Dr. Jeremiah Johnston discusses life and ministry with Angie Smith, a writer who is known for illustrating relevant truths for women and girls. Smith details the story of losing her daughter, Audrey, shortly after birth. The grief of losing an infant is unique to the mother who carries the child, Smith says.
She encourages believers to take their pain and doubts to God. “God is not intimidated by you being angry; He knows how you feel,” Smith says. “You might as well bring your feelings to Him.”
To deal with one’s own trauma, Smith counsels others to take the time needed, and say “no” to additional responsibilities as necessary.
In comforting those who have suffered loss, Smith advises against pat answers. It’s okay to say you simply don’t know why something happened, she says. “What we do know is that we live in a sin-filled world,” she says. “There is so much freedom in knowing you don’t have the perfect answer. I know every single thing that comes to me has been sifted through God’s hands.”
A thinking faith is one that allows believers to ask questions and to exist in the tension between the known and the unknown. “In my mind, I always picture myself being in front of God in heaven and praying that He will say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ And then I’ll ask, ‘Where is she?’” Smith says. “For me, it’s accepting the ‘why?’”
Johnston then answers a question from Rick through AskJJJ.com about the books he reads. Johnston shares his latest reads entailing habit formation, Bible study, wealth-building and biographies.
Angie Smith is a writer and wife of Todd Smith, lead singer of Dove Award-winning group, “Selah.” She is the author of several books including, “I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Joy and Grief,” “What Women Fear: Walking in Faith that Transforms,” and “Mended: Pieces of a Life made Whole.” She holds a master’s degree in developmental psychology from Vanderbilt University and lives with her husband and daughters in Nashville, Tennessee.
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