Our Hearts Are Home Podcast — Trusting God in Suffering

In today’s episode, Leonard and Amy Bailey share the story of their daughter, Ilona, and of her homegoing, just two years ago. They share with honesty and transparency about their grief journey, and offer insights learned through suffering. Prompted by the Lord to use their pain to comfort others as they have been comforted, they founded the Ilona Foundation, a ministry to help other bereaved parents. (theilonafoundation.org)

On today's podcast, we welcome Brad and Jill Sullivan, co-founders of the While We're Waiting ministry. The conversation is rich and covers a variety of topics. The conversation begins by talking about their daughter, Hannah, and her cancer journey, which took her to Heaven in 2009. Brad and Jill testify to God's faithfulness through grief, and offer such encouragement to those who are grieving. We also spent time talking about the While We're Waiting ministry. If you are a bereaved parent, we hope you'll attend a weekend retreat and find comfort, community, and hope that comes from being with others who are traveling the road of child loss.

In August 2022, the unthinkable happened to the family of Kelly Brockman. A deranged neighbor murdered his daughter and granddaughter, and then took the lives of two other people in the neighborhood. In today's podcast, Kelly and his other daughter, Erin Ketchen, join us to share their story. As they recount the events that took Sarah and Kayla to Heaven, you'll be encouraged by the transparency and honesty of the conversation and you will be challenged by the discoveries and truths about God that Kelly and Erin share.

On the podcast today, Carol Brown shares some of the insights that she has learned over the past twenty-seven years since her daughter, Jackie, went to Heaven from a car accident. Carol shares wisdom learned through the crucible of suffering. In her comforting and gentle way, she brings encouragement to those who are grieving, and challenges us all to a deeper relationship with God. As she wrestled with her faith after losing Jackie, Carol discovered that her view of God was flawed, and she found a new understanding of who God really is. As you listen in today, you will find so many new insights that you may not have considered, and a fresh realization of God’s love for you.

Today's podcast is the second of two broadcasts sharing the conversation from a recent webinar. In the webinar, a panel of parents shared their experiences of losing a child by suicide, and shared how the Lord has held them through their grief. If you are a grieving parent, we hope this will bring comfort and hope. And if you have not lost someone by suicide, we hope this will help you better understand this type of loss and equip you to minister to those who are hurting. Part Two discusses the issue of forgiveness, lament, and finding a way to trust Jesus through suffering.