Shelly Brown

Well, Megan, I am so honored to have you here with us today. Welcome to At This Table.

Before we dive into talking about your book, would you like to give our listeners a glimpse into what’s happening on your side during this interview—especially if there are any delays in your responses?

Megan Bean

Sure. I have some hearing challenges, and that’s actually something I talk about in my book.

Right now I’m using some assistive technology that helps me keep up with our conversation.

Shelly Brown

Yes, and I’m in awe of the technology that’s available today. The system Megan is using is helping transcribe what I’m saying so she can read it and respond.

Megan, I’m so honored to have you here. I’d love to start with my favorite question that I ask our authors.

If you could invite anyone—someone from the Old or New Testament—to join us here at this table, who would you invite and why?

Megan Bean

That’s a good question. I think I would invite Ruth.

I find her very relatable. She was just an ordinary person, but she faced many difficulties in her life. She lost her husband and became a widow. If she followed her mother-in-law back to Israel, she would be a foreigner—an outsider—and she would likely face poverty.

But I admire how she responded with such faith. She chose to trust this God she had heard about. Even though her future was uncertain, she trusted Him and moved forward.

And we see how God provided for her. It’s just a beautiful story of His faithfulness.

Shelly Brown

Yes, I love that you chose Ruth. What an incredible story of redemption. She married Boaz, didn’t she?

Megan Bean

Yes.

Shelly Brown

And we know what happened from there.

Megan Bean

Yes! It’s amazing how God used what looked like such a difficult situation. Through that journey, Ruth became part of the lineage of King David.

Shelly Brown

And ultimately the lineage of Jesus.

Megan Bean

Exactly.

Shelly Brown

I think you might be the first author on this podcast who has chosen Ruth. But I can see why her story resonates with you—because your life has also involved hardship and choosing to trust God even when there weren’t clear answers.

Megan Bean

Yes, that’s a big theme in my book—following God through uncertainty and difficult circumstances.

Shelly Brown

One of the things that stood out to me about your story is that Just Megan isn’t about dramatic healing or a single breakthrough moment where everything suddenly changes.

It’s really about learning to recognize God’s quiet faithfulness over many years of uncertainty.

Your struggle didn’t suddenly disappear—but you discovered that God’s presence can sustain you even when the struggle remains.

So I’d love to start here.

When you look back on your journey, how did you begin to recognize God’s presence in the middle of all those unanswered questions?

Megan Bean

That’s a great question. I don’t think there was one specific moment.

I was raised by Christian parents who lived out their faith. They taught my sister and me to pray and encouraged us to build a relationship with God.

So when things happened in my life, my instinct was to go to God for help. And when you’re looking for Him to act, you tend to notice the ways He does.

Shelly Brown

What a gift that you were raised by such wonderful Christian parents.

Megan Bean

Yes, they have been a huge blessing to me.

Shelly Brown

You write in your book about how the people around you—your parents, teachers, friends—helped carry you through many seasons.

What has it meant to have others walking with you in this journey?

Megan Bean

It has meant a lot. I think God often shows His love through other people.

He gives us people to support us, encourage us, and walk alongside us. Sometimes He even works through people who may not realize they’re being used by Him.

For example, a doctor might not be a Christian, but God can still use them to help someone.

I see God’s love reflected through people quite often.

Shelly Brown

Yes, and that’s such a gift. I truly believe God created us for community and relationship.

Megan Bean

Absolutely. We need each other to get through life.

Shelly Brown

Megan, there’s a moment early in your book that really captures the heart of your story.

You’re at camp, standing at the top of a zip-line tower. With everything happening in your body, it would have been understandable if you stepped back.

But instead—you jumped.

Megan Bean

Yes. And I have to say, I was terrified.

Shelly Brown

Of course you were!

Megan Bean

I remember thinking, “I am going to die.”

But then I thought—if I survive and this goes well, it could be amazing.

And it was!

Shelly Brown

You have got to be one of the bravest women I’ve ever met.

Megan Bean

Thank you. I don’t always feel very brave.

Shelly Brown

That moment seems symbolic of your life—stepping into the unknown with courage.

Do you think that experience shaped the way you approached other challenges?

Megan Bean

I do.

In a way, that moment symbolizes my story—launching into the unknown.

And when you practice being brave, it helps you become braver the next time.

I also like metaphors. Sometimes it helps me reframe a spiritual situation through a physical one.

So when I face something difficult, I can think, “This is like that zip-line tower.”

And I remind myself: push off and move forward.

Shelly Brown

That’s so good.

Let’s talk about what it means to live abundantly.

Your book makes a powerful point that God doesn’t always remove the struggle—but He meets us in it.

What does living abundantly look like for you today?

Megan Bean

For me, living abundantly means living with purpose and having a deep connection with God.

God is the source of peace, joy, meaning, and purpose.

Even when life isn’t comfortable or easy, you can still live abundantly.

Our culture often defines a good life as being able to do whatever we want or having pleasant circumstances.

But the true abundant life is walking with God and living out what He created you for.

Shelly Brown

Your book has clearly touched many people. I know you’ve had wonderful support through book launch events and readers who are eager to share your story.

Megan Bean

Yes, and I’m very thankful for that support.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve God through this story. I believe He gave it to me to steward so that others can see how faithful He is.

Shelly Brown

I love that perspective.

Sometimes we talk about trusting God, but eventually the question can turn around—can God trust us with what He has entrusted to us?

And Megan, I think you are being trusted with much.

Megan Bean

That’s a very humbling thought.

Shelly Brown

As we wrap up, I’d love to give you the opportunity to speak directly to our listeners.

If someone listening today feels like their life is filled with unanswered questions or ongoing struggles, what would you want them to remember about God?

Megan Bean

That He is faithful.

That He loves you.

And when you face a situation that makes you ask, “Is this the place where God’s love stops?”

His answer will always be no.

His love never stops.

And that’s something you can know—even when you don’t know anything else.

Shelly Brown

That’s beautiful.

Megan, thank you for sharing your story and giving us a glimpse into your journey.

Megan Bean

Thank you for having me. It was a privilege.

Shelly Brown

Friends, we’ll include a link to Megan’s book Just Megan in the show notes so you can grab a copy for yourself—and maybe even share it with someone who needs encouragement.