Habits of Hope: Cultivating a Deeper Life with God

80.Trusting God Through Doubt and Grief: The Story Behind Kelsey Chadwick's Where Else Could I Go?

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2405130/fan_mail/new] Today's guest, Lesa Watson, is the mother of Kelsey Chadwick — a woman who spent the last year of her life wrestling honestly with doubt, going back to the word of God, and writing everything she found there into a book called Where Else Could I Go? [https://amzn.to/4uf6vA8] Kelsey passed away unexpectedly before the book released. The manuscript was already at the publisher when she died. In this conversation, Lesa shares Kelsey's story with extraordinary grace: the cancer diagnosis Kelsey quietly hid to protect a family vacation, the five-day writing retreat where the whole book poured out of her, the voice memos her husband found on her phone after she was gone, and the last words Kelsey said before she lost consciousness — words that have stayed with everyone who heard them. But this episode isn't only about loss. It's about what it means to build a faith that holds before the hard day arrives. Lesa talks about her own practice of studying the character of God — and how that knowledge sustained her when scripture itself wasn't sinking in. She shares the two verses she has posted in her home, the eternal hope that shapes how her family grieves, and the single truth she most wants listeners to carry away from Kelsey's words. Key moments in this episode include the power of returning to the source when questions overwhelm us; Kelsey's story of nine months of medical uncertainty and how it became a journey deeper into faith; how Lesa holds grief and hope together without pretending either is smaller than it is; scriptures that have anchored her — Romans 8:28 and Psalm 31:14; and the profound comfort of knowing eternal life begins not at death, but at the moment you say yes to Christ. If you're carrying questions you don't know what to do with, or sitting with a loss that hasn't resolved itself into neat answers, this conversation is for you. Share it with a friend who might need it. The questions are okay. And there is still a place to bring them. Read the full article at GingerHarrington.com. [https://gingerharrington.com/where-else-could-i-go-kelsey-chadwick/] *Habits of Hope is taking a short summer break as Ginger welcomes two new grandchildren into the family. New episodes will return later this summer. In the meantime, explore the podcast archive and stay connected through the Habits of Hope email newsletter. Explore Kelsey's book, Where Else Could I Go? Embracing God When You're Doubting Everything [https://amzn.to/4uf6vA8] As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2405130/support] * Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter [https://gingerharrington.myflodesk.com/deeper-life-collection ] and the Deeper Life Collection * Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhop [https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope]e * Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life [https://amzn.to/2LxDxf6](affiliate link) * Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/ [https://gingerharrington.com/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/ [https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington [https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington] * Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/ [https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/] * Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/ [https://www.instagram.com/stories/gr8tfulchick/] * Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick [https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick]  Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.

79.Finding Strength in God When You Feel Weak (Isaiah 40:29-31)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2405130/fan_mail/new] Have you ever reached a point where you simply don’t have the strength you need? Read the full article at GingerHarrington.com Not the kind you can push through or plan your way out of—but the kind where your soul feels tired, your heart feels heavy, and the next step feels harder than it should. In this episode, Ginger and Larissa walk through one of the most comforting promises in Scripture—Isaiah 40:29–31—and explore what it really means to find strength in God in the middle of real-life struggles. Together, they unpack how waiting on the Lord is not passive, but an active posture of hope—and how God meets us there with the strength we need. If you’re feeling weary, discouraged, or overwhelmed, this conversation will gently remind you: you are not alone, and God is not asking you to be strong enough—He is inviting you to receive His strength. In this episode, you’ll learn: * What it truly means to “wait on the Lord” * Why strength is something God gives—not something you create * How hope and waiting are deeply connected * Simple, practical ways to turn toward God in hard seasons Key Scripture: * Isaiah 40:29–31  Mentioned in this Episode * Why Small Habits Matter More than You Think (Faithfulness in Everyday Life) [https://gingerharrington.com/why-small-habits-matter/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2405130/support] * Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter [https://gingerharrington.myflodesk.com/deeper-life-collection ] and the Deeper Life Collection * Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhop [https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope]e * Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life [https://amzn.to/2LxDxf6](affiliate link) * Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/ [https://gingerharrington.com/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/ [https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington [https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington] * Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/ [https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/] * Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/ [https://www.instagram.com/stories/gr8tfulchick/] * Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick [https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick]  Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.

78.How to Find Hope After Trauma | Jennifer Hand on Faith, Healing & Survival Mode

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2405130/fan_mail/new] What if the hope you've been searching for isn't gone — just buried? After trauma, loss, or a season that's left you feeling undone, it can be hard to believe that anything is still steady beneath the rubble. The ground has shifted. Hope feels fragile, or distant, or simply out of reach.  Read the full article version at GingerHarrington.com Trauma counselor and author Jennifer Hand has spent years in the hardest places — from earthquake zones in Nepal and Turkey to exhausted caregivers and grieving families — and she keeps finding the same thing: hope is there. It just needs to be uncovered. In this conversation, Jenn brings both clinical training and personal experience to an honest, practical discussion about what trauma actually does to the brain and body, how to recognize when you're stuck in survival mode, and why healing doesn't require rebuilding everything at once.  She also shares what she believes is the most important thing to reestablish after any trauma — and the one question she asked every single counseling client before anything else. It isn't in her book. She saved it for you. Key Scriptures: Psalm 139 | Psalm 91 | Psalm 121 | Romans 8 In this episode: * What trauma really is — and why you may not recognize it in yourself * Fight, flight, freeze, and fawn explained in plain, compassionate language * Why safety must come before healing — and how Psalm 91 speaks to that need * Practical grounding tools you can use today, most of them free * Why caregivers experience trauma too — and what they need to hear most * The one question Jenn asked every counseling client first — and never put in her book Your story is not over, friend. One gentle step at a time, hope can be uncovered again. Check out Jennifer's book, Hope Beneath the Rubble: Healing After Trauma. [https://amzn.to/3RfhfRk] Read the full article here.  *This is an affiliate link  Resources Mentioned in this Episode Hope Beneath the Rubble: Healing After Trauma [https://amzn.to/4ul4KCp]by Jennifer Hand Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God [https://amzn.to/3R7UHlx] by Ginger Harrington How to Scripture Journal (Episode 69) [https://gingerharrington.com/how-to-scripture-journal/] Related Content Each link features the article, podcast, and video of the content. * How Gratitude Can Anchor Your Heart in Grief and Trauma. Interview with Christian counselor, Heather Shealy-Mawhirter, LPC (Episode 61) [https://gingerharrington.com/gratitude-in-grief-and-trauma/] * How to Find God's Peace that Guards Your Heart | A Study of Philippians 4:7 (Episode 56) [https://gingerharrington.com/how-to-find-gods-peace-that-guards-your-heart/] * Finding Peace with Becky Keife | A Verse a Day for the Anxious Soul (Episode 58) [https://gingerharrington.com/becky-keife-a-verse-a-day-anxious-soul/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2405130/support] * Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter [https://gingerharrington.myflodesk.com/deeper-life-collection ] and the Deeper Life Collection * Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhop [https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope]e * Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life [https://amzn.to/2LxDxf6](affiliate link) * Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/ [https://gingerharrington.com/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/ [https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington [https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington] * Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/ [https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/] * Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/ [https://www.instagram.com/stories/gr8tfulchick/] * Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick [https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick]  Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.

77.Starting Over and Feeling Alone? How God Meets You Where You Are

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2405130/fan_mail/new] Have you ever walked into a room and felt completely overwhelmed—like you just didn’t have it in you to try again? In this episode, Ginger shares a deeply personal story from a season of starting over, when anxiety, exhaustion, and the longing for connection all collided. It’s a story about what happens when you don’t feel brave, don’t feel ready, and don’t have the energy to take one more step forward. But it’s also a story about how God meets you right there—in the middle of your limits. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why starting over feels so emotionally exhausting * How God meets you in moments of anxiety and overwhelm * What it looks like to receive connection instead of striving for it * How small moments can become meaningful, lasting relationships Key Scriptures: * Psalm 94:19 * Isaiah 41:10 If connection feels hard right now, this episode will gently remind you—you’re not alone, and God is already at work in ways you may not yet see. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2405130/support] * Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter [https://gingerharrington.myflodesk.com/deeper-life-collection ] and the Deeper Life Collection * Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhop [https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope]e * Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life [https://amzn.to/2LxDxf6](affiliate link) * Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/ [https://gingerharrington.com/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/ [https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington [https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington] * Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/ [https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/] * Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/ [https://www.instagram.com/stories/gr8tfulchick/] * Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick [https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick]  Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.

76.How to Find Friendship When You Feel Lonely (Biblical Hope for Hard Seasons)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2405130/fan_mail/new] Have you ever walked into a room full of people—and still felt completely alone? Loneliness is one of the deepest aches we carry, yet it’s something so many of us quietly experience. In this episode, Ginger sits down with author Kristen Strong to talk honestly about friendship, rejection, and what God is doing in seasons when connection feels out of reach. Together, they explore why friendship can feel so hard, how our expectations can hold us back, and how God meets us right in the middle of our longing for belonging. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why loneliness doesn’t mean something is wrong with you * How God uses lonely seasons to deepen your faith * Simple, practical ways to begin building meaningful friendships * The truth about vulnerability and going deeper in relationships Key Scriptures Referenced: * Genesis 2:18 — “It is not good for man to be alone” * Ruth & Naomi (Book of Ruth) If you’ve been feeling unseen, left out, or disconnected, this conversation will remind you: You are not alone—and God is already at work. Related Resources * Desperate Woman Seeks Friends by Kristen Strong [https://amzn.to/4cF6COx] * Made for Friendship by Drew Hunter [https://amzn.to/4dZzunb] * Christian Hospitality and Loneliness: How One Invitation Can Restore Hope (Episode 62) [https://gingerharrington.com/christian-hospitality-and-loneliness/] * How to Build Strong Community When You Feel Disconnected (Episode 38) [https://gingerharrington.com/how-how-to-build-biblical-community/] * How to Love Others Like Jesus: Actionable Steps for Everyday Life (Episode 22) [https://gingerharrington.com/love-others-with-the-love-of-christ/] *As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2405130/support] * Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter [https://gingerharrington.myflodesk.com/deeper-life-collection ] and the Deeper Life Collection * Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhop [https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope]e * Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life [https://amzn.to/2LxDxf6](affiliate link) * Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/ [https://gingerharrington.com/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/ [https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington [https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington] * Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/ [https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/] * Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/ [https://www.instagram.com/stories/gr8tfulchick/] * Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick [https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick]  Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.