The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast

Have you ever felt like you were stuck in your current season of life while everyone around you was moving forward?Maybe you’re still praying for a future husband while all of your friends are married. Or there's a goal or dream you've been working toward for a long time, but you've hit so many roadblocks. Or maybe you just moved to a new city, and you're trying to figure out who your new people will be.When you’re in that place, it can be easy to look around and wonder, Did I miss something? Did I not hear God right? But the truth is: You are not behind. God has you exactly where He needs you to be.In this conversation with Meghan Ryan Asbury, you will learn how to stop giving in to comparison, get in community, and practice celebration. As you embrace and enjoy the season God has you in, you'll discover that it's possible to build a life you love without getting everything you want.Related Resources: Grab your copy of Meghan’s new book, You Are Not Behind, where she will teach you to grieve the hard, celebrate the good, and embrace the in-between of where you are and where you want to be.Are you in a difficult season, or do you know someone who is? Unsure of how to pray for yourself or them? Sign up to receive our free resource "For the Girl Who Needs Hope: 50 Biblical Prayers for the Hard Moments."For more encouragement, follow Meghan on Instagram and connect with her at AlwaysMeghan.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.

As Christians, how can we balance living purposefully while we're here on earth with the reality that this world is not our forever home?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. This episode also includes special guest Victoria Smith. Together, Joel, Shae and Victoria will give you theological insight and practical takeaways.Related Resources:This episode is sponsored by Chosen Care. Chosen Care exists to help foster and adoptive families experience restoration and healing. They're currently on a mission to see 100,000 people heal from relational trauma, and you can learn how you can be a part of this movement by visiting www.chosen.care/100k.Do you have somewhere you like to go to pray or meet with God? In the Bible, some of the most significant moments happen at the top of mountains. From creation to Christ’s crucifixion, mountaintops are repeatedly present. To learn more about this topic, tune into a FREE teaching video "Mountaintops and Meeting With God" by Dr. Joel Muddamalle here!Leaf by Niggle and further reading from J.R.R. Tolkien is available in this collection of short stories: https://www.amazon.com/Tree-Leaf-Mythopoeia-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0007105045.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. 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. We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

Have you ever felt invisible? Maybe you’ve been underestimated or overlooked and you've questioned if anyone really sees you. You’re not alone. When facing hidden seasons, we can either get frustrated and give up or take a breath and ask ourselves: Is God’s attention enough to carry me through? In this new conversation with Dr. Alicia Britt Chole, we learn that the way God grows us doesn’t have to be visible to be valuable. And trust us, you’ll want to take notes because she dropped nuggets of wisdom every step of the way. Related Resources: Grab your copy of Dr. Alicia Britt Chole’s book Anonymous from the P31 Bookstore, and receive an exclusive download called “8 Scriptural Prayers To Connect God's Word to Your Real Life.”Sign up to become a member of Circle 31 Book Club, and join us as we dive deeper into hidden seasons with Dr. Chole’s Anonymous this September. 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.

Conflict can hurt. So how do we handle it in a holy, God-honoring way?We're excited to share a practical, biblically based teaching from our friend and author Donna Jones, where you'll discover three tools you can apply to your next difficult conversation. Pro tip: Write down Donna's tools in the Notes app on your phone so they're available for quick reference when you need them!Related Resources:Grab a copy of Donna's book, Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life: A Biblical Guide for Communicating Thoughts, Feelings, and Opinions with Grace, Truth, and Zero Regret.Download a free resource from Proverbs 31 Ministries titled "3 Questions To Ask Before You Respond."Created by writers for writers, COMPEL Pro is a biblically based training community designed to help you move from writer’s block to penning your very best words as a content creator. Sign up to become a member today!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.

You can do all things for Jesus and in His name. But without closeness to the One who empowers you to do great things, are you missing out on truly knowing Him?If you're feeling worn down by the weight of your assignment, maybe it's because it was never meant to be something you carried in the first place. But how do you know? It comes through intimacy with our Savior. Join our friend Gloria Umanah on today's episode to hear a teaching rooted in the truth that apart from Jesus, we really can't do anything.Related Resources:We're celebrating six years of The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast! If you've been listening since Day 1 or just joined us, we're grateful you're here. Keep scrolling to listen to some of our favorite episodes over the last six years!Do you have a topic you'd like to learn more about or a guest speaker you'd like to hear on the show? Direct message Kaley Olson on Instagram at @kaleyolsn to share!If you haven't done so yet, please leave a rating and a written review on Apple Podcasts.Join Gloria's organization, Hope Booth, in their efforts to end the mental health crisis by clicking here.Click here to download a transcript of this episode.Six Favorite Episodes for Six Years of The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast:"There's Always a Meanwhile" with Lysa TerKeurst (our very first episode!)."How Should I Handle Disagreements as a Christian?" with Lysa TerKeurst and Dr. Joel Muddamalle."How To Pray Through the Armor of God" with Wendy Blight. "What Does God Want Me To Do Next?" with Shae Hill."3 Questions To Ask When Faith Feels Impossible" with Nicki Koziarz."Why Do Bad Things Happen to God's People?" with Dr. Joel Muddamalle.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.

As we're reading the Bible, we often come across miraculous stories and events: Jesus walking on water, Daniel surviving the lions' den, Moses seeing a burning bush, and so much more. But were these events one-time instances? Does God still perform miracles and supernatural acts like this today?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:Even when gratitude isn’t easily felt, it can still be found. That's why we created a FREE resource called "The 7-Day Reset: Cultivating a Habit of Gratitude Through Prayer." This resource will help you stop feeling alone in your struggles by creating intentional time to talk to God three times a day. Download for free today!We know faith requires trust, but sometimes don’t we just want proof? When we haven’t seen God move in our lives in a while, it’s tempting to wonder if He’s really there or whether He hears our prayers. If you’ve been in this place recently, our new study is just for you — Daniel: Finding Confidence That God’s Power Is at Work. Click here to order your digital study guide.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. 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.

"One of the hardest parts of faith is learning to trust God with the pieces of life when there is no peace." — Lauren FortenberryWhen life's stresses and storms happen, it's easy to give up hope. In today's episode, Lauren Fortenberry shares about walking through her own storm a few years ago — losing her father to cancer. On the verge of giving up hope, Lauren challenged herself to go back to the basics of talking to God through prayer ... one day (and sometimes one sentence) at a time. If you find your life in pieces today, we hope this episode encourages you to hold on to the hope you can find through prayer and God's Word.Related Resources:Purchase a copy of Lauren's devotional, One Prayer Away: Healing Words to Speak Over Your Day. Find hope when you need it the most with this gorgeous 90-day devotional for women who need a reminder that God can bring you past your broken beginnings, through the messy middles and into a faith-filled future.Connect with Lauren on her website at laurenfortenberry.com, or find encouragement on her Instagram at @laurenfortenberrywrites.Calling all women Christian Communicators: Join us at She Speaks this summer in Charlotte, NC, from July 19-20! Whether you want to launch a podcast or grow your social media account, write a book or craft a message, lead a Bible study or connect with other women who are trying to be obedient to God too … You need to know how to take the next step. We’ve got the tools to help you actually do it.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 inescapable aspects of life we all wrestle through: We have less control than we want, more anxiety than we're comfortable with, and just enough insecurity to continually remind us of our shortcomings. Is it possible to really experience peace when our circumstances aren't peaceful?In this Q&A conversation, Dr. Joel Muddamalle and Lysa TerKeurst discuss the power of humility and how it leads to the inner peace we're all really longing for. Related Resources:Circle 31 Book Club is not your average book club. The books we select will challenge you to think, ask hard questions and grow so you can move forward in the areas you feel stuck in. Plus it's completely free to join! When you sign up, you'll get access to discussion groups led by Proverbs 31 staff, exclusive content from the authors, and so much more! Join today to read our next book with us.Living in the peace we want doesn’t come from the absence of pain and chaos but by knowing Jesus is with us in those things. If you’re longing for this kind of soul-settled assurance, purchase Dr. Joel Muddamalle's book, The Hidden Peace: Finding True Security, Strength, and Confidence Through Humility, today!Stay connected with Lysa TerKeurst and Dr. Joel Muddamalle on Instagram.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 have to make so many decisions every day, both big and small. But sometimes the influx of choices to be made can be so overwhelming that we feel paralyzed. Is this the right move? Did I really hear from God on this? What if I make the wrong choice?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:Release the tension of wondering, If God is near, why does He sometimes feel far away? and learn how to invite His presence into your everyday life with Lysa TerKeurst's FREE resource "The Prayer I Pray Every Morning." Download here.If God has felt silent as you’ve sought His wisdom and direction, we have good news: There is a way to hear His voice in His Word, giving the guidance you need. That’s why we made our next study, Proverbs: Everyday Guidance for Making Everyday Decisions, which starts May 27 in the free First 5 mobile app! Through the book of Proverbs, we get to see real-life examples of what it looks like to live in a way that honors Him. Click here to order your digital study guide.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. 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.

How often do we almost take a step of faith ... only to stop short of what we're asked to do because we don't feel equipped?We don't feel like we've had enough time to prepare.We don't see how our gifts align with the assignment. Someone else is already doing it.In today's episode, author and podcaster Rachel G. Scott shows us how we should respond to God's unique calling for our lives in each season. You'll be challenged to identify why you've delayed your "yes" to God and inspired to seek out how God has already prepared you. Related Resources:Grab a copy of Rachel's book Taking the 5 Leaps: Experiencing God’s Faithfulness as You Respond to His Call.Our free guide called “Why Can’t I Get Over This: 5 Steps To Get Unstuck in the Areas You Can’t Seem To Make Progress In” will help you identify what’s currently not working and why, by answering intentional questions that will get you excited about the future again. 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. 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.

How can life be so full yet sometimes feel so empty at the same time? It could be we're missing out on where true fullness comes from.In this episode, join us for a conversation with singer-songwriter and author Ellie Holcomb as she walks us through Psalm 119. She shares her personal journey of memorizing Scripture and the transformative power it has had in her life and offers practical tips for you to do the same. While we may strive for a perfect life, true fullness comes from experiencing God's presence and knowing Him intimately.Related Resources:Purchase the newly expanded limited edition of Ellie's devotional, Fighting Words: 100 Days of Speaking Truth into the Darkness. This devotional features 10 bonus devotionals, a gorgeous and exclusive new cover, new interior flourishes, and an extra art piece inside.If you’ve been feeling short of words recently, "The Prayer I Pray Every Morning" is a free resource from Lysa TerKeurst that will help you break the silence. Join us for our next study, Proverbs: Everyday Guidance for Making Everyday Decisions, which starts May 27 in the free First 5 mobile app! Through the book of Proverbs, we get to see real-life examples of what it looks like to live in a way that honors God. Click here to order your study guide now.Click here to download a transcript of this episode. We want to hear how The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast has helped you! Will you consider leaving us a written review on Apple Podcasts?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.

Does life sometimes feel so  ... ordinary?When our to-dos consume us and we find ourselves in a never-ending cycle of cleaning, caring for our people, and probably not taking enough care of ourselves, we wonder, Is there more? We look at women in the Bible like Mary, Ruth and Hagar, and it's easy to see the significance of their lives and feel like we're missing out. But in today's episode, Dr. Naomi Cramer Overton, CEO of Stonecroft Ministries and Managing Editor of the Every Woman's Bible, shares that these women probably felt a lot like we do today: insecure, isolated, doubtful and insignificant. You'll hear practical ways you can be reassured of your purpose by believing what God says and getting plugged in to community. Wherever you are today, live your "ordinary" for the people around you, all for the glory of God.Related Resources: Purchase your copy of the Every Woman’s Bible — with personal stories, insights and study notes written for women, by women.Access your free scripture downloads from the Every Woman’s Bible.We want you in our brand-new Circle 31 community! Join the FREE Circle 31 Book Club to read Untangle Your Emotions by Jennie Allen with us starting May 1.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.

What do you want to be known for? That question can feel daunting and overwhelming to think about, but as followers of Jesus, we have an opportunity to leave a legacy that impacts the next generation. But how? On this episode, our friend and author Bianca Juarez Olthoff teaches us how to live "poured out" for the sake of others. You'll learn how small steps of daily obedience really make all the difference. We promise you'll be encouraged and excited about making an eternal impact after listening to this teaching!Related Resources:Download our free resource: “How To Share Your Story.” Order Bianca's book Grit Don't Quit today!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.

"Feelings aren't meant to be fixed; they are meant to be felt." — Jennie AllenWe've got a special treat for you on this episode! Our friend and author Jennie Allen and Lysa TerKeurst sit down for a conversation about Jennie's new book, Untangle Your Emotions, and they get REAL about their own emotions! As they get honest about what they are currently learning, they also give us biblical and practical tools for naming our feelings and knowing what to do with them. Don't miss this episode; it's one you'll want to share with a friend and come back to often!Related Resources:Join our brand-new Circle 31 Book Club for free today, and start reading Untangle Your Emotions with us! This is not your average book club. The books we select will challenge you to think, ask hard questions and grow so you can move forward in the areas you feel stuck in. When you sign up, you'll get access to discussion groups led by Proverbs 31 staff, exclusive content from the authors, and so much more! Download our new free resource, "Why Can’t I Get Over This? 5 Steps To Get Unstuck in the Areas You Can’t Seem To Make Progress In."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 follow God when it feels good or it's easy for us.But what about when it gets harder? When we get nervous or resistant to it? How do we stay faithful in what God has called us to do? On this episode, we are joined by missionary and podcaster Rachael Groll as she walks us through a teaching on the two parts of obedience. You'll have a better understanding of how taking steps of faith works and be able to better discern when it's time to make a move even when it's uncomfortable. We're saving this one to refer back to often. So hit play, and join this conversation.Related Resources:We’re so excited to partner with Compassion International and to invite you into the partnership as well by sponsoring a child. 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.Download our free resource "A Guide to Stepping Out in Faith" by Lysa TerKeurst as you prepare to take your next step of obedience. 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.