Do You Want to Be Well? A Biblical Conversation on Obedience, Surrender, and Whole Health

Do You Want to Be Well? A Biblical Conversation on Obedience, Surrender, and Whole Health

What if the question God is asking you isn't, "How are you doing?" but "Do you want to be well?" In this episode of Perspectives Into Practice, my friend Desiree joins me for another honest conversation about physical health, spiritual health, and the quiet ways God invites us into deeper obedience. As she shares her journey through perimenopause, hearing challenges, and learning to care for her body differently, we discover that God's invitation to wholeness reaches far beyond our physical health. Together, we explore the story of the man at the Pool of Bethesda and Jesus' powerful question, "Do you want to be made well?" We talk about what it means to move beyond simply surviving, how compromise can slowly become a lifestyle, and why obedience often begins with small, daily decisions that shape the direction of our lives. We also discuss surrendering habits that no longer serve us, learning to recognize what belongs in a previous season, and trusting that God never asks us to release something without leading us toward something better. Whether you're wrestling with your physical health, spiritual growth, anxiety, people-pleasing, or simply feeling stuck, I pray this conversation encourages you to seek God's wisdom and trust His gentle invitation toward true wholeness. In this episode, we discuss: - What Jesus meant when He asked, "Do you want to be made well?" - Physical health, spiritual health, and biblical stewardship - Obedience over comfort - Breaking free from survival mode - Letting go of compromise and unhealthy habits - Navigating perimenopause with faith - Renewing your mind through Scripture - Walking in peace instead of striving - Recognizing when God is leading you into a new season - Trusting God's process even when change feels difficult If this conversation encouraged you, I'd love to invite you to be a guest on Perspectives Into Practice. Every woman has a story of what God is teaching her right now, and I'd be honored to help you share yours. Learn more at PerspectivesIntoPractice.com.

When Life Feels Overwhelming, Trusting God Through Change, Motherhood, and Letting Go

There are seasons of life that don't fit neatly into one emotion. Sometimes we're celebrating while we're grieving. We're excited about what's ahead while quietly mourning what we're leaving behind. In this episode of Perspectives Into Practice, I sit down with my new friend, Andrea, to talk about what it looks like to navigate those beautifully complicated seasons with faith instead of fear. Andrea shares what life has looked like as her daughter prepares to graduate from high school, and the tension of holding joy, sadness, anticipation, and overwhelm all at the same time. Together, we explore the emotional weight of motherhood, learning to release our children into God's hands, and trusting Him with the future when everything feels like it's changing. We also talk about the mental load so many women carry, practical ways to move from anxiety to prayer, and how simple daily rhythms like writing things down, spending time in God's Word, and staying present can help us walk through full seasons with peace instead of pressure. If you've ever felt stretched by the responsibilities of life, overwhelmed by everything on your plate, or uncertain about what comes next, I hope this conversation reminds you that you were never meant to carry it all alone. You'll hear encouragement about trusting God one day at a time, finding peace in the middle of transition, and remembering that God is faithfully growing us through every season, even the ones that feel bittersweet. In this episode, we discuss: - Navigating life transitions with faith instead of overwhelm - Trusting God as our children grow and become independent - Holding joy and grief at the same time - Turning anxiety into prayer - Practical ways to stay present instead of worrying about tomorrow - Finding peace through Scripture and prayer - The mental load of motherhood and learning to surrender it to God -Embracing new seasons with hope and expectation If this conversation encouraged you, I'd love to invite you to be a guest on Perspectives Into Practice. Every woman has a story of what God is teaching her right now, and I'd be honored to help you share yours. You can learn more at PerspectivesIntoPractice.com.

Faith Beyond the Checklist: Moving from Performance to a Deeper Relationship with God

Have you ever felt like you were doing all the right things in your faith, reading your Bible, attending church, completing devotionals, and praying, but still felt like something was missing? In this episode of Perspectives Into Practice, I sit down with friend, Jody for an honest conversation about what happens when God reveals that faith is about more than checking spiritual boxes. Together, we explore the difference between performing faith and truly abiding in Christ. Jody shares how retirement created space for her to recognize that although she was faithfully participating in Bible studies, devotionals, and prayer, she had unknowingly settled into a passive faith. Through a season of reflection, God began showing her that He wasn't asking for more activities. He was asking for more of her heart. We also talk about surrender, control, prayer, grief, and the ongoing process of spiritual refinement. Jody vulnerably shares how losing her daughter in 2018 deepened her faith and how God continues to use both her pain and her healing to draw her closer to Him. This conversation is a beautiful reminder that our stories are never finished and that God continues shaping us in every season of life. If you've ever struggled with striving, perfectionism, spiritual performance, or wondering why your faith feels stuck despite doing all the "right" things, this episode will encourage you to slow down, listen for God's voice, and pursue a deeper relationship with Him. In this episode, we discuss: • Moving from a checklist faith to an authentic relationship with God • The difference between spiritual activity and spiritual intimacy • Learning to surrender control and trust God's leading • How prayer deepens our connection with God • Walking through grief while holding onto faith • God's ongoing work of refining and transforming us • Finding purpose in every season of life • Why your story isn't over yet Friend, if you've been feeling spiritually dry, exhausted from striving, or longing for something deeper in your walk with God, I pray this conversation reminds you that God doesn't want your performance. He wants your heart. If this episode encourages you, please share it with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe so you don't miss future conversations. And if God is teaching you something in your own life right now, I'd love to hear your story. Visit PerspectivesIntoPractice.com to learn more about being a guest on the podcast. Looking for a place to rest, reflect, and reconnect with God? I'd also love to invite you to join us for the upcoming Wholeness in the Wilderness Retreat, a peaceful weekend designed to help women encounter God in the middle of life's wilderness seasons.

Trusting God in Uncertain Seasons | Faith, Grief, Surrender & Life Transitions

In this episode of Perspectives Into Practice, I sit down with my friend Heather for an honest conversation about what it looks like to trust God in the middle of life's uncertain seasons. Heather shares her journey of stepping away from a 25-year career, launching something new, navigating the transition of a child leaving for college, and walking through the recent loss of her father. Together, we talk about the tension between faith and doubt, learning to surrender control, and trusting God one step at a time when the future feels unclear. Heather shares powerful stories of God's faithfulness, the simple rhythms that help her stay grounded, and the reminders God has given her along the way that He is still present, still working, and still leading. If you've ever felt stuck in the messy middle, waiting for direction, grieving a loss, or wondering how to trust God when you can't see the whole path ahead, this conversation will encourage your heart. You'll be reminded that God rarely gives us the entire roadmap. Instead, He invites us to walk with Him one faithful step at a time. Key topics from this episode include: • Trusting God during major life transitions • Letting go of control and surrendering the outcome • Navigating grief with faith and hope • Recognizing God's presence in everyday moments • Building practical rhythms that strengthen your faith • Finding peace in seasons of uncertainty If this episode encouraged you, I'd love to invite you to share your story on the podcast. Some of the most powerful conversations come from ordinary women experiencing God's faithfulness in everyday life. And if you're longing for rest, renewal, and deeper connection with God, join me for the Wholeness in the Wilderness Retreat. Learn more about the retreat and how to become a guest on the podcast at PerspectivesIntoPractice.com.

When Comfort Becomes a Barrier to Growth: Finding God's Peace

Have you ever found yourself praying for a breakthrough, only to realize God was inviting you to ask a different question? In this episode, I sit down with my friend Heather for an honest conversation about comfort, peace, obedience, and the deeper work God wants to do in our hearts. What started as a struggle with health goals and consistency became a powerful lesson about hidden patterns, striving, and the subtle ways comfort can keep us from experiencing the freedom God has for us. Heather shares how God revealed an unexpected idol in her life, why she had been asking the wrong questions, and how everything began to change when she stopped focusing on the surface problem and started inviting God into the deeper issue. Together, we explore the difference between comfort and peace, why recurring struggles often point to something beneath the surface, and how repentance and forgiveness can lead to lasting freedom. We also talk about anxiety, fear, trusting God's process, and learning to recognize the cycles that keep showing up in our lives. Heather's vulnerability and practical wisdom offer encouragement for anyone who feels stuck, frustrated, weary, or unsure why they keep facing the same battles. If you've ever wondered why some prayers seem unanswered, why growth feels harder than it should, or how to move from striving into genuine peace, this conversation will encourage you to slow down, ask God deeper questions, and trust that He is always leading you toward freedom. As Heather reminds us, peace isn't always comfort. Sometimes the very thing God is using to grow us is the thing we're tempted to avoid. I'd love to hear what stood out to you from this conversation. And if God is teaching you something in your own life right now, I'd love to invite you to be a guest on the podcast and share your story. Sometimes the lesson you're learning is exactly what someone else needs to hear. Also, registration is still open for the Wholeness in the Wilderness Retreat, happening June 25-28 near the Oregon coast and California Redwoods. If you're feeling weary, stretched thin, spiritually dry, or simply longing for intentional time with God, I'd love to have you join us. Learn more at PerspectivesIntoPractice.com and click Retreat. Key Moments * Heather shares how God revealed a hidden pattern connected to comfort. * The surprising difference between comfort and true peace. * Why asking better questions can lead to deeper breakthroughs. * How fear, anxiety, and striving often point to deeper heart issues. * A powerful story about choosing ministry over personal plans. * What it means to notice unhealthy cycles and pray differently. * Why repentance and forgiveness remain powerful tools for freedom. * Practical encouragement for anyone feeling stuck in recurring struggles.