Ep 135 // Singing Through the Fire: Lara Silverman on Chronic Illness, Surrender, Love, and a Theology of Suffering

What happens when it seems God opens the door to your dream job…and then, the door slams shut?

Lara Silverman—a Stanford-educated lawyer, jazz singer, actress, and now author—was on the cusp of a thriving career when a rare neurological illness left her largely bedridden. In this raw and hope-filled conversation, Lara shares her powerful journey through suffering, surrender, and a breathtaking love story with her late husband, Matt.

With honesty, humor, and deep faith, Lara invites us to wrestle with the hard questions: Why does a good God allow suffering? How do you keep hope alive when healing doesn’t come? Can beauty really rise from ashes?

Her new memoir, Singing Through the Fire, is not just a story—it’s a testimony of courage, intimacy with Jesus, and a love that even death cannot extinguish.

• Surrender in the Valley: What Lara learned when God asked her to release her dream job and later her health.
• Theology of Suffering: Why prosperity gospel clichés don’t hold up in the face of chronic illness—and what Scripture really says.
• A Holy Love Story: How God brought Matt into her life at the height of her illness, and the eternal hope their marriage continues to embody.
• Finding God’s Intimacy in Pain: How surrender opened space for Lara to experience God’s presence in powerful ways.
• Eternal Perspective: Why heaven reframes our questions about love, loss, and the goodness of God.

• Buy Lara’s Memoir → Singing Through the Fire (Available now on Amazon)
• Follow Lara Silverman on Instagram: @singingthroughfire_author

Stay connected with Megan:

• Website: meganbnilsen.com
• Social: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
• Grab the Book: Untangled Faith + Companion Journal
• Free Gift: Wanna learn how to make Holy Spirit-led decisions? Go...

Ep 134 // Brave Women, Mighty God: Saying Yes to the Holy Spirit with Author Laura L. Smith

What does it look like to follow the Holy Spirit’s nudge—especially when it’s risky, countercultural, or downright scary? Best-selling author Laura L. Smith joins me to share her journey of saying “yes” to God’s call—from corporate careers to seminary studies, from motherhood to ministry. Together, we unpack the lies women believe, the courage found in biblical women’s stories, and the everyday ways God nudges us toward Kingdom impact.

If you’ve ever wondered, “How do I know if it’s God’s voice?” or felt the tension between fear and faith, this episode will strengthen your courage and remind you that God equips you for every calling.

• “As far as ways to hear from the Lord, making time for Him is a great way to hear from Him.” – Laura L. Smith
• “God empowers and equips us to do crazy things that have huge ripple effects.” – Laura L. Smith
• “Sometimes hearing God isn’t an audible voice—it’s peace after prayer, a word from a friend, or even a poem on a chalkboard.” – Megan Nilsen
• “We so underestimate what we are capable of. We make ourselves much smaller than God ever intended us to be.” – Laura L. Smith

1. God’s voice is personal – He speaks uniquely to each of us through Scripture, prayer, community, journaling, and even unexpected signs.
2. Courage is cultivated – Like Esther, Mary, and Hannah, bravery grows through prayer, fasting, and trust in God’s promises.
3. Your yes matters – Whether it’s leaving a career, stepping into seminary, or sharing your faith with a neighbor, your obedience has ripple effects beyond what you can see.
4. Truth replaces lies – God’s Word calls us chosen, holy, and His masterpiece—no matter what lies we’ve believed about ourselves.
5. Faith is contagious – Living authentically and openly as a believer invites others to ask questions and see Jesus in you.

📖 Connect with Laura L. Smith:

• Instagram: @laurasmithauthor
• Website: www.laurasmithauthor.com
• Book: Brave Woman, Might God: 30 Things You Can Do

✨ Stay connected with Megan:

• Website: meganbnilsen.com
• Social: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
• Grab the Book: Untangled Faith +

Ep 133 // Warfare Parenting: Praying for Your Prodigal Children with Author Laine Lawson Craft

What do you do when your children walk away from the faith you’ve worked so hard to instill? Today, Megan Nilsen sits down with Laine Lawson Craft—best-selling author, speaker, and host of the Warfare Parenting podcast—to talk about the power of prayer in the lives of prodigal children.

Laine shares her powerful journey of interceding for her three children through seasons of depression, addiction, and struggle, and how God miraculously brought each one back to Him. This heartfelt conversation will equip you with practical strategies, renewed hope, and spiritual encouragement to keep standing in the gap for your kids.

If you’ve ever felt weary, discouraged, or ready to give up, this episode is your reminder: the battle belongs to the Lord, and no child is too far from His reach.

• Why the real battle for our children is spiritual—not just behavioral.
• How to “plead the blood of Jesus” over your kids in prayer.
• Stories of God’s miraculous intervention in Laine’s family.
• How to persevere when the answers to your prayers don’t come quickly.
• Practical encouragement for parents of prodigal teens and young adults.

• “You’re not battling your child—you’re battling the darkness that wants to steal, kill, and destroy.” – Laine Lawson Craft
• “God’s mercy runs deeper than any mess our kids can find themselves in.” – Laine Lawson Craft
• “Never underestimate the power of a praying parent.” – Megan Nilsen

• Reflection: Where have you felt weary in praying for your children or loved ones? How can you shift from striving to surrendering those battles to the Lord?
• Journal with God: “Lord, what do You want me to know about the way You are pursuing my child’s heart right now?”

• Connect with Laine Lawson Craft: lainelawsoncraft.com
• Books by Laine: The Parent’s Battle Plan and Warfare Parenting Devotional

Connect with Megan Nilsen:

• Website: meganbnilsen.com
• Social: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
• Grab the Book: Untangled Faith + Companion Journal
• Free Gift: Wanna learn how to make Holy Spirit-led decisions? Go to holyspiritstoplight.comfor your free guide!
• Book a...