Through the Lens

In this week’s episode, Vaneetha Risner joins us to share her story of suffering and sanctification, and the comfort we have in Christ. Vaneetha has been a sort of spiritual mentor to us from afar through her writings, and we cannot wait for you to hear her story. When faced with unimaginable suffering, Vaneetha cried out to God to spare her. In the depth of her pain, Vaneetha found God’s sustaining grace. We think you’ll be encouraged by Vaneetha’s words, just as we have been. 

We don't know about you, but we like to be in control. While our hearts yearn to live a life of full surrender to God, this hasn't always been easy. Time and time again we find ourselves desperately clinging to certain areas of our lives, rather than wholly entrusting every detail to an all-powerful God. Yet even in this struggle, we are gently called us to lay everything down at His feet--the big things and the small things. Join us as we discuss what it means to surrender.

The hashtag pops up frequently as we scroll through our social media feeds. It’s often found tagged on photos of smiling families, cozy homes, new cars, and exciting life events. #Blessed. Episode 10: #Blessed is now available. We hope you’ll join us as we candidly share ways the phrase “so blessed” has stung since losing our sons, dig deeper into the definition of a “blessing”, and talk about the greatest blessing of all. Connect with us via Instagram @throughthelenspodcast or Facebook.

Being in community is arguably the main way that we show Christ’s love to others--in loving others and serving others, people both inside and outside the Kingdom will know that we belong to God. In this episode, we dive deeper into the concept of community--why it's important, the challenges that come with it, and how to be more intentional about creating community in each of our own lives, especially in the wake of trials and suffering.

Loss is definitely messy and complicated. Perhaps it has caused you to question your identity as a mother. Perhaps it has raised new challenges in explaining death, heaven, and Jesus to your living children. Perhaps it has transformed the innocent question of "How many children do you have?" into a complicated minefield. Whether you are chasing after little ones at home or mothering with empty arms, join us for Episode 8: Parenting After Loss now available on iTunes and Stitcher.

This week's episode features an interview with Sarah Rieke.  Sarah is mama to 5 with 2 in heaven.  We know you'll be moved by Sarah's testimony of Christ's sustenance throughout her life and journey of loss.  Sarah's writings have been featured on many platforms including Still Standing and Mothering Beyond Expectations.  She also has a podcast, the Heart Lessons podcast, which is definitely worth checking out. Visit us on Facebook and Instagram @throughthelenspodcast.

We're tackling one of the most difficult questions we've been faced with. Why does God let bad things happen? Where was God when our babies died? We know this topic is sensitive and may stir up a wide spectrum of emotions. We also do not expect to completely or perfectly answer this question in an hour. Our hope is simply to start the conversation and point one another toward the truth we have in scripture.

We discuss the ways Christmas has changed for us since losing our sons, share what we struggle with and what brings us joy this time of year, and share listener ideas of practical ways to include the memory of our lost loved ones into our holiday traditions. http://www.sunlightindecember.com/2015/12/wake-me-up-when-december-ends.html https://lessonsfrombenji.wordpress.com/2015/12/24/how-im-really-doing-this-christmas/ @throughthelenspodcast

Life doesn’t often go according to our well-laid plans. How can we find joy and contentment when our lives don’t look how we want them to? In this episode, we discuss ways to find joy and contentment when the Lord calls us into seasons of life that we wouldn't have necessarily chosen.   Visit http://www.facebook.com/throughthelenspodcast and Instagram @throughthelenspodcast. Don't forget to leave us a rating and review to help others find us!

People say the darndest things, especially when you’re grieving. In this episode, we talk about the hurtful things well-intentioned people say to the heartbroken and ways to gently educate and lift one another up through our responses. Whether you are hurting or walking alongside someone who is, we invite you to join us as we navigate a minefield of awkward (yet well-intentioned) phrases. http://facebook.com/throughthelenspodcast  @throughthelenspodcast

including infertility, miscarriage, and child-loss.  We talk about how our view of the Gospel has been shaped and changed as a result of our suffering, and we invite you to join us on social media to share your stories with us.  Don't forget to leave us a rating and review to help spread the word to others who would benefit from this show! http://facebook.com/throughthelenspodcast  @throughthelenspodcast

Welcome to the Through the Lens Podcast: Gospel-driven conversations on hope in the heartache, where two child-loss mamas discuss suffering and sanctification.  No matter what shape your suffering takes, we invite you to join us in authentic conversation as we navigate through the trials of this life, keeping our eyes fixed on the hope of heaven.  Tune in to hear how the show came about and what you can expect from future episodes.   http://facebook.com/throughthelenspodcast  @throughthelenspodcast