Christmas isn’t all twinkle lights and matching pajamas — and honestly, neither is the original Christmas story. In this week’s episode, Carol, Kelly, and Tricia unwrap the mess of that first Christmas: a teenage girl with a world-shaking calling, a confused fiancé, a grueling journey under Roman oppression, no room at the inn, a stable full of animals, and a Savior who chose to arrive in the lowest, humblest place possible.

This conversation will remind you that God moves in the unexpected, He works through “no’s,” He meets us in the middle of our chaos, and He loves every single person more than we can imagine. If your Christmas feels far from picture-perfect, you are right in the kind of story God loves to step into.

1. God isn’t afraid of your mess.
   The Christmas story proves that He steps right into the unexpected, uncomfortable, and imperfect.

2. Every detail reveals His heart.
   From shepherds to stables, God intentionally chose what the world overlooks to show that everyone matters to Him.

3. His plans may look upside-down, but they’re always better.
   He defies expectations so He can display His goodness, creativity, and grace in ways we never could imagine.

“Perfection is grabbing tight. Surrender is letting go.”

Perfection steals joy faster than a toddler steals snacks. And this time of year? Whew. It creeps into our celebrations, our families, our expectations, and even our walk with Jesus.

In this episode, Carol, Kelly, and Tricia get super honest about why we cling to perfection, what it exposes in our hearts, and how surrender frees us to enjoy God — and each other — so much more. From Christmas card chaos to Spanx mishaps to the deeper spiritual roots underneath our striving, the girls unpack why perfection is a heavy burden Jesus never asked us to carry.

You’ll laugh, you’ll feel seen, and you’ll be gently nudged back toward the One who already loves you — not the polished version of you, but the real one.

REMEMBER...

• Perfection is usually rooted in insecurity.
  When we’re focused on managing how others see us, our eyes aren’t on Jesus — they’re on ourselves.

• Striving for perfection always leads to anxiety.
  Peace comes from trusting God, not controlling outcomes.

• Holiness and perfection are not the same.
  Perfection is for approval. Holiness flows from love and surrender.

Christmas comes fast, doesn’t it? One minute it’s fall leaves and football… the next it’s gift bags, school parties, and the constant feeling that you should be doing more. This week, Carol, Kelly, and Tricia talk honestly about something we all feel: how hard it can be to slow down long enough to actually prepare our hearts for Jesus at Christmas.

You’ll hear stories about Advent traditions, quiet moments by the tree lights, “shop your car” Christmas parties, mismatched gift bags, and how active waiting teaches us to trust God’s character — even when He feels silent.

If you’ve been craving a simpler Christmas, a quieter soul, or a shift from chaos to peace in Christ… this one’s for you.

Preparing for Christmas starts with preparing your heart. Not your menu, your gift list, or your Pinterest-perfect tree.

Waiting on God isn’t passive — it’s active trust. We rehearse His faithfulness to strengthen our faith.

Simplicity creates space for Jesus. Turning off the lights, slowing your pace, and lowering expectations makes more room for joy.

“Most of us want God’s will… as long as it looks like our will.”

Some questions sound simple… until you try to live them out.
This week, Carol, Kelly, and Tricia dive into the big one: Is God really all we need… or do our lives quietly say otherwise?

The ladies get honest about the things they run to for security, acceptance, and control — the people-pleasing, the rejection wounds, the shame, the pressure to perform, the perfectly curated outside with the messy inside. They also share how God uses vulnerability, accountability, and real community to peel back the layers and help us live like He is truly enough for us.

This episode just might give the permission your heart needs today to stop striving and start surrendering.

God can’t fill places we keep handing to people. When we let acceptance, performance, or control drive us, our “cup” will always leak. Only God satisfies.

You grow to the level of your vulnerability. Healing happens when we let trusted people ask the hard questions — and when we stop running from discomfort.

Surrender is the real pathway to peace. Letting go of control isn’t weakness — it’s trust. And trust grows when we believe God really is enough.

This week, pause long enough to be honest with God:
What am I running to when I feel insecure, unseen, or out of control?

What is one place I’ve been seeking fulfillment outside of Jesus?
Surrender it back to Him.
Tell a trusted friend so you can walk it out together.

“God won’t rush your healing — but He will walk every step of it with you.”

Grief isn’t just funerals and tears — and that’s exactly where Carol, Kelly, and Tricia go this week. The girls sit down and get real about the kinds of grief most of us don’t even recognize: the loss of a dream, the ache of a wayward child, the shock of a diagnosis, the quiet fallout after a natural disaster… the hurts we keep moving past without ever naming.

Together, they unpack how “hidden grief” shows up in our lives as anger, overspending, obsession, numbness, overeating — all the ways our hearts try to cope when we haven’t slowed down long enough to invite Jesus into the pain.

Tricia brings her social work background to the table, reminding us that we don’t heal by avoiding. We heal by grace, truth, Christian counseling, and letting God gently peel back the layers to what’s really going on. It’s honest, helpful, and just the right nudge if you’ve been pushing something down for too long.

1. You can grieve any loss — not just death, but unmet expectations, poor health, failed relationships, lost dreams, plans, and normalcy.

2. Hidden grief leaks out in behaviors we can’t explain: anger, overspending, addiction, obsession, avoidance, or shutting down.

3. Healing requires honesty — with yourself, with God, and often with a trusted Christian counselor who can help you uncover the root.

This week, give yourself 10 quiet minutes with God. Ask Him, “Lord, is there a loss I haven’t named yet?” Write down whatever comes up — even if it feels small. Pray over it, and ask Jesus to bring healing where you’ve been hiding.

“You’re never too old, too busy, or too late for God to use your gifts.”

Do you know what your spiritual gift is?
This week, Carol, Kelly, and Tricia talk about the gifts God gives each of us — not the kind you wrap up with a bow, but the kind that build up the body of Christ. The girls break down what spiritual gifts are (and aren’t), how to discover yours, and why using them brings so much joy.

If you’ve ever thought “I don’t have anything special to offer,” this one’s for you. God designed you with purpose, equipped you with gifts, and invites you to use them for His glory — whether that’s in your home, at your job, or in your church family.

And don’t worry — you don’t have to make a casserole to have the gift of hospitality.

3 Takeaways

1. You have at least one spiritual gift. God equips every believer to serve and strengthen the body of Christ.
2. Your gift might change or grow with seasons. God refines and expands our gifts as we mature in Him.
3. Gifts aren’t for show — they’re for service. We use them to glorify God, not ourselves.

Take it to Heart:

Take the Lifeway Spiritual Gifts Assessment and ask God to show you how He wants you to use what He’s given you. Then, ask a trusted friend or mentor what gifts they see in you — they might notice something you’ve missed.

“Freedom is found when you stop gripping and start trusting.”

Are you living with abandon or with abandonment? That’s the question we’re asking this week on Girl Talk.

We’ve all had those moments that leave us feeling rejected, forgotten, or just plain not enough. Maybe it was a relationship that ended, a job that fell apart, or a season when life didn’t turn out the way you hoped. It’s easy to let that pain convince us that we’re on our own.

But here’s the truth: God never walks away. He doesn’t change His mind about you. And when we really start to know who He is—not just know about Him—it changes everything.

Join Carol, Kelly, and Tricia as they share their own stories of hurt, healing, and freedom. Together, you’ll be reminded that living with abandon means trusting the One who never abandons you.

1. God is not a bigger, better version of man. He’s holy, unchanging, and completely faithful.

2. Don’t let your feelings drive the train. God’s truth steadies what emotions try to derail.

3. Freedom starts where fear stops. You can release your grip when you remember who’s holding you.

This week, spend time getting to know who God really is—not through your past hurts, but through His Word. Read Psalm 139 and write down three truths about His character. Then thank Him for staying when others didn’t.

“When comfort becomes the goal, we stop growing.” – Kelly

We live in a world that tells us comfort equals happiness. But what if chasing comfort actually pulls us away from the life God designed for us? This week, Carol, Kelly, and Tricia dig into the idea of comfort as an idol — how our desire for ease, safety, and control can distract us from the deeper peace that only comes from Jesus.

They talk about what it really means to follow God when things get hard, why peace is not the same thing as comfort, and how God often uses the uncomfortable places to grow our faith. From David hiding in the cave to modern-day moments of surrender, this conversation will challenge you to trade comfort for calling — and discover that Jesus really is enough.

1. Comfort can be an idol. When we prioritize ease over obedience, we miss what God wants to do in and through us.

2. Peace is eternal; comfort is temporary. True peace comes from knowing Christ, not from avoiding struggle.

3. Growth happens in discomfort. God often teaches us the deepest lessons in the hardest seasons — the ones we’d never choose.