What happens when you become empty nesters and realize you need less house and more... something? In this deeply personal episode, I'm sharing the full story of our recent move, from endless house showings and a fallen-through contract to eating Chinese food on the floor and discovering what my soul was really crying out for.

This isn't just a story about downsizing or real estate. It's about what happens when God takes your practical plans and invites you into something much bigger. It's about learning that refuge isn't passive, it's active. And it's about taking the first step even when you can't see the whole staircase.

Whether you're in your own season of transition, feeling a low-grade restlessness you can't quite name, or wondering if it's okay to need something different than what you currently have, I hope this episode will encourage you to trust God's timing even when it makes absolutely no sense in the moment.

We'll have one more holiday episode airing in mid-December, and that will round out 2025's episodes. We'll look forward to seeing you in 2026!

This is a very special crossover episode airing on both the Everything Made Beautiful podcast and Masi Willis's Lead Like You Mean It podcast. Masi is one of my longest friends (we're talking almost 30 years), and this conversation is one of my favorites.

As we head into Thanksgiving, we knew we wanted to talk about gratitude, but not in the superficial way our culture often does during November. Instead, we get honest about what it looks like to practice gratitude when the holidays bring as much pain as they do promise. We talk about the gaps... the empty chairs, the relationships that aren't what we hoped, the seasons that feel more heavy than celebratory.

Masi and I both share vulnerably about our own Thanksgiving realities this year, the grief we're carrying, and how we're choosing gratitude as a daily formation rather than a seasonal performance. We also dig into how leadership coaching has transformed both of our lives, helping us know ourselves and lead ourselves well before we can truly lead others.

If you're walking into this season with a full heart or a broken one, or both at the same time, this conversation is for you. Pain and promise can coexist, and they don't have to be hopeless.

Chapters

00:00 | Introduction to the Crossover Episode

05:20 | Navigating Emptiness During the Holidays

09:08 | The Role of Faith in Gratitude

12:32 | Coexisting Pain and Promise

16:51 | Entitlement and Gratitude in Life

20:27 | The Importance of Care in Communication

24:51 | Celebration as a Communication Code

28:38 | The Importance of Celebration and Affirmation

32:28 | Hope and Purpose in Daily Life

34:51 | Influential Leaders and Their Impact

36:37 | Excellence in Leadership

37:37 | The Role of Mentorship

39:53 | Wisdom in Decision Making

42:36 | The Power of Feedback and Affirmation

43:58 | Embracing Authenticity in Leadership

45:24 | Navigating Triggers and Personal Growth

47:20 | The Ongoing Journey of Self-Improvement

49:38 | The Role of Coaching in Personal Development

52:57 | Gratitude and Vulnerability in Relationships

54:50 | Finding Peace Amidst Life's Challenges

Masi's Website: https://www.masiwillis.com/
The Lead Like You Mean It Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lead-like-you-mean-it-with-masi-willis/id1826446460
Masi On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/masiwillis/

Today, my conversation is with my dear friend Yancy Wideman Richmond and honestly, it feels so necessary. I think it's because she's shining a light on something that’s often overlooked if you’re not experiencing it firsthand: the kids growing up in the fishbowl of ministry.

Yancy is a worship leader who's been creating music for kids and families for years. But lately, God has put something else on her heart that she couldn't shake… pastor's kids. The ones who sacrifice in ways no one asks them to. The ones who notice when their parent is different on stage than at home. The ones who get overlooked for discipleship because everyone assumes they're fine.

So she's launched Stained Glass Kids: a podcast for and about ministry kids. It's so helpful and needed and it's a case study handed to church leaders on a silver platter about how to better care for their staff families.

In our conversation, Yancy shares some of the wisdom she's already gleaned: Celebrate staff kids for the sacrifice they make. Remember that your staff members are someone's spouse, someone's parent. First-borns often carry pressure in hard seasons even when parents never asked them to. And kids absolutely notice when they're treated differently because of their last name.

This episode is a big bear hug for anyone who grew up in ministry. It's also a necessary conversation for anyone in church leadership who wants to do better.

Yancy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yancynotnancy/
Stained Glass Kids on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stainedglasskids/
The Stained Glass Kids Podcast: http://stainedglasskids.com 

Yancy’s book “Sweet Sound: The Power of Discipling Kids in Worship": yancyministries.com/sweetsound 

Curriculum to teach the heart of worship: yancyministries.com/heartbeat 

Worship for Preteen/elementary ages: kidminworship.com 

Worship for young children: yancyministries.com/readysetgo 

Live events, family concerts, leading worship: yancyministries.com/events 

Today's conversation is with two of my favorite worship leaders, Jenna Nicholson and Zoe Kuhn, and I've been waiting to have this one for a while.

I first met Jenna and Zoe at a book release event I was producing at church, and they closed the night with a song called "New Thing" that absolutely slayed me. I thought it was just the season I was in that made it hit so hard, but turns out every time I hear it, it strikes me just as deeply. If you're in a season of transition, pain, confusion, or well… anything, this song is a balm to the soul.

Today, we’re talking about hidden seasons… the stretches of time when you’re wondering if God’s plan includes your dreams. Jenna shares about the question God keeps asking her: "If this doesn't happen the way you want it to, do you still think I'm good?" We talk about what it’s like to make music in Music City and how the comparison trap can’t rob you of your calling. There’s so much that’s helpful here.

These two exude joy, and this was a refreshing conversation on every level. Go right now and download their music. You won’t be disappointed, and you WILL be blessed.

Jenna and Zoe's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjennaandzoe
Jenna and Zoe's Website: https://www.jennaandzoe.com/
Jenna and Zoe's Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jenna-zo%C3%AB/1447015967
Jenna and Zoe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVHhF17oaPtU2fe5cbIh1Xw

Today's conversation is about holding grief and grace at the same time, and how God meets us in crisis moments we never saw coming. My guest is Leah Outten, author of The 16th Year, a memoir about becoming pregnant at 16 and choosing open adoption for her daughter. Leah's story is marked by an unstable childhood and searching for love and acceptance in all the wrong places. But at 16, when she found out she was pregnant, that rock bottom moment became the turning point that drew her to the Lord.

We talk about how God has used her story, helping adoptive parents know how to love their child's birth mom well, and improving adoption relationships across the country. Leah also has a devotional called Flourishing Hope inspired by fireweed, a flower that pops up after forest fires, the first sign of life returning after devastation. That's what her story is. God can regrow a forest and beauty even when everything feels burned down to ashes.

If you or someone you know is facing an unplanned pregnancy or walking through the aftermath of adoption, Leah reminds us: remember what God has done in your life. If you haven't seen it yet, look to stories like hers. Hold onto hope.

Chapters

00:00 | Introduction and Background

05:29 | The Turning Point: Teen Pregnancy and Faith

08:23 | Choosing Open Adoption: A Unique Perspective

11:32 | Navigating Fears and Building Relationships

14:20 | Parenting After Adoption: Lessons Learned

17:31 | Grief and Grace: Holding Both Together

20:32 | The Impact of Sharing Your Story

23:25 | Encouragement for Those in Crisis

26:28 | The Role of Community and Support

29:31 | Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Leah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahoutten/
Leah's Website: leahoutten.com

Leah's Memoir: https://amzn.to/42tE6ew  

Leah's Devotional: https://amzn.to/4n69Qyy

Today's conversation is one I didn't know I needed, a conversation about the Holy Spirit that's accessible, theological, and deeply practical.

My guest is Jenny Randle, author of The Promised Presence: An Introduction to Holy Spirit's Power and Authority. Jenny's journey took her from the heart of Hollywood editing DVD features for movies like Kung Fu Panda, to launching churches, raising middle schoolers (which she genuinely loves, and I'm here for that energy), and now writing books that help people understand the power of the Holy Spirit.

Here's what struck me most: Jenny is armed with confetti and creativity, yet she's also navigating a season of heartache and hardship, dealing with ongoing health challenges. She wrote this book while believing for healing, and her husband asked her the hardest question: "What if you don't get the happy ending you're wanting?" That tension, the already and not yet, is woven through this entire conversation.

We talk about the misconceptions so many of us carry about the Holy Spirit. For me, growing up, the Holy Spirit felt like someone with a ruler ready to smack my hand when I did something wrong. That's such a reductionist view of who He actually is. Jenny helps us see that the Holy Spirit isn't just our conscience, isn't an "it," and definitely isn't the ghost of Christianity just spooking around.

We dive into what it looks like to walk with Holy Spirit daily, not just in the big worship moments, but in the mundane moments of doing dishes, parenting your kids, and navigating the grocery store. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is living in us, indwelling us, when we're cooking dinner and leading meetings.

This conversation is for anyone who's felt weary, overwhelmed, or unseen by God. It's for the struggling, the weak, and those who wonder where God is. Jenny's encouragement? Slow down and see God. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Unwrap Him. Stop living distracted from His presence.

Jenny's Website: https://www.jennyrandle.com/
Jenny's Book: https://www.jennyrandle.com/presence
Jenny's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenny.randle/

Today's conversation is one I've been looking forward to having... a conversation about profound loss, tangible hope, and the ministry of presence in the darkest moments.

My guest is Ashley Opliger, author of Cradled in Hope: Trusting Jesus to Heal Your Heart as He Holds Your Baby in Heaven and founder of Bridget's Cradles, a ministry that has now placed over 30,000 cradles in 1,600 hospitals across all 50 states.

Ashley's story is marked by deep loss, but what struck me most in our conversation wasn't just what she's walked through, but how she's chosen to steward her story. She's not interested in being defined by her trials, but by how God has used them for His glory and for the good of others. We talk about the loneliness of pregnancy and infant loss, why the ministry of presence matters more than perfect words, and how to avoid the dreaded "at least" statements that so often hurt rather than help. Ashley shares about the sacred work of sitting in grief without rushing to fix it, and how she's had to wrestle with letting God's character (not her circumstances) shape her view of who He is.

This conversation is for anyone who has experienced pregnancy or infant loss, anyone who loves someone walking through that grief, or anyone who needs to hear that it's okay to bring all the hard, honest emotions to God, even the ugly ones.

Takeaways

• Ashley Opliger's journey is marked by profound loss and grief.
• Her book 'Cradled in Hope' offers guidance for grieving mothers.
• Community support is crucial for those experiencing grief.
• Grief can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness.
• It's important to be honest with God about feelings of doubt and anger.
• The ministry of presence is vital in supporting grieving families.
• Avoid using 'at least' statements when comforting someone in grief.
• Listening and offering scripture can be more helpful than trying to fix the situation.
• Suffering is a part of the Christian journey and can lead to growth.
• Hope in heaven provides comfort amidst the pain of loss.

Chapters

00:00 | Journey Through Grief and Loss

09:15 | Cradled in Hope: The Book's Purpose

15:04 | Bridget's Cradles: A Ministry Born from Loss

21:07 | Supporting Grieving Families: Practical Guidance

27:17 | Wrestling with God: Finding Hope in Suffering

30:57 | Anchoring in Faith Amidst Trials

31:45 | Understanding Suffering and God's Sovereignty

33:06 | Bringing Honest Emotions to God

35:22 | Finding Hope in Grief

37:37 | Navigating Unhelpful Comments in Grief

42:44 | The Ministry of Bridget's Cradles

44:25 | Designing a Perfect Beautiful Day

Ashley's Website: https://ashleyopliger.com/
Ashley's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleyopliger
Bridget's Cradles Website: https://bridgetscradles.com/
Cradled In Hope Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cradledinhope/
Cradled In Hope Book: https://www.amazon.com/Cradled-Hope-Heaven-Miscarriage-Stillbirth/dp/0764244345?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Cradled In Hope Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cradled-in-hope-podcast-for-grieving-moms-biblical/id1572324745

I almost didn't record this episode. I've been sitting with these thoughts for weeks, wrestling with whether to speak, when to speak, and how to speak about the cultural moment we're in.

I've been thinking a lot about September 11th lately, about who we were in those days and how we were. Republicans and Democrats wept together. Strangers helped strangers. We saw each other as Americans first, humans first. For all the horror of that day, there was something unexpectedly beautiful about how it stripped away our superficial divisions and revealed our shared humanity.

What a stark contrast to where we find ourselves now.

In this episode, I'm wading into some deep waters about the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the response from our culture, and the heartbreaking disunity I've witnessed even among believers. I share why I've drastically limited my social media intake and why I believe we were never intended to bear the weight of the world on our shoulders. I talk about the sacred rhythm of listening first, pondering deeply, and responding with compassion and intention.

I also get vulnerable about my own convictions... why I'm choosing to be a hope-bringer rather than adding fuel to the flames, and what it means practically to guard our gates, embrace the power of the pause, and look for the image of God even in those who make our blood boil.

Everything is on fire, but we don't have to add fuel to the flames. We can choose to carry water instead of matches.

This one's personal, friends. And I'm grateful you're here for the journey.

Chapters

00:00 | Introduction: A Call to Reflect

03:34 | The Weight of Words: Navigating Anger and Grief

06:45 | The Impact of Digital Overload on Compassion

09:38 | The Importance of Silence and Listening

12:41 | Shared Humanity in Times of Crisis

15:10 | Rejecting Dehumanization: Embracing the Imago Dei

18:06 | Practical Steps to Foster Hope

22:21 | Navigating Cultural Moments with Wisdom

25:14 | Personal Reflections on Recent Events

29:16 | Choosing Hope in a Divided World

Shannon's Website: shannonsuzannescott.com
Shannon's Instagram: instagram.com/shannonsscott

Today I sit down with Carl and Heather Cartee, married 26 years and hosts of their own marriage podcast, for our first deep dive into marriage on Everything Made Beautiful. This conversation is for every couple - whether you're thriving, struggling, or somewhere in between.

Carl and Heather get real about the biggest challenge they see in marriages today: the epidemic of busyness that leaves couples drifting apart without even realizing it. They share the crucial distinction between marriage as contract versus covenant, and why understanding that difference can transform how you approach conflict and commitment.

This conversation tackles practical tools for reconnecting when you feel like roommates, including their wisdom to "act your way into a feeling instead of feeling your way into an action" and "be interested, not interesting" when drawing out your spouse. We dive into why regular maintenance matters more than crisis intervention and how their own seasons of struggle led them to normalize therapy and community support.

With four teenage boys at home, they offer insight into how their marriage has evolved through different seasons and why the things that initially drew them together also became sources of conflict. They share vulnerable stories about learning to use words as tools for connection rather than weapons, and how God has refined their strengths without diminishing what makes them unique.

Whether your marriage needs a tune-up or major repair, this conversation offers hope, practical steps, and the reminder that if you're not intentionally working on your marriage, you're naturally drifting apart. Their message is clear: don't ever be discouraged - God is fighting for your marriage.

Carl + Heather's Website: https://www.carlandheather.com/
Carl + Heather's Podcast: https://www.carlandheather.com/podcast
Carl on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlcartee/
Heather on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heather.cartee/

I sit down with author Jen Thompson to discuss her book "Return to Jesus: An Invitation to Abide with Him in Every Beautiful, Stressful or Tedious Moment." This conversation is for every woman who feels overcommitted before her feet hit the floor in the morning.

Jen opens up about what prompted her to write the book... that post-pandemic season when life went from zero to 100 mph and she desperately wanted to carry the lessons of stillness into the chaos. We dive into what it really means to abide with Jesus throughout ordinary, overwhelming, and mundane moments rather than compartmentalizing our faith into just the "holy" parts of life.

The heart of our conversation tackles the plague of overcommitment that so many women face. Jen shares practical wisdom about taking your calendar before the Lord, learning to say no without explanation, and why scheduling "no plans days" might be the most counter-cultural thing you can do. We explore why our worth often gets tangled up in our productivity and how saying yes to everything might be robbing someone else of their opportunity to serve. Jen vulnerably shares about her own struggle with shame and how Jesus meets us exactly where we are - no cleaning up required. We discuss why the voices telling us to get ourselves together before coming to God sound nothing like how our Father actually speaks to us.

Whether you're drowning in expectations, numb with busyness, or simply trying to figure out how to meet with Jesus in your current season of life, this conversation offers hope, practical tools, and the reminder that you are seen, loved, and held by God in every moment.

Chapters

00:00 | Introduction and the Cost of Writing

02:59 | The Heart Behind 'Return to Jesus'

06:02 | Abiding in Busy Seasons of Life

12:33 | Navigating Overcommitment and Saying No

18:44 | Meeting Jesus in Ordinary Moments

22:07 | The Impact of Shame on Our Relationship with God

26:39 | Disrupting Patterns for an Eternal Perspective

27:23 | Disrupting the Mundane: Finding Spiritual Rhythms

30:40 | Seasons of Restoration: God’s Work in Our Lives

37:03 | Recognizing and Embracing Life's Seasons

40:47 | An Invitation to Grace: You Are Seen and Loved

44:01 | Designing Your Perfect Day: A Reflection on Joy

Jen's Website: http://www.jenthompsonauthor.com
Jen's Blog: http://www.trulyyoursjen.com
Jen's Facebook: facebook.com/trulyyoursjen
Jen's Instagram: instagram.com/trulyyoursjen
Jen's Podcast: https://jenthompsonauthor.com/the-podcast
Jen's Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/747877/return-to-jesus-by-jen-thompson/