Comforted to Comfort

In this episode, Crystal sits down with special guest Ellen Cobb for a fun, honest, and encouraging conversation about trusting God through life's unexpected journeys. Sometimes the paths we find ourselves walking are so unique that only God could be orchestrating the next step.

Together, they discuss what it looks like to navigate circumstances they never would have chosen, how God uses difficult seasons to deepen our faith, and why our prayers matter more than we often realize. Ellen shares powerful reminders that even when we don't see immediate answers, God is still at work accomplishing things we may not fully understand until much later.

If you've ever found yourself waiting on God and wondering what He's doing in the middle of a hard season, this conversation will encourage you to keep praying, keep trusting, and remember that God is often working through a series of “small” miracles rather than one instant moment.

Sometimes the comfort God gives us in our own trials becomes the very comfort we are able to offer someone else. This episode is a beautiful reminder that even in the waiting, God is so close.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

You are listening to the rooted podcast with Crystal War. Together we go deeper in order to live lives that bear more fruit. Thanks for tuning in. Hey everybody, and welcome to the Rooted Podcast with Crystal War. I'm here with my friend Ellen today. Hi. We are actually at Novo. If you know me, if you've ever had a conversation with me, I talk a lot about my gym that I love so much. And this is the gym. This is the fitness studio. Ellen and her sister founded Novo years ago. It's been 12 years. But more than anything, it's a community. And through coming here, I've gotten to know Ellen a little bit, gotten to know a little bit about her story. And there is a lot in her that I feel like we're going to get to pull out today. We're going to get to talk about on the podcast. It's going to inspire so many of you. Of course, we're in a series of talking about motherhood, and all of this is for a purpose. We're leading up to a conference that I'm partnering with Virtue by Design. So I'm I'm talking to different moms on the podcast, and Ellen is a mom who is incredible. I mean, she's just an incredible human in general. But um, she's an incredible mom, and there's a a piece to her story of motherhood that I think could speak to so many people, whether you're a mom or maybe not a mom yet, or or maybe you don't plan to be a mom, but there's a piece of her story where God has truly met her and partnered with her. And it's so sweet. I think that there's gonna be even things that she shares with me today that I don't quite know. I just know maybe like the high level of it. So um, I'm excited for us to hear all of this. I want to share a verse with you all that I think is gonna kind of plan our conversation out. It's what I see when I see her and the journey that they've been through. And this verse is in 2 Corinthians, and it's in chapter 1, verses 3 through 4. All praises to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in our troubles so that we can comfort others when they are troubled. We will be able to give them the same comfort that God has given us. So I'm gonna let Ellen share here in a minute. But the the piece here is that they walk through a diagnosis with her first son, and God took them on this journey and literally has held their hand and sustained them. And you know, a lot of times I think when we think about a miracle, I still struggle with this. Like, Lord, I want your miracle fast right now and in a hurry, like yesterday. Right. And when he doesn't do it that way, it's like, well, where is he? Or it wasn't him, or it was just me. It was something other than him. And after we started talking back and forth a little bit about where this conversation was gonna go, God has to speak to me so elementary and like it's to get to my level. So after we were talking, I was in the kitchen, I was like getting stuff out of the freezer, doing something, and I was like, You're probably a better mom than this. But I was like, keep trying to do it real quick so Lottie wouldn't see me so I could do it quickly. Like she's good right now. And so I hear little footprints come in and I'm like, in the freezer, I'm busted. And she's like, Mom, I want to help. And like her excitement helps. And in that moment, I felt like God was like, see how excited she is to partner with you and help you do something that you could have done so easily and so quickly. So good. And like the way she just lit up, and then it happened again like the next day, and I was like, okay, God, I but you know, we we don't get that excited typically because we're not that excited to partner with him and help with the project. You know, like just handle it, dad. You can do that quickly. Like you do it, yeah. So, but the Lord taught you something through that in the way that when you guys had Leo. So let's start from the beginning. So great pregnancy. You were so healthy. Thank you. You did all the right things.

SPEAKER_00 3:38

Yes, I did. You bring home this perfect baby boy. Yes, bring home perfect baby boy. I'm so excited to be a mom. Like we, I was a full-time nanny until I opened the studio. So that's all I had ever known. And Greg and I got married really young, and so we were like, okay, let's make Novo our baby for a little bit because my sister had kids. And when her kids get older and we feel like we can kind of be a little more hands-off with Novo, then like we were both in agreement that okay, we'd we'd go down that road. And so Greg and I both felt like 10 years into our marriage, okay, cool. Like we're settled. I'm kind of, I don't want to say done, but I'm fulfilled in my season of teaching 13 classes a week, you know, doing triples back to back and like being at the studio all the time. And I I know there's more that the Lord has for me. And we both knew we wanted kids, but it was like the Lord really put on our hearts, like it's time, you know? And so I was like, I've got this. Like, I was a full-time nanny. I've helped my sister with her kids. Like, I know how to be a mom. It's gonna go so great. I had my schedule printed out before he even like came into this world. He's gonna sleep at this time, he's gonna do this, like all these things. And the Lord humbled me so quickly because everything that I thought was going to be was not, and not necessarily in a positive way at that time. I was just like, what is happening? So about two weeks old, his little body just had this full body reaction, like covered in bumps. And I had no idea, yeah, no idea that it was eczema. I did not know what eczema was. I mean, I nannyed for a kid that had eczema and it was like a little dry patch, and I put lotion on it at night.

SPEAKER_01 5:17

I was about to say, like, you know, for the person, and and I would have been this person, like, oh, well, just put some cream on it and move on.

SPEAKER_00 5:22

Right, yeah, right. That was me. I was like, what is this? But he's two weeks old. And I'm like, why, like, why? I felt convicted very early on with no other reason than like the Holy Spirit of, hey, you need to understand why. Like, there's something going on with his body, and I hadn't read anything, I hadn't done anything. I just felt like we've got to figure out what's going on. And so he, his little body was just covered. And my husband actually was the very crunchy parent at the time. And so he was like, I'm in all these women's like postpartum groups because I remember Ellen who lived off a diet coke in like 80s. That was me. That was me with a large diet coke in the front of the room. Okay. And yes, when I got pregnant, I was like, gosh, everything I'm putting on my body like really mattered. So I really started like stop my diet coke addiction, stop all that. And then once he got here, Carlson, hey, we're pregnant for you. Once he got here, I was like, holy cow, like, we're about to go a whole new level. And so Greg's like, I'm in all these crunchy mom groups.

unknown 6:22

I love it.

SPEAKER_00 6:22

Let me post some pictures in here and see. And everybody's commenting, like, eczema, eczema, eczema, eczema. And I'm like, what is eczema? Like, what do I do with this? And so, long story short, contacted one of our sweet friends who is a pediatrician. And he he was like, Hey, this looks like eczema. You know, the best course of action is like steroids and it will clear it right up. Yeah. And so for us, we felt like that was not the best choice for our family for Leo. And I really felt convicted, like I said, to kind of know why. And so that started the journey of this you know, year, year and a half situation into Leo's healing.

SPEAKER_01 6:59

Which is beautiful because I mean, you talk about the Holy Spirit, like the Holy Spirit will we live in a world, and I'm not knocking like the seven step, you know, by my program. Yes, and those are great for certain reasons. Yes, like there may be a day that I help somebody with that. But we live in a world where it's like instant, like I have to go and buy this coaching program. And like before we even stop and say, Lord, for me and for my family and for this situation, is there another route? Yes. And so he will direct if you pause long enough to hear from him, he will direct you. Yeah. But then there's the part of like, I don't know about you, but you know, you get out and you've been on this journey, and like the middle is the heart. You start out with that energy and you're gonna be ready to like take on the world. And then you get, you know, like the nights get long and the days get hard, and you're questioning, did I hear from God? Like, are and of course that like, oh my gosh, am I doing them wrong? Yes, whatever. Like, so you guys start out strong. Yeah. You know the Lord's told you to do this, but then you get into the middle of the process.

SPEAKER_00 8:05

Was there ever a moment where you're like, Lord, yes, a lot of those moments, a lot of those moments because it was such a long journey. Yeah, and very isolating because we didn't tell anybody, yeah, like anybody but family. Noah's a wonderful community, but there's 400 women here. Yeah. So I would have gotten a lot of like advice from everyone. And I also felt very much like I needed to lean into the Lord. And to do that, I had to tune out everything.

SPEAKER_01 8:31

I've heard somebody say before, you with certain things, not with everything, sure. Sure, but certain things, you get into a faith bubble. Yes. And I kind of see that when you talked later about like because I'm just thinking you're at home. Yes, living my best motherhood life. Yeah, she's just so busy. Yes, you know, she was real busy, taking it all in. Yeah, like you're laying around, yes, everything's dreamy. Right. And then so you started to share a little bit when you got closer, you know, to like some healing. Yes. And like that was my first thing. I was like, that baby has been in a faith bubble. They have had to stay strong.

SPEAKER_00 9:05

Yeah. It was, it was very, very isolating because I didn't say anything to anyone. And it was just my family. But with that came a lot of, I feel like wisdom because the voices that spoke to me were voices turning me towards God and in full support of what we're doing. Like we knew, okay, we're going the uncommissional route. Like we're not using modern medicine. And there's definitely a time and place for that. Yes. But we did not feel like that was our story. Like we felt so strongly that the Lord was calling us somewhere else. And so we were like, we're gonna pursue this path until he says pivot. Like, if he says pivot, we'll pivot. Right. Yeah. You know, but right now, like this is what we're gonna do. And like I'm here to testify. We did it that way a hundred percent. Yeah. And it is only with the Lord. Like I always joke and say, like, the Lord does not call the qualified, but it is so true. I had no idea what I was doing. And the roads that we had to go down and the deep dives and the things that we were navigating, it was a full-time job. I think when people think eczema, much like what we were talking about earlier, it's like, oh, he's, you know, got a little patched. Sure. But it was like debilitating for our family. Um that could be a whole like four-hour podcast. So the brief version of that is we could not go anywhere. We could not do anything, we could not eat anything. I was exclusively breastfeeding him, but my like diet, what I was eating was impacting him. And so I pulled out like everything that I learned, I really felt like the Holy Spirit was giving me because if you go to Google and it tells you what to do, it's like steroids, dermatologists, whatever. And so I couldn't Google what I needed to do. It was not there, it was not available. So it's just like these aha moments and these epiphanies of like, hey, do this, do that. And so I pulled out gluten, dairy, eggs, corn, soy, seed oils, nuts, everything.

SPEAKER_01 10:54

Was it basically like inflammatory foods?

SPEAKER_00 10:56

Yes, inflammatory foods and like foods that I know are just top allergens. Yeah. Um so pulled all those out and then things got a little bit better. And so then I was like, okay, like we're making some progress, but he was so itchy. He was bleeding, he had like staph infection on his skin externally. So it was oozy. His little arms and legs were completely bandaged. If we went somewhere, we were bringing gauze medical tape. I was bringing an aloe plant, I was bringing all of my topicals, which were like herbal remedies, I was bringing like briotech, which is hypochlorous acid, like all this kind of stuff with me to go somewhere because I was constantly doing like wound care. I had wound care station set up too downstairs, upstairs in his nursery in our room. He was itching to the point of bleeding at night, like histamines rise at night and his little body could not settle. And eczema sometimes is called like the itch that sometimes rashes because not always is there a rash. A lot of times it's just this deep internal itch. To this day, if I see someone itching, I'm like, uh, like my brain literally associates itch with like trauma.

SPEAKER_01 12:02

Well, you had to jump into like I see itch. I fit yes, I go to like you know what I mean? Yeah, like even now you're like wanting to run to people in public, you know? Right?

SPEAKER_00 12:11

Yes, yes. And then it's little things that you don't think about. Like our world revolves around food. Yeah, you know? Yeah. And like I can't go meet a friend for lunch. I can't like Leo's first Christmas. We stayed at home and I cried, you know, like it makes me want to cry talking about it. But you know, I have this like, oh, it's his first Christmas and his happy Christmas outfit pinked out. He can't wear it like underneath it. He's just covered in gauze and bleeding, and he's soaking through it with like oozy skin. And my mom was so precious, and she's like, you know, I made y'all like your your own thing of what you can eat, but we were down to four foods. I had chicken, which was unseasoned, so like not even salt. So it's literally chicken, pears, botcha weight, which I didn't even know what that was until we went through this, and sweet potatoes. And that was all we ate for like six months. I'm talking breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner. And so I didn't want to go over there because yes, my mom was so precious and like made us what we could eat, but like I'm still smelling other food. I'm still around other food. I'm still like it's so hard. You know, I was coming in and teaching doubles on literally no sleep and no food. I was feeling like I was gonna pass out and not a person in the room had any idea. Yeah, any idea, including the front desk. I remember thinking, like, I wish I could just tell somebody, like, hey, keep an eye on me because I might fall out. You know?

SPEAKER_02 13:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:32

I was breastfeeding, then I had to start pumping because my supply was dipping because I was losing weight so quickly. Stress too. Stressed to the max. So I'm like pumping all the time, like breastfeeding, pumping, breastfeeding, pumping. There was not, even if I wanted to put him on a formula, there was not one he could have taken. And so yeah, there was just a lot of like trial and error and two steps forward and 10 steps back. And so there were so many moments where I was like, Lord, are you there? Like, do you care? Do you hear me? Are are we on the right path? Like, or the joy of gosh, like we're getting we're making progress, things are getting better. And then no, they're not. And so it was just constantly like back and forth, and that was so hard. And that's where, like, really leaning in and just like totally trusting this complete surrender is kind of where I had to land because it was a journey. It was not a quick fix.

SPEAKER_01 14:24

In the middle, like that, you don't, or I don't rarely realize as much as I care for my baby and as much as I comfort my baby, as much as I'll do anything for him, you don't quite realize that God's doing the same for you. Yes. Of course, you can look back now and probably it's like, oh my goodness, I'm so thankful for that time with him. Yes. But looking back now, can you look back and say, oh my goodness, I grew closer with him. I trust him more. So, in all of that, how has your faith in your relationship with God grown?

SPEAKER_00 14:54

Yes. So much. Um, I feel like there's so many little lessons that were woven into the things. Like I had to have faith that he heard me and he was working for his good and for our good. Like whatever love I have for my kids and I would truly do anything in the world for them, I know that he loves them exponentially more. You know, I always think of the song in the verse, but if he dresses the lilies, like how much more does he love you? And I think about the ways that he was, he was holding me and Leo. Yeah. You know, like he was carrying us through so many, so many moments. And so the faith of like trusting him as a father. Uh-huh. You know, I had this perfect formula. I'm so type A. But you're you're a fun type A. Thank you. Thank you. I can waver for sure. I love that. But I was like, Lord, I'm really checking all my boxes. You know, I am like, I am doing all the things that I should be doing. I am surrendering this to you. I'm giving it to you. I'm working so hard, like I'm partnering with you. And and what's happening? Like, why are you not moving all my time? Yeah. And so I had to go, like, instead of this constant why, um, I had to have the faith to know, like, he's got me and what's he trying to teach me in it? And I also had to say, like, that there's not a perfect formula. Like, but he loves me as a father. Like, he's got me as a father, you know, it says like cast your anxieties on him because he cares. Like, there's a verse in Romans 8, maybe, that says that the Holy Spirit like intercedes for us. Yes. Okay, that was like so me because it's like when our prayers turn into groans. Oh, I could go on a whole one on that. But like when our prayers turn into groans and we don't have the words, yeah. Like the Holy Spirit is out there interceding for me. He's saying the words that I don't even have in my brokenness. Yeah. And he is like beating on the door of our father, you know, and laying it at his feet. And he's going to battle for me because sometimes it's not flesh and blood. Oftentimes it's not. We have this spiritual realm and spiritual warfare. Yes, it's so real. And so tackling it to go, like, okay, Lord, what are you trying to teach me? And and maybe in the waiting, like it's not gonna be wasted. And this is not moving on Ellen Bacon Cobb's timeline. Right. She had a lot of this yesterday, Lord, if you're wondering. Right, right. But like, so yeah, just so much faith in in the waiting. Yeah. Faith that this was not gonna be the end of our story. I remember like exactly where I was standing in my parents' kitchen one day, and my mom and dad were there, and I remember saying to them, like, what if this is it? What if it doesn't get any better than this? What if, what if this is God's will for his life? And I'm saying doesn't get any better than this as far as his skin, not Leo as a person. But then the more that I thought about that and wrestled with that, I'm like, that's not God's will. Sure. You know, like and I I juggled or not juggled, but wrestled so much with like how to pray because it was like, Lord, am I supposed to stand in complete authority and declare that like Leo is healed and these spots are gone and whatever's going on internally, like you've already moved out, and and I'm supposed to declare that in full faith, or am I supposed to just surrender? And what I realized was like his will for us is to uh is life abundantly, his will for us is health. You know, there there's a uh psalm that talks about like he gives the imagery of him collecting our tears. Yes, and and I think it's so beautiful because I'm like, his will for me and for my family is not that I'm over here like broken, you know? And so you just have to kind of lean into like I may not understand the why, but there's a big difference in God authoring something and allowing something. Yeah, and like lowercase God is here ruling this world here on earth, and so we live in a fallen and broken world. That's right.

SPEAKER_01 18:57

And John 10:10 says that the enemy's plan is to kill, steal, and destroy. Come on, but I have come. This is Jesus talking to give them life to the full. And you have to declare that. Like we do live in the duality because we live in a broken world. Sickness happens, brokenness happens, yes, all of these things happen that are not his plan, yes, not his original plan. And so going back to the mindset and also like being, you know, not being delusional, like yes, this is happening. Yes, yes, this is real. This is very much sick, and he's he's hurting, and it this is hurting all of us. Yes. But also, like our power, our our tongues have the power of life and death. Yes. And so being able to speak that and and speak it even when you don't fully understand it, like that faith of a mustard, which is so tiny. Yes, what were you speaking over him? Like, even though you were like trying to filter the thoughts, like what were you saying? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:50

Absolutely. So it was kind of this like formula for me of asking God, and then it turned to like pleading with God, begging with God, into like declaring over Leo, like your skin will be healed. You are not defined by your skin. You are a child of God. You are gonna live a full life. You're gonna be able to play outside and eat foods, and this food's gonna bless you. This food's gonna heal your body. The Lord's gonna use this food to nourish your body in Jesus' name and thanking God already for doing that, you know? Like, thank you, Lord, for using this food to heal him. Thank you, God, for giving us another day to partner with you, you know. We want these, like one of my friends calls it microwave miracles, and it's so good, but we do. You're like, okay, Lord, but but like there's so much fruit that happens and so much growth that happens in that waiting. And so for us to be like able to partner with God, you know, there's so many verses where like the Lord could have healed somebody, but instead he he does, but he could have just laid hands and been done. But he like asked them, yeah, you know, he did it with the lepers, he did it with Peter on the water, like get out of the boat, put your foot in the water. And so I think that's so cool because there were so many times where I was like, so many times, where I'm like, Lord, I know you can do it. And I do believe that miracles like that still happen. But he was like, Are you willing to partner with me in this? And I'm like, Yeah, I've been doing it.

SPEAKER_01 21:22

Like, are you willing to speed it up? You know? And that he saw you. Like the the Lord of the universe, yes, saw you. Yes. And he saw every time you needed milk. Yes, he saw every time you needed the next step. Yeah. Every provision. There's a mama in the Bible that we don't talk about a whole lot. I was talking with a friend about Hagar the other day. And so Hagar's from Genesis. Okay. And um I'm gonna paraphrase here. So for the listeners, go back, read your Bible. Because you may get something else out of this. So, but Hagar, sh I mean, like, she ends up in this like Jerry Springer type situation. Like, you don't know that the Bible Jerry Springer's Right, right, right. But Hagar, we all know of Abraham and Sarah. God had promised that Abraham was gonna be the father of many nations. God didn't do it on his time. Yes. So him and Sarah are like, okay, we're getting all. And so Sarah's like, well, go sleep with my servant and get her pregnant, and then you'll be a father. Easy, right? And so Abraham's like, okay. And so Hagar is the servant, and after this happens, like things get hostile in the house, right? So she ends up, she didn't realize that the time she was pregnant and she left and she's in the wilderness just broken. Like, I don't know what to do, you know? And an angel of the Lord comes and meets her in the wilderness and he shares with her, you're pregnant and things are gonna be okay. Some of these things are gonna happen, but he sees her. Yes. And it's the only time in the Bible that somebody gets to give God a name. Like we know that God has names, right? He typically tells us his name. Like, I'm the I'm the great item, right? And your banner of victory. So she is like, God has seen me. So she gives him the name Elroy. And then later on in that story, so that's in Genesis 16. You go to Genesis 21. So she's had the baby at this moment, and they've actually things got hostile. Her and the baby have left, and things were so bad out in the wilderness that she leaves him and she walks away because she's like, He's gonna die. Like he's just gonna die. And like I think about her as a mom. Yes, she walks far enough away that she doesn't see him. Like she's like, I have I'm out, I'm out. God, this is it. I'm at the end of anything I can do. So an angel comes and meets her, and like her eyes are open and she sees some water and she drinks the water and she gives him some water, and like I said, go read it. It's a really cool story. Yeah, but just the fact that like she was able to say, God, you see me. Yes. And in your story, yes, totally different story, yes, total, totally different circumstance. But like God saw you, and were there times where it was like, okay, I need this or I need a person or I need I need something for tomorrow. Like, what is it gonna be, God?

SPEAKER_00 24:00

Yeah. I mean, there were so many moments. I remember sitting at my mom's table after I taught, I had to pull myself off of heated classes because I mean, just with my milk already, like there was no way. And I had taught a double, the second one was heated. Leo needed to eat, and literally no milk was coming out. Yeah. And the pump was like, it would go an hour. It was like the Medela Freestyle. And it was like at the 59 minute, and I had like a drip. I mean, just a literal drip. And I was like, he's not, I don't have any food to give him. Like, he's not gonna be able to eat, you know? And my mom was like, I found a bag of frozen rice milk. And I was like, Whoa, do it. Because it was little things like that that are like such a big deal to us because I was, we went and saw so many different people, like a holistic nutritionist, holistic daughter, integrative doctor. One of the holistic doctors said not to put the pressure on you, but you're the only thing keeping your son alive and sustained. Oh, easy. Thank you. Thank you for saying the pressure. Yeah, I fell apart in the office because I'm like, you don't know like what I'm having to go through to even like get him the milk that he needs. Yeah. And so yeah, there were just so many moments that that the Lord so perfectly orchestrated. Like, we found this holistic chiropractor in Atlanta, went and saw her, and she like specialized in eczema and she's like doing all kinds of cool stuff on him. And then she's like, I know you have doctor fatigue. Because we had seen like seven different, you know, functional doctors at that point. And even they were like, so sorry, this is the worst we've seen. Like he really needs steroids. And I'm like, I'm just not doing that. You know, I'm not doing it. And so it was like, go home and regroup, go home and regroup, like find a new herb, research this. And, you know, I was just, if I was not holding Leo at night, I was at my laptop trying to join like an herb group, a homeopathy, like just plug in and find people. And so, anyways, the the way the Lord like met us in moments with just connections of people. Like my mom found this eczema mom on Facebook that like, you know, had these herbs and this stuff that she had used and like all super clean and like connected me with her. And she was just such a great resource for me and mentor for me. But that's this chiropractor. She was like, I know you have severe doctor fatigue. There is one that's like amazing if you just feel like you have the energy. And I was like, I don't. But we ended up doing it and she was just incredible. And so there were so many moments where like he just sustained us, yeah, whether it was food or like the next thing to try. Or, you know, we drove two and a half hours one way to Atlanta because I found this one place that was gonna allergy test him. A lot of people don't want to allergy test until they're one or older. But I was like, I've got to know like what he's allergic to, you know. And so we found this place, we get there, we wait. Car rides are terrible because he's itchy, he's uncomfortable, he's hot, you know. And so we get there and we're waiting, and then the doctor comes in, and then she's like, Um, I'm so sorry, but we don't have any needles small enough for him. We're not gonna be able to do this. And find one. I told this story on another podcast, but I literally had an adult tantrum. I excused myself from the room. I'm not kidding. I excused myself from the room. I went in the parking lot and I called my mom and I unleashed on my mom, sweet Angie, nicest hearing it. She's just sobbing on the other hand, and I was like, I should go all the way up here, you don't even know what I've been doing. Whatever. Well, God love her if Mama Bear doesn't come into play. She starts calling every allergy center around. There's one place that closes at 5 p.m. We will not make it. We'll be there at like 5:38. And she gets them on the phone. She is sobbing. The receptionist is a believer. Mom is like just laying it on her so she knows what's going on. She said, We're gonna lock our doors because we close. But when they get here, we will open. I've held the doctor and he will stay back for her. And God love him. If they were not the sweetest, they allergy tested Leah. That was so helpful because back then he had so many allergies that like we did not know. And, you know, I'm like, okay, he's allergic to nuts at the time. Well, I pulled nuts out of my diet. Cool. My deodorant has almond in it. So every time he's breastfeeding, he's breaking out. And I'm like, it's something I ate. I'm only eating four foods. What is it? Oh, it's my deodorant. It's got almonds in it, and he's allergic to almonds, you know, just little things like that. And so there were just so many moments that he like pieced together these only Jesus, you know, things that could happen that were really, really cool that that let you know, even in the like beyond brokenness, he saw me. Yeah, you know. And those are all miracles. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 28:42

Those all add up, you know. Like I said, like in the beginning, we think that it's the one instant, yes, fast miracle. And you are healed, you know? Yeah. And that happens. Yes. Like he can and he can heal. But a lot of times I talk to people and they're so discouraged and they feel like God hasn't seen them or met them or whatever. And actually he has. He met you over and over and over again. And we'll continue to do that. I still, I mean, you know, a lot of my motherhood journey started out, you know, with my oldest. Her dad and I divorced when she was young, and that was super hard to co-parent. And those were the moments where I was laying on the floor crying, and there was no words, just like that belly crying. Like, God, I need you to watch over her and meet her and all of the things. And she's a walking testimony now. But all of those things, and like, so now life is not perfect by any. Like, don't let me lie to anyone. But like now I'm remarried and it's a healthy, happy marriage, and finances are stable, and it's redeemed healthy. Yes. But also, I'm still so incredibly desperate for the Lord to like parent a toddler. Yes. And parent a preteen. Yeah. And like parent my thoughts. I was gonna say, parent us. Yes. I don't I don't lose the sight of like I still need his miracles every day. Every day. I still very often fall short. And he still meets me with grace every day. Yes, you know, and like that's what's so cool is once you like we've seen, and I think other people have too, but like once you've seen him in the trenches, once you have met him in the dark of night, it's like, all right, Lord, I'd be good without another tribe. Right. Yes, please. This one will last me for life. Yes. But come on, like meet me every day.

SPEAKER_00 30:25

You know, absolutely, absolutely. And I I think it kind of goes back to like we don't realize the authority that we are given in motherhood in our prayers through Christ Jesus. Yes. And if people like I used to be the person that was like, you know, is there anything I can do? Like, I'm so sorry, you know, no, there's nothing. Okay, I'm sorry, but I'll be praying for you. And I'm like, if people knew the power of prayer, yes, people would be asking for it for Christmas. Yeah, for Christmas, pray for me. You know what I mean? Like, sit and pray. How cool, like to have someone genuinely pray for you. And I try to tell people, like, when I'm praying for you, I want you to know, like, I will go to war for you. I will storm heaven's gates for you because I needed that for me. Yeah. You know, you get to do it. And I get to do it. And I had my husband doing that, and I had my family doing that. And I mean, we were all just on our knees. And so, kind of going back to like ask God, but beg God and plead with God and and use that authority to command, like you can do that in Christ Jesus. You can absolutely command and declare and thank him because that eczema is not from him. That is not of him. Yep. And we have the authority as as moms to be able to do that, you know. There was one day where Leo was just like having a really hard day with his feelings. It was, I felt like after Lohan came into the picture and you know, I'm sleep deprived, and there was just a hard day. And what I wanted to do was just like scream, you know, like, but I literally laid hands on him in the middle of a full-blown just emotions. You know, he's just laid out on the couch with life and terrible. He just like, he always just snuggles in on the couch when he's so sad. Also, yeah, probably like, I'm going to the couch. I'm like, okay, buddy, I'll come. And so, anyways, he was over there and he was just losing it. And I literally put my hand on him and I was like, Jesus, right now, we just ask that whatever spirit of stress, of anxiety, of anger is coming over Leo. We rebuke that. We do not come into agreement with that. You made Leo Franklin to be joyful. You know, you say that his name is brave. Like Leo is a brave guy. We pray that he would be brave with his feelings and his emotions. It's like we don't understand that we could do that. I did not know I could do that. You know, and I I really realized through Leo's journey, like he has given us that. Like there were times where the disciples were like, Lord, Lord, heal him. And he's like, You heal him. Yeah. You know, like say it. Like you have that authority in him. And so it's so cool because what if we mothered with that like drive of like, you know, I love that you brought this up and we didn't even plan this.

SPEAKER_01 33:06

No, but I have put in because like just for me, like doubts come about things, yeah, fear, or like yeah, just the enemy still tries his yes. Like, I haven't arrived. We never arrived to where I'm and so just this week I put a reminder on my phone. It's popping up every day at 7 a.m. And it said, What scripture am I claiming authority with today? Come on. And like it's a reminder for me that before we get into the day, before that, the chaos of life, and when I say chaos of life, like it can be fine chaos, but it's just regular stuff. Yes, you know, like before the chaos of the day sets in, like this is what I'm claiming. And whatever comes, I'm going back to the pray scripture, God listens. Yes, He answers. Yes. And there is power in the world. There is, this Bible is alive, it's not just an old book, it is alive. And so just a practical thing, like that is what I'm doing every day. That I love that. Like, I don't, for some reason, it doesn't click in like wake up and claim scripture. But now my phone reminds me. I need that. I love that.

SPEAKER_00 34:03

I have motherhood um from the Grace Co. Little card by my toothbrush, and then Leo has his and their little kids' declarations. And I think when we start with that perspective, because there's so much that like happens in our day, yeah, and it's like, Lord, give us the boundaries to protect like our space and and our peace and our minds and our tongue and our, you know, all the things. So I love that. That is so powerful. That is so powerful.

SPEAKER_01 34:30

Well, with you and everything you've learned, you're such a wealth of knowledge and such a resource now. Like just like the verse, you like just like God comforted you, you get to help comfort others. You're not God, but you can help give them those tools and teach them the things that you've learned. I want to hear, well, before we go, I want people to know where they can find you. But through all of your knowledge that you have now, is there one thing that every person that should be what like what's the holistic thing that we're missing out on?

SPEAKER_00 34:57

Yeah. I think it's get to the why. Okay. You know, a lot of times it's like, oh, they're itchy, have a steroid. Oh, we have a headache, take some Tylenol, you know, but like, and not to go so super deep of like, oh, there's some big reason, but like there's probably something off or some why, especially if it's something that's reoccurring. You're constantly having headaches, sinus issues, hormones all over the map, or whatever, like, or your kid with eczema, like there is a why. And when we found that why with Leo, like he's healed, you know? And I walked through my own journey, like healing of Lyme, and I didn't even have symptoms. But like that, it was kind of tied to Leo's situation that made me look at myself and go, like, did I have something to do with him? Like, you know, and so I think just tapping into like the why, because even if we fix it now, we band-aid the solution, oftentimes it will come back later, manifesting in something else. It may not be a rash or itch, but it may be X, Y, or Z. Yeah. And so really tapping into like, is there something going on? Is there something I should look into? And there's usually a why.

SPEAKER_01 35:59

That's good. Okay, well, where can people find you? So we, if they want to do a one-on-one, they can reach out, they can meet with you, you will help walk them through whatever process. Yeah. Um, tell us what all you help with and then where they can.

SPEAKER_00 36:11

Yeah, yeah. So eczema is a big one. So honestly, like so many things. I've done preconception prep for people, eczema, allergies, mold, just looking to live a little more like clean. What are some good lower talk swaps I can do for my house or my skincare or whatever? So we truly do a little bit of everything, and I am a hundred percent not a doctor. So I'm always like, hey, I can help you with this, but then let me connect you to this. So I'm also kind of like a resource advocate because I'll give you like tools or people or books or you know, podcasts. Um, and so yeah, my website is Ellen Cobb.com or holistically Ellen at gmail.com is is a good place to go. I love that.

SPEAKER_01 36:49

Yeah. So reach out to her. Don't send her DMs with your pictures. Thank you. Just reach out via email, go through the steps, and she would love to help you. And she's an incredible, joyful person to do it with. Thank you. I know there's a lot of tears, but I promise I am really full of joy. But I just can't tell the story without going through that. I get that. When like when you've tasted of his goodness, you just it's like not sad tears. It's like an awe of I still, yes, I get it. So absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 37:19

All right.

SPEAKER_01 37:19

Well, let me pray for us and then we'll go. Thank you guys so much for tuning in. Yes, Lord, thank you for your goodness. Um thank you for the way that you partner with us and the way that you meet us with miracles and whatever way that looks like, Lord. Thank you for your word that is true. Um, it is true today that it is alive and it can meet us right where we're at, Lord. Thank you for the way that your Holy Spirit guides us and comforts us on this side of eternity. Yes. Um, just thank you, Lord, for who you are. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you. Hope that you all enjoyed that recording as much as I did getting to record with Ellen. Even after we finished up, we sat and chatted for a while. And she was so adamant about wanting to be an encouragement and remind people that when things get really hard, and maybe it's not physical healing, maybe it's something else that you're going through, but most days for them felt like one step forward and two steps back. And that's so often life when we're going through hard things, but remembering to stay encouraged, leaning into what God's word says and not what your feelings are telling you. But then also remembering that you're human. And when you get completely overwhelmed, having those people that you can call and have a full-on adult tantrum with. I love a good adult tantrum myself. When needed, we all have to remember to stay rooted in God's word, his truth, and having those people around us that can help encourage us and help lift our arms and intercede with us when we're going through things. Also, I want to remind you about the conference rooted in virtue, the conference for mothers that's going to be September 16th and 17th. Registration's now open. You can go to therootedministry.com. There's a link to register there. There's a little bit more info, but if you have questions, reach out to me and let me know. I'd love to help you out, and I can't wait to see you there.