Episode Details

In this episode of Singing Through Fire, host Lara Silverman interviews Ara and Esther Assilian about raising their son Hirad, who suffered severe brain damage at birth. After spending three days on a respirator, Hirad unexpectedly began breathing on his own and lived for 13 years, requiring around-the-clock care.

Ara shares his struggle with anger and unanswered prayers for healing, while Esther reflects on her steadfast faith and the comfort she found in church music. Together, they explore God’s presence in suffering, the dignity of people with disabilities, and how their journey deepened their empathy, strengthened their family, and inspired Ara’s book Pearls of Life.

Chapters
00:00 Don’t Quit Hope 
00:24 Meet Ara and Esther 
02:53 Labor Crisis Begins 
04:13 Brain Injury and ICU 
06:12 Thirteen Years of Care 
07:16 Wrestling and Wonder 
09:40 Esther’s Steadfast Faith 
12:07 Final Days and Farewell 
16:12 God’s Presence in Pain 
19:03 Seizures and Public Stigma 
21:40 Unanswered Questions 
22:27 Book Break and Redemption 
23:55 Strength and Empathy Afterward 
25:33 Next Testimony Teaser 
25:40 Vision After Loss 
26:55 Anger to Assurance 
29:22 Healing Hopes Challenged 
29:50 Faith and False Doctrine 
31:42 God’s Heart for Disability 
36:30 Writing *Pearls of Life* 
38:23 One Day at a Time 
38:53 Encouragement to Sufferers 
41:10 Music as Comfort 
42:11 Eternal Rewards and Farewell 
44:19 Pearls of Life Song

Resources and Links:
Pearls of Life: Reflections of Faith, Hope, and Love While Facing Life’s Challenges by Ara Assilian: https://a.co/d/08U3HErU

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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.