This week, Sarah is reflecting on what it means to make space to hear in a noisy world. Looking at 1 Samuel 3:1–10 and James 1:19, We explore how listening is more than a skill — it’s a posture of attentiveness to God, to others, and to what is going on in our own hearts. This episode is a gentle invitation to slow down, notice the noise within and around us, and become the kind of people who listen well.

Reflection Questions:

1. What kinds of noise are making it hard for me to hear clearly right now?

2. When was the last time I made quiet space to listen to God?

3. Am I quick to listen, or quick to speak?

4. Is there someone in my life I need to listen to more carefully or more patiently?

5. What is going on in my own heart that I’ve been too busy to notice?

6. What might it look like for me to make a little more space to hear this week?

Connect with Sarah on Instagram: @inthedustpodcast

This week, Sarah reflects on Ephesians 4:3–5, a waiata called Me whai kia mau, and a beautiful guitar metaphor that points to Christ as the one we are tuned to. As we head toward Pentecost, this episode explores what it means to protect the unity of the Spirit, live in peace with one another, and remember that the Church is one body held together by one Spirit. If you’ve ever wondered what unity actually lookslike in everyday life, this episode is a gentle invitation to stay close to Jesus and let Him shape the way you live and love.

Link to Me whai kia mau song Me Whai Kia Mau (Live Worship at Congress 2019)Reflection Questions:

1. Where in my life or relationships is God inviting me to make every effort to protect unity?

2. Am I staying closely tuned to Jesus, or have other voices and distractions started shaping my heart more than He is?

3. How do I respond when someone in the church is different from me in personality, preference, or perspective?

4. Is there a relationship where I need to choose peace, forgiveness, or humility this week?

5. What gifts or ‘notes’ has God placed in me, and how might they contribute to the harmony of the wider body of Christ?

6. As we reflect on Pentecost, where might the Holy Spirit be inviting me to step out with greater boldness, unity, or openness to others?

You can connect with Sarah on Instagram: @inthedustpodcast

When life feels like it’s coming from all angles, the storm can reveal what our lives are really built on. In this episode, Sarah reflects on Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:24–29 and the invitation to build on bedrock—listening to His teaching and putting it into practice. You’ll hear practical questions to help you notice the strong spots and weak spots in your leadership, parenting, and daily rhythms, plus a gentle nudge toward one small next step: one conversation, one scheduled appointment, one prayer, one brave moment. Storms will come—what are they showing you, and what is Jesus inviting you to strengthen?

Reflection Questions:

• I wonder what you have noticed coming at youlately and what those storms show you about how you have been building, and what Jesus is inviting you to give some attention to?
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This week, Sarah reflects on Mother’s Day in Aotearoa through the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38–42) inspired by Faye Molen’s Bible Study from the Raise Your Voice Bible study resource. We are invited us to follow Jesus by making room—honouring the women in our lives, listening well, and choosing Christ-centred ways to challenge assumptions that silence or sideline women.

Reflection Questions

• When you hear the Mary & Martha story, what do you usually assume it’s saying? What shifts if you read it as a story of discipleship and invitation for women?
• If Martha’s unspoken question is “Jesus, are you okay with this?”, where are you asking that same question today—about who gets space, voice, influence, or access? What do you sense Jesus might be saying
• Where are you “worried and distracted by many things” right now? What’s one small, concrete way you can choose “the one thing necessary” this week (a time, a place, a practice)?
• Where do you feel pressure to perform—especially in caring roles (mothering, hosting, serving, leading)? What might it look like to receive Jesus’ gentleness instead of striving?
• Who are the “Marys” in your world—women who need space, opportunity, or encouragement to learn, lead, and grow? Name one practical action you can take this week to make room (invite, amplify, recommend, include, support).
• Where do you notice androcentric assumptions (men at the centre) shaping your context—home, workplace, church, or the way you read Scripture? How do your own background, culture, or whakapapa shape what you assume is “normal”? What would a Christ-centred alternative look like in one real situation this week?
• What are you passing on to the next generation about women and discipleship—through your jokes, your language, your expectations, and who you platform? What’s one thing you want to stop modelling, and one thing you want to start?
• Is Mother’s Day easy or complicated for you this year? Take a moment to name what’s true for you (gratitude, grief, anger, joy, numbness). What do you want to ask Jesus for today?

Connect with Sarah on Instagram @inthedustpodcast

This week, a reflection on ANZAC Day. I’m thinking about the stories we carry—how we remember God’s faithfulness, and how we pass it on.

Reflection Questions

• When you hear the phrase “Lest we forget,” what (or who) comes to mind for you—and why?
• What is one story of God’s faithfulness in your life that you don’t want to lose to time or busyness?
• Who is part of your “next generation” (kids, whānau, friends, mentees)—and what might God be inviting you to pass on to them?
• Are there any moments or milestones you sense God asking you to mark (write down, celebrate, grieve, honour)?
• What is one simple practice that would help you remember well (journal, voice note, photo, calendar reminder, family story night, prayer list)?
• Is there an anniversary/date that carries weight for you or someone you love—and what would it look like to prepare gently, ahead of time?
• What “stones of remembrance” could you put in place this month (a note, a conversation, a shared story, a small tradition)?

You can connect with Sarah on Instagram: @inthedustpodcast

This week, Sarah reflects on how tension can build up in our bodies, minds, and spirits—often without us noticing—until something invites release. Through the experience of an intense massage, she explores God’s gentle invitation toreset, release, and realign through regular practices (not one-off fixes). A reminder to ask God what you need in this season, and to choose rhythms that are kind, sustainable, and true.

Reflection Questions from this episode:

• Where am I holding tension right now—physically, emotionally, spiritually—and what might it be connected to?
• What season am I in (light/heavy/transition), and what has shifted in my responsibilities or load?
• What have I been pushing through that actually needs acknowledgement, rest, or support?
• What does “realignment” look like for me right now (not perfection, but returning to what’s true and life-giving)?
• What is one regular (not one-off) rhythm I could commit to in this season—and who could support me in it?

Journalling Questions:

• Right now, what feels “tight” in me (body/mind/spirit)? When did I first notice it, and what might it be trying to tell me?
• What have I been carrying that isn’t mine to carry? What could it look like to release it (practically and prayerfully) this week?
• What is one regular practice God might be inviting me into for this season? What’s a realistic frequency, and what might get in the way?
• If I treated my soul like I’d treat a sore muscle—kindly and consistently—what would I do differently over the next 7 days?

Related Episodes:

If this episode resonated, you might also like:

Episode 91 — Spirit-led neighbouring (#FOR)

Episode 90 — Prepared, without striving

Episode 89 — When No One Is Watching: Growing a Strong Private Life

Episode 51 — Honouring God with our Rest

Episode 55 — Honouring God with our Rest: The Pause

Episode 56 — Stop swap play

Episode 54 — Sweat, Stars and Sacred Rhythms

You can connect with Sarah on Instagram: @inthedustpodcast

This week Sarah reflects on what it looks like to love our neighbours in the season we’re in—without striving, guilt, or trying to do it all. Drawing on The Art of Neighbouring and Jesus’ words in Matthew 22:36–40, she invites us to askGod who He’s placed closest to us, and to take small, Spirit-led steps of presence, hospitality, and consistent kindness—one relationship at a time.

Reflection questions:

1. Who are the “neighbours” God has placed closest to me in this season (home, work, street), and what makes them easy or hard to love well?

2. Where have I felt guilt/striving around neighbouring—and what might Jesus be inviting me into instead (presence, consistency, one relationship at a time, boundaries)?

3. What is one small, specific next step I can take this week to be “for” someone near me (a conversation, a meal, a kind act, a prayer), and when will I do it?

You can connect with Sarah on Instagram @inthedustpodcast

Episode 90 is for anyone who wants to be prepared without slipping into striving—learning preparedness that’s love-led, not fear-driven. Scripture shows three kinds of preparedness: watchfulness for Jesus’ return (Matthew 24:42–44), steadiness for everyday life and trials (Proverbs 16:3; 2 Timothy 3:16–17), and wisdom for planning and stewardship (Proverbs 6:6–8). We also share a few practical “ant-like” ways to prepare ahead, plus reflection questions for the week.

Reflection Questions:

1. When you hear the word “prepared,” what do you feel in your body—peace, pressure, fear, motivation? Why?

2. What’s one area of life where you’ve been “scrambling” lately? What might it look like to bring that to Jesus this week?

3. Matthew 24 reminds us to “keep watch.” What helps you stay spiritually awake (and what tends to lull you to sleep)?

4. Proverbs 16:3 invites us to commit our work to the Lord. What plan, project, or worry do you need to place into His hands?

5. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 says Scripture prepares and equips us. What practice could help you engage the Bible more consistently (even in a small way)?

6. Where is God inviting you into wise preparation (like the ant)—and where might He be inviting you to release control and trust Him?

Connect with Sarah on Instagram: @inthedustpodcast

This week, Sarah explores what it means to grow a strong private life with Jesus—because the front stage is meant to be an overflow of what’s been formed backstage. With Matthew 6:1–9 (MSG) as our grounding, we reflect on a faith that isn’t performed for applause but practiced in the hidden place with the Father who sees.

Sarah shares eight simple “backstage” rhythms and a few reflection questions to help you choose one small, faithful next step in this season.

Reflection Questions:

1. “If my ‘front stage’ disappeared for a month—what would remain of my life with Jesus?”

2. “Where am I most tempted to perform for approval right now—and what would it look like to choose the secret place instead?”

3. “What’s one small backstage practice from the list that feels doable this week—and when will I do it?”

Connect with Sarah on Instagram: @inthedustpodcast

As summer turns to autumn, this is your gentle check-in—an invitation to slow down, notice what God’s been doing, and reset your rhythms for what’s ahead.

In this quarterly When Seasons Change episode of In the Dust, I share the simple reflection questions I’m using, the practical habits that have helped lately, and a few ways I’m making space for margin as the days get darker.

Come as you are, friend—let’s follow Jesus into the next season, one faithful step at a time.

Reflection Questions:

• What did I learn?

• Looking ahead: travel, deadlines, celebrations, guests & hosting, community & family
• Looking forward reflections: I want, I need, I hope
• Where will I write my answers so I can come back to them next summer?
• How is it going with my word for the year or my goals—how am I tracking?
• Is any realignment or readjustment needed?
• Is there anything that will no longer serve me as we move into this next season that I need to reimagine?
• What’s not working anymore, or what needs a plan?
• As the weather changes, what needs a plan B so I don’t have to decide on the spot?
• How is God leading me in as Summer moves into Autumn?
• What do I need to pick up or release?

You can connect with Sarah on Instagram @inthedustpodcast