Shannon Bream, host of Fox News Sunday, may not attend church on Sunday due to her work schedule, but she is a person of faith with a story to tell.
Bream has written a new book titled Nothing Is Impossible with God where she weaves stories from the Bible into modern lessons of how readers can find inspiration for overcoming life’s challenges. The book explores 11 biblical figures, including Jesus.
“I wanted people to be encouraged because there was a time I really needed that lifeline of encouragement,” she said. “All these biblical stories feature people facing overwhelming odds — whether external opposition, self-doubt, rebellion or failure. I share my own experience transparently because we all face impossible situations, and these stories show people laid bare when facing the impossible.
“I had this group of overcomers in mind for years. When outlining the book with my editor, we grouped them by common threads. I know these stories from childhood, having grown up in a Christian home and attended Christian schools. One of my favorites is Joseph, who never turned against the Lord despite terrible injustices — being sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused and imprisoned. Through it all, he remained faithful, eventually rising to become second in command in Egypt and saving his family during a famine. His statement, ‘What you meant for evil, God meant for good’ shows incredible overcoming, redemption, and faithfulness.”
The book is different from her on-air work as a newscaster, she said, because there, “My job is to not have any opinions on air but to extract from politicians why they vote and take positions as they do. … I try to be a neutral moderator, presenting information and giving viewers a chance to hear all voices.”
In the book, however, she draws inspiration from her mother’s influence. Her mother would read to her about the same Bible figures she finds hope in today.
“I’ve always loved these stories because they share a common thread of overcoming,” she explained. “I’ve been fascinated by stories like Gideon’s, where God addresses him as a ‘mighty warrior’ despite his self-doubt. I had collected these biblical figures with the common thread of overcoming and wanted to put them all in one book.”
“I’ve always loved these stories because they share a common thread of overcoming.”
Overcoming is something Bream knows about. She continues to endure a painful illness while at the same time headlining an influential TV news program. Dealing with chronic pain has been a season of darkness in learning how to trust God when doctors don’t know how to treat her, she said.
“It was dark and tough. Without faith and God’s presence, I don’t think I would have made it. God walked through every step with me, helping me find the right doctor and finally get a diagnosis and treatment. While I wouldn’t wish chronic pain on anyone, it made me more empathetic and grew me closer to the Lord in a special way.”
That added inspiration to the task of writing the book and gave her an idea for a possible next book.
“If I’m blessed to write another book, it might be a collection of stories of people who felt unseen by the world but were never unseen by God, like Hagar who named God ‘the God who sees.’ Every Bible story has some element of overcoming, so I could have included 20 to 30 more chapters.”
Amid the chaos of the news business, Bream continues to find peace in the Bible, she said
“The world feels divided, even among families, friends and coworkers, but throughout the Bible, you see fractures, violence and chaos; it’s nothing new. I start my day in the word and prayer, humbly knowing I need God’s help to navigate everything personally and professionally. Having that eternal perspective is lifesaving.
“While God doesn’t promise an easy or peaceful life, we can have internal peace knowing that good ultimately triumphs over evil and that we’re in his hands.”