About Me

My video interview for New Wine Conference, 2017 – on my journey of faith, chronic illness, and the silences of God

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© Tanya Marlow – Profile Picture

Bio in brief: 

Tanya Marlow is an author, speaker and broadcaster on faith and spirituality.

She is also a campaigner for those with chronic illness, disability and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Formerly a lecturer in biblical theology, with a decade of experience in Christian ministry, she has been published by The Spectator, Relevant, Premier Christianity magazine and others. She admits to a weakness for karaoke, sunny days and laughing at her own jokes. You can find her in a vicarage in Devon, England with her husband and bouncy son, or writing honestly about finding God in hard places and the messy edges of life at www.tanyamarlow.com.

Author of Three Books: 

She is the author of Those Who Wait: Finding God in disappointment, doubt and delay (Malcolm Down Publishing, 2017) – a creative and transformative journey through the lives of four Bible characters who waited impatiently – and found God in their frustrated longings. Preorder from Wordery (free worldwide delivery) or look out for the introductory offer 16-26th October on Amazon.

She is a contributor to Soul Bare – Stories of Redemption ed. Cara Sexton (IVP USA, 2016) alongside Seth Haines, Sarah Bessey, Emily P Freeman and more.

Her first book, Coming Back to God When You Feel Empty (2015), intertwines her own story with the biblical book of Ruth, offering a path back to God after disappointment and loss. (Get it for FREE here).

tanya profile pic garden

What do I write about?

My writing covers a whole host of topics, but circles around the spirituality of suffering:

  • How do we relate to God when hard times come?
  • What if God doesn’t feel near?
  • Where can God be found?
  • What if we are plagued with doubt?
  • How does it really feel to have chronic illness?
  • Where does the church fit in?
  • What if we find ourselves in a wilderness or limbo state?

My background is in theology and ministry, but I have an English Literature degree, and I like to tackle these topics creatively, interweaving story and metaphor with spiritual truth.

I love exploring the Bible so it gets under your skin, ministers to your spirit, and leads you to Jesus.

Vulnerability and authenticity is a way to unlock courage in other people, so I write honestly about my life and weaknesses.

I dabble in feisty social justice, especially M.E. advocacy, rights for disabled people, and feminism.

This is a space for people who feel like they don’t belong. It is a place for doubters, lamenters, broken, disappointed, wobbly or lost – those who have seen the muck and of life and somehow still seek gold therein. This blog is for cynics and hopers, word-lovers and God-seekers. (I also habitually recommend good books and am occasionally hilariously funny*.) You are welcome here, and I’d love to get to know you more.

*honestly, I am.

tanya marlow feisty pic

Writer, Broadcaster, Campaigner:

  • I was the founder of Compassionate Britain, a grassroots campaign that united Christians to speak up for disabled people against the government cuts affecting their essential support. I also campaign for better treatment and funding for M.E. patients with #MEAction Network.  

Birthday Trip out of the house

Background: 

  • I was formerly a lecturer in Biblical Theology, and Associate Director for a homiletics training course (accredited by St Mark and St John University, Plymouth, UK).
  • I have had ten years’ experience as a Christian minister in both church and student ministry, and have been a speaker and preacher at national Christian conferences (Spring Harvest, New Wine, Greenbelt etc). I hold a post-graduate qualification in pastoral counselling. 

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My health:

  • In 2007, I was diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, a debilitating chronic autoimmune neurological disease, which affects my mobility and energy, and comes with a plethora of annoying symptoms. You can read more about it here.
2016 M.E. Action Protests for Better research and treatment

Sept 2016 – M.E. Action Protests for Better research and treatment

  • In 2010, my world changed when I gave birth and my M.E. tipped over into ‘severe M.E.’ Since then I have been housebound, needing to spend approximately 21 hours per day in bed, only able to leave the house once or twice a month for a brief trip out in my wheelchair. I now measure out my life in teaspoons. I need to rest much of the day, and have to strictly ration my time talking with friends, writing, or playing with my son.
  • In 2014 I was also diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), which means my body does not enjoy being upright, and my heart goes crazy when I stand up.
  • Living with chronic illness has shaped and refined my theology, and made me passionate about justice for marginalised people. You can read more about my response to this in Why Thorns and Gold?

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My family:

  • I have an amazing husband who is a vicar (church minister) in the Church of England, and we live by the sea in Devon, UK. (NB the picture above is NOT Devon. It’s Greece…) He’s an artist, scholar, wine connoisseur, preacher-man and organiser of legendary kids’ parties. He blogs sporadically here.
  • We have a small-but-loud golden-haired son whose company we enjoy immensely. To protect him from future teenage friends googling his name and finding out all the cute things he did as a toddler, I refer to him online as ‘boy’.

tanya pic lounge

Wanna know even more about me? Click on my More About Me page for some fun facts.

But enough about me – what about you?  Please do introduce yourself, say, hi, interact and leave a comment, tell me your story – I’d love to hear it.

Wanna keep in touch? Please do! The best way is to subscribe to my blog (unsubscribe at any time) and get your book, Coming Back to God When You Feel Empty, for FREE!

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209 Responses to About Me

  1. Jag Bachu 8th July, 2014 at 7:58 pm #

    Hey Tanya
    Gotta say a big thank you to you for 3 gates you’ve opened into my life. 1. your blog. 2 a deeper story blog. 3. Ann Voskamps writing style in 1000 gifts. I feel like you’ve blessed me so much. Sometimes all we have to do is point the way, and God does the rest!
    ta very muchly… Jag

    • Tanya 10th July, 2014 at 12:38 pm #

      That’s brilliant news! I’m so excited to hear this – thanks so much for letting me know. 🙂

  2. mark kent 21st June, 2014 at 11:07 pm #

    i have m.e.would like your blog by e.mail.having a lot trouble can you help please

    mark

    • Tanya 22nd June, 2014 at 10:15 am #

      Thank you SO much, Mark, for this comment. My subscribe widget had broken, and you are the first person to bring it to my attention. I have fixed it now – would you possibly be able to try it out for me to see if it’s working? I’m so sorry for all the hassle, particularly because you have M.E. and I know that cognitive energy is a precious resource.

  3. Kate 20th June, 2014 at 10:36 am #

    I very much enjoyed hearing you on Something Understood last Sunday. I am a deafblind lady. I wonder if you have had any contact with Torch Trust for the Blind? I rang them to tell them about you and gave them the address of your website; they were very interested and thought you sounded amazing! Have you thought of putting any of your writings (books, articles etc) on CD? I would find that much more accessible. Although I can access things written on the website as I have a screen reader for my PC, it is much more tiring than listening to a CD

    • Tanya 22nd June, 2014 at 10:36 am #

      Hi, Kate. Thank you so much for stopping by, and for your helpful comment. I actually hadn’t thought about putting any of my writings onto CD, but I am definitely thinking about that now. And I hadn’t heard of the Torch Trust, so thank you for telling me about them. They sound like a great organisation.

  4. Jag Bachu 15th June, 2014 at 8:03 am #

    Hi Tanya
    I am just a regular bloke doing a regular job. Driving to work this morning I was listening to Something Understood on Radio 4. I actually had to stop the car and catch my breath after I heard what you had to say about your ME and your spiritual response to it. I just wanted to say I feel totally humbled by your incredible faith. God has a way of speaking to us and through us in the most creative and radical ways! My “illness” is that my heart has become as hard as a stone – for reasons I wont bore you with. Through your words this morning I felt God saying he wants to change my heart of stone into a heart of love and compassion.
    Thank You!
    Jag

    • Tanya 22nd June, 2014 at 10:19 am #

      Dear Jag – thank you so much for stopping by (and for literally stopping your car!) Your comment humbles and encourages me more than I can say. I’m so glad that God spoke to you via my words on the radio this morning. It’s a lovely coincidence that in my Bible devotions for the past few weeks I have been meditating on this verse:
      “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26).
      It strikes me that it is somehow painful to exchange a stony heart for a soft, fleshy one – there is always pain in transformation, but it can be a sweet pain. I’m privileged to have witnessed something of God’s work within you. Thank you so much for your comment – please stay in touch.

      • Jag Bachu 22nd June, 2014 at 11:58 am #

        Dear Tanya. Your words are having such a profound effect on me. I work with a team of hairy arsed engineers who are as tough as old boots. I’ve even been sharing your story with them. Guys who deal with Amps and Volts are now hearing about Thorns and Gold! You may be down at the moment, but you are definitely not out. As you lay in your bed feeling the way you do, I bet you never thought God would use the outpouring of your heart to minister to a bunch of hardened engineers. Nothing is wasted in His economy my friend. Through our spiritual myopia, it may appear to us like we are just about holding on, just about standing, only just waiting… but He really does transform our weakness into cosmic and eternal significance. Don’t you give up girl! The best is yet to come!!!! Jag

        • Tanya 4th July, 2014 at 1:12 pm #

          This is just an awesome message. Thank you!

  5. Alex 6th March, 2014 at 10:07 am #

    Hi Tanya,

    My name is Alex.
    I am helping out marketing agency to find bloggers suitable for their campaigns, and your blog looks like a perfect fit for what they’re looking for.

    Do you think you could be interested in receiving offers about advertisement on your website?

    • Tanya 20th March, 2014 at 7:37 pm #

      Not right now, but thanks for asking.

  6. Marius Z?rnescu 24th February, 2014 at 11:35 am #

    God bless you!

    • Tanya 3rd March, 2014 at 12:00 pm #

      thank you! and you!

  7. Sonya Staines 12th February, 2014 at 8:53 pm #

    Hi Tanya,

    I just wanted to quickly introduce myself as I don’t think we have not personally met before. I’m Sonya and I recently took on a role as the brand manager for Hillsong Conferences.

    Coming up from the 1-3 May 2014 is our annual Colour Women’s Conference and we would love to extend the invitation for you to join us a special guest. The Conference runs from Thursday evening until Saturday evening and will be a life-chaging experience with powerful teaching, inspirational worship, social justice initiatives, plus a host of creative and fun moments.

    Included in this invitation is your full-time registration for the Conference, reserved seating and a dedicated host to help answer any questions you may have.

    I have included further details below and you can click this link to hear more about the heart behind the Conference from Pastor Bobbie Houston.

    Guest speakers:
    Lisa Bevere
    Priscilla Shirer

    Hillsong Team:
    Bobbie & Brian Houston
    Christine Caine

    Details
    1-3 May 2014
    Wembley Arena, London
    If you have any questions please feel free to get in contact with me – my details are below. Or if you would like to accept the invitation, please just respond to this email.

    Cheers,
    Sonya Staines
    Brand Manager Hillsong Conferences
    sonya.staines@hillsong.co.uk
    +44 7515 796640

    • Tanya 16th February, 2014 at 5:54 pm #

      Dear Sonya

      Thanks so much for your message on my website, Thorns and Gold, and your invitation to the Hillsong conference on May 1-3. I am really honoured that you thought of me, and greatly appreciate the invitation. Unfortunately, my health doesn’t allow me to do these kinds of things at the moment, but I am grateful for the invitation all the same. Hope God blesses your conference.

      Tanya

  8. ellen flack 5th December, 2013 at 8:30 am #

    Reading about all you people has put a stop to my pity party.I’ve been suffering with chronic sciatica for 4months and waiting for MRI scan results

    • Tanya 11th December, 2013 at 12:19 pm #

      You go right ahead and have that pity party! I’ll bring balloons!
      Chronic sciatica sounds rough – and waiting for results sounds frustrating. Thinking of you. xx

      • ellen flack 12th December, 2013 at 6:09 pm #

        i ve heard i have a slipped disc,now waiting to see a consultant.I had a filling in my tooth today,now the anaesthetic has worn off its hurting like crazy! time to take morphine again soo,so maybe it’ll help !!

        • Tanya 18th December, 2013 at 12:28 pm #

          oh boy…! Hope the morphine helps!

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