Cradled in Hope | Gospel-Focused Podcast for Grieving Moms
Cradled in Hope | Gospel-Focused Podcast for Grieving Moms

Cradled in Hope | Gospel-Focused Podcast for Grieving Moms

Ashley Opliger of Bridget's Cradles

Overview
Episodes

Details

Jesus cradles us in hope as He cradles our babies in Heaven. What if the hope of Heaven had the power to heal your heart after the loss of your baby? Miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss are heartbreaking experiences that no mother should ever have to endure. Drowning in sadness, you cry out in pain, "God, where are You? Why did You let my baby die?" You feel abandoned by Him and question His goodness. How will you ever live without your precious baby? Will you ever see him or her again? Ashley Opliger asked these same questions when her daughter, Bridget, was born into Heaven at 24 weeks in her first pregnancy. In a crisis of faith, Ashley chose to surrender her suffering and allow God to heal her heart. She found purpose in her pain when she started Bridget's Cradles, a nonprofit that now comforts thousands of grieving families across the country. Through her own story of heartbreak, Ashley will guide you on a journey to trust God's promise to restore your joy, use your grief for good, and spend eternity with your baby in Heaven. Podcast episodes feature hope-filled messages, stories, and guest interviews. Grieving mothers will be reminded that though we may grieve, we do not grieve without hope! Episodes release on the 1st of every month. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss a single episode!

Recent Episodes

54 | Managing Emotions in Grief with Science + Scripture | Alicia Michelle
NOV 1, 2024
54 | Managing Emotions in Grief with Science + Scripture | Alicia Michelle

Join us for a hope-filled conversation with Alicia Michelle about managing emotions in grief with science and Scripture. Alicia, who previously shared her story of losing her son in an early miscarriage in Episode 12 of the Cradled in Hope Podcast, has recently written a book titled Emotional Confidence. Using three simple steps from her book, Alicia shares how we can face difficult emotions and choose to live differently in light of them. As we focus on God's character while at the same time caring for our brains & bodies, healing can happen. Alicia shares practical wisdom for grieving moms to navigate their grief journey, blending faith with their emotional well-being.

In this episode, we discussed:

  • A framework for managing emotions
  • What are the 3 steps (Acknowledge, Discern, Decide)?
  • Choosing where we emotionally dwell
  • What happens if we get stuck?
  • How to move past culture's expectations of us
  • The emotional iceberg
  • It's okay to hate death
  • Disconnect between our heart and head
  • Cracks in the foundation of our faith
  • The mystery of God
  • What is "emotional prep"?
  • Being good stewards of our bodies

EPISODE SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT:
[www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode54]

CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
[www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast]

CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
[www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope]

FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
[www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles]

CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
[www.ashleyopliger.com]
[www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger]
[www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger]

#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles

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57 MIN
53 | Leelynd's Story with NBC's The Voice Josh Sanders and His Wife, Kendra
OCT 1, 2024
53 | Leelynd's Story with NBC's The Voice Josh Sanders and His Wife, Kendra

Join us for a hope-filled conversation with NBC's The Voice contestant Josh Sanders and his wife, Kendra. Josh was the runner-up on Season 25 of The Voice on Team Reba McEntire. On national television, Josh shared his story of losing his precious son, Leelynd, in 2020 on his own birthday. When his story aired, NBC showed a photo of him and Kendra holding Leelynd in a Bridget's cradle.

Ashley [Bridget's Cradles founder + Cradled in Hope podcast host] and Kendra connected and formed a friendship. In this episode, you'll hear Josh and Kendra share Leelynd's story and how they navigated their grief journey both individually and as a couple. Grounded in their faith in God and commitment to each other, they authentically share the ups and downs of marriage after loss. You won't want to miss hearing their honest and vulnerable testimony of hope in the midst of deep pain.

Exciting Announcement: This month, Josh and Kendra are flying from their home state of North Carolina to Bridget's Cradles headquarters in Wichita, Kansas. Josh will sing at Bridget's Cradles' event, Wave of Light, on October 15th, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Visit www.bridgetscradles.com/waveoflight for more information and to register to attend!

In this episode, we discussed:

  • Grief is a symptom of love
  • What it looks like when spouses grieve differently
  • Losing a baby and having a funeral during the pandemic
  • Marital tension after loss
  • Surface-level feelings vs. deeper soul emotions
  • Why Josh auditioned for NBC's The Voice
  • His experience being on the show on Reba's team
  • Holding our life plans loosely
  • Spiritual warfare in grief
  • Why we shouldn't pretend to be put together
  • How God takes our mess and turns it into a message
  • Their experience holding Leelynd in a Bridget's cradle
  • Josh singing at Wave of Light 2024 and their hopes for the event
  • A special prayer from Josh for grieving parents

EPISODE SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT:
[www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode53]

CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
[www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast]

CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
[www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope]

FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
[www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles]

CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
[www.ashleyopliger.com]
[www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger]
[www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger]

#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles

★ Support this podcast ★
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73 MIN
52 | Praying for a Child or Baby in a Medical Crisis | Eric Schumacher & Jessika Sanders
SEP 1, 2024
52 | Praying for a Child or Baby in a Medical Crisis | Eric Schumacher & Jessika Sanders

Join us for a hope-filled conversation with Eric Schumacher and Jessika Sanders about how to pray for a child or baby in a medical crisis. Eric is a grieving father and author of Ours: Biblical Comfort for Men Grieving Miscarriage. Jessika is the founder and Executive Director of Praying through Ministries. Together, they wrote In His Hands: Prayers for Your Child or Baby in a Medical Crisis.

In this episode, we discussed:

  • Going to God before Google
  • Surrendering our children's lives to the Lord
  • The impact of trauma on our brains
  • The power of intercessory prayer
  • All about their book, In His Hands
  • When God doesn't answer our prayers in our timing or ways
  • Trials and how they build our (and our kids') testimony
  • Suffering and our sanctification
  • Reasons why we believe in Jesus
  • Praying through Ministries and how they help grieving families

EPISODE SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT:
[www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode52]

CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
[www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast]

CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
[www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope]

FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
[www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles]

CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
[www.ashleyopliger.com]
[www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger]
[www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger]

#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles

★ Support this podcast ★
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58 MIN
51 | Preaching Truth to Myself After Losing Three Sons | Sara Horton
JUL 1, 2024
51 | Preaching Truth to Myself After Losing Three Sons | Sara Horton

Join us for a hope-filled conversation with Sara Horton, a bereaved mom, and a perinatal bereavement nurse. Sara has experienced the loss of three boys, all born sleeping. She received cradles for two of her sons and began attending Hope Online. Sara is passionate about sharing Christ's truth and hope with grieving moms struggling to understand God's goodness while suffering through deep waters. 


In this episode, we discussed:

  • How stepping out of her comfort zone (to attend Hope Online) blessed her
  • What is it like attending a support group for the first time?
  • Reconciling your circumstances with your faith
  • The difference between our spiritual good and our materialistic good
  • Wrestling with doubt and resting in the Truth of God's Word
  • "Even if" kind of faith
  • Practicing biblical lament
  • Sanctification in suffering
  • Being honest with God and expressing your emotions
  • Praying even when you don't have the words
  • Is there a quota on trials and tribulations?
  • Rethinking what it means to be broken
  • What is the difference between joy and happiness?
  • Advice for nurses caring for grieving families

EPISODE SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT:
[www.bridgetscradles.com/post/episode51]

CRADLED IN HOPE PODCAST WEBSITE:
Sign up here to receive email updates and hope-filled resources
[www.bridgetscradles.com/podcast]

CRADLED IN HOPE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY FOR GRIEVING MOMS:
[www.facebook.com/groups/cradledinhope]

FOLLOW BRIDGET'S CRADLES
[www.facebook.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.instagram.com/bridgetscradles]
[www.pinterest.com/bridgetscradles]

CONNECT WITH THE HOST | ASHLEY OPLIGER
[www.ashleyopliger.com]
[www.facebook.com/ashleyopliger]
[www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger]

#cradledinhope #cradledinhopepodcast #bridgetscradles

★ Support this podcast ★
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43 MIN