Finding Hope in Hard Things – A Conversation With Emma Heiner (Ep. 53)

In this must listen episode, Lee and Jenny sit down with Emma Heiner, who shares her deeply personal story of living with systemic scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disease she was diagnosed with at just nine years old.

Emma opens up about the physical and emotional toll the illness has taken on her joints, lungs, and digestive system, and the personal transformation she has experienced as a result.

Through three distinct phases— crisis, growth, and discovering her identity—Emma reveals how her faith, resilience, and writing have become lifelines during her most difficult seasons.

She speaks candidly about mental health, the grief of lost abilities, and the healing that comes from staying connected to God and learning to be patient with oneself.

Whether you're facing your own health challenges or navigating a season of personal struggle, Emma’s wisdom is a beacon of hope and strength.

Her message reminds us that even in the hardest circumstances, Christ is bigger than anything we face—and that the journey matters as much as the destination.

Find Emma on IG @quietheart_emma

Find Emma's book, In The Quiet Heart, on Emerging Bookshelf

Resources Used In This Episode:

Jeffrey R. Holland, Remember Lot's Wife, BYU Speeches, Jan 13, 2009

Joe Dispenza, Act Like The Person You Want To Become

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