As believers, we know the Bible tells us that God is with us at all times. And yet there are "dry seasons" when we don't feel the closeness of His presence at all.

Today's episode is part of an ongoing series titled "Ask a Theologian" — conversations with Proverbs 31 Ministries' Director of Theological Research, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Content Manager for Lysa TerKeurst, Shae Hill. Together, Joel and Shae will give you theological insight and practical takeaways.

Related Resources:

• Getting rest is not about getting more sleep or lying on the couch to watch TV. True rest for your soul only comes from God. We can actually find rest by reading Scripture, evaluating our schedules, practicing Sabbath and trusting in God. Download our free resource R.E.S.T. How To Overcome Being Overwhelmed today!
• When you're feeling stuck or stagnant, sometimes you wish you could just hit a reset button, right? That's why we wrote our brand-new study called Fresh Start: A Study of the Book of Genesis. This will be our very first study together in 2025, so get your copy and study with us! Buy Now!
• Tune in every Tuesday to Joel's Instagram for “Theology Talk Tuesday,” where he'll answer your most asked questions about God, the Bible and more. 
• Sign up on Joel’s website to receive free “bite-sized theology” through a monthly newsletter you can read in five minutes or less.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Have you ever struggled to see how all the pieces of the Bible fit together?

You're not alone. Many believers find it challenging to connect the dots between the events of Scripture and how they relate to each other. But here’s the good news: Understanding the timeline of Scripture can bring clarity and a deeper sense of purpose to your Bible study, helping you see the big picture of God’s unfolding story.

In this episode, Iva May breaks down the importance of studying Scripture chronologically and why every believer should understand the overarching story arc of the Bible. You’ll gain fresh insights into how God’s plan has been unfolding since creation and how you fit into this incredible narrative.

Related Resources:

• NLT One Year Chronological Study Bible: Read the story of the Bible in historical order, broken into 14 eras. This Study Bible includes notes and devotional questions to help you see God’s grand narrative and your place in it.
• Follow on Instagram for insights and encouragement:
  • @NLTBible: Discover how the NLT Bible makes Scripture accessible and relatable for everyday life.
  • @ChronologicalBibleTeaching: Learn more from Iva May and her team as they teach practical ways to understand the Bible as one continuous story.
• The First 5 app is your go-to resource for interactive Bible study. Beginning January 6, join us as we dive into Genesis and help you unpack the foundational truths of Scripture. Download the First 5 app.
• Genesis Study Guide: Pair your study of Genesis with this comprehensive guide, filled with thought-provoking questions and insights that help you apply what you’re learning to your daily life. Get your study guide.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!

We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

Despite what cruel and convincing lies shame tries to tell you ... there is never a moment in time when you are too far gone to be touched by the redemption of Jesus.

In this episode, pulling from examples in the Gospel of John, author Morgan Krueger reminds of the free, purpose-filled life Jesus purchased for us. If you've been feeling weighed down by the weight of your past or crumbling under the pressure of the present, this conversation will encourage your heart.

Related Resources:

• If you enjoyed this episode, you'll love Morgan's new book, Goodbye Hiding, Hello Freedom: Trading Your Shame for Redemption in Jesus.Pick up a copy today!
• Download the FREE First 5 app, and join us for Light of the World: 20 Scriptures for When You Can't See Through the Darkness as we end 2024 in God's Word together.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!

We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

Have you ever found yourself asking God “why”?

Friend, you’re not alone. We all face situations — in our families, in our faith, in our friend groups — that sometimes have us questioning whether God’s plans really are good. But remember this: Even when things seem unfixable or unusable, God is still at work, and He will give you what you need to make it through.

This conversation includes mom, wife and CEO of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Meredith Brock; Proverbs 31 Ministries' Promotional Copywriter, Cailah Garcia Lopez; and special guest Jenni Lord from Chosen. They share powerful stories and scriptural Truth surrounding times when God turned something hard into something beautiful.

Related Resources: 

• What if today could be the start of healing — for a child, for a family and even for you? Chosen is creating lasting change by empowering parents and caregivers with the tools they need to turn chaos into calm, giving children the chance to heal from their pasts and thrive. But there are still many who need this hope. By supporting Chosen, you’re joining a powerful mission to help 100,000 people find healing from trauma. Be part of the 100k Movement today: chosen.care/100k.
• Are you looking for a way to start your day in God's Word? Subscribe to Encouragement for Today, and get free, daily devotions sent to your email inbox each weekday. After reading, you'll gain a biblical perspective for the everyday problems and questions you're navigating. Sign up now!
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

Did you know that only one-third of those who struggle with mental health are getting support from a licensed professional? 

When you walk through a difficult season or support a loved one through theirs, it can be challenging to admit you don’t feel equipped to handle it.

But the truth is trying to fix it is actually not what people need the most. 

In this new conversation with professional counselor and crisis chaplain Jennifer Ellers, we learn that showing up for the people we care about doesn’t mean we have to have all the answers — we just need to listen with care and compassion. 

Related Resources: 

• Looking to take your learning to the next level? Have a passion for caring for others? The Mental Health Coach training program with our partner AACC might be right for you! And for a limited time, they are giving away scholarships to cover the full cost of tuition. That’s $2,400 worth of education for FREE! Just head to mentalhealthcoach.org, and fill out the application now to start your journey toward making a difference.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!

We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

One of the most challenging parts of trusting God is when He allows something to be a part of our stories that we don't understand or don't want to be true. Thankfully, in these moments, we can trace God's faithfulness to us in the past. We can surround ourselves with good Christian friends who will help us believe in the goodness of God. We can lean on the Holy Spirit to give us discernment for moving forward.

Join Lysa TerKeurst and Kendra LeGrand as they discuss the reality that yes, sometimes our lives will take different turns from what we would have expected, but that doesn't mean different has to be bad.

Related Resources:

• People who break our trust do not have the power to break apart God’s good plans for our lives. If you need help believing this is true, join Circle 31 Book Club in reading the November pick: I Want to Trust You, but I Don’t by Lysa TerKeurst! When you join Circle 31, you’ll receive FREE access to two brand-new Bible teachings taught by Lysa from the I Want to Trust You, but I Don’t Bible Study. Join now, and start reading with us on November 1!
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode. 

Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!

We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

Having your trust broken may be life-altering. But it doesn’t have to be life-ruining.

In this episode, you can listen to Lysa TerKeurst read a chapter from her new book, I Want to Trust You, but I Don't: Moving Forward When You’re Skeptical of Others, Afraid of What God Will Allow, and Doubtful of Your Own Discernment.

Related Resources:

• Trying to control the uncontrollable breeds chaos. Surrendering to the only One in control produces peace. Lysa TerKeurst wants to help you learn how to daily surrender to the Lord by fully trusting Him ... Learn how in the pages of her new book, I Want to Trust You, but I Don’t. Get Your Copy!
• Stop carrying the weight of holding everything and everybody together, and surrender what you’re most worried about into God’s fully capable hands with the help of Lysa TerKeurst’s FREE resource, “Am I Trying To Control the Uncontrollable?” This gentle, guided resource is filled with prompts, reflection questions, prayers and more! Download Now!
• We'd like to thank the American Association of Christian Counselors for partnering with us to sponsor this episode of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast. Click here to apply for their Mental Health Coach program, where you'll be equipped to respond to friends walking through tough issues and situations.

Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!

We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

One of the hardest part of trusting God is leaving room for the mystery of God.
How can we continue to faithfully follow Him when we are struggling to see evidence of His goodness in our story?

In this episode, Lysa TerKeurst discusses the truths inside her new book, I Want to Trust You, but I Don't, with her friend Brittany Sjogren.

Related Resources:

• We don’t have to let the one who broke our trust break us. Sign up to receive “When the Person Who Hurt You Got Away With It: 3 Days to Moving Forward,” a FREE resource by Lysa TerKeurst, today!
• Get your copy of Lysa TerKeurst's new book, I Want to Trust You, but I Don't: Moving Forward When You're Skeptical of Others, Afraid of What God Will Allow, and Doubtful of Your Own Discernment, from the P31 Bookstore.
• You can stay connected with Lysa TerKeurst on Instagram at @LysaTerKeurst and Brittany Sjogren at @LoverlyGrey.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode. 

Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!

We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

Have you ever felt like you were stuck in your current season of life while everyone around you was moving forward?

Maybe you’re still praying for a future husband while all of your friends are married. Or there's a goal or dream you've been working toward for a long time, but you've hit so many roadblocks. Or maybe you just moved to a new city, and you're trying to figure out who your new people will be.

When you’re in that place, it can be easy to look around and wonder, Did I miss something? Did I not hear God right? But the truth is: You are not behind. God has you exactly where He needs you to be.

In this conversation with Meghan Ryan Asbury, you will learn how to stop giving in to comparison, get in community, and practice celebration. As you embrace and enjoy the season God has you in, you'll discover that it's possible to build a life you love without getting everything you want.

Related Resources: 

• Grab your copy of Meghan’s new book, You Are Not Behind, where she will teach you to grieve the hard, celebrate the good, and embrace the in-between of where you are and where you want to be.
• Are you in a difficult season, or do you know someone who is? Unsure of how to pray for yourself or them? Sign up to receive our free resource "For the Girl Who Needs Hope: 50 Biblical Prayers for the Hard Moments."
• For more encouragement, follow Meghan on Instagram and connect with her at AlwaysMeghan.com.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode. 

Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!

We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

As Christians, how can we balance living purposefully while we're here on earth with the reality that this world is not our forever home?

Today's episode is part of an ongoing series titled "Ask a Theologian" — conversations with Proverbs 31 Ministries' Director of Theological Research, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Content Manager for Lysa TerKeurst, Shae Hill. This episode also includes special guest Victoria Smith. Together, Joel, Shae and Victoria will give you theological insight and practical takeaways.

Related Resources:

• This episode is sponsored by Chosen Care. Chosen Care exists to help foster and adoptive families experience restoration and healing. They're currently on a mission to see 100,000 people heal from relational trauma, and you can learn how you can be a part of this movement by visiting www.chosen.care/100k.
• Do you have somewhere you like to go to pray or meet with God? In the Bible, some of the most significant moments happen at the top of mountains. From creation to Christ’s crucifixion, mountaintops are repeatedly present. To learn more about this topic, tune into a FREE teaching video "Mountaintops and Meeting With God" by Dr. Joel Muddamalle here!
• Leaf by Niggle and further reading from J.R.R. Tolkien is available in this collection of short stories: https://www.amazon.com/Tree-Leaf-Mythopoeia-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0007105045.
• Tune in every Tuesday to Joel's Instagram for “Theology Talk Tuesday,” where he'll answer your most asked questions about God, the Bible and more. 
• Sign up on Joel’s website to receive free “bite-sized theology” through a monthly newsletter you can read in five minutes or less.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode. 

We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

Have you ever felt invisible? Maybe you’ve been underestimated or overlooked and you've questioned if anyone really sees you. 

You’re not alone. 

When facing hidden seasons, we can either get frustrated and give up or take a breath and ask ourselves: Is God’s attention enough to carry me through? 

In this new conversation with Dr. Alicia Britt Chole, we learn that the way God grows us doesn’t have to be visible to be valuable. And trust us, you’ll want to take notes because she dropped nuggets of wisdom every step of the way. 

Related Resources: 

• Grab your copy of Dr. Alicia Britt Chole’s book Anonymous from the P31 Bookstore, and receive an exclusive download called “8 Scriptural Prayers To Connect God's Word to Your Real Life.”
• Sign up to become a member of Circle 31 Book Club, and join us as we dive deeper into hidden seasons with Dr. Chole’s Anonymous this September. 
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode. 

Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!

We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.