Have you ever felt like unwelcome disruptions are an off-ramp from God’s purposes in your life? When illness, trouble, and tragedy strike, it can be easily to question what the Lord has in store—and how he will work for good in the midst of hardships that pull you “off track.” Mandy Meehan returns to the podcast to share how God has led her through unexpected chronic illness to a path of healing, which now includes serving others as a certified nutritional expert. Tune in to hear how Mandy has leaned on God as her unshakeable refuge, and how you can find peace and healing amid your own struggles.
Learn more about Mandy Meehan and her faith journey while seeking to heal from fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, and other chronic conditions.
KEY QUESTIONS:
KEY SCRIPTURES:
Stephanie Daniels:
Hi friends! I’m your host, Stephanie Daniels, and you’re listening to the Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast. We’re sharing hope as we answer real questions about disability. Join us every week for an honest and encouraging conversation, along with practical ways to include people with disability in your church and community. So, grab a seat, and let’s jump in!
Disruptions in our plans may feel like an off ramp from the Lord's plan for our life. It's usually in those times that we learn that the Lord is up to something different than what we anticipated that will yield unexpected and beautiful fruit in our lives.
We welcome Oklahoma native Mandy Meehan back to the podcast, who was just two weeks away from her wedding day when she suddenly fell ill with mononucleosis. That diagnosis was just the beginning of what has now been an eight year journey with a myriad of chronic illnesses. During that time, Mandy has gotten married, started a family, and become a certified nutritional expert who's dedicated to helping others heal.
Through it all she's relied on Christ as her rock and her refuge. And Mandy joins us today to continue our conversation about how Jesus meets us in the midst of an unexpected diagnosis. Mandy, thank you again for joining us.
Mandy Meehan:
Thank you so much for having me back. I'm so excited to get to chat again.
Stephanie Daniels:
Yes. Well, last time we talked about your journey with chronic illness and today we'd love to dive deeper into that challenging season in your life.
When your body stops cooperating, it can be so hard and quite honestly frustrating. And myself, along with our response team here at Joni and Friends, we hear from a lot of people experiencing the deterioration of their physical function and they talk about experiencing a lot of emotions like anger, shame, and even guilt that they can't contribute to their household the same way they used to for example. What has it looked like for you to process the change in your physical abilities with the Lord?
Mandy Meehan:
That's a really great question. The example you gave of being able to take care of your house the way that you want to, some of those things may sound smaller but they can be some of the most difficult things to deal with, especially because it's something that you consistently have to process because it is chronic. When it's not getting better you have to deal with that every single day.
In the beginning I think I really was not good at processing it at all, honestly. And I think part of it, at that point I just really had no idea what was actually going on. And so, I was just trying to adjust as best as I can, but really, I think I was suppressing a lot of those emotions. And that's been a long journey of kind of recognizing the value of identifying the emotions, and sharing the emotions, and especially processing those emotions with God.
I think the example of the insecurity for me around what I would love to do, taking care of my home, and cooking for my family. That is consistently something that is a very difficult and emotional thing for me. And even last week I was really feeling those emotions. Feeling in my body, feeling the stress of this is still so hard to have to deal with this. and legitimately I think what I've had to learn to do now is identify the feelings and in that moment, pray and tell God like, this is what I'm feeling. Give me the strength to, to get through this. And also encourage me. Help me, you know, actually work through these emotions.
Thinking of a specific moment last week where I really just had to like, take deep breaths just asking God to remove that tension from my body as I'm asking him to help me process that grief, frustration, whatever, like you said, there's so many emotions that can go with it.
Stephanie Daniels:
Well and I love that you explain that process because I love to know practical ways...
Mandy Meehan:
Right.
Stephanie Daniels:
...that I can implement what you're saying or what I'm hearing, or when we're hearing at church that we need to meditate on scripture, meditate on the word of God.
Mandy Meehan:
Yes.
Stephanie Daniels:
I love to hear practical ways. What does that look like?
Mandy Meehan:
Right.
Stephanie Daniels:
And so you even just saying okay, I'm, I'm crying out. God, take this pain.
Mandy Meehan:
Mm-hmm.
Stephanie Daniels:
And then finding a scripture that you can meditate on. And I've heard Joni say, you know, when she's really struggling in the night, she's inviting God into her pain.
Mandy Meehan:
Yes.
Stephanie Daniels:
And so, whether that's singing hymns because she loves hymns or repeating Scripture, that's stood out to her. I think that it's just so good to hear those practical things. And it makes me think of David throughout the Psalms. That's kind of what he was doing when he found himself in a press, he is, “Oh God,” like he's crying out.
Mandy Meehan:
Yes.
Stephanie Daniels:
And then, you know, talking about his situation, but then he's turning it into praise.
Mandy Meehan:
Right.
Stephanie Daniels:
And so, we appreciate you sharing what that looks like for you.
Mandy Meehan:
Mm-hmm.
Stephanie Daniels:
Okay. You mentioned in the first episode your parents are pastors and sometimes I think that as Christians, we think pastor’s kids and people in ministry, or people that have been saved a long time should have it all together, they should have all the formulas. So, I would love to know, like even in the beginning when you were diagnosed, what did it look like for you to invite God into your pain? And how has that developed over the years? Even looking at that practically, how would you encourage our listeners to invite the Lord into their pain?
Mandy Meehan:
In the very beginning, kind of like I said a moment ago, I was in such survival mode and kind of in denial probably in a lot of ways. And again, you know, at the very, very beginning we didn't know what was going on. I was expecting things to change really quickly. So, there was kind of a process of like, okay this is something bigger. Especially by that year mark, it was like this is not just mono anymore. Like this is a chronic illness now, and there's so many emotions I think that I had to start to process every single layer.
I think for whatever reason, I am the type of person that has been very prone to suppressing my emotions, to not burden other people with those things. And I'm a very optimistic person and positive person. And so, I don't even know if it was until year five that I was like, I actually need to grieve this.
My husband would often ask me like, "What are you feeling?" And I was not good at expressing those things. Being aware of those things for myself, sharing with my husband, close friends, or processing that with the Lord. And that's been such a crucial thing for me to learn.
I even think physical healing and emotional healing go hand in hand. I've had to learn in this healing process God wants me to bring those emotions to him. And those emotions aren't bad. They're there for a reason. There's grief under there that he wants me to process with him. And just like you said, when we bring those emotions to him, it's like the best spiritual disciplines, and spiritual practices, to process through your emotions.
And if you look at a lot of kind of mainstream counseling and meditation or even like manifesting practices, you're like, this is all ripped off from the Bible. This is all ripped off from like spiritual disciplines because this is where emotional healing happens in this silence and solitude and meditating on scripture.
It has been so much better for me since I've learned to identify those emotions. And It's not easy, but God is our our helper, our encourager. And I wish I did recognize that sooner. I think I really had this purpose and pain, have hope and have joy and I was focusing on, on those things and neglecting the other.
Stephanie Daniels:
Mm-hmm.
Mandy Meehan:
Um. The other emotions.
Stephanie Daniels:
Yeah. Well, I think that's probably kind of easy to do. 'Cause we do wanna like hang on to the hope and the feel good...
Mandy Meehan:
Mm-hmm.
Stephanie Daniels:
...and just kind of like work through. But like you said, there's other layers. I like how you've mentioned that in the last episode, and even you mentioned it a little today, like there's layers of learning,
Mandy Meehan:
Right.
Stephanie Daniels:
There's layers to this thing. And I do agree with you that I think the Lord wants our whole self, our whole person healed. Not just physically, but we're walking around like emotionally sick or spiritually sick. He wants to heal that too. I think it's so important and so I love that you're sharing and I agree this, it's all been ripped off from the Word and from the Lord. So, I love that you're sharing what's worked for you.
Chronic illness can really impact a person's faith for better or for worse. And I've heard of people getting a diagnosis and that being the thing that pushes them into the arms of God, at his feet crying out to him or they get angry with him.
Mandy Meehan:
Right.
Stephanie Daniels:
And I think I've been on that side where I've gotten angry and...
Mandy Meehan:
Hmm.
Stephanie Daniels:
...you know, then I go a little while and I'm not talking to him 'cause I'm mad. And then I'm like, “Okay Stephanie, how are you gonna cut yourself off from the source and the one who has all the answers?” And I think that makes it hard for us to see him working in us.
So, I'm curious, Mandy, even as you were hoping for healing, how did you see God working in your life amidst the chronic pain and illness? And in that time when you were kind of waiting for healing and it hadn't come yet, how did you see him at work?
Mandy Meehan:
Yeah, it is interesting how really difficult times, they're not really gonna leave you the same. You'll probably either have to grow in your faith and grow closer to the Lord. Or you might like you said turn away from him for a period. And like we talked about too, there's layers of this. Sometimes there can be both. I'm really grateful that I've had strong faith in the Lord and I haven't questioned my faith in this process, but it, it certainly has stretched me or grown me.
It's funny, the year I got sick our church was encouraged to pray what we called "dangerous prayers." And one of them was God send me to go do whatever work you're wanting me to do. And one was, break me. And a couple months after me really diligently praying like, "God, I, I do want you to break me and do a work in me and transform me. And I don't know what that is or what that looks like."
Stephanie Daniels:
Wow.
Mandy Meehan:
But it definitely happened, and it's been very, as you would expect, incredibly difficult. But I think the refining of my faith and the way that I've gotten to really experience God's love and kindness in completely different ways than I ever did before has been really beautiful. And so much of that I know is part of what we'll be focusing on in this podcast is the, purpose that God brought out of that breaking in that pain.
And some people have asked me like, why would you ask God to break you? And that we see God in Scripture bring people out of really difficult things and that's part of that refining and strengthening to get to his purpose for you.
Stephanie Daniels:
When you talk about praying dangerous prayers, it reminds me of something that I prayed in my life, when I was in youth group, full of fervor and passion.
Mandy Meehan:
Right.
Stephanie Daniels:
We had just gotten back from a trip to Israel my senior year.
Mandy Meehan:
Mm-hmm.
Stephanie Daniels:
And I declared in front of everybody, "God, if you have to kill me to make me who you want me to be, then do it." And I did not realize the implication of that, that prayer.
Mandy Meehan:
Right.
Stephanie Daniels:
And it's also similar to something Joni said. Joni reached out to God in a very similar way and she said, “God do something in my life to just bind me up.” She wanted God to just kind of ratchet up the whole thing. And it's kind of scary when we say prayers like that 'cause God takes them seriously.
But also, it makes me think just about the Lord being the potter and us being the clay.
Mandy Meehan:
Mm-hmm.
Stephanie Daniels:
How the potter has to work the clay and mold it, and then you set it aside so that it can dry and then it goes into the fire. Like the word says in 2nd Corinthians, we have this treasure in jars of clay and we're the clay.
Mandy Meehan:
Mm-hmm. Right.
Stephanie Daniels:
And God is the treasure. And it's to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not us, but his glory is stored in us. And I do, I feel like he has to break us to let his glory, and...
Mandy Meehan:
Right.
Stephanie Daniels:
...what he is wanting the world to see. His character kind of shined forth in us. And so, I definitely see that in your story and in Joni's story and kind of how the Lord has allowed things that, just we would not choose for ourselves that he's using.
Okay. So, I know getting sick forced you to make some big changes, like stepping away from your career as a youth pastor, a role that you love deeply. But it also led you to where you are now encouraging others on your own health journey. So, could you share what it was like to leave ministry and how you decided to go down this road of helping people find hope and healing through chronic illness?
Mandy Meehan:
Whenever I had to step away from my role at our church it was. very, very difficult, and it took a long time for me to be able to talk about it without just like completely losing it.
What had happened was I got sick, I was newly married and I was barely able to take care of myself, let alone full-time ministry with six services on the weekend. You know, very long and intense hours.
It got to a point where I knew I had to do something different. I just had to figure out how to heal because I was just not even capable of working in that way. So, I mean, it was incredibly difficult to make that decision. And really in my mind, I'm like, okay, I'll take a couple months off. I'll drink lots of water and take my vitamins and I'll recover from this the virus, this mono, and then I'll be back at it.
Honestly, when I was in ministry, I was a little bit of a workaholic. I would have a, a night off and I would take that night off and go to one of our other church locations and such, such a fun season, but I definitely, definitely needed to learn to rest. And God has been teaching me that now.
Stephanie Daniels:
Mm-hmm.
Mandy Meehan:
So, when I had to make that decision to step off the team, it was incredibly emotional. Everything in my life was about to change. And everything in my life in that moment totally did change. My father-in-law, he passed away last year and was an incredible functional medicine doctor. And he said, "You're gonna read this book, and you're gonna start eating this way." And I just totally changed everything.
So, I had that nutrition book and I'm suddenly like, man, this is so interesting. These people are healing through food. And really quickly becoming interested and fascinated and passionate about all of these different things begin use to support our bodies and support healing. And then there was a night where I could not fall asleep and all I can think about was "In the morning, pick up your iPhone and just start filming your day and post it on, on YouTube."
I just started sharing about how I was sick and what I was doing to try to figure it out. I just wanted some way to make a difference in the world. And so this is how I can do it right now. Not by plan became a little bit of like this nutrition and wellness channel. And right away I found the love for that.
Stephanie Daniels:
Mm-hmm.
Mandy Meehan:
And also I found the chronic illness community that I had no idea existed. I think I knew one other person that told me they had fibromyalgia one time. But I found this whole world of people who were sick like me, and so many people who were incredibly hopeless. The chronic illness community, especially around that time, was very, very dark.
Stephanie Daniels:
Mm.
Mandy Meehan:
And depressing. And there wasn't a lot of hope for healing or hope in Jesus either. And so I knew I, at that point, I can't not help people who are suffering like me.
Stephanie Daniels:
Yeah.
Mandy Meehan:
And then eventually I had so much hope for this treatment and a lot of people were getting behind me and praying. And and honestly like at that point, my Instagram, that's when it kind of started to grow a little bit. I'm like, this is more of a platform. Then the week ended up being very difficult. Honestly it was a bit traumatic. Had to totally get off social media for like a month and oh my God, use this month to help me figure out what to do. And very quickly in that fasting period I found the Nutritional Therapy Association, which immediately I knew, I need to do this.
That was an interesting point because I'm like, oh man, but I'm supposed to go back into ministry though. You know, If I'm working full time, I wouldn't have time for like a nutrition school.
Stephanie Daniels:
Mm-hmm.
Mandy Meehan:
So, I might as well do it now. It's been a few years now, but God has totally and completely redirected my purpose...
Stephanie Daniels:
Yes.
Mandy Meehan:
...now where I'm like, I am compelled to help...
Stephanie Daniels:
Mm-hmm.
Mandy Meehan:
...people find hope and healing. Hope in Jesus, hope for healing, and help them find the root cause and help them find the steps to be able to find relief in their symptoms.
Stephanie Daniels:
Yeah.
Mandy Meehan:
And obviously every person is different, but I, I really just believe that there's so much hope for people to get better and to at least, make progress.
Stephanie Daniels:
It's so good. And as I hear your story, the scripture that comes to mind is Proverbs 16:9. "A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." So, you had everything kind of figured out in youth ministry and you were there and killing it. And like you said, needing to learn some balance, but you, you were just thriving in that. But when your health started to kind of break down in the midst of the waiting, you were finding ways for the Lord to use what you were going through. And so, I love that he led you. And you mentioned this in our first episode; you talked about the lack of hope in the community.
Mandy Meehan:
Mm-hmm. Right.
Stephanie Daniels:
And you just mentioned too, how dark it was, but people are looking for answers and healing and you wanna remind people that there are answers. And that's how we find ourselves in rabbit holes on a Saturday morning looking at YouTube. So, I promise you, I'm going back to look at your first, first video to follow your journey. Because It is just really neat to see how people start and you do gain hope...
Mandy Meehan:
Right.
Stephanie Daniels:
...for yourself as you're watching their journey. So thanks for sharing.
When you felt purpose slipping away, what were some practical steps that you took to process and grieve that loss?
Mandy Meehan:
Honestly, I think the most helpful thing that I did was find other ways to have a purpose and ways where I felt like I was still able to make a difference. People are probably listening where they may be feeling, "What can I do?" I know people with complex chronic illness who are completely bedbound and very, very limited. But, finding purpose was so, so helpful for me.
And like I said, some of that grief took me a while to process. But you know, I started the YouTube channel and that was an outlet for me where I was getting to really share that message of hope. I started serving at church online. People are very familiar with church online now in the post-covid era, but so many of the people I got to work with did have different disabilities or health issues. That was the reason why they were serving at church online.
It's amazing the relationships you can build on there. It's not just watching this recording, you can actually have these really beautiful relationships, praying for each other, and engaging with each other. So, a really practical thing totally was finding those ways to still have community and purpose.
Eventually I went to counseling, but man, that counselor really had to like, dig in and lead the way. And then years later I, see a therapist and I'm like, okay, this is what's going on. This is what I need to work with.
Stephanie Daniels:
I love that. You have talked about developing some different sensory issues. Is that right?
Mandy Meehan:
Mm-hmm. Yes.
Stephanie Daniels:
How have they affected your ability to fully engage in church?
Mandy Meehan:
That's a really good question. It's been especially the last year, year and a half I think. It was the worst during my pregnancy with my daughter Micah. Sound sensitivity was the biggest one. Also visual sensitivity. Even in my, my home, I would get really overwhelmed and not be able to even just handle the sounds of my husband and my son at some points.
Stephanie Daniels:
Wow.
Mandy Meehan:
And after a little bit of time I started to learn, okay, "Get the loop earplugs." Or I kind of learned some things to be able to manage that. Because of all of that I was not able to go into the worship service at our church pretty much at all.
There was a moment during worship where I'm like, I literally can't breathe. It's hard to understand if you haven't experienced before. My autonomic nervous system does not know what to do right now. I can't breathe. I can't move right.
So yeah, I, I have not been able to go in the worship service and so, well, sit in another room and watch or watch online.
Stephanie Daniels:
Mm-hmm.
Mandy Meehan:
I've had to really learn to manage that, but this has really gotten me to think so differently about church. Jesus needs to be accessible, obviously.
Stephanie Daniels:
Yeah. Yes.
Mandy Meehan:
And so yeah, it's brought of a lot of interesting conversations. Really gotten me to think about other people who deal with those kinds of things as well.
Stephanie Daniels:
Yeah. Well, my next question was, has this given you any opportunities to advocate for other people living with disability who can't fully participate in the body of Christ?
Mandy Meehan:
It definitely has led me to start having those conversations.
Stephanie Daniels:
Mm-hmm.
Mandy Meehan:
And I completely understand that it's not an easy thing to totally change everything about the way that you do things. But I think it's really important to have the conversations. And I know that there are a lot of people who are starting to provide resources.
If you really do look at statistics, neurological symptoms, on so many levels, are at an all-time high right now.
Stephanie Daniels:
Mm.
Mandy Meehan:
And so, there are a lot of people for various reasons who can't handle certain aspects of a modern day worship service.
Stephanie Daniels:
Yeah.
Mandy Meehan:
And so our church, one thing that I love that we've done for a long time is provide earplugs for people. A lot of people will sit out in the lobby and they're having community in there as they're watching worship on the screen. And same with, at our church, we've got a lot of volunteers who help support kids who have special needs.
We do have to keep doing the best that we can and keep talking about it.
Stephanie Daniels:
Yeah.
Mandy Meehan:
And keep asking questions to people who do struggle with certain symptoms or disabilities because it matters.
Stephanie Daniels:
You know, Joni and Friends helps equip churches in this area becoming a place that's able to welcome and embrace people with disabilities. So, if you're listening, you can visit joniandfriends.org/church for more information.
You know, we were talking about grieving and I think it's natural to grieve the lives that we didn't get to lead, or the ways our lives haven't turned out the way we expected them to.
Joni is a perfect example. She was an athlete and had so much promise in her future, and then she took that fateful dive that left her a quadriplegic. And when you and I initially spoke, we mentioned the grief that you felt for your life not looking like you thought it would. But purpose came from the paths that you wouldn't have chosen.
Mandy Meehan:
Right.
Stephanie Daniels:
So, I'm curious, how did you keep your heart soft and look for hope when your expectations had been dashed?
Mandy Meehan:
I think part of it is holding onto the hope and then also recognizing that part of you and being able to grieve and process it. I have so much faith for breakthrough for myself this year. But also, for now I am dealing with this every day and I'm gonna have to keep processing this and dealing with this until I do see that breakthrough.
Stephanie Daniels:
Yes.
Mandy Meehan:
So, day to day now it's, it is still really hard for me to not be able to go on, on the walk or clean the house. But really, I mean, in these eight years there are so many things that were not the way that I've, not just what I expected, but I have missed out on or lost. And so many social things. I'm, I'm a huge extrovert. I love people. And that, that's one of the biggest things is just like, it's very difficult for me to be able to just go out of the house and be with people.
And there's some things that are so rare for me now that when I go, I have this sense of there is so much joy and fun being there, but almost even more than that there's like the grief that comes into, like the joy reminds you of what you used to have. Obviously if that's, really still very, very difficult.
Stephanie Daniels:
Yeah.
Mandy Meehan:
But it's totally normal and I think completely makes sense to have those emotions and to have that grief. So again, like bring those emotions to the Lord.
Stephanie Daniels:
Yeah.
Mandy Meehan:
Um, and so, lots of different things to process and grief there that's really hard. And like you said, how do you still hold onto hope and still just really have that faith that things can change. Because I know of who God is and what he can do.
Stephanie Daniels:
Yes. Yes.
Mandy Meehan:
Um. I have hope because of that. And I think it, it's not very difficult for me to have hope, truly because I get to know who Jesus is.
Talking about the practical ways, I think so much of it does come for me in that daily consistent time in Scripture. It's worth it to have that discipline to keep you consistent when you don't feel like it. And having that time in prayer or worship as well. So those are, are some things that help me.
Stephanie Daniels:
Yeah. as I was listening back to some of the things you shared in our first podcast, something that you shared was so sweet, Christ really gives you the ability to endure.
Our response team, we meet every day and we lift up prayer needs of people that write into the ministry. Something that we prayed for today was a woman who it took 59 years to get her diagnosis.
Mandy Meehan:
Wow.
Stephanie Daniels:
And her prayer request was just that the Lord would use her story to give hope to others. I loved that so much. That was just really beautiful to me. And something that you just said too, "I get to know who Jesus is." In every space. Whether it's disappointment. Whether it's grief. Whether it's finding gratitude. Whether it's praying for healing, or praying with others. You have the opportunity to, like Joni said, invite him into that place and let him...
Mandy Meehan:
Right.
Stephanie Daniels:
...reveal his character in that moment. And I think it's just so beautiful when God, in his sovereignty, if he chooses not to physically heal, he's healing our souls. And that's kind of like you said earlier...
Mandy Meehan:
Right.
Stephanie Daniels:
Um, like we talked about, God does, he cares about our spiritual and emotional healing as much as he does our physical.
Mandy, shifting gears just a little bit back to you and your husband and just how you guys are kind of moving forward with chronic illness and all that you're facing. How do you guys balance running your household? And has your church community come alongside you both? And what has that experience been like?
Mandy Meehan:
So many people have been consistently praying for me for years and years, and I've, I've felt so much support and encouragement. It's interesting when it comes to all of like the practical ways to support someone with chronic illness, it's really hard to know what is a good way to do that. And it's hard often for people struggling with chronic illness or other types of disabilities to know how to ask for help, or to be comfortable asking for help. I know that is another one of my generally weak areas that the Lord has had to really teach me to get so much better at.
I'm so, fortunate to have the literal best husband ever who just takes care of...
Stephanie Daniels:
Yes.
Mandy Meehan:
...um, our family so well, and he just, I mean, I think he's just superhuman the way that he does basically everything for us in the home.
Stephanie Daniels:
Mm-hmm.
Mandy Meehan:
So, I just have to shout out to him. But it is interesting though, like when you know, like, someone's sick, they're going to the hospital, they got this diagnosis, people are often really good in that moment coming around you but it's really difficult when it's a long, long-term thing.
Stephanie Daniels:
Ongoing, yeah.
Mandy Meehan:
Eight years ongoing. Yeah. What does that look like to come around and support somebody like that? I would encourage the church to ask questions and understand where someone with a disability or chronic illness, where they struggle to be able to take care of certain things...
Stephanie Daniels:
Yeah.
Mandy Meehan:
...around the house or meet certain needs. And I would just say that it is always a blessing at any time whenever somebody does provide that meal, even if it's the one time. Or come and provide that encouragement. Or help vacuum the floor, whatever.
Stephanie Daniels:
Yeah. Yeah. I was gonna say, I think that it's nice even just to hear those...
Mandy Meehan:
Mm-hmm.
Stephanie Daniels:
...those kinds of things, those practical things. And we can ask a family that we know is in a press, "Hey, can I come over and do dishes for you tonight?" It's a beautiful way for the body of Christ to function because like you said, it's often easier for us to offer help than it is to receive help. So...
Mandy Meehan:
Yes.
Stephanie Daniels:
I think it is on us to kind of step up and say, "Hey, I see you. How can I...
Mandy Meehan:
Yes.
Stephanie Daniels:
...how can I bless your life,” you know?
Mandy Meehan:
Right. And I, I would add on, I think sometimes, and I, I say this because I know I have a hard time receiving help and honestly, again, there's so many emotions you have to work through. The first time I, even paid a house cleaner to come, you know, it's like, are they gonna judge me? 'Cause these things have not been cleaned in a very long time. I think a lot of people probably feel those emotions.
Stephanie Daniels:
Absolutely.
Mandy Meehan:
But I think sometimes it may be best to just tell someone, "Hey, I would like to bring you a meal. I can do it this time or this time." Just make it really clear, because I think a lot of people struggle to accept that help when they really could benefit from it. So, I think if you really want to help someone and bless someone, sometimes you have to tell them like, "Hey, this is your coupon for me to come organize your closet.
Stephanie Daniels:
Yes.
Mandy Meehan:
And I might check in to make sure that you redeem it in the next month or whatever.” So...
Stephanie Daniels:
I love that.
Mandy Meehan:
...I think a lot of people probably feel that.
Stephanie Daniels:
I absolutely love that. And thank you for sharing that idea. I need to start using that.
Earlier we talked about you leaving ministry and jumping into YouTube and then trying to kind of figure out, how to move forward in that journey. And then your father-in-law gave you a book that you touched on. And now you're in this field of nutritional therapy. Can you kind of explain what that is?
Mandy Meehan:
Yes. So my, official title is I'm a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner.
They help people support the foundations of the body. And when the foundations in the body are stronger, the body can be healthier and you, can see symptoms begin to improve. So, supporting things like digestion, blood sugar regulation, fatty acid balance, hydration, mineral balance.
I specialize in helping support people with chronic illness and sometimes pretty complex chronic illness like my own. So, I help support people through nutrition, through food, but also I use supplements to help people deal with those things that are interfering with their body. So, different toxicities, different infections, like Lyme disease and other other infections that aren't talked about as much, like bartonella or bovisio or mycoplasma.
Stephanie Daniels:
Wow.
Mandy Meehan:
Some people have no idea what that is. And other people are like, “I have all of those too.” And so, I help people basically figure out now what is causing your symptoms and what steps can we take to support the body to begin to remove those things that are interfering so that you can begin to heal and, be all that God has called and created you to be.
So, I'm different from a registered dietician. I'm not practicing medicine. It's similar to a health coach, but we're really just kind of getting straight to the, let's build the body up and remove the things that don't belong.
It's been a really long process for me to be able to be confident in my ability to help people in their journey. In the beginning I knew I can help people refine their diet and eat more whole foods. But I, I struggled because I knew I really, really wanna help people who are sick like me, can I really help that much if I'm not a doctor? And it's been really cool to see how there has been this path where I can help people and be a support person on their team as they're working with medical doctors and things as well.
Stephanie Daniels:
I just think it's so cool. And I'm sure there were challenges to overcome.
Mandy Meehan:
Mm-hmm. Right.
Stephanie Daniels:
Transitioning from ministry to this because you had to get certified and, and do all of the learning and things. But something I saw on your Instagram I thought was super precious. You had gone on a lunch date with your husband and...
Mandy Meehan:
Mm-hmm.
Stephanie Daniels:
...sharing with him like, "Hey, I wanna be in content creating and business building mode," and all of the things. And I love that he's such a cheerleader for you because he was just kind of speaking into you and you said, "James stopped me right there, and he told me how it is." And he said, "You need to focus on the things that you need to be focused on right now. Your health, your marriage, your son, and your relationship with the Lord." And he reminded you that you were using what ability that you did have to help pastor...
Mandy Meehan:
Mm-hmm.
Stephanie Daniels:
...educate, and inspire others. And he reminded you of the impact that you were making on people daily. I thought that was precious. And the two things that you said that you were working to remember was just to continue to do the best that you can with the current ability that you have and trust God with the rest. And that Jesus is enough.
And I feel you know, he'll give...
Mandy Meehan:
You’re making me emotional.
Stephanie Daniels:
Love. I love that. Well, and that you said he'll give you exactly what you need...
Mandy Meehan:
Right.
Stephanie Daniels:
...to do what he's called you to do and choose to be content. And so that just really blessed me because I'm like, you do have a rockstar husband. And he's just like speaking into your dreams and into your calling. And I think that's so precious 'cause what you're explaining that nutritional therapy is doesn't sound easy. And I feel like for those of us that are on the journey to nail down, drill down what is really going on with me? We're looking for people like you to be like, okay, help me. And that journey can be long...
Mandy Meehan:
Yes.
Stephanie Daniels:
...and arduous. And so, I just am thankful that he's just encouraging you and that you're doing the work...
Mandy Meehan:
Hmm.
Stephanie Daniels:
...to help so many people.
Mandy Meehan:
Thank you so much for, for sharing that. I, I know that post was a little bit older, but I remember that so vividly, so it was really special and encouraging to hear that again.
You were asking about challenges in the journey and kind of what that's been like. That's probably one of the hardest parts is just that I have all this knowledge now.
Stephanie Daniels:
Mm-hmm.
Mandy Meehan:
I, I know I can help so many people, but I'm not able to have this practice that I wanna have and this full client load. Or to be able to post really great Instagram posts. So, I've really had to find in some ways really unique ways to be able to help people. I've had pregnancies and babies where that really slows certain things down too for really great purpose, but has really slowed my business goals down. So, I, I definitely have had to do what I wrote in that post of just focus on what's most important and still do what I can, as best as I can, make a difference and help people.
Stephanie Daniels:
I do wanna ask, as you began working with women with chronic fatigue, what were some of the first transformations you saw in their lives of those that you were helping? And did that impact your sense of purpose?
Mandy Meehan:
Yeah, it's interesting, there were stories early on that was crazy where you share about eating whole nutrient dense foods that are properly prepared and, and minimizing foods that are highly processed and inflammatory, and people email you and say like, “Oh, I've been able to see so much progress through doing that.” So many of those stories were so encouraging.
And now when I work with one-on-one clients it is like the most rewarding thing to help people figure out what's going on and be able to support them in those areas. There are some people who are, seeing some changes, but not all the changes that we wanna see.
I've been able to see some incredible turnarounds for people and, again, those are some things that do give me hope for, for my healing as well.
Stephanie Daniels:
Do you feel like this new ministry that the Lord is brought you to, has it brought you closer to him and kind of reshaped how you view his role in your life now?
Mandy Meehan:
Oh, definitely. And I, 1000% considerate a ministry. It's cool. Like I have a new Facebook group right now where I'm sharing about the root cause of, of a lot of chronic symptoms, and these different areas, and how you can support it. But what I've really even realized in that people really need that...
Stephanie Daniels:
Mm-hmm.
Mandy Meehan:
...encouragement in Jesus. So, let's encourage each other, let's share the, those scriptures, those songs. And It is hard to even put into words, but it, makes all of the breaking that I prayed for so worth it. Because, because God has brought this purpose out of pain that I've been able to see fruit from. For eight years now I've been seeing blessings come out of it, for me personally, and then getting to know that God's using what I'm doing, what I'm learning. And even as an unlicensed professional, I wanna do what I can do. I wanna do it well, yeah. I wanna know what I'm talking about and do the best that I can to steward that. It makes me have gratitude to the Lord and see the fruit too.
Stephanie Daniels:
Oh my gosh, I could talk to you forever. But Mandy, one of the best lessons that I've learned from Joni is the importance of stewarding your suffering well. And I believe that you have done just that. And I just wanna thank you for being so vulnerable today and sharing how you've had to trust the Lord with your suffering and use it for our good and his glory. So, thank you so much for joining us on the podcast today.
Mandy Meehan:
Yeah. Thank you so much again. And I'll just say, it is such an honor to get to be on, on this podcast in particular just because of the role that Joni's story has played in my life so it was so, so special to get the invitation and I've just really enjoyed these conversations so much. So, thank you.
Stephanie Daniels:
They've been so good. They've been a blessing to me. I'm gonna be praying for you that you see the manifestation of the healing that you are believing for. Romans 8:28 is something that is sticking out to me for you.
Mandy Meehan:
Mm-hmm.
Stephanie Daniels:
And we know that all things God works for the good of those who love him and have been called according to his purpose. So, I know he's working out his good in your life, Mandy. And so just wanna say thank you again.
Mandy Meehan:
Thank you. And amen.
Stephanie Daniels:
We hope this conversation touched your heart today. If it did, consider sharing it with someone who might be encouraged as well. And don’t forget to follow us on your favorite podcasting app so you never miss an episode. See you next week!
© Joni and Friends