Guest Bio: Steph Thurling is the Executive Director of Christian Parenting and host of The Christian Parenting Podcast as well as a speaker and the co-author of Raising Prayerful Kids. Steph has her master’s in youth, family, and culture from Fuller Theological Seminary and has a background in youth and children’s ministry. She loves helping families grow closer to each other and to God through meaningful experiences and conversations. Steph lives in Minnesota with her husband and three amazing and hilarious kids.  

Show Summary: Parenting and mentoring children comes with countless decisions—but how do you know when to say yes, when to say no, and how to hold loving boundaries that truly matter? Steph Thurling discovered the power of healthy boundaries through a difficult postpartum season and the ever-changing phases of motherhood. In this God Hears Her conversation, Elisa Morgan sits down with Steph to explore what it looks like to set wise, grace-filled boundaries, raise children who love Jesus, and keep the long view in mind through every season of parenting. 

Notes and Quotes:  

“You learn that you have to say no to things and that some things might be good for another family, but they might not be good for you.” —Steph Thurling 

“I learned that He will see me through it and that nothing is permanent. There are seasons for everything. There are seasons that will be easy and there will be seasons that will be hard, but no matter what, He is walking through it with us and will hold our hand and will light our path. We can rely on Him for provision.” —Steph Thurling 

“There is good community out there. God puts people in your life to get you through.” —Steph Thurling 

“My ultimate goal in my parenting is that my kids will know, love, follow, and share Jesus. That’s the best thing we could want for our kids. So, it’s really important that while we focus on the good things for our kids, we keep the best thing in mind.” —Steph Thurling 

“He is writing their story and I’m not. We have to trust Him with that even if it might look hard for a while.” —Steph Thurling 

Verses:  

Related Episodes:  

• GHH Ep 89 – Parenting in a Toxic Culture with Dr. Meg Meeker: https://godhearsher.org/podcast/parenting-in-a-toxic-culture/ 
• GHH Ep 133 – Helping Your Children Know Jesus with Sara Cowan Johnson: https://godhearsher.org/podcast/helping-your-children-know-jesus/ 
• GHH Ep 182 – Raising Teens with Amy Betters-Midtvedt: https://godhearsher.org/podcast/raising-teens/ 

Links:  

• The Christian Parenting Website: https://www.christianparenting.org/ 
• God Hears Her website: https://go.odb.org/ghh191  
• Subscribe to the God Hears Her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GodHearsHerODBM 
• Episode 215 Bible Study PDF: https://xvetrm.files.cmp.optimizely.com/download/assets/GHH+Podcast_EP215_Proof+2.pdf/e108db7cf60c11f08ab3028702ece562