Hey friends, it’s Raleigh Sadler. In this episode of MercyCast, I sit down with my good friend Tyler Gresham, Administrative pastor to students at Fairhaven Baptist in Demopolis, Al,  to talk about something we all encounter but often don’t know how to handle—suffering, especially in the face of unimaginable loss. Tyler opens up about the heartbreaking journey of losing his daughter, Tessa, to a terminal birth defect, and what it looked like to walk through that adversity with honesty, trust, and a deep longing for healing.

Together, we unpack how compassion—as well-intentioned as it is—can sometimes feel like salt in a wound when we’re not careful with our words. We talk about how simply listening—really listening—can communicate more love than any advice ever could.

In this deeply moving episode of MercyCast, I sit down with Jill Merrier—a foster parent who has chosen to walk the hard road of loving and parenting medically fragile children. We talk about the unseen reality of foster care, especially for kids who age out of the system each year—many of whom carry invisible wounds. Jill brings to light the challenges and beauty of parenting in adversity, and how compassion isn’t just a feeling—it’s a practice, a discipline, and a way to love well.

The pain that we experience can illuminate where we have placed our identity.

Chuck and Ashley Elliott, authors of a new book, I Used to Be ___: How to Navigate Large and Small Losses in Life and Find Your Path Forward, discuss the intersection of identity and loss, particularly in the context of recurrent miscarriage. They share their personal experiences and how they reacted incongruently to their identity. They emphasize the importance of facing loss and allowing oneself to be seen as they are in moments of pain. They also discuss the role of idols in our lives and the need to reset our identity in Christ. Gratitude is highlighted as a way to avoid idolatry and find healing during transition. In this conversation, Chuck and Ashley discuss the importance of inviting God into our negative spaces and facing our shame and fears. They emphasize the need to hold onto truth and scripture during transition and loss. They also highlight the value of building healthy habits and relationships in our everyday lives to prepare us for difficult times. Ultimately, they encourage listeners to embrace vulnerability and seek God's presence in their struggles.