When God Shows Up in Grief with Granger & Amber Smith

What happens when tragedy strips everything away and leaves something far greater behind? In this powerful episode, Jinger and Jeremy sit down with country music star-turned-pastor Granger Smith and his wife, author Amber Smith, for one of the most moving conversations about grief, marriage, and genuine faith you'll hear this year. Granger opens up about walking away from a wildly successful music career, including his viral alter ego Earl Dibbles Jr. and how the devastating loss of their 3-year-old son, River, in 2019 became the catalyst for real, saving faith. Amber shares what it was like to rebuild their marriage in the wake of unimaginable grief, the pact they made to stay together, and her journey to writing her deeply hopeful book The Girl on the Bathroom Floor. Together, they discuss the River Kelly Fund, water safety, finding purpose through pain, and what they'd say to anyone sitting on a bathroom floor with no hope left. In this episode: - Granger's decade-long grind in Nashville & the Earl Dibbles Jr. viral moment - How Amber went from acting in his music video to becoming his wife - The tragic loss of their son River and how it transformed their faith - How they kept their marriage intact through catastrophic grief - Amber's book The Girl on the Bathroom Floor and why it has a hopeful ending - The River Kelly Fund and giving back globally in River's honor - Granger's upcoming book on cultural Christianity - What true saving faith looks like vs. cultural Christianity Perfect for fans of: Christian podcasts, faith and grief, marriage and relationships, country music, Granger Smith, redemption stories, parenting, loss, and hope. Don't forget to like, comment and SUBSCRIBE. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:51 - Life in Texas 00:03:01 - Current Season of Life 00:04:22 - Testimony of God's Faithfulness 00:05:07 - Granger's Music Career 00:07:00 - Meeting and Falling in Love 00:12:13 - The Break in Music Career 00:12:17 - Creation of Earl Dibbles Jr. 00:14:31 - Impact of Earl Dibbles Jr. 00:16:10 - Passion Shift: From Soccer to Ministry 00:18:53 - The Tragic Loss of Their Son, River 00:19:09 - The Catalyst of Their Faith: Grief 00:21:52 - Amber's Perspective on the Tragic Loss 00:23:18 - Finding God in the Midst of Grief 00:24:09 - The Power of Scripture in Healing 00:25:49 - Granger's Personal Transformation and Encounter with God 00:29:17 - The Revelation of God's Love and Identity 00:31:11 - Recognizing God's Presence 00:31:34 - The Journey of Faith 00:31:52 - Shared Grief and Faith 00:32:29 - The Girl on the Bathroom Floor 00:33:50 - Wrestling with God's Presence in Suffering 00:38:40 - The Pact to Stay Together 00:42:49 - The River Kelly Fund 00:45:07 - Hope for Those on the Bathroom Floor OUR INCREDIBLE SPONSORS: BROOKLYN BEDDING: Brooklyn Bedding has been around for over 25 years, known for top-of-the-line comfort and quality without the luxury price tag. Go to ⁠https://brooklynbedding.com⁠ and use my promo code JINGER at checkout to get 30% off sitewide. ARTICLE: If you’re looking to upgrade your space, we’ve been loving Article. Their furniture is modern, high-quality, and easy to style. Go to article.com/JINGER for $50 off your first purchase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices