Episode Details

In this episode, host Lara Silverman continues her “Faith in the Furnace” series with guest Mary Balian, an Armenian American singer-songwriter dedicated to creating contemporary Armenian Christian worship music so Armenians can worship Christ in their own language. Mary shares her testimony of suffering and faith, including losing her father to a sudden heart attack at age 15 while performing CPR, and the bitterness, depression, and questions that followed without a strong church community until later finding deeper faith through Armenian Christian camp and church mentors. She also recounts her second daughter’s journey through pain, her NICU stay as a baby, and the resilience that led to major progress. Together they discuss lament, surrender, and eternal perspective.

Chapters
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
02:18 Mary’s Father’s Death
04:04 Faith Questions and Anger
12:07 Eternal Perspective Shift
13:41 Prosperity Myths and Cross
16:37 Pregnancy Crisis and NICU
19:01 Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis
23:48 Surrender and Mental Health
28:29 Nothing Wasted Redemption
31:15 Humbled by Healing
31:49 Holy Spirit Texts
34:20 When God Feels Silent
36:35 Empowering a Child
40:02 Eternal Perspective Shift
42:02 Verses for Low Days
44:28 Surprised by Joy
48:50 Doctrine of Rewards
51:40 Community and Accountability
54:42 Hope for Dad's Salvation
57:09 Where to Find Mary
58:41 Final Blessing and Sendoff

Resources and Links:
Mary's website

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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.