Episode 06: Choosing Joy Over Fear with Ruth Ripken
What do you do when fear seems like it's paralyzing you? What if the life overseas you envisioned seems to be unraveling? Ruth Ripken touches on these questions as she opens up about sickness and loss in her own life while living abroad. She reminds us that moving forward doesn't have to be a lot of steps all at once. Sometimes it simply means taking one obedient step at a time. What do you do when fear seems like it's paralyzing you? What if the life overseas you envisioned seems to be unraveling? Ruth Ripken touches on these questions as she opens up about sickness and loss in her own life while living abroad. She reminds us that moving forward doesn't have to be a lot of steps all at once. Sometimes it simply means taking one obedient step at a time.
If you haven't already read the book,
, by Nik Ripken (husband of Ruth), then you better get your hands on a copy RIGHT NOW. In the book, Nik recalls that “God had always been so real to me, to Ruth, and to our boys. But was He enough, for the utter weariness of soul I experienced at that time, in that place, under those circumstances?” It is a question that many have asked and one that, if answered, can lead us to a whole new world of faith. How does faith survive, let alone flourish in a place like the Middle East? How can Good truly overcome such evil? How do you maintain hope when all is darkness around you? The gripping, narrative account of a personal pilgrimage into some of the toughest places on earth, combined with sobering and insightful stories of the remarkable people of faith Nik and Ruth encountered on their journeys, will serve as a powerful course of revelation, growth, and challenge for anyone who wants to know whether God truly is enough.The book has also been made into
. You can view the trailer for it
.We decided to gather a few other resources together concerning grief and processing loss. We hope you'll find them helpful:
Articles from Around the Web:
Grieving the Loss of Loved Ones from Far Away
When Someone You Love Dies and You are Far, Far Away
Ask a Counselor: How Do We Process Loss and Grief?
(This article was directed towards TCKs but it's excellent for any type of grief.)
Ask a Counselor: What Can We Do About Loss and Grief?
Great Books:
The Way of Transition: Embracing Life's Most Difficult Moments
Evidence Not Seen: A Woman's Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of World War II
To the Golden Shore: The Life of Adoniram Judson
Podcast:
Member Care Media - The Loss of a Child
The singing of "It Is Well" was done by our very own Melissa and her local friend and fellow musician, Meda. You can meet Meda by taking a look over at her Instagram account: @medakawu
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