On this episode of The Hope Pandemic, we sit down with Debbie Simmons — a woman whose life is a powerful testimony of resilience, faith, and the unshakable power of God's grace.

Debbie is the founder and CEO of Anchor Point, a nonprofit that serves families through counseling, education, and spiritual development. She's also a mom of nine adopted children, a trauma-informed coach, and a leader who helps people move from stuck to anchored.

But her story hasn't been easy. From the devastating loss of her quadruplet sons to seasons of burnout and doubt, Debbie knows what it feels like to question everything. And yet, in the middle of grief, she discovered a God who doesn't waste pain — He repurposes it for legacy.

In this vulnerable and hope-filled conversation, Debbie shares:

• Her journey through the loss of her biological quadruplets and how it shook her faith
• The quiet whispers of hope that carried her forward when she wanted to give up
• How her background as an engineer helps her build trauma-informed systems of healing
• Practical tools for regulating your nervous system and parenting with compassion
• Why healing isn't about fixing yourself, but about being faithfully formed by God
• Her powerful mantra: "What's my next best step?"

Key Quotes from This Episode
"You're not failing, you're becoming. Don't rush through this pain; let God meet you in it."

"Hope didn't return as a tidal wave. It came back as a whisper."

"Legacy doesn't have to start from wholeness. It often begins in the broken places where God breathes new life."

"I am resilient...not because I'm strong all the time, but because I'm surrendered."

Scripture Referenced
Romans 15:13 - "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."


About Debbie Simmons
Debbie Simmons helps people move from stuck to anchored through trauma-informed coaching, faith-rooted leadership, and real-life parenting tools. She serves as the CEO and founder of Anchor Point, a nonprofit that supports families through counseling, education, medical care, and spiritual development.

A certified trainer in multiple trauma-responsive frameworks including TBRI®, Nurtured Heart®, and Circle of Security, Debbie works with parents, leaders, and women in transition who are craving clarity, peace, and a sense of purpose. Before her calling into ministry and motherhood, Debbie was an engineer in the oil and gas industry—a background that now helps her build systematic approaches to hope and healing.

She has raised nine adopted children and now coaches others who feel overwhelmed and unqualified, equipping them with practical tools and spiritual wisdom to help them take their next best step—anchored in hope, not hustle.

Visit Debbie's Website: thedebbiesimmons.com
Facebook: @thedebbiesimmons
YouTube: @TheDebbieSimmonsSpeaks
LinkedIn: thedebbiesimmons
Email: debbie@anchopoint.us


Resources Mentioned
Anchor Point - Debbie's nonprofit organization serving families
TBRI® (Trust-Based Relational Intervention) - Trauma-informed parenting framework
Nurtured Heart Approach® - Positive parenting methodology
Circle of Security - Attachment-based parenting program


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Have you ever felt hidden? Forgotten? Like you're stuck in a pit while everyone else is living their purpose?

In today's episode, we explore the unlikely heroines of Star Wars, Jyn Erso and Princess Leia, and discover how their stories mirror your own journey from darkness to hope.

Before there could be "A New Hope," there had to be a "Rogue One"—someone willing to climb the tower, transmit the plans, and give everything for a sunrise they'd never see.

Are you that rogue one??

Join me as we unpack:
-Why being hidden in the pit doesn't disqualify you- it prepares you
-The weapon of mass destruction the enemy is using against you (and how to defeat it)
-What it means to have a "kyber heart" forged under pressure
-How one surrendered life creates exponential hope
-Your mission to light it up and make ten feel like a hundred

This isn't just a story about sci-fi rebels. This is a call to join the Hope Rebellion: to rise in your most desperate hour and become the carrier of hope God created you to be.

The time to fight is now.

Video Links From Rogue One: https://youtu.be/OZ524nOJelE?si=1VUCI-D8_Vx4vkMW
Rebellions Are Built On Hope Speech: https://youtu.be/UcCq3L902c0?si=8hChDSRkjBjEs5ap

Key Quotes
"What chance do we have? The question is 'what choice?' Run, hide, plead for mercy, scatter your forces. You give way to an enemy this evil with this much power, and you condemn the galaxy to an eternity of submission. The time to fight is now!" — Jyn Erso, Rogue One

"Rebellions are built on hope." — Jyn Erso, Rogue One

"The strongest hearts are made of kyber." — Chirrut Îmwe, Rogue One

"A fighter with a sharp stick and nothing left to lose can take the day." — Jyn Erso, Rogue One

"If not for hope, how can the people stand? Hope ignites hope ignites hope." — word from the Lord


Reflection Questions

Where is your "pit"? What darkness are you currently sitting in that feels like it's disqualifying you?

What would it look like for you to shift from asking "what chance do I have?" to "what choice will I make?"

Who needs you to "transmit hope" to them right now? Who is waiting for the message only you can carry?

What would change if you truly believed you have a "kyber heart"—that the pressure you've been under has been making you unbreakable?

What's your tower? What is God asking you to climb, even if you never see the outcome of your obedience?


Resources Mentioned
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl (available on audible for free and Amazon)
Star Wars: Rogue One
Star Wars: A New Hope
Hebrews 11 - The Hall of Faith
1 Corinthians 13:13 - "Now these three remain: Faith, Hope, and Love"


Connect With Us
Are you ready to join the Hope Rebellion?
Share this episode with someone who needs to hear that their greatest days are ahead of them, not behind them.
Tag us on social media with #HopeRebellion and tell us: What's your mission? What tower is God calling you to climb?
Remember: Rebellions are built on hope.

Who This Episode Is For
This episode is for the Hope Vessels, the encouragers and leaders in the room. You've overcome what felt like insurmountable odds and impossible situations. You are the one bringing hope into hopeless situations in culture.

Whether you see yourself as a hope bearer right now or not, you are the Rogue One.

Your kyber heart is ready.

Your mission is clear.

The time to fight is now.

What do you do when God asks you to let go of everything familiar? In this powerful episode, life and business coach Maria Collins shares her journey of moving from California to Texas—a transition that came with unexpected loss, deep grief, and a complete identity shift.

Maria opens up about experiencing a miscarriage, leaving her job, and saying goodbye to the life she had built, all within a short timeframe. She talks candidly about the fear of losing herself, the struggle to trust God's plan, and the daily choice to surrender control when nothing made sense.

But this isn't just a story of hardship; it's a testimony of transformation. Maria shares how God met her in the waiting, how community and faith became her anchors, and how she learned that her identity isn't tied to what she does or where she lives, but to who she is in Christ.

If you're navigating transition, processing loss, or wondering if you'll ever feel whole again, this conversation will remind you that God is faithful, even when you can't see the full picture.

In This Episode, You'll Hear:
--How Maria processed multiple losses at once and why she didn't give herself space to grieve at first
The fear of losing her place in the marketplace and her identity after stepping away from her career
-What "Be still and know that I am God" meant to her in a season of complete uncertainty
-The role of journaling, Bible study, and community in her healing journey
-How gratitude became a daily practice that paved the way back to joy
-Why healing isn't one big breakthrough, but a series of small, surrendered moments
-What's different about Maria's current transition season and why it feels "lighter" this time
-Practical advice for anyone trying to heal, rebuild, or grow through a hard season

Key Quotes:
"God was decluttering my life—removing things I didn't realize I was holding onto so tightly."

"My identity isn't tied to what I do, where I live, or what season I'm in—it's rooted in who I am in Christ."

"Surrender isn't losing control—it's gaining peace."

"Trust the Lord and let go of control. His plans are so much better than the ones you've imagined."

"Trust God's timing and don't rush the process. Even when life feels uncertain or slow, He's still working behind the scenes."

Scripture Anchor:
Jeremiah 29:11 – "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."


Connect with Maria Collins
Website: www.themariacollins.com
LinkedIn
Book: The Joy of Becoming