When life knocks the wind out of your lungs, the bathroom floor can feel like the only safe place to collapse. That’s where our guest, Amber Smith, met Jesus in a way she’d never known before.
Amber’s new book, Girl on the Bathroom Floor, was birthed from unthinkable loss. But her story isn’t just about pain. It’s about the nearness of God, the refining of faith, and the surprising coexistence of grief and joy. If you’ve ever wondered how to keep breathing when everything hurts, this is for you.
When Grief Meets the Presence of God
Scripture tells us that God is close to the brokenhearted. Amber describes an inexplicable peace, even in a hospital room, that did not erase the pain but held her within it.
She began to run to God with honesty. She prayed through tears on the bathroom floor and opened her Bible with desperate faith. Page after page, she encountered a sovereign and loving Father who gave His only Son and who holds every one of our days.
You do not have to clean yourself up to come to Jesus. Start with one honest prayer. Open the Word and ask Him to meet you there.
Replacing Lies with Truth
Grief often invites lies. I failed. I should have done more. I will never smile again.
Amber learned to confront lies with Scripture, choosing God’s voice over guilt and shame. Truth anchored her heart. Every day of our lives is seen and known by God, and nothing can separate us from His love.
A simple practice helped. She kept a note titled “Truth for Hard Days,” filling it with verses to return to when anxiety rose.
Marriage in the Fire
Couples grieve differently. Amber and her husband chose to fight for one another, remembering their vows and locking eyes in the hardest moments.
They learned a rhythm of leaning in, giving space, serving sacrificially, and refusing to keep score. Grief became something they faced together rather than apart.
If you are married, consider a gentle weekly check-in. Ask, “How is your heart today?” and “What do you need from me this week?”
Parenting Through Loss
Children need language for big feelings and permission to see healthy emotion. Amber allowed her children to see her tears while offering reassurance.
She would say, “I am very sad today, but I am okay. Jesus is with us.”
They kept memories alive through photos and stories, practicing remembrance as a rhythm of hope. Just as Joshua instructed the people to build stones of remembrance, they learned to mark God’s faithfulness together.
When Good Things Become Idols
In a tender moment, the Lord revealed that Amber had elevated a precious gift above the Giver. That loving correction led her back to Jesus as her supreme treasure.
In grief and in everyday life, the invitation is the same. Surrender.
Ask the Lord gently, “Is there anything I am holding higher than You?” Receive His conviction as kindness.
Practical Wisdom: Water Safety & ISR
Because her story involves drowning, Amber now advocates for layered water safety. This includes locked pool barriers, door alarms, vigilant supervision during non-swim times, Coast Guard-approved life jackets on open water, CPR training, and ISR instruction so little ones can roll to float and find air.
A simple first step is to research ISR in your area and review your home’s current layers of protection.
Grief and Joy Can Coexist When We Surrender to God
Peace that surpasses understanding isn’t theoretical — it’s a Person (Phil. 4:7). As we remember God’s past faithfulness and rehearse His Word in the present, hope rises.
If you’re on your bathroom floor today, know this: Jesus is with you. Surrender to God is not defeat — it’s how we are held.
Next Step:
Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Grab a copy of The Girl on the Bathroom Floor: https://amzn.to/42P3ICI
If this episode encouraged you, share it with a sister in Christ and leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts — your support helps us grow this Christ-centered community and reach more Christian women who are hungry for deeper faith, real friendship, and Spirit-filled girl talk.
Join our Spirit Filled Sisterhood Community on Facebook.
