『Joy in Suffering』のカバーアート

Joy in Suffering

Joy in Suffering

著者： Melissa Winters
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Are you a Christian woman living with chronic illness, chronic pain, or deep grief — wondering where God is in the middle of your suffering? Welcome to Joy in Suffering: a Christian podcast for women navigating chronic illness, grief, anxiety, stress, and the quiet heartbreak of lost dreams. Hosted by Melissa Winters, who has lived with chronic illness since she was one year old, this podcast offers gentle, faith-filled conversations rooted in honest stories, Scripture, song, and hope that actually sustains you through the hard places. Each episode creates space to wrestle honestly with suffering while remembering that God is present, loving, and still working — through stories, Scripture, and song. Whether you're navigating chronic illness, walking through grief, struggling with anxiety and fear, grieving the life you thought you'd have, or simply exhausted from a season that won't let up — you'll find honest conversations, compassionate encouragement, and biblical hope designed to help you discover that joy is not the absence of pain. It is the presence of Christ within it. What you'll find here: Faith and hope for Christian women with chronic illness and chronic pain Biblical encouragement for grief, loss, and hard seasons Honest conversations about suffering, doubt, and holding onto God Scripture-centered hope for anxiety, fear, and uncertainty Stories of real women finding joy and purpose in the middle of limitations Gentle encouragement for women who feel unseen, forgotten, or alone If you've ever asked: Why does God feel so distant in my suffering? How do I find joy when nothing in my life is changing? Is it okay to struggle and still call myself a woman of faith? How do I hold onto hope when healing hasn't come? Does my life still have purpose even with chronic illness or grief? You're in the right place. This podcast is for Christian women who are tired of pretending they're okay — women who want real, Scripture-rooted encouragement that meets them right where they are, not after the storm passes. New episodes drop every other Wednesday. Follow the show so you never miss an episode, and join Melissa on Instagram and Facebook at @melissawinters1974 for encouragement between episodes. Your story isn’t over Christ can bring purpose to your pain and even here-Joy still remains2026 Melissa Winters キリスト教 スピリチュアリティ 心理学 心理学・心の健康 聖職・福音主義 衛生・健康的な生活 音楽
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  • Can You Grieve the Life You Never Had?

    Can You Grieve the Life You Never Had?
    2026/08/12
    Subtitle (SEO Boost):

    A solo episode on grief, chronic illness, and the dreams that never came to be

    Episode Description

    Sometimes grief isn't about losing a person — it's about losing a version of your life. In this solo episode, Melissa opens up about a kind of grief that rarely gets talked about: the grief of the future you quietly imagined but never got to live. From navigating chronic illness to the long, tender grief of never becoming a mother, Melissa shares how she learned this loss had a name — and how Scripture met her in it. If you've ever wondered whether you're even allowed to grieve a life you never had, this episode is for you.

    🌿 In This Episode:

    - What "non-finite" or ambiguous grief is, and why it so often goes unrecognized

    - Melissa's own story of chronic illness, the loss of five years of her life, and the long grief of not becoming a mother

    - Why grief isn't a competition, and why comparing losses only keeps us from healing

    - How Jesus meets us in grief without asking us to rank our pain first

    - What it means to notice what still remains, even in loss

    📖 Scripture:

    "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." — Revelation 21:4 (NIV)

    Also referenced: Matthew 5:4

    🎶 Song Mentioned:

    "Even If" by MercyMe

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6fA35Ved-Y

    ✨ Word of the Week: Remain

    Grief has a way of pulling our attention to what's missing — the dreams that didn't come true, the life we thought we'd have. But even there, something still remains. God's love remains. His presence remains. His promises and His faithfulness remain. The dream may have changed, but He never did. This week, when the loss feels loud, come back to this one word and ask: what still remains?

    💭 Reflection Question:

    What still remains in your life, even in the middle of what you've lost?

    🔗 Resources Mentioned:

    - Joy Even Here (Substack) — melissajw74.substack.com

    • Ambiguous loss: when closure doesn’t exist | Connect Magazine
    • Chronic Illness and Ambiguous Loss | Psychology Today

    💛 Signature Truth:

    Your story isn't over.

    God can still bring purpose to your pain.

    And even here, joy still remains.

    Mentioned in this episode:

    A Quick Favor

    "I'm looking for 3-5 women to hop on a short, no-pressure 15-minute call with me, just to hear a little about your journey with chronic illness, grief, or a hard season, and the words you would use to describe it. No catches, no upsells, just me wanting to understand my listeners better so I can serve you well. As a thank-you, I will send you my free faith quiz, "What Is God Growing in Your Life Right Now?" If you're willing, just send me a DM on Instagram and I will set up a time that works for you."
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    20 分
  • Just show Up: Loving Someone Through Chronic Illness and Grief

    Just show Up: Loving Someone Through Chronic Illness and Grief
    2026/07/29
    Subtitle

    A conversation about faithful friendship, miscarriage, grief, fear, and the quiet power of simply being present.

    Episode Summary

    What does it look like to love someone through suffering when you can't fix what's broken?

    In this deeply personal episode of Joy in Suffering, Melissa is joined by her lifelong friend, Carrie Barresi, whose friendship has spanned more than forty years. Together they reflect on growing up together, navigating chronic illness, walking through miscarriage and the loss of a parent, and discovering that some of the greatest acts of love aren't found in having the right words—but in faithfully showing up.

    Carrie shares how watching Melissa's lifelong health journey shaped her own faith, the loneliness she experienced after multiple miscarriages, and how Psalm 23 became an anchor during the devastating loss of her mother. Melissa and Carrie also discuss the well-meaning comments that often hurt those who are grieving, why grief is never linear, and how God's presence meets us in every valley.

    Whether you're walking through suffering yourself or wondering how to support someone you love, this conversation offers hope, wisdom, and practical encouragement for the journey.

    In This Episode
    • How a friendship of more than forty years has shaped both Melissa's and Carrie's faith
    • Loving someone through chronic illness when you can't fix their pain
    • The hidden grief of miscarriage and why people often don't know what to say
    • Losing a parent and finding peace through Psalm 23
    • Why grief isn't something we simply "get over"
    • Common phrases that unintentionally wound people who are suffering
    • Learning to surrender fear instead of trying to control the future
    • Why faithful presence is often the greatest gift we can offer
    • What "just showing up" really looks like in everyday life

    Scripture for the Season

    Psalm 23 (NIV)

    "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing..."

    Carrie shares how this familiar psalm became a lifeline during the loss of her mother and continues to bring peace whenever fear begins to rise.

    Song for the Season

    Be Not Afraid – John Michael Talbot

    A beautiful reminder that God walks beside us through every valley and every fear

    Word of the MonthPresence

    Sometimes the greatest ministry isn't finding the perfect words.

    It's showing up.

    God's presence changes us—and our presence can become one of His greatest gifts to someone who is hurting.

    Reflection Question

    Who in your life needs your presence more than your answers this week?

    What would it look like to simply reach out, listen well, and remind them they're loved?

    Resources Mentioned
    • Bearing the Unbearable – Joanne Cacciatore
    • Faith Over Fear: Trusting God Through Life's Uncertainties –(Featuring a chapter by Melissa Winters)
    • The Courage to Say Yes –(Featuring a chapter by Melissa Winters)

    Connect with Melissa

    If this episode encouraged you, I'd love to continue walking this journey with you.

    Subscribe to the newsletter on Substack for monthly encouragement, Scripture, and reflections for women navigating chronic illness, grief, and hard seasons.

    Share This Episode

    If someone came to mind while listening, would you share this episode with them?

    Sometimes the greatest encouragement begins with one simple act of showing up

    Mentioned in this episode:

    A Quick Favor

    "I'm looking for 3-5 women to hop on a short, no-pressure 15-minute call with me, just to hear a little about your journey with chronic illness, grief, or a hard season, and the words you would use to describe it. No catches, no upsells, just me wanting to understand my listeners better so I can serve you well. As a thank-you, I will send you my free faith quiz, "What Is God Growing in Your Life Right Now?" If you're willing, just send me a DM on Instagram and I will set up a time that works for you."
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    27 分
  • When the Darkness Lifts: A Journey of faith Through Anxiety, Depression, and back to Hope-with Maria I. Morgan

    When the Darkness Lifts: A Journey of faith Through Anxiety, Depression, and back to Hope-with Maria I. Morgan
    2026/07/15
    Subtitle (SEO Boost):A Christian podcast conversation on anxiety, depression, faith, and finding hope in the darkest seasons💛 A Quick Favor?I'm looking for 3-5 women to hop on a short, no-pressure 15-minute call with me, just to hear a little about your journey with chronic illness, grief, or a hard season, and the words you would use to describe it.No catches, no upsells, just me wanting to understand my listeners better so I can serve you well. As a thank-you, I will send you my free faith quiz, "What Is God Growing in Your Life Right Now?"If you're willing, just send me a DM on Instagram and I will set up a time that works for you.💛 Episode Summary:In this episode, we're talking about walking through anxiety, depression, and psychosis — and finding your way back to trust in God's goodness. If you've ever wondered whether you've gone too far to come back, or if the silence between you and God feels too heavy to carry, this conversation will encourage you to trust that hope is still there, even when you can't feel it yet.🌿 In This Conversation, We Talk About:The moment fear and distorted thinking took hold, and how it became a spiritual battle for trustWhat happens when the songs that once lifted you start to feel like accusation — and what God is doing in that silenceHow unconditional love from a small group of faithful friends became the crack of light that led to healing📖 Scripture (NIV):"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." — 2 Corinthians 12:9"Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." — Psalm 42:5Also referenced in this episode: Genesis 3, Psalm 51:6, Joshua 1:9, Romans 8:28-29, Galatians 6:2🎶 Song Mentioned:"Joy in the Morning" by Tauren Wells, performed by Anna Holand on the Hope Ignited live albumWatch/Listen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0NLneSBJg4Listen to the full Hope Ignited Live Album on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5iTjrMryenlLgHLtLXhDJn✨ Word of the Week: HopeWhen everything in you wants to believe the darkness is permanent, hope is the pinpoint of light that says otherwise. This week, we're holding onto hope, not as a feeling, but as a choice to trust God even before we can feel Him.💭 Reflection Question:Where in your life right now do you need to trust that God is weaving something beautiful, even from the broken pieces?🔗 Resources Mentioned:Hope Ignited: Set Free from the Grip of Anxiety and Depression by Maria I. MorganOrder on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hope-Ignited-Free-Anxiety-Depression/dp/B0GT2298FMAbout My Guest:Maria I. Morgan is the award-winning author of Hope Ignited: Set Free from the Grip of Anxiety and Depression, a book born out of her own journey through chronic anxiety, depression, and the long road back to wholeness through faith. Her passion is helping women find freedom through a faith-centered, holistic approach to healing that addresses the body, soul, and spirit. She lives in Georgia with her husband, Steve.Connect with Maria:Website: https://www.mariaimorgan.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariaimorgan/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WriterMariaIMorgan🎧 Listen & Subscribe:If this episode encouraged you, be sure to follow the podcast so you don't miss what's coming next.💛 Signature Truth:Your story isn't over.Your pain has purpose.And somehow… even here… joy can still grow.Mentioned in this episode:A Quick Favor"I'm looking for 3-5 women to hop on a short, no-pressure 15-minute call with me, just to hear a little about your journey with chronic illness, grief, or a hard season, and the words you would use to describe it. No catches, no upsells, just me wanting to understand my listeners better so I can serve you well. As a thank-you, I will send you my free faith quiz, "What Is God Growing in Your Life Right Now?" If you're willing, just send me a DM on Instagram and I will set up a time that works for you."
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    50 分
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