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
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 NowYour 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 HopeYour 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 PressureYour 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 CrisisYour 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 MerryYour Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast
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info_outline 294 How to Change Your Life with Gratitude and NeuroscienceYour Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast
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info_outline 293 How to Heal and Trust God When Life Doesn’t Go as We HopedYour 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 ThoughtsYour Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast
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info_outline 291 How to Find Freedom from Anger and Build Healthier Family Relationships Through FaithYour Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast
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info_outlineEpisode 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:
- Local Suicide Prevention Hotline: dial 988
- TALK Suicide Hotline (800) 273-8255
- Suicide Text Line: 741-741 https://www.crisistextline.org/textline
- Hope Line Suicide Prevention Network (800) 784-2433
- Elijah App –helps people struggling to reach their support system with one text
- Hope When You Have Thoughts of Suicide - Episode 22
- Hope for Recovery for Suicide Attempt Survivors - Episode 49
- Love Me to Life: Suicide Recovery at Church by Veronica Sites
- Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
- The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out to God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
- YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms
- Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals
- YouVersion 7-Day Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day
- YouVersion 7-Day Devotional, Today is Going to be Another Good Day
- Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
- Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide
- Free 7-Day YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip
- Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award
- Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award
- Trusting God Through Cancer 1
- Trusting God Through Cancer 2
- Revive & Thrive Women's Conference
- Subdue Stress and Anxiety: Fifteen Experts Offer Comprehensive Tools in Ten Minutes a Day. Use my link plus discount code BENG99 to save $90 on course (course will be $99.)
- Free Download: How To Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win
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