Many Are the Afflicted | Ps 34 Series // 61

Many Are the Afflicted | Ps 34 Series // 61

Have you ever walked through a season where you genuinely didn't know how the story was going to end? Maybe it was your marriage. Maybe it was betrayal, grief, a diagnosis, or a loss that left you wondering, "Lord...how much longer?" In this final episode of our Psalm 34 Summer Series, we're looking at one of the most comforting promises in Scripture: "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18) We'll talk about why hardship isn't evidence that God has abandoned you, what David really means when he says, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous," and how God's presence often becomes most real in our darkest seasons. I'll also share part of my own story of walking through one of the hardest seasons of my marriage and how I experienced God's faithfulness when I couldn't see how things would ever be redeemed. If you're carrying disappointment, unanswered questions, or the weight of a painful season, I pray this conversation reminds you that your story isn't over. God is still near. He is still faithful. And He is still in the business of redeeming what feels broken. Scripture: Psalm 34:18-22 👉🏻 CONNECT WITH MICHELLE 💰 Save 10% with Budget Besties Simplified Budget System [https://budgetbesties.com/michelle] - use code MICHELLE ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/itsmemichellecastro] - Love the podcast, consider supporting RIP IT OFF 📖 Naked & Unashamed: A 31-Day Journey [https://www.itsmemichellecastro.com/journal] - save 10% with code SAVE10 💌 Free Download: 5 Lies Christian Women Believe About Sex & Marriage [https://itsmemichellecastro.myflodesk.com/5lies] ⭐ Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rip-it-off-purity-culture-healing-sex-in-christian/id1802710785]- Help other Christian wives find healing and biblical truth about intimacy. 📲 Instagram: @ripitoffpodcast [https://instagram.com/ripitoffpodcast] 📩 Speaking & guest inquiries: ripitoffpodcast@gmail.com [ripitoffpodcast@gmail.com]

The Words That Are Shaping Your Marriage | Ps 34 Series // 60

Can you pray faithfully for your marriage and still unintentionally damage it with your words? In this episode, we're continuing our Psalm 34 summer series by looking at Psalm 34:11-14, where David shifts from talking about trusting God to something incredibly practical: our speech. We'll talk about why words create the atmosphere of a marriage, the difference between being a peacemaker and a peacekeeper, and why pursuing peace doesn't mean avoiding hard conversations or becoming a doormat. If you've ever found yourself reacting out of frustration, speaking with criticism or sarcasm, or wondering how to communicate in a healthier way, this conversation is for you. God cares deeply about our marriages, and that includes the words we choose every single day. Let's learn how to pursue peace, one conversation at a time. Scripture: Psalm 34:11-14 👉🏻 CONNECT WITH MICHELLE 💰 Save 10% with Budget Besties Simplified Budget System [https://budgetbesties.com/michelle] - use code MICHELLE ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/itsmemichellecastro] - Love the podcast, consider supporting RIP IT OFF 📖 Naked & Unashamed: A 31-Day Journey [https://www.itsmemichellecastro.com/journal] - save 10% with code SAVE10 💌 Free Download: 5 Lies Christian Women Believe About Sex & Marriage [https://itsmemichellecastro.myflodesk.com/5lies] ⭐ Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rip-it-off-purity-culture-healing-sex-in-christian/id1802710785]- Help other Christian wives find healing and biblical truth about intimacy. 📲 Instagram: @ripitoffpodcast [https://instagram.com/ripitoffpodcast] 📩 Speaking & guest inquiries: ripitoffpodcast@gmail.com [ripitoffpodcast@gmail.com]

When Marriage Disappoints: Finding Refuge in God Instead of Your Relationship | Ps 34 Series // 59

Have you ever found yourself thinking: "If my husband would just change..." "If our communication improved..." "If our intimacy was better..." Then everything would finally feel okay. But what if your deepest disappointment isn't actually about your marriage? In this episode of Rip It Off, Michelle continues the Psalm 34 summer series by unpacking one of the most quoted—and often misunderstood—passages in Scripture: "Taste and see that the Lord is good... Blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him." (Psalm 34:8) David isn't simply inviting us to experience God's goodness. He's showing us where true security, peace, and refuge are actually found. Together we'll explore: * Why every person looks for refuge somewhere * How misplaced expectations quietly damage marriages * Why your husband was never meant to carry the weight only God can bear * What it really means to "fear the Lord" * Why Psalm 34 says those who seek God "lack no good thing" * One powerful question to bring before God this week If you've been feeling discouraged, overwhelmed, lonely, or disappointed in your marriage, this episode offers a gentle reminder that while marriage is a beautiful gift, it was never designed to be your savior. True peace begins when our refuge is found in Christ. Scriptures Mentioned * Psalm 34:8-10 * Psalm 139:23-24 In This Episode You'll Learn * What "taking refuge in God" practically looks like * Why unmet expectations often fuel marital disappointment * The biblical meaning of "fearing the Lord" * How to identify where you're actually looking for security * Why God's goodness doesn't always look like getting everything we want Reflection Question When life feels overwhelming, where do you run first? Whatever first comes to mind may reveal where you've been looking for refuge. Spend time praying through Psalm 139:23-24 this week and ask God to gently reveal where He wants to become your safe place once again. Resources If this episode encouraged you, be sure to: * Subscribe to Rip It Off * Leave a review to help more Christian wives find the show * Share this episode with a friend who needs encouragement today 👉🏻 CONNECT WITH MICHELLE 💰 Save 10% with Budget Besties Simplified Budget System [https://budgetbesties.com/michelle] - use code MICHELLE ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/itsmemichellecastro] - Love the podcast, consider supporting RIP IT OFF 📖 Naked & Unashamed: A 31-Day Journey [https://www.itsmemichellecastro.com/journal] - save 10% with code SAVE10 💌 Free Download: 5 Lies Christian Women Believe About Sex & Marriage [https://itsmemichellecastro.myflodesk.com/5lies] ⭐ Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rip-it-off-purity-culture-healing-sex-in-christian/id1802710785]- Help other Christian wives find healing and biblical truth about intimacy. 📲 Instagram: @ripitoffpodcast [https://instagram.com/ripitoffpodcast] 📩 Speaking & guest inquiries: ripitoffpodcast@gmail.com [ripitoffpodcast@gmail.com]

Where Do You Run When Life Gets Hard? | Psalm 34 Series // 58

When stress hits, where do you run first? To worry? To control? To your friends? To distractions? Or do you run to God? In this powerful episode of the Psalm 34 Summer Series, Michelle challenges listeners to examine their first response to life's hardest moments and reveals why where we run often exposes what we're trusting most. Episode Summary Psalm 34:4 says, "I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears." It's a familiar verse, but Michelle uncovers a truth that's easy to miss: David didn't say God delivered him from all his circumstances. He said God delivered him from his fears. As David fled for his life, uncertain of what would happen next, he chose to seek God before seeking relief. That's a challenge many of us desperately need today. Whether we're facing marriage struggles, financial stress, parenting challenges, grief, or relational conflict, our natural instinct is often to look for immediate relief instead of seeking God's presence. In this honest conversation, Michelle shares personal stories about worry, fear, control, and the temptation to solve problems in her own strength. Through Psalm 34, she reminds us that God isn't always removing the struggle—but He is always meeting us in it. If you've ever found yourself chasing certainty, obsessing over outcomes, or feeling overwhelmed by circumstances you can't control, this episode offers a gentle invitation to shift your focus from finding relief to finding refuge in the Lord. What You'll Learn in This Episode * What Psalm 34:4-7 teaches us about seeking God during difficult seasons * The difference between seeking relief and seeking the Lord * Why fear often drives comparison, envy, and dissatisfaction * How our first response to stress reveals what we're trusting most * The powerful meaning behind "those who look to Him are radiant" * Why God often meets us in our circumstances instead of immediately removing them * How honesty before God creates space for growth and healing * The difference between being fearless and being dependent on God * A practical challenge to help you identify where you run when life gets hard Call to Action Friend, this week, pay attention to your first instinct when something difficult happens. Before you seek relief, answers, control, or reassurance, pause and seek the Lord. Awareness is often where growth begins. If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend who needs the reminder that she doesn't have to carry every burden alone. 👉🏻 CONNECT WITH MICHELLE 💰 Save 10% with Budget Besties Simplified Budget System [https://budgetbesties.com/michelle] - use code MICHELLE ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/itsmemichellecastro] - Love the podcast, consider supporting RIP IT OFF 📖 Naked & Unashamed: A 31-Day Journey [https://www.itsmemichellecastro.com/journal] - save 10% with code SAVE10 💌 Free Download: 5 Lies Christian Women Believe About Sex & Marriage [https://itsmemichellecastro.myflodesk.com/5lies] ⭐ Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rip-it-off-purity-culture-healing-sex-in-christian/id1802710785]- Help other Christian wives find healing and biblical truth about intimacy. 📲 Instagram: @ripitoffpodcast [https://instagram.com/ripitoffpodcast] 📩 Speaking & guest inquiries: ripitoffpodcast@gmail.com [ripitoffpodcast@gmail.com]

Are You Magnifying Your Problems or God? | Psalm 34 Series // 57

What if the words you speak every day are revealing exactly where your heart is placing its trust? Not the words you say at church. Not the words you say when everything is going your way. The words that spill out when you're frustrated, overwhelmed, disappointed, or afraid. In this convicting episode, we continue our Psalm 34 Summer Series and uncover what David's powerful declaration teaches us about praise, perspective, and the condition of our hearts. Episode Summary Psalm 34 opens with a bold statement: "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." It's a verse many of us know by heart, but have we stopped to ask ourselves if it's actually true of us? In this episode, Michelle dives into Psalm 34:1-3 and challenges listeners to examine what is continually coming out of their mouths. Are we rehearsing God's faithfulness—or constantly replaying our frustrations? Are we magnifying our problems—or magnifying the Lord? Through personal stories about financial stress, marriage struggles, grief, and everyday worries, Michelle unpacks how our words often reveal what we're truly trusting. David wasn't writing these words from a comfortable season of life. He was running for his life, afraid and uncertain. Yet he chose praise before the breakthrough ever came. This conversation is an invitation to stop measuring God's goodness by your circumstances and start anchoring your heart in His unchanging character. What You'll Learn in This Episode * What Psalm 34:1-3 teaches us about continual praise * Why your words often reveal where your trust is actually placed * The difference between praising God because life is good and praising Him because He is good * How frustration, worry, criticism, and fear can quietly become the focus of our hearts * Why David's circumstances make Psalm 34 even more powerful * The connection between your perspective and your peace * How the atmosphere of your home can be shaped by the words you consistently speak * A practical challenge to help you identify what you're magnifying most in this season * The difference between happiness and biblical joy Call to Action Friend, this week, pay attention to what continually comes out of your mouth. Not with guilt or condemnation—but with curiosity. Ask God to reveal where your focus has drifted and help you magnify Him above your circumstances. If this episode encouraged or challenged you, share it with a friend and invite her to walk through the Psalm 34 Summer Series with us! 👉🏻 CONNECT WITH MICHELLE 💰 Save 10% with Budget Besties Simplified Budget System [https://budgetbesties.com/michelle] - use code MICHELLE ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/itsmemichellecastro] - Love the podcast, consider supporting RIP IT OFF 📖 Naked & Unashamed: A 31-Day Journey [https://www.itsmemichellecastro.com/journal] - save 10% with code SAVE10 💌 Free Download: 5 Lies Christian Women Believe About Sex & Marriage [https://itsmemichellecastro.myflodesk.com/5lies] ⭐ Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rip-it-off-purity-culture-healing-sex-in-christian/id1802710785]- Help other Christian wives find healing and biblical truth about intimacy. 📲 Instagram: @ripitoffpodcast [https://instagram.com/ripitoffpodcast] 📩 Speaking & guest inquiries: ripitoffpodcast@gmail.com [ripitoffpodcast@gmail.com]