine Detour where she explores three pivotal questions inspired by Jesus's temptations in the desert: Is this life all there is? Is God always good? Is God's plan enough? These questions reflect her struggle with worry, doubt, and control, ultimately leading her to a deeper relationship with God.
You’re going to be extravagantly blessed as you listen to this conversation and all that Lori Ann has to share. In every one of her answers she delivers beautiful insight with regard to God’s heart for those who are suffering.
If you are in a season of loss and uncertainty and you wonder where God is, does He care about what is happening in your life….then make time to engage with every bit of Lori Ann’s insight.
The title of her book says it perfectly, Divine Detour because when the unexpected throws a block into the road that were happily headed down, I know that is the exact spot where the enemy wanted to destroy us (with a diagnosis, with that loss, with no end in sight, with grief)…but God….He enters with His love, grace and mercy, and turns our detour into something far more beautiful than what this life has to offer.
If at all possible, get your pen and paper ready because you’re gonna want to capture and reread these distinctions and revelations that Lori Ann has to share.
Live Loved and Thrive @ alifeofthrive.com
Sherrie Pilk
PODCASTS AND/OR BLOGS ON SIMILAR TOPICS:
Building Faith in Uncertainty, with Katie Jones: https://alifeofthrive.com/2025/03/12/building-faith-in-uncertainty-with-katie-jones/
Living in Uncertainty, with Angie Baughman: https://alifeofthrive.com/2024/02/28/uncertainty/
The Uncertainty of Life - Choroidal Melanoma (Eye Cancer), with Suzanne Stines: https://alifeofthrive.com/2023/08/16/the-uncertainty-of-life-cordial-melanoma-eye-cancer-with-suzanne-stines/
CONNECT WITH LORI ANN:
Website: https://loriannwood.com/
BIO:
Lori Ann Wood lives with her husband in an empty nest in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains of Northwest Arkansas. After discovering a serious heart condition almost too late, Lori Ann became an award-winning author and speaker whose passion is to explore deep faith questions along the detours of life. Lori Ann’s first book, Divine Detour: The Path You’d Never Choose Can Lead to the Faith You’ve Always Wanted, is available at Amazon and at https://loriannwood.com/books/.
If you’re on a detour, and find it difficult to communicate with God, get her free gift, 5 Prayers & Promises When You Can’t Talk to God, at https://loriannwood.com/hope/.
For more information about the heart failure warning signs Lori Ann missed, she’d love to share her graphic as a gift to you, https://loriannwood.com/heart.
