Episode Details

Host Lara Silverman continues the “Faith in the Furnace” series with David Heflin, founder and executive director of the chronic illness and pain support ministry Broken and Mended, former pastor of 20 years, and author of the upcoming book Purpose in Pain. David shares how hip injuries revealed ankylosing spondylitis, later compounded by Crohn’s, and how worsening symptoms affected ministry, family expectations, and mental health. He recounts a frightening season of medical uncertainty that led to Mayo Clinic evaluation, a past period of job loss and foreclosure that intensified doubts about God’s nearness, and a later moment of spiritual reassurance. Together they discuss taking up the cross, acceptance, lament, God’s grace in weakness, suffering’s role in sanctification and glory, and how these experiences shaped David’s call to start Broken and Mended.

Chapters
00:00 Show Introduction
01:51 David Health Crisis
04:12 Dreams Derailed
05:44 New Diagnoses
08:23 Ministry Born
11:58 Cross And Calling
14:54 Finding Purpose
21:56 Silence And Presence
29:40 Healing And Acceptance
31:55 Acceptance and Surrender
33:22 Living Faithfully With Illness
34:30 Joy and Purpose in Pain
35:54 Grace Over Performance
38:40 Upside Down Kingdom Strength
42:31 Why Suffering Brings Glory
46:56 Anchor Verses for Hard Days
50:20 No Good Thing Withheld
52:55 Suffering Before Glory
57:28 Does Church Prepare Us
01:00:45 Where to Find Broken Mended
01:02:32 Final Encouragement and Outro

Resources and Links:
Broken and Mended's website
David's podcast with Broken and Mended

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PODCAST DESCRIPTION:

Welcome to the Singing Through Fire podcast! I’m your host Lara Silverman, and this is where we:

• Worship when it hurts
• Discuss hot takes from the furnace of affliction
• Explore a biblical theology of suffering with a side of sass and sarcasm 

From lamentations to laughter, this podcast is for anyone desperate for hope who has ever asked, "Why, Lord, why?”

Don’t forget to follow/subscribe because I upload content every Tuesday and Friday! 

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2nd Corinthians 4:17.