How Shannon Bream Endured Illness and Suffering with Faith

If you watch Fox News, you’re familiar with Shannon Bream. She’s a trusted journalist, Chief Legal Correspondent for Fox News, and the anchor for Fox News Sunday. But behind the public success is a story marked by trial, perseverance, and unwavering faith.

In my sit down with Shannon, we talked about what many people never see—the sufferings that shaped her trust in God.

Shannon Bream’s Illness and Silent Suffering

From the outside, someone might assume Shannon has it all: a successful career, a loving marriage, and a strong platform. But Shannon openly shared that for years she suffered from a debilitating medical condition marked by relentless eye pain, migraines, and double vision. She described this pain as a “10 out of 10.”

Doctors struggled to diagnose her condition, and for a long time she lived with constant pain while hiding it from nearly everyone. With no answers and constant pain, she clung to Jesus. She said, “ I really got to such a point in my life where I had to completely rely on the Lord.” 

After years of suffering and praying for someone to help, Shannon finally found a doctor who diagnosed her condition. But while she finally had clarity, it also came with news that there was no cure because it was a genetic condition. She said this “felt like the ultimate gut punch.”

Yet she felt God say to her spirit, “ I will be with you.” 

And through treatment and surgery, she experienced relief. Shannon says that doctor was an answer to her prayer.

How Jesus Responds to Our Storms

Do you remember when Jesus told the disciples to get in the boat to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee? He didn’t promise them smooth sailing, He promised them a safe arrival. And when a great storm came and they began to panic, notice how He was still with them through it all.

Often we’ll ask the Lord to take our problems away, and sometimes he does. But other times, He will simply offer us His presence, like with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Personally, I’d rather be in a storm with Jesus than anywhere else without Him.

Purpose Is Attached to Pain

I believe God allows us to go through what we do for a reason, and that everything is preparation for something else. The experiences you face mold you into who you become. And even amid unhappy experiences, we know “. . .that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 NKJV).

Shannon shared about other trials she faced, like her then-fiance, at just 24 years old, being diagnosed with a brain tumor, and the early days of her journalism career. After leaving her career as an attorney to pursue broadcasting, she was once told she was “ never going to make it” in the business. 

As Shannon reminded us: Our God is too good to allow pain without purpose.

God is always with us, every step of the way. In our interview, Shannon goes deeper into her personal and career experiences. She also shares about her latest book, Nothing Is Impossible With God, which deals with overcoming—whether it’s external opposition or personal opposition. Listen now!