How to Keep Grinning Even if Everything Isn’t Great

In this issue:

If life doesn't go the way you expected, how can you keep smiling? It isn't easy, but it's possible to find pockets of joy in the middle of even the toughest situations. In this episode, guest Kathy Carlton Willis talks about how she became God's Grin Gal and how her own hardships gave her purpose in life.

 

 

Podcast

Inspired Life: Grin with Grace

In this episode, I interviewed author Kathy Carlton Willis, God's Grin Gal. Kathy has a story to tell about how God has brought her through so many unexpected turns in life and she has still come out smiling with his joy!

Kathy talked about how she learned as a teen that she was born without most of her reproductive organs and would never be able to have a baby.  She also talked about how she has some through more than 20 surgeries and has had health crises related to chronic conditions; she has "weathered" several natural disasters and storms too. Kathy also discussed how moving often as a pastor's wife sometimes left her without the support of  close friends and community during times when she was building new friendships.

Sometimes we think that the people with the smiles are the ones who have had an easy life, and this is not really the case. It's the ones who have learned to see God at work that find real joy. We aren't talking about fake smiles, but real joy that doesn't come from what happens to us, but what God does through us. Kathy's story is inspiring!

One of Kathy's life discoveries has been in learning how to react and adjust when God's plan didn't match the one she had set out for herself. For any listener who feels as if they have lost their joy, I encourage you to listen to this episode and to follow Kathy on social media to learn more about how God continues to bring joy into her life, despite ongoing challenges.

Kathy on the web at KathyCarltonWillis.com

Find Kathy on Facebook 

 

 

 

Life, Repurposed: Heart to Heart 

I had so much fun chatting with Kathy! I love how she shared that having a trusted companion in a friend can help her to discover joy when she is struggling. This isn't someone who gives advice really, but someone who can be trusted to listen and comfort. Girlfriends, we need each other!

She talked about how when she was going through a hard time while writing her book, Grin with Grace, that she found joy in going to a coffee shop to do her writing. Sometimes it isn't the big things, but the little things that bring us joy.

And she got the book done!

Kathy has a heart for people who are hurting and speaks openly about her own pain, both physical and emotional. God has given her a ministry of encouragement. It is her own struggle that God used to give her life purpose! Remember that! If you're having a hard time, God might use this  as a way of redirecting you to a new path.

My heart for the reader who is struggling is that you would find love and support, that you would have other women to hold you up, and that you would rediscover hope for the future.

 

Recommended Resources 

Kathy is the author of Grin with Grace, a Bible study for women that explores ways to genuinely smile in the face of adversity and challenging circumstances. Sometimes, we just need to grin with grace! It's part of a series designed to help women on the run focus on a central theme. The blend of humor, transparency, biblical concepts, word studies, and opportunities for life application results in intimacy and growth.

This book is availalbe through the publisher. See the link on Kathy's website.

She has also written The Ultimate Speaker's Guide, a book that covers all the tips, tools, and takeaways a speaker will need to ensure that their audience increases and their message is heard, including:

Setting up your business, finding a brand that fits, getting more bookings, polishing your style, and discovering God’s plan for your business. It's full of help for people who speak!

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(Please note: books posted here on my blog are purely because I want to share them. Sometimes I receive free copies for review, and other times I purchase the books. Some I get from the library. Either way, any endorsement I offer here on the blog is simply because I want to talk about the book. ) *This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission. I sell my ebook via Amazon but I’m also a part of their “Associates” (i.e. affiliate) program which pays a commission on books and any other Amazon products people purchase via my links.

Michelle Rayburn is the author of The Repurposed and Upcycled Life: When God Turns Trash to Treasure, as well as a small group Bible study to accompany the book. Learn more about these and her other books here. A sample chapter of the book and Bible study are available for free download.

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This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission. I sell my ebook via Amazon but I’m also a part of their “Associates” (i.e. affiliate) program which pays a commission on books and any other Amazon products people purchase via my links.

Posted in Articles, Books & Resources, Podcast Episodes.