We talk about grace a lot — but do we actually understand it? For many of us, grace feels like the doorway into faith … yet something we quietly try to “maintain” through our own effort. What if God never intended you to earn what He freely gives?

In today’s episode, writer and Bible teacher Kristel Acevedo joins Meredith Brock and Kaley Olson for a deeply clarifying conversation about the kind of grace Scripture describes — the grace that saves us and keeps us. Through biblical teaching, real-life stories, and practical wisdom, Kristel helps us see why striving leaves us exhausted, how sanctification actually works, and why resting in God’s unshakable love is the starting place for real spiritual transformation.

If you’re tired of trying to be “good enough,” wrestling with shame, or wondering whether you’ve used up all of God’s patience, this episode will breathe fresh hope into your heart. Grace isn’t a one-time gift. It’s the ongoing work of God in you — today, tomorrow, and every day after.

You’ll learn:

• What Scripture means when it says we are saved by grace — and why that same grace is what transforms us daily.
• The difference between working for God’s acceptance and living from your secure identity in Christ.
• How sanctification really happens, and why slowing down helps us recognize the Holy Spirit’s work in us.
• Why sharing grace with others matters, and how God can use your life to draw people to Himself.

Resources From This Episode:

• When life feels uncertain, God’s promises are not. Stir up your faith with the 40 Days Through the New Testament study, and help even more women access biblical Truth through daily studies, podcasts, and encouraging resources. Give to Proverbs 31 Ministries today, and get a copy of this brand-new study guide as our thanks. 
• Connect with Kristel Acevedo by following her on Instagram for biblical encouragement and practical teaching. Explore more of her work at KristelAcevedo.com, and make sure to check out her newest Bible study, A Way in the Wilderness.
• Discover the Every Woman’s Bible. This is a study Bible created by over 100 women scholars, writers, and contributors from around the world. It is packed with notes and devotionals offering cultural, historical, and literary insight. Learn more at EveryWomansBible.com.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode

Want More on This Topic? 

• Listen to “Are We Missing Jesus as We Work for Jesus?” with Gloria Umanah on The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast.

What if your confidence in Jesus didn’t have to rest on feelings alone — but on real, compelling evidence? In this episode, Kaley Olson and Meredith Brock sit down with Dr. Joel Muddamalle to explore why Christians can trust both the Bible and the historical Jesus with clarity and confidence.

Joel unpacks the surprisingly strong historical, textual, and archaeological evidence surrounding Scripture, the overwhelming support for the resurrection, and why even secular scholars take the Gospels seriously. You’ll walk away not just informed but anchored — reminded that the story of Jesus isn’t fragile, mythical, or wishful thinking. It’s trustworthy. It’s verifiable. And it changes everything.

You’ll learn:

• How the Bible’s accuracy and fulfilled prophecies point to Jesus as a real, historical person.
• Why the Gospels can be trusted — backed by archaeology, thousands of manuscripts, and even secular scholars.
• What makes the resurrection not just a belief but a well-supported historical event.
• How solid evidence can strengthen your faith and give you confidence when questions or doubts arise.

Resources From This Episode:

• Download the free First 5 app: Begin a daily rhythm of studying God’s Word with clear, trustworthy teaching that helps you grow with confidence. Perfect for starting (or restarting!) your Bible study habits this year.
• Follow Dr. Joel Muddamalle: Get accessible, thoughtful theology through his Instagram and free Substack — practical tools to help deepen your understanding of Scripture every week.
• Explore 40 Days Through the New Testament: Knowing the Savior Who Steadies Our Uncertainty:Walk through the New Testament with rich teaching — including contributions from Dr. Joel Muddamalle — designed to strengthen your confidence in who Jesus is and why His story can be trusted.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode

Want More on This Topic? 

• Listen to “Am I Reading My Bible Right?” — a conversation between Dr. Joel Muddamalle and Shae Hill from The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast.

Christmas is the story of Love stepping toward us — yet for many of us, love is still the place where our deepest questions live. Why is it hard to give? Why is it even harder to receive? And what does Advent have to do with it?

In this final Advent episode, Kaley Olson, Wendy Blight, and Ellen Adkins explore what Scripture reveals about the human heart — and why Jesus came to transform it from the inside out. You’ll get a freeing look at why hostility toward God shows up in all of us, how the Holy Spirit enables a new kind of love we could never muster on our own, and a tender invitation to receive the love God is offering right now.

With biblical teaching, honest reflection, and a prayer for anyone longing for a fresh start with God, this episode reminds us: His love isn’t distant or conditional. It’s personal, present … and it’s meant for you.

You’ll learn:

• Why Scripture says our natural hearts resist God — and how Advent reveals Jesus’ plan to transform them.
• What God’s steadfast love looks like throughout the Bible and why we often struggle to receive it.
• How the Holy Spirit enables us to love God and others in ways we cannot on our own.
• A simple prayer and practical steps for beginning or renewing a relationship with Jesus this Christmas.

Resources From This Episode:

• Join us for Advent in the First 5 app!
  Download the free app, and spend five minutes each day studying God’s Word with women around the world.
• Go deeper with our brand-new Advent study guide, More Than a Manger.
  Experience the Christmas story with fresh eyes through rich biblical teaching and meaningful daily reflections.
• Help more women access biblical Truth this season.
  Your generosity fuels everything we do — from free podcasts to devotions to study resources.
  [Give to Proverbs 31 Ministries today.]
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode

Want More on This Topic? 

• Listen to “The Secret to Really Loving Your Neighbor” with Jada Edwards on The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast.

Joy sounds simple at Christmastime … until life brings loss, disappointment, or unanswered prayers. In this Advent episode, Wendy Blight joins Kaley Olson and Ellen Adkins to share how Jesus brings joy — not to replace suffering but right in the middle of it. Through Wendy’s honest personal story and a biblical look at joy throughout Scripture, you’ll discover how true joy isn’t rooted in circumstances — it's rooted in the presence of Jesus who meets us, sustains us, and carries us through things we never asked for.

A powerful message for anyone who’s wondering how joy is possible in a season that feels anything but joyful.

You’ll learn:

• Why biblical joy is more than a feeling — it’s something God gifts us through His Spirit.
• How joy grows in seasons of pain, unanswered prayer, or physical and emotional suffering.
• Why lament isn’t the opposite of joy — it's often the doorway to it.
• Practical ways to shift your gaze from your circumstances to Christ.
• What Scripture teaches about a future joy that no loss or sorrow can take away.

Resources From This Episode:

• Join us for Advent in the First 5 app!
  Download the free app, and spend five minutes each day studying God’s Word with women around the world.
• Go deeper with our brand-new Advent study guide, More Than a Manger.
  Experience the Christmas story with fresh eyes through rich biblical teaching and meaningful daily reflections.
• Help more women access biblical Truth this season.
  Your generosity fuels everything we do — from free podcasts to devotions to study resources.
  [Give to Proverbs 31 Ministries today.]
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode

Want More on This Topic? 

• Listen to this Therapy & Theology episode titled “How Can I Trust God When I Don’t Understand What He Allows?”

When life feels unsettled, peace can feel impossible to find. In this Advent episode, Ellen Adkins joins Kaley Olson and Wendy Blight to unpack the deeper meaning of “shalom” — not just the absence of conflict but the presence of wholeness. Together, they trace the story of peace from the garden of Genesis to the birth of Jesus, revealing why Christ alone brings calm to the chaos within us and around us.

A hope-filled conversation for anyone longing for a steady, soul-deep peace this Christmas.

You’ll learn:

• The deeper meaning of “shalom” and why biblical peace offers wholeness, not just relief.
• How Jesus’ birth fulfills God’s long-awaited promise to push back the chaos of sin.
• Why our instinct to control often amplifies inner turmoil — and the freeing alternative Scripture gives us.
• How to identify places of unrest in your life and step into them with Christ-shaped peace.
• The powerful hope of a future where God fully silences chaos and makes all things whole again.

Resources From This Episode:

• Join us for Advent in the First 5 app!
  Download the free app, and spend five minutes each day studying God’s Word with women around the world.
• Go deeper with our brand-new Advent study guide, More Than a Manger.
  Experience the Christmas story with fresh eyes through rich biblical teaching and meaningful daily reflections.
• Help more women access biblical Truth this season.
  Your generosity fuels everything we do — from free podcasts to devotions to study resources.
   [Give to Proverbs 31 Ministries today.]
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode

Want More on This Topic? 

• Check out this episode of The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast with Lysa TerKeurst and Dr. Joel Muddamalle on finding inner peace. 
• Watch this episode of Therapy & Theology if you’re struggling with letting go of control. 

When the holidays feel heavy, hope can feel far away. In this Advent episode, Bible teacher Wendy Blight joins Kaley Olson and Ellen Adkins to show how Jesus brings real hope into the places where we feel most broken. Through Scripture and Wendy’s powerful personal story, you’ll discover why biblical hope is more than wishful thinking — it’s a confident expectation rooted in who God is.

Perfect for anyone who needs a breath of hope this season.

You’ll learn:

• Why biblical hope is a confident expectation — not wishful thinking.
• How the story of hope begins in Genesis and is fulfilled in Jesus.
• Ways to move from a victim mentality toward healing and trust in God.
• How to experience Scripture as alive and active in seasons of brokenness.

Resources From This Episode:

• Join us for Advent in the First 5 app!
  Download the free app and spend five minutes each day studying God’s Word with women around the world.
• Go deeper with our brand-new Advent study guide, More Than a Manger.
  Experience the Christmas story with fresh eyes through rich biblical teaching and meaningful daily reflections.
• Help more women access Biblical Truth this season.
  Your generosity fuels everything we do — from free podcasts to devotions to study resources.
   [Give to Proverbs 31 Ministries today.]
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode

Want More on This Topic? 

• Listen to another great episode of The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast titled “How To Walk By Faith When Life Feels Hard” with Jennifer Rothschild.

If your days feel rushed and your soul feels weary, this episode is for you. Our friend Amanda Jass joins us to share how three simple rhythms — Know, Grow, and Go — can help you slow down, reconnect with God, and live with purpose right where you are.

Through her personal story and wisdom from Scripture, Amanda reminds us that becoming who God created us to be isn’t about striving harder — it’s about abiding deeper. When we truly know God’s Word, grow in His presence, and go where He leads, we’ll find the peace and confidence our hearts have been longing for.

You’ll learn:

• What it means to know God and let His Word shape your identity.
• How to grow in faith through rest, prayer, and connection with others.
• How to go and live on mission in your everyday life — even in the small moments.
• Why God’s rhythms invite us to slow down instead of speed up.

Resources From This Episode:

• Join our four-part Advent series on The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast — find hope, peace, joy, and love as you prepare your heart for Christmas.
• Subscribe to the Proverbs 31 Ministries email — stay in the know about all God is doing.
• Download the First 5 mobile app — join our Advent study, and spend five minutes a day in God’s Word.
• The Go Bible for Kids — help your children fall in love with God’s Word through fun illustrations and easy-to-understand truth.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode

Want More on This Topic? 

• Listen to “How To Slow Down When Life Can’t Stop” with Laura L. Smith.

Forgiveness can sometimes feel like an unfair gift we have to give someone else. But what if it's actually God's prescription for our own hearts to heal? 

In this deeply personal episode, Lysa TerKeurst opens up about what it really looks like to practice forgiveness when it seems undeserved or out of reach. With honesty and tenderness, she shares insights from her own journey, offering practical guidance on processing pain, naming your hurt, and choosing obedience to God even when your heart hasn’t caught up yet. 

Through this conversation, you'll learn: 

• What biblical forgiveness is and what it isn't. 
• Ways to handle real struggles: from navigating personal betrayals to extending grace when someone has hurt your child. 
• How letting go doesn’t mean letting someone keep hurting you.

Resources From This Episode:

• Surviving an Unwanted Divorce by Lysa TerKeurst, counselor Jim Cress, and Dr. Joel Muddamalle.
• The Therapy & Theology Podcast, Season 10, with Lysa TerKeurst, Jim Cress, and Dr. Joel Muddamalle.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode

Want More on This Topic?

• Watch the Therapy & Theology video on YouTube titled "How To Forgive When the Hurt Was So Unfair."

Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by heartache that you didn't even want to talk to God? When loss, grief, and suffering pile up one after another, it's easy to feel stuck — angry, exhausted, and wondering where God is in the middle of it all. In this deeply personal episode, Madelynn Reyes, Donor Community Manager at Proverbs 31 Ministries, shares her journey through a season of unimaginable loss and how Jesus met her at her lowest point. Through the story of the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4, Madelynn reminds us that God doesn't wait for us to get ourselves together — He's already there, waiting to meet us in our mess. Whether you're walking through your own season of suffering or supporting someone who is, this conversation will encourage you that your story matters and God wants to use it.

You’ll learn:

• Why it's OK to be honest with God about your anger, disappointment, and pain.
• What it means to acknowledge your own suffering and give yourself permission to heal.
• How Jesus uses your brokenness and heartache to bring hope to others.
• The power of being fully known and fully loved by a God who never pushes you away.

Resources From This Episode:

• Join The Well. Become a monthly partner and help women around the world encounter Jesus in their hardest moments.
• Download First 5. Start your day in God's Word with our free mobile app.
• Give today. Help another woman know the Truth and live the Truth because it changes everything.
• Subscribe. Never miss an episode of biblical encouragement.
• Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts. Help other women find the hope and Truth they're searching for.
• Complete our listener survey. Your feedback helps us serve you better, informing us of the topics and teachings you need most.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode

Do you ever feel like you’re carrying years of disappointment, shame, or questions about whether God hears you? Maybe you’ve prayed for healing, longed for comfort, or simply wondered if you’re worth His attention. In this episode, Erin Rae Peace joins us to unpack the story of the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5 — the only place in Scripture where Jesus publicly calls a woman “daughter.” Together, we’ll explore what this tender encounter reveals about how deeply Jesus values women, the hope He offers when shame feels louder than the Truth, and why His embrace is closer than we think.

You’ll learn:

• The difference between hiding in fear and being lovingly pursued by God.
• How to replace assumptions about God’s disappointment with confidence in His love for you.
• What it means to be seen, known, and embraced by Jesus.
• Why faith, even when fragile, can open the door to healing and freedom.

Partner With Us: 

When life feels overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to provide for yourself or your family, it can seem like you’re in it alone … But it doesn’t have to be. That’s why we’re so grateful for Convoy of Hope, an organization that has spent over 30 years helping vulnerable communities and empowering women and girls to create a better future. Convoy of Hope partners with women to start their own businesses, giving them the tools to support themselves and their families. You can be part of this movement with us; visit convoy.org/p31 to help empower women and girls today. Together, we can lift up communities, create opportunities, and make hope possible.

Resources From This Episode:

• Would you take just a few minutes to fill out our listener survey? Your feedback will help guide us on the topics we cover, the guests we invite, and the ways we can continue to serve you through biblical teaching and encouragement.
• Each time you support Proverbs 31, your gift helps empower women and transform entire communities with God’s Word. 
• Send this episode to a friend who needs encouragement and God’s Truth today.
• Subscribe to The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast never to miss an episode of hope-filled stories as we unpack the Truth and learn to live it out together. 
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode

Have you ever wondered if God really sees you — your struggles, your desires, even the parts of your story you’d rather hide? In this episode, Bible teacher, writer, and speaker Oghosa Iyamu joins Meredith and Kaley to unpack the story of Hagar in Genesis 16 — a woman who felt unseen, overlooked, and on the run. Together, they share biblical truths and practical encouragement for how to face the battles in our minds with faith. If you’ve ever been tempted to return to old patterns, question your worth, or carry the weight of rejection, this conversation will remind you: God not only sees you — He knows you by name, and His love reaches you right where you are.

You’ll learn:

• Ways to recognize God’s blessings in your life.
• Practical steps to replace lies with Scripture-based Truth.
• How to combat what’s stealing your joy and gratitude.
• What it really looks like to take every thought captive as you build a stronger faith.

Partner With Us: 

• Would you take just a few minutes to fill out our listener survey? Your feedback will help guide us on the topics we cover, the guests we invite, and the ways we can continue to serve you through biblical teaching and encouragement.
• Life can be hard, and sometimes it feels like the pain will never end — but you don’t have to face it alone. That’s why we created "Beautiful Truths To Remember: 20 Scriptures To Hold On to While You’re Still Hurting." This free resource is designed to remind you of God’s goodness and Truth, even in the middle of your hardest seasons. We want to invite you to grab a copy for yourself and share it with a friend who needs encouragement too.
• Give today to help another woman know the Truth and live the Truth because it changes everything.
• Leave us a rating and written review on Apple Podcasts.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode

Resources From This Episode:

• Looking for more resources to grow in your faith? Find comfort and belonging in Oghosa’s Bible study, Forever Welcomed.
• Get encouragement and practical ways to grow when you visit Oghosa’s website.