Dear Annie Joy

Receiving Joy Instead of Chasing Happiness

If joy is something God promised… why does it sometimes feel so hard to actually experience it? In this episode, my dear friend, Chelsey Seibold, and I talk about why so many faithful women secretly feel like they’re doing everything right but still feel emotionally heavy, disconnected, or afraid to fully receive joy. If you’ve ever found yourself bracing for what might go wrong instead of enjoying what is going right, you are not alone. In this episode you'll hear about: • The difference between happiness and true gospel centered joy • Why joy can feel vulnerable even when life is good • How fear and overthinking can keep us from peace • How to access more joy through small mindset shifts • How faith and emotional health support each other Follow Chelsey on Instagram @chelseyseibold [https://www.instagram.com/chelseyseibold/] Joyful Discipleship online class will be held Mondays at 10:00 am - 11:30 am PST. April 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th. Email me at hello@anniejoy.com to register. Gathering Ground Workshop will be held on April 25th 9:00 - 11:20 AM in downtown Gilbert, Arizona. Email me for the registration link.

51: Love Hits Different When You Feel Seen

In this episode, we're talking about authenticity, emotional healing, and what it really means to be seen with co-founder of The Glory Retreat, Tricia Emmett. So many Christian women carry invisible masks, or coping patterns that once created safety but now keep us from experiencing deeper connection and joy. We explore why those masks form, how they affect our relationships, and why being loved doesn’t always feel connecting when we’re not fully known. We also talk about the quiet, steady kind of joy that comes from showing up as your real self, with safe people and with God. If you’ve been working on emotional wellness, self worth, or learning how to stop shrinking in relationships, this conversation will gently encourage you to take one small step toward being seen. Because love feels different when you are known. Sign up for the Glory Retreat at www.thegloryretreat.com [https://www.thegloryretreat.com/]

50: Dysregulation Is Not the Enemy

What if emotional dysregulation is not s sign that something is wrong with you, but a signal inviting you into compassion? In this episode, I’m joined by my dear friend Laura Dugovic for a powerful, honest conversation about reframing dysregulation as information, not failure. We talk about what happens when we stop fighting our bodies, stop forcing peace, and allow God to meet us in the middle of our hardest moments. Laura shares from her own lived experience with panic disorder, trauma recovery, and nervous system healing, and we explore why bypassing our emotions, spiritually, emotionally, or cognitively, keeps us stuck. Instead, we talk about curiosity, validation, boundaries, and learning to say, “Of course I feel this way.” In this episode, we cover: * Why dysregulation isn’t the enemy, but a signal asking for care * How forcing peace can actually be an act of war against yourself * The difference between spiritual peace and emotional bypassing * What it looks like to let God be with you instead of asking Him to take the pain away * Why your body’s response to stress, trauma, or grief doesn’t mean you’re broken * How compassion and validation create real regulation and healing If you’ve ever felt frustrated with yourself for not being “fine,” or wondered why your body reacts the way it does, this episode is a gentle reminder that nothing has gone wrong with you—and you don’t have to do this alone. 💌 You can email me at hello@anniejoy.com or come say hi on Instagram @dear.anniejoy For more of Laura, check out her website becausetheworldneeds.com [https://www.becausetheworldneeds.com/] and for more info on her wellness studio and salt cave go to getsalted.com [https://www.getsalted.com/]

49: Balance Was Never the Promise

What if balance was never the goal? In this episode, I sit down with Becky Squire to talk about why the pressure to “do it all” quietly exhausts so many faithful women, and what God actually offers us instead. We talk about the difference between good, better, and best, why letting something wait doesn’t mean you’ve failed, and how grace meets us right in the middle of seasons that feel heavy or unfinished. This is a conversation about capacity, wisdom, and trusting God to guide the river—especially when life feels anything but balanced. If you’ve ever felt guilty for saying no… If you’ve wondered whether you’re falling behind spiritually… If you’re doing your best and still feel stretched thin… This episode is for you. My hope is that you walk away feeling lighter, steadier, and more at peace with where you are right now. Grace was always the promise. 💌 You can email me at hello@anniejoy.com or come say hi on Instagram @dear.anniejoy Follow Becky on Instagram @beckysquire [https://www.instagram.com/beckysquire/] and check out her website beckyquire.com [www.beckysquire.com]

48: Turns Out, God’s Been Playing the Long Game

What if some of the hardest stories in scripture are actually meant to give us hope? In this episode, we talk about a powerful reframe of the Flood story—one that moves it away from fear and punishment and toward mercy, patience, and eternal progression. Instead of seeing the Flood as God giving up on people, we explore the idea that it was God giving them their best chance to keep growing, even if that growth couldn’t happen in this life.In this episode we explore: * A mercy-centered view of the Flood * Eternal progression over perfection * Repentance without fear or heaviness * Letting go of pressure and comparison in Church culture * Why God’s patience gives us real hope This episode is a gentle reminder that God is not rushing you—and He’s not disappointed in you either. You’re not failing. You’re still learning. And turns out… God’s been playing the long game all along. Follow Bethany Comerford on IG @bethanythelifecoach [https://www.instagram.com/bethanythelifecoach/] or check out her website [https://www.positiveconnectionscoaching.com/] or podcast! [https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpodcasts.apple.com%2Fus%2Fpodcast%2Fwelcome-to-let-me-tell-you%2Fid1837076671%3Fi%3D1000724486758%26utm_source%3Dig%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_content%3Dlink_in_bio&e=AT3QUeRoEeAiYedfc8d5LmsEsLsHTJ3HR_Pu4kaCDIKqwXSnPInSozaJomd5lFfzR6Npts_MSkNCrs8wky3VsjG9_GqSLO8MOMDU5fkc7rtHiQhfFaTtX5A-fw] 💌 You can email me at hello@anniejoy.com or come say hi on Instagram @dear.anniejoy