loader from loading.io

296 How to Find Healing and Purpose After a Life-Threatening Crisis

Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Release Date: 12/12/2024

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...

info_outline
299 Faithfulness Over Resolutions: Embracing God’s Path for You Right Now show art 299 Faithfulness Over Resolutions: Embracing God’s Path for You Right Now

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...

info_outline
298 Finding Hope While Grieving at Christmas: Practical Tips for Navigating the Holidays with Hope show art 298 Finding Hope While Grieving at Christmas: Practical Tips for Navigating the Holidays with Hope

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...

info_outline
296 How to Find Healing and Purpose After a Life-Threatening Crisis show art 296 How to Find Healing and Purpose After a Life-Threatening Crisis

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...

info_outline
293 How to Heal and Trust God When Life Doesn’t Go as We Hoped show art 293 How to Heal and Trust God When Life Doesn’t Go as We Hoped

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...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

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 today is the perfect show for you.
  • My guest today, Veronica Sites, is a first response crisis chaplain. She grew up in a family of first responders. And sadly, she lost a family member to death by suicide. This experience caused a shift in how she responded in such situations. But she also experienced some tragic life experiences which brought her to the point that she began to believe some lies that took her down the path to attempting to end her own life by suicide.
  • When she woke up, she told a friend, “The Lord is going to use this for His glory. You just watch.” And that is what has happened, as she now serves as a first response crisis chaplain, and she tries to educate about suicide prevention.
  • I no longer believe that my previous suicide attempt is my identity. I am first and foremost a child of God.
  • My painful wounds that led to my desperation also made me forgiving and more merciful.
  • Healing my wounds has caused me to have greater compassion and empathy for others who suffer.
  • The enemy is relentless to get us to take his bait. Once I regained consciousness, I became angry that I believed the enemy’s lies.
  • Victory is in the vulnerability with the Victor.
  • The most unhealed wounds are usually the invisible ones.
  • God can be trusted with our vulnerability.
  • Our painful wounds can be both destructive and productive. We get to choose what result they will have by how we respond to our hurts.
  • Can we listen to others as if there is something to learn?


Scripture References:

  • Psalm 34:18  “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
  • Proverbs 17:17 says “A brother is born for a time of adversity.” 
  • Proverbs 27:17 “Just as iron sharpens iron, friends sharpen the minds of each other”.

 

Recommended Resources: 

 

Social Media Links for Guest and Host:

Connect with Veronica Sites:

Website / Facebook / Instagram / X / Pinterest / Vimeo / YouTube

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:

Veronica Sites is a Trauma-Informed Behavioral Health Coach. She serves as peer support and creates safe space for ministering to survivors touched by and that seek recovery beyond the moral injury left by suicide. She challenges the church and her leaders to be equipped and have a plan and protocol every volunteer knows and uses to connect people to next step help.

 

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