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Abortion is one of them.

Not because it didn’t hurt—but because shame said, “Don’t tell.”

In this week’s episode of Courageous Overcomers, one brave woman opens up about the secret she carried—the decision to have an abortion not out of rebellion, but out of fear… fear of disappointing her family, fear of being shamed, fear of not being enough.

She kept it hidden for years.
But silence doesn’t heal.

Healing began when she brought that pain into the light—and let grace do what shame never could.

If you’ve ever made a decision to avoid rejection… if you’ve ever buried a part of your story to protect others—this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now: “The Secret She Carried”

#CourageousOvercomers #TheSecretSheCarried #HealingFromShame #FaithAndHealing

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What happens when the pain we carry feels too buried, too dark, or too shameful to bring into the light? Catherine's powerful story of abortion, shame, and ultimate healing reminds us that redemption thrives in vulnerability.

Catherine never planned to share her abortion story publicly. For years after her procedure in 1981, she buried the memory, numbing her pain through what she calls "reckless living" until hitting rock bottom at age 28. Even after finding faith, she faced what countless post-abortive women experience: the inability to forgive herself despite believing in divine forgiveness. "It's just so unnatural for a woman to end the life of her child," she reflects, explaining the deep psychological wound that persisted for decades.

The turning point came unexpectedly. After confiding in sisters and close friends, Catherine felt called to share her story publicly during a church event in 2009—despite overwhelming fear of judgment. What followed was transformation, not just for her but for many who heard her story and recognized their own pain. A profound shift occurred when someone told her, "You are a mother and you will see your baby in heaven." This perspective allowed Catherine to honor her unborn child and reshape her identity. Now when asked if she has children, she responds with courageous honesty: "I don't have earthly children, but I have a baby in heaven."

Catherine's message resonates beyond abortion. Whether you're carrying shame from past choices, abuse, addiction, or any painful secret, healing begins when we stop hiding. "You can't heal what you don't face," as host Tonya reminds us. If Catherine's story touched something in you, reach out. She's offered to connect with listeners who need support in their healing journey. Download our free 5-day healing workbook at tonyashellnutt.com and take your first step toward freedom today.

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Link to 5 day workbook https://www.tonyashellnutt.com/2025-healing-cleanse

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Have you ever found yourself stuck in that excruciating space between obedience and outcome, wondering if God has forgotten you? That painful waiting room is exactly what we're tackling in this soul-nourishing episode.

The harvest is indeed coming, but growth requires patience. Drawing from personal experience, I share my family's challenging two-year period after relocating from Montana to South Carolina—a season filled with divine silence that had me questioning everything. What felt like abandonment was actually God's intimate invitation to deeper trust. This waiting period, though painful, ultimately positioned my husband to own his company and led me to my current fulfilling role.

Gardening offers us the perfect metaphor for spiritual growth. Just as plants develop strong roots underground before producing visible fruit, our souls undergo significant strengthening during quiet seasons. Your foundations are being reinforced, harmful habits are shifting, and old wounds are receiving divine attention—all beneath the surface. The enemy's favorite tactic is convincing you nothing's happening when everything is happening.

Remember that God isn't slow; He's thorough. Faith isn't passive waiting; it's active preparation. Clean out areas of your life—whether toxic relationships, harmful habits, or physical clutter—to make room for what you've been praying for. Like Penny Chenery of Secretariat fame, whose persistence created a legacy affecting every Kentucky Derby horse this year, your faithfulness today creates ripples far beyond what you can currently see.

Ready to prepare the soil of your heart? Visit tonyashellnutt.com for our free five-day healing challenge workbook. The harvest doesn't come to the fastest—it comes to the faithful. What will you do today to show God you're ready for what He has prepared?

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Stay Connected:

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Link to 5 day workbook https://www.tonyashellnutt.com/2025-healing-cleanse