Parenting Through Pain: How God Transforms Our Broken Places Into Beauty
Parenting doesn’t always look like the picture we had in our minds, does it? Sometimes it’s marked by heartbreak, by diagnoses, by unmet expectations that shake us to the core, by children who wander off the straight and narrow path. And if you’ve ever found yourself crying out, “God, this is not what I signed up for”—please know that you are not alone. I see you.
More importantly, God sees you. And He’s not just watching from afar—He’s working in the middle of it.
This week on Christian Parent / Crazy World, I’m re-airing one of my most beloved episodes—an honest, hope-filled conversation with author and pastor Andy Howard. Andy and his wife Tiffany have walked through the heartbreak of raising a child with profound special needs—and discovering the beauty hidden in the broken places.
Their daughter Peyton will never walk or talk. And that truth crushed them at first. But God met Andy in the depths of that pain and whispered something that changed everything:
💬 “There’s beauty in the broken.”
That one line reframed everything he thought he knew about his journey.
This episode is a gentle invitation—to trust that God can do something profoundly beautiful with your most painful places.
But you guys, Andy’s story isn’t just about pain—it’s about the miraculous hope God weaves through our darkest moments. I know so many of us wonder: Can God really redeem even the deepest wounds in our families?
Andy’s testimony is living proof that He can and He does.
What Andy and his family have walked through is heavy. It’s raw. But it’s also saturated with a beauty that only God can bring—the kind of beauty Isaiah 61 talks about, where God gives us a crown of beauty for ashes, gladness for mourning, and praise instead of despair. Through Andy’s eyes (and yes, through some serious tears on my part), we see a glimpse behind the veil: the sacred truth that Christ is with us, and with our children, in ways we can hardly imagine.
🌟 Major Takeaways from This Episode:
🧩 There Is Beauty in Brokenness
Peyton may never hit the milestones the world celebrates—but her life is full of beauty, purpose, and deep joy. God values differently than we do. He sees what we can’t.
👀 Notice Special Needs Families
Don’t overlook them. Say hi. Smile. Acknowledge their child. A simple gesture can communicate volumes—you matter, you are seen, you are not alone.
💪 You Don’t Have to Be “Strong Enough”
Andy reminds us: It’s not about having superhuman strength. It’s about building your life on Christ, who carries us when we can’t take another step.
🙏 The Miracle Might Look Different
Andy once prayed for a viral, public miracle for Peyton. Instead, God gave them a quiet, private one: purpose. And that miracle has touched lives across the globe.
📖 Your Story Matters
Even when the words don’t come easy… your life speaks. Your child’s life speaks. Your brokenness can become the very thing God uses to minister to others.
Why This Episode Matters:
Andy’s family’s story shatters cultural misconceptions about suffering, disability, and special needs. Their journey affirms the sufficiency of Christ and the sacredness of every life—and points all listeners to the transformative hope we have, even when God’s answers look different than our prayers.
For Christian parents: How might God be calling you to see beauty in the “brokenness”—in your children, in yourself, or in those around you? What would it look like to embrace families with special needs in your church or community as beloved bearers of God’s image and joy?
🎧 Listen Now:
👉 Parenting Through Pain: How God Transforms Our Broken Places into Beauty. To listen on Life Audio, click on the image below:
Or you can listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Friend, you might not have chosen this path. But God can use it—every twist, every tear, every long night. Your story may be unfolding differently than you hoped… but it is still being written by a loving, faithful God.
About Andy Howard:
For over 20 years, Andy Howard has served in ministry as a youth pastor and marriage ministry pastor. A passionate advocate for mental health awareness, Andy has personally walked through the valley of depression—at one point tipping the scales at 345 lbs. as he tried to cope with family trauma through food. But God had more in store.
Together with his wife Tiffany, Andy has lost over 350 lbs. combined and co-founded a transformational health coaching business called Taking Back My Life, helping thousands reclaim physical and emotional wellness. Andy is the host of the When Words Don’t Come Easy podcast and author of a book by the same name. He lives in Bryan, Texas with Tiffany and their three beautiful daughters: Payton, Parker, and Presley.
Resources Mentioned:
- Andy’s WEBSITE
- Andy’s podcast: When Words Don’t Come Easy
- Andy’s book: When Words Don’t Come Easy
- Catherine’s episode on Andy’s podcast: From Grief to Redemption: Catherine Segars’ Powerful Story of Faith, Love, and Redemption
- Download Catherine Segars’ free ebook for moms, “Beyond the Lies: Uncovering Five Myths Our Culture Spreads to Mothers,” at catherinesegars.com
For every parent walking through shadows, this conversation is a reminder: Your brokenness can become a testimony, and the hope of Christ is strong enough to transform any story.
