134: A Valuable Treasure Is Produced: sexual impurity, an eating disorder and infertility didn't stop her with Maureen Miller Artwork

Challenges Won't Stop Me

Challenges. Uggh. Life is full of challenges. How do you navigate those unexpected turns in your path? You could crumble and believe life isn't fair, giving that challenge permission to defeat you. But that's not you who you are. Neither are the courageous women who our host, Melony Brown, interviews. These women chose to fight to overcome life's tough challenges. They share their stories, as well as the strategies and habits that strengthened them and helped them maintain a 'challenges won't stop me' mindset.Throughout the season, Melony publishes video solocasts to share messages and resources to strengthen you for your current challenges and those that are right around the corner. Discover what kind of journey navigator you are when life's tough challenges intersect your path. Take the quiz at journeyonquiz.comInterested in sharing your overcomer story? Email me at melony@melonybrown.comMy book "Challenges Won't Stop Me: An Interactive Survival Guide for Overcoming & Thriving" is available on Amazon.

All Episodes

Challenges Won't Stop Me

134: A Valuable Treasure Is Produced: sexual impurity, an eating disorder and infertility didn't stop her with Maureen Miller

January 14, 2026 • Melony Brown • Season 8 • Episode 134

0:00 | 25:55

When I noticed today's guest, Maureen Miller, wearing pearl earrings during her interview, I remembered hearing pearls held meaning for her, so I asked her to tell me about them.

Author and speaker Maureen Miller shared that she loves pearls because the adversity - the things we go through, the challenges we face - are similar to the sand that agitates an oyster. A valuable treasure - a pearl - is produced because of the agitation or challenge. And God produces a valuable treasure - us - as a result of the agitations and challenges we face.

Maureen shares about the challenges she faced as a teenager and young adult (sexual impurity and an eating disorder), as well as the challenge of learning she would not be able to have children with God performing a miracle.

Throughout each of these challenges, Maureen sought God, desiring to follow His will for her life.

Notable quotes:

* "The oyster is just this creature in the ocean, and a bit of sand gets in there and agitates the oyster. It's uncomfortable and it's not fun, I'm sure. Over time what is produced is this valuable treasure . . . the pearl."
* "We were still making choices that were not God's best for us. And as we know, those ungodly choices hold consequences."
* "God has us under a protective umbrella when we obey Him, but when we disobey Him it's like we've stepped out from under that umbrella."

Bible verses:

* Philippians 4:8
* Hebrews 13:5
* Genesis 2:24
* James 1:6
* Proverbs 26:11
* Psalm 37:4
* Hebrews 4:12

Maureen's fight verse is Psalm 62:5, which reads, "My soul waits silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him." (NKJV)

Learn more about Maureen Miller at her website: https://www.maureenmillerauthor.com/
and her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/maureen.miller.393

Check out Gideon's Book: Maureen's Christian Market Book's 2025 Contemporary Novel of the Year!

Send me a COMMENT or QUESTION!

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

Want to leave a comment about this episode? Click HERE!