Show notes
Can your faith survive life's hardest seasons?
When life falls apart—through illness, divorce, grief, trauma, or unexpected loss—it can leave you wondering where God is and whether your faith is strong enough to endure. If you've ever felt pressure to "move on," questioned why God hasn't taken your pain away, or struggled to believe He's still good in the middle of suffering, this conversation will remind you that you're not alone. Michele Cushatt shares how God met her through unimaginable hardship and how He can strengthen your faith, even when life doesn't make sense.
Episode Summary
Author and speaker Michele Cushatt joins Willow Weston to share how decades of trauma—including divorce, single motherhood, raising children with traumatic backgrounds, the loss of her father, and surviving three battles with aggressive tongue cancer—transformed her understanding of faith. Rather than offering easy answers, Michele shares the biblical truths and spiritual practices that helped her continue trusting God when healing was slow, suffering remained, and life never returned to what it once was.
Together, they discuss why trauma changes us, why healing doesn't follow a timeline, and why our scars don't have to become symbols of defeat. Michele unpacks Jesus' prayer for Peter—"that your faith would not fail"—and explains why, in our darkest seasons, our faith is often what's most at stake. She also shares practical ways to build a resilient faith before the storms come through Scripture, honest lament, counseling, and learning to trust God's character even when we don't understand His ways.
If you've been carrying grief that no one seems to understand, wrestling with unanswered prayers, or wondering if you'll ever feel whole again, this episode is for you. You'll be reminded that healing is often a lifelong journey, that grief and gratitude can coexist, and that your scars may become some of the greatest evidence of God's faithfulness. You don't have to pretend you're okay, and you don't have to walk through suffering alone.
Meet Michele Cushatt
Michele is a bestselling author, speaker, Bible teacher, and cancer survivor who has become a trusted voice for Christians navigating trauma, grief, and suffering. After enduring divorce, single motherhood, three battles with tongue cancer, permanent disability, chronic pain, and the challenges of raising children from traumatic backgrounds, Michele now helps others discover a resilient faith rooted in God's unchanging character. Her newest book, A Faith That Will Not Fail, equips readers to build a faith that endures life's hardest seasons—not because life becomes easier, but because God remains faithful through every trial.
Key Takeaways
- How do you heal after trauma without pretending you're "over it"? Discover why recovery takes time and how telling the truth about your pain is the first step toward healing.
- What if God doesn't remove your suffering? Learn how God's presence can become your greatest source of strength, even when your circumstances don't change.
- How can you build a faith that won't fail? Michele shares practical spiritual practices—including Scripture, lament, counseling, and relinquishment—that strengthen your faith before the storms of life arrive.
- Can your scars become a testimony instead of a source of shame? Find encouragement to see your wounds as reminders of God's sustaining grace and faithfulness.
How This Episode Will Encourage You
If you're exhausted from carrying pain that hasn't gone away or wondering whether your faith is enough for what you're facing, take heart. God isn't asking you to hide your wounds—He's inviting you to trust Him in the middle of them, and He will faithfully walk with you every step of the way.
If this conversation encouraged you, subscribe to the Collide Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend who needs hope in the middle of her own hard season. Explore more Christ-centered resources for healing and emotional wellness at Collide.
Resources + Links
Michele Cushatt
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