In faith and life, one of the toughest struggles we face is our desire to be in control. It sometimes feels like we just can't help it – we grasp and fight and do everything we can to get what we want, or to make things happen. But God has so much more for us, and He wants to free us from this exhausting (and fruitless) fight. This week, I'm sharing three things that have helped me loosen my grip, trust God, and surrender control.

Surrender Novena

This one has been in the cooker for a while, and I was so glad to have my bff Erica Carnohan join me for a wide-ranging conversation about surviving a breakup. We covered all sorts of topics, including how you know when it's time to end a relationship, how to choose virtue and lean on God in healing, getting "through" and not "over" the breakup, and finding great joy in the midst of a pretty un-fun time. If you're going through it at the moment, please know of our prayers, and also know that God has SO much more for you ahead! We hope that this episode gives you a bit of encouragement!

Resources we referred to:

Jackie Angel's Article "The Devil wants you to settle in your relationships"

Caroline Winkler's Video "What no one tells you about your breakup"

I can't believe we're wrapping up our Fruit of the Spirit series! This has been so much fun for me – and I hope for you too. I can't think of anyone better to close us out. My dear friend Kendra Diaz is here today, and she's giving us all the secrets to living a life of strength and gentleness. Enjoy!

Courtney Taylor is here and today we’re talking all about love!! What is love? How do we define it and live it, especially in a world that seems to distort the meaning and purpose of true, self-giving love? Courtney shares so much wisdom and encouragement for all of us who desire to love others and God well!

I am over the moon to bring you my dear friend Emily Peters today! Emily and I attended college together, and she's now raising two super cute children and living life with her husband Ryan in Santa Barbara! We talked all about peace – cultivating it, living it, and protecting it in our crazy world. She shares so much wisdom and I know this is an episode I will return to often! Enjoy :)

I'm so excited for you to meet our queen of "goodness," Emily (St. Paul) Frederick! Emily and I went to college together and I've been so blessed by her witness of faith in my life! She strives so beautifully for virtue and the fruit of goodness is abundant in her life. We do our very best to define goodness and share how we hope to live it in our daily lives!

This was such a beautiful conversation with one of the most truly joyful people I have ever met, my dear friend Mad! We talk a lot about how the world defines joy, our own struggles to pursue and live joy in the midst of our own desires and suffering, and so much more.

This week's fruit of the spirit? Kindness! And I couldn't think of anyone better to have on than my dear friend, Katie Mittel! In this episode we talk all about the fruit of kindness: what is it, where does it come from, and how can we live it well in our fast-paced and sometimes hectic lives? You won't want to miss the pearls of wisdom Katie drops this week!

My girl Bridget is back on the podcast and we're talking about everyone's favorite fruit: self-control! We discuss sobriety, friendship, discipline, freedom, vulnerability, avoiding "perception management" living and so much more. Enjoy this next episode in our Fruit of the Spirit Series!

Welcome to another episode in our Fruit of the Spirit series! Today we're talking faithfulness with my beloved friend, Claire Dwyer. Claire shares such practical wisdom and advice for being faithful in things both big and small. We talk about the challenge of finding time for prayer and growing in virtue in the busyness of our world, and choosing faithfulness even when we don't always perceive God at work in our lives – because He is always there!