The Unfolding

Meridith Foster

  • 11 minutes 44 seconds
    Haylee Graham: "With God, no season is wasted, no time is wasted" - Unfolding Short Stories

    "With God, no season is wasted, no time is wasted."

    Haylee Graham shares how God used one short film, one Bible verse, and one unexpected season to bring reconciliation with her father before his sudden death. What became his final film also became a turning point in their relationship. In this Unfolding Short Story, Haylee reflects on grief, God's timing, and the quiet ways He prepares us for what's ahead.

    Here's a link to the short film Haylee talks about: "Planted"

    Here's a link to Haylee's latest book: Take the Horse and Run

    24 March 2026, 9:00 am
  • 39 minutes 45 seconds
    Mary DeMuth: Finding Healing in the Darkest Places: God, Redemption, and Restorying Your Life: Page 274

    Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give.

    Content warning: This episode contains discussion of child sexual abuse and neglect. Listener discretion is advised.

    Mary DeMuth, author of more than 50 books including Restory Your Life, shares her journey from a childhood of abuse and neglect to a life marked by God's healing, hope, and purpose.

    Hear how a single prayer as a teenager- "God, would you be the Father who will never leave me?"- set Mary on a path of faith, healing, and ultimately helping others walk through their own pain. She talks candidly about the long, often difficult process of healing, and offers insight into how sharing your story can bring light, encouragement, and restoration.

    This episode is a powerful reminder that God can redeem the most painful chapters of our lives, and that your story, no matter how broken, can become a source of hope for others.

    Show Notes:

    Website: https://www.marydemuth.com/

    Restory Your Life book: https://www.marydemuth.com/books/restory-your-life/

    Pray Every Day podcast: https://www.marydemuth.com/prayeveryday-2/

    Thin Places book: https://www.marydemuth.com/books/thin-places-2/

    Into the Light Bible study: https://www.marydemuth.com/books/into-the-light-bible-study-book/

    The Wall Around Your Heart book: https://www.marydemuth.com/books/wall-around-heart/

    20 March 2026, 9:00 am
  • 9 minutes 34 seconds
    Karisa Rogers: "Lord, please remove this desire to drink." | Unfolding Short Stories

    "Lord, please remove this desire to drink."

    Karisa Rogers believed in God. She even liked telling people about Jesus. But alcohol still had a grip on her life.

    What began as a way to fit in eventually became a way to cope with heartbreak and family pain. After years of struggle, Karisa reached the end of herself and prayed a simple prayer: "Lord, please remove this desire to drink." In this Unfolding Short Story, Karisa shares how God met her in that moment and how her life has been transformed ever since.

    17 March 2026, 9:00 am
  • 1 hour 43 seconds
    Dennis and Dawn Ritter Part 2: When Faith Faces Loss: A Family Finds Hope After Saying Goodbye: Page 273

    Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give.

    Dennis Ritter spent decades battling heart disease, living with the knowledge that his time might be shorter than most. But suffering didn't make him bitter. It deepened his faith. When Dennis' health declined, his family gathered to say goodbye. In this deeply moving episode of The Unfolding, Dawn Ritter and her children, Ben and Karen, share the story of Dennis' final days, the legacy of faith he left behind, and the hope that carries them through heartbreaking loss. They talk honestly about grief, unanswered prayers for healing, and why their faith in God remained steady even when the miracle they asked for didn't come. Because sometimes God doesn't remove the suffering. Sometimes He meets us in it.

    Show Notes:

    Books:

    Every Moment Holy Vol. 2 Death, Grief, and Hope https://www.amazon.com/Every-Moment-Holy-II-Hardcover/dp/1951872053

    Grieving with Hope https://www.amazon.com/Grieving-Hope-Walking-Jesus-Heartbreak/dp/164507448X

    A Grace Disguised https://www.amazon.com/Grace-Disguised-Revised-Expanded-through/dp/0310363594

    When Mountains Crumble https://www.amazon.com/When-Mountains-Crumble-Rebuilding-Someone/dp/0802425569

    Walking with God through Pain and Suffering https://www.amazon.com/Walking-God-through-Pain-Suffering/dp/1594634408

    Podcasts:

    The Widowed Mom Podcast by Krista St. Germain - https://www.coachingwithkrista.com/podcast/

    The Widow Coach Podcast by Karen Sutton. https://www.karensutton.co.uk/podcasts/the-widow-podcast

    A Widow's Heart Podcast with Pam Lundell

    https://www.myfaithpodcasts.com/podcasts/a-widows-heart/

    Website:

    Never Alone Widows - a nationwide ministry to widows. https://www.neveralonewidows.com/

    13 March 2026, 9:00 am
  • 13 minutes 21 seconds
    Gary & Mari Malychewski: "There's no winners in what we went through... only Hannah." | Unfolding Short Stories

    "There are no winners in what we went through… only Hannah."

    Gary and Mari Malychewski share the story of losing their young daughter in a tragic accident. In the days and years that followed, they faced questions of grief, guilt, and forgiveness that few parents ever have to carry. Looking back, they say God had been quietly preparing their hearts long before that day arrived. This is a story about loss, faith, and the difficult grace of learning to forgive in the middle of unimaginable pain.

    10 March 2026, 9:00 am
  • 34 minutes 48 seconds
    Dennis and Dawn Ritter: His Heart Stopped Three Times. What He Experienced Changed Their Faith Forever: Page 272

    Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give.

    Dennis died three times. What he experienced while his heart stopped changed the way he—and his family—would live the rest of their lives.

    Dennis spent his life trying to outrun the heart disease that ran in his family. He exercised. Ate well. Stayed disciplined. Then one day, without warning, he collapsed from a massive heart attack. His heart stopped three times. Dennis says during those moments he experienced something almost impossible to describe. It was an overwhelming sense of love and peace.

    While doctors fought to save him, his wife Dawn stood in the hospital hallway praying, clinging to Scripture, and surrendering her husband's life to God. When Dennis came back, everything changed. They didn't just get survival. They got bonus time. A deeper intimacy with God. And a new understanding of how God had been preparing them long before this moment.

    Show Notes:

    Book Dennis mentioned: https://www.amazon.com/90-Minutes-Heaven-Story-Death/dp/0800759494

    6 March 2026, 10:00 am
  • 10 minutes 17 seconds
    Travis West: "Call the Sabbath a delight." | Unfolding Short Stories

    Travis West knows what it feels like to run on empty. Early in his marriage he was working multiple jobs and caring for his wife Mariah through a long illness. A study trip to Jerusalem changed everything. When the city slowed to a standstill on Friday nights, Travis experienced Sabbath rest for the first time. In this episode he explains how that weekly pause brought new life to his family and why he believes Sabbath is a practical gift for anyone today.

    Book:

    The Sabbath Way: Making Room in Your Life for Rest, Connection, and Delight

    www.travis-west.com

    https://www.travis-west.com/practices

    3 March 2026, 10:00 am
  • 54 minutes 35 seconds
    Jaye King: Identity, Healing & the God Who Never Leaves: Page 271

    What happens to a boy's heart when his father stands a few feet away in church every Sunday, but never really shows up at home? Singer and songwriter Jaye King grew up playing drums on the platform while his dad directed the music. They served in the same services. Created the same worship moments. But outside the church walls, his father wasn't consistently present in his life. That tension shaped how Jaye saw himself and how he saw God. In this hope-filled conversation, Jaye shares about wrestling skepticism, navigating father wounds, and the slow process of discovering that God doesn't leave the way people sometimes do. What unfolds is a story of identity, forgiveness, calling, and the hidden years that formed him long before the spotlight. Today, Jaye King is a singer and songwriter with Centricity Music, known for songs like Hard Places and Falling Into It. His music carries the very themes you'll hear in this episode- healing, hope, and a Father who stays.

    Show Notes:

    Website: https://www.jayeking.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayekingmusic/

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jayekingmusic

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JayeKingMusic

    27 February 2026, 2:56 pm
  • 14 minutes 52 seconds
    Nigel Masenda: "...the more emotive I am, the more God surprises me." | Unfolding Short Stories

    "I've often felt I can be too much, but the more emotive I am, the more God surprises me."

    Growing up in a family and culture where men were often reserved, Nigel Massenda felt out of place for expressing his emotions so freely. But when his mother traveled abroad for a funeral and could not return for two long years, loneliness and unanswered prayers pushed him deeper into raw, honest faith. Through caring neighbors, silent prayers, and a steady hope, Nigel discovered that embracing vulnerability before God not only shapes our perspective but can transform our very lives.

    24 February 2026, 10:00 am
  • 1 hour 7 minutes
    Esme Crawford: From Shame to Freedom - Surviving Abuse and Finding God's Healing: Page 270

    Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give.

    What if the hardest chapter of your life didn't get the final word? Esme Crawford shares the story of how she survived domestic violence, crippling shame, and a distorted view of God; and how faith in Jesus led her into healing and freedom. Esme was born in a small Mexican village and faced many challenges from birth. As an adult, she found herself in an abusive relationship that slowly stripped away her identity, confidence, and sense of worth. She believed the lie that it was her fault. But God never left her. Esme talks about wrestling with shame, learning that God is a loving Father, finding healing in Jesus, and reclaiming her identity as a daughter of the King. If you've ever struggled with guilt, fear, or questioned where God was in your suffering, this episode will remind you that you are seen, loved, and you are not alone.

    Content Note: This episode includes references to domestic violence and some strong language.

    Show Notes:

    WINGS - Women In Need Growing Stronger: https://wingsprogram.com/

    To reach Esme, Send a Direct Message via Instagram WILLOW WLN:

    https://www.instagram.com/willow_wln

    Additional Resources: Selah Empowers - Pause and find strength for the journey

    Metropolitan Family Services

    20 February 2026, 10:00 am
  • 15 minutes 35 seconds
    Jasmine Barr: "This may not be exactly what it means to be a Hebrew Israelite. I'm just telling my story." | Unfolding Short Stories

    As a Black Hebrew Israelite, Jasmine spent years trying not to mess up or break God's law, living under strict expectations. After long prison phone calls with the man who would become her husband, she began to see Jesus differently, not as a taskmaster but as Savior. This is her story of laying down a heavy yoke and finding rest in Jesus.

    17 February 2026, 10:00 am
  • More Episodes? Get the App