The Love Offering

Have you ever replayed a conversation with your child and wondered, What did I do wrong? Maybe you’re grieving choices you never imagined, a relationship that feels strained, or an empty chair at your family’s table. You love your child deeply, but you’re unsure how to stay connected while remaining faithful to what you believe.

This week on The Love Offering Podcast, my friend Erica Wiggenhorn joins me for a tender, honest conversation about her book, Loving Your Wayward Child. Drawing from her own unfinished family story, Erica offers encouragement for parents navigating heartbreak, guilt, and the helplessness of wanting to fix something they cannot control.

We talk about:

• Releasing shame and the question, “Is this my fault?”
• Responding from faith rather than fear.
• Loving your child while holding onto your convictions.
• Pursuing connection without demanding a response.
• Finding safe community when you’re tempted to isolate.
• Trusting God’s presence and love when you cannot see what He is doing.

 Whatever your relationship with your child looks like today, you can bring your heartache to Him. You don’t need every answer to take the next faithful step. I hope this conversation helps you feel less alone and reminds you that you can entrust both your child and your own heart to the Lord. 

Connect with Erica: https://ericawiggenhorn.com/
Explore her book: https://ericawiggenhorn.com/loving-your-wayward-child/
Learn about MOMentum: https://ericawiggenhorn.com/momentum/

Connect with Rachael: https://rachaelkadams.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachaeladamsauthor/
Discover more podcasts: https://www.lifeaudio.com/

Subscribe, share this episode with a friend, and join us as we learn to make our lives an offering of love.

#ChristianParenting #EricaWiggenhorn #TheLoveOfferingPodcast

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Have you ever wondered, “If I really trusted God, would I still feel this scared?” Maybe you’re worried about your children, afraid of what others might think, or hesitant to say yes to something God is asking you to do. You want to be faithful, but the fear hasn’t gone away.

This week on The Love Offering Podcast, I’m talking with Jess Connolly about her book, You Can’t Be Brave Until You’re Scared. This conversation met me in such a personal place. I shared how fear once led me to change my college major—and how I still get nervous doing the very things God has called me to do. Jess reminded me that courage can look like trusting Him while our hands are still trembling.

Together, we talk about:

*Why feeling afraid doesn’t mean you’ve failed at faith

*How naming your fears can help you bring them honestly to God

*Choosing God’s approval over the approval of others

*Trusting Him with our children and the stories He is writing in their lives

*Taking another faithful step when obedience doesn’t turn out as we hoped

If you’ve been waiting to feel ready, confident, or completely unafraid, I hope you’ll listen. You don’t have to hide your fear from the Lord. You can bring it to Him and ask, “What does courage look like for me today?” He is with you in the answer—and in the next step.

 

Connect with Jess:

Website: https://www.jessconnolly.com/

Book: https://www.jessconnolly.com/ycbbuy

 

Connect with Rachael:

Website: https://rachaelkadams.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachaeladamsauthor/

 

Thank you to LifeAudio for supporting The Love Offering Podcast.

https://www.lifeaudio.com/

 

Subscribe for more conversations about loving God and loving others. Share this episode with a friend who could use some courage today.

Support the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/

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Have you ever finished a long day, looked at everything you didn’t get done, and felt like you were falling behind? I have. Sometimes we’re carrying far more than anyone can see, yet we still expect ourselves to keep going as though nothing is heavy.

This week on The Love Offering Podcast, I’m talking with Leslie M. Bosserman, author of Emotional Endurance, about what it takes to move through setbacks and disappointment with hope. We talk about:

• Why a setback doesn’t have to become your identity

• What to do when healing takes longer than you hoped

• How to notice when you need rest before you reach a breaking point

• A simple “ta-da list” that helped me see my day differently

That last idea met me right where I am. As someone who loves a to-do list, I needed Leslie’s reminder to notice the good God has already done in and through me, even when the list isn’t finished.

If you’re emotionally tired, I hope you’ll listen to this conversation. You can bring your weariness to Jesus, receive support, and take the next step with Him.

Connect with Leslie:

• Emotional Endurance Book: www.EmotionalEnduranceBook.com
• Read More + Subscribe on Substack: www.lesliembosserman.substack.com
• Follow on Instagram: www.instagram.com/leadwithintention
• Watch Leslie’s TEDxTalk: www.bit.ly/TEDxLeslie
• Leslie’s Coaching Practice: www.LeadWithIntention.com
• Get Your FREE Gifts: www.lesliembosserman.com/gifts

Connect with Rachael:

https://rachaelkadams.com/

Support the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Some conversations ask us to slow down, listen with compassion, and make room for the pain others may be carrying. This week's episode of The Love Offering Podcast is one of those conversations. I'm joined by Ellen Mary Dykas, director of Equipping for Ministry to Women at Harvest USA, to talk about finding hope after sexual betrayal. Whether this is part of your own story or you want to better support someone you love, Ellen offers compassionate, biblical guidance for walking through heartbreak with wisdom and grace.

In our conversation, we discuss:

• Why sexual betrayal can feel so traumatic and disorienting
• Why a wife is not responsible for her husband's sinful choices
• How to recognize genuine repentance
• The differences between forgiveness, reconciliation, and restored trust
• How wise boundaries can support safety and healing
• What to look for in a trustworthy counselor, pastor, or friend
• How Jesus meets us in the middle of an unwanted journey

If this subject is tender for you, please listen with care. You do not have to minimize your pain, rush your healing, or determine the entire future today. Jesus sees you, draws near to your broken heart, and will help you take the next faithful step. 

Access the free six-session video course, Hope in Your Heartbreak: First Steps for Sexually Betrayed Wives:
https://harvestusa.org/hope/

Learn more about Harvest USA and its resources:
https://harvestusa.org/

Connect with Rachael:
https://rachaelkadams.com/

If you are in danger or fear for your safety, contact emergency services or a qualified local professional who can help you create a safety plan.

Support the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/

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The rooms we tend are shaping the lives lived within them. The meals prepared in our kitchens, conversations shared around our tables, prayers whispered beside beds, and people welcomed through our doors all help turn a house into a home. This quiet, faithful work may feel ordinary, but it creates a place of peace, belonging, and love.

This week on The Love Offering Podcast, I’m talking with bestselling author Myquillyn Smith about her new book, House Hushing. Myquillyn offers such practical and freeing wisdom for creating a home that feels peaceful, personal, and full of soul—without filling it with more stuff or waiting until everything is perfect.

In our conversation, we talk about:

• Quieting the visual noise that can leave us feeling overwhelmed
• “Decluttering backward” without immediately getting rid of anything
• Releasing the guilt attached to sentimental or gifted belongings
• Creating a home that tells the story of the people who live there
• Welcoming others before everything feels finished
• Choosing connection over perfection

Myquillyn’s words reminded me that tending our homes is about more than decorating. It is an opportunity to faithfully steward what God has entrusted to us. Our homes don’t have to be perfect to have a beautiful purpose—they can become places where our families rest, friends feel safe, neighbors are welcomed, and Christ’s love is generously offered. I hope this conversation encourages you to see your home, and the faithful care you give it, with fresh eyes.

Learn more about Myquillyn Smith:

Website: https://thenester.com/
Follow Myquillyn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenester/
Find House Hushing wherever books are sold.

Connect with Rachael:

Website: https://rachaelkadams.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachaeladamsauthor/
The Love Offering Podcast: https://rachaelkadams.com/the-love-offering-podcast/

Support the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Have you ever felt a little lost when something that once defined your days suddenly changed?

Children grow up. Careers shift. Ministries evolve. Dreams unfold differently than we imagined. Sometimes a season ends long before we are ready—and when our identity has become tangled up in what we do, that change can leave us wondering who we are.

This week on The Love Offering Podcast, I’m talking with my friend Elizabeth Laing Thompson about her new 90-day devotional, In Season. Although the book was written for young female athletes, our conversation is for every woman who has felt pressure to perform, walked through disappointment, or questioned her worth when life did not go according to plan.

Elizabeth and I talk about:

• Separating who we are from what we do
• Finding hidden growth within disappointment
• Quieting comparison and listening to God’s voice
• Making room for God during busy seasons
• Receiving rest as an act of trust

Friend, your worth is not measured by your performance, productivity, or recognition. Roles change, accomplishments fade, and seasons end—but you remain a beloved daughter of God.

Connect with Elizabeth Laing Thompson:
Website: https://lizzylife.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethlaingthompson
YouTube: Search “Elizabeth Laing Thompson”

Learn more about Rachael Adams:
https://rachaelkadams.com

Discover more faith-filled podcasts from LifeAudio:
https://www.lifeaudio.com

Support the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What if the darkest seasons of your life are not evidence that God has abandoned you—but the very soil where He is quietly growing something good?

This week on The Love Offering Podcast, I’m talking with my dear friend Nicole Jacobsmeyer, author of Something Good Will Grow. Through her experiences with cancer, miscarriage, depression, rejection, and other deep wounds, Nicole has learned that God’s goodness is not absent in our suffering—even when we cannot yet see what He is doing.

Nicole shares the beautiful imagery of flowers that bloom at night, quietly opening in the darkness for an audience of One. Together, we talk about trusting God when life feels like more than we can handle, waiting when our prayers seem unanswered, wrestling honestly with doubt, and loving others well through seasons of suffering.

If you are walking through a painful or uncertain season, I pray this conversation reminds you that you have not been forgotten. God is with you in the darkness, His grace is sufficient, and something good can still grow.

Connect with Nicole Jacobsmeyer

• Website: NicoleJacobsmeyer.com
• Instagram: @nicolejacobsmeyer
• Facebook: Nicole R. Jacobsmeyer
• Book: Something Good Will Grow
• Newsletter: Visit Nicole’s website to subscribe to her Front Porch Letters.

Connect with Rachael Adams

• Website: RachaelKAdams.com
• Instagram: @rachaeladamsauthor
• Facebook: @rachaeladamsauthor
• Podcast: The Love Offering Podcast
• Contact: Connect with Rachael

Support the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this special bonus episode from The Bible Explained, Host Jenn Kokal is joined by Kristy Graham, a dedicated wife, mom, and communications expert at Samaritan's Purse. Kristy shares her personal story of how her family's life was shaped by their involvement with Samaritan's Purse, and how her role in the organization's podcast, On the Ground, has been a game-changer for her faith.

Kristy talks about the importance of prayer in the ministry, and how the organization's staff starts each day with Scripture and prayer. She shares stories of the organization's work in disaster relief, including training for doctors and nurses fighting the Ebola epidemic, their response to Hurricane Helene, and helping those devastated by earthquakes in Venezuela. Through these stories, Kristy highlights the impact of Samaritan's Purse's work in bringing hope, love, and comfort to those affected by disaster.

Kristy also opens up about her own journey of learning to rely on God's strength, rather than her own. She shares how her role in the podcast has taught her the importance of rest and surrender, and how she's learning to say yes to God's plans, even when they don't make sense to her.

Kristy's vulnerability and passion for her work will inspire you to take a closer look at your own faith in the One who comforts, heals, and loves.

Listen to On the Ground with Samaritan's Purse to hear more faith-based stories of God's provision.

Discover how you can get involved with Samaritan's Purse

Learn about Operation Christmas Child

Check out LifeAudio for other faith-based podcasts on parenting, studying Scripture, and more.

Support the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Have you ever walked through a season when simply making it through the day felt like all you could manage?

Maybe grief has changed everything. Perhaps the future looks nothing like you imagined, or someone you love is hurting, and you don’t know what to say.

When life feels this heavy, people often encourage us to “hang in there.” But what happens when we no longer have the strength to keep holding on?

My guest on this week’s episode of The Love Offering Podcast, Cheri Fletcher, shared a truth I haven’t stopped thinking about:

“I’m not hanging in there. I’m being held in there.”

After unexpectedly losing her daughter, Annie, in 2023, Cheri began recognizing the ways God had gone before her and prepared people and provisions to help carry her through her grief.

His care didn’t take away her pain, but it reminded her that she wasn’t walking through it alone.

Sometimes God’s presence looked like a friend sending a Scripture or prayer. Sometimes it was a neighbor bringing flowers, a pastor calling to check in, or even a bird singing outside her window.

Each small kindness became a quiet reminder: You are still being held.

In our tender conversation, Cheri shares:

• How to recognize God’s presence in the midst of grief

• Why sorrow may rewrite our stories without changing our identities

• How joy and heartache can exist at the same time

• What to say when we don’t know how to comfort someone

• Why our roles may change, but our purpose remains eternal

Cheri also reminds us that we don’t need perfect words to love a grieving person well. Sometimes a simple “I’m so sorry,” a listening ear, or the willingness to say their loved one’s name can be a meaningful offering of love.

If you feel like you are barely hanging on today, I pray this promise encourages you:

“I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
—Isaiah 41:10

Friend, your hope isn’t found in how tightly you can hold on to God. Your hope is found in the truth that He is holding on to you.

You are not forgotten. You are not alone. You are not merely hanging on.

You are being held.

With love,
Rachael

CONNECT WITH CHERI FLETCHER:

Website and grief resources: https://cherifletcher.com

Explore Cheri’s Beyond “I Don’t Know What to Say” Grief Communication Cards and her private community, Now What? A Quiet Place for Grief.

CONNECT WITH RACHAEL ADAMS:

Website: https://rachaelkadams.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachaeladamsauthor
Learn more about Everyday Prayers for Love and A Little Goes a Long Way: https://rachaelkadams.com/books

Listen to more episodes of The Love Offering Podcast: https://rachaelkadams.com/the-love-offering-podcast

Support the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Have you ever approached your time with Jesus as one more task to complete? Read the Bible. Say the prayers. Check the box. Move on with the day. I understand that tendency because I've felt it too. We can love Jesus deeply while quietly treating our relationship with Him like a performance review—always wondering whether we are doing enough, growing enough, or getting it right. But Jesus never asked us to perform for His presence. He simply invited us to remain. In this week's episode of The Love Offering Podcast, I'm talking with author and speaker Christine Hoy about her book, Keeping Company with Jesus: Finding Peace in His Presence. Christine helps women trade perfectionism for peace, performance for presence, and striving for a gentler way of walking with Jesus.

We talk about:

• Recognizing when faith has become more about obligation than relationship
• What Jesus' words about the vine and branches teach us about dependence
• Finding freedom from the pressure to have a “perfect” quiet time
• Returning to Jesus through simple prayers throughout the day
• Remaining faithful during spiritually dry seasons
• Practicing Sabbath rest in a distracted world
• Recognizing when the pursuit of holiness has become unhealthy striving

Friend, you don't have to earn your place beside Jesus. He has already saved you a seat. You can stop striving, draw near, and receive the peace found only in His presence. I hope this conversation reminds you that even when you feel weary, distracted, or spiritually dry, Jesus still wants to keep company with you.

CONNECT WITH CHRISTINE HOY:

Website and free resources:
https://christinecarterhoy.com/

Learn more about Christine and her books:
https://christinecarterhoy.com/about/

Find Keeping Company with Jesus: Finding Peace in His Presence and Peace Beyond Perfection: Overcoming the Fear of Not Being Enough through Christine’s website.

CONNECT WITH RACHAEL ADAMS:

Website:
https://rachaelkadams.com

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/rachaeladamsauthor

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/rachaeladamsauthor

Listen to The Love Offering Podcast:
https://www.lifeaudio.com/the-love-offering

Support the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.