How to Walk with Jesus in Seasons of Pain with Vaneetha Risner

Suffering is something every believer will face—but what do we do when it feels relentless, unfair, or overwhelming? In this powerful episode of the Ministry Wives Podcast, host Amy Petersen sits down with author and speaker Vaneetha Risner to talk about walking with Jesus through seasons of deep pain.

Vaneetha’s story is marked by challenges: childhood polio, the heartbreaking loss of her infant son, a painful divorce, and the ongoing struggles of post-polio syndrome. Yet, through every valley, she has discovered the nearness of Christ—not through quick fixes or easy answers, but through honest lament and raw dependence on God.

Together, Amy and Vaneetha explore common misconceptions about suffering, the beauty of biblical lament, and how to come alongside others who are hurting with both truth and tenderness. If you’ve ever felt like your faith faltered under the weight of pain—or if you’ve walked with someone in the midst of grief—this conversation will remind you that your hope is not in an outcome, but in a Savior who draws near.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode with Vaneetha Risner:

• Why there is no “quota” for suffering—and how to reframe hardship as a means of drawing closer to Christ
• The false belief that obedience keeps us from pain, and what Scripture really teaches about suffering
• How lament gives language to our grief and creates deeper intimacy with God
• Practical ways to walk with others in their pain without minimizing or sermonizing
• Why our ultimate hope is not found in changed circumstances, but in Jesus Himself

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Watching for the Morning: 90 Devotionals for When Hope is Hard to Find by Vaneetha Risner

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