Faith in Marriage and Singleness

Faith in Marriage and Singleness

Whether you are married, single, waiting, widowed, or longing for a change, every season comes with the same quiet question. Is this where I am supposed to be? In this episode, Nicole and Stephanie sit down for an honest conversation about marriage and singleness. They talk about why every season carries its own struggles, what happens when we misplace our expectations, and how identity in Christ has to come before any relationship status. This is not an episode about fixing your season. It is about being faithful in it. A quick note: Nicole and Stephanie are not professional marriage counselors. There are seasons that require professional support, and they want you to feel encouraged to seek it. In This Episode * Why every season, married or single, comes with its own struggles * What happens when we expect a relationship status to fulfill us * Nicole and Stephanie's honest stories from their own marriages * Why submission and respect are not weakness but unity * How to live faithfully right where you are, not where you wish you were * The myth that marriage will meet our deepest needs * What Philippians 4:11 has to teach us about contentment The Big Reframe The truth in this conversation is that no person and no season can satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts. Only Christ can. When we place that expectation on a spouse or on a future spouse, we set ourselves up for disappointment. When we place it on Christ, we find that He is already meeting us where we are. Faithful Obedience in Every Season Marriage is not ultimate. Christ is. And the same is true of singleness. Both are different assignments, both are valuable, and both are opportunities to reflect Him. Faithfulness looks like small daily choices. Praying. Reading the Word. Choosing gentleness when you do not feel like it. Showing up when it feels easier to withdraw. Surrounding yourself with a Christ-centered community that points you back to Him. Faith Layer Philippians 4:11. I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. Paul says he learned contentment. It did not come naturally. It came through trust. Contentment is not about getting what we want. It is about trusting God with what He has given. Resources Mentioned * The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller * Five Things to Pray for Your Spouse by Melissa and Michael Kruger * Journey Bible Study by Randy Pope * ROOTS Morning Journal. groundedgrowth.org/store [http://groundedgrowth.org/store] Final Encouragement Wherever you find yourself today, God sees you. Your relationship status does not define you. You are first and foremost a beloved child of God. Trust that He is writing a beautiful story with your life, even when the chapters feel unexpected. Stay grounded and keep growing. Follow along and stay connected: Website: www.groundedgrowth.org [http://www.groundedgrowth.org] Instagram:@GroundedGrowthMO [https://www.instagram.com/groundedgrowthmo/]

Through Their Eyes: A Conversation with Our Kids

This is a different kind of episode. For the first time ever, Nicole and Stephanie hand the microphones to their kids. Travis (T Dog) and Jojo come prepared with their own questions for the moms, and then the moms turn the tables and ask the kids. The result is sweeter, funnier, and more honest than anything we could have scripted. You will laugh. You will probably get a little teary. And you might end up wanting to do this same exercise with the kids in your own life. In This Episode How the kids decided what questions to ask The childhood memory that made one mom cry on the spot What kids think their moms are actually good at (and not so good at) The very real answers when moms ask "what do you think I do when you are not around" Rapid fire: ice cream or candy, beach or mountains, board games or video games What the kids think Grounded Growth means What makes a good mom in the eyes of a kid Sweet, Honest Moments Kids see things we miss. They notice the small lullabies, the morning walks, the way we slow down for them, the way we get nervous in front of a microphone. What Made Us Most Proud When asked what makes a good mom, the answers were not about being perfect. They were about presence. Time together. Listening. Empathy. Hugs. A Reminder for the Parent Listening You do not have to have it all figured out for your kids to feel deeply loved. You just have to keep showing up. Sometimes the best perspective we can get is through the eyes of our kids. Final Encouragement If this episode made you smile, do your own version at home. Sit down with your kids. Ask them what they think you are good at. Ask them what they think you do when they are not around. Stay grounded and keep growing. Follow along and stay connected: Website: www.groundedgrowth.org [http://www.groundedgrowth.org] Instagram:@GroundedGrowthMO [https://www.instagram.com/groundedgrowthmo/]

Gratitude: The Habit That Changes How You See Everything

Gratitude doesn't change your circumstances. But it changes how you experience them. And many women aren't lacking blessings, they're lacking the margin to notice them.   In this episode, Nicole and Stephanie close out the Faith Foundations series with a conversation on gratitude, why it can feel difficult, what quietly happens when we don't practice it, what gratitude actually does in our hearts and minds, and simple habits that can shift your perspective.   In This Episode   Why gratitude can feel hard, even when we want to be grateful How our brains default to noticing what's missing What quietly happens when we don't practice gratitude What gratitude actually does for your perspective and peace Simple gratitude habits that change how you see your life   Key Takeaways   Gratitude feels hard because life feels full. Stress, comparison, and the habit of noticing what's missing pull us away before we realize it.   When we don't practice gratitude, discontentment grows quietly. Good things start feeling ordinary, and we become more frustrated and less present.   Gratitude grounds you in the present. It pulls you out of comparison and ahead-thinking.   Gratitude shifts perspective from scarcity to provision. Instead of "What am I missing?" you start asking, "What has already been given?"   Gratitude builds peace, resilience, and contentment.   Simple Gratitude Habits   Write down three things you're thankful for daily Celebrate small wins instead of skipping past them Pause midday and ask, "What is still good right now?" Tie gratitude to a routine, morning coffee, your commute, your nightly reset Use the ROOTS Morning Journal to anchor gratitude in scripture and reflection   Faith Layer   1 Thessalonians 5:18. Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.   It says in all circumstances, not for all circumstances. Gratitude is a posture of the heart that keeps us anchored in what is true about God.   Resources Mentioned   ROOTS Morning Journal, groundedgrowth.org/store [http://groundedgrowth.org/store] Weekly Reset Guide, groundedgrowth.org/WeeklyReset [http://groundedgrowth.org/WeeklyReset] Grounded Growth Community   Final Encouragement   Start with noticing one good thing each day. Just one.   Gratitude doesn't change your circumstances overnight. But it does change how you see them. And sometimes, that changes everything.   Stay grounded and keep growing. www.groundedgrowth.org [http://www.groundedgrowth.org] Stay grounded and keep growing. Follow along and stay connected: Website: www.groundedgrowth.org [http://www.groundedgrowth.org] Instagram:@GroundedGrowthMO [https://www.instagram.com/groundedgrowthmo/]

How Wisdom Changes the Way You Make Decisions

The conversation explores the challenges of decision-making, the impact of overthinking, and the importance of seeking wisdom. It emphasizes the need to slow down decisions, seek trusted perspectives, and ground decisions in truth. The discussion also highlights the role of prayer and reflection in building wisdom and the generous gift of wisdom from God. Takeaways * Slowing down decisions instead of rushing them * Seeking perspective from a trusted person * Giving yourself space before responding * Grounding decisions in truth and seeking wisdom * Slowing down one decision this week to shift the pattern in your life Chapters * 00:00 Intentional Decision Making * 08:08 Second Guessing and Confidence * 13:39 Building Wisdom into Everyday Decisions * 23:35 God's Generous Gift of Wisdom

Why You Weren't Meant to Grow Alone

The conversation explores the hesitation to ask for help and the impact of growing alone. It emphasizes the importance of healthy community and the role it plays in personal growth and support. The discussion also delves into the practical aspects of building and nurturing a healthy community. The conversation delves into the importance of honesty, vulnerability, and intentional time for connection in building strong relationships. It emphasizes the prioritization of relationships, the role of community, and the significance of taking small steps towards connection. The essential themes include honesty, vulnerability, intentional connection, prioritizing relationships, building healthy community, and the role of community in personal growth. Takeaways * Importance of asking for help * The value of healthy community Honesty and vulnerability lead to stronger relationships * Intentional time for connection is essential Chapters * 00:00 The Hesitation to Ask for Help * 14:16 Building a Healthy Community * 22:48 The Essential Role of Community * 28:23 Taking Small Steps Towards Connection Stay grounded and keep growing. Follow along and stay connected: Website: www.groundedgrowth.org [http://www.groundedgrowth.org] Instagram: @GroundedGrowthMO Facebook: Grounded Growth Community