On today's episode is my friend, Abby McDonald, author of Surrendering Certainty. Abby shares her powerful story of moving from a place of fear and uncertainty to embracing God’s guidance and surrendering control. After a tough season of postpartum depression and struggling with her faith, Abby came to the life-changing realization that she had never fully surrendered her life to God. Her journey of healing, both physically and spiritually, has shaped her ministry and writing, inspiring others to trust God’s direction, even when the outcome isn’t clear.

Abby’s new book, Surrendering Certainty, explores how to trust God with the unknown and be free from the constant need for control. She discusses the importance of surrendering fear and letting it propel us toward Jesus, not away from Him. Abby’s message is one of hope and encouragement for anyone feeling stuck in uncertainty and seeking clarity in their relationship with God.

Takeaways:

1. Surrender is Freedom: Abby’s story highlights that true freedom in Christ comes when we fully surrender control. Letting go of certainty and trusting God’s plan allows us to step into His peace and direction, even when things don’t go as expected.

2. Fear Can Propel Us Toward Jesus: Fear often leads us to retreat or avoid difficult decisions. However, when we choose to face our fears with God, it becomes a catalyst for deeper connection with Him and a stronger sense of His presence and peace.

3. The Power of Discernment: When uncertain about what God is asking, Abby suggests two questions to ask ourselves: “Does this show my love for God?” and “Does this show my love for His people?” These questions can guide us in discerning God’s voice and moving forward in His will with confidence.

Abby’s journey from fear to freedom and her invitation to surrender to God’s will is a powerful reminder that we can trust Him in the uncertainty. As we lean into His love and guidance, we find peace and purpose in every season of life.

If you’re feeling uncertain or stuck, Abby’s story and message are a powerful reminder that God is with you, guiding you every step of the way. Surrender your need for control and trust in His perfect plan for your life.

Bio:

Abby McDonald is the author of Shift and Surrendering Certainty. She is also a writer, speaker, wife and mom whose work has been featured on (in)Courage, For Every Mom, Crosswalk, and more. She writes for for Proverbs 31 Ministries' daily devotional, Encouragement for Today, and her passion is to empower women to grow in faith and hope, even when life is messy. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English from the University of South Carolina, and loves to teach at writing conferences each year.

When she's not reading or writing, you can find her wrangling her three kids and black lab while drinking copious amounts of coffee. Abby lives with her husband and three children in western Maryland.

Anchor Verses:

2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

Connect with Abby:

Website: https://abbymcdonald.org

IG: https://www.instagram.com/abbymcdonaldwriter

LINKTREE: https://linktr.ee/abbymcdonaldwriter

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

In today’s episode, I am joined by Erin Harrigan, a Christian wife of 31 years, mom, business coach, author, and speaker. Erin shares her powerful journey of pursuing success while learning how to align her business and life with God’s will. After giving her life to Christ at age 46, Erin’s life took a complete turn as she embraced her relationship with Jesus and started navigating her business and career with a renewed purpose.

Takeaways:

1. The Power of Surrender: Erin’s story of overcoming her dependence on herself to lean fully on God highlights the importance of surrendering control. When you let God take the wheel, your life and career are filled with peace, clarity, and His guidance.

2. Redefining Success: Success in God’s kingdom is not measured by worldly standards like wealth or status, but by deepening your relationship with Him and fulfilling His assignments for you. It’s about being obedient and walking in His calling, even when it doesn’t align with the world’s expectations.

3. Trusting God’s Timing: Erin’s experience of trusting God’s timing, even when things didn’t go as planned, shows us that God’s timing is always perfect. When we stop trying to “hustle” in our own strength, and instead focus on God’s direction, He leads us to success in His way, not ours.

Erin’s journey is a powerful reminder that success God’s way isn’t about achieving for the sake of achievement—it’s about walking in His will, embracing surrender, and letting Him define what success looks like for us.

As you reflect on Erin’s story, remember that God has uniquely equipped you to succeed in His way. Embrace His direction and trust that, in His time, you’ll see the fruit of your obedience. Don’t chase the world’s version of success—pursue His calling for your life, and watch how He transforms your journey.

Bio:

Erin Harrigan is a Christian wife, empty nest mom, speaker, author, and Biblical business coach for high-achieving Christian women in business and the boardroom who seek to scale new heights in their business or career without compromising their faith.

Using her 30+ years of corporate leadership and 12+ years of entrepreneurship, she helps sisters in Christ break free from the drain of “business as usual” by teaching them to redefine hustle and align business strategy and goals to God’s truth.

Erin’s coaching provides women with a safe space to integrate their faith and business through strategy, accountability, focus, and encouragement in a judgment-free zone so they can transform the way they work and the results they achieve. She serves her audience through customized private business coaching, group coaching, speaking, podcasting, and writing. Erin hosts the award-winning podcast, Redefining Hustle: Navigating Success as a Christian Woman

Erin loves the beach, tacos, good cheese, red wine, singing along to Broadway show tunes, and living in Chesapeake Beach, MD with her husband Brian, and their Bernedoodle, Rory.

Anchor Verses:

Psalm 24: 4-5

John 15: 4-5

Connect with Erin:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinharrigan/

IG: https://instagram.com/erindharrigan

FB: https://facebook.com/thehustlewithheartcoach

YouTube: https://youtube.com/erinharrigan

Website: https://erinharrigan.com

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/redefining-hustle-pursuing-success-as-a-christian-woman/id1455892487

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

Rachel Faulkner Brown’s story is one of pain, resilience, and ultimate freedom. After losing her first husband to an aneurysm just days after September 11, Rachel navigated the deep waters of grief and loss at the age of 24. Despite the heartbreak and confusion, her faith in God kept her anchored through it all. But Rachel’s journey didn’t stop with her loss. Two years later, she remarried and began a new chapter of life with her second husband, Blair, and their children. However, tragedy struck again when Blair died in a plane crash, leaving Rachel to grieve once more.

In this episode, Rachel shares her powerful journey of healing, the importance of confronting and releasing deep-rooted secrets, and how her story is now helping other widows find freedom and restoration through her ministry, Never Alone.

Takeaways:

1. Healing Begins When We Face Our Pain

Rachel’s story teaches us that healing can only begin when we confront our emotional pain, rather than suppressing it. Secrets may seem to protect us, but they only keep us stuck. By addressing the hurt, Rachel found freedom and was able to move forward with a renewed purpose in her life and ministry.

2. Faith Transforms Our Grief into Purpose

Rachel’s experience highlights the importance of leaning into faith even during the darkest times. In the midst of her grief, she realized that her story wasn’t just for her—it was meant to help others. God took her deepest pain and turned it into a ministry that now helps other widows heal and find hope.

3. Ministry Is Born Out of Brokenness Rachel’s ministry, Never Alone, started in the wake of her grief. What began as a small retreat for widows grew into a life-changing ministry that helps women process their losses, embrace healing, and step into a new season of hope. Rachel encourages us that even in our darkest moments, God is preparing us to be a light for others.

Rachel’s journey reminds us that no matter how deep our pain, God’s grace is always available to heal, restore, and transform. May her story encourage you to trust in God’s faithfulness and find hope even in the most difficult seasons.

Bio:

Rachel Faulkner Brown tragically lost two husbands before she was thirty-one years old. Out of Rachel’s healing, she founded Never Alone Widows, the largest Christian widows’ ministry 501c3 in the country. Never Alone Widows currently has 70 chapters from California to Maine and reaches thousands of widows daily through the organization’s social media platforms, their partnerships with the Gary Sinise Foundation, and Bob Goff’s Love Does foundation. Never Alone Widows has published the only video series specifically designed to support widows on RightNow Media, the world’s largest library of video-driven Bible study resources. Rachel also cowrote Father’s House, an eight-week, video-driven Bible study that has helped thousands of women find freedom from their past and grace for their future.

As a United States Air Force Gold Star widow, Rachel has shared her story nationally hundreds of times through Folds of Honor, a nonprofit organization helping to provide educational scholarships to the families of fallen and disabled service members and first responders. Rachel’s greatest ministry is her family, her husband, Rod, and her children, Davis and Campbell. Together they reside in Atlanta, Georgia.

Anchor Verses:

Genesis 50:20

Connect with Rachel:

Website: www.RachelFaulknerBrown.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/rachelfaulknerbrown

Never Alone Widows: https://www.neveralonewidows.com

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

In today’s episode, I am chatting with my friend, Kate Battistelli, author of The After Party of the Empty Nest. Kate shares her inspiring journey of faith, obedience, and the unexpected joys that come in the later seasons of life. With a background in Broadway and a career in the arts, Kate’s life was turned upside down when God called her to lay down her dreams and step into a new season of family and ministry.

After navigating personal challenges, including having an abortion at 18 and an unexpected season of infertility, Kate found a renewed sense of purpose. Now, in her book, The After Party of the Empty Nest, Kate helps guide women through the emotional journey of the empty nest and what it means to rediscover purpose in this next season.

Key Takeaways:

1. Obedience Over Comfort – Kate shares her journey of surrendering her career in the arts to pursue a calling from God. When you listen for His voice and obey, God honors that obedience, leading you into new seasons of blessing and purpose.

2. Embrace the Empty Nest – The empty nest doesn’t have to feel like the end of your purpose. Instead, it can be the beginning of a new chapter, filled with opportunities for growth, travel, hobbies, and connection.

3. The Power of Gratitude – Whether you’re facing infertility, anxiety, or relationship struggles, learning to be grateful in the midst of hardship allows you to see God’s purpose and blessings, even in the toughest moments.

Kate’s story is a powerful reminder that even in the most unexpected seasons of life, God’s plan for us is full of purpose and promise. She demonstrates how God can take our most difficult moments and turn them into a foundation for new beginnings. Her story encourages us to listen for God’s voice, trust in His timing, and step into the fullness of what He has for us in every season. If you’re in a transition or looking for guidance in your next chapter, Kate’s message is a beacon of hope and inspiration. Remember, the best is yet to come.

Bio:

Kate Battistelli is the author of The After Party of the Empty Nest: Mom is Not Your Only Name, the bestseller, The God Dare: Will You Choose to Believe the Impossible, and Growing Great Kids: Partner with God to Cultivate His Purpose in Your Child’s Life. She is a contributing writer to the (in)courage Bible for Women and The Spirit-Led Woman’s Bible, and her writing has appeared in Guideposts, The Joyful Life magazine, The Better Mom, Mici magazine, and more. She is one-third of the popular Mom to Mom Podcast. In addition, she is an honoree with She Leads Tennessee. As a young actress in New York City, Kate had a life-changing experience, going from understudy to starring as Anna in the Broadway National Tour of The King and I opposite Yul Brynner for more than 1,000 performances. Kate and her husband laid down their careers in the Broadway theatre in answer to their first “God Dare,” moving out of New York City and into a life of homeschooling and home business.

She lives in Franklin, TN near her daughter, contemporary Christian recording artist Francesca Battistelli, and seven precious grandchildren. Kate serves women by encouraging them to step out of their safe space and into His irresistible future.

Anchor Verses:

Psalm 16:5-8

Connect with Kate:

Website: https://katebattistelli.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/katebattistelli/

LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/katebattistelli

Get the introduction and first chapter of her book by texting “AFTERPARTY” to 44144!

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

In today’s episode, I had the privilege of speaking with Cindy Saab, author of Beyond: Strength and Hope Through Unexpected Storms. Cindy shares her incredible journey of walking through multiple life storms, including the loss of her younger brother to cancer, her mother’s decline with dementia, and the devastating end of her 28-year marriage. Through each of these trials, Cindy has learned to lean into God’s presence, finding strength, peace, and hope amidst the chaos.

In her book, Cindy takes readers on a journey of restoration, using her personal experiences and the stories of others who have faced their own storms. She encourages those who feel stuck or broken to remember that God’s restoration is for them too and that He will walk with them through the darkest of times. She offers not only her testimony but also practical steps to finding hope in the midst of life’s most difficult moments.

Key Takeaways:

1. God is Our Refuge: Cindy emphasizes that in times of loss and brokenness, God is our refuge. He doesn’t want us to handle our struggles alone, and through surrendering to Him, He can carry us through even the most overwhelming storms.

2. Hope in the Midst of Pain: Cindy shares that even when emotions are raw and grief is heavy, God’s faithfulness can be seen in the small glimpses of hope. Romans 15:13, which speaks of being filled with joy and peace as we trust in God, has been a key verse in Cindy’s journey of healing.

3. Healing is a Process: Cindy’s experience has taught her that healing doesn’t happen overnight. In her Bible study, Beyond, Cindy walks readers through a six-week process where they can explore different levels of healing. From acknowledging their grief to finding joy, each week brings a deeper understanding of how God works in our lives through trials.

I pray that as you listen to her story , you will find encouragement to continue looking beyond what is in front of you and to the God who is holding onto you.

Bio:

Cindy is an intentional CEO—a Connector and Encourager to Others. She loves to inspire, empower, equip and coach those traveling through unexpected storms and motivate them toward new seasons of life. Cindy is an award-winning Bible study author, a passionate communicator, and a strong biblical teacher who participates in Christian writing and speaking conferences and coordinates for a nationwide Christian outreach ministry. The mother of two adult children, she can often be found at the local coffee shop or the inspirational beach near her New Hampshire home.

Anchor Verses:

Romans 15:13

Connect with Cindy:

Website: https://cindysaab.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/cindysaab

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

In today’s episode, we are celebrating the release of Restored: Partnering with God in Transforming Our Broken Places with Meshali Mitchell, a deeply personal and transformative story of healing. Meshali, a Dallas-based photographer, shares her journey of brokenness and restoration, revealing the powerful lessons she’s learned along the way. From childhood trauma to finding hope and healing through God’s grace, Meshali’s story will resonate with anyone who has experienced pain and longed for restoration.

Throughout the episode, Meshali talks about her personal experiences and how the the restoration of an 1800s farmhouse led her to write this book, offering hope and encouragement to those who feel stuck in their own ruins. Her words are filled with compassion and understanding, making this episode a must-listen for anyone navigating their own healing journey.

Three Key Takeaways from Meshali’s Journey:

1. No One is Exempt from Restoration: Meshali shares how, despite her years of ministry involvement and working with Christian influencers, she lived in a place of internal doubt and believed that restoration was for everyone else—but not for her. She reveals how God’s transformative power was meant for her too, and that no one is excluded from the healing He offers.

2. Healing is a Process: The journey of restoration is rarely a quick fix. Meshali talks about how her healing involved confronting deep pain, including the trauma from her parents’ divorce and the sexual abuse she experienced. Through a long process of seeking counseling and partnering with God, Meshali came to understand that healing takes time and intentional effort, but the results are worth it.

3. Grace and Hope are Key: For anyone feeling stuck in their own brokenness, Meshali’s encouragement is clear: there is grace and hope ahead. God has a unique and beautiful restoration story for each person, and Meshali prays that those reading her book will be deeply encouraged by the truth that God is in the business of renewing hearts and lives.

Bio:

Meshali Mitchell is a portrait artist who believes every human being has a story worth hearing and a story worth telling. An Arkansas native, current resident of Texas, and frequent traveler, she owns and operates Meshali Mitchell Photo, which is run out of her home but takes her all over the world. She is a creative image builder and storyteller, confident in her style, and recognized for her ability to capture the true heart of a moment.

Anchor Verse:

Joel 2:25

Connect with Meshali:

Website: https://www.meshali.co

IG: https://www.instagram.com/meshali

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meshalico

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***

In this deeply powerful and raw episode, I sit down with Dr. Kim Maas—global minister, author, prophet, professor, and most importantly, a woman in love with Jesus. Kim’s story is one of deep heartbreak, radical restoration, and the miraculous power of God to redeem even the most broken places in our lives.

Her latest book, Our Muchness, released in May 2024, is a passionate call to women everywhere to reclaim their God-given identity, calling, and voice. But today, Kim takes us behind the curtain into her own freedom story—one marked by teenage salvation, a dark night of the soul, marriage, addiction, miraculous deliverance, and the still small voice of a Savior who refused to give up on her.

We talk about:

• Kim’s powerful encounter with Jesus at 13—and how it marked her

• The silent years and the pain of walking away

• Her marriage, divorce proceedings, and the miracle of reconciliation

• How God radically delivered her husband from addiction

• Hearing the voice of God—and choosing to follow, even in fear

• What Our Muchness means and why women need it now more than ever

From a living room chair and a crying-out heart to ministering on stages across the world, Kim reminds us that healing often starts with saying “yes” in the middle of our mess. Her testimony will stir your spirit and remind you that no one is too far gone for the grace of God.

Bio:

Kim Maas is a sought-after international speaker, author, and Christian minister. After a radical encounter with the Holy Spirit on March 22, 1994, Kim left her twenty-two-year nursing career to serve God full-time. She is the president and CEO of Kim Maas Ministries, the founder and director of Women of Our Time, and the host of the Move Forward with Dr. Kim Maas podcast and TV show. She can also be heard each month live on social media with the Voice of the Shepherds. Kim is ordained with the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel and the Apostolic Network of Global Awakening. She earned a Doctorate in Ministry at United Theological Seminary and a Master of Divinity at King’s University.

She and her husband, Mike, live in northern Idaho. They have three married children and a growing number of grandchildren.

Anchor Verses:

Hebrews 10: 19-39

Connect with Kim:

Website: https://www.kimmaas.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com kimmaasministries

FB: https://www.facebook.com/MoveforwardNowKimMaas

***We love hearing from you! Your reviews help our podcast community and keep these important conversations going. If this episode inspired you, challenged you, or gave you a fresh perspective, we’d be so grateful if you’d take a moment to leave a review. Just head to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and share your thoughts—it’s a simple way to make a big impact!***