Motherhood, Grace, and the Stories We Don’t Always Tell

Closed Hands: Why You’re Blocking God’s Blessings

Many of us know how to work for God better than we know how to receive from Him. We pray for help, provision, healing, rest, and support, yet when God answers through another person or in a way we did not expect, we may pull back. Receiving can make us feel vulnerable. It can challenge our pride, our need for control, and the belief that we must earn everything we are given. In this episode of Grit and Grace with Tonya Bruton, we are talking about why receiving can feel so uncomfortable and what it means to trust God enough to open our hands. Through the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5, we see how easily our expectations can stand between us and what God wants to give. Naaman nearly walked away from his healing because the answer did not come through the method he expected. His breakthrough began when he humbled himself and received. We will also look at the difference between striving and faith, why grace cannot be earned, and how receiving help, love, rest, and support can become an act of trust in God. Scriptures discussed include: 2 Kings 5 Galatians 3:3 Matthew 11:28–30 Romans 8:32 Ephesians 2:8–9 God’s grace is already extended. The question is whether we will keep our hands closed or trust Him enough to receive what He freely gives. Read the companion blog post, “Exhausted by Excellence: Learning to Drop the Hustle and Receive God’s Rest,” at TonyaBruton.com/blog. Subscribe to Grit and Grace with Tonya Bruton and share this episode with someone who may be tired of trying to earn what God desires to give by grace. Support the ministry through Venmo: @tonya-bruton

Finding God’s Goodness Every Day | A Golden Summer Conversation with Joshua & Benjamin

This week on Grit & Grace, I’m joined by Joshua and Benjamin for a Golden Summer conversation about finding God’s goodness in the middle of ordinary life. We talk about gratitude, slowing down, paying attention, and learning to recognize the small gifts we often rush past. This episode is a reminder that God’s goodness is not always loud or dramatic. Sometimes it is found in family conversations, simple moments, quiet reflection, and the daily grace we almost miss. If you have been moving too fast, feeling distracted, or needing a reminder that God is still present in your everyday life, this conversation is for you. Listen in, share it with someone who needs encouragement, and subscribe to Grit & Grace with Tonya Bruton for more honest conversations about faith, family, healing, gratitude, and walking with God in real life.

Closed Hands: Why You're Blocking God's Blessings

Why do so many believers find it easier to give than to receive? In this episode, Tonya Bruton explores how control, perfectionism, and performance culture can quietly influence our relationship with God. Looking at Naaman's healing, Paul's letter to the Galatians, Jesus' invitation to the weary, and the promise of Romans 8:32, this conversation reminds us that God's grace is not earned—it is received. If you've ever struggled to accept help, rest without guilt, or believe that God truly delights in giving good gifts to His children, this episode is for you. Why do so many believers find it easier to give than to receive? In this episode, Tonya Bruton explores how control, perfectionism, and performance culture can quietly influence our relationship with God. Looking at Naaman's healing, Paul's letter to the Galatians, Jesus' invitation to the weary, and the promise of Romans 8:32, this conversation reminds us that God's grace is not earned—it is received. If you've ever struggled to accept help, rest without guilt, or believe that God truly delights in giving good gifts to His children, this episode is for you. Why do so many believers find it easier to give than to receive? In this episode, Tonya Bruton explores how control, perfectionism, and performance culture can quietly influence our relationship with God. Looking at Naaman's healing, Paul's letter to the Galatians, Jesus' invitation to the weary, and the promise of Romans 8:32, this conversation reminds us that God's grace is not earned—it is received. If you've ever struggled to accept help, rest without guilt, or believe that God truly delights in giving good gifts to His children, this episode is for you.

The God Who Wants to Be With You | Psalm 68

What if the central story of Scripture is not humanity searching for God, but God continually moving toward humanity? In this episode of Grit and Grace, Benjamin and I explore Psalm 68 and the beautiful thread that runs from Genesis to Revelation: God's desire to dwell with His people. We talk about the Garden of Eden, the Tabernacle, the Temple, the coming of Christ, and the promise that one day God will fully dwell with His people again. Along the way, we reflect on stillness, communion with God, and what it means to make room for His presence in our everyday lives. If you've been feeling distracted, weary, or spiritually dry, this conversation is an invitation to slow down, listen, and remember that God has always desired to be near. 🌿 Visit my website for blog posts, resources, and updates: TonyaBruton.com [https://www.tonyabruton.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] 🌿 Interested in joining our prayer team? We'd love to hear from you. If this episode encourages you, please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with a friend Enjoying the podcast? Follow Grit and Grace, leave a rating, and share this episode with someone who needs encouragement today. Your support helps more people discover these conversations. 🌿 Read the blog and join the community at: TonyaBruton.com [https://www.tonyabruton.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com]

Restoration Is Possible | Our Marriage, Addiction, Betrayal & Rebuilding Through Faith

What does restoration really look like after addiction, betrayal, brokenness, codependency, and years of pain? In this deeply personal archive episode of the Grit & Grace Podcast, Tonya and Josh Bruton sit down with Pastor Mike McInerney for an honest conversation about marriage, faith, mental health struggles, rebuilding trust, and the long process of healing and restoration. This is not a polished “perfect testimony.” It is a real conversation about grit, grace, rebuilding, forgiveness, identity, boundaries, faith, and learning to heal through complicated seasons. Whether you are struggling in your marriage, rebuilding your life after addiction, walking through betrayal, or simply trying to hold onto faith during difficult seasons, we hope this conversation reminds you that God still works through imperfect people and unfinished stories. ✨ This conversation continues in this week’s companion blog post at tonyabruton.com. 🏆 Thank you to everyone who supported Grit & Grace Podcast in the Prayze Factor Awards. We officially made it into Round Two for Podcast of the Year, and we are incredibly grateful for every prayer, vote, share, and word of encouragement. 💍 Josh and Tonya are also celebrating their anniversary and vow renewal this week, so be sure to follow along on Facebook and TikTok for surprise moments, updates, and possible live streams during the trip. 🌿 CONNECT + FOLLOW: tonyabruton.com 📩 Prayer Requests & Testimonies: gritandgracepodcasttx@gmail.com [gritandgracepodcasttx@gmail.com] 💛 Support the podcast ministry: Venmo: Tonya-Bruton If this episode encouraged you, please follow the podcast and share this episode with someone else who may need encouragement today.