The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast

You're not alone in feeling alone. The truth is, we were designed to connect with others — and God — through intimacy, not just proximity. But can someone please explain that to the average, everyday person?Today's episode is part of an ongoing series titled "Ask a Theologian" — conversations with Proverbs 31 Ministries' Director of Theological Research, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Content Manager for Lysa TerKeurst, Shae Hill. In every episode, Joel and Shae will tackle everyday questions with theological insight and practical takeaways.Related Resources:When you feel crippled by fear and anxiety … When you feel hurt by the very people you thought you could count on … It’s tempting to wonder, Jesus, are You here? Do You care? But, friend, Jesus is never absent throughout Scripture, and He’s certainly not absent in our lives either. Lysa TerKeurst and Dr. Joel Muddamalle want to help you discover this truth with their newest Bible study, 30 Days with Jesus: Experiencing His Presence Throughout the Old and New Testaments. Order your copy today!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.Tune in every Tuesday to Joel's Instagram for “Theology Talk Tuesday,” where he'll answer your most asked questions about God, the Bible and more. You can also sign up on Joel’s website to receive free “bite-sized theology” through a monthly newsletter you can read in five minutes or less.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.

Meet our new friend Kiwi (Kiwiani)!On today's episode, Kiwi shares her journey — from growing up in poverty in the Philippines to becoming a successful physical therapist in Dallas, Texas. Through her life and family, she teaches us the importance of seeking God, having faith and obeying His guidance. This story is a testament to the power of hope, faith, and the support of organizations like Compassion International. We can't wait for you to listen.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.We’re so excited to partner with Compassion International and to invite you into the partnership as well. This organization is changing the lives of children, families and communities around the world. When you sponsor a child, you are providing access to education, medical resources, food, clean water and most importantly, the love of Jesus. Take your next step, and sponsor a child today here!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.

If your year has been anything but "merry and bright," it's hard to put on a smile when everyone is celebrating the holidays. Welcome to this episode of "Ask a Theologian" — a new series of conversations with Proverbs 31 Ministries' Director of Theological Research, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Content Manager for Lysa TerKeurst, Shae Hill. In every episode, Joel and Shae will tackle everyday questions with theological insight and practical takeaways.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.Tune in every Tuesday to Joel's Instagram for “Theology Talk Tuesday,” where he'll answer your most asked questions about God, the Bible and more. You can also sign up on Joel’s website to receive free “bite-sized theology” through a monthly newsletter you can read in five minutes or less.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.

There are a lot of conversations about how to have healthy relationships. There are also a lot about how to navigate when a romantic relationship ends. But no one talks about what it looks like when a friendship ends.Our friend and author Elizabeth Laing Thompson knows what it's like to experience the heartbreak of losing friends you used to be so close to. Learn biblical ways to handle those relationship fallouts without personally falling apart. While not all relationships can be mended, we do have a friend in Jesus, who always stays close and has personally felt the sting of betrayal, hurt and rejection. Related Resources:For more on this topic, order Elizabeth's book, When a Friendship Falls Apart: Finding God’s Path for Healing, Forgiveness and (Maybe) Help Letting Go.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.Stay connected to Elizabeth on Instagram, @elizabethlaingthompson, and her website, lizzylife.com.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.

Do you ever find yourself short of words when your friend is navigating a difficult season? You want to be there for her, be a good listener, encourage and pray for her, but how can you know with confidence what she actually needs right now?During this conversation, Lysa TerKeurst and two of her friends Candace Salamone and Melanie Chitwood discuss the dynamics of walking with a friend through hard times. They also cover helpful and unhelpful things to say and questions to ask.We will all be more equipped to be a better friend after listening to this episode!Related Resources:The pain you're experiencing deserves a safe place to be processed. That's why Lysa TerKeurst created this FREE resource: "The 5 Healing Perspectives You Need for Your Hurt or Heartbreak." When you download today, Lysa will help you unpack the five crucial perspective shifts that will empower you to start changing the way you see the most difficult parts of your situation.We'd like to thank Compassion International for sponsoring this episode. Compassion brings real solutions to the poverty that so many children in today’s world are facing … all in Jesus' name and through the generosity of sponsors. Take your next step, and sponsor a child today here!Find real-life encouragement by connecting with Lysa TerKeurst here on Instagram.Connect with Melanie Chitwood on Instagram, @melanieschitwood, and her website, melanieschitwood.com.Connect with Candace Salamone on Instagram, @candacesalamone, and her website, https://candacesalamone.com/.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.

Grief can spark the question: God, when will You see me?Our new friend and author Carole Holiday understands the heartbreaking loss that can make you think, I don't know who I am anymore. Through her divorce, job loss and heart surgery, she has learned that deep grief carves space for a deeper ability to love. Sometimes it's not always the big griefs that threaten to take us out; it's the little ones that we push aside and can go unnoticed that make us not OK. But she shows us how God can bring good back to life through faith, food and fellowship. We think you're going to love this episode!Related Resources:Order your copy of Carole’s book, I Don’t Know Who I Am Anymore: Restoring Your Identity Shattered by Grief and Loss.If you need a little self-assessment, download our free resource: “'Am I Okay?' A 10-Question Self-Guided Check-In.”Connect with Carole on her website: https://www.caroleholiday.com/.Follow Carole on Instagram: @caroleholiday.Pursue your writing dreams, like Carole did, by joining COMPEL Writers Training!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.

Sometimes it feels safer to follow Jesus on our own.But some of Jesus' last words, recorded in John 17, encourage us to be one as the body of Christ. So what does it look like to make the intentional choice to belong to a community when it feels risky? Our friend and author Katy McCown sits down on this episode to encourage us to with Truth from God's Word on what it means to invest in one another. Katy shows us the power of pressing into the body of Christ instead of pulling away from it — especially when life falls apart. This is a great episode to share with a friend and discuss!Related Resources:Order a copy of Katy’s Bible study, She Belongs: Finding Your Place in the Body of Christ, today!Download this free resource, "Does God Care?: 10 Promises From God To Remember When You Feel Forgotten," and know that you are completely seen and loved even when you feel most overlooked, and cling to specific truths you can memorize and write out today.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.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.

Sometimes courage can feel unattainable. But God's Word shows us that it's actually possible to find hope and encouragement in the midst of fear. On this episode, author, speaker, TV and ministry leader Ann White teaches us the seven steps to COURAGE. Grab a pen because you're not going to miss these steps — you'll learn the impact of God's Word and how to apply it so you can live more courageously when facing fear.Related Resources:Order a copy of the Courage for Life Study Bible today!Connect with Ann on Instagram @godgivescourage.We created a free resource for you to download, “3 Bible Study Basics You Must Know.” 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.

If life has suddenly stopped going the way you planned, this episode is for you.Author Sarah Frazer knows all to well what it's like to look around at your circumstances and wonder how you got there. When her story unexpectedly shifted, she wondered what it looked like to move forward and found herself asking God to show her His goodness. From there, she began to study Moses in the Bible and discovered how God uses the darkest circumstances to proclaim His sovereign goodness. It's possible to grow through whatever detour, setback, heartache or disappointment life has thrown at you. Listen to this episode to learn more!Related Resources:Order a copy of Sarah's book I Didn't Sign Up for This: How to Rest in God's Goodness When Your Story Shifts.Download our new, free resource: "God Will Get You Through This: 5 Devotions for When You Feel Overwhelmed."Connect with Sarah on Instagram @SarahEFrazer or on her website at SarahEFrazer.com. 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 of the biggest misconceptions we can have about faith is believing that if we do this, God will do that.But our friend, author and pastor Max Lucado is here to help us see the ways we may have adopted a transactional theology with God. He will show us how to live when we are in the gap between what we want out of life and what we get in life. God has not left us here. Understanding how big God is helps us better know and trust His character. When we view Him rightly, we can truly experience the beauty and riches of being in a relationship with our Father.Related Resources:Make sure to order a copy of Max's book, God Never Gives Up on You: What Jacob's Story Teaches Us About Grace, Mercy, and God's Relentless Love.Download our free resource with devotions from Lysa TerKeurst, “Chosen, Called & Confident: 5 Days of Believing God Can Use 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.