Episode Details...
Let's Pray
Prayer, Grief, and Growing Closer to God
In this heartfelt conversation on Let's Pray, Season and guest Tom Luttrell, a psychologist and educator, share candid reflections on their personal prayer journeys. Tom recalls early skepticism, transformative answered prayers, and the grief of unanswered ones, while both explore what it means to pray authentically rather than perfectly. The episode closes with two warm, sincere prayers for listeners who feel disconnected from or uncertain about prayer.
In this episode of Let's Pray, Season sits down with Tom Luttrell, a Christian psychologist and former psychology professor, for an open and honest conversation about the role of prayer in everyday life. Tom shares how he initially resisted giving God credit for his successes, only to be humbled when a financial crisis pushed him to pray for the first time in a meaningful way. The resulting answer, a bank disbursement arriving for the exact amount he needed, became a turning point in his relationship with God.
The conversation also ventures into harder territory: Tom recounts praying desperately for his father and stepfather during their final illnesses and receiving no miraculous healing. Rather than offering easy answers, both speakers sit with the tension between unanswered prayer and God's sovereignty, drawing on the example of Jesus weeping before raising Lazarus, and the raw honesty of Psalm 77. They discuss how prayer is not a formula to master but a relationship to grow into, and how discouragement, grief, and even resentment can all be honestly brought before God.
Tom also reflects on how prayer shapes his work as a therapist, choosing spontaneity over ritual and finding that praying with clients often unlocks deep emotional breakthroughs.
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Pastor Mike Speegle, joins Season to discuss his co-authored book "Big Questions," which tackles faith's hardest doubts, including whether God exists, why people suffer, and how to find purpose in life. The conversation explores honest, practical approaches to prayer and doubt, emphasizing that uncertainty is a natural and valuable part of any faith journey.
Shelley Ringstaff, social worker, missionary, and pastor's wife, joins Season to share how God has guided her through poverty, bullying, and seasons of uncertainty. She reflects on simple, honest prayer, the power of compassion shaped by hardship, and a remarkable story of God providing food for refugee communities during Covid.
Jerry shares his remarkable journey from atheism to faith, recounting how a series of unexpected nudges led him to buy a Bible, discover the Sabbath, and eventually get baptized. Season and Jerry discuss the realities of new faith, including a serious health crisis shortly after baptism, an honest prayer life, and the beauty of answered prayers for community and marriage.
Justin Woods, a long-time Hope Channel team member, shares his remarkable journey of waiting on God through years of unanswered prayer. From a dinosaur dig in Texas to a surprise call to India, Justin recounts how bold, specific prayers led to unexpected doors, a career in Christian media, and a family he never imagined he would find in Maryland.
In this episode of Let's Pray, Ruthie Reeves shares her personal journey from a faith-filled Kansas upbringing through a serious situation in her teen years, into a place where scripture promises and prayer carried her through. The conversation turns practical, exploring how to "claim the promises" of God's word, with a concrete example of applying James's wisdom promise during high-stakes academic testing. The episode closes with two heartfelt prayers: one for those needing to apply God's word, and one for those longing for a trusted Christian friendship.
Pastor Shawn Boonstra joins the Let's Pray program to share his personal journey from a rebellious youth to a television evangelist, tracing how prayer shaped every turning point in his life. He discusses the importance of building a genuine relationship with God rather than treating prayer as a wish list, drawing on Matthew 6 and his own experiences in public evangelism. The episode closes with a heartfelt prayer for anyone hesitant to take a step of faith toward Jesus.
In this heartfelt conversation on Let's Pray, Season and guest Tom Luttrell, a psychologist and educator, share candid reflections on their personal prayer journeys. Tom recalls early skepticism, transformative answered prayers, and the grief of unanswered ones, while both explore what it means to pray authentically rather than perfectly. The episode closes with two warm, sincere prayers for listeners who feel disconnected from or uncertain about prayer.
Ivan Omania sits down with Season to discuss the nature and power of prayer. Drawing from his experience as a pastor's kid, a young pastor, and a hospital chaplain, Ivan shares how prayer evolved from a childhood checklist into a vital lifeline. The episode closes with a heartfelt bilingual prayer for Venezuela following the recent earthquakes.
Rico Hill, Senior Producer for Hope Channel International, shares his journey from a successful Hollywood career at MTV, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network to Christian media ministry. He reflects on how God used dark seasons, answered prayer, and called him to be a light in difficult workplaces. The conversation closes with an encouragement for believers still in the marketplace.
Gladys Guerrero, joins Season to share her ongoing journey with a brain tumor diagnosed in 2013 and surgically treated in 2018. She speaks candidly about fear, faith, and the "even if" outlook of the three Hebrew boys from the book of Daniel. The episode closes with heartfelt prayer for Gladys, her upcoming medical appointment, and all viewers facing uncertain diagnoses.
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