This week on Real Talk with Rachael, I'm chatting with author Jen Weaver. Jen is passionate about helping women know the love of Christ and engage in life with Him. She’s the author of "A Wife’s Secret to Happiness" and serves as Bible teacher, ministry coach, and contributing writer for various publications. Married to her best friend Jared, she’s a happy boy mom of two young sons and is most likely to be found with her hair full of dry shampoo and a coffee mug in-hand.

Key Points from Our Conversation:

• Jen's latest book "A Wife’s Secret to Happiness" is about seeing marriages as expressions of faith, but she faced her own marriage challenges through the writing process. God was faithful to bring her health and healing through the process and used it to equip her to write the book.
• Lately, Jen has felt lead to help other believers walk in relationship with God and break free from religious traditions that are "responsible routines instead of a life-giving relationship with Him.”
• Jen found herself doing things out of fear of how others would perceive her or to "be good" instead of being motivated by the love of God. She was held back because she listened to her own insecurities. When you’re self-critical, you assume others judge you harshly as well. It's more important to have genuine health than have fake health and be okay with not being healthy on the inside.
• God is not afraid to wrestle with us, but we have to start asking questions and learning about who Jesus is for ourselves instead of relying on teachers to the Holy Spirit for us. He invites us and desires for us to know Him.
• If you want to hear the voice of God, don't stay in the place of information, ask God what He wants to show you about Him as you read the Bible. Don't disqualify yourself - God wants to speak into your life.
• Awareness of the spirit of religion can come from the perspective of who's doing the work. So often we choose to do things for God without inviting Him to be a part of it. We cannot achieve more of God's love with our actions.
• Invite Him into the hard places. “God wants to wrestle with us so our beliefs become sincere in us.” Lean into the discomfort and let the Holy Spirit be your comforter.

Resources Mentioned:

Jen's FREE Simplified Workbook to help you engage with God through Scripture

Let’s Get Real Practical:

What area of your faith are you currently wrestling? Have you talked to God about it? 

Episode Sponsor:

Daily Kairos – get 20% off when you visit rachaelgilbert.com/dailykairos and use the promo code REALTALK20 at checkout!

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