It can feel frustrating when you've tried really hard to follow God and it's not working anymore. In fact, it hurts.

But God isn't trying to hurt us; He's trying to help us. Often these frustrations happen because we've unknowingly adopted unhealthy thought patterns and ways of living. Like Jacob wrestled with God in the Bible, we, too, have to wrestle with the lies and false beliefs that have taken root in our lives in order to experience healing and freedom. On this episode, author and Proverbs 31 Ministries staff member Ashley Morgan Jackson shares her story of wrestling with God. She helps us identify the lies we are believing and shows us how to turn to God when nothing else we've tried is working. You won't want to miss this episode!

Related Resources:

• Order a copy of Ashley’s new book, Tired of Trying: How to Hold On to God When You’re Frustrated, Fed Up, and Feeling Forgotten.
• Download Ashley’s free resource: “Disappointed with God” reflection guide.
• At Proverbs 31 Ministries, we offer professional and biblical training by industry experts for women who are called to write, speak and lead, through our COMPEL Writers Training membership site. Click the link to learn more!
• Check out the other shows on the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast Network: Therapy & Theology with Lysa TerKeurst and the Encouragement for Today Podcast. 
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

It's hard to pause and pray when we feel unsettled or anxious.

The Bible is clear that prayer is the remedy for a lot of the anxiousness we feel. (Just look at Philippians 4.) But what does that look like daily, especially when we are so overwhelmed that we don't know what to do? On today's episode, our friend and author Wendy Blight shares her story of struggling with anxiety and the unlikely tools she found in Scripture that helped her overcome it. She gets practical on what happens when we remain still and shows us what to do when we pause and slow down. It's in those moments, we will find God's nearness that leads to the peace we are really longing for.

This episode is Part 4 of a four-part series; make sure you go back and listen to the other episodes!

Related Resources:

• Download our free First 5 mobile app and spend the first moments of your day with God before the hustle of your to-do list begins. We also have study guides to help you dig a little deeper into God's Word.
• Escape the feeling of "never knowing what to say" with our free e-book, For the Girl Who Needs Hope: 50 Biblical Prayers for the Hard Moments.
• Your life is crazy, but your Bible study doesn't have to be. Online Bible Studies is a place where you can dive deep into books by your favorite Christian authors alongside a community of women from right where you are. Check out our latest Online Bible Study now!
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

When God doesn’t answer our prayers, it's easy to feel grief.

If you have been walking with Him for a long time, it's tempting to want to numb out or give up. But what happens when neither of those options works?

If you are exhausted repeating the same prayers and getting less hopeful, or wrestling knowing God can change your circumstances and being heartbroken that He isn't, this episode is for you. Our friend Shae Hill talks about how we can find a gift in prayer, even while we are feeling frustrated and forgotten. Be encouraged that it is possible to hold disappointment and a desire to pray at the same time.

This episode is Part 3 of a four-part series; make sure you subscribe so you don't miss what's next!

Related Resources:

• Download our free First 5 mobile app and spend the first moments of your day with God before the hustle of your to-do list begins. We also have study guides to help you dig a little deeper into God's Word.
• Escape the feeling of "never knowing what to say" with our free e-book, For the Girl Who Needs Hope: 50 Biblical Prayers for the Hard Moments.
• Your life is crazy, but your Bible study doesn't have to be. Online Bible Studies is a place where you can dive deep into books by your favorite Christian authors alongside a community of women from right where you are. Check out our latest Online Bible Study now!
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

We can pray about anything and everything as often as possible.

If God's Word tells us we can ask Him for anything, how do we cultivate lives where we pray bold prayers? What does that look like? And how do we do this? On this episode, Ashley Morgan Jackson sits down with Meghan Ryan and Shae Hill for a conversation on why we can approach God with our needs and how to keep our faith when we get weary waiting for His reply. Make sure you find something to take notes with because this one has lots of practical ideas you won't want to forget!

This episode is Part 2 of a four-part series; make sure you subscribe so you don't miss what's next!

Related Resources:

• Download our free First 5 mobile app and spend the first moments of your day with God before the hustle of your to-do list begins. We also have study guides to help you dig a little deeper into God's Word.
• Escape the feeling of "never knowing what to say" with our free e-book, For the Girl Who Needs Hope: 50 Biblical Prayers for the Hard Moments.
• Your life is crazy, but your Bible study doesn't have to be. Online Bible Studies is a place where you can dive deep into books by your favorite Christian authors alongside a community of women from right where you are. Check out our latest Online Bible Study now!
• To the woman constantly pouring out, we planned a day where all you have to do is show up and be filled. Join us for Reset: A Saturday To Tend to Your Soul at First Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC, on October 7, 2023.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

The Bible has a lot to say about prayer.

But what does "prayer" really mean? And what does it look like in our everyday lives? On this episode, our host Kaley Olson sits down with Shae Hill, Ashley Morgan Jackson and Meghan Ryan for a conversation about what it looks like to talk to God. We'll open our Bibles, trade some embarrassing stories, and take an honest look at what it means to communicate our desires, fears, worries and praises to our Creator. It's possible that prayer might not be quite as complicated as we make it.

This episode is Part 1 of a four-part series; make sure you subscribe so you don't miss what's next!

Related Resources:

• Escape the feeling of "never knowing what to say" with our free e-book, For the Girl Who Needs Hope: 50 Biblical Prayers for the Hard Moments.
• To the woman constantly pouring out, we planned a day where all you have to do is show up and be filled. Join us for Reset: A Saturday To Tend to Your Soul at First Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC, on October 7, 2023.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!

We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

We live in a world full of anxiety, and often it can feel overwhelming to try to navigate it.

On today's episode, our friend and author Rebekah Lyons gives us practical and scriptural ways to walk through a difficult season of feeling overwhelmed with the chaos of life. She will teach us physical steps and rhythms to try when our minds are running out of control and point us back to God's Word for what is true and lasting. Grab a pen and paper because you'll want to take notes on this one! 

Related Resources:

• Order a copy of Rebekah’s book Building a Resilient Life: How Adversity Awakens Strength, Hope, and Meaning.
• We would love to hear from you! Leave us a review, and let us know how this show has impacted you.
• As promised, Rebekah shared her Paleo Banana Bread recipe with us!
• Your life is crazy, but your Bible study doesn't have to be. Online Bible Studies is a place where you can dive deep into books by your favorite Christian authors alongside a community of women from right where you are. Check out our latest Online Bible Study now!
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!

We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

It's OK to want to be seen.

Like someone notices you. Like someone cares. Actually, this desire is not just a good thing, it's a God-given longing. Our new friend, author and COMPEL Writers Training member Whitney Akin teaches us how the human need for attention and approval is God’s intentional design and encourages us to live seen by the God who loves us. She will show us a lifestyle of living seen — characterized by confidence, meekness, obedience and a gospel perspective. Don't miss this episode, friends, and be sure to share it with a friend!

Related Resources:

• Your life is crazy, but your Bible study doesn't have to be. Online Bible Studies is a place where you can dive deep into books by your favorite Christian authors alongside a community of women from right where you are. Check out our latest Online Bible Study now!
• Order a copy of Whitney’s book Overlooked: Finding Your Worth When You Feel All Alone today!
• Download our free resource, “Overwhelmed, Overlooked and Over It: Five Devotions for the Girl Who Feels Tempted To Quit.”
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

Have you ever found yourself asking these questions: What do I have to do in order for God to give me what I want? Why do bad things happen to good people? Did I do something to deserve this?

Those questions you’ve been wrestling with come from a belief system theologians call “retribution theology.” That’s a big term, but understanding this belief system can clear up a lot of confusion and pain that you may have been carrying in your relationship with God and your understanding of how He works. In this episode, you'll learn how to identify how this displays itself in your life and how to see God rightly. All of this will show you how to let go of the need for control or to earn His love and favor.

Related Resources:

• Ready to process all of Joel's teaching points? We've got you! Download our brand-new free resource called "Consider This: Why Do Bad Things Happen to God’s People?" to unpack how this belief system may be impacting your relationship with the Lord. We hope these verses to study and reflection questions help you cling to Truth and redirect your thoughts when you find yourself wrestling with why bad things can sometimes happen to God’s people. Click here to download for free now.
• Order your study guide on the book of Job, When the Hurt Feels Hopeless: How God Meets Us in Our Pain Even When We Don’t Know the Answers.
• Have you enjoyed this episode? We'd love to hear from you! Leave us a review, and share what God has taught you.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

It's easy to get skeptical when our life doesn't look the way we expected it to.

Especially in seasons of transition, when what used to be is gone and you're not where you want to be yet, you can start to question what God is doing. Nicki Koziarz is no stranger to the podcast, but for those who don't know her, she is an author, a podcaster, a Bible teacher, and a dear friend to us at Proverbs 31 Ministries. Through the life of Moses, Nicki will teach us how to navigate the moments in life when we feel stuck in the "in between."

Related Resources:

• Make sure to order a copy of Nicki’s book Your New Now today.
• Join Circle 31: a community of monthly donors doing ministry together.
• Take Nicki's quiz "What season of transition are you in?"
• Your life is crazy, but your Bible study doesn't have to be. Online Bible Studies is a place where you can dive deep into books by your favorite Christian authors alongside a community of women from right where you are. Check out our latest Online Bible Study now!
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

One in four women experience some kind of hurt from their fathers.

If you have been hurt, neglected, rejected or abandoned by your father, it may feel like every aspect of life is affected by that broken trust. On this episode, we welcome back our friend and author Kia Stephens as she teaches us about how to overcome our father wounds through the story of Leah in the Bible. While no dad is perfect, we do have a perfect Father in God, and He can heal every hurt we've experienced. It's possible to overcome insecurity, low self-esteem and perfectionism that comes from our past. And you can connect with God as your loving heavenly Father today.

Related Resources:

• Order Kia’s book, Overcoming Father Wounds: Exchanging Your Pain for God's Perfect Love.
• If you need encouragement in the middle of what you are facing, download our free resource: “3 Truths You Need To Process Your Pain.”
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.