Do you want to feel strong and secure in this New Year 2026? I don't know about you, but I definitely do.

So I am so excited to have Lynn Cowell and Michelle Nietert back on the podcast to talk about their new devotional, *Strong and Secure. It is written for young women, high schoolers and college aged. But I have to say, the truths in the book are for any woman, because their book is all about getting to know our Heavenly Father.

In the introduction, it says, "The more we know our Father, the stronger we will be in life. You can become secure in your faith, let go of your doubts, and receive reassurance that He loves you, is there for you, and is working in your life. When we know our heavenly Father, our anxiety calms. Racing minds slow down. Rest comes." This sounds amazing, so I am excited for you to hear the wisdom in this episode.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Michelle and Lynn's book: *Strong and Secure. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodisnowdon.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/3odvd9m/strong-and-secure-devotional-giveaway

It is fun to have Michele and Lynn back on the Podcast! If you missed my first conversation with them about their book, *Loved & Cherished, please check out Episode 51 on the Depth podcast. Love this devotional they wrote for girls.

Their second book, *Managing Your Emojis. is one I wish I had when I was younger. Michelle, a counselor, gives many practical tools for us parents and for our kids too! Please check out Episode 180 on the Depth Podcast.

Book Recommendations:

• *The Father Heart of God by Floyd McClung
• *The Familiar Stranger by Tyler Staton
• *God on Mute by Pete Greig
• *Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
• *Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer

Lynn Cowell is part of the Proverbs 31 Ministries contributor team, investing in women of all ages. She is the author of several books, including *Loved & Cherished and Fearless Women of the Bible. Lynn calls home North Carolina, where she and her husband, Greg, and the occasional backyard deer are living life as "just us." Along with their children, the Cowells enjoy hiking, making pizza together, and anything that combines chocolate and peanut butter. Connect with Lynn at www.LynnCowell.com or on social media using @LynnCowell.

Licensed Professional Counselor of over 25 years and founder/clinical director of www.communitycounselingassociates.com, Michelle Nietert is the coauthor of the bestselling books *Strong and Secure, *Loved & Cherished, and *Managing Your Emojis, award-winning books Make Up Your Mind, and the Bringing Big Emotions to a Bigger God series God, I Feel Sad/Scared. A popular speaker on topics regarding mental health, faith, and parenting, she is a frequent guest on national television and podcasts, and hosts the Raising Mentally Healthy Kids podcast. She and her husband Drew have been married over 20 years with two teenage children. Connect with Michelle at www.YourMentalHealthCoach.com.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. T

Happy New Year! Have you ever read a book, and there is a quote that stands out to you? It really captivates you with the words on it!

I have to tell you about this book I read back in 2025. It was in the summer where I had taken a sabbatical after my dad passed away, and I had gotten this book from a friend called *The Well Watered Woman. At the beginning of the book, after a couple pages, this is what is says, "You don't have to be blooming to be growing." I immediately paused and thought, Oh my goodness, I needed to hear that today. Maybe you need to hear it too.

This week on the podcast, I will share some of my favorite truths from this book, *The Well Watered Woman by Gretchen Saffles. The book has so many great takeaways and words of wisdom that I know will encourage you as you start this new year, 2026. If you are looking for a great book to read too, I highly recommend this one.

Depth Podcast Episode links and Book Recommendations to Grow your Roots Deep:

• *Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength by Jodi Snowdon. What if your greatest heartbreak catapults you to your greatest growth?
• *Thrive by Mark Hall
• Depth Podcast Episode 114: I talk with Banning Liebscher about his book, *Rooted: The Hidden Places Where God Wants to Develop You. He says that God wants to grow you on the inside before he ever grows you on the outside. This hidden growth is so important.
• Depth Podcast Episode 115: I share practically how to grow deeper roots!
• Depth Podcast Episode 210 with Angie Baughman on the 5 Step Bible Study Method.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

Did you grow up in a house that talked about their emotions? Are you talking with your kids about their emotions? Emotional Literacy is so important, and I am so passionate about giving tools to others to help them in their parenting.

Last week, I shared 5 books that I read with my kids that helped them grow deeper in their faith (Depth Podcast Episode 244). This week, I want to share 5 books that I did not have when my kids were young; they had not been written yet. They are all about emotional literacy, and they are phenomenal. I cannot wait to share them with you, and I hope you will add them to your library at home.

1. Any Day Emotions by Debra Fileta

2. *What Am I Feeling by Dr. Josh & Christi Straub

3. *God, I Feel Sad by Michelle Nietert & Tama Fortner

Note: In the Series, they also have *God, I Feel Scared.

4. *Managing Your Emojis by Michelle Nietert & Lynn Cowell

To hear more about this amazing book, check out my interview with Michelle back in 2023. Link to Depth Podcast Episode 180

5. *The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld

Lastly, I teach an emotional literacy tool when I speak to mom's groups that I would love to share with you. Check out my post titled: How to Help Your Children Name Their Feelings?

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

Do you like to read to your kids or grandkids? Do you like to find Christian books with strong messages in them? Maybe it is about their identity in Christ? Maybe it is about worry and anxiety because I know that is a struggle for so many kids? Or maybe it is about helping them walk through hard circumstances?

I am so excited to share with you five of my favorite children's books that I read with my own kids! These books all have strong Christian themes and will help your kids grow deeper in their faith. This is actually Part 1 of a two-part episode, so I cannot wait to give you some great children's book recommendations for the Holidays.

Also, I am so excited for someone to win a copy of Max Lucado's book: *You Are Special. All the details of the book giveaway are on my website at jodisnowdon.com or you can click this direct link: https://kingsumo.com/g/m2d8v73/you-are-special-book-giveaway

I go into detail about each book on the episode, but I wanted to share a quick list of them below!

1. *You Are Special by Max Lucado

2. *Your Special Gift by Max Lucado

3. *It Will Be Okay by Lysa Terkeurst

4. *Win or Lose I Love You! by Lysa Terkeurst

5. Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions for Kids

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

Do you struggle with anxiety? Do you often worry or have fears? I have the greatest resource for you!

I am so excited to have Becky Keife back on the podcast. Her new book is called *A Verse a Day for the Anxious Soul: 100 Days of Peace for the Calm You Crave. This book is so good and full of truth. You are going to love hearing the peace practices Becky recommends as well as how to inhale truth and exhale trust. We talk about overcoming lies of the enemy and how to help someone else who struggles with anxiety. You do not want to miss this episode.

It is fun to have Becky back on the Podcast a second time! If you missed my first conversation with her about her book, *The Simple Difference, please check out Depth Podcast Episode 110. Becky shares the big impact from small kindness.

Book Recommendations:

• *Living Fearless by Jamie Winship
• *Soul Care by Rob Reimer

Becky Keife is the author of *A Verse a Day for the Anxious Soul, and a Bible teacher, speaker, and author passionate about helping people hear God's voice, embrace their true identity, and step into their purpose. A dedicated mental health advocate, Becky equips individuals and churches to understand anxiety biblically and experience Jesus wholly. She loves long naps, puffy clouds, and shady trails. Becky lives in Southern California with her husband and three always-hungry teenage sons.

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

In honor of my book relaunch, I am sharing this special STRENGTH acrostic episode that I recorded in 2023 around the one-year birthday of my first edition of Depth. You are going to learn so much for Evelyn Sherwood!

Have you ever felt the presence of God? Have you ever felt Him close to you? I know for me, I felt the presence of God the most in the middle of my hard seasons: my divorce, the loss of my friend, and my miscarriage. Maybe you can relate.

This week on the podcast, I am so excited to have Evelyn Sherwood. She is a friend of mine who sadly has walked through many hardships. One of the things we talk about today is just how much she felt the presence of God in the middle of this hard season. She actually says this amazing quote (I am going to give you a little sneak peek because it is so good). She says, "The sweetness of His presence far surpassed the pain of my suffering." Evelyn has so much wisdom to share with you.

So, we are going to be going through the acrostic. Today we look at S which stands for Seek God and Invite Him Into the pain. I am so excited for you to hear the wisdom from Evelyn of how she was able to seek God and invite Him into the middle of her pain. She went through an intense 18 month season where there was one storm after another, so you do not want to miss the truth she shares!

Below are the other letters from the STRENGTH acrostic in my Depth book! I will be showing all the interviews over on YouTube- one each week!

Here is the link to Evelyn's YouTube episode: https://youtu.be/aiIr2SdUyoY

• Seek God and Invite Him into the Pain -- Depth Podcast Episode 188
• Tearfully Allow Yourself Time to Grieve and Process the Emotions -- Depth Podcast Episode 189
• Replace your Finite View with God's Infinite Perspective -- Depth Podcast Episode 190
• Embrace God's Character Development in the Midst of the Chaos -- Depth Podcast Episode 191
• Never Lose Sight of God's Grace -- Depth Podcast Episode 193
• Give Praise to God Even as Your Heart Breaks -- Depth Podcast Episode 194
• Trust God is Good When Your Mind is Doubting and You Don't Understand -- Depth Podcast Episode 195
• Honestly Share Your Story and Help Another Hurting Heart -- Depth Podcast Episode 196

Evelyn wrote a post for my Heartbreak to Strength Story Blog Series back in 2021. The title of her post was Finding Strength in the Middle of the Storm, and I cannot wait for you to read her powerful article.

Book Recommendations:

• *Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy by Mark Vreogop (Check out Depth Podcast Episode 219 with Mark about Lament.)
• *Breath as Prayer by Jennifer Tucker (Check out Depth Podcast Episode 215 where I talk more about this amazing book)

Evelyn Sherwood is a trusted soul-care guide, speaker, and blogger who has served in pastoral ministry for thirty-five years. Sherwood serves an active and growing audience through her blog, evelynsherwood.com, and her bi-weekly subscription devotional Hope for the Journey, encouraging her readers to grab hold of hope in the trials by helping them recall God's work in their past. Nothing puts a smile on her face more than sharing about the faithfulness of God with a friend over a steaming cup of cappuccino or iced peach tea. On a summer evening, you might spot Evelyn and her husband, Steve, driving through Indiana farmlands in a canary yellow '47 Ford pickup or enjoying an outdoor movie night in their backyard with their eight grandkids. You can connect with Evelyn on her website, on Instagram, and you can sign up for her weekly devotional.

Check out Evelyn's amazing books:

• *Just Breathe by Evelyn Sherwood
• *Comfort and Joy by Evelyn Sherwood
• *Small Steps Matter: 30 Reminders to Breathe Through Life's Uncertainties by Evelyn Sherwood

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

Do you know my favorite chapter in my book, Depth? It is kind of like asking, "Who is your favorite child" to someone who has kids. It is very hard to narrow it down to one chapter. But one of my favorite things to talk about besides trees is my broken pot----my cracked clay pot where God taught me so much about brokenness.

Today, the Depth book is being re-launched! I am so excited that the print copy is available today, November 4th! So, to honor that, I thought I would read this special chapter in my book. God taught me so much that weekend that I broke my clay pot, and I cannot wait to read this chapter to you.

If you are feeling broken, like for me, I went through a divorce. Or life circumstances are beating you down and you feel shattered; this chapter is for you! There is so much truth in this chapter and friend, there is beauty in the brokenness. I know it is hard to see it, but I hope this chapter will give you some hope and encouragement!

For more details about my book launch, head over to my website or click this link directly on Amazon!

Have you heard the exciting news about my book? I am so jazzed to tell you that I am relaunching, Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength. I updated my cover with my new last name, Jodi Snowdon, as well as written an epilogue and added some new free resources to the back of the book.

This week on the podcast to share more about the Depth book, my husband, David, is going to be interviewing me! I am so excited to have him back on the podcast, and I think you are really going to enjoy our conversation. We dive deeper into the STRENGTH acrostic as well as what is in the new, revised and expanded edition. We even get vulnerable about the shame we felt due to divorce. You do not want to miss the heartfelt words spoken or David's cute Scottish accent.

Click Here For Details about the Book Re-Launch

It would mean so much to me if you could help in two ways:

1. Download the ebook and read a chapter or two- If you have already read the book, I recommend checking out the epilogue since it is new. Direct link: Amazon Link to ebook 2. Leave a short review on Amazon. Reviews make a huge difference in helping the book reach more readers—especially those who may need its message most.

More than anything, I'd love your prayers for those who will read it and for the impact it may have on their lives.

Thank you so much for standing with me in this exciting season. Your encouragement and support mean the world!

Love, Jodi

More Episodes on my book, *Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength

• Episode 146 (Behind the Scenes of the book & 3 year anniversary of the podcast- 2022)
• Episode 147 (Reading Chapter 1 of the Depth Book)
• Episode 148 (Going in Depth About Depth)
• Episode 192 (Happy 1st birthday of the book, Depth)

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!

Has God ever used something in His Creation to show you something about Him? Maybe a character trait? Or maybe something about your relationship with Him?

For me, God has used trees to show me how to grow deeper in my faith. I am excited to be reading a chapter to you from my book today. Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength will be re-launching October 21st for the eBook and November 4th for the print copy.

I am so excited for this relaunch and cannot wait for you to hear how you can help as well as a quick reason why. To listen to all the details, check out this special episode where I read Chapter 11: Growing Deeper Roots from my Depth Book.

It would mean so much to me if you could help in two ways:

1. Download the eBook and read a chapter or two- If you have already read the book, I recommend checking out the epilogue since it is new. 2. Leave a short review on Amazon. Reviews make a huge difference in helping the book reach more readers—especially those who may need its message most.

Here's the link to download the ebook: Amazon Link to ebook

Then click the orange button on Amazon that says: Buy now with 1-click

Depth Podcast Episode links and Book Recommendations to Grow your Roots Deep:

• *Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength by Jodi Snowdon. What if your greatest heartbreak catapults you to your greatest growth? (see below for more podcast episodes about my book)
• *Thrive by Mark Hall (the cover of this book captivated me and began my journey to discover depth!)
• *Detours by Tony Evans (an amazing book about the life of Joseph and how he grew deep roots in his faith through detours)
• Depth Podcast Episode 234: Do You Want To Be Deeply Rooted was recorded just earlier this year and goes into great detail about the books I recommend above about deep roots! I also share how to practically grow your roots deeper in your faith. I highly recommend this episode.

More Episodes on my book, *Depth: Growing Through Heartbreak to Strength

• Episode 146 (Behind the Scenes of the book & 3 year anniversary of the podcast- 2022)
• Episode 147 (Reading Chapter 1 of the Depth Book)
• Episode 148 (Going in Depth About Depth)
• Episode 192 (Happy 1st birthday of the book, Depth)

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing this book or the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank yo

How do you want to be remembered? What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?

I have been thinking about this a lot lately, especially considering what happened in our country with the assassination of Charlie Kirk. But also, because I lost my dad recently. In addition to that, many great Christian leaders have passed away in recent months like Dr. James Dobson, John MacArthur, Kay Arthur, and Phil Robertson.

Heaven has never seemed closer in the last couple months, and I have been reflecting on the end of our lives and how do we finish well. This makes me think of a Bible character, Moses. Some think he did not finish well, but I disagree. I am excited to do a Bible Shoes episode on the podcast again and dive deeper into Moses' life and how I believe he finished well.

I reference Lisa Appelo's Instagram account and her words of wisdom on grief. She is a friend who sadly lost her husband and encourages widows. She has lots to share on how public grief can affect private grief. Here is direct link to the post I read in this episode.

Lisa started Hope in Grief on her website which I have contributed to in the past years. I definitely recommend checking it out. Also, she has been a guest on my Depth Podcast twice, so I will share links below so you can listen.

• Depth Podcast Episode 127 with Lisa Appelo. We discussed her book, *Life Can Be Good Again.
• Depth Podcast Episode 12 where she shares God's faithfulness in her grief.

If you missed my introduction of Bible Shoes, I am going to be picking one person in the Bible and I am going to try to put myself in their shoes. I am going to ask myself, what are they thinking? What are they feeling? How does this relate to us in present day? Check out this blog post to explain it!

Other Depth Podcast Episodes: Bible Shoes

• Depth Podcast Episode 161: Bible Shoes on Elijah
• Depth Podcast Episode 166: Bible Shoes on the Samaritan Woman by the Well
• Depth Podcast Episode170: Bible Shoes on Holy Week

Book Recommendations:

• *The Story by Randy Frazee
• *The Heart of the Story by Randy Frazee

*Note: If you are interested in purchasing the books recommended, I would love for you to use the Amazon Affiliate link above to help support the podcast. Thank you!