Did you know that only one-third of those who struggle with mental health are getting support from a licensed professional? When you walk through a difficult season or support a loved one through theirs, it can be challenging to admit you don’t feel equipped to handle it.But the truth is trying to fix it is actually not what people need the most. In this new conversation with professional counselor and crisis chaplain Jennifer Ellers, we learn that showing up for the people we care about doesn’t mean we have to have all the answers — we just need to listen with care and compassion. Related Resources: Looking to take your learning to the next level? Have a passion for caring for others? The Mental Health Coach training program with our partner AACC might be right for you! And for a limited time, they are giving away scholarships to cover the full cost of tuition. That’s $2,400 worth of education for FREE! Just head to mentalhealthcoach.org, and fill out the application now to start your journey toward making a difference.Click here to download a transcript of this episode.Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

One of the most challenging parts of trusting God is when He allows something to be a part of our stories that we don't understand or don't want to be true. Thankfully, in these moments, we can trace God's faithfulness to us in the past. We can surround ourselves with good Christian friends who will help us believe in the goodness of God. We can lean on the Holy Spirit to give us discernment for moving forward.Join Lysa TerKeurst and Kendra LeGrand as they discuss the reality that yes, sometimes our lives will take different turns from what we would have expected, but that doesn't mean different has to be bad.Related Resources:People who break our trust do not have the power to break apart God’s good plans for our lives. If you need help believing this is true, join Circle 31 Book Club in reading the November pick: I Want to Trust You, but I Don’t by Lysa TerKeurst! When you join Circle 31, you’ll receive FREE access to two brand-new Bible teachings taught by Lysa from the I Want to Trust You, but I Don’t Bible Study. Join now, and start reading with us on November 1!Click here to download a transcript of this episode. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

Having your trust broken may be life-altering. But it doesn’t have to be life-ruining.In this episode, you can listen to Lysa TerKeurst read a chapter from her new book, I Want to Trust You, but I Don't: Moving Forward When You’re Skeptical of Others, Afraid of What God Will Allow, and Doubtful of Your Own Discernment.Related Resources:Trying to control the uncontrollable breeds chaos. Surrendering to the only One in control produces peace. Lysa TerKeurst wants to help you learn how to daily surrender to the Lord by fully trusting Him ... Learn how in the pages of her new book, I Want to Trust You, but I Don’t. Get Your Copy!Stop carrying the weight of holding everything and everybody together, and surrender what you’re most worried about into God’s fully capable hands with the help of Lysa TerKeurst’s FREE resource, “Am I Trying To Control the Uncontrollable?” This gentle, guided resource is filled with prompts, reflection questions, prayers and more! Download Now!Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

One of the hardest part of trusting God is leaving room for the mystery of God.How can we continue to faithfully follow Him when we are struggling to see evidence of His goodness in our story?In this episode, Lysa TerKeurst discusses the truths inside her new book, I Want to Trust You, but I Don't, with her friend Brittany Sjogren.Related Resources:We don’t have to let the one who broke our trust break us. Sign up to receive “When the Person Who Hurt You Got Away With It: 3 Days to Moving Forward,” a FREE resource by Lysa TerKeurst, today!Get your copy of Lysa TerKeurst's new book, I Want to Trust You, but I Don't: Moving Forward When You're Skeptical of Others, Afraid of What God Will Allow, and Doubtful of Your Own Discernment, from the P31 Bookstore.You can stay connected with Lysa TerKeurst on Instagram at @LysaTerKeurst and Brittany Sjogren at @LoverlyGrey.Click here to download a transcript of this episode. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

Have you ever felt like you were stuck in your current season of life while everyone around you was moving forward?Maybe you’re still praying for a future husband while all of your friends are married. Or there's a goal or dream you've been working toward for a long time, but you've hit so many roadblocks. Or maybe you just moved to a new city, and you're trying to figure out who your new people will be.When you’re in that place, it can be easy to look around and wonder, Did I miss something? Did I not hear God right? But the truth is: You are not behind. God has you exactly where He needs you to be.In this conversation with Meghan Ryan Asbury, you will learn how to stop giving in to comparison, get in community, and practice celebration. As you embrace and enjoy the season God has you in, you'll discover that it's possible to build a life you love without getting everything you want.Related Resources: Grab your copy of Meghan’s new book, You Are Not Behind, where she will teach you to grieve the hard, celebrate the good, and embrace the in-between of where you are and where you want to be.Are you in a difficult season, or do you know someone who is? Unsure of how to pray for yourself or them? Sign up to receive our free resource "For the Girl Who Needs Hope: 50 Biblical Prayers for the Hard Moments."For more encouragement, follow Meghan on Instagram and connect with her at AlwaysMeghan.com.Click here to download a transcript of this episode. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

As Christians, how can we balance living purposefully while we're here on earth with the reality that this world is not our forever home?Today's episode is part of an ongoing series titled "Ask a Theologian" — conversations with Proverbs 31 Ministries' Director of Theological Research, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Content Manager for Lysa TerKeurst, Shae Hill. This episode also includes special guest Victoria Smith. Together, Joel, Shae and Victoria will give you theological insight and practical takeaways.Related Resources:This episode is sponsored by Chosen Care. Chosen Care exists to help foster and adoptive families experience restoration and healing. They're currently on a mission to see 100,000 people heal from relational trauma, and you can learn how you can be a part of this movement by visiting www.chosen.care/100k.Do you have somewhere you like to go to pray or meet with God? In the Bible, some of the most significant moments happen at the top of mountains. From creation to Christ’s crucifixion, mountaintops are repeatedly present. To learn more about this topic, tune into a FREE teaching video "Mountaintops and Meeting With God" by Dr. Joel Muddamalle here!Leaf by Niggle and further reading from J.R.R. Tolkien is available in this collection of short stories: https://www.amazon.com/Tree-Leaf-Mythopoeia-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0007105045.Tune in every Tuesday to Joel's Instagram for “Theology Talk Tuesday,” where he'll answer your most asked questions about God, the Bible and more. Sign up on Joel’s website to receive free “bite-sized theology” through a monthly newsletter you can read in five minutes or less.Click here to download a transcript of this episode. We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

Have you ever felt invisible? Maybe you’ve been underestimated or overlooked and you've questioned if anyone really sees you. You’re not alone. When facing hidden seasons, we can either get frustrated and give up or take a breath and ask ourselves: Is God’s attention enough to carry me through? In this new conversation with Dr. Alicia Britt Chole, we learn that the way God grows us doesn’t have to be visible to be valuable. And trust us, you’ll want to take notes because she dropped nuggets of wisdom every step of the way. Related Resources: Grab your copy of Dr. Alicia Britt Chole’s book Anonymous from the P31 Bookstore, and receive an exclusive download called “8 Scriptural Prayers To Connect God's Word to Your Real Life.”Sign up to become a member of Circle 31 Book Club, and join us as we dive deeper into hidden seasons with Dr. Chole’s Anonymous this September. Click here to download a transcript of this episode. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

Conflict can hurt. So how do we handle it in a holy, God-honoring way?We're excited to share a practical, biblically based teaching from our friend and author Donna Jones, where you'll discover three tools you can apply to your next difficult conversation. Pro tip: Write down Donna's tools in the Notes app on your phone so they're available for quick reference when you need them!Related Resources: Grab a copy of Donna's book, Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life: A Biblical Guide for Communicating Thoughts, Feelings, and Opinions with Grace, Truth, and Zero Regret.Download a free resource from Proverbs 31 Ministries titled "3 Questions To Ask Before You Respond." Created by writers for writers, COMPEL Pro is a biblically based training community designed to help you move from writer’s block to penning your very best words as a content creator. Sign up to become a member today!Click here to download a transcript of this episode.Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

You can do all things for Jesus and in His name. But without closeness to the One who empowers you to do great things, are you missing out on truly knowing Him?If you're feeling worn down by the weight of your assignment, maybe it's because it was never meant to be something you carried in the first place. But how do you know? It comes through intimacy with our Savior. Join our friend Gloria Umanah on today's episode to hear a teaching rooted in the truth that apart from Jesus, we really can't do anything.Related Resources:We're celebrating six years of The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast! If you've been listening since Day 1 or just joined us, we're grateful you're here. Keep scrolling to listen to some of our favorite episodes over the last six years!Do you have a topic you'd like to learn more about or a guest speaker you'd like to hear on the show? Direct message Kaley Olson on Instagram at @kaleyolsn to share!If you haven't done so yet, please leave a rating and a written review on Apple Podcasts.Join Gloria's organization, Hope Booth, in their efforts to end the mental health crisis by clicking here.Click here to download a transcript of this episode.Six Favorite Episodes for Six Years of The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast:"There's Always a Meanwhile" with Lysa TerKeurst (our very first episode!)."How Should I Handle Disagreements as a Christian?" with Lysa TerKeurst and Dr. Joel Muddamalle."How To Pray Through the Armor of God" with Wendy Blight. "What Does God Want Me To Do Next?" with Shae Hill."3 Questions To Ask When Faith Feels Impossible" with Nicki Koziarz."Why Do Bad Things Happen to God's People?" with Dr. Joel Muddamalle.Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

As we're reading the Bible, we often come across miraculous stories and events: Jesus walking on water, Daniel surviving the lions' den, Moses seeing a burning bush, and so much more. But were these events one-time instances? Does God still perform miracles and supernatural acts like this today?Today's episode is part of an ongoing series titled "Ask a Theologian" — conversations with Proverbs 31 Ministries' Director of Theological Research, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Content Manager for Lysa TerKeurst, Shae Hill. In every episode, Joel and Shae will tackle everyday questions with theological insight and practical takeaways.Related Resources:Even when gratitude isn’t easily felt, it can still be found. That's why we created a FREE resource called "The 7-Day Reset: Cultivating a Habit of Gratitude Through Prayer." This resource will help you stop feeling alone in your struggles by creating intentional time to talk to God three times a day. Download for free today!We know faith requires trust, but sometimes don’t we just want proof? When we haven’t seen God move in our lives in a while, it’s tempting to wonder if He’s really there or whether He hears our prayers. If you’ve been in this place recently, our new study is just for you — Daniel: Finding Confidence That God’s Power Is at Work. Click here to order your digital study guide.Tune in every Tuesday to Joel's Instagram for “Theology Talk Tuesday,” where he'll answer your most asked questions about God, the Bible and more. Sign up on Joel’s website to receive free “bite-sized theology” through a monthly newsletter you can read in five minutes or less.Click here to download a transcript of this episode.Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

"One of the hardest parts of faith is learning to trust God with the pieces of life when there is no peace." — Lauren FortenberryWhen life's stresses and storms happen, it's easy to give up hope. In today's episode, Lauren Fortenberry shares about walking through her own storm a few years ago — losing her father to cancer. On the verge of giving up hope, Lauren challenged herself to go back to the basics of talking to God through prayer ... one day (and sometimes one sentence) at a time. If you find your life in pieces today, we hope this episode encourages you to hold on to the hope you can find through prayer and God's Word.Related Resources: Purchase a copy of Lauren's devotional, One Prayer Away: Healing Words to Speak Over Your Day. Find hope when you need it the most with this gorgeous 90-day devotional for women who need a reminder that God can bring you past your broken beginnings, through the messy middles and into a faith-filled future.Connect with Lauren on her website at laurenfortenberry.com, or find encouragement on her Instagram at @laurenfortenberrywrites.Calling all women Christian Communicators: Join us at She Speaks this summer in Charlotte, NC, from July 19-20! Whether you want to launch a podcast or grow your social media account, write a book or craft a message, lead a Bible study or connect with other women who are trying to be obedient to God too … You need to know how to take the next step. We’ve got the tools to help you actually do it.Click here to download a transcript of this episode.Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

There are inescapable aspects of life we all wrestle through: We have less control than we want, more anxiety than we're comfortable with, and just enough insecurity to continually remind us of our shortcomings. Is it possible to really experience peace when our circumstances aren't peaceful?In this Q&A conversation, Dr. Joel Muddamalle and Lysa TerKeurst discuss the power of humility and how it leads to the inner peace we're all really longing for. Related Resources:Circle 31 Book Club is not your average book club. The books we select will challenge you to think, ask hard questions and grow so you can move forward in the areas you feel stuck in. Join the Circle today for free, and get ready to read Dr. Joel Muddamalle's book The Hidden Peace starting July 1, 2024. Grab your copy of Dr. Joel Muddamalle's new book, The Hidden Peace: Finding True Security, Strength, and Confidence Through Humility, today! (And be sure to read it along with us in the Circle 31 Book Club starting July 1!)Stay connected with Lysa TerKeurst and Dr. Joel Muddamalle on Instagram.Click here to download a transcript of this episode. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

We have to make so many decisions every day, both big and small. But sometimes the influx of choices to be made can be so overwhelming that we feel paralyzed. Is this the right move? Did I really hear from God on this? What if I make the wrong choice?Today's episode is part of an ongoing series titled "Ask a Theologian" — conversations with Proverbs 31 Ministries' Director of Theological Research, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Content Manager for Lysa TerKeurst, Shae Hill. In every episode, Joel and Shae will tackle everyday questions with theological insight and practical takeaways.Related Resources:Release the tension of wondering, If God is near, why does He sometimes feel far away? and learn how to invite His presence into your everyday life with Lysa TerKeurst's FREE resource "The Prayer I Pray Every Morning." Download here.If God has felt silent as you’ve sought His wisdom and direction, we have good news: There is a way to hear His voice in His Word, giving the guidance you need. That’s why we made our next study, Proverbs: Everyday Guidance for Making Everyday Decisions, which starts May 27 in the free First 5 mobile app! Through the book of Proverbs, we get to see real-life examples of what it looks like to live in a way that honors Him. Click here to order your digital study guide.Tune in every Tuesday to Joel's Instagram for “Theology Talk Tuesday,” where he'll answer your most asked questions about God, the Bible and more. Sign up on Joel’s website to receive free “bite-sized theology” through a monthly newsletter you can read in five minutes or less.Click here to download a transcript of this episode. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

How often do we almost take a step of faith ... only to stop short of what we're asked to do because we don't feel equipped?We don't feel like we've had enough time to prepare.We don't see how our gifts align with the assignment. Someone else is already doing it.In today's episode, author and podcaster Rachel G. Scott shows us how we should respond to God's unique calling for our lives in each season. You'll be challenged to identify why you've delayed your "yes" to God and inspired to seek out how God has already prepared you. Related Resources:Grab a copy of Rachel's book Taking the 5 Leaps: Experiencing God’s Faithfulness as You Respond to His Call.Our free guide called “Why Can’t I Get Over This: 5 Steps To Get Unstuck in the Areas You Can’t Seem To Make Progress In” will help you identify what’s currently not working and why, by answering intentional questions that will get you excited about the future again. When you give to Proverbs 31 Ministries, you make it possible for us to help you and women like you know the Truth of God's Word and live the Truth every day because we know it changes everything. Now through May 18, every donation will be matched, up to $75,000! Click here to download a transcript of this episode. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

How can life be so full yet sometimes feel so empty at the same time? It could be we're missing out on where true fullness comes from.In this episode, join us for a conversation with singer-songwriter and author Ellie Holcomb as she walks us through Psalm 119. She shares her personal journey of memorizing Scripture and the transformative power it has had in her life and offers practical tips for you to do the same. While we may strive for a perfect life, true fullness comes from experiencing God's presence and knowing Him intimately.Related Resources:Purchase the newly expanded limited edition of Ellie's devotional, Fighting Words: 100 Days of Speaking Truth into the Darkness. This devotional features 10 bonus devotionals, a gorgeous and exclusive new cover, new interior flourishes, and an extra art piece inside.If you’ve been feeling short of words recently, "The Prayer I Pray Every Morning" is a free resource from Lysa TerKeurst that will help you break the silence. Join us for our next study, Proverbs: Everyday Guidance for Making Everyday Decisions, which starts May 27 in the free First 5 mobile app! Through the book of Proverbs, we get to see real-life examples of what it looks like to live in a way that honors God. Click here to order your study guide now.Click here to download a transcript of this episode. We want to hear how The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast has helped you! Will you consider leaving us a written review on Apple Podcasts?Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

Does life sometimes feel so  ... ordinary?When our to-dos consume us and we find ourselves in a never-ending cycle of cleaning, caring for our people, and probably not taking enough care of ourselves, we wonder, Is there more? We look at women in the Bible like Mary, Ruth and Hagar, and it's easy to see the significance of their lives and feel like we're missing out. But in today's episode, Dr. Naomi Cramer Overton, CEO of Stonecroft Ministries and Managing Editor of the Every Woman's Bible, shares that these women probably felt a lot like we do today: insecure, isolated, doubtful and insignificant. You'll hear practical ways you can be reassured of your purpose by believing what God says and getting plugged in to community. Wherever you are today, live your "ordinary" for the people around you, all for the glory of God.Related Resources: Purchase your copy of the Every Woman’s Bible — with personal stories, insights and study notes written for women, by women.Access your free scripture downloads from the Every Woman’s Bible.We want you in our brand-new Circle 31 community! Join the FREE Circle 31 Book Club to read Untangle Your Emotions by Jennie Allen with us starting May 1.Click here to download a transcript of this episode. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

What do you want to be known for? That question can feel daunting and overwhelming to think about, but as followers of Jesus, we have an opportunity to leave a legacy that impacts the next generation. But how? On this episode, our friend and author Bianca Juarez Olthoff teaches us how to live "poured out" for the sake of others. You'll learn how small steps of daily obedience really make all the difference. We promise you'll be encouraged and excited about making an eternal impact after listening to this teaching!Related Resources:Download our free resource: “How To Share Your Story.” Order Bianca's book Grit Don't Quit today!Join us in person or online July 19-20 for our annual She Speaks Conference!Click here to download a transcript of this episode.Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

"Feelings aren't meant to be fixed; they are meant to be felt." — Jennie AllenWe've got a special treat for you on this episode! Our friend and author Jennie Allen and Lysa TerKeurst sit down for a conversation about Jennie's new book, Untangle Your Emotions, and they get REAL about their own emotions! As they get honest about what they are currently learning, they also give us biblical and practical tools for naming our feelings and knowing what to do with them. Don't miss this episode; it's one you'll want to share with a friend and come back to often!Related Resources:Join our brand-new Circle 31 Book Club for free today, and start reading Untangle Your Emotions with us! This is not your average book club. The books we select will challenge you to think, ask hard questions and grow so you can move forward in the areas you feel stuck in. When you sign up, you'll get access to discussion groups led by Proverbs 31 staff, exclusive content from the authors, and so much more! Download our new free resource, "Why Can’t I Get Over This? 5 Steps To Get Unstuck in the Areas You Can’t Seem To Make Progress In."Click here to download a transcript of this episode.We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

It's easy to follow God when it feels good or it's easy for us.But what about when it gets harder? When we get nervous or resistant to it? How do we stay faithful in what God has called us to do? On this episode, we are joined by missionary and podcaster Rachael Groll as she walks us through a teaching on the two parts of obedience. You'll have a better understanding of how taking steps of faith works and be able to better discern when it's time to make a move even when it's uncomfortable. We're saving this one to refer back to often. So hit play, and join this conversation.Related Resources:We’re so excited to partner with Compassion International and to invite you into the partnership as well by sponsoring a child. This organization is changing the lives of children, families and communities around the world. When you sponsor a child, you are providing access to education, medical resources, food, clean water, and most importantly, the love of Jesus.Download our free resource "A Guide to Stepping Out in Faith" by Lysa TerKeurst as you prepare to take your next step of obedience. Click here to download a transcript of this episode.Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

Do you ever find yourself stuck in the same patterns, especially when you begin to make healthy progress? We do too. Join our podcast host, Kaley Olson, and Proverbs 31 Ministries staff members Melissa Taylor and Kendra LeGrand for an honest conversation about how being stuck can actually be a gift of self-awareness from the Holy Spirit ... We just have to lean in.Related Resources:Join our brand-new Circle 31 Book Club for free today! This is not your average book club. The books we select will challenge you to think, ask hard questions and grow so you can move forward in the areas you feel stuck in. When you sign up, you'll get access to discussion groups led by Proverbs 31 staff, exclusive content from the authors, and so much more! Download our new free resource, "Why Can’t I Get Over This? 5 Steps To Get Unstuck in Areas You Can’t Seem To Make Progress In."We'd like to thank Compassion International for partnering with us again to make this episode possible. Compassion brings real solutions to the poverty that so many children in today’s world are facing … all in Jesus' name and through the generosity of sponsors. Take your next step, and sponsor a child today here!Click here to download a transcript of this episode.Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

There's a lot of pressure as women to do it all and to do it all well.On the outside, we like to have it all together. But what does life look like when no one is watching? Does it look like our life is falling apart? How are we supposed to live in a way that honors God but at the same time rest? On this episode, you'll get to learn from our friend and Proverbs 31 staff member Taylor Stuart as she shares her own struggles of feeling like she was not doing enough. Through the book of James, she discovered there's a big difference between participating in a relationship with God and putting on a performance for Him and others. Grab something to take notes ... You'll want them for this one!Related Resources:Download your free sample pages of our next First 5 study guide, Am I Doing This Right? How To Live Out Your Faith Through the Wisdom Found in James!Connect with Taylor on Instagram.  We'd like to thank Compassion International for partnering with us again to make this episode possible. Compassion brings real solutions to the poverty that so many children in today’s world are facing … all in Jesus' name and through the generosity of sponsors. Take your next step, and sponsor a child today here!Click here to download a transcript of this episode.Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

No one is perfect ... Yet so many of us try to be! But God has better for us than the exhausted pace we’ve been running at, and it begins with bowing low in humility. Today's episode is part of an ongoing series titled "Ask a Theologian" — conversations with Proverbs 31 Ministries' Director of Theological Research, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Content Manager for Lysa TerKeurst, Shae Hill. In every episode, Joel and Shae will tackle everyday questions with theological insight and practical takeaways.Related Resources:Download the free assessment titled, "What's It Like To Do Life With Me?" by Lysa TerKeurst here. With Bible teaching and a Q&A you complete alongside a trusted friend, this resource will help you grow in self-awareness and strengthen your relationships. Download here!Living in the peace we want doesn’t come from the absence of pain and chaos but by knowing Jesus is with us in those things. If you’re longing for this kind of soul-settled assurance, preorder Dr. Joel Muddamalle's new book, The Hidden Peace: Finding True Security, Strength, and Confidence Through Humility, and get the first three chapters right away.Tune in every Tuesday to Joel's Instagram for “Theology Talk Tuesday,” where he'll answer your most asked questions about God, the Bible and more. Sign up on Joel’s website to receive free “bite-sized theology” through a monthly newsletter you can read in five minutes or less.Click here to download a transcript of this episode.Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

I just can't keep doing this!If you have ever found yourself feeling this way, we've been there. That's why we have our friend Jennifer Dukes Lee on this episode talk about how crucial it is to be honest with God during difficult seasons of life. Through her own experiences of relying on God through challenging times, Jennifer emphasizes the need for both vulnerability and community. Learn about the power of lament and how it can help us communicate with God in a more authentic way, and consider this your permission not to have it all together.Related Resources:Download a sample of our First 5 study guide, Can I Be Honest? How To Process and Express Your Emotions in a Biblical Way. You'll get an introduction to the study, Old Testament Bible timelines, “Lament” definition, plus … the first three days of the study!Get Jennifer’s book Stuff I’d Only Tell God: A Guided Journal of Courageous Honesty, Obsessive Truth-Telling, and Beautifully Ruthless Self-Discovery. With this book, you’ll find the space, the courage and the help you need to unearth the real you — the you that is sometimes buried deep beneath a layer of self-protection.For regular monthly updates and a word from Kaley (your host), sign up for the Podcast Insider newsletter!Get our newest study guide, Can I Be Honest? How To Process and Express Your Emotions in a Biblical Way. Click here to download a transcript of this episode.Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

Have you ever had a "lightbulb moment" as you read your Bible ... only to later doubt if you were reading that section of Scripture with the right context in mind? If you have a desire to read and apply God's Word to your life with confidence, you've come to the right place!Today's episode is part of an ongoing series titled "Ask a Theologian" — conversations with Proverbs 31 Ministries' Director of Theological Research, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Content Manager for Lysa TerKeurst, Shae Hill. In every episode, Joel and Shae will tackle everyday questions with theological insight and practical takeaways.Related Resources:What if this is the year you become a better student of God's Word? That’s why we’re so excited to invite you to join our first study of 2024 … Keep Holding On: 30 Promises From God You Can Cling to Right Now. Join us for six weeks as we look at God's faithfulness across hundreds of years, in different places and with different people so we can deepen our understanding of His character. Click here to get your study guide! While you wait for your study guide to arrive, download the free First 5 mobile app and create an account today; we'll give you the first five days of Keep Holding On for FREE! Click here to get started.The Bible isn’t trying to be confusing, and God isn’t trying to trick you. All of the promises He made, He fulfills. That's why we created a FREE resource called "How Do I Know Which of God's Promises Are for Me?" Download your copy today so you can know the specific promises from God's Word to cling to when you feel doubtful, discouraged or disappointed.Tune in every Tuesday to Joel's Instagram for “Theology Talk Tuesday,” where he'll answer your most asked questions about God, the Bible and more. You can also sign up on Joel’s website to receive free “bite-sized theology” through a monthly newsletter you can read in five minutes or less.Click here to download a transcript of this episode.Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

We all have to come to a point in life when we have to ask: What do we really believe about God?When we are met with unmet expectations, it can be easy to start questioning what we think about God's character. On this episode of the podcast, author Alexandra Hoover teaches how to surrender control and look to the promises we find in the Bible so we can develop the kind of faith that does not waver when life feels uncertain. Friend, you don't have to rely on performative or formulaic ways to follow God; you can find hope and rest in knowing it's not all up to you.Related Resources: Download "How Do I Know Which of God's Promises Are for Me?" for free here. Order your copy of Alexandra’s Bible study Without Wavering today! If you’ve been in a season of doubt or if things have felt uncertain, unpredictable and unreliable, our new study is for you ... Keep Holding On: 30 Promises From God You Can Cling to Right Now. This 30-day journey will be a lifeline that will show you what is always certain, sure and true with God. Each week, we'll give you a promise to pray through and a promise to cling to, plus other features to help you apply what you are learning. Click here to get your study guide! Click here to download a transcript of this episode. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

You're not alone in feeling alone. The truth is, we were designed to connect with others — and God — through intimacy, not just proximity. But can someone please explain that to the average, everyday person?Today's episode is part of an ongoing series titled "Ask a Theologian" — conversations with Proverbs 31 Ministries' Director of Theological Research, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Content Manager for Lysa TerKeurst, Shae Hill. In every episode, Joel and Shae will tackle everyday questions with theological insight and practical takeaways.Related Resources: When you feel crippled by fear and anxiety … When you feel hurt by the very people you thought you could count on … It’s tempting to wonder, Jesus, are You here? Do You care? But, friend, Jesus is never absent throughout Scripture, and He’s certainly not absent in our lives either. Lysa TerKeurst and Dr. Joel Muddamalle want to help you discover this truth with their newest Bible study, 30 Days with Jesus: Experiencing His Presence Throughout the Old and New Testaments. Order your copy today! When you download the free First 5 mobile app and create an account today, we'll give you the first five days of our brand-new study guide, Keep Holding On:30 Promises From God You Can Cling to Right Now, for FREE! Click here to get started. Tune in every Tuesday to Joel's Instagram for “Theology Talk Tuesday,” where he'll answer your most asked questions about God, the Bible and more. You can also sign up on Joel’s website to receive free “bite-sized theology” through a monthly newsletter you can read in five minutes or less. Click here to download a transcript of this episode. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

Meet our new friend Kiwi (Kiwiani)!On today's episode, Kiwi shares her journey — from growing up in poverty in the Philippines to becoming a successful physical therapist in Dallas, Texas. Through her life and family, she teaches us the importance of seeking God, having faith and obeying His guidance. This story is a testament to the power of hope, faith, and the support of organizations like Compassion International. We can't wait for you to listen.Related Resources: Maybe you’ve heard about the promises of God, but have you ever wondered what they actually are? With so many uncertainties in life, there are still some things you can be sure of. Get our new study guide, Keep Holding On: 30 Promises From God You Can Cling to Right Now. We’re so excited to partner with Compassion International and to invite you into the partnership as well. This organization is changing the lives of children, families and communities around the world. When you sponsor a child, you are providing access to education, medical resources, food, clean water and most importantly, the love of Jesus. Take your next step, and sponsor a child today here! Click here to download a transcript of this episode.  Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

If your year has been anything but "merry and bright," it's hard to put on a smile when everyone is celebrating the holidays. Welcome to this episode of "Ask a Theologian" — a new category of conversations with Proverbs 31 Ministries' Director of Theological Research, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Content Manager for Lysa TerKeurst, Shae Hill. In every episode, Joel and Shae will tackle everyday questions with theological insight and practical takeaways.Related Resources: Experience Advent in a way that provides simplicity and space for you to personally focus on the hope this season brings, using the Pointing to the Promise digital study guide! Get your copy for only $8 today. Tune in every Tuesday to Joel's Instagram for “Theology Talk Tuesday,” where he'll answer your most asked questions about God, the Bible and more. You can also sign up on Joel’s website to receive free “bite-sized theology” through a monthly newsletter you can read in five minutes or less. Click here to download a transcript of this episode. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

There are a lot of conversations about how to have healthy relationships. There are also a lot about how to navigate when a romantic relationship ends. But no one talks about what it looks like when a friendship ends.Our friend and author Elizabeth Laing Thompson knows what it's like to experience the heartbreak of losing friends you used to be so close to. Learn biblical ways to handle those relationship fallouts without personally falling apart. While not all relationships can be mended, we do have a friend in Jesus, who always stays close and has personally felt the sting of betrayal, hurt and rejection. Related Resources: For more on this topic, order Elizabeth's new book, When a Friendship Falls Apart: Finding God’s Path for Healing, Forgiveness and (Maybe) Help Letting Go. Join our next First 5 study, Good News: How the Four Gospels Point Us to One Person We Can Trust; order your study guide today! Stay connected to Elizabeth on Instagram, @elizabethlaingthompson, and her website, lizzylife.com. Click here to download a transcript of this episode. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

Do you ever find yourself short of words when your friend is navigating a difficult season? You want to be there for her, be a good listener, encourage and pray for her, but how can you know with confidence what she actually needs right now?During this conversation, Lysa TerKeurst and two of her friends Candace Salamone and Melanie Chitwood discuss the dynamics of walking with a friend through hard times. They also cover helpful and unhelpful things to say and questions to ask.We will all be more equipped to be a better friend after listening to this episode!Related Resources: The pain you're experiencing deserves a safe place to be processed. That's why Lysa TerKeurst created this FREE resource: "The 5 Healing Perspectives You Need for Your Hurt or Heartbreak." When you download today, Lysa will help you unpack the five crucial perspective shifts that will empower you to start changing the way you see the most difficult parts of your situation. We'd like to thank Compassion International for sponsoring this episode. Compassion brings real solutions to the poverty that so many children in today’s world are facing … all in Jesus' name and through the generosity of sponsors. Take your next step, and sponsor a child today here! Find real-life encouragement by connecting with Lysa TerKeurst here on Instagram. Click here to download a transcript of this episode. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

Grief can spark the question: God, when will You see me?Our new friend and author Carole Holiday understands the heartbreaking loss that can make you think, I don't know who I am anymore. Through her divorce, job loss and heart surgery, she has learned that deep grief carves space for a deeper ability to love. Sometimes it's not always the big griefs that threaten to take us out; it's the little ones that we push aside and can go unnoticed that make us not OK. But she shows us how God can bring good back to life through faith, food and fellowship. We think you're going to love this episode!Related Resources: Order your copy of Carole’s book, I Don’t Know Who I Am Anymore: Restoring Your Identity Shattered by Grief and Loss. If you need a little self-assessment, download our free resource: “'Am I Okay?' A 10-Question Self-Guided Check-In.” Connect with Carole on her website: https://www.caroleholiday.com/. Follow Carole on Instagram: @caroleholiday. Pursue your writing dreams, like Carole did, by joining COMPEL Writers Training! Click here to download a transcript of this episode.  Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

Sometimes it feels safer to follow Jesus on our own.But some of Jesus' last words, recorded in John 17, encourage us to be one as the body of Christ. So what does it look like to make the intentional choice to belong to a community when it feels risky? Our friend and author Katy McCown sits down on this episode to encourage us to with Truth from God's Word on what it means to invest in one another. Katy shows us the power of pressing into the body of Christ instead of pulling away from it — especially when life falls apart. This is a great episode to share with a friend and discuss!Related Resources: Order a copy of Katy’s new Bible study, She Belongs: Finding Your Place in the Body of Christ, today! Download this free resource, "Does God Care?: 10 Promises From God To Remember When You Feel Forgotten," and know that you are completely seen and loved even when you feel most overlooked, and cling to specific truths you can memorize and write out today. If God said it, He meant it. The story of Jesus proves our God is faithful. Spend six weeks looking at how every promise God has made to you today is fulfilled in the life of Jesus; join our next Online Bible Study … Pointing to the Promise: An Advent Study, starting November 6. Click here to sign up now! Click here to download a transcript of this episode. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

Sometimes courage can feel unattainable. But God's Word shows us that it's actually possible to find hope and encouragement in the midst of fear. On this episode, author, speaker, TV and ministry leader Ann White teaches us the seven steps to COURAGE. Grab a pen because you're not going to miss these steps — you'll learn the impact of God's Word and how to apply it so you can live more courageously when facing fear.Related Resources: Order a copy of the Courage for Life Study Bible today! Connect with Ann on Instagram @godgivescourage. We created a free resource for you to download, “3 Bible Study Basics You Must Know.”  Click here to download a transcript of this episode. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

If life has suddenly stopped going the way you planned, this episode is for you.Author Sarah Frazer knows all to well what it's like to look around at your circumstances and wonder how you got there. When her story unexpectedly shifted, she wondered what it looked like to move forward and found herself asking God to show her His goodness. From there, she began to study Moses in the Bible and discovered how God uses the darkest circumstances to proclaim His sovereign goodness. It's possible to grow through whatever detour, setback, heartache or disappointment life has thrown at you. Listen to this episode to learn more!Related Resources: Order a copy of Sarah's book I Didn't Sign Up for This: How to Rest in God's Goodness When Your Story Shifts. Download our new, free resource: "God Will Get You Through This: 5 Devotions for When You Feel Overwhelmed." Connect with Sarah on Instagram @SarahEFrazer or on her website at SarahEFrazer.com.  Click here to download a transcript of this episode. We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

One of the biggest misconceptions we can have about faith is believing that if we do this, God will do that.But our friend, author and pastor Max Lucado is here to help us see the ways we may have adopted a transactional theology with God. He will show us how to live when we are in the gap between what we want out of life and what we get in life. God has not left us here. Understanding how big God is helps us better know and trust His character. When we view Him rightly, we can truly experience the beauty and riches of being in a relationship with our Father.Related Resources: Make sure to order a copy of Max's new book, God Never Gives Up on You: What Jacob's Story Teaches Us About Grace, Mercy, and God's Relentless Love. Download our free resource with devotions from Lysa TerKeurst, “Chosen, Called & Confident: 5 Days of Believing God Can Use You.” To the woman constantly pouring out, we created a day where all you have to do is show up and be filled. Join us for Reset: A Saturday To Tend to Your Soul at First Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC, on October 7, 2023.  Click here to download a transcript of this episode. We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

It can feel frustrating when you've tried really hard to follow God and it's not working anymore. In fact, it hurts.But God isn't trying to hurt us; He's trying to help us. Often these frustrations happen because we've unknowingly adopted unhealthy thought patterns and ways of living. Like Jacob wrestled with God in the Bible, we, too, have to wrestle with the lies and false beliefs that have taken root in our lives in order to experience healing and freedom. On this episode, author and Proverbs 31 Ministries staff member Ashley Morgan Jackson shares her story of wrestling with God. She helps us identify the lies we are believing and shows us how to turn to God when nothing else we've tried is working. You won't want to miss this episode!Related Resources: Order a copy of Ashley’s new book, Tired of Trying: How to Hold On to God When You’re Frustrated, Fed Up, and Feeling Forgotten. Download Ashley’s free resource: “Disappointed with God” reflection guide. We created COMPEL Writers Training just for YOU! Stay accountable to practice your writing skills, and know you are not alone through our online community. Click here to join! Check out the other shows on the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast Network: Therapy & Theology with Lysa TerKeurst and the Encouragement for Today Podcast.  To the woman constantly pouring out, we created a day where all you have to do is show up and be filled. Join us for Reset: A Saturday To Tend to Your Soul at First Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC, on October 7, 2023.  Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

It's hard to pause and pray when we feel unsettled or anxious.The Bible is clear that prayer is the remedy for a lot of the anxiousness we feel. (Just look at Philippians 4.) But what does that look like daily, especially when we are so overwhelmed that we don't know what to do? On today's episode, our friend and author Wendy Blight shares her story of struggling with anxiety and the unlikely tools she found in Scripture that helped her overcome it. She gets practical on what happens when we remain still and shows us what to do when we pause and slow down. It's in those moments, we will find God's nearness that leads to the peace we are really longing for.This episode is Part 4 of a four-part series; make sure you go back and listen to the other episodes!Related Resources: Escape the feeling of "never knowing what to say" with our free e-book, For the Girl Who Needs Hope: 50 Biblical Prayers for the Hard Moments. We can't choose when anxious thoughts come our way, but we can choose how we fight back. Learn how to in our next Online Bible Study, Rest for Your Soul: Simple Practices When You're Worn Out and Weary, with Wendy Blight, starting September 5. Click here to download a transcript of this episode.  We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

When God doesn’t answer our prayers, it's easy to feel grief.If you have been walking with Him for a long time, it's tempting to want to numb out or give up. But what happens when neither of those options works?If you are exhausted repeating the same prayers and getting less hopeful, or wrestling knowing God can change your circumstances and being heartbroken that He isn't, this episode is for you. Our friend Shae Hill talks about how we can find a gift in prayer, even while we are feeling frustrated and forgotten. Be encouraged that it is possible to hold disappointment and a desire to pray at the same time.This episode is Part 3 of a four-part series; make sure you subscribe so you don't miss what's next!Related Resources: Escape the feeling of "never knowing what to say" with our free e-book, For the Girl Who Needs Hope: 50 Biblical Prayers for the Hard Moments. We can't choose when anxious thoughts come our way, but we can choose how we fight back. Learn how to in our next Online Bible Study, Rest for Your Soul: Simple Practices When You're Worn Out and Weary, with Wendy Blight, starting September 5. Click here to download a transcript of this episode. We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

We can pray about anything and everything as often as possible.If God's Word tells us we can ask Him for anything, how do we cultivate lives where we pray bold prayers? What does that look like? And how do we do this? On this episode, Ashley Morgan Jackson sits down with Meghan Ryan and Shae Hill for a conversation on why we can approach God with our needs and how to keep our faith when we get weary waiting for His reply. Make sure you find something to take notes with because this one has lots of practical ideas you won't want to forget!This episode is Part 2 of a four-part series; make sure you subscribe so you don't miss what's next!Related Resources: If you long for deeper connection to God but aren't sure where to start, our new study guide is for you ... Praying Through the Psalms: 30 Days To Uncomplicate How You Talk to God, starting August 7 in the free First 5 mobile app! Escape the feeling of "never knowing what to say" with our free e-book, For the Girl Who Needs Hope: 50 Biblical Prayers for the Hard Moments. We can't choose when anxious thoughts come our way, but we can choose how we fight back. Learn how to in our next Online Bible Study, Rest for Your Soul: Simple Practices When You're Worn Out and Weary, with Wendy Blight, starting September 5. To the woman constantly pouring out, we planned a day where all you have to do is show up and be filled. Join us for Reset: A Saturday To Tend to Your Soul at First Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC, on October 7, 2023. Click here to download a transcript of this episode. We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

The Bible has a lot to say about prayer.But what does "prayer" really mean? And what does it look like in our everyday lives? On this episode, our host Kaley Olson sits down with Shae Hill, Ashley Morgan Jackson and Meghan Ryan for a conversation about what it looks like to talk to God. We'll open our Bibles, trade some embarrassing stories, and take an honest look at what it means to communicate our desires, fears, worries and praises to our Creator. It's possible that prayer might not be quite as complicated as we make it.This episode is Part 1 of a four-part series; make sure you subscribe so you don't miss what's next!Related Resources: If you long for deeper connection to God but aren't sure where to start, our new study guide is for you ... Praying Through the Psalms: 30 Days To Uncomplicate How You Talk to God, starting August 7 in the free First 5 mobile app! Escape the feeling of "never knowing what to say" with our free e-book, For the Girl Who Needs Hope: 50 Biblical Prayers for the Hard Moments. We can't choose when anxious thoughts come our way, but we can choose how we fight back. Learn how to in our next Online Bible Study, Rest for Your Soul: Simple Practices When You're Worn Out and Weary, with Wendy Blight, starting September 5. To the woman constantly pouring out, we planned a day where all you have to do is show up and be filled. Join us for Reset: A Saturday To Tend to Your Soul at First Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC, on October 7, 2023. Click here to download a transcript of this episode. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

We live in a world full of anxiety, and often it can feel overwhelming to try to navigate it.On today's episode, our friend and author Rebekah Lyons gives us practical and scriptural ways to walk through a difficult season of feeling overwhelmed with the chaos of life. She will teach us physical steps and rhythms to try when our minds are running out of control and point us back to God's Word for what is true and lasting. Grab a pen and paper because you'll want to take notes on this one! Related Resources: Order a copy of Rebekah’s book Building a Resilient Life: How Adversity Awakens Strength, Hope, and Meaning. We would love to hear from you! Leave us a review, and let us know how this show has impacted you. As promised, Rebekah shared her Paleo Banana Bread recipe with us! Join our next Online Bible Study, Your New Now: 30 Days To Make Sense of Where You Are and Where You're Going with Nicki Koziarz July 17-August 15, 2023. Click here to download a transcript of this episode. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

It's OK to want to be seen.Like someone notices you. Like someone cares. Actually, this desire is not just a good thing, it's a God-given longing. Our new friend, author and COMPEL Writers Training member Whitney Akin teaches us how the human need for attention and approval is God’s intentional design and encourages us to live seen by the God who loves us. She will show us a lifestyle of living seen — characterized by confidence, meekness, obedience and a gospel perspective. Don't miss this episode, friends, and be sure to share it with a friend!Related Resources: Pursue your writing dreams, like Whitney did, by joining COMPEL Writers Training! Order a copy of Whitney’s book Overlooked: Finding Your Worth When You Feel All Alone today! Download our free resource, “Overwhelmed, Overlooked and Over It: Five Devotions for the Girl Who Feels Tempted To Quit.” Click here to download a transcript of this episode. We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

Have you ever found yourself asking these questions: What do I have to do in order for God to give me what I want? Why do bad things happen to good people? Did I do something to deserve this?Those questions you’ve been wrestling with come from a belief system theologians call “retribution theology.” That’s a big term, but understanding this belief system can clear up a lot of confusion and pain that you may have been carrying in your relationship with God and your understanding of how He works. In this episode, you'll learn how to identify how this displays itself in your life and how to see God rightly. All of this will show you how to let go of the need for control or to earn His love and favor.Related Resources: Ready to process all of Joel's teaching points? We've got you! Download our brand-new free resource called "Consider This: Why Do Bad Things Happen to God’s People?" to unpack how this belief system may be impacting your relationship with the Lord. We hope these verses to study and reflection questions help you cling to Truth and redirect your thoughts when you find yourself wrestling with why bad things can sometimes happen to God’s people. Click here to download for free now. Order your study guide on the book of Job, When the Hurt Feels Hopeless: How God Meets Us in Our Pain Even When We Don’t Know the Answers. Have you enjoyed this episode? We'd love to hear from you! Leave us a review, and share what God has taught you. Click here to download a transcript of this episode. We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

It's easy to get skeptical when our life doesn't look the way we expected it to.Especially in seasons of transition, when what used to be is gone and you're not where you want to be yet, you can start to question what God is doing. Nicki Koziarz is no stranger to the podcast, but for those who don't know her, she is an author, a podcaster, a Bible teacher, and a dear friend to us at Proverbs 31 Ministries. Through the life of Moses, Nicki will teach us how to navigate the moments in life when we feel stuck in the "in between."Related Resources: Make sure to order a copy of Nicki’s book Your New Now today. Join Circle 31: a community of monthly donors doing ministry together. Take Nicki's quiz "What season of transition are you in?" Join our next Online Bible Study, Your New Now: 30 Days To Make Sense of Where You Are and Where You're Going with Nicki Koziarz July 17-August 15, 2023. Click here to download a transcript of this episode. We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

One in four women experience some kind of hurt from their fathers.If you have been hurt, neglected, rejected or abandoned by your father, it may feel like every aspect of life is affected by that broken trust. On this episode, we welcome back our friend and author Kia Stephens as she teaches us about how to overcome our father wounds through the story of Leah in the Bible. While no dad is perfect, we do have a perfect Father in God, and He can heal every hurt we've experienced. It's possible to overcome insecurity, low self-esteem and perfectionism that comes from our past. And you can connect with God as your loving heavenly Father today.Related Resources: Order Kia’s book, Overcoming Father Wounds: Exchanging Your Pain for God's Perfect Love. If you need encouragement in the middle of what you are facing, download our free resource: “3 Truths You Need To Process Your Pain.” She Speaks 2023 is coming! You need to know how to take the next step; we've got the tools to help you actually do it. Join us online July 13-14!  Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

It's time to let go of your past and move into your future.If you feel stuck in some area of your life or wish something were different, it may be because you keep looking back. On today's episode, our friend and bestselling author Christine Caine shows us how this way of living is hindering us from getting to where we want to go and what we need to do to keep moving forward into God's promises and purpose for our lives. Grab your Bible because you're going to want to follow along her teaching and take notes!Related Resources: Get a copy of Christine's book, Don't Look Back: Getting Unstuck and Moving Forward with Passion and Purpose.  Subscribe to our Podcast Insider newsletter for behind-the-scenes details on what's happening on the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast Network, reflection questions for episodes, and more! Download our free resource, “Now What? A Biblical Guide To Process and Apply What You Are Learning." Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

If you long to change but feel like it's just not possible, this is for you.We all have habits that aren't super beneficial, but how do we form new ones when every time we try we seem to fail? On this episode, Lysa TerKeurst sits down with our friend and pastor Craig Groeschel and asks him all the questions about how to live the way you want to. Learn how to make changes when you feel stuck and prioritize when you've got a lot on your plate through simple adjustments that won't leave you feeling overwhelmed and defeated. Change is possible because of the gospel, so grab a pen and paper and join us!Related Resources: Order a copy of Craig's book The Power to Change: Mastering the Habits That Matter Most. Download our free resource "31 Days To Form a New Habit," and learn how to be faithful with what God has already given you so you can see His plan and purpose prevail in your life. Will you make a donation to Proverbs 31 Ministries today so we can continue to help you and other women just like you know and live the Truth of God's Word? Click here to learn more. Click here to download a transcript of this episode. And ... Exciting news: The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast was nominated for a 2023 KLove Fan Award for Podcast Impact of the Year! Click here to cast your vote. Voting ends on May 26th.We want to get to know you! Will you tell us a little bit about yourself by filling out this survey? 

Stepping out in faith is not always easy.But when we do, we get to join in God's mission for the world. For Foster Care Awareness Month, we invited our friend Jamie Finn to share how God changed her heart and opened her up to foster care. There are so many ways we can rally around the biblical mandate to take care of the vulnerable who are in need, and we want to invite you to consider what God may be calling you to personally. Let Jamie's story inspire you to say "yes" to the thing God has put on your heart today.Related Resources:- Learn more about how you get involved by visiting the Foster the Family website.- Maybe you can’t quite put into words what step of faith God wants you to take right now. Download our free resource, "A Guide to Stepping Out in Faith."- Will you make a donation to Proverbs 31 Ministries today so we can continue to help you and other women just like you know and live the Truth of God's Word? Click here to learn more. - Click here to download a transcript of this episode.We want to get to know you! Will you tell us a little bit about yourself by filling out this survey? 

As moms, we bear a lot of weight. There are so many different voices telling us what to do and how to parent, and it's easy to get caught up in comparing ourselves to every other mom around us. Our desire to get it right is a good thing. Bad moms don't worry about whether or not they are bad moms. Good moms do that. But we don't have to constantly beat ourselves up when we feel like we fall short. Our friend, author and Licensed Counselor Rachael Elmore joins us on this episode to remind us of what is true for us as moms: Even in our mistakes, God is in control. Related Resources: Order Rachael’s book, A Mom Is Born: Biblical Wisdom and Practical Advice for Taking Care of Yourself and Your New Baby. Learn the practical side of motherhood by building your postpartum wellness plan. Download Chapter 3 of A Mom Is Born today for free, and see why “every new mom needs this.” Download our free resource, “What Nobody Talks About: When the Journey of Motherhood Involves Disappointment, Suffering & Loss.” Will you make a donation to Proverbs 31 Ministries today so we can continue to help you and other women just like you know and live the Truth of God's Word? Click here to learn more.  Click here to download a transcript for this episode. We want to get to know you! Will you tell us a little bit about yourself by filling out this survey? 

Maybe you've heard of the Enneagram but aren't sure what it's all about. Is it even OK for Christians to use it? Is it something that can be used for spiritual growth, not just personal growth? Perhaps you know your Enneagram type but have no idea how to apply what you've learned as a way to enhance your spiritual life. Our new friend, author and Enneagram coach Meredith Boggs guides you through a biblical road map to using the Enneagram to revitalize your faith and guide you back home to God.This episode covers Types 5-9; make sure you tune in to Part 1 for Types 1-4!Related Resources: Have you listened to the new Encouragement for Today Podcast? Listen now to start your day with a biblical perspective you can carry with you no matter what lies ahead. Get Meredith’s new book, The Journey Home: A Biblical Guide to Using the Enneagram to Deepen Your Faith and Relationships.  Connect with Meredith on Instagram at @meredithwboggs and on her website at meredithwboggs.com. Click here to download a transcript for this episode. We want to get to know you! Will you tell us a little bit about yourself by filling out this survey? 

Maybe you've heard of the Enneagram but aren't sure what it's all about. Is it even OK for Christians to use it? Is it something that can be used for spiritual growth, not just personal growth? Perhaps you know your Enneagram type but have no idea how to apply what you've learned as a way to enhance your spiritual life. Our new friend, author and Enneagram coach Meredith Boggs guides you through a biblical road map to using the Enneagram to revitalize your faith and guide you back home to God.This episode covers Types 1-4; make sure you tune in to Part 2 for Types 5-9!Related Resources: Have you listened to the new Encouragement for Today Podcast? Listen now to start your day with a biblical perspective you can carry with you no matter what lies ahead. Get Meredith’s new book, The Journey Home: A Biblical Guide to Using the Enneagram to Deepen Your Faith and Relationships. Connect with Meredith on Instagram at @meredithwboggs and on her website at meredithwboggs.com. Click here to download a transcript for this episode. We want to get to know you! Will you tell us a little bit about yourself by filling out this survey? 

Sometimes self-care can feel selfish.But when we neglect our own well-being, we can quickly get burnt out. God wants us to take care of ourselves, and it doesn't look like the world makes wellness out to be. Our new friend and author Bonnie Gray walks us through four practical ways to care for our souls the way God intended. When you feel overwhelmed by the pressures of life, it's possible to pause, restore calm and choose joy. This episode will help you learn new ways to break free from worry and anxiety.Related Resources:  Order Bonnie’s new book, Breathe: 21 Days to Stress Less and Transform Chaos to Calm, and get access to her wellness Bible study. Take the Soul-Care Quiz, and learn what type of care you need to flourish in your life with God’s peace and joy.  Download our free five-day devotional, Overlooked, Overwhelmed and Over It: Five Devotions for the Girl Who Feels Tempted To Quit. She Speaks 2023 is coming! You need to know how to take the next step; we've got the tools to help you actually do it. Join us in Charlotte, NC, or online from July 13-14!  Click here to download a transcript of this episode. We want to get to know you! Will you tell us a little bit about yourself by filling out this survey? 

"Let's Talk About Church" With Dr. Joel MuddamalleRegardless of your church background, there are a lot of questions around the topic of church.What defines a church? Who gathers these people? Why do they meet, and what keeps them together? And what are they supposed to do when they gather? On this episode, our friend Dr. Joel Muddamalle, Director of Theological Research at Proverbs 31 Ministries, answers our questions about finding a church and staying at a church. Learn about God's intention and purpose for His Church in a world full of different opinions and priorities.Related Resources:-Reflect on what Scripture says about the message you heard, and see what challenges, convicts or encourages you, with our free resource "Now What? A Guide To Process and Apply Biblical Messages."-Give your teens a stronger foundation to embrace a biblical worldview and learn to navigate complex topics at Summit Ministries’ Student Conference!-Click here to download a transcript of this episode.We want to get to know you! Will you tell us a little bit about yourself by filling out this survey? 

It's easy to question if we really heard from God.How do you know with confidence what His voice sounds like and what His will is? We want certainty or the outcomes we desire, but learning to hear from God isn't a one-size-fits-all formula. Our new friend and author Abby McDonald joins us on the podcast for an episode all about how to hear from God. Learn four ways to recognize His voice even when He doesn't speak directly.Related Resources: Order a copy of Abby’s book, Shift: Changing Our Focus to See the Presence of God. Connect with Abby, and download her free resources at abbymcdonald.org. Download our free resource “Choosing To Trust Over Taking Control,” and release the desire to orchestrate how things turn out by settling your soul with 10 days of scriptural reminders about God’s unfailing faithfulness. Click here to download the transcript of this episode. We want to get to know you! Will you tell us a little bit about yourself by filling out this survey? 

When hurtful situations leave us worn out and unmotivated to spend time with God, sometimes we need more than just a pep talk.We need a friend to come alongside us with biblical Truth and encouragement, showing us practical steps we can take right away. In her new devotional, You’re Going to Make It, Lysa TerKeurst wants to be that friend for you. This week, she's taking over the podcast to share one devotion each morning that will give the biblical Truth and encouragement you need when hurtful situations leave you worn out and unmotivated to spend time with God.Day 5's devotion is called “Three Steps To Overcome Anxious Thoughts.”Related Resources:Sometimes we need a reminder that there is so much more to our one incredible life than the sum total of our heartbreak. Order Lysa TerKeurst’s new devotional, You’re Going to Make It: 50 Morning and Evening Devotions to Unrush Your Mind, Uncomplicate Your Heart, and Experience Healing Today.Join our next Online Bible Study! Together, we’ll be reading Lysa TerKeurst’s new devotional, You're Going to Make It: 50 Morning and Evening Devotions to Unrush Your Mind, Uncomplicate Your Heart, and Experience Healing Today, as we develop an intentional plan for staying connected to God that can apply to the rest of our year. Sign up now.Click here to download a transcript of this episode.We want to get to know you! Will you tell us a little bit about yourself by filling out this survey? 

When hurtful situations leave us worn out and unmotivated to spend time with God, sometimes we need more than just a pep talk.We need a friend to come alongside us with biblical Truth and encouragement, showing us a practical-steps plan we can take right away. In her new devotional, You’re Going to Make It, Lysa TerKeurst wants to be that friend for you. This week, she's taking over the podcast to share one devotion each morning that will give the biblical Truth and encouragement you need when hurtful situations leave you worn out and unmotivated to spend time with God.Day 4's devotion is called “Who I Am Doesn’t Feel Good Enough.”Related Resources:Sometimes we need a reminder that there is so much more to our one incredible life than the sum total of our heartbreak. Order Lysa TerKeurst’s new devotional, You’re Going to Make It: 50 Morning and Evening Devotions to Unrush Your Mind, Uncomplicate Your Heart, and Experience Healing Today.Join our next Online Bible Study! Together, we’ll be reading Lysa TerKeurst’s new devotional, You're Going to Make It: 50 Morning and Evening Devotions to Unrush Your Mind, Uncomplicate Your Heart, and Experience Healing Today, as we develop an intentional plan for staying connected to God that can apply to the rest of our year. Sign up now.Click here to download a transcript for this episode.We want to get to know you! Will you tell us a little bit about yourself by filling out this survey? 

When hurtful situations leave us worn out and unmotivated to spend time with God, sometimes we need more than just a pep talk.We need a friend to come alongside us with biblical Truth and encouragement, showing us a practical-steps plan we can take right away. In her new devotional, You’re Going to Make It, Lysa TerKeurst wants to be that friend for you. This week, she's taking over the podcast to share one devotion each morning that will give the biblical Truth and encouragement you need when hurtful situations leave you worn out and unmotivated to spend time with God.Day 3's devotion is called “Choosing Trust Over Taking Control.”Related Resources:Sometimes we need a reminder that there is so much more to our one incredible life than the sum total of our heartbreak. Order Lysa TerKeurst’s new devotional, You’re Going to Make It: 50 Morning and Evening Devotions to Unrush Your Mind, Uncomplicate Your Heart, and Experience Healing Today.Join our next Online Bible Study! Together, we’ll be reading Lysa TerKeurst’s new devotional, You're Going to Make It: 50 Morning and Evening Devotions to Unrush Your Mind, Uncomplicate Your Heart, and Experience Healing Today, as we develop an intentional plan for staying connected to God that can apply to the rest of our year. Sign up now.Click here to download the transcript for this episode.We want to get to know you! Will you tell us a little bit about yourself by filling out this survey? 

When hurtful situations leave us worn out and unmotivated to spend time with God, sometimes we need more than just a pep talk.We need a friend to come alongside us with biblical Truth and encouragement, showing us a practical-steps plan we can take right away. In her new devotional, You’re Going to Make It, Lysa TerKeurst wants to be that friend for you. This week, she's taking over the podcast to share one devotion each morning that will give the biblical Truth and encouragement you need when hurtful situations leave you worn out and unmotivated to spend time with God.Day 2's devotion is called “When You’re Tempted To Judge Her.”Related Resources:Sometimes we need a reminder that there is so much more to our one incredible life than the sum total of our heartbreak. Order Lysa TerKeurst’s new devotional, You’re Going to Make It: 50 Morning and Evening Devotions to Unrush Your Mind, Uncomplicate Your Heart, and Experience Healing Today.Join our next Online Bible Study! Together, we’ll be reading Lysa TerKeurst’s new devotional, You're Going to Make It: 50 Morning and Evening Devotions to Unrush Your Mind, Uncomplicate Your Heart, and Experience Healing Today, as we develop an intentional plan for staying connected to God that can apply to the rest of our year. Sign up now.Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

When hurtful situations leave us worn out and unmotivated to spend time with God, sometimes we need more than just a pep talk.We need a friend to come alongside us with biblical Truth and encouragement, showing us a practical-steps plan we can take right away. In her new devotional, You’re Going to Make It, Lysa TerKeurst wants to be that friend for you. This week, she's taking over the podcast to share one devotion each morning that will give the biblical Truth and encouragement you need when hurtful situations leave you worn out and unmotivated to spend time with God.Day 1's devotion is called "Healing Is Not as Neat and Tidy as I'd Like."Related Resources:Sometimes we need a reminder that there is so much more to our one incredible life than the sum total of our heartbreak. Order Lysa TerKeurst’s new devotional, You’re Going to Make It: 50 Morning and Evening Devotions to Unrush Your Mind, Uncomplicate Your Heart, and Experience Healing Today. Join our next Online Bible Study! Together, we’ll be reading Lysa TerKeurst’s new devotional, You're Going to Make It: 50 Morning and Evening Devotions to Unrush Your Mind, Uncomplicate Your Heart, and Experience Healing Today, as we develop an intentional plan for staying connected to God that can apply to the rest of our year. Sign up now.Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Where do you turn when the future feels unclear and you've lost your footing?Maybe there’s something in your life today that’s not going as planned, or maybe you are facing fear as you look at your future. In those moments, it can be easy to wonder where God is and what He is doing. On this episode, our friend and Promotional Copy Writer at Proverbs 31 Ministries, Meghan Ryan, shows us the importance of knowing God's faithfulness through the book of Ruth and how we can find security and certainty no matter what our circumstances look like.Related Resources:Join our free study of the book of Ruth in the First 5 mobile app!Order your study guide, Ruth: Finding God Faithful When You Feel Insecure and Uncertain.Connect with Meghan on her website at alwaysmeghan.com, and download her free resource "In the Middle: 3 Steps to Navigating Transition and Unexpected Life Changes."Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

As parents, it's easy to wonder, Am I doing this right?With three adult children and years of student and college ministry under their belts, pastor and author Andy Stanley and his wife, Sandra, know a thing or two about parenting. Before they even started a family of their own, they made a decision: to pursue a family dynamic where everyone would want to hang out with each other even when they didn't have to. From there started a journey of parenting through the lenses of building lasting relationships. For parents at any stage, this episode will give you practical tools for getting the whole parenting thing right.Related Resources:- Grab a copy of the Stanleys' new book, Parenting: Getting It Right, today!- Do you ever struggle trusting God with your kids? You aren’t alone. That's why Lysa TerKeurst put together "15 Prayers for Your Son" and "15 Prayers for Your Daughter." These resources will help you fight for the heart of your son or daughter through Scripture-based prayers. We pray these resources will help you in your journey of learning to trust the Lord with your kids. Click here to download now!- Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

One out of five Americans says they don't have one person they can talk to.As we move more and more into a digital society, we can lose our ability to have healthy, thriving relationships. Loneliness has become an epidemic, but the Bible has a lot to say about how we interact with one another. On this episode, Dr. Heather Thompson Day teaches us about the urgency of having meaningful friendships in a world that quickly writes people off as toxic. Learn how to find and commit to relationships even when they are challenging, and find the connection and happiness you are really longing for.Related Resources:Get your copy of Dr. Heather Thompson Day’s book I’ll See You Tomorrow: Building Relational Resilience When You Want to Quit, and recognize the value of a healthy (and small) circle rather than a large one, and refuse to let fear of what may or may not happen cause you to miss the beauty of what is.Don't miss an episode of our new Encouragement for Today Podcast! Subscribe on your preferred listening platform, and starting January 25, get a weekly audio devotion that will give you a moment with God to start each week. Click here to download the transcript.

A new year can bring a lot of anticipation and excitement. But it can also be a reminder of some things we aren't super proud of ...Maybe you're looking back at this last year a little disappointed. That habit you wanted to kick is still there or the relationship you wanted to better is not fixed. It can be easy to struggle with the lack of progress we've made and even more difficult when we may be filled with regret. On this episode, our host Kaley Olson is on the other side of the mic for a conversation that will help us look at how to move past our past mistakes. She will give us three lessons from the book of Deuteronomy on how to approach our mistakes and what the gift of God's grace and forgiveness offers us so we can move forward with purpose today.Related Resources: Download our free First 5 mobile app and study Deuteronomy with us, starting January 9! Grab a copy of our study guide Make It Count: Move Past Your Past and Live With Purpose Today, A Study of the Book of Deuteronomy. Connect with Kaley on Instagram @kaleyolsn.  Click here to download the transcript.

Boundaries can feel like a touchy topic.How do we love others without losing the best of who we are? Lysa TerKeurst has wrestled with how to do boundaries well, and she understands the tension they cause in relationships. That's why she wrote her new book Good Boundaries and Goodbyes. This episode comes from a live Q&A with Lysa where she answered the six most-asked questions she gets about boundaries. Both practical and personal, Lysa addresses how to set boundaries when you struggle with people-pleasing; what to do when it feels unchristian or unforgiving to tell someone "no"; and how to process disappointment from other people, especially around the holidays. We can't wait for you to dive in with us!Related Resources:Is it unloving or selfish to set a boundary? Are boundaries even Christlike? Process questions like these alongside a community of women who also want to make progress with their relationships during the next Proverbs 31 Ministries Online Bible Study: Good Boundaries and Goodbyes by Lysa TerKeurst. During this study, Lysa will show you through a biblical lens how boundaries help you love others without losing the best of who you are. The study starts on January 23, so here are three steps you can take to join us:—Sign up for the FREE Online Bible Study here.—Get your copy of the book here. —Share this episode with a friend and invite her to join the study too!Click here to download the transcript.

Money can be an uncomfortable topic. But what if God has something better in store for the way you look at your finances?Financial coaches Bob and Linda Lotich understand the tension that comes with money and know what it's like to have a complicated relationship with it. On this episode, they teach us the three financial mistakes we are likely making and how to overcome them so we can experience God's best in our financial lives. With its biblical teaching and practical application, you won't want to miss this episode!Related Resources:  Make sure you grab a copy of Bob's book Simple Money, Rich Life! Stay connected with Bob and Linda on Instagram @seedtime.   For the moments you need wisdom to know what to do next but just aren't sure who to listen to, Proverbs 31 Ministries meets you with biblical Truth and encouragement. Will you help us continue to provide free biblical resources to you and other women like you by donating today? Give now!  Click here to read the transcript for this episode.

What do you do when the "Christian" solutions for anxiety seem to stop working?What happens when we try to put a Bible verse over what we are feeling but it doesn't change how we actually feel? Taylor Joy Murray — author, COMPEL Writers Training member and our new friend — is all too familiar with these questions. On this episode, she shares her own struggles with anxiety and how God has met her in it. With practical ideas for how to navigate those feelings, this episode is great to send to a friend who needs encouragement.Related Resources: Pursue your writing dreams like Taylor did by joining COMPEL Writers Training!  Get Taylor’s new book, Stop Saying I’m Fine: Finding Stillness When Anxiety Screams.  Click here to read the transcript for this episode.

Have you heard about our new series on Therapy & Theology? "Let's Stop Avoiding This Conversation: 6 Topics Women Have Big Questions About" is here! Join Lysa TerKeurst; her licensed professional counselor, Jim Cress; and Proverbs 31 Ministries' Director of Theological Research, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, for a conversation about therapy and theology and why it doesn't help anyone when a woman is not walking in her God-given identity. This is the first episode of a series. For the next five episodes, subscribe to the Therapy & Theology show!Related Resources:  Want more wisdom as you navigate hard relationship dynamics? Find practical next steps, powerful scriptures and timely guidance on how to set realistic, healthy boundaries in Lysa TerKeurst's new book, Good Boundaries and Goodbyes. In the pages of this book, Lysa's personal counselor, Jim Cress, also provides therapeutic insight surrounding the topic of boundaries, helping you confidently apply what you read. Order here. Ready to take a personal next step in finding a Christian counselor? The American Association of Christian Counselors is a great place to find the right fit for you and your circumstances. Want to dig deeper? Dr. Joel Muddamalle put together additional biblical context for this episode. Click here to download now. Click here to read the transcript for this episode.

What is Advent?Depending on your church background, you might participate in Advent every year or you might stay away from it because it seems like a mysterious, age-old tradition that’s reserved for only certain denominations. You might even associate Advent with a candy calendar you see displayed in stores close to the holiday season.In this episode, Proverbs 31 Ministries' Director of Theological Research, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, will teach us about Advent and how it can help us refocus our minds on adoration for Jesus instead of rushing through the holiday season.Related Resources: Recognize the ways Jesus fulfilled God's promises in the Old Testament so you can remember how He will keep His promises to you today — grab your copy of our Advent study guide: Pointing to the Promise. Connect with Joel on Instagram @muddamalle.  It's that time of year again ... Our Christmas Collection is here! Whatever the people you love are facing, we hope these gifts will remind them of Truth that only comes from God's Word. Our Christmas Collection has something for everyone on your list. Click here to shop now! Click here to read the transcript for this episode.

What comes to your mind when you think about the Holy Spirit?Depending on your background, maybe the Holy Spirit feels ambiguous or confusing. Or maybe you feel uncertain about this third Person of the Trinity. On this episode, our friend Max Lucado, bestselling author, teaches us about the role of the Holy Spirit. Learn about the purpose and power of the Holy Spirit and what that means practically for the struggles you are facing today.Related Resources: Your life is crazy, but your Bible study doesn't have to be. Online Bible Studies is a place where you can dive deep into books by your favorite Christian authors alongside a community of women from right where you are. Check out our latest Online Bible Study now! Has The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast helped you grow in your faith or gain fresh, biblical perspective? Tell us about it by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. When you review and rate the podcast, it helps us reach even more people with biblical Truth. Click here to read the transcript for this episode.

Do you think of yourself as a creative?Often we are quick to dismiss ourselves as creatives — giving that description to people who write, paint or sing. But what if creativity is different than you think it is?In this episode, our new friend and author Rachel Marie Kang teaches us what creativity is, why it matters to us and how we can can be stewards of the gifts God has uniquely given us. Discover the ways your Creator has made you to be like Him so you can see how to make things in this world better.Related Resources: Rachel's book, Let There Be Art: The Pleasure and Purpose of Releasing the Creativity within You, is now available! Click here to order now. Subscribe to our devotions and get weekday encouragement from writers like Rachel sent straight to your inbox for FREE! Subscribe to the Podcast Insider newsletter and get updates on what’s coming soon on both this podcast and the Therapy & Theology podcast. Each newsletter includes a thought to consider from an episode you heard that month and links to our favorite resources and products that Proverbs 31 has to offer! Click here to read the transcript for this episode.

Boundaries should help us avoid extremes and live closer to the kind of love God intended for relationships.After struggling with boundaries for years, Lysa TerKeurst wondered if they really worked or were even biblical. But what she discovered after countless hours of in-depth counseling and theological research is that healthy boundaries aren’t just a good idea — they’re God’s idea. In her new book, Good Boundaries and Goodbyes, she shows us what good boundaries are supposed to look like, how to place them on ourselves instead of trying to change other people, and how to find healthier ways to have hard conversations around needed boundaries.This episode is taken from the introduction of Lysa's newest book: Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others Without Losing the Best of You Are.Related Resources:- What if all the emotional energy spent on saying "yes" to everyone else, walking on eggshells around people we love and trying to manage delicate relational dynamics is bankrupting us of our capacity for living in obedience to who God has asked us to be? If you're ready to gain the biblical wisdom and confidence to finally set boundaries you can keep, let Lysa TerKeurst’s book, Good Boundaries and Goodbyes, be your new go-to guide. Order today!- If you liked this episode, check out the new Therapy & Theology podcast with Lysa TerKeurst. Lysa has teamed up with her personal, licensed professional counselor, Jim Cress, and the Director of Theological Research at Proverbs 31 Ministries, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, to bring you a podcast to help you work through what you've walked through. Start listening today!Click here to read the transcript for this episode.

Prayer is the place we can entrust our deepest needs and hurts, fears and anxieties, longings and disappointments, and most especially our questions, to God.But sometimes it's hard to know where to start. On this episode, Bible teacher Wendy Blight teaches us what prayer is and how to practice it. Learn how prayer allows us to know God and love Him more. Our friend Wendy even walks us through how to hear God through prayer and shares practical tips for cultivating a deeper prayer life today. You won't want to miss this episode. Make sure to share it with a friend!Related Resources Purchase our devotional, Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart: Prayers and Devotions for Sleeping Well in a World Full of Worry, from our Proverbs 31 bookstore. Our staff loves the opportunity to pray for you. Head over to our Prayer Wall and let us know how we can be praying for you in this season. Click here to read the transcript for this episode.

What would change about your life if you knew your purpose?Often, we don't live the way we were made to live. But God created us with a purpose. When we know what God, our Creator, made us for, we can experience a fuller, more purposeful life. On this episode of the podcast, our new friend Lauren McAfee, ministry coordinator at Hobby Lobby, will help you understand your God-given identity and how it affects your relationships so you can live in the power of your purpose today.Related Resources: Connect with Lauren at her website at https://www.laurenamcafee.com/ or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/laurenamcafee/. Trade the lies whispered by the enemy for the truth of what God’s Word says about you — download our free resource "Truths for When You Question Who You Are.”  Click here to read the transcript for this episode. 

Is it unloving, selfish or unchristian to draw boundaries? Sometimes the whole process can feel unkind or even like we’re violating Bible verses on how to treat others. But what if we’ve simply misunderstood God’s original intent in giving us this relational gift?Lysa TerKeurst has wrestled with these hesitations. But she’s uncovered common misconceptions about boundaries and learned that boundaries are one of the most powerful, God-honoring tools we can use to protect our relationships.In this teaching, Lysa walks through the first mention of boundaries in the Bible, three crucial words we need to embrace in order to understand God’s intent for boundaries and more. Grab a pen and paper — you’ll want to take notes on this one!Related Resources:- What if all the emotional energy spent on saying "yes" to everyone else, walking on eggshells around people we love and trying to manage delicate relational dynamics is bankrupting us of our capacity for living in obedience to who God has asked us to be? If you're ready to gain the biblical wisdom and confidence to finally set boundaries you can keep, let Lysa TerKeurst’s book, Good Boundaries and Goodbyes, be your new go-to guide. Order today!- If you liked this episode, check out the new Therapy & Theology podcast with Lysa TerKeurst. Lysa has teamed up with her personal, licensed professional counselor, Jim Cress, and the Director of Theological Research at Proverbs 31 Ministries, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, to bring you a podcast to help you work through what you've walked through. Start listening today!Click here to read the transcript for this episode. 

After the last few years, we are looking for relief.But in the rush to get our lives back to what they used to be, we are settling for temporary relief instead of lasting restoration. What if there's a better way to live? A way that doesn't just squeeze God into our busy lives ... a way where we can find the true rest we need. On this episode, author John Eldredge walks us through practical ways we can be intentional to cultivate a life with God so we can be resilient to whatever comes our way.Related Resources:- Your life is crazy, but your Bible study doesn't have to be. Online Bible Studies is a place where you can dive deep into books by your favorite Christian authors alongside a community of women from right where you are. Check out our latest Online Bible Study now!- Grab a copy of Get Your Life Back by John Eldredge.- Check out John's book, Resilient: Restoring Your Weary Soul in These Turbulent Times.- We want to connect with our podcast listeners each month! Sign up to be a Podcast Insider, and each month you'll receive bonus content, journal prompts and more.- Click here to view the transcript for this episode. 

When we walk through seasons of waiting or uncertainty, it's tempting to look at the past through rose-colored glasses. We choose to only remember the good parts and forget the bad.But when we do that, it robs us of the opportunity to see how God is providing for us in the present, even if it's not predictable or what we'd prefer. On today's podcast, our friend and Director of Marketing at Proverbs 31, Madi Vincent, uses the Book of Numbers to show us what to do when we are wrestling in the waiting. Related Resources: Download our free First 5 mobile app and spend the first moments of your day with God before the hustle of your to-do list begins. We also have study guides to help you dig a little deeper into God's Word. Connect with Madi on Instagram here! Click here to view the transcript.

Our desire to please God can so easily turn into us trying to perform.But how do we know when we've slipped into striving? On this episode of the podcast, our new friend and author, Kaitlin Garrison, teaches us the difference between the true gospel of grace and the false gospel of grit. Overcome the cycle of shame from not being good enough by discovering the sweet relief that comes from our righteousness being found in Christ alone.Related Resources:- Order Kaitlin's book, Sweet Relief: How the Gospel Frees Us from a Life of Striving, today!- Connect with Kaitlin on Instagram @kaitlinngarrison- We created COMPEL Writers Training just for YOU! Stay accountable to practice your writing skills, and know you are not alone through our online community. Click here to join today!Click here to view the transcript.

It's easy to seek certainty when life feels unpredictable and out of control. But what if uncertainty leads us closer to God?  On today's episode, our dear friend, Proverbs 31 writer and author, Amy Carroll challenges us to embrace uncertainty because we learn how to better trust and seek God. Through her "clarity principle," she walks us through a three-step Bible study technique when we're seeking answers in the middle of uncertain seasons. This principle is one you'll want to save for later, so grab a pen and paper to take notes! Related Resources:- Subscribe to receive free Encouragement for Today weekday devotions in your inbox. - Make sure you get a copy of Amy's Bible study, Esther: Seeing Our Invisible God in an Uncertain World, co-author Lynn Cowell. - Connect with Amy on Instagram @amydohmcarrollClick here to download the transcript for this episode.

Let's admit it, most of us are pretty easily distracted. If we're breathing, there are thousands of things a day vying for our attention daily.  But how do we do this? Today on the podcast our friend and author, Bob Goff walks through how to live more intentional lives. When we stop focusing on what everyone else is doing, we can stop being distracted from what God is doing. With scriptural insight and practical advice, together we'll learn to orient our lives and hold on to hope when everything feels overwhelming.Related Resources: Start living a less-distracted, more joy-filled and love-oriented life with Bob's study, Undistracted Study Guide plus Streaming Video: Capture Your Purpose. Rediscover Your Joy Connect with Bob on his website bobgoff.com. Has the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast helped you grow in your faith or gain fresh biblical perspective? Tell us about it by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. When you review and rate the podcast, it helps us reach even more people with biblical Truth. Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

When life feels overwhelming or anxiety creeps in, our first response isn't always to turn to God's Word.  But Scripture has the Truth for whatever we are facing. On today's episode, author and singer-songwriter Ellie Holcomb shares the life-changing power of memorizing Scripture and how it inspires all her music. God's Word is living and active; something we can treasure. Learn easy steps to start memorizing Scripture, and how it helps discern the difference between lies and the Truth. Plus, it wouldn't be an episode with Ellie if she didn't sing and pray over us too. So grab your headphones or play in the car and join us!Related Resources:Your life is crazy, but your Bible study doesn't have to be. Online Bible Studies is a place where you can dive deep into books by your favorite Christian authors alongside a community of women from right where you are. Check out our latest Online Bible Study now!  Follow Ellie on Instagram @ellieholcomb and find her music on Apple music and Spotify.Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Have you ever struggled with a love-hate relationship with your body?  As women, the world has a lot to say about our bodies. But there's a big difference between having a Kingdom perspective of ourselves rather than a worldly one. And we need to be able to recognize what the enemy says v. what God says. Author, speaker and coach Jess Connolly joins us on the podcast today and shares her personal journey to breaking free from the body shame. Friend, your value is not wrapped up in the world's definition of beauty, but in who you are in Christ. It's time to break free. Listen in!Related Resources: Make sure you grab a copy of Jess' book, Breaking Free from Body Shame and rename what the world has labeled as less-than. Want to go deeper? Get the Bible study that goes along with Breaking Free from Body Shame ,and become a change agent in partnering with God to bring revival to a generation of women. At Proverbs 31 Ministries, we offer professional and biblical training by industry experts for women who are called to write, speak and lead, through our She Speaks Conference and COMPEL Writers Training membership site. Click the links to learn more! Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Does grace feel confusing sometimes?  Maybe it's a word you hear thrown around so often that it can lose its meaning. Or perhaps you struggle to understand what it means for you. Get ready to learn from our new friend Melissa Kruger, an author and the Director of Women's Initiatives for The Gospel Coalition. She will walk us through what grace is, and why it's the best news we could receive for whatever we are facing today. She also shows us how we can explain the goodness of grace to the kids in our lives.Related Resources: Make sure you get a copy of Melissa’s book, His Grace is Enough: How God Makes it Right When We’ve Got it Wrong to help you walk your kids through understanding grace. Connect with Melissa on Instagram at @melissabryankruger Join our “Proverbs 31 Mamas” Facebook group for a place to connect and find encouragement with other moms like you. If you are interested in learning more about a relationship with Jesus, click here. Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Contentment can feel impossible to achieve, especially in a season of singleness.  But if we dig into what the Bible actually says about contentment, we may find a different definition than we thought. On this episode, our friend Kendra LaGrand joins us for a conversation about finding contentment in singleness. We will discuss the feelings and struggles of being single, confusing messages from the church about singleness, practical ways to find purpose in singleness and what the Bible says about being content in any season. Including a helpful list of things to say and not to say to your single friends, there is something in this episode for everyone, no matter what your relationship status is.Related Resources:If you haven't participated in one of our FREE Online Bible Studies, now is the time! Each study ranges from 4-6 weeks, with varying topics, but there are plenty of options to stay connected and feel like you’re part of a movement of women journeying through the same book or Bible Study together. Learn more at proverbs31.org/study. Our Mother's Day collection is here! Shop our intentional, curated collection for the woman you’re celebrating this year. Maybe this year the thing she needs most is a kind note and a book or a meaningful reminder to display around the house … we’ve got you covered! Check out our Mother’s Day collection at p31bookstore.comClick here to download the transcript for this episode.

What if the most crucial step we've been missing in preparing for a difficult conversation is first understanding how to best relate to the other person?  Our friend and leadership coach, Lisa Allen is back to help us understand the four conflict personality styles so we can be more self-aware and more understanding of the other person. Using Scripture as our guide, she will teach us why healthy conflict is important and how to do it better. Learn to meet the needs of the person you are talking to, without denying your own needs the next time you enter a tough conversation.Related Resources:Connect with Lisa Allen on her website at ljallencoaching.com. You can download her free resource, "Check Your Capacity" today! We created "A Guide to Tough Conversations" to give you some practical and biblical steps to having challenging conversations with the people you love. Click here to download for free today! At Proverbs 31 Ministries, we offer professional and biblical training by industry experts for women who are called to write, speak and lead, through our She Speaks Conference and COMPEL Writers Training membership site. Click the links to learn more!Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Motherhood and loss are two things that should not go together.  Yet most of us either have experienced or know someone who has experienced infertility, a miscarriage, infant loss, or postpartum anxiety and depression.  Walking through loss can leave a mother, or hopeful mother-to-be, feeling like she's alone in her struggles. So over the next three weeks, we will be joined by Proverbs 31’s biblical content specialist — author Wendy Blight — and Rachael Elmore, who is a licensed, professional counselor, to address the realities no one talks about related to motherhood and loss. Our deepest desire is that, through the content in these three episodes, you leave encouraged and more rooted in what Scripture says about the specific trials you, or those you love, are walking through.Click here to download the transcript for this episode.Related Resources: -We know this topic is difficult to process in a short podcast episode. That's why we put together a free resource, "What Nobody Talks About: When the Journey of Motherhood Involves Disappointment, Suffering & Loss," to help you further unpack what you heard today. -If you have a friend who is in the middle of processing unmet expectations or other painful situations, we recommend Lysa TerKeurst's book It's Not Supposed to Be This Way. -Follow Wendy Blight @wblight and Rachael Elmore @rachaelhuntelmore on Instagram for more biblical encouragement and resources. -If you are looking for a licensed Christian counselor near you, visit aacc.net A note from Proverbs 31 Ministries: Some content in this episode is not appropriate for children and may serve as a trigger due to circumstances in your past. Please use discretion before listening.

Motherhood and loss are two things that should not go together.  Yet most of us either have experienced or know someone who has experienced infertility, a miscarriage, infant loss, or postpartum anxiety and depression.  Walking through loss can leave a mother, or hopeful mother-to-be, feeling like she's alone in her struggles. So over the next three weeks, we will be joined by Proverbs 31’s biblical content specialist — author Wendy Blight — and Rachael Elmore, who is a licensed, professional counselor, to address the realities no one talks about related to motherhood and loss. Our deepest desire is that, through the content in these three episodes, you leave encouraged and more rooted in what Scripture says about the specific trials you, or those you love, are walking through.Related Resources: -We know this topic is difficult to process in a short podcast episode. That's why we put together a free resource, "What Nobody Talks About: When the Journey of Motherhood Involves Disappointment, Suffering & Loss," to help you further unpack what you heard today. -If you have a friend who is in the middle of processing unmet expectations or other painful situations, we recommend Lysa TerKeurst's book It's Not Supposed to Be This Way. -Follow Wendy Blight @wblight and Rachael Elmore @rachaelhuntelmore on Instagram for more biblical encouragement and resources. -If you are looking for a licensed Christian counselor near you, visit aacc.netClick here to download the transcript for this episode. A note from Proverbs 31 Ministries: Some content in this episode is not appropriate for children and may serve as a trigger due to circumstances in your past. Please use discretion before listening.

Motherhood and loss are two things that should not go together.  Yet most of us either have experienced or know someone who has experienced infertility, a miscarriage, infant loss, or postpartum anxiety and depression.  Walking through loss can leave a mother, or hopeful mother-to-be, feeling like she's alone in her struggles. So over the next three weeks, we will be joined by Proverbs 31’s biblical content specialist — author Wendy Blight — and Rachael Elmore, who is a licensed, professional counselor, to address the realities no one talks about related to motherhood and loss. Our deepest desire is that, through the content in these three episodes, you leave encouraged and more rooted in what Scripture says about the specific trials you, or those you love, are walking through.Related Resources: -We know this topic is difficult to process in a short podcast episode. That's why we put together a free resource, "What Nobody Talks About: When the Journey of Motherhood Involves Disappointment, Suffering & Loss," to help you further unpack what you heard today. -If you have a friend who is in the middle of processing unmet expectations or other painful situations, we recommend Lysa TerKeurst's book It's Not Supposed to Be This Way. -Follow Wendy Blight @wblight and Rachael Elmore @rachaelhuntelmore on Instagram for more biblical encouragement and resources. -If you are looking for a licensed Christian counselor near you, visit aacc.net A note from Proverbs 31 Ministries: Some content in this episode is not appropriate for children and may serve as a trigger due to circumstances in your past. Please use discretion before listening.Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Are there books of the Bible you hesitate to dive into?  Sometimes they can seem boring, heavy or just plain confusing. We understand, and that's why we invited, our friend and First 5 writer Kayla Ferris to the podcast! On this episode, Kayla walks us through 8 things you might be surprised to learn from the book of Leviticus. Through this book of laws, we get to see the goodness of the Lawgiver and why God's holiness is good news for us. Understand the cultural context of why some of these laws still apply to us, and why some do not. Tackle the hard and holy things God's Word offers us for a more abundant life today.Related Resources:Download our free First 5 mobile app and spend the first moments of your day with God before the hustle of your to-do list begins. We also have study guides to help you dig a little deeper into God's Word.Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

If your schedule feels full and your soul feels weary, our friend Shae Tate has a word for you today.  Using Psalm 103:1-5 as our guide, Shae shows us the power that comes from remembering the Truth of God's word so we can live that Truth and pass it along to those around us in need. Together we can leave this episode saying, "God has not forgotten me, so I will not forget His promises to me." Get out your journal, friends, because you'll want to keep your notes from this one. Related Resources: Has the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast helped you grow in your faith or gain fresh, biblical perspective? Tell us about it by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. When you review and rate the podcast, it helps us reach even more people with biblical Truth. Our staff loves the opportunity to pray for you. Head over to our Prayer Wall and let us know how we can be praying for you in this season. Check out our FREE resource library! We've got tons of topical and study resources you can download to use for whatever you're going through right now.Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

We've got some good news for you: It's not your job to make everyone happy!  Have you ever said "yes" when you knew you should have said "no"? Maybe you've gotten caught in the trap of people-pleasing. When we find ourselves feeling afraid to disappoint or upset the people we love, it's time to look at what's driving those fears. In this practical and honest episode, author and speaker Karen Ehman will show us what the Bible says about people-pleasing. Addressing different seasons and relationships, Karen will help us bust out of the prison of trying to make everyone happy and put our priorities in the right place.Related Resources: Get a copy of Karen’s book, When Making Others Happy Is Making You Miserable: How to Break the Pattern of People Pleasing and Confidently Live Your Life today! Connect with Karen on Instagram at @karenehman or on her website at karenehman.com  Are you looking for a woman who knows how to teach the Bible? Someone dynamic — who can encourage, uplift and inspire audiences both big and small? Check our our Proverbs 31 Speaker Team to find the perfect speaker for your event! Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

The excitement of a new year means new goals to look forward to tackling ... but why is it so easy to find ourselves in the same old cycle of restarting after just a few weeks?    Maybe there's a way to break the cycle. What if it's not about finding a new "how to" method, but it's about finding a new "want to" motivation? In this chapter of her book I'll Start Again Monday, Lysa TerKeurst shares the one choice she made that changed her heart and attitude about being healthy. Learn to break the cycle of unhealthy eating habits with lasting spiritual satisfaction.Related Resources: Purchase Lysa TerKeurst’s book, I’ll Start Again Monday, based on her bestselling book Made to Crave. Lysa offers a new perspective to all those stuck in the cycle of losing weight but then gaining it back, equipping readers with the deeper spiritual and emotional motivation they need to make lasting changes. Aren't sure how to make the most of your time with God? God is inviting you into deeper connection with Him through His Word. Start developing the habit of spending time in Scripture with our FREE guide: The 21-Day Invitation: Steps to Reconnect with God. Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Sometimes God's protection comes in packages that don't feel like protection.  The Bible says Jesus has overcome the world. But what about when it doesn't feel like it right now, in this situation? On this episode of the podcast, Lysa TerKeurst and Dr. Joel Muddamalle will walk through places in Scripture that show us the unlikely places where Jesus' protection is actually present. We'll learn that just because we can't see what God is doing, does not mean He is not working. Just because we feel afraid, does not mean we have to live afraid. We just have to train our eyes and ears to where Jesus is present in our lives today so we can find comfort in Him no matter the circumstances.Related Resources:Your life is crazy, but your Bible study doesn't have to be. Online Bible Studies is a place where you can dive deep into books by your favorite Christian authors alongside a community of women from right where you are. Check out our latest Online Bible Study now!Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

When we really love our people, we go above and beyond to show them we care. But sometimes, loving and serving others isn't easy, especially when it seems like we are the one putting the majority of the effort into the relationship.  But ... are we really understanding or appreciating the way others might be loving or serving us back, in their own unique way? Today on the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, our friend Amanda Bacon shares the three problems we face when our expectations aren't met, and how to love and live freely out of an overflow of Christ's sacrificial love for us.Related Resources:Your life is crazy, but your Bible study doesn't have to be. Online Bible Studies is a place where you can dive deep into books by your favorite Christian authors alongside a community of women from right where you are. Check out our latest Online Bible Study now! Connect with Amanda on Instagram @amanda_bacon_ and subscribe to her At Night podcast to keep learning from her. Dig deeper into this topic by listening to this episode of the podcast with Lysa TerKeurst,  What the Humanity of Jesus Means for Us. Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Disclaimer: We want to be mindful of all listeners when we discuss a topic that may be triggering to some, or not age appropriate for children. In this episode, we will be talking about the realities of addiction. Please see our related resources below for additional tools on this topic.  What does it mean to live full and walk free in a world where temptations are on every corner? So often our humanity gets in the way of who we are in Christ, and leads us down paths we don't want to be on.  On this episode of the podcast, Cindy Bultema shares her personal testimony of recovering from addiction and how to live fully and walk freely in Christ. In this honest conversation, we process how to avoid the triggers of temptation, how to get to the root of what causes us to be tempted, and ultimately the freedom we have in Christ to renew our hearts and minds each day. Cindy shares that what we believe about God, and therefore ourselves, matters, and starting with that foundational belief is the key to a full, free life in Christ.Related Resources: If you or someone you love is looking for a Christian counselor, the American Association of Christian Counselors is a great resource for finding one that's right for you. Connect with Cindy at https://www.cindybultema.com/gems/ or on Instagram at @cindybultema. Get Cindy’s book, Live Full Walk Free, to explore Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians and see how believers today can navigate their way in a wayward and confused culture. Subscribe to receive free Encouragement for Today weekday devotions in your inbox. Download the "Temptation Victory Plan" on Cindy's website, cindybultema.com. Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Deep down, do we really believe that God is worthy of our trust?  We learn of God's holiness in the Bible and sing about it in songs and hymns, but have we let that knowledge inform our faith? On this episode of the podcast, author, teacher and speaker Jackie Hill Perry will teach us what holiness is, what it isn't and why it's the foundation for our trust in God.Related Resources: Make sure you order a copy of Jackie's new book: Holier Than Thou: How God’s Holiness Helps Us Trust Him. In these pages, we will see that God is not like us. He is different. He is holy. And that’s exactly what makes Him trustworthy. As it turns out, God being “holier than thou” is actually the best news in the world, and it’s the key to trusting Him. Your life is crazy, but your Bible study doesn't have to be. Online Bible Studies is a place where you can dive deep into books by your favorite Christian authors alongside a community of women from right where you are. Check out our latest Online Bible Study now!Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Do you doubt if you can really handle it all?  The headlines are disheartening; routines we just set seem like they'll be disrupted (again) at any moment and life seems so very unpredictable.  When your world seems to be spinning out of control, fear will tell you it's easier to hide from it all rather than face it. On this episode of the podcast, our dear friend — pastor Max Lucado — walks us through the book of Esther to show us that despite how we feel, we were made for this moment. Made to parent our children, reach our communities and be a light in the midst of darkness. In the moments when we feel like it's all too much, Max reminds us to bend our knees in prayer, open our Bibles to fill our hearts with Truth and look up to remind ourselves God hasn't left us. Related Resources:If this podcast ministered to you today, would you leave us a review on Apple Podcasts? Reviews help us reach more people, which helps us accomplish our mission of eradicating biblical poverty! Make sure you order Max's newest book, You Were Made for This Moment: Courage for Today, Hope for Tomorrow, and discover your role in God’s story even during tough times.Did you know we have Facebook groups created just for you? Find community for your specific season of life. If you are a 20-something, wife or mama, click on the link to join.Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Chances are, your life hasn't turned out the way you thought it would. Maybe you've gone through seasons of brokenness that made you scratch your head and wonder, Why is this happening to me?  Lysa TerKeurst deeply understands how that feels. But in her study of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, she found a new way to look at brokenness: as something that makes us all more relatable, more trustworthy and ultimately more like Christ. What if being blessed actually looks more like being broken?  This is an episode you'll want to take notes on, so grab your pen and paper, and press "play."Related Resources:At Proverbs 31 Ministries, we offer professional and biblical training by industry experts for women who are called to write, speak and lead, through our She Speaks Conference and COMPEL Writers Training membership site. Click the links to learn more!Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

How do we anchor ourselves in Truth when we wake up to a world full of divided opinions each day? What voices do we listen to, and what resources do we trust?  On this episode of the podcast, our friend and First 5 writer Kayla Ferris walks us through three steps to navigating a world of divided opinions from the book of Colossians. Together we'll not only learn the practical ways to find the answers we're looking for, but we'll also dig deep into how to prioritize loving others well instead of focusing on our differences.Related Resources:Download our free First 5 mobile app and spend the first moments of your day with God before the hustle of your to-do list begins. We also have study guides to help you dig a little deeper into God's Word.Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

The pressure moms face today is paralyzing.   And often, it just feels like too much. We feel stuck between fear and worry, trying our best each day to make sure our kids turn out OK. But there's good news, friend: We can trade that overwhelming pressure for rest in God’s promises. On this episode, Jeannie Cunnion, author and mother of five, shows us how to rely on God’s sovereignty, understand our roles as moms and let go of the weight of all we are carrying.  Breathe deep, sweet friend. We're in this with you!Related Resources:Your life is crazy, but your Bible study doesn't have to be. Online Bible Studies is a place where you can dive deep into books by your favorite Christian authors alongside a community of women from right where you are. Check out our latest Online Bible Study now!Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Who were you before anyone told you who you were supposed to be?  On this episode of the podcast, author and speaker Jo Saxton will teach you how to exchange the labels you've been given and those you put on yourself with the labels God has given you. With guided questions to help you determine what false labels you have placed on yourself, you'll learn to walk forward into who God made you to be so you can pursue the dreams He has put inside of you.Related Resources:Your life is crazy, but your Bible study doesn't have to be. Online Bible Studies is a place where you can dive deep into books by your favorite Christian authors alongside a community of women from right where you are. Check out our latest Online Bible Study now!Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Are you ever flipping through your Bible and passing books in the Old Testament, wondering, “What is this book even about?” or “How is this Old Testament book relevant today?” or "Does it matter if I skip over it?"  We’ve been there, too, friend. On this episode of the podcast, our Director of Theological Research, Joel Muddamalle, is going to give insight into the book of Habakkuk, why it matters, what it tells us about Jesus, and how we are supposed to read and apply it to our lives today.Related Resources:Download our free First 5 mobile app and spend the first moments of your day with God before the hustle of your to-do list begins. We also have study guides to help you dig a little deeper into God's Word. Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Who actually wants to talk about death? We know it applies to everyone, but what if talking about it doesn't have to feel so dark and depressing? Join Lysa TerKeurst and Joel Muddamalle, our Director of Theological Research, as they give us an introduction to consider what the Bible says about death and dying. This episode of the podcast will help you navigate conversations, wrestle with your fears and process your hurts using hope-filled Truth from God’s Word.   Click the links below to access the resource we mention in this episode of the podcast: Consider This: A Scriptural Guide To Confront Your Fear of Death Connect with Joel: https://www.instagram.com/muddamalle/ Make sure to click on his “IG Theology” highlight for more on this topic. Connect with Lysa: https://www.instagram.com/lysaterkeurst/Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

As a parent, do you ever wonder what's going on in your child’s mind?  Maybe you’re worrying, or even grieving, over the thoughts your child seems to be struggling with? Maybe they're only little and they still have you wondering: How did you come up with that? Why would you think that? Or perhaps they’re tween-aged or teen-aged and they’ve really got you concerned.  Our friend and author Lisa Jacobson knows these feelings all too well, and today on the podcast, she's going to unpack how we can help our children with what and how they think, and lead them to the love and truth found in God’s Word. Whether you are a parent, longing to be one or are a mentor in someone’s life, this is a parenting trend that won’t go out of style. Related Resources: -Make sure to pick up a copy of Lisa and Matt Jacobson's books, 100 Words of Affirmation Your Son Needs to Hear and 100 Words of Affirmation Your Daughter Needs to Hear today! -Has the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast helped you grow in your faith or gain fresh, biblical perspective? Tell us about it by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. When you review and rate the podcast, it helps us reach even more people with biblical Truth. -Did you like this episode? We think you'll love this episode from our Therapy & Theology series with Lysa TerKeurst, Stop the Shame Scripts Holding You Back. Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Do your thoughts feel out of control?  Pastor Craig Groeschel personally understands the daily battle against self-doubt and negative thinking, and he wrote about it in his most recent book, titled Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life. In this episode, you'll hear a conversation with Lysa TerKeurst and Pastor Craig, and you'll learn practical ways to identify the thought patterns that lead to negative behaviors, and how to replace them with the Truth of God’s Word.Related Resources:Your life is crazy, but your Bible study doesn't have to be. Online Bible Studies is a place where you can dive deep into books by your favorite Christian authors alongside a community of women from right where you are. Check out our latest Online Bible Study now!Grab a copy of Craig Groeschel's book, Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life. Learn how to rewire your brain, renew your mind, reframe your vision, revive your soul and restore a healthy perspective.Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Our thoughts are affecting us more than we know.   What we think determines how we live. And we have a choice to renew our minds. While it may feel impossible to change the thoughts we have in our heads, there is a way. Join our friend Jennie Allen as she teaches us what it looks like to fight back the lies that live in our head. There are weapons God has given us to stop the spiral of toxic thinking. Grab a pen and paper because you’re going to want to take notes on this episode!Related Resources: Make sure to order a copy of Jennie's book, Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts!Discover how to submit your mind to Christ because how we think shapes how we live. Click here to order now! Your life is crazy, but your Bible study doesn't have to be. Online Bible Studies is a place where you can dive deep into books by your favorite Christian authors alongside a community of women from right where you are. Check out our latest Online Bible Study now!At Proverbs 31 Ministries, we offer professional and biblical training by industry experts for women who are called to write, speak and lead, through our She Speaks Conference and COMPEL Writers Training membership site. Click the links to learn more!Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

When we feel like our circumstances are just too much, it's easy to feel alone in our pain and believe God is distant. We wonder if He really understands the burdens we carry when we wake up to another day of uncertainty, hardship or pain. Friend, there's good news: Jesus does understand. On this episode of the podcast, we have a conversation with Lysa TerKeurst about the humanity of Jesus and what that means for us. Through the books of Mark and Hebrews, we discuss how Jesus handled hardships as a human, and how we can look to Him as a trustworthy example when we struggle, too.Related Resources:Download our free First 5 mobile app and spend the first moments of your day with God before the hustle of your to-do list begins. We also have study guides to help you dig a little deeper into God's Word.At Proverbs 31 Ministries, we offer professional and biblical training by industry experts for women who are called to write, speak and lead, through our She Speaks Conference and COMPEL Writers Training membership site. Click the links to learn more!Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

It's easy to see how quickly social media can go from a fun tool we use to connect with friends, to a comparison trap we fall into without even recognizing it. So what's the trigger that trips us up and makes us fall into the comparison trap? On this episode of the podcast, our friend Pastor Rob Singleton unpacks the key reason why we fall into the comparison trap: Our hearts are out of alignment. When we focus on what others think of us, or how we're measuring up to someone else's standard, we're not truly focusing on God.  Pastor Rob will share the signs and symptoms of a heart that's out of alignment, and what we can do to ensure we stay focused on Christ.Related Resources:Make sure you grab a copy of Rob Singleton's book, Overliked: Finding Direction, Courage, and Meaningful Relationships in a Society Crippled by Social Media.At Proverbs 31 Ministries, we offer professional and biblical training by industry experts for women who are called to write, speak and lead, through our She Speaks Conference and COMPEL Writers Training membership site. Click the links to learn more!Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Where do you seek love and approval? Is it based on what someone says (or doesn't say) to you? Your latest big win in your job, getting invited to that event, or if your kids are behaving well today?  When being loved or approved rises and falls based on others, it's easy to forget our true source of love and approval already comes from Jesus. Today our friend and author, Lynn Cowell, reminds us that Jesus pours His love out on us, and shares how we can live with love and approval from Christ, not for love and approval from others. Grab a pen and paper, you will want to take notes on this one!  P.S.: If you've got a young woman in your life who needs encouragement, we recommend listening to this episode with her!Related Resources:-Order a copy of Loved & Cherished by Lynn Cowell and Michelle Nietert! This devotional gives girls the words of truth they so desperately need to hear: they are loved, protected and valuable as children of God.  -If you want to process this teaching more, we've got two free resources just for you! "Chosen, Called & Confident: 5 Days of Believing God Can Use You" from Lysa TerKeurst and "Truths for When You Question Who You Are". -Subscribe to receive free Encouragement for Today devotions from writers like Anitha! Whether you’re looking for guidance in your faith, friendships, family, marriage, parenting, workplace or neighborhood, our writers combine God’s Truth with compassionate insight and practical application.Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Do you ever question if God is really faithful? Maybe you find yourself asking Him "why" ... because this plan doesn't seem like something a good God would allow to happen.   Today, our friend and author Nicki Koziarz shares three questions we can ask when faith feels impossible. These questions will help you understand where your doubts are coming from, process circumstances you don’t understand and understand what promises of God found in Scripture are really for you. With biblical insight and personal examples, Nicki will help you find the familiar faithfulness of God.Related Resources:-Grab your copy of Nicki's book, Flooded: The 5 Best Decisions to Make When Life Is Hard and Doubt Is Rising by visiting our bookstore today.-Your life is crazy, but your Bible study doesn't have to be. Online Bible Studies is a place where you can dive deep into books by your favorite Christian authors alongside a community of women from right where you are. Check out our latest Online Bible Study now! -Did this episode encourage you? We think you'll enjoy these episodes too: Consider This: Does Prayer Change God's Mind? 5 Truths About God's Love for Us 3 Things To Consider When You're In the MiddleClick here to download the transcript for today's episode.

Have life's circumstances landed you in a place where you just don't know how you're going to get through it all?  Maybe if you've been a Christian for years, you feel an added layer of shame and guilt because you know what God's Word says about getting through hard times. So, why can't you seem to press on? Wouldn't it be easier to give up?  Today our friend Wendy Blight shares her journey of getting through a difficult season in life. You’ll be equipped with the Scriptures and takeaways from the book of Exodus to use when you're facing something that makes you want to turn back, give up or walk away.Related Resources:- Download our free First 5 mobile app and spend the first moments of your day with God before the hustle of your to-do list begins. We also have study guides to help you dig a little deeper into God's Word. -Did you know we have Facebook groups created just for you? Find community for your specific season of life. If you are a 20-something, wife or mama, click here to find out more!Click here to download the transcript for today's episode.

Have you ever wished you could change the details of your story?  While there’s no denying: There are definitely painful parts of our story we’d love to edit out if we could. What if those same circumstances are the unlikely ingredients God is using to weave together a greater good we’d never want to miss out on? You see, with God, there’s always more than we currently see being worked out behind the scenes.  In this short Q&A with Shae Tate and Lysa TerKeurst, you will be equipped to: Uncover the secret to really seeing and experiencing God even in the pain you didn't cause, the change you didn't want, or the reality you didn't know was coming. Disempower the lie that how you feel about your life is the full story by remembering with God there's always something more true, lovely, and good right now. Show up for a friend who's walking through a heartbreaking season with practical and personal ideas and to love and care for her well.Related Resources- Join Lysa TerKeurst in the pages of her devotional, Seeing Beautiful Again! Through the 50 devotions, scriptures, prayer prompts, and notes from her own journal, Lysa will personally share how she survived her own season of heartbreak, while inviting you to hope again. Order today! - Easter is right around the corner, and our team at Proverbs 31 Ministries has pulled together some great resources to help you make this season even more meaningful. Check out the collection today. Click here to download the transcript for today's episode.

How are the thoughts you think impacting who you are?  Maybe you've built up a scenario in your mind that you were convinced was absolutely true. Or have you ever been nervous to have that honest conversation with a friend because you've convinced yourself that she will respond a certain way?  Or ... perhaps you're struggling to see God as faithful because it doesn't seem like He's being faithful to you right now.  If you've ever been there, we want you to know you're not alone! On this episode of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, you'll be encouraged by our friend, Encouragement for Today devotions writer Anitha Abraham. She'll share Scriptural truths and powerful insights about guarding our minds against negative thoughts that can easily take over.   Related Resources: - Has the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast helped you grow in your faith or gain fresh, biblical perspective? Tell us about it by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. When you review and rate the podcast, it helps us reach even more people with biblical Truth. - Are you desperate for a fresh experience with God and His Word, but don’t know where to begin? Download a free resource by Lysa TerKeurst called "3 Bible Study Basics You Must Know” and get started today. - Subscribe to receive free Encouragement for Today devotions from writers like Anitha! Whether you’re looking for guidance in your faith, friendships, family, marriage, parenting, workplace or neighborhood, our writers combine God’s Truth with compassionate insight and practical application. - Connect with Anitha on her website here.Click here to download the transcript for today's episode.

If the pandemic has proved anything to be true, it's this: No matter what season of life you're in, you've faced loneliness. This is true whether you're single or married, a parent or an empty-nester, a loner or someone who's the life of the party.  So, when those feelings of loneliness come knocking on our door, how do we wrestle with them in a healthy way?  On this episode of the podcast, you'll hear a teaching from our friend Annie F. Downs and discover what she's learned from dealing with her own loneliness. She'll share five practical things to do when we are lonely, and — of course — she'll show us the fun we can find in the midst of it. Related Resources: -Annie's book, That Sounds Fun: The Joys of Being an Amateur, the Power of Falling in Love, and Why You Need a Hobby, is now available! Order your copy today. - Want access to a bonus interview with Annie F. Downs? Become a Podcast Insider! It's free, and each month, you'll get exclusive journal prompts, insider updates, and more! Sign up here. -Sign up for our Encouragement for Today devotions for daily, biblical encouragement to help your filter your everyday life through the Truth of God’s Word.Click here to download the transcript for today's episode.

What does the book of Philippians have to do with our relationship issues today?  This week on the podcast, we'll hear from Joel Muddamalle, our director of theology and research at Proverbs 31 Ministries. He'll pull back the curtain on who the Philippians were, the four major relational issues the church faced back then, and how our citizenship in heaven should define the way we relate to others. Related Resources: - Download our free First 5 mobile app and spend the first moments of your day with God before the hustle of your to-do list begins. We also have study guides to help you dig a little deeper into God's Word. - Did you know we have free downloadable resources you can find on our website? Check out our guide called “Now What?” A Guide to Process & Apply Biblical Messages to use as you unpack what you're learning on your own, or download "15 Prayers For Your Son or Daughter" from Lysa TerKeurst.Click here to download the transcript for today's episode.

When life is uncertain and doubts are swirling around, we long for an answer or solution that brings peace and reassurance. As believers, we know we should look to God first, but our minds and hearts are easily swayed by looking to Google for answers instead.  Today, First 5 writer and Bible teacher Katy McCown joins us on the podcast to share what she's learned: Where she looks will either lead her to peace or to greater uncertainty. With practical suggestions, this episode will help you look for the answers by fixing your eyes on Jesus.Related Resources: -Discover how to find security in God’s plans and confidence in His control in Katy's Bible study, She Smiles Without Fear: Proverbs 31 for Every Woman. Order your copy today! -In a world where noise is loud, we need a place to quietly learn God’s Word so we can apply and share the Truth. Download our free First 5 app and start the first five minutes of your day with biblically based teachings that help you understand Scripture on your own! - Want to become a Podcast Insider? It's free, and each month you'll get insider updates on the podcast you can't get anywhere else. Sign up here for exclusive additional interviews, journal prompts, resources and more!Click here to download the transcript for today's episode.

Entering a fresh, new year after the one we just finished has left us feeling isolated, restless and bored. We're carrying over routines and patterns we adjusted to in 2020 that we thought were only temporary. And in the midst of all that changed, we might've lost a bit of who we are.   Friend, if this describes how you're feeling, you're not alone! Can we share something hopeful with you? God can restore and revive your heart, even when your circumstances don't change.  In this practical and helpful episode, Rebekah Lyons walks us through four rhythms to renew our minds: rest, restore, connect and create. These rhythms are meant to help us sustain emotional, relational and spiritual health and live in the abundance of life God has for us.Related Resources: - Connect with Rebekah at https://rebekahlyons.com. - Make sure you grab a copy of Rebekah's book, Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose, and the Rhythms for Life Planner and Journal: 90 Days to Peace and Purpose. - Are you looking for a new study at the start of the new year? Check out what we're studying now in our free First 5 App or sign up for our next free Online Bible Study! Click here to download the transcript for today's episode.

"Forgiveness is possible, but it won't always feel possible. It's a double-edged word, isn't it? It's hard to give. It's amazing to get. But when we receive freely from the Lord and refuse to give it, something heavy starts to form in our souls." - Lysa TerKeurst, Forgiving What You Can't Forget This month on the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, listen to Chapter One of Lysa TerKeurst's new book, Forgiving What You Can't Forget. Related Resources:    - Sign up to be a Podcast Insider! Our free, monthly Insider email includes a bonus video from our hosts, journal prompts to dig deeper, a sneak peek at what's coming up, and more!- Your life is crazy, but your Bible study doesn't have to be. Online Bible Studies is a place where you can dive deep into books by your favorite Christian authors alongside a community of women from right where you are. Check out our latest Online Bible Study now!- At Proverbs 31 Ministries, we offer professional and biblical training by industry experts for women who are called to write, speak and lead, through our She Speaks Conference and COMPEL Writers Training membership site. Click the links to learn more! Click here to download the transcript for today's episode.

What's your role when your friend is going through a hard season? When she gets the cancer diagnosis, suffers a miscarriage or loses a family member?   On this episode of the podcast, Marissa Henley shares how her friends loved her well while she was battling cancer. She breaks down the different levels of friendship, helps you identify your role based on your level of friendship, and gives practical tips on how to practically — and appropriately — love your friend through suffering. Related Resources: - Get access to an exclusive conversation with Marissa and the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast co-hosts by becoming a Podcast Insider! It's free, and each month you'll get insider updates on the podcast you can't get anywhere else. Sign up here. - If you have a friend or loved one walking through a cancer diagnosis, grab a copy of Marissa's book, Loving Your Friend Through Cancer. - Maybe you're the one walking through a season of your world being turned upside down. In Lysa TerKeurst's book, It's Not Supposed to Be This Way, you'll find a safe space to wrestle through what you can't make sense of. Click here to download the transcript for today's episode. 

Do you struggle to find a reason to worship these days? We get it ... this year has been tough. So how do we worship when there's so much to be worried about?  Today on the show, our friend Lara Casey from Cultivate What Matters shows us how writing out Scripture is a pathway to praise. When we write the Word, we retain the Word. And being able to recall the Truths in God's Word and rejoice in who He is in the middle of any circumstance is what worship is all about. We hope this episode leaves you equipped and encouraged to cultivate a life of worship, starting with a simple habit.Related Resources:- Your life is crazy, but your Bible study doesn't have to be. Online Bible Studies is a place where you can dive deep into books by your favorite Christian authors alongside a community of women from right where you are. Check out our latest Online Bible Study now!- We want to connect with our podcast listeners each month! Sign up to be a Podcast Insider, and each month you'll receive bonus content, journal prompts and more.- Connect with Lara on her website at laracasey.com.Click here to download the transcript for today's episode.

Complaining and contentment are both contagious.   And these days, it's easy to get caught up in complaining. But how do we choose contentment over complaining? On this episode of the podcast, Melissa Spoelstra walks us through the book of Numbers, where we see the Israelites wrestle with this same problem. She'll show us the secret to contentment in the Word of God, and how it renews our mind and transforms us from the inside out. Related Resources: More than ever, we need a place to quietly learn God’s Word so we can apply and share the Truth. Download our FREE First 5 app and start the first five minutes of your day with biblically based teachings that help you understand Scripture on your own! Join Melissa Spoelstra for a week of intentional contentment with her FREE 7-Day Contentment Project. If our podcast has made a difference in your life, would you consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts.Click here to download the transcript for today's episode.

A note from Proverbs 31 Ministries: Some content in this episode is not appropriate for children, and may serve as a trigger due to circumstances in your past. Please use discretion before listening.  When the unimaginable happens ... the deep heartache, the parenting hardship, the bills that keep coming and your finances aren't enough ... where is Jesus?  On this episode of the podcast, Max Lucado gives us proof that Jesus never leaves us and is more present than ever in the stormiest seasons of our lives. As we look at the miracles of Christ as recorded in the Gospel of John, Max reminds us God is nearer than we know.Related Resources:At Proverbs 31 Ministries, we offer professional and biblical training by industry experts for women who are called to write, speak and lead, through our She Speaks Conference and COMPEL Writers Training membership site. Click the links to learn more! Max Lucado's book, You Are Never Alone: Trust in the Miracle of God's Presence and Power, is available! Order your copy today and recognize that you are never without hope or strength because you are never, ever alone.Click here to download the transcript for today's episode.

When we wake up, we're most likely not going to say, "I'd like to be uncomfortable today." We crave comfort, but growth will never come from it.  What if instead of looking at discomfort as an inconvenience, we chose a new perspective: a mindset that God will use discomfort to shape us and make us more like Him? On this episode of the podcast, our friend Alexandra Hoover shares why God allows discomfort. You'll learn that by remembering who God is, we can see our discomfort as something to lean into instead of run away from. Related Resources:Sign up for our Encouragement for Today devotions for daily, biblical encouragement to help your filter your everyday life through the Truth of God’s Word.Check out our FREE resource library! We've got tons of topical study resources you can download to use for whatever you're going through right now.Connect with Alex on Instagram at @alexandravhoover, or on her website here.  Click here to download the transcript for today's episode.

Do you ever find yourself replaying and reliving the details of the deep hurt in your life?  Whether you’ve experienced pain through an event or a collection of hurt that built over time because someone wasn’t who they were supposed to be, didn’t do what they were supposed to do, or didn’t protect you like they should have protected you, your heartbreak deserves a safe place to be processed. In this episode, Lysa TerKeurst unpacks three crucial perspective shifts that will empower you to start changing the way you see the most painful parts of your situation.Related Resources:If you enjoyed this episode, take it a step further with "5 Healing Perspectives for your Hurt or Heartbreak," a free resource from Lysa TerKeurst. This resource will help you stop feeling held captive by the hurt by using specific scriptures and reflective questions to help you move forward today. You can click here to get your free download!When pain feels deeply personal, do you find it hard to keep your reactions biblical? You aren’t alone. Walk through a step-by-step process to free yourself from the hurt of your past and feel less offended today with the help of Lysa TerKeurst’s book, Forgiving What You Can’t Forget. Order your copy here, and start reading the first three chapters immediately! Click here to order. Click here to download the transcript for this episode. 

When life's seasons change or we are walking through a time of transition, it's easy for our relationship with God to feel dry — or maybe just plain hard. But what if our time with God actually has less to do with quieting everything around us, and instead has everything to do with making an appointment to quiet things within us? On this episode of the podcast, Shae Tate, special projects content manager for Lysa TerKeurst, walks through scriptures throughout the Bible that show us what pursuing God looks like in different seasons. We hope this episode gives you a new perspective to help you walk through that dry place and meet with the Lord in a fresh, new way.Related Resources:Let's face it: This year has felt a little out of control. It seems impossible to keep anxiety, worry and stress from taking up permanent residence. Now more than ever, we need reminders that God really is in control. Worry might have defined much of your 2020, but let worship define the rest of your year. Written by members of our COMPEL Training, 40 Reminders God is in Control: Devotions to Redirect Your Worry into Worship is FREE with a gift of your choice! Click here to learn more. When pain feels deeply personal, do you find it hard to keep your reactions biblical? You aren’t alone. Walk through a step-by-step process to free yourself from the hurt of your past and feel less offended today with the help of Lysa TerKeurst’s book, Forgiving What You Can’t Forget. Order your copy here, and start reading the first three chapters immediately! Click here to order.When we hear or read a teaching or sermon that challenges us, it's natural to ask, "Now what?" What do we do with the information we’re given? How should this affect us? How should it change or transform us? That’s why we created “Now What? A Guide to Process & Apply Biblical Messages" to help you take action with the next practical step to be able to apply that message. Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Question to consider: Do I have to honor my parents when it seems impossible? One of the Ten Commandments is “honor your father and mother” (Exodus 20:12). But sometimes, obeying that commandment feels exhausting and impossible. During this episode of the podcast, we learn from Lysa TerKeurst and Joel Muddamalle about the difference between obeying and honoring your parents. We’ll tackle expectations and boundaries during different seasons of parent/child relationships and how to navigate those seasons as they change. Whether you are the child or parent in the relationship (or both), this episode will help answer the question: How do I honor my parents when it feels impossible? Related Resources:- When we hear or read a teaching or sermon that challenges us, it's natural to ask, "Now what?" What do we do with the information we’re given? How should this affect us? How should it change or transform us? That’s why we created “Now What?” A Guide to Process & Apply Biblical Messages to help you take action with the next practical step to be able to apply that message. Click here to download this free resource!- “Boundaries aren’t meant to keep another person away. They’re to help keep you together.” - Lysa TerKeurst.  Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Have you ever been asked to mentor someone, or maybe wanted someone to mentor you, but found it kind of awkward or wished someone told you what to do?  Join Lysa TerKeurst and her friend Shelley Giglio from Passion City Church as Shelley breaks down what mentorship is and what it isn’t. With wisdom from years of experience, she will show us the value of these relationships, and will equip us with tools to flourish in them. Our hosts, Kaley and Meredith, even get to ask her some questions directly related to mentorship in their different stages of life. We promise, you don’t want to miss this episode!Related Resources:Check out these resources by Shelley and her team at Passion City Church. You can visit flourishmentor.com to learn more about Flourish and how to purchase it. There are also free resources for beginning your mentoring journey! Follow Shelley and her team at The Grove @shelleygiglio and @pcc_thegrove on Instagram. Sign up for our Encouragement for Today devotions for daily, biblical encouragement to help your filter your everyday life through the Truth of God’s Word. Did you know we have Facebook groups? Connect with other like-minded friends and find encouragement for your season of life. Join our group for 20-somethings or our group for mamas! Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

What are you longing for? Maybe you're a single woman, and you're longing to get married? Or you are longing to start a family? Maybe you’re longing for a new season, healing or something else in your life to change? That thing deep down inside that you want, that you wonder if you will ever get, can be painful. But how often do we ask ourselves if Jesus is really enough to fulfill that longing?  Join Hannah Schindler and Joel Muddamalle from our First 5 team as they discuss the longings we see throughout the entire Bible, and how those longings are meant to point us to Jesus.  Related Resources:Download our free First 5 mobile app and spend the first moments of your day with God before the hustle of your to-do list begins. We also have study guides to help you dig a little deeper into God's Word.To download the transcript for this episode, click here.

Question to consider: Does prayer change God’s mind?  We often think if God answers our prayers in the way we want Him to, it validates He heard us, values and loves us. But we can easily become attached to our idea of what the outcome to those prayers should be. But what if prayer is supposed to release us from carrying the weight of the outcomes of our prayers? What if, instead, prayer is supposed to be us trusting God will provide peace no matter the outcome? Join Lysa TerKeurst and Joel Muddamalle as we unpack three truths to bring into our prayer lives and tackle the question: Does prayer change God’s mind? You might be surprised by the answer.Related Resources:- When we hear or read a teaching or sermon that challenges us, it's natural to ask, "Now what?" What do we do with the information we’re given? How should this affect us? How should it change or transform us? That’s why we created, “Now What?” A Guide to Process & Apply Biblical Messages, to help you take action with the next practical step to be able to apply that message. - How do we trust God with certainty when our situations seem so uncertain? Identify your trust issues with the Lord and how to overcome them in Lysa TerKeurst’s latest Bible study, Trustworthy: Overcoming Our Greatest Struggles to Trust God. To download the transcript for this episode, click here.

What could church history teach me that would be helpful to me today? Those authors and what they wrote feel out of date, out of time, and out of context for life here and now. But let's consider a quote from Winston Churchill, “Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.”   On this episode of the podcast, Joel Muddamalle shows us why it’s crucial to apply the good from history so we are able to prevent repeating mistakes. We will look at how people have responded heroically in the midst of tragedy and crisis that was outside of their control, just like any crisis we find ourselves in. More than that, this episode unpacks how we can respond with the hope of Christ in a desperate, hurting world.Related Resources:- Download our free First 5 mobile app and spend the first moments of your day with God before the hustle of your to-do list begins. We also have study guides to help you dig a little deeper into God's Word. Click here to download the transcript for this episode

Do I have to get past all my weaknesses before God can use me?    At some point or another, we've all battled the negative narrative of I can't or I'm not worthy. But those lies we tell ourselves are not true. In each of us is a hidden potential that God is ready to use.  Today's guest, author Wendy Pope, teaches us about our own hidden potential using the story of Moses in the book of Exodus. Wendy shows us how to replace those lies with this truth: God will not allow our failures and past to exempt us from our potential. In fact, He'll use them! Related Resources: - Your life is crazy, but your Bible study doesn't have to be. Online Bible Studies is a place where you can dive deep into books by your favorite Christian authors alongside a community of women from right where you are. Check out our latest Online Bible Study now!   - Purchase Wendy's book, Hidden Potential, from the Proverbs 31 Ministries Bookstore. Every purchase you make from us goes back to funding ministry initiatives, like this podcast!   - Connect with Wendy on Instagram and Facebook. Click here to download the transcript for this episode. 

We all want to be happy. But what is true happiness? And how do we find it?  In this episode of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast we are joined by our friend, Derwin Gray, the lead pastor of Transformation Church and author of The Good Life: What Jesus Teaches about Finding True Happiness. Using Jesus' famous Sermon on the Mount, Derwin helps us unpack three ways to find true happiness.  You'll learn that the happiness you long for is found in becoming the person you were created to be. This “happiness” is not found in what we accomplish; it comes through what God is accomplishing in us to make our hearts like His. Happiness can be found daily, by sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening and learning from Him.Related Resources: - - Purchase Derwin's new book, The Good Life: What Jesus Teaches about Finding True Happiness.  - Here’s what our president, Lysa TerKeurst, said about Derwin’s book: "This book has the most solid teaching on happiness I've ever read. Not only is this message helpful but it's also refreshingly honest and carefully researched. This is wisdom I've personally seen Pastor Derwin live out both through these pages and in everyday life."  - Download our free First 5 mobile app and spend the first moments of your day with God before the hustle of your to-do list begins. We also have study guides to help you dig a little deeper into God's Word.-Your life is crazy, but your Bible study doesn't have to be. Online Bible Studies is a place where you can dive deep into books by your favorite Christian authors alongside a community of women from right where you are. Check out our latest Online Bible Study now! Click here to download the transcript for this episode. 

When life is hard and we see suffering all around, it's easy to wonder, does God really love me? And if God does love me, where exactly is He in all this? Is He really who He says He is, who I believed Him to be, who the Bible tells me about?  Today on the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, our guest, Kia Stephens, uses the story of Hagar in Genesis to tackle these difficult questions. In this episode, she will unpack five truths that we can believe about the love of God in the midst of our difficult situations.  You’ll learn that in the midst of feeling lonely, desperate and doubtful, God meets you right where you are with exactly what you need. Because He loves you, He sees you. He hears you. And He will restore you. Related Resources:Receive daily, biblical encouragement from women who get you and what you’re going through delivered straight to your inbox when you sign up for our FREE Encouragement for Today devotions.Connect with Kia, find out more information on “The Father Swap,” and more on her website at kiastephens.com.Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

When we go through trials, it’s easy to wonder, is this from God or caused by God? Am I under attack?  Today on the Proverbs 31 Podcast, Wendy Blight, our Online Bible Studies Biblical Content Specialist, addresses these questions in her teaching on the armor of God from Ephesians 6. Wendy shares a five-step process for praying through the armor of God, using the letters A-R-M-O-R. You’ll discover what each piece of the armor of God means, why you need it, and the importance of guarding your heart and mind on a daily basis.   Whatever you’re facing today, friend, you can rejoice knowing God’s already equipped you with what you need to stand victoriously.Related Resources: Purchase Wendy's book, Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner, to learn more about Wendy’s story and her relationship with the Lord. Our Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner Teaching Series includes teachings on fasting, spiritual discipline, studying and memorizing Scripture, and more! Click here to get access to the teachings. Click here to download Wendy's Armor of God prayer. Download our free First 5 app to spend the first five minutes of your day in God’s Word. No matter where you are in your faith journey, we hope you’ll join us in the app today! Click here to download the transcript for this episode. 

Chances are, at some point or another, you’ve found yourself “in the middle of something” in life and you can’t help but ask the question: How long will this last? If you're reading this in 2020, maybe your “in the middle” is the COVID-19 pandemic, or maybe you find yourself in the middle of a battle with infertility or navigating a difficult family relationship.  No matter what "middle" we find ourselves in, it's hard to move forward when we don't know how long this season will last. In the midst of managing the tension, we can either spiral up or we can spiral down. On this episode of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, our co-host, Kaley Olson, shares Truth that's helpful to you right now.    "3 Things to Consider When You're in the Middle" uses Scripture to remind you of who God is, how He is faithful, what that means for us and how to share that with others.Related Resources: Check out our FREE resource library! We've got tons of devotions, prayers and other tools you can download. If you would like to support Proverbs 31 Ministries as we continue to provide free resources during these uncertain times, you can make a donation here. Click here to download the transcript for this episode. 

In times of uncertainty, our tendency is to hold tightly to everything we have. We want to feel safe and in control of the things we can control. But what if instead, we choose to let go, open our hands and pray prayers of surrender? What if God is calling us to trust Him more with everything?  In this episode of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, author and pastor Craig Groeschel sits down with Kendra Schwarz and discusses a two-word prayer that can change everything: Send me. You'll find that praying "send me" might not mean you'll be sent to another physical location, but it always means you'll be nudged out of your comfort zone. You'll learn why when you pray dangerously, you can't live life the same. And that's a good thing. Click the links below to check out the resources we mention in this episode of the podcast: Your life is crazy, but your Bible study doesn't have to be. Online Bible Studies is a place where you can dive deep into books by your favorite Christian authors alongside a community of women from right where you are. Check out our latest Online Bible Study now! Grab a copy of Dangerous Prayers by Craig Groeschel here. Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

We all want to know what God’s will is for our life, right? And wouldn't it be so much easier if there were a formula we could follow to know exactly what to do next?    In this episode of the podcast, Shae Tate offers a new approach to think about the term "calling" by beginning with our call to a daily relationship with the Lord. You'll learn that no matter what your mission field is — your school, home, career or ministry — God is calling you to use your story to bring others to Himself.  Related Resources:At Proverbs 31 Ministries, we offer professional and biblical training by industry experts for women who are called to write, speak and lead, through our She Speaks Conference and COMPEL Writers Training membership site. Click the links to learn more! Click here to download the transcript for this episode.  

When we face fear, it’s hard to know how to pray for God’s covering and protection in the moment. What passage of Scripture speaks to what I’m facing? Where can we find what we need in the Bible?   In this episode, author and speaker Nicki Koziarz teaches us practical ways to pray God’s principles and promises over our situations using Psalm 91 as a guide. You'll learn to take one small step of faith in the midst of your fears, instead of doubting God will come through.   Click the links below to check out the resources we mention in this episode of the podcast:  Connect with Nicki on her blog and on her Instagram Subscribe to our Encouragement for Today Devotions Read Nicki’s devotion “When Our Feet Face Fear" Sign up to learn more about our She Speaks Conference Visit the Proverbs 31 Ministries Prayer Wall Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

The older we get, the easier it is to recognize that life is a combination of suffering and joy. While we look forward to the joyful times, our suffering has the potential to draw us closer to the Lord … if we choose to steward that season well.   So, how do we do that?  Today on the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, First 5 writer Lyli Dunbar draws from her own life experiences and the book of Daniel to show us four ways to steward our season of suffering well. And guess what? They all start with the letter “P” to make note-taking easy.   With this episode, you will… Learn the importance of establishing a routine of getting into God’s Word daily in order to build a strong foundation to stand on when your world gets shaky. Discover scriptures in the Psalms you can run to that will help you practice trading the tendency to panic with the power of prayer. Understand how worshipping during hard times helps you trust that God is working even when you can’t see it. Related Resources: Establish a consistent, weekday quiet time with our First 5 mobile app. It’s free (yes, free!) — all you need to do is go to your app store on your mobile device to download the app and join us in our current study.  Take your daily study of God’s Word a little deeper with our First 5 Study Guides. These guides are meant to be a companion to a study you can find within our First 5 mobile app, or stand-alone as an individual study. Each Study Guide includes helpful study tools such as maps, historical context and an overview of the book(s) you’re studying. Find out more about our Study Guides here! Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Have you ever opened your Bible to the books of 1 & 2 Kings and wondered how you could possibly have anything in common with a bunch of men who ruled hundreds of years ago? For starters, they were real kings with crowns that fought in battles and ruled nations, and we’re just normal people trying to get through the day. No wonder we have a hard time applying their stories and struggles to what we’re facing today.  But you know what? We don’t want those thoughts to stop you from diving into the Old Testament because we believe that all of God’s Word is living, active and applicable to what we face today. The books of 1 & 2 Kings are exciting and give us an account of how much God wants us to trust in Him —not in ourselves or others. Lysa TerKeurst recently released a brand-new Bible study based on 1 & 2 Kings called Trustworthy: Overcoming Our Greatest Struggles to Trust God. In this week’s episode of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, you’ll get an inside peek into a conversation we had with Lysa during our Trustworthy Online Bible Study.   With this episode, you will… Gain a basic understanding of the lives of Jeroboam and Rehoboam in 1 & 2 Kings, and learn about their trust issues within the context of their own stories. Recognize that even though you’re not a king, you’re responsible for stewarding your influence  — whether that be social media, work, parenting or friends — we have the opportunity to point them all back to God.  Find relief from trying to do things in your own way or your own timing by taking small steps to trust God more today. Related resources: Want to learn more about Lysa’s latest study, Trustworthy, and unpack your trust issues within a biblical community? Proverbs 31 Ministries’ Online Bible Studies is the place for you! Click here to learn more about Online Bible Studies and check out our current study. Be equipped to lead your own study of Trustworthy with the leader kit! When you purchase the leader kit, you’ll get access to the Trustworthy study guide and a DVD with all 6 interactive teaching sessions filmed on location in Israel. The only thing you’ll need is a group of girlfriends and designated time to dig deep and learn together. Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

When you think about what affects your own happiness, you might think about how your mood changes after you’ve spent too much time on social media or when someone says something rude to you.  Did you know that if you’re holding on to unforgiveness, it might be affecting you more than you realize?  Today on The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, we’re joined by Max Lucado, a bestselling author of multiple books and pastor of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. Through a lot of research, Max found that 1 in 3 Americans admits they’re unhappy which inspired him to write How Happiness Happens, where he tackles this issue from a biblical perspective. Today, he’s giving us a sneak peek into this really powerful message.   When you listen to today’s episode, you will… Discover the secret to being happy is to release forgiveness you’ve been holding back.  Learn how Jesus modeled what it looks like to be unoffendable by extending grace before your offender needs it. Understand that forgiveness does not mean you’re endorsing or forgetting what happened to you; it means clearing your heart of offenses daily as you go before the Lord. Related Resources: Dive deeper into Max’s book, How Happiness Happens: Finding Lasting Joy in a World of Comparison, Disappointment and Unmet Expectations. Purchase your copy today anywhere books are sold!  Did you know you can participate in our past Online Bible Studies with Max? That’s right! Anxious for Nothing and Because of Bethlehem are available for you to do on your own. Click here to find out how to participate! Download the transcript of the podcast here.

 You’re happily scrolling through social media to see what’s going on for the day, and then all of a sudden, you come across a post that has hundreds of comments where people (maybe even some of your friends) are having a “not-so-gracious” discussion. Should you join the conversation or unfollow that person? Or maybe you’re about to head to a family dinner with people you love dearly, but there’s a sticky topic that’s bound to come up that makes you want to hide under the table. How do you approach that conversation while still honoring the relationships and loving those people? Whatever or wherever your sticky situation is — online, at the table or with a co-worker — we pray this episode gives you a biblical foundation to help you navigate difficult conversations as an image-bearer of Christ. In this episode, you will…  Understand the value and freedom gained by starting your day with an attitude of forgiveness, before you’re ever offended.  Be empowered to make a difference in your corner of the world by choosing to create an atmosphere of gentle responses wherever you go.  Learn how getting involved on social media helps and hinders your relationships, and when to respond with grace or simply not react at all.  Is The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast helping you with whatever season of life you’re walking through? We want to hear your story! When you leave a review on iTunes, it helps more people discover our podcast content. Related Resources: Do you know someone who’s difficult to love? The lady at church who's always gossiping. The lazy co-worker. That sibling who knows how to push your buttons. We have a free printable just for you! Click here to access “Hugging a Porcupine and Squeezing a Skunk: How to love the difficult people in your life” for FREE today! In her book, Unglued, Lysa TerKeurst said, “Am I trying to prove that I’m right, or improve this relationship?” She developed a free resource to help you called “3 Questions to Ask Before You Respond.” Access this downloadable guide for free today! Get a free chapter of Lysa TerKeurst’s book, Uninvited, along with an assessment titled, “What’s it like to do life with me?” Simply download the chapter and complete the self-assessment, then prayerfully ask a trusted friend to complete the friend assessment. Click here to get started!  Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

What’s keeping you from really resting?Are you afraid of losing control or fear the job won’t get done without you? Or maybe you think you’re resting, but you fill your time with TV, reading or shopping and at the end of the day, you’re still tired? Take a second and think of your own reasons.  Whatever your answer, it’s easy to look at the word “rest” in our culture and think it’s never possible because we’re too busy, or that we don’t know how to truly unplug. In this week’s episode, Kristen White, Proverbs 31 staff member and wife of Pastor Kaleb White, will tackle the true reason why we should rest, and what God’s Word says about it.   In this episode, you will... Evaluate your priority of working versus resting by looking at the story of creation in Genesis and how it teaches us about how God prioritized rest. Understand the difference of working from rest instead of resting from work, and get a few ideas for how to creatively or mentally recharge when you need a break. Remember that the Sabbath isn’t a rule that keeps us from getting more work done, but a day set aside by God for us to rest and grow in our relationship with Him.  Related Resources: Ready to start studying the Bible in a fresh way? Download our FREE First 5 mobile app and join us each weekday for a relevant, but challenging teaching on one chapter of the Bible at a time. Get biblical encouragement sent straight to your inbox every day AND stay up-to-date with all things happening at Proverbs 31 Ministries when you sign up for our free Encouragement for Today weekday devotions. Click here to download the transcript of this episode.

Depending on your church background, you might participate in Advent every year, or you might stay away from it because it seems like a mysterious, age-old tradition that’s reserved for only certain denominations. You might even associate Advent with a candy calendar you see displayed in stores close to the holiday season.  At Proverbs 31 Ministries, our goal is to help you know the Truth of God’s Word by shedding light on things that might be a little unclear … even things like the Advent season. While Advent is not a biblical command, it is an activity we can choose to participate in to turn our hearts from the hustle and bustle as we focus on biblical truths.   In this episode, you’ll hear from Proverbs 31 Ministries' director of theology, Joel Muddamalle. You will… Discover what Advent is, what it isn’t and how it can help align your heart with God’s Word as we celebrate Christmas and Jesus’ second coming. Stop rushing through the holiday season and refocus your mind on adoration for Jesus through patience, expectations for what He’s doing and contemplation on His goodness. Understand the importance of setting aside time to share with your family about who Jesus is and what He has done, and what He has promised to come back and do.  No matter your views on Advent, we pray this episode will serve as a resource and a reason to slow down and focus on Jesus this season. Related Resources: If you’re reading this, maybe God has used Proverbs 31 Ministries to point you back to Him in your deepest moment of need. Will you consider giving back so we can continue giving you our resources and reach even more women who desperately need Him? Click here to make a donation today! Are you and your kids rushing through the holiday season? Slow down and make this season even sweeter with our hand-selected products, like the authentic olive wood nativity scene, The Sweetest Story Ever Told interactive cookie kit and more! A portion of every purchase you make from Proverbs 31 goes back to help us reach more women with God’s Word. Click here to see our entire Christmas collection! Click here to download the transcript of this episode.

Do you ever find it hard to let God work on your behalf? Are you tempted to trust in your own strength rather than let God work things out for you?   As believers, we have the most incredible opportunity to put our full trust and confidence in our heavenly Father. But, so often, we get caught in the trap of thinking “Surely I’m not the right person to do this” or “There’s too much against me for this to actually work out.” Today on The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, Lynn Cowell will help us understand what it means to develop unshakable confidence built on Christ.   With today’s episode, you will… Grow your confidence in God as you hear references to stories in Scripture that show how He moved through others who trusted Him to do the impossible. Identify and address the fears that keep you stuck, and learn what practical steps to take to walk in your calling with confidence. Renew your passion to do what only you’ve been called to do, knowing it’s more important to please God than others. Related Resources: Discover more about unshakable confidence with Lynn’s Bible study, Make Your Move. Purchase the Bible study and DVD set today from Proverbs 31 Ministries’ online store. Is there a tween in your life who needs a little encouragement as she makes the transition from being a little girl to becoming a teenager? Check out Lynn’s book, Brave Beauty: Finding the Fearless You, available on the Proverbs 31 Ministries’ online store. Plan your next church women’s event with the Proverbs 31 Ministries’ speaker team in mind! Click here to inquire about having speakers like Lynn Cowell, Chrystal Evans Hurst, Nicki Koziarz and more at your next event.  Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Why is it so enticing to choose lesser things over lasting things?   Do you ever pick up your phone or watch a mindless show without thinking anything of it, but end up wondering where the day went when you lay down at night? Sometimes even the things that are entertaining and good can leave us feeling empty, lesser and lacking. So, how do we set healthy boundaries and train our minds to choose what’s best over what seems right in the moment?  Today on The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, we’re tackling distractions head-on with our friends Amanda Bacon and Anne-Renee Gumley of The Masterpiece Mom. Amanda and Anne-Renee will give a teaching based on their latest book, Shiny Things: Mothering on Purpose in a World of Distractions (and we promise it isn’t just for moms).   In this episode of the podcast, you will… Identify the areas where you’re most distracted by “shiny things” and create a priority list that you’re determined to live out, not just write out.  Stop being distracted by comparing your life to someone else’s as you start focusing on the assignment that only you can do. Grow your desire to have a strong relationship with the Lord in order to develop the persistence you need to stick to your “lasting” list instead of the “lesser” things in life.  Related Resources: Learn more about how to choose lasting things over lesser things with Amanda and Anne-Renee’s book, Shiny Things. Purchase yours today from Proverbs 31 Ministries!  Fill your social media feed with encouragement and uplifting content by following Proverbs 31 Ministries on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. Help us get The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast to even more listeners by leaving a review on iTunes!  Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

“Can God be good even when life is not?” It’s a question we’ve been wrestling through together as a ministry since Lysa TerKeurst released her book, It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way.  Today on The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, we’re continuing the conversation on what to do when life doesn’t turn out the way you thought it would by giving you a sneak peek of the It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way Online Bible Study Teaching Series recorded earlier this year. You’ll hear a conversation between our Online Bible Studies team and Pastor Craig Groeschel from Life.Church. Pastor Craig has also been through his own season of hardship and wrote about it in his latest book, Hope in the Dark.  When you listen to this episode, you will... Find comfort in a season or moment of doubt by realizing that God won’t look down on you when you doubt, but will give you what you need to continue pressing on. Discover that breakthrough happens when you invite someone you trust into your struggle, even though opening up is often scary or hard. Stop comparing your dark moment or season to someone else’s, and gain compassion for others regardless of the level of their struggle. Related Resources: Purchase the It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way Teaching Series from Proverbs 31 Ministries Online Bible Studies to hear more in-depth teaching and biblical wisdom from Lysa TerKeurst, Annie F. Downs and Angie Smith, plus two bonus episodes! Learn how to believe God is good even when life is not when you read Craig Groeschel’s book, Hope in the Dark. Click here to shop! Not sure what episodes of The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast to listen to next? Click here to easily see episodes categorized by topics!   Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

It’s easy to look back and think of all the things you’d do differently in your teenage years, isn’t it? Maybe there are some small things you’d change … you wouldn’t have worn so much makeup or pushed yourself to do better in math. Or perhaps the people you thought were your best friends led you to make decisions that now you’d do much differently.   As an adult, hindsight is 20/20. But what if we made the choice today to look back at the decisions we made and believe that although we can’t change them, God can use them?  In today’s episode of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, author and speaker Chrystal Evans Hurst shares a message titled, “3 Things I’d Tell My Teenage Self.” In this episode, you will… Realize that you are loved as you are, and you don’t have to clean up your mistakes to receive God’s love.  Find comfort in knowing the very struggle you face today is developing in you the strength you need for tomorrow’s battle. Stop believing the lie that at some point you will “arrive” and start believing that your journey will always be a process that requires time and trust.  Related Resources: Purchase Chrystal’s book for teenage girls called, “Show Up For Your Life” from Proverbs 31 Ministries. Every purchase you make from our online bookstore helps us fund ministry resources, just like this podcast! Subscribe to our Encouragement for Today devotions and receive relevant, biblical inspiration in your inbox every weekday. Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Today is a very special day on The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast because … (drum roll please) we’re celebrating our first birthday!  Over the past year, we’ve released 31 episodes — how fitting for Proverbs 31, right? But there’s more to celebrate than just the number of episodes we released. With every episode, we reached hearts and homes around the globe (literally!) with biblical truth for any girl in any season. We’re so thankful for the way the Lord has used this podcast above and beyond what we could have imagined!  So to help us celebrate, we invited Proverbs 31 Ministries' President, Lysa TerKeurst, to the show because there’s just no one who can share God’s Word quite like Lysa. In today’s episode of the podcast, you’ll hear a teaching called “3 Things to Consider Before Making that Decision.” We’re so thankful for Lysa’s wisdom and expertise on decision-making.   In this episode, Lysa will teach you: The “daily-ness” of decisions can make them seem small, but over time, even small decisions add up and make an impact. When you look at the big picture of where you are and where you want to be, the path can seem complicated and scary! But the way you get there is one day at a time, through choosing wisely every day. Wisdom is earned through the combination of gaining knowledge, access to the Holy Spirit and living out what you know to be true.  Related Resources: If the Lord has used The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast to help you in your walk with Him, please share it with us! Simply visit us on iTunes and leave a review. Leaving a review helps others discover the podcast, so thank you for helping us!  Are you subscribed to The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast? Never miss an episode! We’ve made it easy for you because we’re available on iTunes and Spotify. Be sure to grab a copy of Lysa TerKeurst’s book, The Best Yes, and learn how to start making wiser decisions today. Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Do you ever find yourself fighting the temptation to focus on what you don’t have instead of what you’ve already been given? When we are actively pursuing God’s calling on our lives, I think we’ve all been tempted to focus on what someone else has or is experiencing, and feel disqualified because of what we lack. It’s so easy to think, I’m not as talented, bold, smart or outgoing as she is. I can’t write, speak or lead. I don’t know how to do _______. I just can’t.  Sweet friend, we don’t know what your calling looks like, but we do know that we serve a God who’s still in charge and doesn’t leave everything up to us! Today on The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, you’ll hear a special message from Suzie Eller that will inspire you and empower you to trust God with your calling.   In this episode, Suzie will teach you… Being called out of your comfort zone and called into a new assignment is never easy, but it’s also never about you, and that's a good thing!  Consistently coming before the Lord with what’s on your mind will help you know what you need to keep saying yes to, and what you may need to stop doing. Embracing God’s anointing on your life IS the confidence you need to step into the assignment He’s asked you to do! Related Resources: Do you feel called to write, speak or lead? It’s time to step into your assignment! At Proverbs 31 Ministries, we have an annual conference called She Speaks where we equip writers, speakers and leaders with the practical tools and biblical training they need to take the next right step in their calling. This year for the first time ever, you can join us online from the comfort of your home! Click here to check out our She Speaks livestream packages. Connect with Suzie Eller on her blog and through Proverbs 31 Ministries’ Encouragement for Today daily devotions. Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

It seems like every opportunity that comes our way is often followed by opposition. So ... how do you really know if it’s God who is really telling you to keep pursuing that opportunity when you face a giant roadblock? What do you do when you’ve lost all confidence to do what you think He’s called you to do?  In today’s podcast episode, Katy McCown, one of our First 5 mobile app writers, will give a teaching from our First 5 study titled Opposition and Opportunity, based on the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. You’ll learn that if you’re only looking for opportunities and not expecting opposition with them, it’s easy to get confused about what you thought you were supposed to do. Or worse, you might even think you’ve misheard God or taken a wrong step, because if God really wanted you to make a move … why would something get in the way?  In this episode, you’ll… Gain clarity on the calling you believe God is asking you to follow by understanding the difference between an opportunity from God and opposition from the enemy.  Identify common tactics of the enemy — confusion, doubt and fear — and how to train your eyes to look away from the opposition you see and focus on the opportunity in front of you. Claim your identity in Christ and speak Truth to combat the enemy’s lies while trusting God to go before you in every battle you face. Related Resources: Discover more about Opposition and Opportunity by doing our study in the First 5 app! All you need to do is download the FREE First 5 mobile app (available for Apple and Android devices) and go to the “Plans” section in the app. Just search for the title Opposition and Opportunity and start the study! Take your study of Opposition and Opportunity further by purchasing the accompanying Experience Guide, available at p31bookstore.com. All of our Experience Guides are designed to take you deeper into Scripture with questions to help you apply God’s Word to your life. Access more teachings just like the one you heard today through the First 5 app each weekend. Simply make sure you have the app downloaded, and there will be a fresh audio teaching each weekend available to help you apply what you’re learning during the week to your life! Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Pause for a moment and think about your relationships … your spouse, children, friends, co-workers, neighbors. You can probably name some highs and lows of each relationship because, well, humans are human. And humans mess up!   Our relationship with the church is no different. When a body of believers (who are by nature sinners) come together, things aren’t always a beautiful picture of a happy community without conflict. Whether or not you’re new to the Christian community, a phrase that you’ll likely hear is “church hurt.” At Proverbs 31 Ministries, we don’t want to just talk about church hurt; we want to dig into God’s Word and understand what He says about the Church (the body of believers). Using the first church in the book of Acts as an example, Whitney Capps will lead us through a Scripture-based conversation on church hurt and how to navigate it in our own lives.   In this episode, it’s our hope that you’ll … Understand the relationship between the church and its members as outlined in Scripture and find your place in a community of believers. Acknowledge the hurt you’re facing and find a way to forgive those who’ve hurt you through the lens of Scripture. Develop empathy for those who have been hurt by the church and discover ways you can reach out to help someone close to you take the next step toward healing.  Related Resources: Stay rooted in God’s Word by giving Him the first five minutes of your day with our free First 5 mobile app! Download it today for your Apple or Android device. With Whitney Capps’ book, Sick of Me, you’ll take the next steps on your faith journey to look more like Jesus today than you did yesterday. Purchase your copy today from Proverbs 31 Ministries! Visit whitneycapps.com to download a free resource on how to walk through specific situations of church hurt and how to process the hurt you’re facing today. Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

“Why should I fast?” … is a real question that often goes unanswered. You might hear your pastor, ministry leader or friend talk about fasting and wonder what the purpose of depriving yourself of something really is. After all, why fast when you could simply pray, right?Throughout Scripture, you’ll discover fasting mentioned from Daniel to Elisha to Paul, and most commonly known, Jesus’ 40-day fast in the wilderness. In today’s teaching, you’ll hear Proverbs 31 Ministries' Director of Theology, Joel Muddamalle, discuss the real reason we should fast and answer the question you might’ve always wanted to understand.  In this episode, you will … Learn about fasting in context of Scripture and understand how it can apply to your life today. Understand how fasting is part of many spiritual disciplines that are outlined in Scripture to help us look more like Christ. Discover how going “without” can help you reposition your heart and mind toward God through your ultimate need for Him. Related Resources: Although we want to ensure fasting is a private event between you and God, we do want to encourage you to anonymously share how we can pray for you on our prayer wall. At Proverbs 31 Ministries, our staff and volunteers pray over each prayer request submitted, and we would love to pray for you! Click here to visit our prayer wall. If you’re interested in learning more about spiritual foundations or knowing God, check out our free resource library! This is a great place to start if you’re looking to dig deeper into Scripture and want more insight on questions you have about your personal faith journey. Click here to download the transcript for this episode

Social media and television make it incredibly easy to compare our behind-the-scenes to someone else’s highlight reel… especially in our marriages. We turn on the TV, and then we’re turned off because it seems everyone else has a happier, more exciting and more romantic marriage than we do. We all bring our brokenness into our marriage covenant and it doesn’t take long for that to surface. When conflict does arise, are we extending the grace Jesus extends to us or are we letting our broken selves break our relationship? In today’s episode of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, Karen Ehman gives a teaching based on her new book, Keep Showing Up: How to Stay Crazy in Love When Your Love Drives You Crazy. You’ll discover… The three threads that can tangle your marriage — emotional baggage, unmet expectations and untrue perceptions — and how to have healthy conversations around them. You can honor your spouse by taking time to slow down, breathe and collect your thoughts before you enter into a hard conversation about unmet expectations. Your marriage is a message, and people are watching you preach!To read the transcript for this episode click here. Related Resources Purchase Karen Ehman’s book, Keep Showing Up: How to Stay Crazy In Love When Your Love Drives You Crazy from Proverbs 31 Ministries. Your life is crazy, but your Bible study doesn't have to be. Online Bible Studies is a place where you can dive deep into books by your favorite Christian authors alongside a community of women from right where you are. Check out our latest Online Bible Study now!

Do you ever wonder if all the things you do for your children is even making an impact? If the wisdom we try to impart actually sticks or if we’re really cut out for this “mothering”  job after all? Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” As parents, this Scripture sounds promising, but being in the “thick of it” is tough! Lysa TerKeurst deeply understands this feeling! In this podcast episode, she invites you in on a conversation between her and her three adult daughters where you'll hear a raw, honest, family conversation about raising children and what it was like being raised in the TerKeurst home.To read the transcript for this episode click here.  You’ll discover… A bad parenting moment today doesn’t make you a bad parent forever. Creating an environment in your home for conversations that have a gentle balance of grace and truth will help your children be more open to sharing. Keeping your children talking, connected and reminded about God throughout the small things every day will help you raise up not only a good child, but a God-honoring adult.  Related Resources: Sign up for our FREE Encouragement for Today devotions filled with daily, biblical encouragement to help you filter life through God’s Word. Purchase Am I Messing Up My Kids? by Lysa TerKeurst through Proverbs 31 Ministries. Full of practical ideas, short Bible studies and plenty of encouragement, this inspiring resource will help moms to realize that — with God’s wisdom and mercy — they can experience peace and satisfaction while raising their kids. 

If you were to walk through your home and make a stack of all the “advice” books you own, there’s a good chance that stack would be pretty tall! There is a book available for every subject you could ever need: time management, pregnancy, parenting, relationships, dieting, exercising, overcoming anxiety… the list goes on! But where do you find real wisdom for living?   It’s easy to want a simple formula that leads to a quick fix. For example, if we were to read the dieting book and closely follow the instructions, then the outcome should be to lose weight, right? But if we are really honest with ourselves, we often take the same approach to God’s Word when it comes to seeking wisdom in a specific area of life.  In this week’s episode of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, Karen McNary shares how to gain wisdom by being connected to the giver of all wisdom… our Heavenly Father!You’ll discover…Wisdom doesn’t mean that you’ll always know how to make the right decision. But, “wise” is what you become when you stay connected with God and apply His Word to every area of life.How to determine if, and when, you should seek wise counsel from a trusted friend by first going to the Lord for guidance first.Seeking wisdom and principles for life doesn’t have to start and stop with the book of Proverbs, but can be found starting with Genesis and ending with Revelation.To read the transcript for this episode click here.Related Resources Find a place to process what you’re learning each day as you discover how to apply godly wisdom to your everyday life. Study the book of Proverbs with us in our FREE First 5 mobile app! All you need to do is download the app on iTunes or Google Play to get started. Take your study of the book of Proverbs a little deeper by purchasing our Study Guide. Each Study Guide includes daily study questions and historical context to help you unpack Scripture. Purchase your copy today! 

How do we embrace what seems so glaringly imperfect in the process of becoming more like Jesus? In Lysa TerKeurst’s new book, It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way, she says “Anytime we feel not good enough we deny the powerful truth that we are a glorious work of God in progress.”   In this episode of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, you’ll have the opportunity to listen to one of our favorite chapters, "Paintings and People," from Lysa’s newest book. In this chapter Lysa takes us through her own experience of feeling not good enough, and teaches us how to trust God with our imperfections on this side of eternity.   You’ll discover… Sometimes you might be expecting a perfection from yourself or others that even God Himself doesn’t expect. Time spent showing up and bringing compassion to a friend is never wasted time. Being honest with yourself and your friends (rather than trying to cover up your imperfections) will strengthen the way you see yourself and your relationships. To read the transcript for this episode click here.Related Resources: Purchase your copy of It's Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered today! Sign up for the FREE It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way Online Bible Study hosted by Proverbs 31 Ministries and journey through the book with a solid community to support you. 

When things don’t go the way we want and life doesn’t turn out the way we thought it should, it’s easy to wonder why. In Mark 14, Jesus prays “Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Those words read well, but they’re hard to live out.   In this episode, Lysa TerKeurst will teach us what it really means to exchange our will for God’s will and builds off her last episode titled, “The Birthplace of Disappointment.” We already learned that the human heart was created in the context of the perfection of the Garden of Eden. Today, we’ll discover that there’s a physical reality we see, and at the same time, there’s the miraculous God is working.   You’ll learn… Because God is working in the midst of your hurt, you can trust that your hurt will someday be made right.  When God leads you to something hard, He will also lead you through something hard because He won’t leave you. Trading your will for God’s will isn’t a one-time decision; it’s a daily surrender. To read the transcript for this episode click here.Related resources: Click here to listen to Lysa’s teaching titled, “The Birthplace of Disappointment.”  Purchase your copy of Lysa’s latest book, It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way and learn what it means to find unexpected strength when life’s disappointments leave you shattered. Make a donation to Proverbs 31 Ministries today to help us continue to provide free resources (just like this podcast) for women around the world to connect with God’s Truth on a daily basis. 

The hymn, “It Is Well With My Soul” was first published almost 150 years ago. Those words are often sung in church or hung on the walls in our homes ... but if we were really honest with ourselves, could we say they’re absolutely true?   Every day we get to decide what we let in our minds and what we keep out, how we spend our time, and what we give our attention to. In today’s episode of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, author and First 5 writer Nicki Koziarz tackles the topic of dealing with comparison and what we can do to be able to respond, “Yes ... my soul is well.”  In this episode you’ll learn… When you’re trying to please someone, the end goal will always be hard to reach.   Your human heart ultimately desires a relationship with God, and to fill that desire with lesser things will make your soul unwell.  The temptation to compare yourself to someone else on this side of eternity may never go away, but you can take practical steps to avoid falling into the temptation today! To read the transcript for this episode click here.Related Resources: Follow along with Nicki’s ministry and Fixer-Upper Farm journey on Instagram at @NickiKoziarz. Purchase Nicki’s book Why Her?: 6 Truths We Need to Hear When Measuring Up Leaves Us Falling Behind and learn practical steps you can take as you tackle comparison in your own life. Like what you’re hearing? Leave the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast a review on iTunes so other women will be exposed to the Truth of God’s Word! 

Have you ever set out to do something you knew you were supposed to do, only to find it wasn’t as easy as you thought it would be? Perhaps you think you’re not good enough, or that there’s no room for you because there’s someone else already doing what you feel led to do.   If you feel like your opportunities are shrinking, or if you’ve gotten a “sign” that you should quit because you’ve messed up too much for God to use you — this episode is for you. Glynnis Whitwer, Proverbs 31 Ministries' Executive Director of Communications, gives a message on the three things you need to know before you give up on your calling.   You will discover…  God isn’t in the business of dividing opportunities; He’s in the business of multiplying them. “Success” in God’s Kingdom is based on obedience, and “failure” is quitting before God tells you to quit. Your pain will be your biggest platform because it’s the place where you experienced God’s greatest power. To read the transcript for this episode click here.Related Resources:At Proverbs 31 Ministries, we offer professional and biblical training by industry experts for women who are called to write, speak and lead, through our She Speaks Conference and COMPEL Writers Training membership site. Click the links to learn more!

If you were to have a conversation with a friend right now, would you be able to say that everything in your life has turned out the way you expected it would? Probably not. Life happens, and even though your expectations might have been realistic, your reality lends you to wonder...   Why this? Why now? Why me?  So, where does disappointment come from? And why, as God’s children, do we wonder if our God really is a good God with good plans for our life?  In this episode of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, Lysa TerKeurst gives a message on this hard topic based on her newest book, It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered.   Whether you’re in the middle of a disappointment, or fearing one is lurking right around the corner, you’ll discover… Trusting God with the outcome of your story is a crucial lesson to learn in order to navigate disappointments. When you keep your eyes on Him, your joy doesn’t have to depend on a person, place or circumstances being made right.  If your story isn’t turning out the way you thought it would, God will show you an even more glorious story that can be written. To read the transcript for this episode click here.Related Resources: It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lysa TerKeurst is available now wherever books are sold! Purchase your copy today at p31bookstore.com. Check out our exclusive It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way resources to use as a reminder of finding unexpected strength in your everyday life. 

Have you ever sat down and opened your Bible, only to find you don’t really know where to start? Perhaps you read a chapter and then just move on, not knowing what would come next in actually studying the passage? Or, maybe there are passages in the Bible that are confusing, so you just keep go back to the same familiar ones?    What if there were just four simple steps to having a deep personal Bible study, every time?   In today’s episode of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, our Director of Theology, Joel Muddamalle, teaches four simple steps that will enable you to have a great personal Bible study. Using Mark 6 as a guide, Joel will help you dive deep into Scripture in a fresh, relevant way that you can apply to any passage in the Bible.   You’ll discover… You don’t have to be a theology expert to learn what God’s Word means; you just need to start with where you are! Identifying key themes, common elements, characters and locations in each passage you read will help you connect the dots from Genesis to Revelation. Taking the crucial step to imagine yourself in the passage you read will help you connect to Scripture emotionally, just like you would in any other book! To read the transcript for this episode click here.Related Resources: Ready to start studying the Bible in a fresh way? Download our FREE First 5 mobile app and join us each weekday for a relevant, but challenging teaching on one chapter of the Bible at a time.  Take your Bible study and personal application to the next level by purchasing one of our First 5 Study Guides. Each Study Guide is written by one of our First 5 writers or staff members and includes exclusive charts, maps and study questions to help you dig deeper into Scripture. 

Whether you are a student, a wife, a mother or a caretaker of aging parents, we all want to fulfill that special calling God has placed on our lives. But how do you do that in the midst of running errands, caring for your loved ones and fulfilling the role your current season requires?   In this episode of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, Lisa Allen answers that question by giving a practical teaching on making room for the assignment God has for you. You’ll discover... Making time for your connection to God results in a heart-posture that spills over into your role each day. Creating margin in your schedule by not living deadline-to-deadline, allows you to react to life’s surprises without becoming overwhelmed. Being fully present in a hands-on season of life (even if it means your calling starts to simmer) is okay because that season won’t last forever. God is equipping and developing your character in the midst of your season right now. To read the transcript for this episode, click here.Related ResourcesAt Proverbs 31 Ministries, we offer professional and biblical training by industry experts for women who are called to write, speak and lead, through our She Speaks Conference and COMPEL Writers Training membership site. Click the links to learn more!

When you read about Solomon’s life in 1 Kings 3:3 it says, “Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.”   Except.  The word “except” means that Solomon’s affections weren’t fully placed on the Lord. Instead, some of his affections were placed on things of this world that were idols. In today’s episode, Lysa TerKeurst and friends dive deep into their own misplaced affections to help you understand that although today’s idols are different than Old Testament idols, the struggle is still the same.  You’ll discover… When our needs are met somewhere else other than within our relationship with the Lord, there are consequences. Waiting on the Lord to heal your wounds or provide for you in your time of need will be hard, but His timing and provision are better than any quick fix. You’re never too far from God to choose to give all of your affection to the Lord. To read the transcript for this episode, click here.Related Resources: Order Lysa TerKeurst’s book, It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way, and receive the first three chapters immediately to get started reading today!  Download the FREE First 5 app and start giving your first five minutes of each day to the Lord.  Are these messages making an impact on your life? Leave us a review on iTunes and tell us about it! 

When you look for examples of worship in the Bible, you’ll find everything from songs sung in corporate worship to deep prayers uttered in the midst of hard circumstances. Today, most of us relate worship to attending church and singing songs together. But what if worship is something we can do every day in the seemingly insignificant moments of life?In today’s episode Meredith and Kaley talk with two special guests: Mack Brock, a worship leader and songwriter, and Joel Muddamalle, the Director of Theology at Proverbs 31 Ministries. You’ll hear both Mack and Joel’s perspective on worship and learn practical ways to worship in your day-to-day life.Through this conversation on worship, you’ll discover… Breakthrough happens when you bring all of who you are — your hurt, frustration, joy and celebration — to the One who stands above it all. You’ve been called and appointed to a specific assignment on this earth, and the way you live your life is a form of worship. God is in every moment, and every moment can be worshipful if you remember to point your attention back to Him. Related Resources: Download our free First 5 mobile app and spend the first moments of your day with God before the hustle of your to-do list begins. We also have study guides to help you dig a little deeper into God's Word.  Purchase Mack Brock’s album, Greater Things, available now on all music platforms.  Click here to view the transcript.

Have you had a recent disagreement in a relationship, which you can’t quite find the cause of? It might be because of your expectations! One of the quickest ways to frustrate and fracture a relationship is to try and hold someone accountable for expectations that are either unrealistic or uncommunicated. In today’s episode of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, Lysa TerKeurst shares practical ways to navigate the conversation on expectations that will help you and your spouse, friend, or even co-worker, have a better relationship. You’re going to want to take notes for this one as Lysa helps you... Determine the difference between realistic and unrealistic expectations, and how to make peace with those that aren’t realistic. Understand that putting off the conversation about any kind of unmet expectation will create a wedge between you and the other person.  Make the choice to choose the relationship over the uncertainty of uncommunicated expectations today. Download the transcript for this episode here. Related Resources: Order Lysa TerKeurst’s book titled It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way! Connect with Lysa TerKeurst on Facebook and Instagram Sign up for Proverbs 31 Ministries’ FREE Encouragement for Today daily devotions delivered straight to your inbox.  Click here to view the transcript.

When you see the word “ministry,” it’s easy to think about people or organizations making big moves for God — feeding hungry children, rescuing those in slavery or speaking in front of thousands of people. But what’s so easy to overlook are life’s greatest ministry opportunities packaged in everyday moments.In today’s episode, speaker and author Whitney Capps shares her own personal struggle with turning ministry into “me-nistry” — making ministry and even your everyday routine all about “me.” Whatever your assignment is today, you’ll discover that every call is magnificent because it comes from the Magnificent One.You’ll learn… The mess you want to run from is the very ministry moment God wants you in right now. Anything you tie yourself to, besides God, will ultimately weigh you down. Being known by the famous and omniscient One is the only validation you’ll ever need. Related Resources: Are you a writer, speaker or leader? Click here to sign up for the interest list for Proverbs 31 Ministries’ She Speaks Conference. Download our First 5 mobile app to make the first five minutes of your morning count each day.  Click here to download the transcript for today’s episode. 

What kind of woman is God calling you to be today? A woman everyone likes, or a woman who is obedient no matter the cost, and humble no matter what others may think? Oftentimes the steps of obedience God asks of you might not be popular with the “in” crowd. He might ask you to go out of your way to love someone completely unlovable or stand up for someone who isn’t popular. He might even ask you to not move forward when you could so easily take matters into your own hands.But what do you do when others are looking? You have to make the choice between doing what you know is right, or doing what makes you look good right now.In today’s episode of The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, you’ll hear Meredith Brock give a fresh, applicable message on how the Lord is changing her heart to be obedient no matter the cost. You’ll learn… The choice to be obedient to God will last far longer than the approval of others. The feeling of peace doesn’t always immediately follow the decision to be obedient. How to tell if there are some voices you’re giving too much authority to in your life, and that it’s okay to silence them. The struggle to be obedient doesn’t get easier with age and brings new challenges with every season.To read this episode’s transcript, click here.Related Resources: Follow Proverbs 31 Ministries on Facebook and Instagram. Receive encouragement every weekday by subscribing to the Encouragement for Today devotions. Subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode!  

In Philippians 4:6, Paul writes, “Do not be anxious about anything…” But in today’s world, it’s hard to hold true to that promise in God’s Word. We see violence, sickness, betrayal and evil in the world ... every day, multiple times a day. So how can we “not be anxious about anything”?In this episode of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast we’ll give you the answer: stay C.A.L.M.This week’s guest is Melissa Taylor, Director of Online Bible Studies at Proverbs 31 Ministries. She led a group of over 51,000 people through Max Lucado’s book Anxious for Nothing, and it’s one of our largest online Bible studies to date!Since then, Melissa has encountered her own battles and has continued to put the C.A.L.M. acronym, based on Philippians 4:4-8, to use in her everyday life. In today’s teaching you’ll discover... How to easily memorize the C.A.L.M. acronym and put it to use the next time anxiety starts to creep in. The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional. You might not be able to control your circumstances, but you can control your thoughts. To download the transcript for this episode, click here.Related Resources: Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado Need prayer? Visit the Proverbs 31 Ministries prayer wall! Sign up for the next Online Bible Study!

Have you ever read about the woman described in Proverbs 31:10-31 and thought to yourself, I will never live up to those standards? At Proverbs 31 Ministries, we have those same thoughts!If the “Proverbs 31 woman” were on social media today, she would probably be someone we all look to, but could never live up to. This woman does everything: wakes up early, makes her own clothes, owns property, doesn’t eat carbs (if you count the bread of idleness), takes care of her husband and kids and runs her household. No wonder some of us don’t flip to that chapter in the Bible!In this episode of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, staff member Lauren Oquist dives deep into what it really means to be a Proverbs 31 woman. You’ll discover… You don’t have to be meet the qualifications listed in Proverbs 31:10-31 to a “Proverbs 31 woman.” Our standard for living should not be found in a person; it should be found in Jesus. Your genuine desire from the core of who you are to please Him is what makes you a Proverbs 31 woman. After all, Proverbs 31:10-31 is not a prescription for us to fulfill, but a testimony of how God is shaping us into His image.Download the transcript for episode 3 here, click here.Related Resources: Encouragement for Today devotions by Proverbs 31 Ministries  Embraced by Lysa TerKeurst Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl by Lysa TerKeurst

In the very first episode of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, Lysa TerKeurst shared that when seasons change, it means it’s time to let something go. The thing we most often need to let go of is unforgiveness. We’ll spend time in Genesis reading Joseph’s story of forgiveness and apply it to our own lives, and learn that while we only see the heartache, God is up to something good.“There’s always a ‘meanwhile’ to our troubles. There’s what we see, and then there’s what God is doing.” - Lysa TerKeurstLysa TerKeurst shares six practical steps you can take today in order to forgive. Although letting go is never easy, it’s an act of obedience that frees us of burdens we were never meant to carry. When we make the decision to forgive today, it stops a chain of events that could have a terrible impact down the road.In today’s episode you’ll discover... Six practical steps to letting go of unforgiveness and how to apply them to a situation in your life today. That having compassion for someone who wronged you is necessary to find grounds for forgiveness. The decision to forgive is a one-time event, but the process of forgiveness is a progression. To download this episode's transcript, click hereRelated Resources: Uninvited by Lysa TerKeurst Subscribe to the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast on iTunes New to Proverbs 31? Click here to discover all the resources we have available for FREE!  Make a donation to Proverbs 31 Ministries today!

Whether you’ve been hurt before, or you’ve inadvertently hurt someone else, this teaching on forgiveness will change the way you see yourself and others. After you listen to episode one of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast, you’ll learn that in order for the Lord to take you to a new season, you have to let go of unforgiveness.To help you understand how to forgive and grow in your calling, Proverbs 31 Ministries President Lysa TerKeurst takes us through Joseph’s journey in the book of Genesis. You’ll discover… Forgiveness, or “letting go,” is directly tied to your ability to grow in your calling. Just because you feel offended doesn’t mean you have to live offended. What you see as a rejection is often God’s protection for the calling He has for your life. To download the transcript for this episode, click here.Related Resources Uninvited by Lysa TerKeurst Connect with Lysa TerKeurst on Instagram at @lysaterkeurst Subscribe to the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast on iTunes New to Proverbs 31? Click here to discover all the resources we have available for FREE!