Hi, I'm Jen. I’m a writer, speaker, board-certified mental health coach, and women’s ministry leader with a passion for walking alongside others toward wholeness.

Through my blog, workshops, speaking, and coaching, I help others implement positive lifestyle practices (e.g. nutrition, movement, prayer, meditation) and develop a deeper relationship with God.

Prior to my diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy, I was a healthy 39-year-old. I ate well, exercised regularly, and didn’t drink or smoke. In fact, at the time, I was coaching others in health and fitness—helping them care for their body as a temple of the Holy Spirit through proper nutrition, physical activity, rest, and stress management (1 Corinthians 6:19).  

In March of 2021, after 27 months of burning/freezing pain in my legs, hands, and feet, a skin biopsy revealed that I had small fiber neuropathy—a disease characterized by damage to peripheral nerves that relay messages regarding pain and temperature to the brain. Over time, the symptoms increased and spread to other parts of my body. To date, my neuropathy is idiopathic, meaning doctors still don’t know what's causing it. Without a cause, there is no cure.

On the outside, I look fine, but most of the time my extremities, especially my feet, feel like they're on fire. (For additional symptoms of neuropathy, visit the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy's website.)

Many people living with chronic pain and illness believe the lie that no one understands. They're often anxious about their uncertain future and feel alone in their pain. Trust me, friend—you are not alone!

In my own healing journey I've discovered that, along with caring for our body, we must address the mind and spirit. A comprehensive approach to living with pain looks at the whole person.

The Bible tells us that lasting change occurs by the renewal of our mind as we align our thoughts with God's Word (Romans 12:2). Replacing negative thoughts and the lies we believe with truth is imperative to shift our perspective on pain so that we can move forward.

To help you with this, I've created a free resource, 10 Lies We Believe About Pain & The Scriptural Truths to Replace Them, which you can download for free!

While negative thoughts have been proven to amplify pain, positive ones can propel us toward wholeness. Here are a few to get you started:

  • You are not alone in your struggles. I see you, and I am aware of how much energy it takes to endure pain every single day. You are a warrior not because you can carry this on your own, but because you are willing to lay down your pride, admit your weaknesses, and invite them to draw you closer to Christ and into community.
  • Being in pain doesn’t make you needy, annoying, or helpless—it makes you human. We are called to “do life” in community, to “carry each other’s burdens, and in this way fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). Allowing others into your story is not burdening them—it is gifting them with the opportunity to live out their faith.
  • God gives us community to grow. When we bring our struggles into the light and let Jesus lighten our load, He breathes life into our hard stories and gives us treasures in the darkness (Matthew 11:30, Isaiah 45:3).

I'm currently writing a devotional, A Glimmer of Hope - Receiving God's Blessings in the Midst of Your Pain, which you can download a 5-day sample of here. Even when you feel like all hope is lost, God will illuminate your path (Psalm 119:105), provide for your needs (Phil 4:19), and lead you on level ground (Psalm 143:10). No matter how messy your life might be, we can walk with God toward healing while leaving anxiety and defeat at the door.

Each day in the devotional, you'll explore one blessing God offers us in pain when we keep our eyes fixed on Him. On Day 5, I share a bonus resource that you don't want to miss!

In a recent meeting with my neurologist, he asked what was helping manage my pain. I told him how movement decreased the burning, good nutrition lessened my fatigue, and massage improved circulation. Strategies like Christian cognitive behavior therapy also helped me focus on what is true, and medication took the edge off. However, the most significant factor helping me through my pain was not any of these things—it was my faith.

When crisis hits we have two choices—we can either fall back on our circumstances or fall back on our core beliefs. The former results in a downward spiral that leads to hopelessness, anxiety, and defeat. But, the latter leads to a firm foundation that isn't shaken by our current reality. It is filled with hope, because we know that "our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).

In the words of Viktor Frankl in Man's Search for Meaning, "Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose."

Where do you find meaning and purpose? If it is grounded in that which is unchanging (i.e. God and His Word), we can remain stable regardless of our situation. We can enter into chaos without being consumed by it.

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the fain fell, and the floors came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods, came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."  Matthew 7:24-27

I choose to stand firm in the faith and build my house on the rock. You can too! There is A WAY through our pain and HIS NAME IS JESUS. 

This blog is all about sharing in the light what God has taught me in darkness (Matthew 10:27). I share my story to provide hope to the hurting and help you navigate challenging circumstances with less fear. Let us honor the God who rescues us out of despair, sustains us through our trials, and restores us to wholeness. Healing is on the horizon, friend, and I am right here alongside you!