Jeannie Cunnion

May 10

12 min read ⭑

“One of the beautiful things about following Jesus, and knowing how the Holy Spirit manifests His power in our weakness, is the permission to get really honest about where we struggle. And because we are free to be honest, we are also free to grow.”

We all need grace—and few know that better than Jeannie Cunnion. It’s not because she makes more mistakes than the rest of us. Instead, it’s because she’s had a deep, life-changing revelation of God’s grace as a mom to her five boys. That revelation is what led her to write Mom Set Free and Parenting the Wholehearted Child, two books that offer parents an authentic, real-life view of grace as a way to escape a perfectionist mindset.

Her work has been featured on Fox News, The 700 Club, Focus on the Family, and the TODAY Show, and she loves to take opportunities to speak to spiritually hungry crowds. But her real passion? Adoption. Before her writing career, Jeannie worked in the counseling and adoption field, and now the Cunnions have welcomed Andre, a young man from Haiti, into the family.

You can easily look up Jeannie’s accomplishments online. But what we want to know is: What makes her tick? What inspires her work? What weaknesses does she rely on God’s grace to overcome, and what resources strengthen her to keep moving forward? Today, Jeannie is answering all those questions and more.

QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT

There's much more to food than palate and preference. How does a go-to meal at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind the web bio?

Well, those who know me best say I order like a teenage boy orders, which makes sense since my husband and I have 5 boys, and my favorite meals are with them, gathered around our kitchen island or watching sports, like SEC football, on the television. Chicken wings and nachos are always a home run.

I grew up in the south and still believe our party of seven will move back there one day, as all of our extended family—whom we're very close to—lives between Georgia and South Carolina. We did recently purchase a lake house in South Carolina and in doing so, I discovered a new passion. I loved turning a large empty space into a welcoming gathering space. We now rent it on VRBO when we're not using it, and I think I could enjoy doing this with many other homes in the future. Seeing other families make beautiful memories on the lake, like we have, has been a lot of fun.

Meanwhile, we've lived in the New York City/Connecticut area for the last 17 years. All of our boys were born in NYC, other than our son Andre, who was raised in a loving Christian orphanage in Haiti. He's been part of our family now for two years, but he is still learning to acclimate to New England weather. Come to think of it, so am I. Ha! People call this area a "spiritual wasteland," and while I can understand why people say that, I can also tell you I've met some of the kindest, most generous, brilliant, Jesus-loving people you'll ever encounter. We are so blessed with an incredible community of Christians in Greenwich, Connecticut.

QUESTION #2: REVEAL

We’ve all got quirky proclivities and out-of-the-way interests. So, what are yours? What so-called "nonspiritual" activities do you love and help you find spiritual renewal?

There isn't a trail I won't hike with my family. There is a priceless quality to the conversations that transpire when navigating the trails or hiking alongside rushing waterfalls. When you have five boys and a very large golden retriever, the forest is your friend. Our best days are spent watching our boys jump over big logs, run up steep hills, and splash in shallow creeks. We come alive in nature. We shed some of things that are weighing us down as we climb higher. But there is a greater takeaway in the terrain. A spiritual one.

For example, as we adults know, the trails have cleared paths for a purpose, especially the paths that have steep slopes. I never knew this to be truer than when we explored the extraordinary hiking trails at Yosemite National Park. We told the boys to keep in step with us, so to speak, so they didn’t fall into trouble or get lost off the trail. Our instruction wasn’t intended to keep them from adventure and enjoyment. It was to keep them in it. It was for their good.

Similarly, in life, we can keep in step with the Spirit to follow God into the great adventure He has planned for us, or we can side-step Him, wander off and get lost, or fall into temptation and trouble. What an incredible gift we've been given in the guidance of the Spirit. Not to mention, it's impossible not to feel His presence in the majesty of His creation.

QUESTION #3: CONFESS

Every superhero has a weakness. Every human too. We're just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re broken and in this thing together. So what’s your kryptonite and how do you hide it?

One of the beautiful things about following Jesus, and knowing how the Holy Spirit manifests His power in our weakness, is the permission to get really honest about where we struggle. And because we are free to be honest, we are also free to grow. Shame can't keep us stuck when we're honest about our brokenness. And our weakness is no match for the Spirit's power.

The first weakness that comes to mind is anger. I never knew how angry I could get until I became a mom 16 years ago. I didn't know how loud I could yell or impatient I could become. This is an area where I rely heavily on the Spirit to produce His character—the fruit of patience, gentleness, and self-control—in my life. When I'm not yielded to the Spirit, I react as though I have "the right" to "be angry and sin." But yielded, I am empowered to be angry and not sin, as Paul instructs. This is when my children get to witness what's only possible by the power of the Spirit.

Also, being honest about my weaknesses with my kids has been a big relationship builder. When we are honest about our weaknesses and struggles, they feel safe to be honest about theirs. Then, like the song by Mercy Me says, we can be "broken together" and experience the grace that not only covers it but works through it.

I am also learning how to surrender my need to control the outcome of my effort to my sovereign King. Striving to produce the harvest from the seeds I plant, which is impossible, steals all the awe from trusting a God who does far more than we can ask or imagine… in His timing.

QUESTION #4: FIRE UP

Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your obsession? And why should it be ours?

Adoption, which has been my passion since I was only 13 years old, was birthed in me when I watched my sister (10 years older than me) give birth to a baby she chose to place for adoption. I witnessed the courage, the heartbreak, the love, and the unwavering trust in God it requires to make such a selfless decision. I watched her choose life in a very difficult situation, I watched her fall in love with her little girl, and I watched her let go because it was what she believed was best for her baby.

That life-changing moment instilled in me a desire to work in the adoption field. I received a Master’s Degree and began my work as a counselor, advocate and trainer.

But 15 years and three kids later, God began to stir in me an undeniable desire to start writing about what He was teaching me about His grace (something I did not remotely grasp) through my parenting. Through my weaknesses. Through my mess-ups as a mom. This required laying down my adoption work to pick up a pen (or a laptop) and start doing something I never studied or set out to do. But the calling of God was clear.

I was grieved about laying down the adoption work but trusted God would merge my writing world with my desire to see my husband and I personally adopt one day. It will sound like I am making this up because it's almost too good to be true. But here it is. I followed the nudge to write. God opened one miraculous door after the next (it is indeed true that He equips us for the call!), and my first book was published in 2014.

A few weeks after my book was published, I received an email from a missionary in Haiti. Her name was Karris. We were about the same age. She grew up much like me and we had so much in common, except she'd been called to be a missionary to about 100 children in Haiti. She wrote me—through my website—to simply say thank you for my book. The message of grace had impacted her profoundly in her feelings of inadequacy as a mom to so many. I replied immediately. A friendship quickly formed.

Fast forward. We travel to the orphanage every year to visit the children, and two years ago, we welcomed one of them, Andre, into our family. And I believe this story is just getting started. Now I can't imagine doing anything other than writing. But I also get to live out my passion for the gift of adoption. If God doesn't write the best stories…

QUESTION #5: BOOST

Cashiers, CEOs, contractors, or customer service reps, we all need grace flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it's God when it happens?

Well, I sure do love this question, considering I've just published a book about the Holy Spirit. But let me back up, because this was the book I didn't want to write.

A few years ago, I began to pray, "Lord I want all of you. I want to know the fullness of your presence. I want you to become larger in my life." I don't know how I expected God to answer that prayer, but I can tell you this: I didn't expect the answer to be a thirst for a deeper knowledge of and encounter with the Holy Spirit. But that's how God answered that prayer. Of course, it makes so much sense in retrospect, but I didn't see it coming.

Because I'm a preacher's kid, I called my parents and asked them for recommendations for the best books on the Holy Spirit. And I devoured them. I studied Scripture and began re-reading familiar passages with an eye for the Spirit's presence and power. And I was blown away by all I was learning. God was, in essence, re-introducing me to His Spirit.

So, the answer to the question, "How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work?" is deep and wide. Earlier I mentioned that I didn't want to write this book, and the reason was primarily that I didn't feel qualified to write it. I didn't feel equipped. And in many ways, both were (and are) true. But all God needed was my willingness, and my thirst, and a humble dependence.

I've always said I feel the presence of God so tenderly and so intimately when I write. That process of studying Scripture and asking the Holy Spirit to illuminate it and bring to mind the stories that will help illustrate it are sacred. And I treasure it. That experience has never been truer than when I wrote Don't Miss Out. I needed the Holy Spirit to teach me about Himself and His essential and distinct (but often neglected) role in the Christian life.

But I had to do more than gain knowledge. I wanted to truly know Him and experience His presence and power in a fresh way. And I did. In abundance. I knew it was Him because I know His fruit. I know His character. I know His love.

QUESTION #6: inspire

Scripture and tradition beckon us into the rich and varied actions that open our hearts to the presence of God. So, spill it, which spiritual practice is workin' best for you right now?

I find renewal in laughter with people I hold dear. Rich conversation, good food and wine at our outdoor table draped with string lights. This is life. We have a close knit crew of about six couples who love to have honest conversations. We've created this safe space for us to talk as couples about what is and isn't working in our marriages, how our kids are struggling or growing, and where God is moving. We share dreams. We share fears. I think what we have is incredibly rare. And it's so good.

In the everyday moments, I connect with God through music. Worship is how I get through my day. It's on in the bathroom when I'm getting ready for my day. It's on in the kitchen when I'm cooking meals. It's on in the car when I'm driving carpool. What I love about worship is how it welcomes me to tell God who He is. Every song focusing on a different aspect of His character. Or giving words to the ache in my heart. Or lifting a burden I'm carrying. I like silence, too. But worship is where it's at for me.

QUESTION #7: FOCUS

Our email subscribers get free ebooks featuring our favorite resources—lots of things that have truly impacted our faith lives. But you know about some really great stuff, too. What are some resources that have impacted you?

Since I just talked about worship, I have to mention Maverick City Music. That is my latest favorite. And also, Red Rocks Worship. Oh my word. Put those albums on repeat, and I've got my fuel.

I'm also loving the YouVersion daily story. This has been an awesome way to start the day in the Word. It's also an easy way to involve my kids in a morning devo. We can all do it from our devices or I just play it in the car on the way to school. Also, any podcast with Tim Keller is always fire.

We all have things we cling to to survive (or thrive) in tough times. Name one resource you’ve found indispensable in this current season—and tell us what it's done for you.

I just answered this question, but I can also add this: Getting lost in a good fiction book is therapy to me. The latest book, Becoming Mrs. Lewis, was that to me. It just happens to be written by my sister, Patti Callahan. But that's not why it's one of my all-time favorite books. It's because I am a huge lover of all things C.S. Lewis, and this book invites us into the love story of him and Joy Davidman. It was spectacular.

QUESTION #8: dream

God is continually stirring new things in each of us. So, give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?

God is stirring in me (and my husband) a desire to become even more involved and committed to the work God is doing at Danita's Children’s Home in Haiti where our son Andre grew up. We just took our fourth annual trip to the orphanage, and our love for the children only deepens.

As the children get older, the orphanage’s needs change. Many of the children are now graduating from the school on campus and are eligible to come to the United States, like Andre, and get a college education that puts them in an entirely different position to get a good and influential job in their country. Although the orphanage isn't licensed to place children for adoption, the children can be welcomed into a host family in the States so they can attend college and enjoy the love of a family.

Our experience with Andre has been an incredible blessing to our family.

We have come to love him as our own. And we are so proud of him. He just completed two years of community college, and now he will attend Lipscomb University in Nashville to pursue his dream of becoming a pastor. The plan is for Andre to return to Danita's and become a pastor at the church on campus. This is the vision the Lord gave him when he was a teen, and he is seeing it come to fruition. It is such a joy and an honor for us to partner with him to make it become a reality.

But there are so many more wonderful and deserving orphans who love Jesus and have a dream to pursue and are praying for the same open doors, and we believe this can become a reality for them, too. So we're dreaming and praying about how the Lord will welcome us to partner with Him in His plans for these kids. We are excited to watch God do the impossible!

We live in a world that says we have to be good enough to earn love, even God’s love. And sadly, even many Christians have fallen for that mindset. Some of us think we have to do enough good things, shove our anger far enough below the surface, or engage in enough charitable activities to reach the point that our heavenly Father is proud of us.

Nothing could be further from the truth. We love that Jeannie’s two passions are God’s grace and adoption, because those two concepts go hand in hand in the Bible.

“For it was always in his perfect plan to adopt us as his delightful children, through our union with Jesus, the Anointed One, so that his tremendous love that cascades over us would glorify his grace” (Ephesians 1:5-6a, TPT).

We’ve been adopted as God’s children, not because we’re good enough or can control our sinful desires, but because of his grace. And only his grace.

Today, we encourage you to take a fresh look at God’s grace, not just in a theoretical sense—but for you personally, for your life today. We think what you find will change your life, just like it changed Jeannie’s.

Jeannie Cunnion is an author, Bible teacher, and sought-after speaker who has been featured on outlets such as the TODAY show, Fox & Friends, The 700 Club, and Focus on the Family. Jeannie is a wife to Mike and a mama to five boys. Her hobbies include grocery shopping—because, five boys—and praying—because again, five boys. To know Jeannie is to know her deep love for Danita’s Children’s Home in Haiti. Jeannie's latest book, Don't Miss Out, is about daring to believe that life is better with the Holy Spirit. She'd love to connect with you at JeannieCunnion.com.

Justin Camp