Hello everyone and welcome to the Graceology with Gwen Smith podcast. I'm Gwen Smith and I am so glad

you've joined me today. Around here we have fun, faith-focused, grace-filled conversations,

all to help you know and trust God more. Our discussions are honest, often humorous, and always

practical, and they're going to encourage you in meaningful ways to live out and lean on the

grace of Jesus in the midst of cluttered messy days. You got any of those? I know I do, and I can't

wait to get to today's conversation,

which is all about learning to trust God in times of loss and suffering.

Today my guest is Nikki Hardy.

Nikki is a cancer survivor, a pastor's wife, tea drinker, and self-professed teller of bad jokes.

She is a Brit living in a USA, yes, she does have a fabulous accent that you're gonna love. Beyond all that, Nikki is living proof

that life doesn't have to be pain-free to be full, and she's the author of Breathe Again,

how to live well when life falls apart. So let me ask you this. Do you ever think

that that full life Jesus promised is out there in your future somewhere? Or do you sometimes

feel like you're living a life that you didn't necessarily sign up for? If so, you're not alone,

not by a long stretch. Today, with empathy, humor, and raw honesty,

Nikki shares some profound, biblically strong lessons that God's been teaching her

about his willingness to meet us right where we are and draw us to his side, to his hope,

to his strength, and to his peace. This episode is full of powerful stories and practical advice

that are going to help you to be brave in the power of Jesus

through every tough time you face. Nikki Hardy, it is so exciting to have you on the Graceology show today. Thank you for coming.

Oh, thank you for having me. It's so great to be here.

Well, around here, one of the things that we always start off with is what's called a fast fun favorites round, where I kind of put you on a

...