HER FAITH INSPIRES Ep 307: Tears on the Tiles: Amber Smith on Grief, Grace & Hope

 

Season: 22 Episode: 307

Summary

What do you do when life knocks you to your knees – literally, to the bathroom floor – leaving you breathless, broken, unsure? Amber Emily Smith has been there. In this episode, she opens up about her pain when she lost her little boy, River, and how God met her in spaces of sorrow, shame, and uncertainty. We’ll talk about grief, the power of lament, and the surprising ways hope finds its way back.

The Girl on the Bathroom Floor

Question One:

I started following you a couple of years ago and I didn’t know your story at the time. I saw you post the importance of teaching babies and toddlers how to swim and when I scrolled down to check you out further, I realized why that message was so important to you. Do you mind talking about what led you to that message and ultimately the greater message in your new book, Girl on the bathroom floor? 

Question Two:

You describe the book as a raw look at the moments most of us never share—the ones behind closed doors, on the bathroom floor, in the car, or hidden in a closet. Why was it important for you to open the door to those unseen moments of grief and vulnerability?

Question Three:

You invite readers into your journey after the heartbreaking death of your son, River. What did those private moments of wrestling with God look like, and how did they shape your faith?

Question Four:

 You mention that even before River’s passing, you had already experienced tears on the bathroom floor through motherhood struggles, family addiction, and broken relationships. How did those earlier experiences prepare you—spiritually or emotionally—for walking through such a devastating loss?

Question Five:

 Many people ask, “Where is God in a world of hurt?” How have you discovered God’s presence in those hidden places of grief, and what does it mean that He “grieves with us”?

Question Six:

Your book encourages readers to navigate private pain with both grace and grit. What practical or spiritual rhythms helped you hold onto both of those when everything felt like it was falling apart?

Question Seven:

You write that grief doesn’t have to separate us from hope or joy, but can actually lead us to it. Can you share a moment when you began to see glimpses of hope in the midst of deep sorrow?

Question Eight:

You describe the book as a compass for those who feel unseen and undone. If someone listening today feels like they’re on their own “bathroom floor moment,” what encouragement would you want to offer them?

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