Pursuing Hearts

Episode Summary:

In this episode, we open up about what it’s really like to grieve during seasons of transition. If you’re in a space where something is ending or shifting—and you’re not quite sure what’s next—you’re not alone. We share our honest reflections, not as people who have figured it all out, but as women who are still walking through it with God.

We talk about how easy it is to get stuck—emotionally, spiritually, and even practically—when life doesn’t go the way we planned. There were moments when I wanted clarity more than peace, and God gently showed me I couldn’t always have both. I had to choose. And I chose peace.

You’ll hear how we’re learning to let go of doing and embrace being, allowing God to meet us right where we are.

Highlights from Our Conversation:

• We’ve discovered that grieving what’s ending is necessary before I can move forward healthily.
• We asked God to prepare our hearts even to want the future—because sometimes fear and disappointment made us resist dreaming again.
• Choosing peace over understanding didn’t come naturally—but it gave us room to heal.
• I didn’t realize how much my identity was wrapped up in doing—and learning to be with God has been one of the hardest and most healing parts of this season.
• Looking back and remembering the good that came from the past helped me grieve more fully and celebrate what I gained along the way.
• I’m learning that healing doesn’t mean the sadness disappears—it just means I’m no longer stuck.
• Being kind to myself has been a much-needed change in perspective. 
• As my heart healed, I found myself growing closer to God. That intimacy is what helps me keep moving forward.
• Transition seasons have helped us see what we don’t want in the future—and made space for better alignment with what really matters.

📖 Scripture That Encouraged Me (NLT):

• Deuteronomy 8 – God reminded me that even the wilderness has purpose, and the promised land is still ahead.
• John 15:11 – “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!”
• Romans 14:17 – “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
• Matthew 5:4 – “God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

Resources

The Pause App is available on the App Store & Google Play. Download them here.

Experiencing Jesus. Really - John Eldredge

Support the Podcast:
If this episode blessed you, consider supporting us by leaving a review and sharing with a friend.

Connect with Cheryl Ziegler at cherylziegler.com.

Connect with Clarette on X at @claretteduplooy or deployingclarity.com.

In this episode of Pursuing Hearts,  we open up about an often-overlooked aspect of life transitions: grief. Through vulnerable storytelling and honest reflection, we share what it feels like to let go of dreams, roles, or seasons that didn’t unfold as hoped. They discuss the tug-of-war between hope and hopelessness, and how our identities can become deeply intertwined with what we do. 

As we reflect on our journeys, we also discover how God meets us in our grief—not to discard our past, but to realign our hearts, deepen our trust, and shape our future. If you’re walking through an uncertain transition, this episode offers grace, space, and hope for what comes next.

Episode Highlights

• The difference between accepting an ending in your mind vs. in your emotions
• How grief can be delayed by clinging to hope or resisting change
• The role of hopelessness in prompting honest reflection and growth
• The internal struggle with identity loss when what we “do” ends or shifts
• Why even unfulfilled dreams are not wasted in God’s hands
• The loneliness of grieving dreams others may not understand
• Trusting God’s character more than His visible actions
• Inviting Jesus into your grieving process, one step at a time
• Shifting from “doing” for God to “being” with God

📖 Scripture References (NLT)

• 1 Samuel 16:1
  “Now the Lord said to Samuel, ‘You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.’”
• Ephesians 3:20
  “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”
• John 15:2
  “He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.”
• Romans 8:28
  “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

Resources

The Pause App is available on the App Store & Google Play. Download them here.

Experiencing Jesus. Really - John Eldredge

Support the Podcast:
If this episode blessed you, consider supporting us by leaving a review and sharing with a friend.

Connect with Cheryl Ziegler at cherylziegler.com.

Connect with Clarette on X at @claretteduplooy or deployingclarity.com.

In this heartfelt conversation, we continue to explore what it means to find joy during a transitional season. We explore the emotional tension of letting go of what was, sitting in the uncertainty of what’s next, and learning how to stay grounded in God’s presence through it all.  

Rather than forcing ourselves to be “happy,” we’ve discovered that joy often looks like peace, rest, or quiet contentment. We share how slowing down, creating new rhythms, and embracing creativity helped us rediscover joy in the simple things.  

This episode is filled with real talk about grief, boredom, letting go of control, and the surprising beauty of unlearning old patterns. It’s an honest and hope-filled reminder that in every wilderness season, there is still joy to be found when we choose to be present and partner with God in the moment.

💡 Highlights of our discussion include:

• We share how we attempt to navigate transition seasons with intentionality and grace.
• We acknowledge the emotional tension of grief, uncertainty, and letting go.
• Joy doesn’t always look like celebration—sometimes it’s contentment, peace, or simply presence.
• How reframing our mindset from “What don’t I have?” to “What do I already have?” became a turning point.
• Rest and margin allowed us to connect more deeply with God and others.
• Be open to new rhythms: less busyness, more stillness, and the freedom to enjoy the moment.
• Creativity became a surprising source of joy—through food, art, or trying something new.
• We talk about the power of unlearning old habits and forming healthier, grace-filled patterns.
• Trusting God in the slow seasons helped shift their focus from doing to being.
• A fresh invitation is offered to find joy right where you are—even in the simple, unexpected things.

📖 Scriptures

• Matthew 11:28–30 (The Message)
  “Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.”
• Matthew 6:34 (NIV)
  “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
• Luke 10:41–42 (NIV)
  “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
• John 6:9 (NIV)
  “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
• Proverbs 10:22 (NIV)
  “The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it.”

Support the Podcast:
If this episode blessed you, consider supporting us by leaving a review and sharing with a friend.

Connect with Cheryl Ziegler at cherylziegler.com.

Connect with Clarette on X at @claretteduplooy or deployingclarity.com.

In this honest conversation, we open up about how seasons of transition impacts the joy we have in our relationship with God.  This episode is a warm invitation to embark on the journey, no matter how uncertain or challenging it may feel.

Highlights of our discussion include:

💫 Joy is often found not in the absence of difficulty, but in the presence of God.

🌱 The importance of seeing God in the small things—whether it's an early package delivery or a symbolic race number.

🙌 Worship as a lifestyle, not just a moment—how to carry a heart of praise into the mundane. We can stay in a posture of worship throughout our day.

💡 The difference between trusting in God’s character vs. expecting certain outcomes.

🧩 How contentment and joy can coexist with unanswered questions and unknown outcomes.

🧭 Why it’s okay to struggle, wrestle, and even kick and scream—and how God lovingly walks with us anyway.

🎁 The invitation to recognize God’s hand in every part of your journey—and how doing so can shift everything.

Whether you’re at the beginning, middle, or end of a transition, this episode will leave you encouraged to look for joy in unexpected places—and trust that God is forming something beautiful in you through it all.

📖 Scripture References Mentioned:

Psalm 16:11 – “In your presence there is fullness of joy…”

Zephaniah 3:17 – “He rejoices over you with singing.”

Romans 12:1 (implied) – Worship as a living sacrifice, a lifestyle.

Psalm 65 – “Even silence is praise.”

 Philippians 4:11–12 – “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am…” 

Deuteronomy 8 – God's purpose in the wilderness: to reveal His faithfulness.

Support the Podcast:
If this episode blessed you, consider supporting us by leaving a review and sharing with a friend.

Connect with Cheryl Ziegler at cherylziegler.com.

Connect with Clarette on X at @claretteduplooy or deployingclarity.com.

In this deeply personal episode, we unpack how transition seasons—whether spiritual, professional, or emotional—don’t happen in isolation. Our transitions affect the people closest to us: our friends, families, communities, and even those we lead.

While we explore the powerful story of Joshua stepping into leadership after Moses, we also dive into what it means to navigate change while honoring others, choosing wise counsel, and discerning when to share what God is doing in our lives.

You’ll walk away with wisdom on how to filter advice through God’s voice, steward your relationships through change, and walk your journey with intentionality and grace.

💡 Key Themes Covered:

• Your influence matters — How others experience your transition
• God’s advice vs. good advice — How to filter well-meaning opinions
• Vulnerability with discernment — Avoiding oversharing during sensitive seasons
• The strength of a safe community — Trusting those with a track record
• Encouraging without comparison — Resisting the fear of falling behind
• When your breakthrough becomes communal — The ripple effect of your obedience
• Walking through long transitions — What to do when the waiting stretches

📖 Scripture References:

• Joshua 1:1–2 – “Moses my servant is dead… Now then, you and all these people, get ready…”
• Joshua 3:4 – “You have not been this way before…”
• Philippians 3:13 – “…forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead…”
• Isaiah 43:18–19 – “See, I am doing a new thing!”
• Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 – “There is a time for everything…”
• Deuteronomy 34:5–9 – The baton passes from Moses to Joshua
• Proverbs 15:22 – “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
• Psalm 69:6 (paraphrased) – “Don’t let my journey be a stumbling block to others.”
• John 21:21–22 – “What is that to you? You must follow me.”

🎧 Your transition may feel personal—but it’s not private. Others are affected. Join us in this honest and Spirit-led conversation about navigating change while staying rooted in love, wisdom, and community.

Support the Podcast:
If this episode blessed you, consider supporting us by leaving a review and sharing with a friend.

Connect with Cheryl Ziegler at cherylziegler.com.

Connect with Clarette on X at @claretteduplooy or deployingclarity.com.

In this session we open up about how seasons of transition don’t just change our circumstances—they challenge our identity. When the things we’ve leaned on for worth, security, or significance begin to shift, it can feel disorienting. But what if that’s exactly where God wants to meet us?

We talk about how God uses these in-between seasons to reveal what’s going on beneath the surface—what we trust, what we fear, and where our identity might be tied to performance instead of purpose. Like Joseph, who was tested in the waiting (Psalm 105:19), we too are shaped in the hidden places long before our dreams are fulfilled.

We also explore how easy it is to fall into the trap of comparison, cultural pressure, and striving to prove our worth. But God’s process is never wasted. It’s part of His purpose for our becoming.

Whether you're navigating a career shift, motherhood transition, spiritual wilderness, or personal reinvention, this episode will help you:
•Recognize where your identity might be misaligned
•Release false definitions of success
•Embrace God's slow work in you
•Lean into trust when outcomes are unclear
•Let God redefine what legacy means

 Scriptures We Discuss:
•Psalm 105:19 (NLT) – “Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.”

•Micah 6:5 (NLT) – “Don’t you remember, my people, how King Balak of Moab tried to have you cursed, and how Balaam son of Beor blessed you instead? And remember your journey from Acacia Grove to Gilgal, when I, the Lord, did everything I could to teach you about my faithfulness.”

•Philippians 1:6 (NIV) – “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

•James 1:23–24 (NIV) – “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.”

•Micah 6:8 (NIV) – “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Support the Podcast:
If this episode blessed you, consider supporting us by leaving a review and sharing with a friend.

Connect with Cheryl Ziegler at cherylziegler.com.

Connect with Clarette on X at @claretteduplooy or deployingclarity.com.

In this episode, we share how seasons of transition can deeply impact your relationship with God. Transition often brings emotional highs and lows, revealing whether your faith is just head knowledge or rooted in real experience. We discuss how this season invites us to trust God more deeply and shift our focus from doing for Him to simply being with Him.

High points of the conversation include:

• Transition reveals the depth and authenticity of your relationship with God.
• Learning to focus on who God is, not just what He does.
• Seeing God open doors through grace, not striving.
• Realizing God’s favor and provision often come unexpectedly.
• Asking, “God, are You enough if nothing changes?”
• Embracing stillness and time with God as purposeful.
• Letting one Scripture become an anchor through the season.

If you’re in a similar season, this episode gently invites you to reflect on what God is doing in you, not just around you. It’s a reminder that you are seen, loved, and led—even in the waiting.

Scripture References from the Episode:

1. Philippians 3:10 – “I want to know Christ...” (the heart cry to know God more deeply)
2. Isaiah 41:10 (AMP) – “Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you… I will help you…” (a key verse that brought comfort and strength)
3. Luke 1:28 – “You are highly favored…” (Mary was greeted with this, and it’s a reminder that we walk in God’s favor too)
4. Philippians 1:6 (NKJV) – “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

Support the Podcast:
If this episode blessed you, consider supporting us by leaving a review and sharing with a friend.

Connect with Cheryl Ziegler at cherylziegler.com.

Connect with Clarette on X at @claretteduplooy or deployingclarity.com.

Are you feeling like something is shifting in your life but not sure what it is? You might be in a transition season—a sacred in-between space where God is moving you from what was into what’s next.

In this episode, we share personal stories and biblical insights to help you recognize the signs of transition, respond well, and walk with God through the unknown. 

 Our conversation explores how transition can be either invited by God or forced upon us, and how crucial it is to stay present with Him during the process. We draw parallels to the Israelites’ Exodus journey, highlighting that every believer will experience their version of being led out of Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the Promised Land. 

If you’re sensing change or feeling stuck, this conversation will give you clarity, hope, and encouragement for the road ahead.

Scripture References:

• Ecclesiastes 3:1 – There is a season for everything.
• 1 Kings 17:7 – Elijah and the brook that dried up.
• Exodus (various) – The Israelites’ journey from Egypt to the Promised Land.
• Psalm 78 – A reflection on God’s faithfulness in the wilderness.
• Deuteronomy 8:2 – God tests and reveals what’s in the heart during the wilderness.
• Joshua 1:5 – “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you.”
• Romans 8:28 – God works all things for the good.
• Romans 8:37 – We are more than conquerors.

Support the Podcast:
If this episode blessed you, consider supporting us by leaving a review and sharing with a friend.

Connect with Cheryl Ziegler at cherylziegler.com.

Connect with Clarette on X at @claretteduplooy or deployingclarity.com.

Are you in a season where the old ways no longer work, and you sense that God is shifting things—but you're not sure what’s next? Transitions can feel unsettling, but they’re also an invitation to something greater.

In this episode, we talk about the tension of letting go and stepping into the unknown. Maybe what once brought success, fulfillment, or clarity now feels misaligned. Maybe doors are closing, and you're wondering, What now? We want to remind you: God isn’t just closing doors—He’s opening new opportunities.

Join us as we share personal stories, biblical wisdom, and practical steps to help you:
✔ Recognize when God is leading you into a Transition Season
✔ Let go of fear and embrace faith, even when the path isn’t clear
✔ Trust God’s timing and direction without forcing things
✔ See transitions as a setup for transformation, not just an ending
✔ Release old patterns that no longer serve you and embrace God’s new opportunities

If you're feeling stuck, restless, or uncertain, this episode is for you. Your transition isn’t just about what’s ending—it’s about what God is making new.

Scripture References:

Jeremiah 29:11 – God’s plans for us are good, to prosper and not to harm, giving us a future and hope.

• Ecclesiastes 3:1 – There is a season for everything, a time for every purpose under heaven.
• Isaiah 43:19 – Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
• Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
• Psalm 37:23 – The steps of a righteous person are ordered by the Lord.

Support the Podcast:
If this episode blessed you, consider supporting us by leaving a review and sharing with a friend.

Connect with Cheryl Ziegler at cherylziegler.com.

Connect with Clarette on X at @claretteduplooy or deployingclarity.com.