Habits of Hope: Cultivating a Deeper Life with God

Have you ever walked into a room and felt completely overwhelmed—like you just didn’t have it in you to try again?

In this episode, Ginger shares a deeply personal story from a season of starting over, when anxiety, exhaustion, and the longing for connection all collided. It’s a story about what happens when you don’t feel brave, don’t feel ready, and don’t have the energy to take one more step forward.

But it’s also a story about how God meets you right there—in the middle of your limits.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why starting over feels so emotionally exhausting
• How God meets you in moments of anxiety and overwhelm
• What it looks like to receive connection instead of striving for it
• How small moments can become meaningful, lasting relationships

Key Scriptures:

• Psalm 94:19
• Isaiah 41:10

If connection feels hard right now, this episode will gently remind you—you’re not alone, and God is already at work in ways you may not yet see.

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Support the show

• Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter and the Deeper Life Collection
• Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope
• Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life(affiliate link)
• Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington
• Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick

 Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.

Have you ever walked into a room full of people—and still felt completely alone?

Loneliness is one of the deepest aches we carry, yet it’s something so many of us quietly experience. In this episode, Ginger sits down with author Kristen Strong to talk honestly about friendship, rejection, and what God is doing in seasons when connection feels out of reach.

Together, they explore why friendship can feel so hard, how our expectations can hold us back, and how God meets us right in the middle of our longing for belonging.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why loneliness doesn’t mean something is wrong with you
• How God uses lonely seasons to deepen your faith
• Simple, practical ways to begin building meaningful friendships
• The truth about vulnerability and going deeper in relationships

Key Scriptures Referenced:

• Genesis 2:18 — “It is not good for man to be alone”
• Ruth & Naomi (Book of Ruth)

If you’ve been feeling unseen, left out, or disconnected, this conversation will remind you: You are not alone—and God is already at work.

Related Resources

• Desperate Woman Seeks Friends by Kristen Strong
• Made for Friendship by Drew Hunter
• Christian Hospitality and Loneliness: How One Invitation Can Restore Hope (Episode 62)
• How to Build Strong Community When You Feel Disconnected (Episode 38)
• How to Love Others Like Jesus: Actionable Steps for Everyday Life (Episode 22)

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

💌 Send Ginger & Larissa a Message

Support the show

• Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter and the Deeper Life Collection
• Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope
• Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life(affiliate link)
• Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington
• Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick

 Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.

Have you ever wondered if the small things you do each day really matter?

In this episode, we’re talking about the power of consistency—not as pressure to do more, but as an invitation to be faithful in the small things God has placed in front of you. Because over time, those small, consistent choices don’t stay small—they shape your life.

If you’ve ever struggled with follow-through, felt overwhelmed by big changes, or wondered how real transformation happens, this conversation will encourage you. We explore how habits form, how your mind, body, and soul work together in growth, and how God meets you right in the middle of your everyday rhythms.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why small habits matter more than big intentions
• How consistency shapes your spiritual life over time
• The connection between your thoughts, actions, and growth
• Why grace—not pressure—is key to lasting change
• Practical ways to start small and stay faithful

Key Scripture:

• Luke 16:10

This episode is a gentle reminder: you don’t have to do everything—just take one small step of faithfulness and trust God to work through it.

Read the article here.

Referenced in the Episode

The Life You’ve Always Wantedby John Ortberg 

Living in Christ’s Presenceby Dallas Willard 

Holy in the Moment by Ginger Harrington

Episode 21: How to Harness the Power of Tiny Habits for Spiritual Growth (Habit Stacking)

💌 Send Ginger & Larissa a Message

Support the show

• Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter and the Deeper Life Collection
• Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope
• Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life(affiliate link)
• Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington
• Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick

 Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.

Have you ever sat down for your quiet time… and instead of feeling refreshed, you felt pressure?

Maybe it started as something meaningful—a space to meet with God, to be nourished in His Word. But somewhere along the way, it began to feel like one more thing to do. One more box to check. And instead of delight, you felt disappointment… wondering if you were doing it “right.”

If that resonates with you, this conversation is a deep breath for your soul.

In this episode of the Habits of Hope Podcast, Ginger sits down with author and Bible teacher Cara Ray to talk about what it looks like to move from performance-driven spiritual routines into a more life-giving rhythm of what she calls holy leisure—a way of enjoying God in everyday life.

Together, they unpack why so many of us quietly struggle in our time with God, and how shifting our mindset from striving to abiding can transform not just our quiet time—but our entire relationship with Him.

In This Episode, We Explore:

• Why quiet time can slowly become pressure instead of peace
• How a “checkbox mentality” shapes our experience with God
• The difference between union with Christ and communion with Him
• Why not every time in Scripture feels meaningful—and why that’s okay
• What holy leisure really means (and what it doesn’t mean)
• How to experience God in hidden, familiar, and even hard places
• Why seasons of dryness and suffering can deepen your faith
• How abiding in Christ leads to lasting fruitfulness

If your time with God has felt rushed, dry, or distant, maybe the next step isn’t trying harder.

Today's Habit of Hope:
This week, open your Bible not as a task to complete,
but as a place to meet with the God who is already with you.

Connect with Cara Ray:
Learn more about Cara Ray at her website.

Check out The Pursuit of Holy Leisure: Enjoying God in Everyday Places on Amazon. (Affiliate link at no cost to you).

Continue Listening:

• 5. What We're Doing In Our Quiet Time Right Now: Daily Devotion Tips
• 25. How to Hear God's Voice: Simple Habits for Listening to God
• 67. Seek God First: How to Order Your Life Around What Matters Most
• 69. How to Scripture Journal: A Simply Rhythm for Everyday Quiet Time
• 71. How the Holy Spirit Guides You into Truth

💌 Send Ginger & Larissa a Message

Support the show

• Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter and the Deeper Life Collection
• Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope
• Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life(affiliate link)
• Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington
• Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick

 Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.

When life feels heavy and the hard thing doesn’t quickly change, it can be difficult to hold onto hope. 

In this episode, Ginger and Larissa are joined by Dr. Brenda Pace for a meaningful conversation about the Holy Spirit as our Comforter. Together, they explore how God meets us in suffering—not always by changing our circumstances right away, but by drawing near with His presence, truth, and peace.

You’ll hear how the Holy Spirit comforts us through remembered Scripture, timely encouragement, quiet peace, and simple practices that help us notice God’s kindness in everyday life. This conversation is a reminder that you are not alone in your grief, uncertainty, or weariness. God is near, and the Holy Spirit is still at work.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 reveals God as the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort
• Why truth anchors us when fear, grief, and anxiety distort our perspective
• How the comfort we receive from God becomes comfort we can offer others
• Simple habits that help us notice God’s presence in ordinary days

Key Scriptures:
2 Corinthians 1:3–4
John 14:26

Encouragement for You

If you are walking through a difficult season, this conversation is a reminder that God is near. The Holy Spirit comforts with peace, truth, perspective, and presence. Even when circumstances don’t change right away, you are not abandoned.

If this episode encouraged you, subscribe to the channel, leave a comment sharing one way God has shown you His comfort, and send this episode to a friend who may need hope today.

Read the full article version at https://gingerharrington.com/holy-spirit-comfort-in-hard-times/

Listen to the entire Holy Spirit Series: 

Episode 71:How the Holy Spirit Guide You into Truth

Episode 72: How the Holy Spirit Helps You in Your Weakness

💌 Send Ginger & Larissa a Message

Support the show

• Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter and the Deeper Life Collection
• Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope
• Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life(affiliate link)
• Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington
• Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick

 Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.

What do you do when you feel tired, uncertain, or too overwhelmed to even know how to pray?

In this episode of the Habits of Hope Podcast, we’re continuing our Holy Spirit series by looking closely at what Scripture says about the Holy Spirit as our helper—not in theory, but in the real, everyday moments when we feel weak, unsure, or stretched beyond our strength.

This conversation centers on a powerful truth from Romans 8:26–27:
that the Spirit helps us in our weakness, even when we don’t have the words to pray.

Read the full article at GingerHarrington.com/holy-spirit-help-in-weakness/ 

Together, we explore what it means to:

• Receive help instead of trying to carry everything on your own
• Understand weakness not as failure, but as a place where God meets you
• Trust that the Holy Spirit is actively interceding on your behalf
• Draw near to God with confidence, even when you feel unsure or unsteady

You’ll also hear how this truth connects to:

• Hebrews 4:16 — coming to the throne of grace to receive help
• Isaiah 41:10 — God strengthening and upholding you
• Psalm 46:1 — God as your very present help in trouble

If you’ve ever felt like you should be stronger by now…
or wondered why prayer feels hard in certain seasons…

this episode will gently remind you:

You are not alone in your weakness.
And God’s help is not distant—it is present, steady, and enough for this moment.

Don't miss the first episode in our Holy Spirit Series:

Episode 71. How the Holy Spirit Guides You Into Truth

💌 Send Ginger & Larissa a Message

Support the show

• Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter and the Deeper Life Collection
• Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope
• Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life(affiliate link)
• Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington
• Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick

 Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.

Have you ever wanted God’s guidance but felt unsure what that actually looks like?

Many conversations about spiritual guidance focus on experiences, methods, or expectations. But what does the Bible actually say about how the Holy Spirit guides us?

In this episode of the Habits of Hope Podcast, Ginger Harrington and Larissa Traquair begin a three-part series on the Holy Spirit by focusing on one foundational truth: the Holy Spirit guides believers into truth.

Together they explore what Scripture teaches about spiritual guidance, including how the Spirit:

• Guides us into truth (John 16:13)
• Teaches and reveals spiritual understanding
• Convicts us without condemning us
• Confirms our identity in Christ
• Leads us in a lifelong relationship with God

Rather than creating a formula for guidance, this conversation returns to the steady foundation of Scripture and the quiet work of the Spirit already present in the life of every believer.

You’ll also discover a simple Habit of Hope to practice this week:
Trust the Holy Spirit to guide you into truth.

If you’ve ever felt pressure to “figure out God’s will,” this episode offers a calmer, biblical perspective on learning to walk with the Spirit.

Read the full article version or watch the video at https://gingerharrington.com/holy-spirit-guidance/

💌 Send Ginger & Larissa a Message

Support the show

• Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter and the Deeper Life Collection
• Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope
• Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life(affiliate link)
• Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington
• Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick

 Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.

Have you ever noticed how easily your work can start defining your worth?

At some point many of us begin asking our work to answer identity questions it was never meant to answer.

In this episode of the Habits of Hope Podcast, Ginger Harrington shares a message about the difference between working for your worth and working from your worth.

Originally prepared for the Texas Christian Writers Conference, this conversation explores how Scripture invites us to live in a different order:

✨ Beloved before performance
✨ Worth before work
✨ Faithfulness over results

Takeaways:

• It’s easy to let response or results determine our sense of worth.
• We often begin asking our work to answer identity questions it was never meant to answer.
• “I have to” language reveals pressure and insecurity.
• “I get to” language reflects stewardship and identity.
• Jesus’ identity was declared before His ministry began.
• Faithfulness is our responsibility; increase belongs to God.
• Releasing outcomes restores joy and freedom in our work.
• When worth is settled, excellence becomes worship.

When our worth is settled in Christ, our work becomes worship instead of striving.

Read the full article at GingerHarrington.com

📚 Mentioned in this episode
 Living in Christ’s Presence: Final Words on Heaven and the Kingdom of God — Dallas Willard

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases.

Free download: Worth & Work: 15 Habits of Hope for Your Work

The Worth & Work Series on Habits of Hope:

• 28. Redefining Success: Trusting God with Our Work
• 29. Commit Your Work to God: How to Align Your Work to God’s Purpose
• 31. How to Build the Habit of Trusting God with Our Work

🎧 Listen now and be encouraged to write, work, and live from your worth—not for it.

💌 Send Ginger & Larissa a Message

Support the show

• Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter and the Deeper Life Collection
• Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope
• Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life(affiliate link)
• Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington
• Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick

 Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.

Have you ever opened your Bible, read a few verses, and wondered what to do next?

In this episode of the we are sharing a simple, approachable way to scripture journal—without pressure, formulas, or perfection. This gentle rhythm helps turn Bible reading into a real conversation with God by slowing down long enough to listen.

Instead of mastering a method, you’ll learn a repeatable three-step rhythm you can return to anytime:
• Write Scripture
• Meditate on it
• Respond to God

Whether you’re new to scripture journaling, returning to a quiet time habit that has slipped, or looking for a way to stay present with God when life feels rushed, this episode offers encouragement, permission, and practical guidance for everyday quiet time.

✨ One verse. One pause. One honest conversation.

🎧 Listen in and practice this rhythm for yourself—and if this episode encourages you, consider sharing it with a friend or leaving a review to help others find hope right where they are.

Read the full article or watch the video here.

💌 Send Ginger & Larissa a Message

Support the show

• Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter and the Deeper Life Collection
• Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope
• Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life(affiliate link)
• Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington
• Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick

 Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.

What do you do when someone you love walks away from faith—or from you? In this tender, hope-building conversation, Ginger sits down with Monica Schmelter to talk honestly about the ache of unanswered prayers, the temptation to second-guess yourself, and what it looks like to keep praying when you feel worn down.

Monica shares her own prodigal journey, practical ways to pray Scripture, and a powerful reminder for every parent, grandparent, spouse, or loved one in the waiting: you can set wise boundaries, keep loving well, and trust that God is still working—even when you can’t see it yet.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How to respond when guilt and “what ifs” torment you
• Why praying Scripture can steady you in long seasons of waiting
• What persistent prayer can look like when you’re tired and out of words
• How to love your prodigal without making every conversation a sermon
• Why boundaries aren’t failure—and why your friends shouldn’t judge you for them
• A hope-filled reminder: “Life continues and we wait—and that happens together.”

Scripture mentioned:
Luke 15; 2 Peter 3; 1 John 5:14–15; John 15:7; Romans 2:4; Luke 18:1; Isaiah 59:1; Matthew 7:7

Connect with Monica:

• Website: monicaschmelter.com
• Find her on Facebook
• Monica also hosts Bridges (Christian Television Network) and the Hope for the Journey podcast.

Next step:
If your heart is aching for a prodigal today, remember this: God sees, He hears, and God loves your prodigal even more than you ever could—today is not the end of the story.

Read the full article at GingerHarrington.com

💌 Send Ginger & Larissa a Message

Support the show

• Sign up for Ginger’s Newsletter and the Deeper Life Collection
• Support the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/habitsofhope
• Get Ginger’s Book: Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life(affiliate link)
• Ginger's Website: https://gingerharrington.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingerharrington/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingHarrington
• Larissa’s Website:https://www.gr8tfulchick.com/
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gr8tfulchick/
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gr8tfulchick

 Habits of Hope Podcast  is for informational and inspirational purposes only. This podcast is not a substitute for professional advice—spiritual, medical, legal, or otherwise.