Podlipodcast player Webplayer

Conversations with Sekani

Conversations with Sekani

Told He Wouldn’t Live Past 20 — How Faith Turned Pain Into Hope | David Ebel

Conversations with Sekani · Sep 28, 2026 · 26:54

0:0026:54

Listen in the Podli app 🎧

Follow your favourite podcasts, listen offline and in the car with CarPlay and Android Auto, and always pick up where you left off. Free to try.

David Ebel is an international speaker, author, award-winning photographer, and humanitarian whose life is a remarkable testament to resilience and hope. Born with severe birth defects after a medical experiment and told he would not live beyond the age of 20, David spent much of his early life battling chronic pain and hopelessness. Everything changed when he discovered faith.


For more than five decades, he has dedicated his life to helping people through grief, trauma, disaster, and life’s most difficult moments while sharing a message of hope around the world.


In this raw and powerful conversation, David shares:

• Growing up with 21 birth defects and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

• Being the smallest, most bullied kid in school for nearly 12 years

• The belief that he wouldn’t live past 20 and how it shaped his youth

• A nervous breakdown in college and three years of downward spiral

• Four suicide attempts, including driving a car off a bridge

• The night a young believer brought him to church while he was drunk and high

• Crying out to Jesus with a six-month challenge — and the instant change

• 50+ years of turning personal pain into a global message of hope


If you’re in your 20s carrying pain, feeling hopeless, or wondering if your scars define you, this episode is living proof that they don’t.


Timestamps below ⬇️


#david #Resilience #Hope #Faith #ConversationsWithSekani


Connect with David Ebel

Website:https://www.godsaysyespodcast.com/

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidebelctss/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/davidwebelphotography/


If conversations with Sekani sparks something in you, do well to share to someone who you think might need this. Subscribe so you don’t miss new episodes.

If you have a minute leaving a review helps more people discover these everyday unique voices and the insight they carry. Your support means the world.


Want to be a guest on Conversation with Sekani? Send a message to Joy https://www.podmatch.com/member/conversationswithsekani


Chapters


0:00 - Intro & Welcome David

1:40 - Born With Severe Defects and a Medical Experiment

8:15 - Childhood: Arthritis, Bullying & Hiding the Pain

15:30 - Told He Wouldn’t Live Past 20

23:10 - College Breakdown and Three Years of Spiral

31:45 - Four Suicide Attempts and the Darkest Night

40:20 - Carving Candles as a Cry for Help

48:50 - The Night He Met Jesus and Everything Changed

57:15 - 50+ Years of Turning Pain Into Hope for Others

Episodes: Conversations with Sekani

PodliGet the free Podli app
↓ App