What if the place you most want to avoid is the very place where Jesus wants to meet you? In this week’s episode of The Love Offering Podcast, I had the meaningful opportunity to talk with author and speaker Willow Weston about her powerful new book, Collide. Life rarely unfolds the way we imagine it will. Heartbreak, loss, trauma, disappointment, and shame can leave us feeling scattered and unsure of how to move forward. Many of us try to outrun the pain or bury it beneath busy lives and brave faces. But as Willow gently reminds us, unresolved hurt has a way of resurfacing—often through anxiety, broken relationships, or a deep sense of restlessness. But what if our pain isn’t the end of the story?

In Collide, Willow invites us to consider a different possibility: that Jesus meets us right in the middle of our mess. Not to shame us or condemn us, but to walk with us, heal what is broken, and begin restoring our hearts.

Through her own honest and vulnerable story, Willow offers compassionate guidance for those who long for healing but aren’t sure where to begin. Together we talk about:

• Why our past wounds often shape our present struggles
• How avoiding pain can keep us stuck in unhealthy patterns
• What Scripture reveals about weakness, suffering, and God’s nearness
• How inviting Jesus into our hurt opens the door for real healing
• And how our healing can ripple outward to bless others

One of the most encouraging reminders from our conversation is this: we don’t have to arrive healed before coming to Jesus. We can come exactly as we are—limping, weary, unsure—and trust that He meets us there.

Friend, if you’re carrying something heavy today, I hope this conversation reminds you that God sees you, He cares deeply about what you’ve walked through, and He is near to the brokenhearted.

You don’t have to run from your pain.
You can bring it to Him.

My prayer is that this episode encourages you to take one small step toward healing and to trust that even the places that feel most broken can become places where God’s grace meets you most powerfully.

With love,

Rachael

Host, The Love Offering Podcast
Author of Everyday Prayers for Love

P.S. If this episode encourages you, consider sharing it with a friend who may need the reminder that healing is possible—and that Jesus meets us right in the middle of our story.

Connect with Rachael:

https://rachaelkadams.com/

Connect with Willow:

https://www.willowweston.com/

Download the Love Always devotional:

https://rachaelkadams.com/free/

Episode Sponsored by the Every Woman’s Bible:
https://hubs.la/Q0427vjP0