Welcome back to Fierce Calling! In this episode, host Doris sits down with Melissa McLaughlin, an author, teacher, and speaker, who writes to uplift and inspire followers of Christ.. Melissa opens up about her faith journey, including her unexpected bout with debilitating health issues that led her to an unexpected and unplanned early retirement from her teaching career. What could have been a season of loss became a time of deep spiritual renewal, as Melissa rediscovered her identity in Christ and found new ways to connect with God through scripture-based prayer.

Out of her darkest moments came her first book, In Dark of Night When Words Fail, Voice of Jesus, Pray for Me, designed to help those who struggle with prayer find their voice again through scripture. Melissa also shares how her second book, The Whole Bible Devotional: Seeing Jesus in Every Book of the Bible, was inspired by her own challenges with reading the Bible all the way through, and her desire to help others see the big-picture story of Jesus woven throughout all the books of the Bible.

Join us for an encouraging conversation about hope, identity, and the power of God, Who creates beauty from ashes. Whether you’re in a season of uncertainty, desire to deepen your prayer life, or looking for fresh ways to engage with Scripture, Melissa’s story and resources will inspire you to keep seeking God’s purpose—no matter what twists and turns life may bring.

We’re Talking About This Amazing Devotional and More!

Florida Women’s Ministry Leadership Conference mentioned in the intro:

Episode Highlights and Takeaways …

1. Introduction to Melissa McLaughlin

Roles and identity: teacher, writer, wife, mom, speaker, prayer leader, overcomer
Passion for pursuing Christ with biblical truth, grace, and prayer
Brief overview of her books:
- “In Dark of Night When Words Fail, Voice of Jesus, Pray For Me”
- “The Whole Bible Devotional: Seeing Jesus in Every Book of the Bible”
Context of her writing coming from personal struggles
Doris’s introduction and excitement about the conversation

2. Melissa’s Personal Faith Journey

Growing up in a Christian home
Making her faith her own during college years
Becoming a teacher and her passion for education
Marriage and raising three grown children

3. The Impact of Health Challenges

Long history of back problems leading to debilitating health issues at age 50
Forced, early, and unexpected retirement from teaching
Struggles with loss: health, job, and sense of identity
Spiritual wrestling: questioning God’s plan and lack of healing

4. Rediscovering Identity in Christ

God “peeling back” layers of false identity
Coming to see herself as a child of God, identity rooted in Jesus
Faith being deepened and transformed through suffering

5. Losing and Regaining the Voice to Pray

Feeling unable to pray during her darkest moments
Returning to Scripture and learning to pray aloud from the Bible
Rewriting Scripture into personalized prayers
Restoration of her prayer life: God’s words empowering her prayers

6. The Birth of Her First Book

Decision to write for others struggling to pray
Combining teaching, compassion, and personal pain into her writing
Purpose and design of “In Dark of Night When Words Fail, Voice of Jesus, Pray For Me”
- A prayer guide using Scripture for those struggling to pray or seeking to refresh prayer life

7. Transitioning from Teaching to New Ministry

Letting go of her expected career path
Recognizing how God repurposes gifts for new seasons
The unexpected call to writing and blogging

8. Encouragement for Listeners Facing Unexpected Change

Reflection on how God is never surprised by our circumstances
Importance of not finding identity solely in career or roles
Trusting God’s faithfulness to unfold new things

9. Struggles and Strategies in Reading the Bible

Personal experience of reading the Bible fully as a teenager
Attempts to encourage her children to read the Bible, and the challenges they faced
Disappointment over not completing a family Bible reading plan

10. Creation of the Second Book: The Whole Bible Devotional

Desire to help people get the “big picture” of the Bible and see Jesus throughout Scripture
Structure and purpose of the book:
- Non-academic, accessible Bible overview
- 66 representative Scripture passages, one from each book of the Bible
- Prayers accompanying each passage, focusing on Jesus’s role across Scripture
Suitable as a 66-day devotional for deeper Bible engagement

11. Teaching as a Calling Beyond the Classroom

Understanding that her core gift of teaching could be used in new formats
Comparing experiences with Doris regarding finding new avenues to teach

12. Practical Guidance for Bible Reading and Study

Difference between reading through and studying the Bible
The benefit of structured plans for reading large sections
Importance of context and seeing the Bible as a whole

13. Process and Discernment in Selecting Devotional Scriptures

Details on the five-year journey to select the 66 passages
Reading one chapter a day and prayerfully discerning key verses
Consulting study Bibles and biblical resources
Seeking to highlight how Christ is present in every book

14. The Transformational Power of the Project

Personal spiritual impact on Melissa during the writing process
Emphasis on patience and allowing God’s timing

15. Central Themes of Her Devotional

Seeing Jesus as present from Genesis to Revelation
Understanding Jesus beyond just the New Testament/manger story
The significance of Jesus as Savior AND Lord

16. The Need for a High View of Scripture and Christ

Importance of filtering all teachings through the Bible
Jesus as the eternal Word, present from the beginning
The fullness of Christ: mercy, righteousness, justice, lordship

17. Addressing Modern Misconceptions About Jesus

Tendency toward emphasizing only grace and love
Balanced understanding of repentance, lordship, and salvation through Jesus alone
The danger of “multiple ways to God” and affirming Jesus’s claim as the only way

18. Encouragement for Listeners in Difficult Seasons

Personal words for those facing pain or loss
Assurance that God sees, loves, and can use broken places for His glory
The power of waiting on God and trusting in His continued work

19. Resources and Ways to Connect with Melissa

Website and blog: melissamclaughlin.org
Free subscription with prayer resources
Blog content: devotionals, Bible studies, prayers, poetry
Books available on Amazon and major retailers
Social media presence: Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, Pinterest
Invitation to reach out for prayer or encouragement

20. Closing Thoughts and Exhortation

Reminder that endings often lead to new beginnings
Encouragement to trust God’s bigger plan
Affirmation of listeners’ value and place in God’s story
Invitation to future episodes and continuing community

Connect with Melissa!

You can connect with Melissa at melissamclaughlin.org

Email – melissa.melissamclaughlin.org
X/Twitter – https://x....

Embracing New Beginnings After Unexpected Challenges with Melissa McLaughlin