Explore every episode of the podcast Christians With Chronic Illnesses
Dive into the complete episode list for Christians With Chronic Illnesses. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Title
Pub. Date
Duration
How My Pentecostal Upbringing Helped and Hurt my Health with L. A. Sprague
22 Jun 2026
00:46:21
Some church teachings feel like oxygen when you’re suffering and others quietly teach you to blame yourself for pain you never chose. We’re sharing a deeply personal story from my upbringing in Pentecostal and charismatic spaces, where the Holy Spirit felt close, worship was expressive, and healing was treated as something you could reach for with enough faith. That kind of Christianity can be full of wonder and hope, and we don’t want to dismiss what’s beautiful about it. We also need to name what happens when chronic illness enters the picture and the promised outcomes don’t arrive.
We talk through how “name it and claim it” thinking and prosperity gospel assumptions can create spiritual shame for people with chronic illness, disability, and mental health struggles. We share an embarrassing culture shock moment at a Baptist school, then dig into a childhood “healing” story around food allergies and why I no longer interpret it as a clean miracle. As an adult living with POTS, major depressive disorder, and likely MCAS, I’m learning how fluctuating symptoms and complex diagnoses can complicate the testimonies we build and the certainty we cling to.
We also wrestle with the hard, honest question: if God can heal, why doesn’t He heal everyone? I explain why I’m choosing acceptance without self-condemnation and staying open to prayer while refusing the lie that chronic illness is my fault. If you’ve ever felt pressured to perform joy, blamed for not being healed, or exhausted by spiritualized answers, you’re not alone. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and if the conversation resonates, leave a review so more chronically ill Christians can find this community.
Panic Attacks, Deconstruction, and Gluten-Free Donuts with Lexi Grey
15 Jun 2026
01:40:48
A seizure in airport security, a college freshman year shaped by fear, and a long road through brain fog, pain flares, and panic attacks! We talk with Lexi about what it’s like to live as a Christian with chronic illness when your body feels unpredictable and your mind is exhausted from staying on alert. Her story holds the tension so many of us feel: trusting God while still needing real medical care, real coping skills, and real people who show up.
Lexi walks us through her health journey with epilepsy, fibromyalgia, chronic migraines, IgA deficiency, and Chiari malformation, including what seizures can look like, why prevention matters as an adult, and how life decisions like driving, work, and future plans get complicated fast. We also get practical about the messy process of finding the right medications, what happened when a misdiagnosis led to the wrong prescription, and why gene testing can be worth considering when side effects hit hard.
We go deep on mental health with honesty and care: anxiety, major depressive disorder, CPTSD, therapy over many years, EMDR, and the reality that antidepressants and anxiety meds can be life-giving but require support. Lexi shares a simple plan that can protect you during med changes: pick safe people from different parts of your life and ask them to check in, because you may not be able to reach out first. We also talk about chronic illness and faith, deconstruction and reconstruction, and the kind of joy that does not deny reality, plus Psalms that can become your borrowed words when you cannot find your own.
If you’ve been looking for a Christian chronic illness podcast that mixes faith with practical mental health and chronic pain support, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share it with a friend who’s struggling, and leave a review so more people can find this community.
Trusting People with Invisible Illness with L. A. Sprague
13 Apr 2026
00:35:19
Skepticism about chronic illness is more common than people admit and it can quietly damage friendships, workplaces, and church community. So we tackle it head-on. Our host, L. A. Sprague, is answering listener questions while managing a rough POTS day, and she walks through why fluctuating symptoms can look like “flakiness” from the outside even when someone has real integrity and a strong work ethic.
We get practical and specific about discernment versus dismissal. We share a simple way to understand flare-ups using a cold and flu comparison, why invisible illness can be confusing for healthy people, and how to respond with empathy without turning off your brain. We also talk about patterns: what honest communication looks like, when boundaries are healthy, and how chronic illness is not the same thing as manipulation.
Then we shift into everyday life with POTS and chronic illness: what a “good day” means when you still have symptoms, how light sensitivity and brain fog shape your ability to be present, and what helps. Finally, we have some fun with a POTS starter pack, including electrolytes, sodium, compression socks, migraine tools, mobility aids, and the underrated idea of building one clean “safe room” at home for recovery and peace.
If you’ve ever wondered how to love chronically ill people well or how to advocate for yourself without shame, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find Christians With Chronic Illnesses.
PCOS, Endometriosis, and Pastoring with Kylie Wicker
06 Apr 2026
01:18:19
She’s a family pastor in Alaska, a lifelong Nazarene, and someone who goes home after church and crashes on the couch in pain. Kylie joins us to talk about what it’s like to lead in ministry while living with PCOS and suspected endometriosis, including chronic fatigue, inflammation, brain fog, and the quiet grief of realizing you can’t do what you used to do. If you’ve ever wondered how faith holds up when symptoms don’t let up, this conversation gets honest fast.
We dig into what PCOS can look like beyond the textbook, why endometriosis is so hard to diagnose, and how daily management can affect everything from food choices to motivation to energy for work. Kylie also shares how getting a clear diagnosis can be both heavy and relieving because at least you know what you’re up against. Along the way, we talk about church life, accessibility, and how chronic illness can make you more attentive to the needs people rarely say out loud.
Then we go deeper into theology and hope. Kylie explains why “God gives us everything we need” doesn’t mean “God gives us everything we want,” and how she resists prosperity-gospel pressure while still trusting God’s presence and provision. We talk about 2 Peter 1:3–4, what to hold onto in flare-ups, and how to think about God’s care when someone is terminally ill. We also share practical ways to encourage pastors with chronic illness, because pastors are people too.
Subscribe, rate, and share Christians With Chronic Illnesses, then leave a review and tell us what part of Kylie’s story you want to hear more about.
A chronic illness diagnosis felt, to L. A. Sprague, like both a punch in the gut and a deep exhale at the same time. Having lived with unexplained symptoms, she understood that the real torment was often the unknown and the fear that nobody believed her. She explains why receiving a name for what was happening brought relief—not because she was glad to be sick, but because validation changed everything.
From there, she discusses navigating the medical system. Some doctors, she notes, hand patients a label and send them back to life with no guidance, while others take the time to listen, explain, and connect them to meaningful resources. She shares what it felt like to be on her own, why that experience can push patients into advocacy, and why community support matters so deeply for those living with chronic illness.
She also addresses the mental health dimension, emphasizing that chronic illness does not only affect the body. L. A. Sprague opens up about living with major depressive disorder alongside POTS, describing the cycle of progress and setbacks, and how a single virus can undo months of effort. She then turns to a question she hears often: when does it get easier? While she does not offer a simple answer, she describes a path forward that includes grief, one small gratitude, and one small next step.
Finally, she reflects on the theology of suffering with honesty. Chronic pain, she explains, can reshape how a person sees God and may even introduce doubt about God’s goodness. She frames belief as trust without certainty and points to the image of taking Christ’s yoke and allowing Him to carry the heavier side.
If this conversation helps you feel less alone, please subscribe, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review so that more chronically ill Christians can find the community.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), Hashimoto's, and Poetry with Seth Noorzad
23 Mar 2026
00:54:48
Your health can collapse in a way that looks invisible from the outside, yet changes everything on the inside. Seth Noorzad, a Santa Barbara attorney, joins us to tell the story of a sudden crash into chronic illness, a Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis diagnosis, and what he strongly suspects is ME/CFS. He puts words to the hardest part: the body becomes a different reality, your energy system shrinks, and even rest stops working the way it used to. If you’ve struggled to explain chronic fatigue syndrome to friends, family, or employers, you’ll hear language that finally fits.
We also follow Seth’s unexpected path to faith, from a childhood shaped by broad, New Age spirituality, to Plato’s claim that justice is “the health of the soul,” to a surprising spark from The Prince of Egypt that pushed him to read the Bible for the first time. He shares why he considered Islam, what he found compelling about clear moral direction and daily prayer, and how a first visit to church opened the door to Catholicism. The Liturgy of the Hours becomes a turning point, not just as a prayer practice, but as a way to belong when illness makes life feel small.
From there, we get practical: spoon theory and pacing, the challenge of being believed without perfect lab markers, and how Seth reshapes his legal career into manageable work he can do from home. We end with the questions chronic illness raises about suffering, meaning, and love, including Seth’s reflections on redemptive suffering and resisting bitterness. If this conversation encourages you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people living with chronic illness can find it.
Friendship is Magic with L. A. Sprague (Half-time Show)
16 Mar 2026
00:26:32
We sit down for a Halftime Show Q&A that gets real about chronic illness communication, especially the moment you realize your closest friends or family may not understand how much you’re struggling. We talk through a simple approach: ask if they have space, be straightforward about what’s happening physically and emotionally, and clearly name your limits around plans, outings, and expectations.
Then we go to the deeper ache so many chronically ill Christians carry: grieving who you could have been. We don’t pretend it’s a one-and-done process. Grief can come in waves, and it can surprise you even on days when life is good. We share a faith-forward perspective on identity and worth, reminding you that you’re not a backup plan and your life isn’t a waste because your trajectory changed. Chronic illness may reshape your capacity, but it doesn’t erase your purpose or your belovedness.
We also share what encourages us most, from friends who validate what we’re going through to those Holy Spirit moments of gratitude during flares. And yes, there’s a quick, fun detour into favorite female anime characters before we get honest about friendships lost, friendships gained, boundaries, and the kind of community that truly shows up.
If you’re navigating chronic illness, symptoms, disability grief, or strained relationships while trying to hold onto Christian faith, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, rate, and share the show, then leave a comment with the question you want answered next.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and Christ's Ever Presence with Miles Washburn (Miles for GBS)
09 Mar 2026
00:59:06
The day started with a lisp and a stubborn “I’m fine,” then crashed into choking on saliva and legs that wouldn’t rise. From that freefall, Miles met a rare diagnosis—Guillain-Barré syndrome—an ICU room, and a neurologist who moved fast. IVIG and faith proved to help his health improve. And what looked like an ending became a mission with pedals, scripture, and a mountain that dares you to quit.
We walk with Miles through the missteps and the miracles: a chief-of-staff ER doctor who helped him skip the line, a medicine that dried secretions so an MRI could happen, and a spinal tap that finally named the enemy. He explains the “GBS hangover” with clarity—nerve pain that flares, a heavy tongue that trips words, and a fatigue that feels like living underwater. You’ll hear how he manages triggers and how a former sprinter learned to pace both body and soul.
Purpose enters like a second wind. Miles for GBS channels all donations directly to patients through the GBS-CIDP Foundation’s aid bucket—100% going to walkers, therapy, and bills when work and insurance collapse. He and his wife cover campaign costs so every dollar lands where it helps most. The jersey carries 1 Peter 4:10, because his lifelong gift—athletics—now serves others. He’s training to climb Mount Ventoux with his 82-year-old coach and his best leadout man who lives with MS, showing what courage looks like in community.
This story blends rare disease insight with practical hope: early signs to watch, treatment basics, fatigue management, and the unshakable claim that God does not leave us. Listen for the details, stay for the heart, and share it with someone who needs proof that weakness can become purpose. If this moved you, subscribe, leave a review, and share the episode with a friend who could use strength for their own climb.
To donate to patients with GBS, follow this link: https://go.gbs-cidp.org/gbs26
Managing Symptoms: McDonalds, Bathroom Floors, and Battery?! with L. A. Sprague (Half-Time Show)
02 Mar 2026
00:29:45
Join L. A. Sprague as she reviews some of TikTok and Reddit's most interesting, weird, and twisted ways of managing chronic illness symptoms including McDonald's burgers, fries, and coke, laying on bathroom floors for hour spurts at a time before returning to bed, and even (trigger warning) domestic battery?! Don't worry, there's some helpful tips here for you too, like adjustable beds, sleeping positions, and unique/affordable tools! Comment your thoughts, link videos for us to review, and enjoy this thrilling, silly, and actually insightful half-time episode.
B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL), POTS, and Christ's Comfort with Emily Hermann
23 Feb 2026
01:04:39
A cancer diagnosis at 28 weeks pregnant should shatter certainty—Emily chose to build something stronger. We sit down with her for a candid, heart-level conversation about B‑cell ALL, the shock of symptoms that didn’t add up, and the long road through treatment and maintenance. She explains the differences between IV, oral, and intrathecal chemo in clear, human terms and shares what sepsis, transfusions, and a surgically placed port actually feel like when they’re not bullet points on a pamphlet.
Faith threads through every scene. Emily traces her early encounter with Jesus back to a camp sermon that made belief personal, then shows how that faith held when her marrow “went silent” and she feared for her baby and her own life. The story of the hemorrhaging woman became a lifeline—a picture of reaching for healing when shame and fear want you to hide. With insomnia and anxiety pressing hard, she found unusual calm through prayer, hymns, and handwritten lyric art taped to hospital walls. Her church community showed up with cards, calls, and real help that made prayer feel like presence.
We also talk about the rest of her health story: growing up with SVT and POTS, fainting in high school hallways, suspecting hypermobile EDS, and navigating the blurry overlap between preexisting symptoms and chemo side effects like ICANS. Emily offers hard-won advice for what to say—and what not to say—to someone in treatment, urges listeners to advocate for themselves without shame, and shares resources that changed her life, from Imerman Angels’ one-on-one mentorship to Tough Friends Art Club and Play It Back Music. And because hope runs, she’s marathon training with POTS, proving that recovery can be slow, wise, and beautifully stubborn.
If this conversation gave you courage or clarity, hit follow, rate the show, and share it with someone who needs steady hope today. Then tell us: what part of Emily’s journey spoke most to you?
You Called Me Out with L. A. Sprague (Half-Time Show)
16 Feb 2026
00:23:37
What makes a day “good” when your body won’t cooperate? We open the door to your most honest questions and share the messy, hope-filled reality of living with chronic illness and active faith. From naming a POTS flare while recording to savoring a chef-made coffee treat and trading Marvel favorites, we explore how small joys, honest limits, and steady love can reshape expectations without denying pain.
We dig into the hardest faith tension many of us face: believing God heals while not being healed yet. Drawing from scripture and lived experience, we unpack why “just have more faith” can wound, how to unlearn harmful interpretations without abandoning Jesus, and what resilient trust looks like when answers are slow. You’ll hear candid reflections on doubt, comfort, and the difference between tidy slogans and a God who meets us in the long wait.
We also get practical about management and mindset. We admit the lifelong learning curve, the up-and-down seasons of electrolytes, pacing, movement, and boundaries, and the temptation to let illness own our identity. Instead, we choose discernment over judgment, grief with purpose over a victim script, and course correction over perfection. Community shows up here too: real check-ins, shared tips, and pop-culture joy that reminds us we’re people before patients. Press play for a grounded, compassionate conversation that holds both truth and tenderness—and leave with language for your own good day, even when symptoms won’t budge.
If this resonated, follow and rate the show, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and drop an Orange Heart in the comments so we know you’re here. Subscribe for new episodes every Monday and send your story to cwcipodcast@gmail.com.
Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89
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Ankylosing Spondylitis, Crohn's, & Compassionate Parenting with David Heflin of Broken & Mended
09 Feb 2026
01:11:01
What if the path through chronic pain isn’t about pretending it’s gone, but learning to live boldly because Jesus is with you? That’s the heartbeat of our conversation with David Heflin, former pastor and founder of Broken and Mended, a support-group ministry serving people with chronic illness and chronic pain around the world. David opens up about ankylosing spondylitis and Crohn’s—how inflammation, stiffness, and fatigue reshape a day, a job, even a vacation—and the practical changes that keep him moving, from cushions and seating strategy to low-sugar eating and biologic treatments.
We dig into faith where it’s hardest: parenting kids who suffer, talking about God without minimizing pain, and rejecting the prosperity gospel’s false promises. David shares how verses often used to guarantee healing make richer sense in context—aimed at seeking God’s kingdom and strength for our calling—while Scripture like Romans 5 and 2 Corinthians 12 anchors a sturdier hope. Grace proves sufficient not as a slogan but as oxygen, especially when bodies and plans won’t cooperate. We talk about identity beyond productivity, lament that tells the truth about loss, and a purpose that grows inside weakness rather than apart from it.
You’ll also hear about David’s upcoming book, Purpose and Pain, which guides readers to grieve what illness takes and notice what God can grow: perseverance, character, empathy, and a living awareness that Christ’s power rests on us. We close with concrete ways churches can better serve the chronically ill—watch who goes missing, keep online access, visit, and host support groups—plus how Broken and Mended connects people to community across the U.S. and Africa. If you’ve felt alone in pain, this conversation names your experience and points to real help and hope.
If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review so others can find it. Tell us: what truth helps you on your hardest days?
In Sickness and in Health with L. A. Sprague (AND HER HUSBAND :D)
08 Jun 2026
00:27:52
Chronic illness doesn’t just change your body, it rewrites your calendar, your energy, and the way you measure a “good day.” We sit down as a newlywed Christian couple and talk honestly about marriage with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) and chronic depression, including what it’s like to name those realities early in dating and why a supportive response matters more than perfect advice.
We get into the day-to-day stuff that rarely makes it into tidy marriage stories: learning to “listen to your body” when you can’t tell whether you need rest or movement, navigating flare-ups without turning them into shame, and dealing with the pressure to be productive to feel worthy. We also talk about what support actually looks like in a chronic illness relationship, from emotional steadiness to practical caregiving, and the tricky line between encouragement and accidental enablement.
Then we zoom out to the bigger picture: the idea that chronic illness can feel like a third spouse in the room, pulling focus away from the person you love. We share simple ways we keep seeing each other as whole people, not diagnoses, including shared hobbies, getting out of the house when we can, and making space for disagreement and faith questions without losing loyalty. If you’re navigating Christian marriage, caregiving, depression, POTS, or chronic illness support, this conversation is for you.
If this helped, please follow, rate, and subscribe, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. What’s one habit that helps you feel seen when health is hard?
The Powerful Vulnerability of the Chronically Ill Christian with L. A. Sprague (Half Time Show)
02 Feb 2026
00:56:26
Everyone experiences vulnerability; being a faith-filled, chronically ill person increases that experience. Yet this is a chronically ill Christian’s secret power, not his/her weakness.
Join L. A. Sprague as she expounds on Brené Brown's transformational research findings on vulnerability. If you are a chronically ill and/or faith-filled person, you may come to realize that you are more vulnerable than recently perceived. We often find vulnerability to be a weakness. Yet fully embracing vulnerability leads to true growth, intimate connection with others, genuine faith, and much more. Watch "The Price of Invulnerability" here: https://youtu.be/_UoMXF73j0c?si=zCL9laqvtQt4wY9F
What if healing doesn’t look like a cure, but like fewer seizures, gentler days, and a church that moves chairs so you can stay? Karlie joins us to share an unflinching story of misdiagnosis, an unexpected hysterectomy at 25, daily anaphylaxis risk, and the hard-won faith that carried her from Alberta to Texas and now Tennessee in search of care—and community that truly sees her.
We trace the turning points: a surgeon who later found no sign of endometriosis, a nurse who quietly urged a move to the U.S., and a son who said the Holy Spirit wanted them at a church down the road. Karlie explains how mast cell activation triggers (pollen, perfume, dust, even big emotions) and dysautonomia reshaped her life, why worship music became her prayer when pain stole words, and how practical accommodations—sitting near exits, sunglasses during worship, perfume-free spaces—open doors for people with chronic illness to belong. We also unpack her work with Broken and Mended, a ministry creating support groups and devotionals on accepting change, budgeting limited energy, navigating finances, and caring for strained relationships.
If you’ve been told to “just have more faith,” this conversation reframes healing as layered: spiritual steadiness, fewer medical crises, and the wisdom to honor limits before the body breaks. You’ll hear how Karlie found purpose in leading others, what church care can look like on the ground, and why being believed may be the most powerful medicine of all. Come for the story; leave with practical ideas, renewed hope, and language to ask for what you need.
If this resonates, subscribe, rate, and share with someone who needs to hear they’re not alone. And tell us: what accommodation would help you show up more fully?
Your Ability is Not Your Value - Half-Time Show with L. A. Sprague
19 Jan 2026
00:33:49
What if you aren't defined by what you can do, but by who you are? For listeners of faith, L. A. addresses the pressure to “believe it away.” She shares gentler ways to pray, scriptures that allow lament, and how to love without implying blame for unhealed bodies. Then she names both sides of the ledger—lost autonomy and career momentum, yes, but also surprising gains: a patient, joyful marriage; deeper compassion; and a redefined purpose grounded in inherent worth rather than output. The throughline is simple and strong: your value isn’t measured by steps taken or hours worked. It’s anchored in being human, being loved, and being here.
L. A. Sprague opens up about living with POTS and how ordinary moments—sitting upright, driving a mile, bright lights through a window—can tilt a whole day. The conversation moves from raw honesty about loss to a vision for accessibility that lets people participate without apology: stools in stores, flexible workplaces, normalized wheelchair use, affordable electrolytes, and church spaces where lying down isn’t a spectacle but a supported choice.
We also unpack the rhythm of good days and bad days. On lighter days, L. A. reconnects with friends, lifts at the gym, and pours energy into the podcast. On heavy days, she shuts out every stimulus and chooses rest. That’s where the mental battle runs loud. So we get practical about support: ask specific questions, offer options when brain fog hits, reduce light and noise, bring meals and hydration, and honor the need for space. Presence beats platitudes. Small acts carry big dignity.
Listen to learn, to feel seen, and to leave with clear ways to help the people you love. If this resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe for more conversations like this, and leave a review with one thing you want to see change in your community.
A candid journey from lupus diagnosis to a resilient yes for God’s global mission, weaving art, identity, and mobilization into a grounded path forward. We share five concrete ways to engage the nations even with chronic illness, and why weakness can sharpen calling.
• lupus diagnosis reshaping life and dreams • identity shift from artist to mobilizer • Urbana and putting a yes on the table • what mobilization is and why it matters • day‑to‑day mobilizer work and the pipeline • severe flare, recovery, and stewardship of health • matching calling with climate and medical access • five ways to engage: pray, send, welcome, go, mobilize • how churches can send with holistic care • welcoming unreached neighbors like Somali communities • scripture‑based view of calling and encouragement
Please follow, rate, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Patreon You can also follow our socials at @CWCIPodcast If you're interested in sharing your God given story, we'd love for you to email us at cwcipodcast at gmail.com This podcast cannot substitute for medical help and is purely for encouragement and entertainment. Please see your doctor before trying anything mentioned on this show.
Half-Time Show: What Do You Dream? With L. A. Sprague
05 Jan 2026
00:26:56
What if the loudest voice questioning your pain is your own? We open the Halftime Q&A with a brave question—how to tell if you’re exaggerating—and get honest about self-trust, integrity, and the quiet courage of listening to your body. From there, we tackle the push-or-rest dilemma with a practical day-to-day approach that respects both progress and limits, and we share simple scripts that help friends ask about illness without making us defend our reality.
We also define what “chronic” really means and why that definition shapes treatment plans, expectations, and mental health. L. A. shares her POTS journey, including the role of ivabradine and midodrine, hydration and electrolytes, compression, and the steady power of sleep and gentle exercise. Along the way, she talks about dreams that changed—missions work, music tours—and the new purpose that grew in their place: creating a space where believers with chronic illness can be seen, heard, and encouraged.
Money and work get candid attention too. We talk reduced hours, insurance worries, and medical bills, naming both the fear and the discipline it takes to budget well. Finally, we sit with the relief and grief of diagnosis—the validation that clears a path forward and the heartbreak of a life you didn’t choose. If you’ve wrestled with self-doubt, wondered how to support someone you love, or needed practical POTS management tips wrapped in faith and realism, this one meets you where you are.
If the conversation helps, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs it. Your comments and questions guide future Q&As—send them our way on socials @CWCIPodcast or email cwcipodcast@gmail.com.
Bipolar Disorder and Joyful Dancing with Jessie VanDevelde
28 Dec 2025
01:06:38
The beat drops, the lights glow, and something unexpected happens: people who feel out of place on Sunday morning find themselves at home praising God on a dance floor. That image frames our conversation with Jess—a wife, mom, and worship leader—who shares a candid, deeply human story of living with bipolar disorder while building spaces where bodies and hearts can worship without apology.
We trace Jess’s journey from meeting Jesus in Sunday school to discovering a love for serving on mission trips, then into the labyrinth of diagnosis, depression, and medication. She opens up about her first manic episode triggered by an antidepressant, the hard won stability she found with lithium and quetiapine, and the everyday choices that steady her—sleep care, less caffeine, intentional community, and counsel that blends Scripture and therapy. Along the way, she explains how worship and the Word reshape harmful narratives, turning shame into truth-telling and isolation into connection.
We also face tough questions about healing. Jess walks through the disappointment of chasing miracles that didn’t come, and how Scripture reoriented her expectations: Jesus didn’t heal every person, Paul’s thorn remained, and wisdom often looks like both prayer and practical care. Instead of hollow promises, she offers a durable hope—grace that holds when symptoms surge, friends who walk you through lows, and a God who uses suffering to grow humility, gratitude, and compassion for others. If you’ve wrestled with bipolar disorder, depression, or the tension between faith and medicine, this conversation is a steady hand and a clear path forward.
Subscribe, share with a friend who needs hope today, and leave a review to help more listeners find this conversation. Then tell us: where have you found unexpected grace?
Sjögren’s and Communing with God with Myra Delikat
14 Dec 2025
01:30:40
What happens when your body unravels right as your calling takes shape? Myra joins us to share a raw, thoughtful journey through Sjögren’s syndrome—years of nausea, fatigue, and brain fog; “normal” test results; a job she couldn’t keep; and the long search for a clinician who would truly listen. The turning point came through a rigorous, personalized routine: consistent sleep and meals, hydration, targeted nutrition, and medical massage, plus simple, whole-food cooking and careful sourcing. It wasn’t a miracle fix. It was a slow, stubborn climb back to stability, one boundary at a time.
We talk about the faith side without pretending it’s tidy. Myra grieved a theater career that once felt like a mission field, wrestled with anger toward God, and learned to separate identity from productivity. Her prayer life looks like a daily walk—naming joys, doubts, and fears to a God who already knows. Beauty becomes a practice: plants that ask for water, art on the walls, short walks, and small rituals that remind her life is still good. She explains why organic choices mattered to her sensitive system and how freezing leftovers curbed flares. And she gets practical about church: believe invisible symptoms, listen to understand, offer specific help, and don’t take cancellations personally.
If you live with chronic illness—or love someone who does—you’ll find language for the lonely parts and tools for the day-to-day: routines that reduce the noise, boundaries that protect energy, and habits that restore dignity. Stay to the end for Myra’s original poem from the darkest stretch of her illness, a quiet testament to despair, rest, and fragile hope. If this conversation resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs a companion for the long road.
Chronic Kidney Disease and Godly Sacrifice with Carol Fitzsimmons
30 Nov 2025
01:18:27
A chance hello by a riverside turned into a testimony of courage. Meet Carol Fitzsimmons, "Dory"—former teacher, award-winning swimmer, kidney transplant recipient—whose life was reshaped by a friend who said yes to donating and a faith that would not let go. From teenage fatigue and a frightening diagnosis of chronic glomerulonephritis to late‑night home dialysis and the moment a colleague offered her kidney, this is a journey where medicine meets miracle and community turns pain into purpose.
We walk through the realities most people never hear about: why transplants are treatment rather than cure, how anti‑rejection meds can create new challenges, and what long‑term care looks like for chronic kidney disease. Dory is honest about grief—the loss of her infant son, a marriage that unraveled under stress, and stepping away from a career she loved. She also shares the spark that pulled her forward: discovering the Transplant Games, training in the pool, and finding a global family of recipients, living donors, and donor families who understand the cost and the gift of a second chance.
If you’ve wondered how to support someone with chronic illness, Dory offers clear, compassionate guidance: listen without fixing, encourage consistently, and pray specifically. And if you’ve ever considered organ donation, you’ll learn how one decision can save up to eight lives, restore sight to two, and enhance dozens more through tissue donation. We talk practical steps for registering, why telling your family matters, and how faith, movement, and community keep hope alive on the hardest days.
Subscribe for more stories from Christians living with chronic illness, share this episode with someone who needs hope, and leave a review to help others find the show. Your yes—whether to listen, to share, or to register as a donor—can change a life.
A baffling itch with no rash led to a dermatologist’s double take: yellow eyes, yellow skin, and a blocked bile duct. That moment set Keith on an unexpected path through scans, biopsies, and a terrifying possibility—bile duct cancer—before a lung biopsy brought clarity: sarcoidosis. What he shares next is more than a medical play-by-play; it’s a grounded, hopeful look at how faith, gratitude, and practical habits can steady a life turned upside down by chronic illness.
We dig into the realities of sarcoidosis across organs—the liver damage from cholestasis, scarring on the heart wall and rhythm risks, eye inflammation that blurred his vision, and the heavy fatigue that reshapes daily limits. Keith walks through his treatment plan with honesty: prednisone’s spike in blood sugar and emergency-level readings, tapering off steroids, adding mycophenolate for organ health, and finding relief with Humira. He pairs medicine with real-world adjustments—protein-forward meals, low-sugar swaps, gentler routines, stress reduction, and small movement—showing how layered care can calm a flare.
Parenting while sick demanded age-appropriate transparency, not perfection. Keith opened his patient portal and told his kids the truth early, which kept fear from growing in silence and taught them how to advocate for their own health. He also started a local autoimmune and chronic illness group, proving that community doesn’t need a crowd to matter; sometimes two people in a room is exactly enough. Through it all, he returns to the same image: throw a stone into water, watch the ripples, and wait for the surface to settle. Pain can tower for a season, but the water can still grow calm.
If you’re navigating a new diagnosis, managing sarcoidosis, or caring for someone who is, this conversation offers practical tools, medical insight, and faith-filled encouragement. Press play, share with someone who needs hope, and subscribe to get new episodes. Your story matters here—leave a review and tell us what helped you most.
Welcome to Christians With Chronic Illnesses, the podcast that magnifies the voices of chronically ill brothers and sisters to inspirit their health journeys and their faith. Get to know your host L. A. Sprague. She is a Jesus loving POTSie who enjoys her husband, Paul, people, plants, whales, the color green, and pizza. She aspires to create a community for believers with long-term and terminal illnesses and educate their loves ones, the church, and people associated with them. CWCI hopes you feel loved, seen, and known as you listen. We also hope you will join the community by following, joining our Discord and Facebook groups, and interviewing on the podcast. We would love to hear from you via email and our socials! Please follow and rate to share the word with fellow sick Christians.
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Serving God Amidst Your Chronic Illness with Lindsey Rice
01 Jun 2026
01:23:53
Pain that starts in childhood is hard enough. Being dismissed by doctors while you’re still trying to figure out who you are can shape your entire life. We sit down with Lindsay, a Chicago-based teacher and leader with Perspectives USA, to talk about what it’s like to follow Jesus while living with multiple chronic illnesses, including Hashimoto’s, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease, dysautonomia, POTS, and seizure symptoms that made daily life feel unpredictable.
We get specific about what these diagnoses can look like in real life: years of “growing pains” that weren’t growing pains, Crohn’s symptoms that didn’t match the usual script, and neurological issues that are so hard to describe you can only say, “Everything feels weird.” Lindsay also shares the rare gift of being believed by the right doctors and how collaborative care can change everything, especially when your file is complicated and your symptoms cross multiple body systems.
We also dig into chronic illness management in a way that’s honest and practical. Medication can be necessary and life-giving, but it’s rarely the only tool. We talk about diet changes like going gluten-free for inflammation, the value of physical therapy and counseling, the impact of sleep, and why patient advocacy matters so much for women navigating the U.S. healthcare system. Spiritually, we wrestle with identity, grief, and calling, holding to the truth that God doesn’t waste suffering or seasons, even when your original plans have to pivot.
If you’ve ever wondered how to serve God with limitations, Lindsay offers a framework that brings hope: go, send, welcome, and mobilize. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more chronically ill Christians can find this community.
Christians With Chronic Illnesses Teaser: NOVEMBER 30, 2025
05 Nov 2025
00:01:35
Christians With Chronic Illnesses (CWCI) is the podcast that magnifies the voices of chronically ill brothers and sisters to inspirit their health journeys and their faith.
The first episode of CWCI premiers November 30, 2025.
Feel known by God and inspired by interviewees on this CWCI teaser as they speak on their diagnoses, symptoms, and truths about God and living as Christians with incurable sicknesses. Some sicknesses include leukemia, Sjogren's, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (me/cfs), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Bipolar (BPD 1, BPD 2), Hashimoto's, Lupus, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, and more. Each person interviewed is honest about their faith in Jesus, their hellish bouts of pain, and struggles with health. Being truly resilient believers, they remind themselves of God's truths and scriptures from the Bible even amidst flare ups and have been courageous enough to share them with you.
Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS): Deep Dive with L. A. Sprague
25 May 2026
00:39:26
PCOS isn’t gone, but the name is changing for a reason. We’re talking about PMOS, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, and why this new label finally points to what so many people have felt for years: the problem is bigger than ovarian cysts. If you’ve ever tried to explain your symptoms and got blank stares, this deep dive is meant to give you language that makes sense.
We walk through what “polyendocrine,” “metabolic,” and “ovarian” actually mean in everyday life, including how hormone dysregulation can ripple into energy, mood, weight changes, skin and hair changes, and fertility concerns. We keep it practical with a clear explanation of insulin resistance, why it can leave you fatigued and foggy, and why PMOS is often tied to cardiometabolic risk. We also talk about what’s commonly used for diagnosis: needing two of three key signs, plus tools like hormone blood tests and ultrasound.
Because PMOS can feel heavy, we also name the mental health side honestly, including anxiety, depression, and the emotional toll of feeling dismissed. And we end with hope, community resources, and a faith-centered reminder from the story of the bleeding woman: you are not disgusting, you are not rejected, and you are not alone.
If this helped you, share it with a friend, subscribe so you don’t miss the next deep dive, and leave a review so more chronic illness warriors can find us.
She broke her nose from a seizure a week before a major show and still performed. That single detail captures the tension we explore with Becca Sugg: the call to create, lead, and serve while living with chronic illness that can interrupt your life without warning. Becca is a Christian rock musician, lead vocalist of Reclaim the Day, studio owner, mentor to young artists, and she brings a rare mix of grit and tenderness to the realities of faith, health, and work.
We trace her journey from the Christian music scene into full-time music, including running Reclaim the Day Studios and teaching at Rock Stars of Tomorrow. From there, we get specific about epilepsy and seizures, including focal seizures that feel like a “reset,” plus the auras, fatigue, and lifestyle triggers that can build toward bigger episodes. Becca shares what helps her manage epilepsy while touring and performing, how she navigates stage lighting, and why hydration, sleep, stress management, and nutrition are not “nice extras” but part of staying alive and stable.
Then we move into the parts many people avoid saying out loud: depression and anxiety that can distort reality, create spirals, and strain a marriage. Becca talks about irritability, suicidal thoughts, and what changed when she accepted help, including fluoxetine (generic Prozac) as a medication that felt more neutral for her. We also talk about practicing gratitude, praising God in the storm, and learning to see ourselves through God’s eyes rather than through diagnoses like rheumatoid arthritis or labels like “medically frail.” If you’re looking for Christian encouragement for chronic illness, epilepsy support, and honest mental health conversations, you'll find it here.
Subscribe for more stories like this, share with a friend who feels alone in their health journey, and leave a review so more listeners can find Christians with Chronic Illnesses.
You can love Jesus and still be worn down to the bone. Today we're doing something simple but surprisingly powerful: reading your messages and responding in real time, with the deep breaths, low energy, and imperfect moments that come with life as a Christian with chronic illness. If you’ve ever wished someone would ask “How are you doing?” and actually mean it, this one is for you.
We talk about depression and chronic illness without sugarcoating it, including what it’s like to be the person who “seems joyful” while privately fighting major depressive disorder. We share why toxic positivity is not the goal and why faith doesn’t require you to pretend you’re okay. Grief, honesty, and real mental health support belong in Christian spaces, and we want this podcast to be one of them.
We also respond to listeners who feel validated for the first time while navigating flares, doctors, and spiritual doubt, plus a parent facing POTS and the daily grind of parenting with chronic illness. We touch on community resources for faith and chronic illness, including Broken and Mended, other podcasts, and how you can connect with us through Discord and our Facebook group. If your faith feels fragile, you’re still welcome here.
If this brought you comfort, please subscribe, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more chronically ill believers can find us. What part of your story do you wish someone would finally understand?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Psoriasis, and Hope with "Jordan"
04 May 2026
00:48:23
A “bad stomach bug” nearly took Jordan’s life and it became the moment she stopped trying to muscle through and started reaching for God again. Jordan joins us as a homesteader, artist, and future certified herbalist to share what it’s like living with IBS, PCOS, psoriasis, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and how chronic illness can expose both the cracks in our support systems and the places where real hope can take root.
We get practical about gut health, chronic inflammation, and why IBS can impact everything from energy to nutrient absorption. Jordan explains the changes that helped her most, including removing trigger foods, cutting processed foods, minimizing sugar, avoiding gluten, and using a gut bacteria test to identify overgrowths and missing strains. She also walks through PCOS symptoms like insulin resistance and stubborn weight gain, plus the long fight to find a doctor who actually listens. Her experience with direct primary care, targeted labs, gradual strength training, supplements, and a few key medications shows how much management can improve when care is personal and thorough.
The faith side is just as real. Jordan shares the Scriptures that hold her steady, including Revelation 21:4 and the story of Elijah being cared for with rest, food, and water. We also talk about unhelpful Christian responses to sickness, why “pray harder” can wound, and what’s better: listening, praying with someone, and refusing to condemn what they can’t control.
If you need encouragement, better language for your pain, or a healthier way to support chronically ill believers, press play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s tired of carrying it alone, and leave a review so more people can find Christians with Chronic Illnesses.
Navigating Relationships with Chronic Illness with L. A. Sprague
27 Apr 2026
00:40:11
Chronic illness doesn’t only change your body. It changes the way plans get made, the way texts get read, and the way silence can start to feel personal. We’ve both seen how quickly a flare-up can turn into guilt, defensiveness, or that awful question underneath it all: “Do you still want me in your life if I can’t show up like I used to?”
We talk through the relationship skills that make friendships, dating, marriage, and family dynamics more sustainable when chronic illness is part of the story. I share practical communication tools like asking permission before a heavy conversation, saying “I can” and “I can’t” without overpromising, and using “I feel” statements to address conflict without attacking. We also slow down for a quick box breathing reset, because sometimes your nervous system needs support before your words can land well.
From there, we dig into trust, patience, and boundaries. If you’re the healthy friend or caregiver, trusting an invisible illness like POTS can be hard when you can’t see the symptoms. If you’re the chronically ill friend, it can be just as hard to trust that someone’s need for space isn’t abandonment. We also get honest about when repeated disrespect, ableism, or constant one-sidedness means it’s time to reevaluate the relationship and set boundaries you will actually keep. Finally, we end on intentionality: small, thoughtful actions that communicate love when life is limited.
If you’ve been wondering how to keep relationships strong with chronic illness in the mix, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the support they need.
Pain can make you feel like your whole life has been reduced to symptoms, setbacks, and survival. Ben Buckland’s (Tried by Fire Podcast) story refuses that ending. After a workplace injury, Ben develops CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome), one of the most severe chronic pain conditions, and he describes what it’s like to live with a nervous system stuck in fight-or-flight, unpredictable flare-ups, and sleep that never feels like rest.
We talk through the real-world side of chronic pain management: the overwhelm of medication overload, the hard work of self-advocacy, and the practical experiments that actually moved the needle for him, including a Mediterranean diet that turned into a more holistic nutrition approach, low dose naltrexone (LDN), and the surprising impact of an H-Wave device compared with a standard TENS unit. Ben also explains how an exoskeleton-style brace and other assistive devices help him walk by shifting weight-bearing, plus the emotional challenge of learning to trust support when your body feels unreliable.
But the heart of the conversation is faith under pressure. Ben shares the turning point from demanding “Why, God?” to asking “How can I glorify You in the middle of this?” and how gratitude, worship, counseling, and Scripture reshaped his identity. We also get honest about marriage and parenting with chronic illness, repairing relationships after pain-driven reactions, and how recovery from pornography addiction connected to learning his worth as God’s beloved child.
If you’re looking for Christian chronic illness encouragement, CRPS awareness, chronic pain resources, and a grounded story of hope that doesn’t deny reality, this one is for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help more listeners find these stories.
Explore Ben's Tried by Fire Podcast and Book project!