In Episode 117 of Halfway to Sunday, Jill continues her conversation with Val Kleppen about wilderness seasons (Part 2); those stretches where you can’t see what God is doing and you’re desperate for clarity. Val offers a perspective-shifting challenge: why do we assume we need answers before we obey? She shares how a faithful life creates ripples that can impact generations, even if we never see the fullness of our influence. Jill and Val also talk about the gift of the Psalms, how Scripture makes room for grief, lament, and even anger, while still leading us back to trust. This episode is honest, grounding, and hopeful: pain is real, God is good, and joy can still be found in the wilderness. If you’ve been tempted to quit or stay silent, this conversation will strengthen you to keep going.

This is a companion episode to Episode 116.

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PODCAST SHOW NOTES:

Full episodes now out on YouTube! ➡️ Watch: Halfway to Sunday (Full Episodes)

🎧 Listen on
Apple

Spotify

🙏Join the community + bonus content (Patreon)

💌 Questions/Guest Requests

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🩵 ABOUT US

Halfway to Sunday is a weekly faith-based podcast for people who want Jesus but still have questions, sharing honest, hope-filled stories of real faith through joy and loss, healing and growth, and even doubt. Not polished or performative, just real conversations that remind you you’re not alone and loved by God.

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🔗 LINKS

Follow Halfway to Sunday on Instagram

Follow Halfway to Sunday on TikTok

Follow Jill on Instagram

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📖 BIBLE RESOURCES

Verses mentioned in today's episode:

Psalms

John 16:33

John 15 (Abiding in Him)

The Journaling Bible I use | Bible Highlighters | Annotating Tabs | **affiliate links

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📣 GUEST
Follow Val on Instagram

Follow Val on YouTube

Check out Val’s Website

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🎙️ OTHER EPISODES THAT MAY BE HELPFUL:

Episode #116 The Grief of Unanswered Prayers w/ Val Kleppen

Episode #115 God Isn’t Done With Your Story w/ Carly Ann Taylor

Episode #110 Joy Without Pretending w/ Kyleigh Rose

Episode #109 When Joy Feels Impossible w/ Wanda Thibodeaux

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Halfway to Sunday is a weekly conversation on life and faith with your friends.

We're so glad you're here.

In Episode 116 of Halfway to Sunday, Jill sits down with Val Kleppen (host of The Motherhood Experience Podcast) for an honest conversation about the wilderness seasons when prayers feel unanswered, direction feels unclear, and you’re trying to stay faithful anyway. Val shares from real life: grief, deep wrestling, and the exhaustion that comes from trying to control outcomes when everything feels uncertain. Together they talk about what it looks like to surrender in the waiting, why lament is not faithlessness, and how the Psalms can become a tether back to God when you don’t have words. This episode is for anyone stuck in the in-between…the slow, hard, unseen chapters when it feels like you need permission to tell the truth and the practical encouragement to keep showing up with God, one next step at a time.

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PODCAST SHOW NOTES:

Full episodes now out on YouTube! ➡️ Watch: Halfway to Sunday (Full Episodes)

🎧 Listen on
Apple

Spotify

🙏Join the community + bonus content (Patreon)

💌 Questions/Guest Requests

******

🩵 ABOUT US

Halfway to Sunday is a weekly faith-based podcast for people who want Jesus but still have questions, sharing honest, hope-filled stories of real faith through joy and loss, healing and growth, and even doubt. Not polished or performative, just real conversations that remind you you’re not alone and loved by God.

******

🔗 LINKS

Follow Halfway to Sunday on Instagram

Follow Halfway to Sunday on TikTok

Follow Jill on Instagram

******

📖 BIBLE RESOURCES

Psalm 139

Book of Job

The Journaling Bible I use | Bible Highlighters | Annotating Tabs | **affiliate links

******

📣 GUEST

Follow Val on Instagram

Follow Val on YouTube

Check out Val’s Website

******

🎙️ OTHER EPISODES THAT MAY BE HELPFUL:

Episode #110 Joy Without Pretending w/ Kyleigh Rose

Episode #109 When Joy Feels Impossible w/ Wanda Thibodeaux

Episode #101 Break Free from Spiritual Perfectionism w/ Kristen LaValley

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Halfway to Sunday is a weekly conversation on life and faith with your friends.

We're so glad you're here.

In Episode 115 of Halfway to Sunday, Jill sits down with Christian artist Carly Ann Taylor to hear the story behind her faith, her calling, and her song “Why Should I Worry.” Carly shares about growing up in a deeply unstable environment of abuse, addiction, and foster care to then reaching a breaking point where she contemplated ending her life. She describes hearing a simple phrase “Something good is coming” and later realizing it was God preparing her heart for the gospel. Carly also opens up about a post-college season of depression and paralyzing fear of the future, and how Scripture (Matthew 6) and worship became a lifeline. The conversation highlights surrender, God’s behind-the-scenes work, and how a “sacrifice of praise” can become a song that carries others.

******

PODCAST SHOW NOTES:

Full episodes now out on YouTube! ➡️ Watch: Halfway to Sunday (Full Episodes)

🎧 Listen on
Apple

Spotify

🙏Join the community + bonus content (Patreon)

💌 Questions/Guest Requests

******

🩵 ABOUT US

Halfway to Sunday is a weekly faith-based podcast for people who want Jesus but still have questions, sharing honest, hope-filled stories of real faith through joy and loss, healing and growth, and even doubt. Not polished or performative, just real conversations that remind you you’re not alone and loved by God.

******

🔗 LINKS

Follow Halfway to Sunday on Instagram

Follow Halfway to Sunday on TikTok

Follow Jill on Instagram

******

📖 BIBLE RESOURCES

Matthew 6

Hebrews 13:15

The Journaling Bible I use | Bible Highlighters | Annotating Tabs | **affiliate links

******

📣 GUEST

Follow Carly on Instagram

Check out Carly’s Website

******

🎙️ OTHER EPISODES THAT MAY BE HELPFUL:

Episode #110 Joy Without Pretending w/ Kyleigh Rose

Episode #109 When Joy Feels Impossible w/ Wanda Thibodeaux

Episode #101 Break Free from Spiritual Perfectionism w/ Kristen LaValley

******

Halfway to Sunday is a weekly conversation on life and faith with your friends.

We're so glad you're here.