Peace Over Perfection | Christian podcast | Devotional | Scripture, Biblical Encouragement, Bible Verses for Anxiety, Biblical Application | Trusting God

Peace Over Perfection | Christian podcast | Devotional | Scripture, Biblical Encouragement, Bible Verses for Anxiety, Biblical Application | Trusting God

By Susan ShropshireHealth & FitnessMental HealthReligion & SpiritualityChristianity
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Peace Over Perfection | Christian podcast | Devotional | Scripture, Biblical Encouragement, Bible Verses for Anxiety, Biblical Application | Trusting God episodes

  • 52 | Season Finale and what is coming next
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    Hey friend, I cannot believe we are here. This is the end of season one, and it has been a full year of walking through real life together, one week at a time.

    Season recap

    A few things we have kept coming back to this year:

    • God is in control, even when life feels out of control.

    • Trusting Him is not passive. It means doing your part and giving Him the outcome.

    • The Bible is not mainly about us. It is about God and His story.

    • God works through ordinary faithfulness, not just big moments.

    • You do not have to be perfect before you come to Jesus.

      Carry it forward

      As you move forward, I want you to remember this:

      • Keep taking the next right step, even if you cannot see the whole road.

      • Keep bringing your real heart to God instead of trying to clean yourself up first.

      • Keep guarding your heart with truth, prayer, and Scripture.

      • Keep choosing trust over fear, gratitude over negativity, and obedience over overthinking.

        Closing season

        This really is the end of the season, and I still cannot believe how fast a year went by.

        I am so grateful we have gotten to do this together, and I am currently praying and looking into what season two might look like.
        Until then, I want you to remember this: faith is not about being perfect. It is about trusting God right where you are.

        Resources Mentioned:

        Shop Scripture Based Items on our Website

        My Favorite Things on Amazon (including favorite study Bibles)
        Get on the Waitlist for the "How to Study the Bible" Course
        YouVersion Bible App
        The Bible Recap

        Connect With Me:

        Instagram: @susan.shropshire
        TikTok: @susanshropshire

         

        5 min
      • 51 | If God Knew We'd Mess Things Up, Why Create Us?
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        Have you ever wondered why God created us at all, knowing we would fail Him? He saw every wrong choice before He ever formed us. So why go through with it? Wouldn't it have been easier to skip the heartbreak altogether?

        In this episode of Peace Over Perfection, we're sitting with one of the biggest questions of our faith. If God knew we would sin, why did He create us anyway? And what is our actual purpose here on earth before heaven? This isn't a heavy theology lesson. It's a reminder that you were never God's plan B, and that the relationship He wants with you doesn't start someday in heaven. It starts right now, in your ordinary, everyday life.

        You'll learn:

        ✨ Why God created us even though He knew we would fail
        ✨ What earth is actually for, and why this life is where the relationship begins
        ✨ How to discover the purpose God has for you and the spiritual gifts He's already given you
        ✨ What a child's death or a deathbed conversion means for God's love and salvation
        ✨ The truth about hell and why God never forces anyone into a relationship with Him

        This episode is for the woman who has quietly carried the fear that she's somehow a disappointment to God. You'll walk away resting in this truth: He knew, He created you anyway, and He's inviting you into a relationship you can start growing in today.

        Resources Mentioned:

        Shop Scripture Based Items on our Website

        My Favorite Things on Amazon (including favorite study Bibles)
        Get on the Waitlist for the "How to Study the Bible" Course
        YouVersion Bible App
        The Bible Recap

        Connect With Me:

        Instagram: @susan.shropshire
        TikTok: @susanshropshire

         

        11 min
      • 50 | How to Start the Week With Peace and Not Panic
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        Do you ever feel that Sunday night dread when you realize the weekend is almost over and your mind starts racing about everything still left undone? In this episode, we talk about how to plan your week in a way that brings peace instead of panic.

        We often want freedom without a schedule, but the truth is that a schedule can actually give you more freedom. It helps you decide ahead of time where your time goes instead of letting the week control you. When you look at your time with wisdom, you can make space for what matters most.
        We also talk about doing a simple time audit, writing down your non-negotiables, and planning around the things you cannot move. You will hear why not every open block has to be productive and why rest, quiet, and breathing room matter too.
        Scripture for this episode comes from Ephesians 5:15-16 and Colossians 3:23-24. This is a reminder that all of our time matters to God, even the ordinary things like laundry, dinner, homework, and bedtime.
        In this episode, you will learn:

        • Why planning your week can bring peace.

        • How to do a simple time audit.

        • What to write down before you plan your week.

        • Why it is okay to say no.

        • How to think about everyday tasks as service to the Lord.

          Keywords
          Weekly planning, time management for moms, Sunday night anxiety, Christian time management, peace instead of panic, busy mom schedule, productivity with peace, plan your week, time audit, Colossians 3:23-24, Ephesians 5:15-16

          Resources Mentioned:

          Shop Scripture Based Items on our Website
          My Favorite Things on Amazon (including favorite study Bibles)
          Get on the Waitlist for the "How to Study the Bible" Course
          YouVersion Bible App
          The Bible Recap

          Connect With Me:

          Instagram: @susan.shropshire
          TikTok: @susanshropshire

          8 min
        • 49 | Hard Questions About the Bible: Slavery, War, and Why God Seems Cruel in the Old Testament

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          Have you ever been scrolling through social media and someone is confidently tearing the Bible apart? They point to God wiping out cities, the Bible and slavery, or the way women were treated in the Old Testament, and suddenly you don't know what to say. Maybe you've had some of those same questions yourself. Today we're going to talk about all of it, with real answers, not a dismissal and not a seminary lecture. Just an honest conversation about the hard parts of Scripture and why the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is one unified story pointing straight to Jesus.

          In this episode we talk about:

          What the Bible actually means when it says "God-breathed" and why that matters
          The difference between what the Bible describes and what God commands
          Why God commanded Israel to wipe out certain cities and what the Bible actually says about that
          What the Old Testament really says about slavery and why it looks very different from what we think
          How the Bible treats women from Genesis through the Gospels
          Why God required animal sacrifice and why we don't do that anymore
          What people mean when they say the Bible "contradicts itself" and how to respond
          How Jesus is woven throughout the entire Old Testament, not just predicted but present

          Scripture mentioned in this episode:

          2 Timothy 3:16 / Genesis 15:16 / Psalm 103:8 / Exodus 21:2 / Deuteronomy 15 / Galatians 3:28 / Isaiah 53 / John 1:29 / Hebrews 9:26 / Hebrews 10:4 / John 5:39 / Hebrews 1:1-2

          Scripture of the Week:

          Hebrews 1:1-2 "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son."

          Resources Mentioned:

          Shop Scripture Based Items on our Website
          My Favorite Things on Amazon (including favorite study Bibles)
          Get on the Waitlist for the "How to Study the Bible" Course
          YouVersion Bible App
          The Bible Recap

          Connect With Me:

          Instagram: @susan.shropshire
          TikTok: @susanshropshire

          24 min
        • 48 | Jesus Doesn’t Need You To Be Perfect: How He Changes You From the Inside Out

          Get your FREE Book - Peace in the Word

          Do you ever feel like you have to "get it together" before you can really come to God? Maybe you tell yourself, "Once I stop reacting like that… once I get consistent with my quiet time… once I finally deal with this sin… then I will have a real relationship with God."

          In this episode of Peace Over Perfection, we are talking about why that is not how the gospel works, and how Jesus actually changes us from the inside out. This is not about pretending you are fine or lowering the bar. It is about understanding what Scripture says about redemption, sanctification, and the daily, messy process of becoming more like Christ.

          You will learn:

          Why God is not surprised by your "mess" and how Psalm 139 shows he already knows you completely
          What Jesus says in Mark 7 about the real problem being in our hearts, not just in our behavior
          How redemption (Romans 3 and Titus 3) and sanctification fit together in the life of a believer
          What it means to be a "new creation" in Christ even when your habits have not caught up yet
          How Jesus welcomes sinners in Luke 15 and Romans 5:8, and what that means for you when you feel like a disappointment
          What Genesis 3 and 1 John 1:9 show us about God's response when we sin and try to hide
          Why grace is not an excuse to do whatever we want, and how Romans 6 calls us to live differently without demanding perfection

          This is not a "try harder" episode and it is not a "do whatever you want" episode. It is a reminder that you do not have to pre-clean your life before you invite Jesus in. You come to him with the real story, and he is the one who does the deep work in your heart over time.

          Scripture of the Week:

          Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV) "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."

          This Week's Challenge:

          Pay attention to where you are "pre-cleaning" for God. When you catch yourself thinking, "I need to fix this before I talk to him," stop and talk to him right there instead. Tell him the truth about what is going on and ask him to help you in the middle of it, not after you have cleaned it up.

          Resources Mentioned:

          Click to Fill Out The Podcast Feedback Form
          Shop Scripture Based Items on our Website
          My Favorite Things on Amazon (including favorite study Bibles)
          Get on the Waitlist for the "How to Study the Bible" Course
          YouVersion Bible App
          The Bible Recap

          Connect With Me:

          Instagram: @susan.shropshire
          TikTok: @susanshropshire

          12 min
        • 47 | Paralyzed By Overthinking? What To Do When You Are Afraid To Make The Wrong Decision
          Get your FREE Book - Peace in the Word

          Do you ever feel like you are begging God for clarity, but your life still feels stuck in the same place?

          You pray about it. You think about it. You replay all the options in your head. But when it comes to actually taking a step, you freeze.

          In this episode of Peace Over Perfection, we are talking about those seasons when you feel "parked" in your life and faith, and what it looks like to activate your faith and move with God instead of staying stuck in overthinking and analysis paralysis. This is not about rushing ahead or forcing things to happen. It is about learning how God often gives clarity as you walk with Him, not before you move.

          You will learn:

          Why you cannot "steer a parked car" in your spiritual life
          How God led Abraham, the priests at the Jordan, and Moses while they were in motion
          The difference between wisely seeking God and just circling in overthinking
          How to notice what is already "in your hand" in this season
          Simple, practical steps to take one next step of faith with God this week

          This is not a "just do more" episode. It is an invitation to stop living stuck in your head, start taking small steps of obedience, and trust that the God who goes before you will guide you as you move with Him.

          Resources Mentioned:

          Click to Fill Out The Podcast Feedback Form
          Shop Scripture Based Items on our Website
          My Favorite Things on Amazon (including favorite study Bibles)
          Get on the Waitlist for the "How to Study the Bible" Course
          YouVersion Bible App
          The Bible Recap

          Connect With Me:

          Instagram: @susan.shropshire
          TikTok: @susanshropshire

          14 min
        • 46 | Why Does Everything Feel Out of My Control? What God Says About Your Circumstances and Your Peace
          Get your FREE Book - Peace in the Word

          Have you ever been in the middle of something hard and felt like if you could just fix the situation, you'd finally be okay?

          In this episode of Peace Over Perfection, we're talking about why the situation isn't always the problem. It's the lens we're looking through. And while we don't always get to choose our circumstances, we do get to choose how we respond to them. Every single time.

          We walk through the story of Joseph, one of the most powerful examples in Scripture of someone who had every reason to become bitter and never did. And we talk about what it actually looks like to guard your heart and trust God in the middle of the hard stuff.

          You will learn:

          Why your response is always in your control, even when nothing else is
          What Joseph's story teaches us about trusting God through one hard thing after another
          What Proverbs 4:23 really means and why it matters for how you handle hard days
          How Romans 8:28 applies even when the thing you were afraid of actually happens
          Four practical steps you can start using today to respond from faith instead of fear

          This is not about pretending hard things aren't hard. It is about learning to trust that God is working in them even when you can't see how yet.

          Resources Mentioned:

          Click to Fill Out The Podcast Feedback Form
          Shop Scripture Based Items on our Website
          My Favorite Things on Amazon (including favorite study Bibles)
          Get on the Waitlist for the "How to Study the Bible" Course
          YouVersion Bible App
          The Bible Recap

          Connect With Me:

          Instagram: @susan.shropshire
          TikTok: @susanshropshire

          13 min
        • 45 | Grief, Loyalty, and Redemption: What the Book of Ruth Teaches Us About Trusting God in Hard Seasons
          Get your FREE Book - Peace in the Word

          Have you ever been in a season where everything fell apart at once and you couldn't see any way forward?

          Grief has a way of making us feel like our story is over. But the book of Ruth shows us something different. It shows us a God who is quietly, faithfully working even when we can't see Him moving, turning ordinary days and desperate choices into something far greater than we could have planned.

          In this episode of Peace Over Perfection, we're walking through the book of Ruth, all four chapters, and discovering how God weaves loyalty, loss, and redemption into a story that points straight to Jesus.

          You will learn:

          Why Ruth's story isn't just a love story, it's a picture of how God works behind the scenes
          What Naomi's raw, honest grief teaches us about bringing our pain to God
          How one ordinary day in an ordinary field changed everything and what that means for your life
          The role of the kinsman-redeemer and how Boaz points us directly to Jesus
          Why your ordinary faithfulness matters more than you think

          This is not a polished, everything-is-fine kind of story. It is a messy, grief-soaked, God-is-faithful story, and it might be exactly what you need to hear today.

          Resources Mentioned:

          Click to Fill Out The Podcast Feedback Form
          Shop Scripture Based Items on our Website
          My Favorite Things on Amazon (including favorite study Bibles)
          Get on the Waitlist for the "How to Study the Bible" Course
          YouVersion Bible App
          The Bible Recap

          Connect With Me:

          Instagram: @susan.shropshire
          TikTok: @susanshropshire

          14 min
        • 44 | How to Read the Bible to Actually Know God

          Click to Fill Out The Podcast Feedback Form

          Do you ever open your Bible, read a few verses, and walk away thinking, "What was I supposed to get from that?"

          Maybe you've tried to be consistent. You've sat down, read the words, but it just didn't click. It felt confusing, disconnected, or like you were missing something.

          In this episode of Peace Over Perfection, we're talking about a simple shift that can completely change how you read the Bible. This isn't about reading more or doing it perfectly. It's about changing what you're looking for when you read.

          Because the Bible was written for you, but it's not about you.

          When you stop reading Scripture to find yourself and start reading it to find God, you begin to actually know Him. And that changes everything.

          You will learn:

          Why reading the Bible can feel confusing or frustrating
          The mistake many of us make when we open Scripture
          Why the Bible is about God, not us
          How context changes everything when you read
          Simple, practical ways to read your Bible with clarity and purpose
          How looking for God in Scripture helps you actually know Him

          This is not about checking a box or finding the "perfect" quiet time. It is about building a real relationship with God through His Word. When you start seeing His character, His heart, and His plan throughout Scripture, your faith becomes deeper, stronger, and more personal.

          Resources Mentioned:

          Click to Fill Out The Podcast Feedback Form
          Shop Scripture Based Items on our Website
          My Favorite Things on Amazon (including favorite study Bibles)
          Get on the Waitlist for the "How to Study the Bible" Course
          YouVersion Bible App
          The Bible Recap

          Connect With Me:

          Instagram: @susan.shropshire
          TikTok: @susanshropshire

          15 min
        • 43 | The Peace You’re Looking For Starts with Trusting God

          Click to Fill Out The Podcast Feedback Form

          Do you ever feel like if you don't manage everything, plan every detail, or keep holding it all together, life will fall apart?

          Many Christian women live exhausted, not because life is always hard, but because they're carrying things God never asked them to carry. Control can feel responsible, productive, and protective, but underneath it is often fear, anxiety, and a struggle to trust God fully.

          In this episode of Peace Over Perfection, we're talking about the hidden cost of control, why surrender feels so hard, and how real peace begins when we loosen our grip and trust God with what was never ours to manage.

          You will learn:

          Why control often disguises itself as responsibility
          How fear and anxiety fuel the need to manage everything
          What Proverbs 3:5-6 really teaches about trust
          Why trusting God doesn't mean doing nothing
          How to know your part and leave the outcome to Him
          Practical ways to surrender control daily and find peace

          If you've been mentally exhausted, overthinking everything, or trying to hold life together on your own, this episode will remind you that peace is found in trusting God, not controlling outcomes.

          Resources Mentioned:

          Click to Fill Out The Podcast Feedback Form
          Shop Scripture Based Items on our Website
          My Favorite Things on Amazon (including favorite study Bibles)
          Get on the Waitlist for the "How to Study the Bible" Course
          YouVersion Bible App
          The Bible Recap

          Connect With Me:

          Instagram: @susan.shropshire
          TikTok: @susanshropshire

          11 min

        About Peace Over Perfection | Christian podcast | Devotional | Scripture, Biblical Encouragement, Bible Verses for Anxiety, Biblical Application | Trusting God

        From the publisher's feed

        Welcome to Peace Over Perfection — a Christian podcast for women who are overwhelmed, exhausted, or just craving peace. Each short, devotional-style episode offers biblical encouragement and real-life Biblical application to help you trust God in everyday situations.