Hi, I'm Jen.
The trenches taught me where to look.
For the woman who looks put together while quietly drowning. The one who knows all the right words and can't feel a single one of them.
Jen at a glance
- Author of Finding God in the Trenches (May 2026)
- Speaker and podcast guest on faith, grief and military family life
- Wife of a Marine veteran of nearly 30 years; my husband retired in 2025 after 29 years of service
- Invited contributor to the President's Military Spouse Commission (2026)
- Master of Social Work, University of Southern California; BA, Bradley University
- Lives in small town Central, Illinois, and camps across the Midwest with her husband and three dogs
Meet Jen.
- 1
29 years a Marine wife
Wife to a Marine who retired last year after 29 years of service.
- 2
Two children in Sierra Leone
Mom to five: three born under my heart and two born in it who are still in Sierra Leone.
- 3
Losing the business I built
I bring a decade of experience in ministry and leadership, a faith that has been tested all the way down, and the lived experience of carrying compounded grief (loss stacked on loss) for years while looking completely fine on the outside. And yes: six years of quietly numbing it at night until I could fall into bed.
I built businesses. I led teams. I showed up. I functioned. And I hid.
- 4
Losing my mom
I hid behind staying up late. Behind being the strong one. Behind a faith that looked good on the outside and felt hollow at 1am. I wrote sticky notes about surrender and poured another drink after everyone went to sleep. I prayed for breakthrough and then numbed myself so thoroughly I couldn't receive one if it came.
- 5
The book, the camper and what comes next
I am walking this road alongside you. Sharing the tools I learned on my own because I didn't know where else to turn. Sharing what I wish someone had handed me when I was too ashamed to ask for help.
I wrote Finding God in the Trenches for the woman who looks put together while quietly drowning. The one who knows all the right words and can't feel a single one of them. The one who has been strong for so long she forgot what it feels like to be held.
Explore the BookIf you're carrying something heavy, you don't have to carry it in silence. Today can be Day One.
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted."
Questions about Jen
Who is Jen Conrad?
Jen Conrad is an author and speaker from small town Central, Illinois, and the wife of a Marine veteran of nearly 30 years. She wrote Finding God in the Trenches, a memoir about compounded grief and finding God in the middle of it.
What is Finding God in the Trenches about?
A Christian memoir about loss stacked on loss (military life, a lost business, adoption heartbreak and the death of her mother) and learning that God meets us in the middle, not after.
Does Jen speak at events and on podcasts?
Yes. She speaks to women's groups, churches, retreats and podcasts about faith, grief and life after the uniform.
How can I start?
Join Looking for Him, a free 7-day hunt, at jenconrad.com/hunt.