Ever feel like you should be doing "more" for God or your family, but you're already maxed out and can't imagine adding one more thing?

In this conversation with Cynthia Yanof (author of How'd I Miss That?), we're talking about why we stay on the bench instead of taking the ride, how to know if God is really calling you or if it's just guilt, and what it looks like to say yes when you feel completely unprepared.

Cynthia shares her story of fostering when life was already chaotic (spoiler: her kids turned out better because of it, not despite it), the "age 25 question" that helped her let go of perfectionism, and why saying yes to God doesn't mean piling more on your plate—it means letting go of what doesn't matter so you can focus on what does.

We talk about discerning between "bless the mess" chaos and "I actually need to fix this" chaos, how to get over the fear of saying yes (spoiler: you don't get over it, you obey anyway), and the whiteboard story that will change how you think about whose story you're writing with your life.

This episode is for you if:
• You're afraid you'll look back someday with regrets
• You feel called to something bigger but you're paralyzed by fear
• You're exhausted and can't imagine adding one more thing
• You need permission to let some things be messy while you obey
• You're worried about what saying yes will cost your family

JOIN THE RISE UP CHRISTIAN PARENTING CONFERENCE!

If you're looking for more encouragement and practical help in this area, I'd love to invite you to the Rise Up Christian Parenting Conference—a free, live virtual event designed to help you focus on what truly matters. You'll hear from trusted Christian leaders who will help you raise kids who genuinely love God, navigate the real challenges of parenting today, and let go of the pressure to do it all perfectly.

Get your free ticket at https://equippinggodlywomen.com/2026-parenting-conference/

📖 RESOURCE MENTIONED:
Cynthia's book: "How'd I Miss That?"
https://amzn.to/4kEi6FA (affiliate)

🔗 CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA:
Website: https://CynthiaYanof.com

📖 RESOURCE MENTIONED:
Cynthia's book: "How'd I Miss That?"
https://amzn.to/4kEi6FA (affiliate)

🔗 CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA:
Website: https://CynthiaYanof.com

Support the show

Want to pray together as a couple but don't know how to start? Feel awkward even bringing it up? You're not alone: 95% of couples (even ministry couples!) don't pray together.

In this conversation with Brad and Heidi Mitchell (married 42 years, authors of Build Your Marriage with Prayer), we're talking about why praying together feels so awkward, how to start even if your spouse isn't interested, and the shocking statistic that should make every couple pay attention: couples who pray together have a divorce rate of 1 in 1,152 (compared to the national average of 40-50%).

Brad and Heidi share how they started praying together (hint: it wasn't always this way), what to do when you disagree on major decisions, and how to pray together without praying "at" each other (using prayer as a weapon to change your spouse).

We talk about practical ways to start (even if it's awkward at first), what to pray when you don't know what to say, and when to pray alone vs. together as a couple.

This episode is for you if:
• You want to pray together but don't know how to start
• It feels awkward or "too spiritual" to pray with your spouse
• One of you wants to pray together but the other doesn't
• You're trapped in the same conflicts and need God's help
• You've been "meaning to start" but keep putting it off
• You use prayer as a weapon (praying "at" your spouse instead of together)
• You feel distant from your spouse and want deeper connection
• You're terrified your marriage won't survive without God's intervention

Brad and Heidi give honest, practical guidance on starting with thank-you prayers only (to avoid conflict), the "help me understand" question that changes everything, and why sometimes you need to pray alone before praying together.

Plus, the beach ball analogy that perfectly explains why avoiding small conflicts leads to huge explosions.

Remember: Just start. It's going to be awkward at first (like anything new), but you don't need to be perfect; you just need to start.

📖 RESOURCE MENTIONED:
Brad and Heidi's book: "Build Your Marriage with Prayer"
https://amzn.to/4s0K414 (affiliate)

🔗 CONNECT WITH BRAD AND HEIDI MITCHELL:
Website: https://buildyourmarriage.org

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Same fight. Different day. You try to connect, he shuts down. He withdraws, you feel abandoned. Round and round you go and you're starting to wonder if your marriage can survive this.

In this conversation with Dr. Emerson Eggerichs (author of Love and Respect and the brand new Light Bulb Moments), we're talking about the "crazy cycle" destroying marriages and the simple insights that can help you get off it before it's too late.

Dr. Eggerichs shares research from the University of Washington's "love laboratory" (they studied 2,000 couples for 20 years), why 83% of men feel disrespected during conflict while 72% of women feel unloved, and the one reframe that can shift everything: you're not miles apart, you're inches apart.

We talk about why he shuts down when you just want to talk (it's not hostility, it's honor), why she criticizes when she's actually seeking reassurance (it's not contempt, it's care), and the "not wrong, just different" principle that stops the finger-pointing.

This episode is for you if:

• You're trapped in the same argument over and over (the "crazy cycle")

• You try to connect but he withdraws and you feel abandoned

• You're exhausted from trying everything and nothing works

• You wonder if your marriage is in serious trouble or if this is "normal"

• You feel completely misunderstood by your spouse

• You're scared your fundamental differences mean you're incompatible

• You need one key insight to help everything finally make sense

Dr. Eggerichs gives practical guidance on realistic vs. unrealistic expectations, how to communicate needs without depriving your spouse of theirs, and why most couples think they have major problems when they actually just need a perspective shift.

Plus, the critical question: Is this contempt or care? Hostility or honor? The answer changes everything.

Remember: You're not miles apart; you're inches apart. One insight, one reframe, one small shift can turn your marriage around faster than you think.

📖 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Dr. Eggerichs' books:
"Light Bulb Moments: 12 Biblical Perspectives for Successful and Satisfied Couples" https://amzn.to/3MAXu4D (affiliate)
"Love and Respect" https://amzn.to/46JmFbZ (affiliate)

🔗 CONNECT WITH DR. EMERSON EGGERICHS:

Website: https://loveandrespect.com

Support the show