Today on the show, I sit down with Kristen Strong—author, military wife, twin mama, and encourager of the soul—as she shares her freedom story and the journey that led her to write her newest book, Desperate Woman Seeks Friends: Real Talk About Connection, Rejection, and Trying Again for the Friendships You Need (out today!).

Kristen opens up about her move from Oklahoma to Ohio and how that shift uncovered her deep need for true connection—along with the realization that she didn’t really know how to make friends from scratch. Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

We talk about the loneliness that creeps in during transitions, the awkwardness of initiating friendships, and the grief of losing friends who were once close. Kristen also shares how working on her friendship with Jesus became the foundation for healthy, life-giving relationships with others.

Whether you’re navigating new seasons, dealing with friendship anxiety, or wondering if you’ll ever find your “ride or dies,” Kristen offers hope, truth, and a whole lot of grace.

We also dive into:

• How to take online friendships offline

• Practical steps to rebuild your friendship muscles

• The importance of boundaries (and how to lovingly set them)

• Why 300 hours builds a deep friendship

• And the truth that friendships are for a reason, a season, or a lifetime—and that’s okay

This is a conversation for the woman who’s been hurt, but still hopes. Who’s lonely, but still showing up. Who’s ready to risk again for the kind of friendship that goes deep and lasts.

Grab Kristen’s book wherever books are sold—and if you’re in a season of rebuilding your circle, start right here.

Bio:

Kristen Strong, who has authored books include Girl Meets Change and When Change Finds You, also compiled the 90-day devotional, Praying Through Loneliness. She writes as a friend walking alongside you in your lonely season to a more helpful, hopeful destination. She loves sharing laughs, long talks, and meaningful stories with family and friends while holding a cup of strong black tea. She and her US Air Force veteran husband, David, have three beloved adult children. Together this military family zigzagged across the country (and one ocean) several times before settling in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Anchor Verses:

1 Peter 5:7

Romans 8:31-32

Connect with Kristen:

Website: https://kristenstrong.com

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

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/kristenstrong

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