What if the life you've been given is more beautiful and purposeful than you've allowed yourself to believe?

Living with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, mental health struggles, and countless surgeries, Renee Dollenmayer knows what it means to go through the hard. But she's also discovered something profound—joy isn't found in perfect circumstances, but in the presence of Jesus.

In this episode, Renee shares how God has transformed her understanding of disability, singleness, waiting, and purpose. From founding Even If Ministries and serving families through Joni and Friends to adaptive skiing in Colorado and faithfully surrendering her dreams to the Lord, Renee reminds listeners that disability is never a disqualifier for living a full and meaningful life.

Together, Stephanie and Renee discuss what it means to behold God's presence, wait well for the desires of our hearts, cultivate joy in difficult seasons, and courageously say "yes" to the life God has placed before us—even if it looks different than we expected.

Connect with Renee at ReneeDollenmayer.com

Follow Even If Ministries on Instagram @weareevenif

KEY QUESTIONS:

What does it mean to behold God's presence in my everyday life?

How can I find my identity in Christ rather than my circumstances?

How can I courageously say "yes" to the opportunities God places before me?

KEY SCRIPTURES:

Hebrews 12:1-2: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Philippians 3:13-14: “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

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Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

How can Christians faithfully care for a loved one living with dementia while holding onto hope, truth, and compassion?

In this practical and hope-filled conversation, dementia care expert Lizette Cloete shares biblical wisdom for navigating one of life's most difficult caregiving journeys. Drawing from decades of professional experience, Lizette explains why caregiving is more than a responsibility—it's a God-given calling that shapes our hearts and deepens our dependence on Christ.

Stephanie and Lizette discuss how to care for a loved one with dignity, navigate difficult family dynamics, communicate truth without deception, avoid caregiver burnout, and find lasting hope in God’s promises. Whether you're caring for a parent, spouse, or friend with dementia—or simply want to support someone who is—this episode offers practical tools and biblical encouragement for every step of the journey.

Connect with Lizette at  ThinkDifferentDementia.com

KEY QUESTIONS:

• Am I viewing my loved one through God's eyes?
• Have I accepted caregiving as my situational calling from God?
• How can I steward my circumstances to better serve my situation?

KEY SCRIPTURES:

• Psalm 13:1, "How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?"
• Ephesians 4:15, "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ."
• 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
• Revelation 21:4, ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

Follow Joni and Friends on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

In this deeply honest and hope-filled conversation, author Katie Blackburn shares her journey as a single mom of six, raising a son with severe autism. With vulnerability and wisdom, Katie reflects on how God meets us in our limits: not with quick fixes, but with sustaining mercy.

From the unexpected joy of a disability baseball league to the power of community in breaking isolation, Katie reminds us that we are not meant to do the hard things alone. She also shares practical encouragement for parents, churches, and anyone longing to better support the disability community.

This episode is a tender invitation to embrace grace in the middle of chaos, to find purpose in the present moment, and to trust that even when life looks different than we imagined, God is still writing a beautiful story.

Get your copy of Katie’s book: The Very Best Baseball Game

Find out more about Katie and connect with her at KatieBlackburn.com and on Instagram at @katiemblackburn

Listen to Jerry Sittser’s podcast episode: How to Grow through Significant Loss and Grief

KEY QUESTIONS:

• How do you hold onto hope that God has a plan?
• How can you develop a heart of compassion for those with disabilities?

KEY SCRIPTURES:

• Romans 8:26-27: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

Follow Joni and Friends on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

What does true belonging look like for families living with disability?

In this conversation, Carrie Mastenbrook shares her journey as a mom to Andrew, who had a stroke at birth and lives with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. From overwhelming early medical challenges to unexpected moments of joy (like Andrew becoming a Special Olympics champion), Carrie reflects on how God has been present through it all.

Now serving with Joni and Friends, Carrie is passionate about helping churches move beyond simply accommodating families with disabilities to truly embracing them. She offers practical wisdom, personal stories, and encouragement for both families and church leaders seeking to build a community where everyone is seen, known, and valued.

This episode is a beautiful reminder that even in life’s hard moments, God is near. He is always working to bring purpose, connection, and belonging through Jesus.

• Connect with your local Joni and Friends U.S. Ministry Office
• Learn more about Joni and Friends Family Retreat
• Discover free Church Training Resources
• Volunteer with Joni and Friends!

KEY QUESTIONS:

• How can your church move from simply accommodating families with disabilities to truly embracing them?
• How can your church better include people with disabilities in your current discipleship programs?

KEY SCRIPTURES:

• Philippians 4:13: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

Follow Joni and Friends on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.

Worship leader and songwriter Isaac Immanuel shares his powerful story of faith in the midst of suffering. Born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare brittle bone disease that has resulted in hundreds of fractures and dozens of surgeries, Isaac has learned to see weakness as a platform for God’s strength. In this conversation, he opens up about living with disability, stepping out in faith to embrace God’s calling on his life, and cultivating a posture of humility and worship. Through his story and music, Isaac offers a compelling reminder of what it means to find true identity in Christ and to hold onto hope even through the breaking.

He is known for his authentic faith and passion for leading others in worship. As someone who has faced significant physical challenges from a young age, Isaac speaks candidly about the tension between limitation and calling. With a desire to encourage his generation, he shares how God faithfully answers prayers and cares for the desires of our hearts, often in ways that reveal His preparation long before we recognize it. Isaac’s story is a reminder that God’s strength is made evident not in spite of weakness, but through it.

Follow Isaac Immanuel on Instagram and TikTok

Stream his original song “Out of Darkness”

KEY QUESTIONS:

• What does “worship” mean to you? How do you live it out in everyday life?
• How would you encourage your generation to step out in faith and into their calling?
• What has been the result of saying “yes” to God in this endeavor?

KEY SCRIPTURES:

• 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (KJV)
• Proverbs 16:9: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.”

You make this podcast possible! Thank you for your support.

Find all podcast resources and message our team.

Follow Joni and Friends on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, we provide Christ-centered care through Joni's House, Wheels for the World, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training.

Find more encouragement on Joni Eareckson Tada's Sharing Hope podcast and her daily devotional.