Living Simply Redeemed - Finding Joy, with Marlena

Some weeks we feel unwell: a head cold, a hard season, a Sunday-night heaviness we can't quite name. And our first reach is for a little sugar. Recorded partly from Miches in the Dominican Republic, this episode starts at a steakhouse table where Marlena said no to dessert, then goes back to a Friday evening when her whole house went down with a cold, and the whisper she heard in the middle of it: "I was already healing you, even before you started getting sick."

In this episode:

• Why the little nudges are often God preparing you, the way Joseph filled the barns before the famine
• The Sunday scaries and the everyday sugar we reach for: scrolling, snacking, over-planning, numbing out
• Two ways we strive: the woman who feels she's not enough, and the woman who believes she always has to be the strong one
• Protection, not punishment, and what an empty field teaches about waiting
• A word for anyone living with chronic illness, and for the caregivers beside them
• Abiding grace: the grace that stays, wave after wave
• The recipe for restoration: rest, nourishment, and time

This week's one step: The next time that Sunday-night heaviness rolls in, or you catch yourself pushing through a day you have no business pushing through, stop for one breath and ask: Am I reaching for sugar, or am I letting God heal me?

This week's challenge: Pick one thing on your list and let it wait, on purpose. Then do the restful thing instead.

Mentioned: The Abiding Grace Planner — a gentle place to catch the nudges and walk your season with Him.

Stay connected: If this episode spoke to you, share it with a sister who needs it.

Resources

• Purchase the Abiding Grace Planner: https://livingsimplyredeemed.com/product/abiding-grace-planner/
• Socials and Such on Linktree: https://livingsimplyredeemed.com/product/abiding-grace-planner/
• Subscribe to the LivingSimplyRedeemed Newsletter: https://living-simply-redeemed.ck.page/6803ad07bb 
• Official Website: LivingSimplyRedeemed.com

Where to Listen & Subscribe

• YouTube Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@marlenajsmith 
• Apple & Spotify  Podcasts via Transistor FM: https://livingsimplyredeemed.transistor.fm/ 

New episodes release weekly! 

Subscribe, share with a friend who needs this encouragement, and drop a DM to share how this episode resonated with you.

What does safety mean to you? Not the safety someone else promises, but the safety you carry because of whose you are. In this episode, Marlena reflects on a powerful moment from Tracee Ellis Ross, two lenses of safety in Scripture (resting in God's shelter and standing in His authority), hitting "the wall," and what Peter teaches us about resisting God's work. You'll also hear the story of a loaf of Brazilian cheese bread, a prep kitchen, and a woman named Dani who made room.

Stay for the gentle self-check, "Which One Am I In?", a word for the one who's anxious to please, and one small step to take this week.

In this episode

• Tracee Ellis Ross on reestablishing safety for yourself
• Two lenses of safety: "I've got you" and "You have authority in Christ"
• A self-assessment: five everyday women and three quiet questions
• A word for the one who's anxious to please
• Hitting the wall, perimenopause, and the holy "no"
• Peter, "Get behind me, Satan," and the difference between resisting the enemy and resisting God
• Test everything, and hold on to what is good
• "Simply Redeemed" and being a daughter of the King
• Dani's cheese bread, and making room

Key Scriptures

Psalm 4:8 · Proverbs 18:10 · Deuteronomy 33:27 · Ephesians 6:10–14 · Luke 10:19 · 2 Timothy 1:7 · Galatians 1:10 · 1 Peter 3:4 · Ephesians 4:26 · Matthew 5:37 · 1 Kings 19:1–8 · Matthew 16:18–23 · 1 Peter 5:8–10 · James 4:7 · 1 Thessalonians 5:21 · Job 12:13 · Isaiah 43:1–2 · Genesis 50:20 · 2 Corinthians 1:4 · Psalm 46 · Zephaniah 3:17

A few Resources mentioned

• Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero: 
  https://www.amazon.com/Emotionally-Healthy-Spirituality-Participants-Expanded/dp/0310132126 

• Anxious to Please: 7 Revolutionary Practices for the Chronically Nice by James Rapson and Craig English:
  https://www.amazon.com/Anxious-Please-Revolutionary-Practices-Chronically/dp/1402206526 

• 2027 Abiding Grace Planner by Marlena Smith: 
  https://livingsimplyredeemed.com/product/abiding-grace-planner/

• Dani's Brazilian Cheese Bread: 
  https://www.danisbraziliankitchen.com/

Episodes referenced

Ep. 2: Overwhelmed & Carrying Too Much? · Ep. 3: Stop Apologizing for Your Mess · Ep. 4: Strike the Ground Again! · Ep. 5: Hearing God in Your Coffeehouse

Resources

• Purchase the Abiding Grace Planner: https://livingsimplyredeemed.com/product/abiding-grace-planner/
• Socials and Such on Linktree: https://livingsimplyredeemed.com/product/abiding-grace-planner/
• Subscribe to the LivingSimplyRedeemed Newsletter: https://living-simply-redeemed.ck.page/6803ad07bb 
• Official Website: LivingSimplyRedeemed.com

Where to Listen & Subscribe

• YouTube Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@marlenajsmith 
• Apple & Spotify  Podcasts via Transistor FM: https://livingsimplyredeemed.transistor.fm/ 

New episodes release weekly! 

Subscribe, share with a friend who needs this encouragement, and drop a DM to share how this episode resonated with you.

What if the noise of everyday life isn't the problem,  just the room we practice in? In this episode, Marlena opens the door to a busy coffeehouse and asks when we became so enamored with noise. She shares the story of an unexpected altar call at a table, walks through Priscilla Shirer's seven keys to discerning God's voice, Dr. D'Ann V. Johnson's Seasons of a Woman's Life, and the Abiding Grace Planner's seven-step path to hearing God. Plus: a little of Steven Bartlett's Signal vs. Noise recommendation, reimagined for the Kingdom.

Resources & Freebies mentioned

• Discerning the Voice of God — Priscilla Shirer
• The Seasons of a Woman's Life — Dr. D'Ann Johnson
• Abiding Grace 2027 Planner 
• Stephen Bartlett - Behind the Scenes of The Diary of a CEO - Signal vs Noise - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzVuNxEVScs
• FREE DOWNLOAD — Hearing God worksheets from the Abiding Grace Planner

Stay Connected

• Socials and Such on Linktree: https://livingsimplyredeemed.com/product/abiding-grace-planner/
• Subscribe to the LivingSimplyRedeemed Newsletter: https://living-simply-redeemed.ck.page/6803ad07bb 
• Official Website: LivingSimplyRedeemed.com

Where to Listen & Subscribe

• YouTube Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@marlenajsmith 
• Apple & Spotify  Podcasts via Transistor FM: https://livingsimplyredeemed.transistor.fm/ 

New episodes release weekly! 

Subscribe, share with a friend who needs this encouragement, and drop a DM to share how this episode resonated with you.

Have you been praying for someone for so long that your prayers have gotten quiet, safe, and small? If you've been asking God to bless and help the people you love when what they really need is an awakening, this episode is for you.

In this episode, Marlena shares how God convicted her about praying "safe prayers" and challenged her to pray for true Damascus Road encounters for her husband, family, friends, and even coworkers. Through the stories of Saul and Ananias, and Elisha's call to "strike the ground again," she opens up about her sabbatical, learning to fight in the spirit, finding her voice as the quiet last of six, and stewarding well what God has entrusted to us. The episode closes with a bold prayer you can speak over anyone God has placed on your heart.

In this episode:

• Why safe prayers can keep us from praying for real transformation
• What Saul and Ananias teach us about blindness, assignment, and being ready
• How to stop stopping at three, and pray the Word with persistence and authority

Chapters: 

• 00:11 Introduction
• 01:08 Welcome to Living Simply Redeemed
• 01:35 A Confession About Safe Prayers
• 03:36 The Story of Saul and Ananias
• 06:38 My Own Damascus Road
• 09:37 Learning to Fight
• 14:20 Out of the Comfort Zone and Into Authority
• 16:41 Those in Our Circle
• 18:28 Why This is Personal for Me
• 20:24 A Prayer for Those We Love
• 25:21 Closing

Resources

• Purchase the Abiding Grace Planner: https://livingsimplyredeemed.com/product/abiding-grace-planner/
• Socials and Such on Linktree: https://livingsimplyredeemed.com/product/abiding-grace-planner/
• Subscribe to the LivingSimplyRedeemed Newsletter: https://living-simply-redeemed.ck.page/6803ad07bb 
• Official Website: LivingSimplyRedeemed.com

Where to Listen & Subscribe

• YouTube Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@marlenajsmith 
• Apple & Spotify  Podcasts via Transistor FM: https://livingsimplyredeemed.transistor.fm/ 

New episodes release weekly! 

Subscribe, share with a friend who needs this encouragement, and drop a DM to share how this episode resonated with you.

Do you immediately catch yourself saying, "Please excuse the mess," whenever someone steps into your home or life? If you’ve been holding off on taking action on a message God gave you, or if you're striving for a spotless, picture-perfect life that actually keeps people at arm’s length, this episode is a warm invitation to embrace grace.

Drawing from lessons at a work vending machine, the Parable of the Great Banquet in Luke 14, and nostalgic memories of her father’s cluttered, creative workspace, Marlena explores why perfection isn't what invites community... authenticity is.

Inside this episode, we’re unpacking:

• The Vending Machine & Expired Opportunities: Why storing up God's Word without acting on it turns nourishment into neglect, and how to respond in season.

• The Banquet Table Principle (Luke 14): Why you should never stop setting your table or sharing your gifts, even when the people you expected don't show up.

• Lessons from My Father’s Desk: How a cluttered, creative workspace offered permission, curiosity, and connection rather than rigid perfection.

• Creating Welcoming Spaces: Why sterile perfection rarely invites real relationships, and how your everyday "lived-in" spaces create sanctuary for others.

You don't need a spotless space or a perfect life to invite people in or obey God's voice. Pull up a chair, leave the clutter as it is, and let's dive in together.

Resources

• Purchase the Abiding Grace Planner: https://livingsimplyredeemed.com/product/abiding-grace-planner/
• Socials and Such on Linktree: https://livingsimplyredeemed.com/product/abiding-grace-planner/
• Subscribe to the LivingSimplyRedeemed Newsletter: https://living-simply-redeemed.ck.page/6803ad07bb 
• Official Website: LivingSimplyRedeemed.com

Where to Listen & Subscribe

• YouTube Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@marlenajsmith 
• Apple & Spotify  Podcasts via Transistor FM: https://livingsimplyredeemed.transistor.fm/ 

New episodes release weekly! 

Subscribe, share with a friend who needs this encouragement, and drop a DM to share how this episode resonated with you.

Have you ever reacted to a situation and immediately wondered, "Why did I just respond like that?" If you’re an empath who constantly absorbs other people's emotional weight, or if you feel like past, hurt versions of yourself keep taking the wheel when stress hits, this episode will help you reclaim the driver's seat.

In this deep dive, Marlena shares a powerful mindset model called "The Bus" to help you distinguish between your present redeemed self, past versions of you that need releasing, and emotional baggage that was never yours to carry in the first place.

Inside this episode, we’re unpacking:

• The Bus Analogy & Unacknowledged Passengers: How past versions of you (and other people's drama) hijack your reactions and steer your daily choices.
• Empath Boundaries & Spiritual Discernment: Why you can carry someone in prayer without letting their emotional turmoil take over your peace.
• Forgiving vs. Releasing: Why extending forgiveness on paper isn't the same as releasing the physical and emotional hold of past trauma.
• Morning Self vs. Evening Self: How to recognize your peak clarity hours, protect your energy when depleted, and write down the vision (Habakkuk 2:2) when you are sharpest.

You are no longer that wounded child or exhausted past version of yourself. You are equipped, redeemed, and seated in authority today. Take a deep breath and let's clear out the bus together.

Resources

• Purchase the Abiding Grace Planner: https://livingsimplyredeemed.com/product/abiding-grace-planner/
• Socials and Such on Linktree: https://livingsimplyredeemed.com/product/abiding-grace-planner/
• Subscribe to the LivingSimplyRedeemed Newsletter: https://living-simply-redeemed.ck.page/6803ad07bb 
• Official Website: LivingSimplyRedeemed.com

Where to Listen & Subscribe

• YouTube Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@marlenajsmith 
• Apple & Spotify  Podcasts via Transistor FM: https://livingsimplyredeemed.transistor.fm/ 

New episodes release weekly! 

Subscribe, share with a friend who needs this encouragement, and drop a DM to share how this episode resonated with you.

Are you currently sitting in a waiting season, feeling stuck, burnt out, or wondering why you keep running into dead ends? If you’ve been choosing "safe" and comfortable options over the quiet nudge God gave you; only to find yourself overwhelmed and exhausted? This episode is your sign to take a deep breath and reset.

In this foundational opening episode, Marlena gets honest about what happens when we run toward comfort instead of obedience, how life's heavy seasons can feel like getting "swallowed by the whale," and why your current waiting room is never about you not being enough.

Inside this episode, we’re unpacking:

• The "Whale" & Your Waiting Season: Why getting swallowed by circumstances isn't the end of your story, but the pivot point toward your true assignment.
• The Cost of Choosing "Safe": How self-doubt and imposter syndrome disguise themselves as "practical" decisions, leading to burnout instead of peace.
• Active Rest & Tilling Your Soil: Why a sabbatical isn't just sitting still, but an active transformation where healing, rest, and preparation happen together.
• The Widow’s Oil & Your Small "Yes": How bringing whatever small portion you currently have unlocks God’s supernatural multiplication and clarity.
• Birthing Abiding Grace: The personal journey behind how the Abiding Grace Planner was birthed out of a season of active waiting and obedience.

You don't need a massive plan to move forward. You just need the willingness to bring what you have. Soften your shoulders, grab your coffee, and let's walk through this together.

Resources

• Purchase the Abiding Grace Planner: https://livingsimplyredeemed.com/product/abiding-grace-planner/
• Socials and Such on Linktree: https://livingsimplyredeemed.com/product/abiding-grace-planner/
• Subscribe to the LivingSimplyRedeemed Newsletter: https://living-simply-redeemed.ck.page/6803ad07bb 
• Official Website: LivingSimplyRedeemed.com

Where to Listen & Subscribe

• YouTube Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@marlenajsmith 
• Apple & Spotify  Podcasts via Transistor FM: https://livingsimplyredeemed.transistor.fm/ 

New episodes release weekly! 

Subscribe, share with a friend who needs this encouragement, and drop a DM to share how this episode resonated with you.

Have you ever thrown your hands up, hit a wall of distraction or transition, and declared, "I'm never creating again"? If you are a visionary, creator, or woman called to make an impact in your home, community, or work... but feel too overwhelmed or busy to start? This episode is your official invitation home.

In this introductory teaser, I'll opening up about the excuses we give ourselves, the noise of life's transitions, and what it actually takes to stop delaying, reclaim your God-given gifts, and find your joy again.

Inside this trailer, we’re unpacking:

• My "I'm Never Creating Again" Tantrum: 
  Why external barriers aren't what's holding you back.  And why it’s time to stop giving yourself excuses.

•  The 5 Pillars of Living Simply Redeemed we'll touch often:
  • Living Life Simply: Cultivating peace in your home.
  • Living Redeemed: Resting in God's saving grace.
  • Living with a Calling: Using your gifts in every space you occupy.
  • Living Between: Finding strength through messy life transitions.
  • Living & Growing: Embracing continuous revelation and growth.

• Answering the Hard Questions: How to hear from God, see the vision, build intentional spaces, and know where to begin when you're starting fresh.

• Grace Over Judgment: Why we are all beautifully flawed daughters of a King who is still doing His good work in us.

Take a moment to pause, breathe, and remember that grace often shows up in the simplest parts of your day. 
Hit subscribe, grab your favorite warm drink, and let's find the joy together! 

Meet Your Host
I’m Marlena…  a Mom, Daughter, Sister, Friend, Worshipper, Tech Nerd, Creator, Foodie, and Believer…called to a purpose greater than I could ever fathom. Though "podcast creator" wasn't originally on her bingo card, I’m opening my heart and real-life reflections to walk alongside you in every season.

Resources

• Purchase the Abiding Grace Planner: https://livingsimplyredeemed.com/product/abiding-grace-planner/
• Socials and Such on Linktree: https://livingsimplyredeemed.com/product/abiding-grace-planner/
• Subscribe to the LivingSimplyRedeemed Newsletter: https://living-simply-redeemed.ck.page/6803ad07bb 
• Official Website: LivingSimplyRedeemed.com

Where to Listen & Subscribe

• YouTube Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@marlenajsmith 
• Apple & Spotify  Podcasts via Transistor FM: https://livingsimplyredeemed.transistor.fm/ 

New episodes release weekly! 

Subscribe, share with a friend who needs this encouragement, and drop a DM to share how this episode resonated with you.