A Cup of Hope: Life, Money, and Finding Beauty in the Broken

When Friends Aren’t Enough: Finding Safe and Structured Support

Friendship is a beautiful gift, but friends were never meant to provide every kind of support we may need in every season. In this episode, we’re talking about what it means to assess the weight we are carrying and ask, “What kind of support, tools, skills, and safe people do I need right now?” When life gets heavy — grief, divorce, betrayal, financial stress, chronic illness, parenting challenges, or emotional overwhelm — the first wise step may not be fixing everything. It may be pausing long enough to notice what this season actually requires. We’ll talk about: * why different wounds need different support * how wise friends can help us recognize when more tools are needed * why one person was never meant to be your whole support system * the difference between online connection and “kneecap-to-kneecap” people * how safe friendships can grow through consistent, intentional rhythms Today’s Cup of Hope: There is safety in wise support. There is safety in not expecting one person to carry what was never meant to be carried by one person. Scripture Anchor: Proverbs 11:14 NLT — “Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.” Growing Deeper: Take five quiet minutes this week and ask: 1. What am I carrying right now? 2. What kind of support or tools might this season require? 3. Who is one safe person or resource I can reach toward this week? You were not created to carry it all alone. A Note for Women Walking Through Betrayal If broken trust, betrayal, or deception in marriage is part of your story, this is one of the reasons I created Beautifully Broken — a Christ-centered group coaching space for women who need safe, structured support as they begin healing with clarity, courage, and hope. You can learn more here: Beautifully Broken [https://www.sherrydushawcoaching.com/beautifully-broken-invitation] Additional Support Resources GriefShare — grief support groups: https://www.griefshare.org/ [https://www.griefshare.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] DivorceCare — divorce recovery support groups: https://www.divorcecare.org/ [https://www.divorcecare.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Celebrate Recovery — Christ-centered recovery support: https://www.celebraterecovery.com/ GriefShare and DivorceCare offer in-person and online support and recovery groups.

Unseen No More: Rebuilding After Devastation with Terrie Tollerson

Unseen No More: Rebuilding After Devastation with Terrie Tollerson What do you do when life falls apart—and the pain is serious, hidden, or hard for other people to understand? In this episode of A Cup of Hope, I sit down with my friend, Terrie Tollerson, for a deeply personal conversation about devastation, identity, domestic violence awareness, safe support, and what it means to be seen. Terrie is a passionate speaker, Bible teacher, and overcomer with a heart for women in abusive relationships, women who have been misled by Scripture, and women walking through divorce. After being married to a pastor for 18 years while abuse was present in their home, Terrie now shares a message of hope, healing, and God's faithfulness. Her story reminds us that devastation does not get the final word. Together, we talk about: • What devastation can do to our identity • Why feeling "unseen" is such a common part of trauma • The importance of wise, safe support • God's faithfulness in the rebuilding process • Hope for women walking through difficult seasons Scripture for this episode: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed." — Psalm 34:18 (NLT) Connect with Terrie: 🌿 Download Terrie's free devotional: A Soft Landing: A Seven-Day Devotional for When Life Falls Apart [https://www.terrietollerson.com/freebies#devo] https://www.terrietollerson.com Instagram: @TerrieTollerson TikTok: @terrie.tollerson Content Note This episode includes discussion of domestic violence, emotional abuse, an unsafe marriage, trauma, and rebuilding life after leaving. Please take care of yourself as you listen. If today's conversation raised concerns about your own safety or the safety of someone you love, confidential support resources are available. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 (or your local emergency services). For confidential support in the United States, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call: 800-799-7233 (SAFE) Text: START to 88788 Website: https://www.thehotline.org [https://www.thehotline.org/] If this episode encouraged you, I'd be honored if you would follow A Cup of Hope, leave a review, or share it with someone who needs a little hope today. Remember, God can take the broken pieces of your story and create something more beautiful than you could ever imagine.

Why Do I Feel So Alone?

Have you ever been surrounded by people and still felt completely alone? Loneliness is something many of us experience, yet few of us talk about honestly. Whether you're navigating a difficult season, carrying a heavy burden, healing from betrayal, or simply feeling disconnected, this episode is a reminder that loneliness does not mean you are unseen, forgotten, or abandoned. In today's conversation, we'll explore the difference between being alone and feeling lonely, why strength isn't the same as independence, and how God often meets us through connection with others. You'll learn: ☕ Why loneliness is more common than most people realize ☕ How isolation can impact our emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being ☕ What Scripture teaches about carrying burdens together ☕ Why asking for support is a sign of courage, not weakness ☕ One simple step you can take today to reconnect Key Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 Growing Deeper Reflection Questions: • What burden have you been carrying alone? • Who is one safe person you could reach out to this week? • What would change if you allowed yourself to receive support instead of trying to be strong on your own? Remember: Feeling lonely does not mean you are actually alone. Thank you for joining me for another Cup of Hope. If this episode encouraged you, I'd be grateful if you'd follow the podcast and share it with a friend who may need this reminder today. God can take the broken pieces of your story and create something more beautiful than you ever imagined.

Make Room for Summer: Calendar First, Budget Second

Summer has a way of filling up fast. Cookouts. Camps. Vacations. Graduation parties. Last-minute plans. Extra spending. Extra expectations. And before you know it, your calendar — and your budget — feel completely out of control. In this episode of A Cup of Hope, we’re talking about a simple shift that can bring clarity and peace before summer chaos takes over: Calendar first. Budget second. Because your money doesn’t disappear randomly. It usually follows the pace and pressure of your schedule. In this episode, we’ll talk about: * Why overwhelm often starts with your calendar, not your bank account * How busyness quietly drains your time, energy, and money * The connection between planning ahead and emotional spending * How to create margin before summer gets too full * Simple ways to prepare your schedule and budget together This isn’t about creating a perfect summer. It’s about being intentional enough to actually enjoy it. If life has felt rushed, reactive, or financially stretched lately, this episode will help you slow down, think ahead, and make decisions with more peace and clarity. Your budget works better when your calendar tells the truth first. ☕ Enjoying the podcast? Be sure to follow, rate, and share A Cup of Hope with a friend who could use a little encouragement today. 📩 Connect with Sherry Lynn Coaching: Website: SherryDuShawCoaching.com [https://www.sherrydushawcoaching.com] Facebook Community: A Cup of Hope Community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/acupofhopecommunity] One Last Sip:

One Year Later: Hope, Growth & Beginning Again

One year ago, I hit publish on the very first episode of A Cup of Hope. I thought I was launching a podcast — but looking back, I can see that God was also using this podcast to teach me about hope, growth, rest, limits, wisdom, and beginning again. In this anniversary episode, I’m reflecting on what this first year has taught me about expectations, margin, wisdom, and learning to live faithfully in the middle of real life. This year did not look exactly the way I thought it would. I learned new skills, built better systems, and made real progress — but I also learned that growth does not eliminate our humanity. We still need rest. We still need margin. We still need grace. And we still need God’s wisdom when life does not go according to plan. We’ll talk about why peace does not come from controlling everything perfectly, but from learning to live wisely within reality. In this episode, I share: * What I thought this first year of podcasting would look like * Why growth often reveals the next layer instead of making everything effortless * How losing margin taught me the cost of not fully counting the cost * Why a system without margin is still fragile * What God taught me through Proverbs, Sabbath, and reflection * The difference between wisdom and certainty * Why being human is not failure * A kayaking illustration about control, flexibility, and faithful stewardship * Why your life is not wasted, even when it looks different than you expected Today’s Cup of Hope God can be faithfully growing something in you even when your season does not look the way you expected. Peace grows when we stop trying to control everything and learn to live wisely within reality. Scripture Mentioned * Isaiah 43:18–19 * Romans 8:28 * Romans 8:38–39 * Joel 2:25 Growing Deeper Take ten minutes this week and reflect on this question: Where have I been so focused on what is unfinished that I may be missing what God has already been growing in me? Then write down three places where you have grown, adapted, endured, learned, or seen God’s faithfulness over the last year. Beautifully Broken If you are a woman walking through the heartbreak of betrayal or broken trust, I want you to know that you do not have to walk that road alone. Beautifully Broken is a Christ-centered group coaching space for women navigating intimate betrayal and deception. DM me @SherryDuShaw for more information or an Application to Beautifully Broken.