In this episode of Singing Through Fire, host Lara Silverman begins the “Faith in the Furnace” series with Sara Gaver—speaker, advocate, founder of Wheel Life Connections, and Miss Wheelchair USA 2022. Sara shares what it’s like living with Arthrogryposis as a full-time power wheelchair user, including chronic pain, childhood surgeries, and the challenges of relying on caregivers. She tells how she came to faith during a dark season in college after two students prayed for her inner healing, and how God sustained her through abuse, depression, and seasons that felt silent. Sara also recounts the fight to gain independence through assistive technology, including receiving a $65,000 robotic arm (“Joy”) after 28 insurance denials and a Christmas-time financial miracle. Lara and Sara discuss taking up a lifelong cross, praying honestly, practicing gratitude, and learning to hold joy and lament together. Sara explains her heart for advocacy, why her platform isn’t explicitly branded as Christian, and what she wishes believers understood about welcoming people with disabilities—especially the harm of treating healing prayers as the first response. The conversation closes with hope that suffering isn’t the end of the story and that God uses weakness for His glory.

00:00 Meet Sarah Gaver: Miss Wheelchair USA & Wheel Life Connections
02:00 Sarah’s Faith Journey: Finding Jesus in a Dark College Season
04:48 Understanding Arthrogryposis: Daily Life, Mobility & Pain
07:08 ‘Joy’ the Robotic Arm: 28 Denials, Court, and a Christmas Miracle
12:12 Taking Up the Cross: Acceptance, Identity, and Advocacy
17:53 How God Speaks in Affliction: Music, Prayer, and Honest Faith
20:41 When Caregiving Collapses: Rock Bottom, Rescue, and New Independence
26:07 Finding Purpose in Disability: God’s Glory, Gratitude, and Lament
36:12 Why God Heals Some and Not Others: Living With the Mystery
37:17 Wrestling, Discipline, and Surrendering the Need for Answers
39:48 Grace in Weakness: Being a Vessel, Not an “Inspiration” Trophy
41:43 Isaiah 43:1—The Verse She Clings to When It’s Hard
42:39 Does God Know What’s Best? Trust Built Through Past Proof
45:13 God’s Creativity & “Figure-It-Out” Faith in Daily Limitations
48:02 Spiritual Warfare, Caregiver Trauma, and the “I’m a Burden” Lie
52:18 Has Disability Advanced the Gospel? A Platform That Plants Seeds
54:09 Church & Disability: Why “Healing at the Door” Pushes People Away
59:49 Unhelpful Things Christians Say—and a Better Theology of Disability
01:01:45 Joy in the Middle of Grief: The House Foreclosure & Fellowship Story
01:06:20 Miss Wheelchair USA: Redefining Beauty, Breaking Barriers, Final Blessing

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PODCAST DESCRIPTION:

Welcome to the Singing Through Fire podcast! I’m your host Lara Silverman, and this is where we:

• Worship when it hurts
• Discuss hot takes from the furnace of affliction
• Explore a biblical theology of suffering with a side of sass and sarcasm

From lamentations to laughter, this podcast is for anyone desperate for hope who has ever asked, "Why, Lord, why?”

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"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2nd Corinthians 4:17.