S.G. Willoughby's Blog

I tell my story for a living. I’m an author and a speaker, you see. And my story is a doozy: Trauma, chronic illness, loss of my home, loved ones battling suicide, and being given a month to live paint some of the broad strokes. Hope, growth, healing, and joy bring the picture to life.

Getting to share what God has done in my life is a joy. The Bible says that believers overcome “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their test...

You’ve heard Franklin Roosevelt’s quote, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.”

Proper motivation is certainly an effective tactic for overcoming fear. But as I read my Bible, I see something different.

Courage is found not in the absence of fear, but in the fear of God—revering Him for who He is. Knowledge of God’s power and love makes no space for fear to r...

Your friend is struggling. She’s pouring out her heart, and she looks up at you. Tears are starting to slip out.

Inwardly, you are squirming. What on earth do you say? What would be helpful? She’s in pain, and you want it to stop. What advice can you give her?

When someone is hurting, it can be hard to know how to respond. We know it is a tender, fragile moment, and we want to help but don’t always know how. 

This can often lead ...

GUYSSSS I’m doing something exciting and I want you to be part of it!!!

This is for the one facing a medical decision they have no idea how to make.

This is for the chronic illness warrior overwhelmed by financial strain.

This is for the one wondering why God feels so far away in their suffering.

This is for the person who doesn’t know how to ask for help.

This is for the one facing the unknown.

Do you need courage?

You are not alone.

And we want to come alongside you.

That’s w...

I paced circles on the tile as I listened to my friend Susana explain the struggles weighing her down. Cautiously, she asked me, “Have you ever experienced the same thing?” 

I laughed. “Oh girl! You are not alone.” And I began to share something I had told only a few people. I told her of an incredibly difficult season of my life. I told her how I’d lost a friend. I told her of mistakes that broke my heart. I told her of grief and ch...

The brake lights flashed and they swerved. So did we. But too late. I can still hear the crunch.

I looked at my husband. “It’s okay. We’re okay. Just pull to the side of the road.”

He shook his head. “I can’t. It won’t go.”

That day, a dozen people stepped in to help us. Our parents talked us through what to do. The sheriff offered us water. The tow truck driver helped us figure out next steps. Friends picked us up. The Day’s Inn...

One more thing

I didn’t think I could handle one more thing

Yet here it is and I keep on going

One more day 

Will you provide what I need for one more day?

I’ve asked for so much, yet I wearily ask again

You have always provided what I need

Comfort in unseen grief

Friendship in transition

Sustenance when my heart and wallet are empty

*pause to remember His past provision*

I don’t know what to do

Show me the next step

I don’t kn...

My doctor and I are friends. That should say something about how much time we’ve spent together. How many appointments and how many hours in waiting rooms and how much rescheduling has happened.

When we’re chronically ill, we pour most of our time, energy, and finances into caring for our physical health. But dear warrior, your body is not the only part of you that needs care. You, as a whole person, are worthy of not only physical care, but mental, emotional, and spiritual care too.

Today, ...

“The event was nothing short of transformative, and I am immensely thankful for the opportunity to participate. The lineup of speakers was truly exceptional, and each session left a profound impact on me. From hearing personal stories of resilience and triumph to gaining insights into the power of forgiveness, waiting on the Lord, and embracing an abundant life, despite chronic illness. Every moment was filled with valuable wisdom and ...

I was the girl sitting on the sidelines.

I was the teenager accepting the loss of all my dreams to be a wife, mother, and author.

I was the girl looking in the mirror with a single tear slipping down my face, wondering how I could look so normal when everything inside me was screaming in agony.

I was lonely, purposeless, hopeless and . . . tired. Tired of being sick. Tired of flaring. Tired of getting my hopes up. Tired of shame.

And I know I’m not the only one. Maybe that was you—or is ...