Shattered Into Grace: Healing & Faith After Trauma With Nicole Gibson

Today, I sit down with Nicole Gibson — an engineer, author, yogi, and survivor whose journey from a devastating brain injury to deep faith is nothing short of miraculous. Ms. Gibson is the author of Shattered Into Grace and the founder of Dynamically Crafted, where she shares her story of resilience, surrender, and spiritual rebuilding. In this conversation, we unpack what it truly means to be fearfully and wonderfully made, even when life shatters you into pieces. 

Ms. Gibson shares how her relationship with God changed after a near-fatal accident left her with seven skull fractures and a traumatic brain injury. For years, she wrestled with anger, doubt, and pain while trying to understand the God she had grown up believing in. Through her long physical and emotional recovery, she found that surrendering to God brought light to even the darkest seasons. 

We also talk about how the Old Testament often gets misunderstood, how to read Scripture with a God-centered focus, and how faith can evolve through questioning and hardship. Ms. Gibson opens up about writing Shattered Into Grace, why she believes her story can help both believers and non-believers, and how she’s now coaching women to rebuild their lives through faith-based healing. 

Before closing, Nicole shares her favorite verse, Jeremiah 29:11 — a reminder that God’s plans are for our hope and future, even when we can’t yet see the light.

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*Couple O' Nukes LLC and Mr. Whiskey are not licensed medical entities, nor do they take responsibility for any advice or information put forth by guests. Take all advice at your own risk.

Transcript

 Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to another episode of Couple of Nukes. As always, I'm your host, Mr. Whiskey, and not as always am I wearing a little turtleneck sweater. It's been chilly here over in Georgia. The weather's dropping and we're moving into the, the winter here. And a great time to listen to whatever your favorite podcast is.

Hopefully it's this one. But anyway, today we are going to be talking about a couple of different topics and. This morning when I was in a meeting, it was so great to hear. One of the gentlemen said quoting for the Bible that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. And I think along those lines, I'd like to say perhaps we are dynamically crafted.

And that is all just a segue into Ms. Nicole Gibson, an engineer, a traumatic brain injury survivor, and a woman has learned to embrace faith. In the face of adversity. And I just love whenever I have a faith-based person on the show because there's just a different type of connection and, I, I just love it.

And so we're gonna get into the story of, of faith and your journey personally today. So, Ms. Gibson, could you please tell us a little bit about yourself? Awesome. Well, thank you for the great introduction so far, as you said. My name is Nicole Gibson. I am the author of that, of Shattered Into Grace. I'm owner of Dynamically Crafted, also an engineer, a yogi and a mother.

So, just a little intro about me, but I hope we dive more into dynamically crafted and shattered into grace for this conversation. I'm looking forward to it for sure. And I, I love Shattered into Grace because. I find that most people do not have a we live in a fallen world and society is getting worse and worse.

And so most of us don't have a good journey into the faith in the sense that we were just raised in a positive nurturing home and new to love God. For most of us, it was times of, of not being able to rely on anyone else but God of ultimate surrendering, not by choice. For a lot of us it was. Facing church hurt and hypocrisy and dealing with humans, and then eventually coming back around and realizing that people are people when God is God and so a lot of us, I feel.

Especially from the younger generations dealing with households of divorce so much it really strains their relationship with faith and so tell us about your personal journey. The word shattered obviously is not a positive one. And so I'd love for you to unpack that for us. Yeah, definitely.

So, as my book really goes into detail, I, my journey to my relationship with God was very rocky. I would say I was definitely introduced into create Christianity as a child. My parents, we went to church every Sunday, but our. I would say my relationship with God was very casual at that point. We really were the basic go to church every Sunday.

Didn't really do anything throughout the week, just kind of that normal check of the box. Then when I turned 20, I was walking to class and I was hit from behind at by a car going 30 miles an hour, which resulted in a severe traumatic brain injury seven fractures to my skull and a fractured fibula.

Wow. So that really kind shattered. It, it was a difficult moment because that was also a time where I was starting to really question the God that I believed in because I was attending Marquette University, which is the Jesuit University which just finished really my first theology class where we really dove into the Old Testament, which I was introduced to more of a I wouldn't say angry God may, maybe more of a punishing God.

Which I wasn't raised to understand or to really, and be introduced to. So that really, that a combination of that and then the brain injury really caused me to be more angry with God. Really Question, why is he making me go through this? What, what is this? Who is this God that I believe in? So for a long time, I really felt I need was on my own.

And was really trying to heal and go through life and do everything what I believed was on my own. When finally I realized I was in such a dark, deep place that I couldn't, I couldn't do it on my own, and I. Really surrendered to God. And that's when, I wouldn't say life got easy and it was all flowers and roses, but it definitely became a lot lighter.

And helped me go through what I'll kind of go in more detail. Will I go in more detail in my book? How I really then was able to navigate through life challenges a little bit lighter and easier. So you talked about how severe the, the crash was. You mentioned all those injuries. How long were you kind of, dealing with those medical ailments, especially the TBI, probably being the, the longest lasting effect, but how long were you broken for physically?

Physically, I would say it took me at least five years to physically heal. Wow. The other piece, yeah, the other piece of the traumatic brain injury obviously is the mentally emotional weight. And that really took me almost 10 years, I would say, to heal from. But the physical piece really, I was, after I was hit by the car, I really didn't, I was in a, a coma for seven, five to seven days and then I really don't remember.

Or I, I don't remember anything until about almost 10 days after when I woke up on my grandmother's couch. And I really was kind of shook. I didn't know what was going on. When I did originally wake up in the hospital, which I don't remember any of being in the hospital, but based on what I had been told, I really didn't know who I was.

I really didn't know who my parents were. But somehow after spending about two months on my parents' couch, I did return to classes that semester, which if that doesn't show that God is real, I don't know what does, because somehow I was able to make it back to school. That following semester. Now, it wasn't easy.

I was slept after every class. I was really just tired and exhausted. Suffered from migraines for a very long time. But eventually it really got a little bit easier, a little bit better, but I would take it, say it definitely took me a full five years to physically recover. Were you going for a degree in biblical exposition in studies or were theology classes?

Just kind of like a minor elective. Theology classes are required at Marquette because it's a Jesuit university, so I had to take at least two courses. But I studied, I went to school for biomechanical engineering. Okay. In Interesting. And so what have you done with, with that degree? In what role did the Theology Foundation from that school play in this whole journey as well?

Yeah. So, my, so what I did with my career was after I graduated, I started my career in supply chain. Really never used the biomed piece. I did a couple internships during, while I was in school, but after I graduated, I really just took the first job that I felt was the best fit. And I didn't, it really just ended up being more of a an engineer within, through, throughout supply chain.

So I fell my career has really fallen more into a project management role. But the theology role really, I, I would say that the theology role at, at Marquette, those classes to me at that time were more of just a check of the box. I had to get them completed. I, I really struggled through them, honestly.

And I think it's because it questioned who I like, what the God I believed in, rather. Yeah. Especially because I hadn't really picked up a Bible besides going to church until then. But what I think it also, what I, what I wish I would've looked at it more of is it really it challenged me and looking at it as a challenge in a good way because it's really enforcing me to really seek God to understand what his word want is what, how I'm supposed to read his word for sure.

I I'm in a different boat in the sense that I really enjoy the Old Testament more than the New Testament. So, but a lot of people. Especially believers who just go to church or are new to the faith. It's all the Jesus loves you. New Testament is kind of the approach, which a a lot of people need that.

But I personally like to evangelize with the Old Testament. That's what I find most interesting. And I think it could be difficult upfront for people to see the love in the Old Testament. When they don't combine it with the New Testament it's one big overarching story. And so recently an episode with Sean Dunn, what we discussed was.

A couple things. If you think the Old Testament is boring, you're reading it too fast. Mm-hmm. And a lot of people do breeze through it. You have to slow down and unpack it. I highly encourage checking out the historical context as well, and all the little other notes that you can find either in your Bible or online.

But also what Mr. Dunn said was. What he was told. When you're reading an Old Testament look for Jesus in it. What is talking about Jesus coming? What is like is is one big story setting up Jesus Christ's arrival. Yeah. And actually explains why we need a, a savior like Jesus Christ to begin with. So if anyone listening, if you're struggling with the Old Testament.

Change the way you're digesting it. A lot of people kind of just breeze through it, and I, I get it. Trust me numbers in particular, I was reading this and I was like, oh man. But it's, it's so important and when you come across the genealogies, try to research those people in it a little bit more.

So, I, I think a lot of people though, upfront, they just hear like, God is so cool. How could you do this? But it's important to shift to having a, a God-centered focus rather than a human-centered focus. When you're reading the Old Testament too, obviously from our perspective, but it's just like if you ask children who are being disciplined you know what they think about it, they're gonna say, this is no fair.

Gimme back my Xbox. I didn't do anything wrong. Mm-hmm. You ask the parents, they're gonna explain, well, here's why the Xbox got taken away. So I think. It's a different type of love than, than, than the Jesus love of, of forgiveness and just, so much love. It is that more parental disciplinary love, which I, I have just always enjoyed and.

I think it's so important. I'm actually going to be starting college here pretty soon for Biblical exposition, and I'm taking Old Testament survey, new Testament survey, so I'm excited for it and all that. But it's interesting you mentioned your degree and then, then how you ended up using it or, or like thereof.

But at what point did the idea of I'm gonna be an author, I'm gonna publish a book, kind of come into play with all of that. Yeah. So, oh, first I really wanna say I love, I love what you said about the Old Testament because I also really quick, I, I think it's interesting how people always say like, oh, we're living in a really dark or really difficult time, but like, like you said with the Old Testament, it really shows like we as people have gone through struggles like we're going through now, since time began.

And really, it, I, I, that's, that's it. I like what you brought up about the Old Testament. It's very, very fair. And then so. Sorry, what was your ques your new question about, so obviously you have your degree in biomechanical engineering and everything, and you were working supply chain. How'd you end up writing a book?

Where did the idea for that kind of come from? Yeah, so I was, I was literally just sitting on my couch. It was actually, I would say it was probably about six months after I decided to get baptized. I was baptized as a child, as my parents baptized me as a baby, but when I finally really.

Found what I would say, found my relationship with Christ. I decided I really needed to publicly display that I am giving my life to Christ. So I, I got baptized and then about six months later I was just sitting on the couch and it was like, it was just dropped on me. Like my story can really help someone else, like someone else navigate their trauma and navigate their really life challenging.

Cha challenging things that they're going through. So I just started writing my story from day one and writing it out, and then I got with a book coach and we just started drilling it out more and more. It really overall took me about two years, but I honestly never expected myself to be an author, but something just told me that I needed to get my story out there to help someone else.

The Holy Spirit, I tell you. Yep. Yeah. Yeah. I think it's, I important. What do you, what would you say is the biggest takeaway from the book in terms of do is it for believers, for, for non-believers? For a bit of both. I believe it's for a bit of both because I one, it helps those that already believe, see, okay, if like, it, it, it really just helps emphasize or em empathize their or and build up their faith even more.

But those that are non-believers, it helps to see, okay, maybe. All of those difficulties that I've gone through are for a reason or there's a better way to navigate them. What if I try it this way? And also to show no matter the decisions you made or the difficulties that you've been through, you are still worthy of building that relationship with God and he always is seeking you.

And he also may be helping you in ways that you don't even identify in that moment because you are in such a deep, dark place. But he's still there. And what would you say your relationship with God is right now? I would say we we're, we're still, we're still building that relationship every day. Yeah. And it's definitely better.

I think I, I believe I've gotten a lot better in including him into my, in my day-to-day actions include now. But I do wish I'd spent more time with him, including, like reading the Bible and, just being more active in my prayer right now, it's more of a, Hey, how are you doing today? Oh, cool. Good. I'm glad I checked in, but I wish I really sat down and took that time, and I know that time is coming.

I, I have a five month old and then I'm also just getting back to work, but it's, I'm in that difficult space where I'm like, oh, I'm making all these excuses, but I know that I'm meant to spend that more time with him. But I would say we're right. We we're in a better place than what we've ever been, but it's still improving.

That's the, that's the right answer. I wouldn't trust a person who says, no, my relationship with God is perfect. I, I, even the most holy man, we as his days of like God, or, I, I doubt is part of the, the human experience. You just, I would say you don't learn to have no doubt.

You learn how to mitigate it and how to properly handle it. I, I think that's so important. Even with my walk, there are days I still slip up and just try my best. And there are plenty of days where I'm like, really? God, come on now. Like, what? Yeah, I thought we were on the same page, right. So I, I totally understand that. And with your book, would you say do you have any plans for, for any other works in, in the future related to that or completely separate? Yeah. So, right now I'm working on building up. I'm, I'm working, I'm, I have a blog, an active blog to really help share how I am walking with God every day, how God's working in my life challenges that I'm still facing, even at, with, with my relationship with God to help others that are.

In that walk trying to build a relationship or even just improve the relationship with God. And then I'm also, I'm also building up a, a coaching business to help other women that are dealing with trauma life, challenging experiences, really giving them the tools that I believe helped me. And then coming, I'm sure in the future I do plan to write another book about more.

How do I, now that I've started this walk with God, how do I still keep walking with him, even through the other tragedies that I may face? Yeah, and to that degree of specifically women, I recently hosted and spoke at a book launch in Arizona for domestic violence awareness, sexual assault, and human trafficking awareness.

And almost every woman there who, who had been a victim of domestic violence or sexual abuse believed in God claimed Jesus Christ as their savior and talked about. The difficulties of faith during those situations, but also the, the salvation of it. And to me that was such a beautiful reminder of, to see women who have been through some of the worst case scenarios.

I won't even share in detail some of the things that they shared because it was stuff that left me speechless. And to see them still walking with God, it, it truly is such a, a testimony, I think and, and I always say, there's, there's no shame around, some people get caught up on feeling like they don't have a big, big enough testimony.

If you and God have pretty much known each other since childhood and got along for the most part that's still testimony in its own, it's that it's not a competition of who's who went through a worst trauma and, and still knows God, it's about knowing God regardless.

And I, I think it's so beautiful to know that there, there are people out there. I think that's one of the hardest things to do is reach people in those spaces with a message of hope when they feel hopeless, when, especially when they don't wanna surrender to God. And, and so I do wanna unpack a little bit, your kind of lowest point where you're like, I, I can't do this on my own.

What brought you back to God once you kind of recognize that feeling? Did you dive into the scripture? Did you talk to like a local pastor? Like what kind of helped build that foundation and start that journey? Yeah. Yeah. So one thing that God equipped me with for a, like, even when I didn't have the strongest faith in him, was my two best friends, because they are just, they've always believed, they've always believed in God.

They've always walked with God, just. God-fearing women always. And they just continued to encourage me, always to to seek God, to pray to God, to, they would send me scriptures, send me different messages that they found and bible verses. And honestly, for a very long time I ignored them, but they continued to send them to me.

And I, I found myself in this really, really. Bad. Just mentally abusive relationship and in a really just not enjoyable role with my job. And not, not that in the healthiest condition that I was in. And I just was just so, just in a really deep, dark place. And they, my, my best friends, which they, in the book, they, they said like, Nicole, you need to pray.

And I'm pretty sure they probably told me that for at least like, well. Forever. And finally it was just that day where I was like, well, I'm going to do it. So I got home after a really tough day and I got on my knees and I just started praying and I, something about that moment that I just got down and actually surrendered, it really felt like the next day I was like, I felt, I felt that these urges to do this, urge to do something that even though I didn't think that was part of my plan, it was like, okay, this is the next step.

I felt like. I was more, I was light a little lighter. I had more guidance on what, what I was meant to do. And when I followed that, that urge to do it, it actually helped me navigate out of that deep, dark place that I was in for sure. And I want to encourage to everyone, no matter how long it's been, God is right there waiting for us for you to start praying and to start reading scripture.

So. Don't ever feel like you're too far gone or too far astray, or it's been too long. He is like right there waiting for us. And so I encourage you to, pray even if it's I know a lot of people that I've worked with in prayer they always say, Mr. Whiskey, I don't know what to say. And that's all right too.

It's just expressing your heart and, and god knows what's on our hearts in our lives. And so I encourage you, even if it's just like. Centering prayer, which is silent prayer, kind of like a meditation style. If that's where you need to start. And, if you're one of those people where you need to write down your thoughts and you're not a verbalizer that works too.

Like, God can't read, trust me. So I think however that, that prayer looks like and, and don't be, discouraged to find someone. I think having a personal private prayer, prayer life is very important. But if you're struggling to pray about something, by all means, I think it's super awesome to find someone to pray with, whether that's someone hosting something virtual online or at your local church, or even like in your case, a, a best friend to pray with you.

It's, it's very great to gather and, and pray together. So I encourage everyone, wherever you are in your journey of faith to reestablish that prayer line. If you, if you haven't already, and then Ms. Gibson, we're gonna have your book and your, your website and description below for people to check out your social medias as well as your book.

But one thing I'd love for you to share that I always ask our faith-based guess, is if you could put forward one Bible quote right now, what would that be? Oh. Well that, my, my favorite one that really got me through is Jeremiah 29 11 for, I know the plans I have for you. Mm. I, I don't remember it, the, the whole one, but that that, that's my, here actually, I can pull, I got my book right here and it's in the front.

Yeah. For, I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper for you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope in a future. Hmm. Yeah, I love that. Especially a lot of people when they're feeling hopeless, they're like, what's next? They just see nothing. They get the tunnel vision, right.

And all they can look at is the present moment. Maybe short term thinking, but you know, there, there is stuff ahead of us that we don't, we could never even imagine. Even just the life I'm living now. If you had asked, younger, be like, where are you gonna be in three years, five years, 10 years would've never been what I'm doing now.

Yeah. God just blesses us and takes us in directions we would never expect. And the more we lean into that in, in his. Plans for us the more successful we'll be never fight God. That's a losing battle. But I think it's, it's like you said there, there, there is a plan for us. I, I believe that whether God personally or, or you're just familiar with God, he does have a plan for you.

It's just a matter of. Our expectations of what we want and what God wants for us. And oftentimes you'll find out, unfortunately, the hard way, that what he wants for us is, like you said, for us to, to be blessed and prosper. You gotta remember God is a father. Mm-hmm. Right? And anyone who's listening, who's a parent, a mentor, an aunt and uncle, you don't wish harm on your children.

You wanna see them succeed and you want them to be happy and in love more than anything. And you gotta remember that's how God wants us to be. So. Yes, Ms. Gibson, thank you for sharing that quote. I think it's a beautiful one. And like I said, we kinda have your book in a description below for people to check out and your social medias where they can stay up to date with your blog as well as your future projects.

And I just wanna thank you for your time today. Awesome. Thank you for having me.