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277 How to Overcome Pain, Infertility and Divorce while Cherishing Your Miracle Child

Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Release Date: 08/01/2024

300 How to Transform Body Image Wounds into Sacred Scars with God's Healing show art 300 How to Transform Body Image Wounds into Sacred Scars with God's Healing

Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Episode Summary:  Research suggests that girls as young as three years old prioritize beauty, and children in elementary school frequently exhibit body image issues. In this episode of Your Hope Filled Perspective, I chatted with Heather Creekmore of Compared to Who about the pain, wounds, and ultimately, sacred scars, she experienced as a result of body image issues starting in childhood. Together, we explore how God's healing can transform body image wounds into sacred scars, offering hope and freedom. Quotables from the episode: I really believed I had the perfect life, and yet, I...

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Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Episode Summary:  As a new year approaches, many of us feel pressured to make big changes and set ambitious resolutions. But what if God is calling us to be faithful in the work we’re already doing? In this episode, we explore how faithfulness in our current season can bring deeper fulfillment, peace, and a stronger sense of purpose than constantly striving for the next goal.   Quotables from the episode: Today we're going to be talking about faithfulness over resolutions, embracing God's path for you right now. As we enter into this new year, many of us feel pressured to make big...

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Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Episode Summary:  For many, the holiday season is synonymous with joy, family, and celebration. But for others, it brings a heavy reminder of loss and sorrow. Grief can take many forms—the loss of a loved one, a relationship that ended, or even a dream that was never realized. Today, we will navigate this journey together and explore how, even in the midst of grief, we can find glimpses of hope. You are not alone in this, and we’ll spend time talking about practical strategies, share stories, and dig into Scripture to see what God says about our pain. Quotables from the episode: I...

info_outline 297 Word of the Year or Not? How to Reflect, Grow, and Plan Without the Pressure show art 297 Word of the Year or Not? How to Reflect, Grow, and Plan Without the Pressure

Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Episode Summary:  The end of the year often brings about a time of reflection over our growth and achievements from the past year, as well as dreaming and planning for the next year. A popular practice at the start of a new year is to choose “a word of the year” to guide our focus, goals, and resolutions for the next year. For some, this is a rewarding and encouraging practice. For others, it leads to guilt and shame when they don’t have a word of the year.  In this episode, Dr. Michelle and Rev. Jessica share their experience with the practice, as well as several alternatives...

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Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Episode Summary:  Continuing in our “Sacred Scar Story Series,” in this episode I chatted with Veronica Sites, who shared about the pain and wounds she endured that culminated in her believing the lies that she would be better off dead. She attempted to eliminate her life, but God had other plans. Now she shares the sacred scar that God is using to educate the church and leaders about how to respond in such a mental health crisis. Quotables from the episode: If you have ever experienced depression or anxiety, or suffered the loss of a friend or loved one to death by suicide, then...

info_outline 295 How To Celebrate the Holidays with Hope, Even When Life Isn’t Merry show art 295 How To Celebrate the Holidays with Hope, Even When Life Isn’t Merry

Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Episode Summary: Reverend Jessica Van Roekel joins me as a co-host as we take on the challenge of how to celebrate the holidays with hope, even when life isn’t merry. They explore common struggles such as grief, unmet expectations, loneliness, and the pressures of maintaining traditions. Offering both spiritual and practical tips, they share how to hold joy and sorrow simultaneously, lean into God's presence, and embrace meaningful rest during this season. Whether you're personally struggling or know someone who is, this episode provides encouragement and tangible ways to navigate the season...

info_outline 294 How to Change Your Life with Gratitude and Neuroscience show art 294 How to Change Your Life with Gratitude and Neuroscience

Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Episode Summary: As the holidays approach and we’re inundated with messages about thankfulness, you may wonder: does gratitude actually change anything? Is there science behind the old advice to “count your blessings”? In this episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective, I’m diving into the connection between Gratitude and Neuroscience, showing how adopting a heart of gratitude impacts not just our spiritual lives but also our mental and physical health. Scripture reminds us that what God commands aligns beautifully with how He created us. I’ll share 25+ unique things to be grateful for...

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Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Episode Summary:  In this episode of the Sacred Scar Story Series on Your Hope-Filled Perspective, I had the opportunity to talk with Becky Beresford about a significant time in her life when things didn’t go as she hoped and meticulously planned. She experienced physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual pain. She shares how her first pregnancy was fraught with complications, leading to grief, loss, and deep wounds. Becky discusses how she learned to trust God through her struggles and how He brought healing, leaving her with beautiful sacred scars as a reminder of His...

info_outline 292 How a Mother Helped Her Child Find Healing from Depression, Anxiety, and Suicidal Thoughts show art 292 How a Mother Helped Her Child Find Healing from Depression, Anxiety, and Suicidal Thoughts

Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Episode Summary:  In this Sacred Scar Story, we hear from Lori Wildenberg who faced the unimaginable pain of nearly losing her daughter to depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. She shares how her faith and God’s presence guided her through this dark journey, ultimately bringing healing to both her daughter and herself. This story of resilience and hope offers encouragement for anyone navigating similar struggles. Quotables from the episode: Wounds have to be uncovered and cleaned out before real healing can take place. With great pain often comes fear, which can paralyze us and...

info_outline 291 How to Find Freedom from Anger and Build Healthier Family Relationships Through Faith show art 291 How to Find Freedom from Anger and Build Healthier Family Relationships Through Faith

Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Episode Summary: Our guest on this episode, Kathy Collard Miller, was raised by a very angry mother. The more Kathy tried to suppress her anger, the more it surfaced. Over time, Kathy found herself expressing her anger toward her husband and her daughter, and in her own words, abusing her daughter. Kathy shares her painful wounds in this episode, as well as the story of redemption and the beautiful sacred scars God has given her. Quotables from the episode: Sometimes when we talk about pain or wounds, that pain comes at the hand of another. Sometimes we have no explanation for why it happens...

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Episode Summary: 

Sometimes life seems to bring one heartache after another until we can feel beaten down by all we’ve been through. My guest today, Cherie Denna, shares from her wounds and pain, and the sacred scars she has gained through infertility, divorce, and ultimately a child custody case for the care of her miracle child.


Quotables from the episode:

  • None of our past experiences is wasted.
  • I have a collection of trauma upon trauma, with lots of PTSD triggers.
  • Years of childhood sexual abuse negatively impacted my dream of becoming a mother. There was a lot of damage to my reproductive organs, which led to anger toward my perpetrator and toward God.
  • God met me in the middle of all this. What the enemy stole, God began redeeming.
  • My hopes and dreams were not fulfilled in the way that I had hoped.
  • It was ironic, or God’s perfect plan, where God had me in a job with four other women who understood the pain of infertility, while there were many others who were having babies and baby showers.
  • I had a perfect picture painted in my mind of what motherhood would look like. Ultimately, after years of treatment, God gave me my miracle daughter.
  • It was devastating to me to have women in my family who chose abortions.
  • I learned a lot about taking my focus off of myself during that painful time.
  • God kept showing up with His promises.
  • My ex-husband couldn’t handle my PTSD triggers, and divorced me, then spent five years in court trying to take my daughter away from me, leaving me to represent myself in court to fight for my daughter.
  • I had to keep remembering God’s promises, and the promise that he would not let the enemy win.
  • When I was fighting for my daughter, I recommitted my life to the Lord. He gave me Matthew 10:26 to hold onto.
  • The previous judge had been removed from the bench, and in his place a righteous judge was put in his place, and he granted me custody of my daughter.
  • There was a lot of healing that had to take place between my daughter and myself because there was a lot of parental alienation during this time period. When I recommitted myself to the Lord, he healed the pain between my daughter and I.
  • After I had my one miracle daughter, it didn’t bother me anymore that I couldn’t have any more children because of the physical scarring in my body.
  • I thank God that He calls me His Beloved.
  • It’s painful to be betrayed, especially by someone who’s supposed to love you forever. I just clung to the hem of his garment. I committed everything to God, and learned to wait on Him to act.
  • Commit your ways to God’s ways, and you will experience the miraculous.
  • We don’t always have a choice about things that happen to us, but we do have a choice in how we will respond!
  • Pain often prompts us to isolate from others and from God, but we have a choice in our pain to either walk away from God or to lean in and reach for the hem of his garment.
  • God loves you. He is for you. He always purposes good for you even your circumstances are not good. When you go through pain and suffering, He hurts for you. Scripture tells us that he is close to the broken hearted.
  • He says draw unto me, and I will draw unto you. That is a promise He makes to you, but He wants you to make the first move.
  • Call out to God and He promises He will meet us there. It won’t always look the way we want it to look, and it won’t always happen in the timing we want it to happen, but God promises you a future and a hope. My challenge to you today is to reach out to Him and watch Him bring a beautiful sacred scar to replace your painful wounds.


Scripture References:

  • Matthew 10:26 NLT “But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.”
  • Psalm 37:5-7 NLT “Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.”
  • Psalm 34:17-19 NIV “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.”

 

 

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Social Media Links for Guest and Host:

Connect with Cherie Denna:

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For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at:

Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails  /  Website  /  Blog  /  Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson)  /  LinkedIn  /  Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube

Guest:

An award-winning writer, author, and speaker, Cherie Denna’s messages guide audiences toward belovedness in Jesus Christ in their everyday lives. You can find her writing on the Northern California coast with frothed coffee in hand or on an RV adventure with her purposed-mate husband. Join the Everyday Belonging Movement at www.cheriedenna.com.

Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson
Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson