207: Basking in Grace: Marcia Earhart's Journey Through Grief, Healing, and Divine Strength
Release Date: 11/18/2025
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info_outlineIn this episode of Warriors Unmasked, Chuck Thuss welcomes Marcia Earhart, a certified life, grief, and trauma coach, along with being a trained educator and mental health first responder. The deeply personal and emotional interview reveals Marcia's arduous journey through chronic illness, the loss of loved ones including her two sons, and how she found healing and purpose through her faith. Discussing her roles as a mother, wife, and coach, Marcia elaborates on the importance of trust, surrender, and abiding in God's presence. Her ministry, the Sterling Rose Sanctuary, and her book 'Gripping Grace in The Garden of Grief' aim to help others navigate their own pain and find solace in divine love. This episode is a profound testament to resilience, spiritual growth, and eternal hope despite life's darkest trials.
You’ll Hear About
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Marcia’s journey through loss, illness, and unwavering faith
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How grief became a pathway to purpose and healing
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The founding of The Sterling Rose Sanctuary and its mission of hope
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Lessons from her book Gripping Grace in the Garden of Grief
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Finding peace through surrender, trust, and divine grace
Guest Bio
Marcia Earhart is a certified life, grief, and trauma coach, mediator, and Heartsync minister with over 30 years of experience helping others heal. After losing her two sons, Sterling and Marc, she founded The Sterling Rose Sanctuary, a nonprofit offering hope and healing to those facing grief and trauma. Marcia is also the author of Gripping Grace in the Garden of Grief: A Place for the Heart (2025), where she shares her journey of faith, loss, and renewal.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
01:25 Marcia's Journey: Love, Illness, and Faith
02:55 Adoption and Family Challenges
04:39 The Power of Faith and Trust in God
10:49 Discovering the Cause of Illness
14:51 Embracing the Healing Process
23:18 Coping with Loss and Grief
28:48 Finding Strength and Purpose
38:28 Marcia's Mission: Helping Others Heal
42:22 Final Thoughts and Encouragement
Chuck’s Challenge
This week, focus on trusting God’s plan. Lean in, let go of control, and have faith that everything is unfolding exactly as it should.
Connect with Marcia Earhart
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcia-earhart-the-sterling-rose-sanctuary-943a8410b/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesterlingrosesanctuary/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSRS21/
Connect with Chuck
Check out the website: https://www.thecompassionateconnection.com/
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-thuss-a9aa044/
Follow on Instagram: @warriorsunmasked
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