POSITIVELY JOY: Healing Hearts After Divorce

POSITIVELY JOY: Healing Hearts After Divorce

The Positively Joy podcast is taking a powerful new direction and diving into a subject that touches so many hearts: relationships. I’m Yvette Walker, creator and host. God has placed it on my heart to share my own journey through a difficult divorce and my path back to joy—a path where God became my everything. I remember the overwhelming hurt and confusion, but I also remember the freedom that came through Jesus. In this new season, we’re going to get real. We’ll talk about the deep pain, the loss, but also the healing and liberation found in Christ. After 13 years of marriage to a man with bipolar depression, I was left broken, questioning my worth. But Psalm 91 became my anchor. “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings, you will find refuge.” It was through faith, self-discovery, and God’s protection that I learned joy isn’t tied to life’s circumstances—it’s a choice. By leaning into His promises, I found love for myself, peace in His presence, and joy in the everyday moments I once overlooked. I invite you to join us on this journey. Share it with those who need these conversations. Positively Joy is evolving, and we’re stepping into something even greater.

Episodes

April 11, 2025 25 mins

It's part two of our conversation with Dana Williams of Redeemed Identity. Do you think you can't find redemption after a breakup? Dana Williams speaks life into Christians who have divorced. She believes your identity in Christ redeems women, no matter the stage of their relationship. Dana has a life of lessons to share this week. 

Her website, Redeemed Identity

Book: "Who Am I After Divorce"

Mark as Played

Think you can't find redemption after a breakup? Dana Williams speaks life into Christian single, separated or divorced women. She believes your identity in Christ redeems you, no matter the stage of your relationship.

Dana, a former wife of a pastor, has a life of lessons to share this week, and come back next week for part two of our interview. 

Her website, Redeemed Identity

Her book, "Who Am I After Divorce?"

Mark as Played

This week, therapist, coach, and author Liz Bullard returns to unpack the lessons from our latest guests, who shared faith and wisdom around leaving abusive marriages.

Listen, subscribe, and like wherever you listen to podcasts, or subscribe and like our YouTube channel, where you can watch the entire episode.

Miss the episodes we are talking about? Check them out:

Angela Chambers episode

Michelle Ruddell episode

More on coach Liz ...

Mark as Played

Angela Chambers wore a mask to hide the pain of her marriage. When she walked out, she was looking for hope and another chance to find joy after abuse in her marriage. Her book, "Real Life, Real Hope" shares her story.

I just want to tell you that there is hope for anyone out there who feels trapped in an abusive relationship. If you are in the US, go to womenshealth.gov, the U.S. Office on Women's Health, and search for resources ...

Mark as Played

Michelle Ruddell is a survivor. She escaped a twice-abusive marriage and found healing after the death of her son, finding the love she needed from God. Today she is a speaker, an author and a daughter of the King. Here's Michelle's difficult but important story.

Michelle's book, "Welcome to the Club - I'm Sorry You're Here" is available here.

Learn more about Michelle at michelleruddell.com

--------------------

Follow Positively J...

Mark as Played

Today's episode is short, but packed with important information. Today I explore some of the lessons I learned during my divorce. I hope they resonate with you. From understanding how to heal to knowing when to put down the burden. Next week we'll have a new guest and I'll tease who that is on social media this week. So if you aren't already following me on Facebook and Instagram at Positively Joy podcast or on YouTube at Yvette Wa...

Mark as Played

Relationship expert Melanie Yates and I unpack the wisdom of last week's guest, Amanda Schaefer. Schaefer, as you recall is the gratitude girl and woman at the well with two previous marriages. Yates and I talk about what we learned from the idea that gratitude is the only response to God's grace, and more. 

Melanie Yates’ Website: HappyJoyousAndFree.org (https://www.happyjoyousandfree.org)

Melanie’s Book: Happy, Joyous, and Free ...

Mark as Played

Get ready for some gratitude today with podcaster and writer Amanda Schaefer. She calls herself "the woman at the well" because of past marriages but she found Jesus in a unique encounter and never looked back. She and I talked during the season of gratitude, Thanksgiving, but like Amanda says, gratitude is the only response to God's grace, no matter what time of year, or whether its in the middle of divorce, grief or loss. It must...

Mark as Played
In this episode of the Positively Joy Podcast, host Yvette Walker and therapist Liz Bullard discuss the complexities of relationships and divorce, particularly within Christian circles. They explore themes such as procrastination, imposter syndrome, the importance of friendship in relationships, navigating difficult decisions, the role of faith and support systems, the power of forgiveness, and self-care strategies during transitio...
  • Mark as Played

    With a name like hers, Dawn Love found irony in her divorce. And as she said, there was a time when she was "broke, busted and disgusted." But this ministry leader leaned on God in trying times, even when the church around her was not always supportive. Listen to Dawn as she shares some wisdom on her marriage, divorce and her life as a single mom.

    Her book, Embracing Change: Trusting God Through the Transitions of Life

    Christian Wo...

    Mark as Played

    Some years people tell me they can’t find the Christmas spirit. Usually that's because of some pain or difficulty in their lives at the moment. The feeling of loss can be the same whether it's the heartbreak of divorce or actually losing a family member. And so I hope that today we can unpack this a little bit and talk about those feelings and how, as usual, we are encouraged to choose the joy of the holiday season. These are journ...

    Mark as Played

    We're back with Amish-raised Sara Daigle in part two of her interview. In part one, we talked about her marriage and background, and today, we'll talk about the lessons she learned through her divorce and as a single mother. Stay with us until the end, as Sara drops some truth bombs you won't want to miss.

    Sara's blog

    Sara's books

    Mark as Played

    This week, I want to unpack our stories about navigating relationships, faith, and the journey to rediscover joy. These are stories of resilience, heartbreak, and ultimately, transformation — not just for those who have faced trials in their relationships, but for anyone seeking hope and faith amid challenges.

    When we talk about difficult relationships, it's tempting to stay silent, but sharing our stories has incredible power. As ...

    Mark as Played

    Sara Daigle is our guest in the first episode of a NEW focus on Christian women, marriage and divorce.

    Sara was raised in an Amish community and when she married, her history of obedience caused her to put up with a marriage that tolerated pornography. Her husband asked her to consider engaging in an open marriage, and she said no. But these trials forced her to cling to the Lord, who delivered her from that relationship. She also ...

    Mark as Played

    In the 40th and last episode of Season 5, Mischelle Saunders-Gottsch is a God storyteller. But her own ability to tell other women's stories on her podcast ministry, Altered Stories, comes from her history of being in a cult with her mother. She is retelling it in a book she's writing, and the journey is difficult. Listen as Mischelle shared memories of that time in her family's life.

    THIS IS THE LAST EPISODE BEFORE WE PIVOT TO OUR...

    Mark as Played

    We’re pivoting here at the Positively Joy podcast to a topic that many women will find incredibly relevant. Relationships. The Lord has put on my heart to talk about my own difficult divorce and journey back to joy, a journey where God was my everything. I remember how hard it was, and in these upcoming seasons we’ll get real and talk about the hurt, the pain, the loss and freedom in Jesus.

    After 13 years of marriage to a man with ...

    Mark as Played

    Pamela D. Smith is a prayer warrior, who uses prayer not only to evangelize, and communicate and give glory to God, but to  help her self-confidence. Pamela shares her story today of being a teen mom, and all the insecurity and doubt that came with her journey. But she loves her children and is so proud of them. Today Pamela teaches us what prayer is and how to pray. Stay tuned for this important conversation.

    Pamela's website

    Her ...

    Mark as Played

    Tracey Glenn and her alter-ego character, Loretta, are a hoot. But don't be mistaken, they ARE strong Christians and love the Lord. She is an author, blogger, speaker, and searcher of biblical wisdom. Her book, "Gathering the Wayward Heart," is about what happens when life doesn’t turn out the way you planned. Listen to Tracey speak on joy and peace.

     

    Visit Tracey Glenn's website

    Her books

    Coffee with Loretta

    Mark as Played

    Carol Chisholm is a writer and singer who has kept her baldness a secret from the world and even from her family. She has an autoimmune disease called alopecia that took away her hair and her self-esteem. But she took to heart the words of Psalm 139 that says we are all fearfully and wonderfully made! Now she is proud of her baldness, and her book, "Breaking the Shadows," has just won a best memoir award! Let's hear more from Carol...

    Mark as Played

    Jerry Dugan of the Beyond the Rut podcast and ministry visits the show today. A military veteran, Jerry has a great message about listening to God, being obedient and loving his family. It's about time we had him on the show, and his message of finding faith certainly is relevant following the Memorial Day weekend.

    Mark as Played

    Popular Podcasts

      Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.

      40s and Free Agents: NFL Draft Season

      Daniel Jeremiah of Move the Sticks and Gregg Rosenthal of NFL Daily join forces to break down every team's needs this offseason.

      Crime Junkie

      Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

      The Breakfast Club

      The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!

      The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

      The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

    Advertise With Us
    Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

    Connect

    © 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.