The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast

Have you ever carried a secret so heavy that it began to shape your life? In today’s episode, Anne Beiler — founder of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels — shares her powerful testimony of walking through unimaginable grief and trauma and how one moment of courageous vulnerability transformed her story. Through her honest words and biblical insight, you’ll learn how confession isn’t just about admitting guilt — it’s about breaking the silence, stepping into the light, and embracing connection with God and others.

You’ll learn:

• How to shift your perspective from “God is harsh” to “God is good.”
• Why secrecy and silence can be a spiritual stronghold — and how confession breaks it.
• The biblical foundation for confession (James 5:16) and what freedom looks like when you finally step into the light.

Resources From This Episode:

• Join us in the free First 5 app to study the book of Jonah and discover how every detour, every delay — it’s all part of God’s plan to lead us exactly where we need to go.
• Grab your copy of Anne’s book: The Secret Lies Within: An Inside Out Look at Overcoming Trauma and Finding Purpose in the Pain.
• Support Proverbs 31 Ministries by donating here. Your gift helps us continue to offer free biblical resources to women when they need it most. 
• Help others find this episode by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Want More on This Topic? 

• If you’re walking through trauma and wondering how God can use it, listen to Wendy Blight’s episode on “God’s Faithfulness in Life’s Hardest Moments.”
• Want a deeper theological dive into vulnerability and confession? Check out “Does God Actually Call Us To Be Vulnerable?” with Dr. Joel Muddamalle on the Proverbs 31 Ministries YouTube channel. 

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

Suffering isn’t something we choose, but it’s something we all face. In today’s episode, Wendy Blight courageously shares her journey through unimaginable hardship and reveals the truth that God meets us in our suffering — not only to sustain us but to strengthen our faith. Wendy shows us that enduring trials with God’s help doesn’t just change our circumstances; it transforms us. You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of how to embrace endurance as a path to greater intimacy with God and experience His faithfulness like never before.

You’ll learn:

• How trusting God in suffering shapes your character.
• Why endurance is a spiritual gift that deepens your faith.
• How to find glimpses of joy in God’s presence during pain.
• Practical steps for applying God’s Word in tough times.
• How to view suffering as an opportunity for growth.

Resources From This Episode:

• Ready for a summer of deepening your faith? Join the Circle 31 Book Club as we read The Hidden Prince by Tessa Afshar starting June 1. This powerful novel weaves together themes of faith, perseverance, and God's sovereignty — perfect for anyone walking through a season of endurance. Order your book, and let’s dive in together!
• Want to go deeper in your understanding of God’s Word? Download our free guide, How To Study the Bible, and discover simple, effective methods to help you grow in your faith — even when life feels overwhelming.
• When you give to Proverbs 31 Ministries, you make it possible for us to help you and women like you know the Truth of God's Word and live the Truth every day because we know it changes everything.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Want More on This Topic? 

• In this episode, Wendy referenced a previous podcast teaching she gave on the topic of anxiety. Click here to listen to “Secret Weapons To Fight Anxiousness.”
• Watch this clip from our Therapy & Theology podcast on “How To Help Others With What You’ve Been Through.”

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

God doesn't want tidy thoughts from us — He wants a real, authentic relationship with us.

In this episode with Lysa TerKeurst and Craig Groeschel, you'll learn:

• Why doubts and questions are not your enemy.
• How "deconstruction" can be a path to a more mature, authentic faith.
• How God welcomes us to share honestly with Him.

Helpful Links

• Get your copy of The Benefit of Doubt: How Confronting Your Deepest Questions Can Lead to a Richer Faith by Craig Groeschel.
• Sign up to receive Lysa TerKeurst’s FREE five-day devotional "Why Isn't God Answering My Prayer?" today!
• When you give to Proverbs 31 Ministries, you make it possible for us to help you and women like you know the Truth of God's Word and live the Truth every day because we know it changes everything.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Want more on this topic? 

• Listen to "How Can I Feel Close to God Again?" with Dr. Joel Muddamalle.
• Listen to "Have You Felt Frustrated With God?" with Ashley Morgan Jackson.
• Watch “Is God Always Good?" with Lysa TerKeurst.

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

When life feels uncertain, we often want God to give us a clear sign. But what if His voice is showing up in quieter ways? In this episode, author Abby McDonald shares how she’s learning to let go of control and trust God even without all the details. If you’ve ever felt stuck waiting for clarity, this conversation will remind you that God’s presence is steady — even when answers aren’t.

You’ll learn:

• How to keep trusting God when He seems silent.
• Why you don’t need to have it all figured out before moving forward.
• How to shift your mindset to help you stop overthinking every decision.
• What to do when you’re afraid of getting it wrong.

Resources From This Episode:

• Get Abby McDonald’s book, Surrendering Certainty: Hearing God Today by Letting Go of Tomorrow — a powerful guide to help you stop chasing clarity and start resting in God's presence, even when the future feels uncertain.
• Sign up for our FREE Encouragement for Today Devotions — relatable, biblical messages delivered straight to your inbox each weekday to help you stay rooted in God's Truth no matter what life brings.
• When you give to Proverbs 31 Ministries, you make it possible for us to help you and women like you know the Truth of God's Word and live the Truth every day because we know it changes everything.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Want More on This Topic? 

• Watch a clip from the popular Therapy & Theology podcast series on the Proverbs 31 Ministries YouTube channel titled “I Don’t Understand What God Is Allowing.”
• Listen to “What Is My Assignment From God While I Am Here on Earth?” with Dr. Joel Muddamalle and Shae Hill. 

Have you ever wished you could meet up with Lysa TerKeurst for coffee?

Well, we invited her to come on the podcast so she could answer the questions you’d likely ask her!

In this episode, you will learn:

• How to discern God's voice from your own.
• When to rest and when to press through.
• How to say "yes" to God and include your kids in the process.
• When to share your story and what to say.

Resources From This Episode:

• Download "Chosen, Called & Confident: 5 Days of Believing God Can Use You" by Lysa TerKeurst here.
• Join us July 25-26, 2025, for She Speaks, a two-day conference with customizable workshops and coaching sessions. This year is our most affordable conference experience yet! Sign up now!
• When you give to Proverbs 31 Ministries, you make it possible for us to help you and women like you know the Truth of God's Word and live the Truth every day because we know it changes everything.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Want More on This Topic?

• Listen to "Friendship Do's and Don'ts" With Lysa TerKeurst and Her BFFs.
• Listen to "If Obedience Feels Uncomfortable" With Rachael Groll.
• Watch "How To Trust God Through Seasons of Waiting and Change" With Lysa TerKeurst and Brittany Sjogren.

Friend, it’s honorable that you want to do all things with excellence. But sometimes we set the bar too high. 

In this episode, our new guest and Proverbs 31 Ministries teammate Jasmine Kromah shares how her background as a dancer and oldest sibling shaped her struggle with perfectionism. With grace and honesty, Jasmine walks us through the internal pressure many of us feel to perform — not just in life but in our relationship with God. Together, we’ll explore what Scripture has to say about expectations and learn how to trade striving for surrender.

You’ll learn:

• The important distinction between striving for excellence and perfectionism.
• How Jesus already met the standard of perfection so we don't have to.
• Why rest is a spiritual practice that imitates God.
• Practical ways to challenge negative thought loops and celebrate progress.
• How to practice self-compassion and replace expectations with intentions.

Resources From This Episode:

• Download "A Simplified Guide Through the Lord's Prayer" to experience the power of prayer when life feels chaotic or out of control.
• Follow Proverbs 31 Ministries on social media for daily encouragement and truth.
• When you give to Proverbs 31 Ministries, you make it possible for us to help you and women like you know the Truth of God's Word and live the Truth every day because we know it changes everything.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Want More on This Topic? 

• Listen to “Are We Missing Jesus as We Work for Jesus?” with Gloria Umanah. 
• Watch “Why Am I So Afraid of Failure?” with Dr. Joel Muddamalle on the Proverbs 31 Ministries YouTube channel.

What if comparison didn't have to steal your joy or distract you from your purpose any longer? In today's episode, Laura L. Smith — author of Brave Woman, Mighty God — shares how the biblical story of Mary and Martha reveals that our differences aren't flaws but divine design. You'll discover how embracing your unique gifts can transform your relationship with God and others.

You’ll learn:

• How to recognize when you're falling into the comparison trap.
• Why your differences are actually your greatest strengths in God's Kingdom.
• Three key questions to help you discover your unique calling and purpose.
• Practical ways to encourage others authentically without sounding insincere.

Resources From This Episode:

• Order your copy of Laura's book, Brave Woman, Mighty God: 30 Things You Can Do, to discover the stories of 30 biblical women and how their courage can inspire you to live out your unique journey.
• Download “Chosen, Called & Confident,” a free, five-day devotional by Lysa TerKeurst, to break free from comparison and start walking in who God made you to be. 
• Join us July 25-26 for She Speaks, a two-day experience with customizable workshops and coaching sessions. Get your tickets now! 
• Experience Holy Week in a new way as we walk with Jesus through His final days leading to the cross. Subscribe now to receive this series and all of our Encouragement for Today devotions.
•  When you give to Proverbs 31 Ministries, you make it possible for us to help you and women like you know the Truth of God's Word and live the Truth every day because we know it changes everything.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Want More on This Topic? 

• Listen to “If Life Looks Different Than You Thought It Would” by Nicki Koziarz.
• Watch a roundtable discussion about body image on the Proverbs 31 Ministries YouTube channel. 
• Read “Your Race at Your Pace” by Meghan Ryan Asbury.

Pastor Richmond Wandera shares his powerful journey from poverty in Uganda to becoming a pastor and nonprofit founder. His story reveals how one sponsor's monthly gift and his mother's fearless generosity transformed not just his life but an entire community.

In this episode you'll learn:

• How small acts of generosity can create ripple effects that transform entire communities. 
• Why obedience to God's call — even during your darkest moments — can leave a lasting legacy.
• How to shift your perspective from scarcity to abundance by realizing "there is always room.”

Resources From This Episode:

• Download our free resource "Chosen, Called and Confident" to start recognizing how God can transform your ordinary life into something extraordinary. 
• Sponsor a child through Compassion International, and see your generosity help transform families and communities in Jesus’ name. 
• Learn more about Pastors Discipleship Network founded by Richmond Wandera.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Want More on This Topic? 

• Listen to “God Has Given You What You Need To Do What He’s Asked” with Rachel G. Scott.
• Watch “What Is My Assignment From God While I am Here on Earth?” with Dr. Joel Muddamalle and Shae Hill.
• Read “Caring for Others Through God’s Love” by Angie Smith.

Healing from broken trust is something that can't be achieved overnight. It's a process that takes time, prayer and often times a conversation for true repairs to be made.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to process both major betrayals and smaller breaches of trust.
• Why broken trust cannot be fully healed in isolation.
• How to use a five-step framework to communicate your thoughts and feelings with someone in a nonaccusatory way.

Resources From This Episode:

• Some messages need to be worked through — not just quickly read. That's why Lysa TerKeurst created The Trust Journey, a guided journal to use alongside her book I Want to Trust You, but I Don’t. Get the bundle today!
• Download Lysa TerKeurst's free resource Trust Is a Track Record: 5 Scriptural Truths To Remember God’s Faithfulness, and receive guided journal prompts to help you work through your honest thoughts, questions and struggles about trusting God.
• When you give to Proverbs 31 Ministries, you make it possible for us to help you and women like you know the Truth of God's Word and live the Truth every day because we know it changes everything.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Want More on This Topic? 

• Listen to "How to Stop an Argument Before It Starts" With Donna Jones.
• Watch "When the Person Who Hurt You Wasn't Held Accountable | With Lysa TerKeurst" on YouTube.

What if the way you talk about yourself could actually bring freedom instead of shame? In today’s episode, Jess Connolly — author of Breaking Free from Body Shame — shares how shifting our words can transform our thoughts, relationships and even our faith.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How small, everyday choices shape our view of our bodies.
• Why the words we speak about ourselves hold the power to heal or wound.
• How to shift the culture of body negativity and start celebrating your body as “good.”

Resources From This Episode:

• Purchase Jess Connolly’s book Breaking Free from Body Shame: Dare to Reclaim What God Has Named Good.
• Get an exclusive download of “This Body Is Good: A Declaration of Freedom and Truth” by Jess Connolly when you purchase from the P31 Bookstore.
• Want a fresh way to experience Holy Week? Look no further than The Chosen: Last Supper. You can get your tickets now at TheChosenLastSupper.com.
• When you give to Proverbs 31 Ministries, you make it possible for us to help you and women like you know the Truth of God's Word and live the Truth every day because we know it changes everything.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Want More on This Topic? 

• Listen to “How To Step out of the Darkness of Shame and Start Living Free” with Morgan Krueger. 
• Watch the Therapy & Theology playlist titled “Let’s Stop Avoiding This Conversation: 6 Topics Women Have Big Questions About” on YouTube.
• Want to watch this episode instead? Click here to view on YouTube.

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.