Ep 095: Celeste Mergens: The 2:30 AM Prompting That Changed Millions of Lives

Ep 095: Celeste Mergens: The 2:30 AM Prompting That Changed Millions of Lives

What if one quiet prompting from God could change the lives of millions of women and girls around the world? Growing up in poverty, surrounded by instability, abuse, and mental illness, Celeste Mergens could have easily lost hope. Instead, she held onto a deep belief that she was loved by God and that her life had purpose. Years later, while serving in Kenya and witnessing heartbreaking poverty firsthand, she found herself pleading with God for answers. Then at 2:30 in the morning, she woke with a simple question impressed upon her mind: "What do the girls do for feminine hygiene?" That question led to research, action, and eventually the founding of Days for Girls—a global movement that has helped transform the lives of millions of women and girls through menstrual health education, dignity, and opportunity. Celeste shares how God often works through ordinary people willing to listen, act, and trust Him one step at a time. Listen to this inspiring conversation and discover how recognizing God's hand can transform hardship into purpose. You can learn more about Celeste's work through @DaysforGirls and @celestemergens, and find her book The Power of Days on Amazon and at local bookstores. #HandOfGodPodcast #CelesteMergens #DaysForGirls #FaithInAction #ChristianPodcast #LatterDaySaint #HopeInChrist #PurposeDrivenLife #WomenOfFaith #Inspiration

Ep 094: "I'm Grateful It Was Me and Nobody Else" — Justin Comfort

Most people wouldn't call a devastating burn accident a blessing. Justin Comfort does. After suffering severe burns in a backyard campfire accident, Justin spent nearly a month in the hospital recovering from injuries that covered 20% of his body. There were surgeries. Painful dressing changes. Complications. Infections. And moments when the future felt uncertain. But through it all, Justin began to focus on what remained instead of what was lost. His son was okay. His family was together. His prayers were heard. And God's love never left him. One of the biggest lessons he learned? ✨ Regret is a useless emotion. ✨ Gratitude brings peace. Today, Justin says the experience brought him closer to God than ever before. Not because he was miraculously healed overnight. But because he learned that God was with him every step of the journey. Sometimes recognizing God's hand doesn't remove the trial. It helps us endure it. ❤️ Save this post for a day when you need a reminder that peace can exist even during hard things. 💬 What's one trial that helped strengthen your faith? 🎧 Listen to the full interview now. #JustinComfort #FaithInTheFire #GratitudeChangesEverything #RecognizeHisHand #FaithJourney #BurnSurvivor #HopeInHardTimes #JesusChrist #LDSFaith #GodIsGood

Ep 093: Kaitlynn Smalley on Liver Failure, Faith & Finding Peace Through the Fight

At 22 years old, Kaitlynn Smalley went from Christmas break… to sudden liver failure, the ICU, and an emergency transplant list. Kaitlynn Smalley never imagined her newlywed life and nursing school journey would suddenly turn into a fight for survival. What started as severe stomach pain during Christmas break in 2022 quickly spiraled into liver failure, ICU care, dialysis, and an emergency race against time. Only 16 hours after being placed on the transplant list, a liver became available — a miracle in itself. But the transplant wasn’t the end of the story. Since then, Kaitlynn has faced infection after infection, hospital stays, chronic health diagnoses, and setbacks she never expected. In the middle of the pain, anxiety, uncertainty, and asking God, “What more can I take?” … she discovered something deeper: A peace that didn’t come from circumstances. Through faith, temple experiences, personal revelation, and feeling profoundly known and loved by God, Kaitlynn learned that peace can exist even inside ongoing battles. Her story is a powerful reminder that sometimes healing doesn’t mean the struggle disappears — but that we don’t walk through it alone. 🎧 Listen to the full episode now. 💬 Share this episode with someone walking through illness, uncertainty, or a difficult season. ❤️ Don’t forget to subscribe, follow, and leave a review. #KaitlynnSmalley #FaithInHardTimes #LiverTransplant #HandOfGod #HealingJourney #LDSPodcast #HopeAndHealing #FaithStory #JesusChrist #ChronicIllnessJourney

Ep 092: Katie Loveless on Depression, Mental Health & the Unexpected Research Project God Used to Bless Thousands

What if the thing that felt like your life falling apart… was actually preparing you for a purpose you couldn't yet see? Katie Loveless had a strong faith foundation, a mission call, and a deep love for the gospel. But during her mission, chronic pain changed everything. Severe headaches led to depression. Depression led to years of medical struggles, wrong medications, hospital stays, and moments so dark she didn’t know how she would move forward. Even after getting married, life felt heavy. Yet in the middle of that darkness… one unexpected encounter changed her path. A dinner with friends. A unique style of Aboriginal dot art depicting gospel themes. And a spark of curiosity that would quietly begin a years-long journey. Katie dove into research connecting Aboriginal art, faith, missionary work, and the restored gospel. She had no idea that years later, missionaries in Australia would discover her research and use it to help Aboriginal communities better understand the gospel through their own culture, stories, and artistic language. What seemed like a forgotten academic project became part of something much bigger. Today, Katie is the founder of Soul of Great Worth, a Christ-centered community helping people navigate mental health challenges with faith, scripture, and hope. Her story is a reminder that God is often working through the chapters that make the least sense while we’re living them. 🎧 Listen to the full episode now 💬 Share this episode with someone walking through mental health struggles or questioning their purpose ❤️ Follow Katie’s work at @soulofgreatworth on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram 📖 Find her scripture resources, workshops, and workbook at soulofgreatworth.com #KatieLoveless #SoulOfGreatWorth #MentalHealthAndFaith #LDSMentalHealth #FaithInHardTimes #RecognizeHisHand #MentalHealthJourney #JesusChrist #ChristianPodcast #HopeAndHealing

Ep 091: Carrie Yost on Illness, Depression & the Unexpected Music Journey That Changed Her Life

What if the thing that saved you… was something you never planned to do? Carrie Yost never expected severe illness to completely redirect the course of her life. A farmer’s wife, mother of seven, athlete, photographer, and follower of Christ, Carrie was used to constantly serving everyone around her. But in 2021, while raising her busy family and supporting her husband in his calling as bishop, her health suddenly began to collapse. Gut issues turned severe. Exhaustion became overwhelming. Depression followed. For someone who had always been active and full of life, it felt like she was drowning. And strangely enough… music became the lifeline God placed in front of her. What started as helping her daughter’s friend improve a simple song about Peter nearly drowning became the beginning of an entirely new purpose she never saw coming. Carrie had no formal music training. She wasn’t a songwriter. She couldn’t even sight read music. But one by one, the right people kept appearing: a mentor, vocalists, producers, collaborators. Doors kept opening. And through songwriting, Carrie began turning her testimony, struggles, and healing into music centered on Jesus Christ, covenants, and hope. Her story is a powerful reminder that God often works through the very seasons we would never choose for ourselves. Sometimes the hardest chapters become the beginning of the thing we were actually called to do. 🎧 Listen to the full episode now 💬 Share this episode with someone walking through illness, discouragement, or uncertainty 🎶 Find Carrie’s music and free children’s songs at carrieyostmusic.com 📱 Follow her on IG: @carrieyostmusic ▶️ YouTube: [Carrie Yost Music YouTube Channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMdqs_Mi3rPquy18jd52t-A) #CarrieYostMusic #FaithInHardTimes #ChristianMusic #LDSWomen #HandOfGod #FaithJourney #HealingThroughMusic #JesusChrist #ChristianPodcast #HopeAndHealing