The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast

When we walk through seasons of waiting or uncertainty, it's tempting to look at the past through rose-colored glasses. We choose to only remember the good parts and forget the bad.But when we do that, it robs us of the opportunity to see how God is providing for us in the present, even if it's not predictable or what we'd prefer. On today's podcast, our friend and Director of Marketing at Proverbs 31, Madi Vincent, uses the Book of Numbers to show us what to do when we are wrestling in the waiting. 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.Connect with Madi on Instagram here!Click here to view the transcript.

Our desire to please God can so easily turn into us trying to perform.But how do we know when we've slipped into striving? On this episode of the podcast, our new friend and author, Kaitlin Garrison, teaches us the difference between the true gospel of grace and the false gospel of grit. Overcome the cycle of shame from not being good enough by discovering the sweet relief that comes from our righteousness being found in Christ alone.Related Resources:- Order Kaitlin's book, Sweet Relief: How the Gospel Frees Us from a Life of Striving, today!- Connect with Kaitlin on Instagram @kaitlinngarrison- We created COMPEL Writers Training just for YOU! Stay accountable to practice your writing skills, and know you are not alone through our online community. Click here to join today!Click here to view the transcript.

It's easy to seek certainty when life feels unpredictable and out of control. But what if uncertainty leads us closer to God?  On today's episode, our dear friend, Proverbs 31 writer and author, Amy Carroll challenges us to embrace uncertainty because we learn how to better trust and seek God. Through her "clarity principle," she walks us through a three-step Bible study technique when we're seeking answers in the middle of uncertain seasons. This principle is one you'll want to save for later, so grab a pen and paper to take notes! Related Resources:- Subscribe to receive free Encouragement for Today weekday devotions in your inbox. - Make sure you get a copy of Amy's Bible study, Esther: Seeing Our Invisible God in an Uncertain World, co-author Lynn Cowell. - Connect with Amy on Instagram @amydohmcarrollClick here to download the transcript for this episode.

Let's admit it, most of us are pretty easily distracted. If we're breathing, there are thousands of things a day vying for our attention daily.  But how do we do this? Today on the podcast our friend and author, Bob Goff walks through how to live more intentional lives. When we stop focusing on what everyone else is doing, we can stop being distracted from what God is doing. With scriptural insight and practical advice, together we'll learn to orient our lives and hold on to hope when everything feels overwhelming.Related Resources:Start living a less-distracted, more joy-filled and love-oriented life with Bob's study, Undistracted Study Guide plus Streaming Video: Capture Your Purpose. Rediscover Your JoyConnect with Bob on his website bobgoff.com.Has the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast helped you grow in your faith or gain fresh biblical perspective? Tell us about it by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. When you review and rate the podcast, it helps us reach even more people with biblical Truth.Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

When life feels overwhelming or anxiety creeps in, our first response isn't always to turn to God's Word.  But Scripture has the Truth for whatever we are facing. On today's episode, author and singer-songwriter Ellie Holcomb shares the life-changing power of memorizing Scripture and how it inspires all her music. God's Word is living and active; something we can treasure. Learn easy steps to start memorizing Scripture, and how it helps discern the difference between lies and the Truth. Plus, it wouldn't be an episode with Ellie if she didn't sing and pray over us too. So grab your headphones or play in the car and join us!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!  Follow Ellie on Instagram @ellieholcomb and find her music on Apple music and Spotify.Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Have you ever struggled with a love-hate relationship with your body?  As women, the world has a lot to say about our bodies. But there's a big difference between having a Kingdom perspective of ourselves rather than a worldly one. And we need to be able to recognize what the enemy says v. what God says. Author, speaker and coach Jess Connolly joins us on the podcast today and shares her personal journey to breaking free from the body shame. Friend, your value is not wrapped up in the world's definition of beauty, but in who you are in Christ. It's time to break free. Listen in!Related Resources:Make sure you grab a copy of Jess' book, Breaking Free from Body Shame and rename what the world has labeled as less-than.Want to go deeper? Get the Bible study that goes along with Breaking Free from Body Shame ,and become a change agent in partnering with God to bring revival to a generation of women.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 She Speaks Conference and COMPEL Writers Training membership site. Click the links to learn more!Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Does grace feel confusing sometimes?  Maybe it's a word you hear thrown around so often that it can lose its meaning. Or perhaps you struggle to understand what it means for you. Get ready to learn from our new friend Melissa Kruger, an author and the Director of Women's Initiatives for The Gospel Coalition. She will walk us through what grace is, and why it's the best news we could receive for whatever we are facing today. She also shows us how we can explain the goodness of grace to the kids in our lives.Related Resources:Make sure you get a copy of Melissa’s book, His Grace is Enough: How God Makes it Right When We’ve Got it Wrong to help you walk your kids through understanding grace.Connect with Melissa on Instagram at @melissabryankrugerJoin our “Proverbs 31 Mamas” Facebook group for a place to connect and find encouragement with other moms like you.If you are interested in learning more about a relationship with Jesus, click here.Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Contentment can feel impossible to achieve, especially in a season of singleness.  But if we dig into what the Bible actually says about contentment, we may find a different definition than we thought. On this episode, our friend Kendra LaGrand joins us for a conversation about finding contentment in singleness. We will discuss the feelings and struggles of being single, confusing messages from the church about singleness, practical ways to find purpose in singleness and what the Bible says about being content in any season. Including a helpful list of things to say and not to say to your single friends, there is something in this episode for everyone, no matter what your relationship status is.Related Resources:If you haven't participated in one of our FREE Online Bible Studies, now is the time! Each study ranges from 4-6 weeks, with varying topics, but there are plenty of options to stay connected and feel like you’re part of a movement of women journeying through the same book or Bible Study together. Learn more at proverbs31.org/study. Our Mother's Day collection is here! Shop our intentional, curated collection for the woman you’re celebrating this year. Maybe this year the thing she needs most is a kind note and a book or a meaningful reminder to display around the house … we’ve got you covered! Check out our Mother’s Day collection at p31bookstore.comClick here to download the transcript for this episode.

What if the most crucial step we've been missing in preparing for a difficult conversation is first understanding how to best relate to the other person?  Our friend and leadership coach, Lisa Allen is back to help us understand the four conflict personality styles so we can be more self-aware and more understanding of the other person. Using Scripture as our guide, she will teach us why healthy conflict is important and how to do it better. Learn to meet the needs of the person you are talking to, without denying your own needs the next time you enter a tough conversation.Related Resources:Connect with Lisa Allen on her website at ljallencoaching.com. You can download her free resource, "Check Your Capacity" today! We created "A Guide to Tough Conversations" to give you some practical and biblical steps to having challenging conversations with the people you love. Click here to download for free today! 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 She Speaks Conference and COMPEL Writers Training membership site. Click the links to learn more!Click here to download the transcript for this episode.

Motherhood and loss are two things that should not go together.  Yet most of us either have experienced or know someone who has experienced infertility, a miscarriage, infant loss, or postpartum anxiety and depression.  Walking through loss can leave a mother, or hopeful mother-to-be, feeling like she's alone in her struggles. So over the next three weeks, we will be joined by Proverbs 31’s biblical content specialist — author Wendy Blight — and Rachael Elmore, who is a licensed, professional counselor, to address the realities no one talks about related to motherhood and loss. Our deepest desire is that, through the content in these three episodes, you leave encouraged and more rooted in what Scripture says about the specific trials you, or those you love, are walking through.Click here to download the transcript for this episode.Related Resources: -We know this topic is difficult to process in a short podcast episode. That's why we put together a free resource, "What Nobody Talks About: When the Journey of Motherhood Involves Disappointment, Suffering & Loss," to help you further unpack what you heard today. -If you have a friend who is in the middle of processing unmet expectations or other painful situations, we recommend Lysa TerKeurst's book It's Not Supposed to Be This Way. -Follow Wendy Blight @wblight and Rachael Elmore @rachaelhuntelmore on Instagram for more biblical encouragement and resources. -If you are looking for a licensed Christian counselor near you, visit aacc.net A note from Proverbs 31 Ministries: Some content in this episode is not appropriate for children and may serve as a trigger due to circumstances in your past. Please use discretion before listening.