S2E14: Embracing the MESS of the Season You're In (it might be exactly where God is growing you!)

S2E17: On Holy Delight - Metamorphosis, Letting go of Guilt, and Going from Glory to Glory

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2502353/fan_mail/new] What if your natural joy isn’t something to be suspicious of, but is simply how we are created to commune with God — our purest way to worship Him? You are allowed to enjoy your life. You are allowed to delight. And in doing so, you may be closer to God than you think. As we close out Season 2, this episode explores the idea of delighting in God through the ordinary, everyday moments of life. From personal reflections on spiritual transformation to the beauty of living “from glory to glory,” we talk about how the Holy Spirit gently reshapes us, not through pressure or performance, but through presence and communion — Jesus looking at you, and you looking at him. If you’ve ever wrestled with overthinking your faith, questioning what you enjoy, or wondering if it’s truly “good,” this conversation offers a fresh, biblical perspective on Christian joy, pleasure, and worship. Inspired by voices like Brother Lawrence and C. S. Lewis, we rediscover that every good and perfect gift—including joy—is grounded in God Himself. Scriptures Referenced: * 2 Corinthians 3:18 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%203&version=NIV] * Jeremiah 17:9 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2017&version=NIV] * Article Referenced — Context Matters: The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things by Knowable Word, Ryan Higginbottom  [https://www.knowableword.com/2022/03/14/context-matters-the-heart-is-deceitful-above-all-things/] Loving Lately: * Paradise [https://www.hulu.com/series/paradise-2b4b8988-50c9-4097-bf93-bc34a99a5b4f] on Hulu * Allie Paige [https://open.spotify.com/artist/7qNEZ5VvIV5TPMmNaSZjDl?si=AL0rDIHzRymO-KWh17CI2g] on Spotify * Beam hormone-balancing drink mix [https://shopbeam.com/products/glow-by-jenn-todryk?variant=41988081713207&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=brandsearch_glow&code=applied15&discount=BOOST&rate=sub-19&fermat_redirect=e38a699f-a130-49c4-abf2-de947cc94fed&fermat_channel=google&fermat_adid=165089819942&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21728486775&gbraid=0AAAAACrDhPMzsA09rMkNo6EKidCnxadKU&gclid=Cj0KCQjwv-LOBhCdARIsAM5hdKefBQv-eM9Xe2jgufp0G68caG0dGnXP0b9x3GRCC_7hQKLPFEVTrIEaAmhIEALw_wcB] Follow me on Instagram! [http://instagram.com/heysamantharay] Join me on Substack! [http://samantharay.substack.com]

S2E16: On Holy Mourning - Grief, Faith, and the Comfort of God

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2502353/fan_mail/new] Your mourning may be more holy than you realize. In this episode, we’re talking about mourning—what it is, what Scripture says about it, and why your grief is not a sign of weak faith, but an invitation into deeper intimacy with God. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “doing faith wrong” because you’re struggling, sorrowful, or walking through loss, this conversation is for you. Together, we explore the truth that mourning is not the absence of faith—it can actually be an expression of it. You’ll hear: * What the Bible says about grief, mourning, and lament * Why Jesus Himself modeled sorrow, compassion, and honest emotion * The powerful meaning behind “blessed are those who mourn” * How grief can become worship, honor, and connection with God * A personal reflection on loss, infertility, and finding Jesus as comforter in the middle of it * Practical ways to walk through grief—and support others in it—with faith and presence If you’re in a season of loss, disappointment, or quiet heartbreak… you are not alone. God is not asking you to rush past your grief—He is meeting you in it. 📖 Scriptures Referenced * Matthew 5:4 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A4&version=ESV [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A4&version=ESV] * Romans 12:15 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A15&version=ESV [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A15&version=ESV] * James 4:8–9 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+4%3A8-9&version=ESV [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+4%3A8-9&version=ESV] * John 11:35 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+11%3A35&version=ESV [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+11%3A35&version=ESV] * 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+4%3A13-18&version=ESV [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+4%3A13-18&version=ESV] * Revelation 21:4 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+21%3A4&version=ESV [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+21%3A4&version=ESV] * Revelation 7:17 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+7%3A17&version=ESV [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+7%3A17&version=ESV] * Isaiah 35:10 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+35%3A10&version=ESV [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+35%3A10&version=ESV] * John 16:33 – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+16%3A33&version=ESV [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+16%3A33&version=ESV] Jonathan David and Melissa Helser Podcast on The Gift of Sadness [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-david-melissa-helser-podcast/id370241266?i=1000681240298] Follow me on Instagram! [http://instagram.com/heysamantharay] Join me on Substack! [http://samantharay.substack.com]

S2E15: You Are a Creative Powerhouse! (& How to Handle Copying, Comparison & Confidence)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2502353/fan_mail/new] What do you do when someone copies you? In this episode, we’re diving into creativity, copying, comparison, and confidence—and how to be bold in your identity when you feel overlooked, behind, or unoriginal. You’ll learn how to: * Handle being copied without losing confidence * Stop comparing and trust your creative voice * Shift from scarcity to abundance thinking * See God as your true source of creativity You are not running out of ideas. You are not boring or lazy if you don't have a "platform" or product to sell. You are a creative powerhouse RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE because you were created by THE Creator! S2E10: When Friendship Feels Like Competition [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-talk-life-with-samantha-ray/id1814587811?i=1000748318372] Florence Given [https://www.instagram.com/florencegiven/] Maria Bowler [https://www.instagram.com/mariaevbowler/] Cat Pierce [https://www.instagram.com/iamcatdog/] Amie McNee [https://www.instagram.com/inspiredtowrite/] Stop Copying Me! A Guide to Creative Clarity [https://www.samantharaywriting.com/blog/2020/2/5/stop-copying-me?rq=copy] Follow me on Instagram! [http://instagram.com/heysamantharay] Join me on Substack! [http://samantharay.substack.com]

S2E14: Embracing the MESS of the Season You're In (it might be exactly where God is growing you!)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2502353/fan_mail/new] Life doesn’t always look as tidy, orderly, and calm as we want it to. Some seasons feel chaotic, overwhelming, or just plain messy. In this episode, we talk about why the mess of life might actually be where God is doing His deepest, most transformative work. If you’ve been feeling behind, discouraged, or like you should have it all together by now, this conversation is an invitation to stop fighting your season and start embracing the growth God may be doing right where you are. Sometimes the places that feel the most unfinished are the very places where God is growing deeper roots. Scriptures Referenced * Proverbs 14:4 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2014&version=NIV] * Ecclesiastes 3:1 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%203%3A1-8&version=NIV] * James 1:2-4 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201&version=NIV] * Colossians 3:23-24 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%203&version=NIV] * 2 Corinthians 12:9 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20corinthians%2012&version=NIV] Loving Lately * Coffee + Crumbs - Expect the Mess [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/expect-the-mess/id1093725475?i=1000746833640] (the worthy cost of hospitality) * Book Fair for grown ups!  [https://raleighironworks.com/event/the-raleigh-book-fair/] * Specialty tea :)  [https://www.instagram.com/lotussageandtea] Follow me on Instagram! [http://instagram.com/heysamantharay] Join me on Substack! [http://samantharay.substack.com]

S2E13: On Handling Others' Opinions - Moving from Fear to Freedom!

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2502353/fan_mail/new] In this episode, we’re talking honestly about the fear of being misunderstood, the pressure to be liked by everyone, and the freedom that comes when we stop chasing validation from people and start living for God instead. Because the truth is—you cannot be liked by everyone at the same time. If you’ve ever struggled with people-pleasing, overthinking what others think of you, or feeling hurt by someone’s words or silence, this conversation is for you. We’ll talk about the difference between being considerate and allowing others’ opinions to control your sense of worth, why brave conversations matter in healthy relationships, and how to move from fear of judgment into real freedom. Together we’ll explore what Scripture says about working for the Lord rather than for people, learning to recognize healthy relationships, and trusting that God sees you—even when others misunderstand you. If you’re ready to stop begging for validation and start walking in confidence in who God made you to be, this episode is for you. Scripture Referenced: Colossians 3:23–24 Follow me on Instagram! [http://instagram.com/heysamantharay] Join me on Substack! [http://samantharay.substack.com]