Title: Jesus Stories- Steve Chatman

About the Episode:

In this week’s episode of Rising Above with Becky Davidson, the Jesus Stories series continues with a conversation featuring Steve Chatman. Steve shares his personal Jesus story and reflects on the ways Jesus has been present through both the joyful and challenging seasons of his life. His experiences offer a thoughtful reminder of Jesus’ faithfulness, even in moments that feel overwhelming or uncertain.

About Steve

Steve and his wife, Lori, are parents to five children and grandparents to three. As parents to two daughters with Down syndrome, they have long been connected to the special needs community. Steve has been ministering to families since 1993, serves as Rising Above’s Vice President, and hosts the Rising Above Dads podcast.

Moment of Reflection

Steve talked about how there are moments when it feels like Jesus isn’t there—but just like when Jesus was in the boat with His disciples during the storm, He is with us. Even though Jesus was asleep and the disciples were frustrated and felt like He didn’t care… He was still right there in the boat.

So now, for our moment of reflection: Where in your life have you felt like Jesus is “asleep in the boat”? Where has He felt distant?

Take some time to invite Jesus into those places. Ask Him to show you how He’s been present—even if you couldn’t see it at the time.

Title:

Jesus Stories- Mikayla McKenzie

About the Episode:

This episode of the Jesus Stories series features a meaningful and insightful conversation with Mikayla McKenzie. Mikayla and her husband, Brandon, have been married for 11 years and have three children—Bear (8), Daisy (5), and Georgia (3). Their family recently made a bold move to Maryville, Tennessee, to plant a church, and Mikayla shares how God has guided and provided for them throughout that transition.

The episode also walks through the McKenzies’ journey with their son Bear, who has profound special needs and complex medical challenges, including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, and deafness. In the past year, he has had more than 20 hospital stays and undergone over five surgeries. Mikayla offers a clear, honest perspective on navigating ongoing hardship while remaining rooted in faith.

If you’re looking for a story that is both real and encouraging, this episode offers a thoughtful look at resilience, trust, and God’s steady presence in every season.

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Moment of Reflection:

And now for this week’s Moment of Reflection.

Mikayla talked about seeing God’s goodness in ways that may look different from what the world would consider “good.” As special-needs parents, it can be challenging to see the good in the hard we face each day, but God’s goodness isn’t limited to easy moments or tidy outcomes. Sometimes it shows up in the quiet ways He sustains us, the peace that slips in when we’re exhausted, the people He places around us, or the strength we didn’t know we had.

So take a moment to pause today. Where have you seen God’s goodness — even if it looked different than you expected? What small glimmers of grace showed up in your week?

Jesus Stories- Sandy Ramsey Trayvick

About the Episode

In the second installment of the Jesus Stories series, Becky Davidson welcomes back longtime friend Sandy Ramsey-Trayvick for a deeply personal conversation about faith, resilience, and the unexpected ways God meets us in our hardest seasons.

Sandy shares the profound journey of raising her son Miles, whose complex health and developmental challenges became the catalyst for a deeper, more intimate walk with God. Through honest reflections and tender storytelling, Sandy and Becky explore the beauty that can emerge from adversity—how pain can lead to spiritual growth, how God shows up in moments of fear and uncertainty, and how joy can be found in the most unlikely places.

Together, they remind us that no family’s story is beyond God’s redemption and that even the most disrupted dreams can reveal His faithfulness. This episode offers encouragement, hope, and a powerful reminder that you are never alone on your journey.

About Sandy: Sandy and her husband of 33 years live in New Jersey and are parents to three young adult children. Her journey as a special-needs mom, caregiver, and advocate began 24 years ago after her son’s childhood illness left him multiply disabled. Today, Sandy serves as a Certified Professional Coach with a passion for helping special needs parents discover the powerful story God is writing through their own unique journeys. She is also a writer and the author of When Dreams Are Disrupted – A Story of God’s Faithfulness.

Learn more about Sandy, her work, and her blog at www.UNDisabledLIVES.org and on Instagram @undisabled_lives.

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Even If

Moment of Reflection:

Sandy talked about the difference between knowing about Jesus and actually having a relationship with Him. It’s easy to be familiar with Scripture or understand who Jesus is in theory, but that’s not the same as engaging with Him in the real, practical parts of life. Relationship shows up in how we trust Him, how we respond to challenges, and how we invite Him into our everyday decisions and emotions.

Ask yourself… Where am I relying more on information about Jesus than on true connection with Him? What area of my life—good or hard—needs His involvement right now? And what small step toward deeper relationship can I take this week?