Welcome to Real Talk with Rachael Gilbert! We're continuing our annual Process & Pray series. Last week, we looked back at 2025 and processed both the hard and the good. If you missed that episode, you'll want to start there.

Today, we turn our hearts toward the future. While there is a time to look back, looking back with longing can keep us stuck. Remember Lot's wife (Luke 17:32). God invites us to let go so we can move forward in faith.

A powerful way to move forward is to ask Him for vision. We may not get the whole picture, but He always gives the next step.

● What am I longing for in the past that I need to let go of? ● What regrets do I need to release? ● What vision is God giving me for 2026? ● Jesus, what bold prayers do You want me to pray? ● What word are You speaking over my year? ● What verses do You want me to cling to in 2026?

Still need a Christmas gift? My book Image Restored makes a meaningful one. Grab it at imagerestoredbook.com. And don't forget to join my monthly JOYmail newsletter so you don't miss exciting updates coming to the podcast in 2026.

Welcome to Real Talk with Rachael Gilbert! I've missed you. My last episode was in May, and I'm excited to say God has been speaking about this show. I have some fun updates coming in 2026!

Today we're kicking off our two-part Process & Pray series. Every December, we slow down and reflect so we can enter the new year with clarity and peace. This week, we're focusing on processing 2025, both the hard and the good.

Good: Create a faith timeline of the ways God showed up this year.

Hard: Give yourself space to grieve disappointments, setbacks, rejections, and regrets.

Joel 2:25 1 Peter 5:10

● What do I need to grieve from this year? ● What regrets do I need to release? ● What victories or breakthroughs came this year? ● What from my faith timeline is God asking me to carry into next year?

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This week on Real Talk with Rachael, I'm sharing a quick, honest episode about something I've been wrestling with - what do you do when God doesn't seem to be speaking? I've been questioning the future of the podcast and feeling that silence - maybe you can relate. Is there an area where God feels distant right now? I'm encouraging you to think back to the last thing He asked us to do, even if it felt small or insignificant. Did you follow through? Maybe He's still speaking in ways we didn't expect.

I don't know exactly what's next for Real Talk with Rachael, but I do know this: my ministry is just getting started. God is stirring new vision and dreams in my heart, and I'd love for you to be part of the journey.

Make sure you're subscribed to my newsletter at rachaelgilbert.com

In the #1 spot on Real Talk with Rachael's top 10 countdown, Dana K. White from A Slob Comes Clean kicked off the first episode of 2019 with practical and hilarious wisdom on decluttering. As an author, podcaster, and self-proclaimed "hopelessly messy" person turned decluttering expert, Dana shares her journey of tackling her own home and helping others do the same. She offers realistic tips on managing clutter, from her container concept to simple laundry strategies, and explains how clutter struggles can impact women's sense of identity. Dana also opens up about how letting others into her mess helped her grow.

In the #2 spot on Real Talk with Rachael's top 10 countdown, I celebrate my parents' 50th wedding anniversary with my four older siblings. Together, we reflect on the powerful lessons we've learned from our mom and dad—one from each kid. From the importance of building a foundation of faith to the power of unconditional love, we share heartfelt (and often humorous) memories of growing up in a family of seven. With plenty of sibling banter, including tales of family vacations, this episode is a sweet tribute to a lasting legacy of love, teamwork, and unwavering faith.

In the #3 spot on Real Talk with Rachael's top 10 countdown, Sandy Jobe shares heartfelt wisdom on marriage, family, and the power of prayer. As a homemaker, author, and Women's Ministries Care Pastor, Sandy encourages us to embrace gratitude in every season and bring everything—even the little things—to God in prayer. She reminds us that healthy marriages require both partners doing their part, while trusting God to work on the other.

Sandy also highlights the importance of vulnerability in community, warning against the trap of comparison fueled by social media. She encourages being a "change agent" in your marriage by serving your spouse in practical ways and addressing unmet, unspoken expectations. Finally, she shares the value of slowing down and making time to gather at the table—it's where real connection happens. This week, challenge yourself to pray about the little things you've overlooked. Nothing is too small for God's care.

In the #4 spot on Real Talk with Rachael's top 10 countdown, author Sarah Philpott shares wisdom from her book, The Growing Season: A Year of Down-on-the-Farm Devotions. Using farming as a powerful metaphor, Sarah explains the importance of spiritual rest—just as fallow ground needs time to replenish its nutrients, we need seasons of stillness to restore our souls. She encourages pruning commitments that no longer fit your priorities, even if they're "good" things, and reminds us that no one is doing it all. Sarah also highlights the beauty of spiritual growth—when the fruit of the Spirit flows more naturally, you'll know you're maturing. Whether you're planting new seeds or finally seeing the fruits of long-term effort, trust that God is working in every season.

This week, ask Him, What area do You want to grow in my life? and What's my part in that growth? Then write it down—you might be surprised by what He reveals.

In the #5 spot on Real Talk with Rachael's top 10 countdown, Heather Johnson from Revelation Wellness shares powerful insights on finding joy, walking in intimacy with God, and living with intention. She reminds us that loving others starts with being loved by the Father—when we run dry, it's His love that refills us. Heather encourages us to slow down, sit with God, and let Him minister to us, even when it feels vulnerable. She also highlights that joy isn't based on circumstances—it's the atmosphere of God's kingdom, learned through both sorrow and celebration. Living well takes daily, intentional heart checks—bringing hidden struggles into the light and letting God heal them.

This week, try practicing a two-minute breath prayer and regularly check in with your heart. Let God meet you right where you are.

In the #6 spot on Real Talk with Rachael's top 10 countdown, author Lauren Chandler shares insights from her Bible study, With Us in the Wilderness: A Study of the Book of Numbers. She reminds us that God's plan has always included women and that even the difficult passages in Scripture reveal His heart for justice and restoration. Lauren encourages us to approach the Bible with prayer and patience, trusting that God's voice will always align with His character. She also dives into how wilderness seasons—though challenging—are where God recenters our lives around Him. Community is essential in these times, even when past hurts make it hard to trust again. Lauren's message is full of grace: your wilderness won't last forever, God is with you in it, and He doesn't waste a single moment. If you're feeling stuck, take time this week to pray and ask God, Where are You in this season? And where am I? He's closer than you think.

In the #7 spot on Real Talk with Rachael's top 10 countdown, Dr. Juli Slattery joins the conversation to share wisdom on marriage, intimacy, and the power dynamics at play in relationships. As a clinical psychologist and co-founder of Authentic Intimacy, Juli helps women understand how to use their influence in marriage in a way that builds up rather than controls. She explains that men thrive when they feel believed in, supported, and encouraged rather than micromanaged. She also dives into how sex is a spiritual battleground—designed by God for deep intimacy but often attacked by fear, shame, and past wounds. Juli encourages couples to pray about their sex life, seek expert help when needed, and fight for their marriage with God's perspective. She reminds us that healthy conflict is about teamwork, not winning, and that the real battle in marriage is often spiritual. This week, take time to ask God where the enemy may be attacking your relationship and how you can partner with Him to strengthen it.