In this episode, I share about one of the loneliest and weirdest seasons I've walked through in recent years—the strange territory of being nobody where you used to be somebody. It's been over a year since I stepped away from church staff, and I'm only now finding words for this peculiar experience.

When you transition away from ministry leadership, you don't just leave a job—you lose your immediate answer to who you are and what you do. You enter an awkward no man's land where you're still supposed to show up every week because it's "church family," but your role and relationships have fundamentally changed in ways nobody really prepared you for.

I talk honestly about the identity earthquake that happens when your name is no longer attached to a spiritual job description, the grief of going from essential to optional, and why learning to be a normal person is harder than it looks. I also share about the unexpected freedom I've discovered in functional obscurity and why I now pray for this gift for all my ministry friends.

This episode is for anyone navigating the awkward dance of staying put when everything has changed, for those wondering if they've made a terrible mistake or discovered a beautiful freedom, and for ministry leaders who need to know they're not crazy for feeling what they're feeling during transition seasons.

Sometimes the most profound spiritual formation happens not through addition but through subtraction—and sometimes God reveals who we are not by giving us more responsibility but by taking away what we thought defined us.

In this tender episode of Everything Made Beautiful, I sit down with my dear friend and beloved worship leader Christy Nockels to talk about transitions, lullabies, and the sacred art of letting go. Christy has just released her second lullaby album, "King Who Never Sleeps: Anthems for Rest," and our youngest daughters have just graduated high school—flying the nest together just like they started preschool together 14 years ago.

This conversation is for anyone navigating the bittersweet beauty of seasons ending and new ones beginning. You are seen in every season! We dive deep into why lullabies aren't just for babies (trust me on this), the unexpected emotions of empty nesting, and how to cultivate identity beyond the daily rhythms of motherhood. Christy shares the story behind her newest songs, including one called "Fly The Nest (Carry You)" that she wrote specifically for this season of releasing our children into the world.

Whether you're a young mom wondering who you'll be when the daily parenting season ends, or you're already walking through the tender transition of kids growing up, this episode offers hope, wisdom, and the reminder that God has beautiful things ahead in every season. Plus, Christy sings a lullaby over all of us at the end—and it's absolutely perfect.

If you've ever needed permission to have a good cry over the passage of time, or if you're looking for encouragement that your faithfulness in the hidden seasons will bear fruit, this conversation is for you.

Christy's Website: https://www.christynockels.com/
Christy's New Record: https://cnock.lnk.to/kingwhoneversleeps
Christy's Book: https://tinyurl.com/9x97y42x
Christy's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christynockels/

In this powerful episode of Everything Made Beautiful, I sit down with marriage and family therapist Kimberly Haar to discuss her extraordinary journey from trauma to triumph. Four years after Kim's divorce, when she thought she was ready for a new beginning, an unimaginable night changed everything. What started as the worst night of her life became the catalyst for one of the most remarkable redemption stories I've ever heard.

Kim vulnerably shares how she moved from victim to survivor, the sacred space where her healing began, and the choice to forgive the unforgivable—not just once, but over and over again. As both a trauma survivor and professional therapist, she offers wisdom that can only come from someone who's walked through the valley and emerged whole.

This conversation tackles the hard questions: Where is God when bad things happen? How do we not get stuck in victimhood? How do we choose healing when we've been shattered? Kim's story is proof that no one is too broken for God's redemption, and that beauty truly can emerge from the deepest ashes.

Whether you're walking through your own dark valley or simply need a reminder of God's faithfulness, this episode will challenge your heart and strengthen your faith in ways you don't expect.

Be advised: This episode discusses domestic violence and gun violence, but culminates in the hope of Christ.

Kimberly's Website: https://kimberlyhaar.com
Kimberly's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Kimberly.haar
Kimberly's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyJHaar/
Kimberly's Book: https://kimberlyhaar.com/healing-from-lifes-deepest-hurts-book/

It’s hard to believe we’ve reached 40 episodes of Everything Made Beautiful. This one feels different—because it is.

In today’s episode, I’m sharing a personal update and reflecting on what it looks like to intentionally press pause. Lately, the Lord has been inviting me to slow down, to be fully present for the season I’m in, and to make space for rest, reflection, and renewal.

I talk about the significance of the numbers 7 and 40 in scripture, why I’m stepping back from the podcast for a little while, and how I’m leaning into a quieter rhythm—both for my family and for my soul. I also share where I’ll still be writing during this time and how you can stay connected.

This isn’t goodbye—it’s just a sacred pause. And maybe, just maybe, it’s an invitation for you too.

If you’ve been feeling the pull to breathe, recalibrate, or listen for God’s leading in a noisy world, I hope this episode encourages you to do just that.

Let’s embrace intentional presence together.

In this episode of Everything Made Beautiful, I had the absolute joy of sitting down with author, speaker, and all-around kindred spirit, Rebecca George. From the moment I picked up her book Do the Thing, I knew we shared the same heartbeat for helping women discern God’s calling and walk it out with bold, gospel-centered obedience.

Rebecca shares how her life mission—to leave people better than she found them and help them know Jesus more fully—shapes every part of her ministry. We talk about her newest book You're Not Too Late (and the surprising backstory behind that powerful title), what it looks like to pursue our God-given callings without shame or hesitation, and how to navigate the “meanwhile” seasons of life—those liminal spaces of waiting, longing, and not-yet.

We also explore how unmet desires can either drive us to resentment or draw us closer to God, and how things like envy and comparison often creep in when we’re longing for what we see others receive. Rebecca offers practical wisdom on pre-deciding how we’ll respond in those moments, and we even talk about the necessity of “chill hours”—those hard, cold seasons that actually prepare us to bear fruit.

Whether you’re just starting to sense a nudge from God or you’ve been sitting on a dream for years, this episode is for you. It’s a tender, hope-filled conversation about obedience, timing, and the truth that you are not too late for the good works God prepared in advance for you.

Rebecca's Books

• (NEW!) You're Not Too Late: Trusting God's Timing in a Hurry-Up World
• Before Dawn: Knowing God's Presence in the Dark Seasons of Life
• Do the Thing: Gospel-Centered Goals, Gumption, and Grace for the Go-Getter Girl
• Prepare Him Room: Radical Radiance Interactive Advent Devotional
• Passionate Prayer: Radical Radiance Podcast Companion Guide

Connect with Rebecca:

Speaking

Creative Business Coaching

Camp for Creatives

Listen to Radical Radiance on Apple Podcasts

Listen to Radical Radiance on Spotify

Take the FREE Waiting Personality Quiz

Take the Why are you stuck in your calling? Quiz

Friend, if you’ve ever felt like your story was too broken, too messy, or too far gone to be made whole again—this episode is for you.

I had the absolute joy of sitting down with my friend Meshali Mitchell, a gifted photographer, writer, and storyteller whose heart beats with hope and healing. Her book Restored: Partnering With God In Transforming Our Broken Places is more than just a story about renovating an old Texas farmhouse—it’s about the slow, sacred, sometimes painful process of partnering with God as He restores what’s been lost, broken, or buried deep within us.

Meshali shares so honestly about the wounds she carried from childhood, the fear and perfectionism that shaped her early years, and the lies she once believed about herself and her story. But she also shares how God, in His kindness, began to rebuild her life piece by piece—teaching her that restoration isn’t just possible, it’s promised.

This conversation felt like balm to my own soul, and I pray it will feel the same for you. So wherever you are—driving, walking, folding laundry, or curled up on the couch—I hope you’ll join us. Because restoration is real. It’s happening. And yes, it’s for you too.

Meshali's Website: https://www.meshali.co/
Meshali's Book: https://www.meshali.co/restored
Meshali's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meshali/

In this episode of Everything Made Beautiful, I sit down with my longtime friend, David Nasser — a powerful communicator, gifted evangelist, and someone whose personal journey has impacted thousands. David shares his compelling story of fleeing Iran as a child, finding faith in Jesus at 18, and discovering that pastoring wasn't just a profession, but a natural extension of who he is.

We talk about what it means to live on mission, no matter your vocation, and the importance of embracing how God uniquely hardwires each of us for Kingdom work. David reflects on his years leading the world’s largest collegiate ministry and how young adults are uniquely positioned to discover their calling.

We also dive into the brand-new From Grief to Glory Holy Week video series we recorded together with QAVA — a journey through the final days of Jesus' life, one day at a time. David shares what surprised him most as he revisited these familiar stories, how his personal grief brought new depth to Silent Saturday, and why we can't afford to skip over the harder moments on our way to resurrection.

This conversation is real, rich, and rooted in the reminder that we are resurrection people — not just on Easter Sunday, but every day. I can’t wait for you to hear it.

David's Website: https://www.davidnasser.com/
David's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidnasser/
David's Resources: https://www.davidnasser.com/#books
From Grief to Glory Holy Week Series: https://qava.tv/from-grief-to-glory-david-nasser/

In this episode, Maggie and Ali take over the podcast to kick off something new—our very first “Surprise Guest” episode—and they couldn’t have picked a more perfect guest than our dear friend (and ride-or-die) Kasey Ridling.

Kasey has been part of our family for 15 years. From helping build a children’s ministry from the ground up to Braves games and breakups, she’s been right in the middle of it all with us. She’s not just someone we know—she’s family.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How Kasey became such a pivotal part of our lives
• Her honest and beautiful reflections on singleness and the church
• What teenage girls are really struggling with (and what moms need to hear)
• Why social media is shaping—and shaking—the next generation
• The deep grief of losing her mom, and how God is still making that part of her story beautiful

We also laugh a lot. (Like, a lot.) And if you're a Braves fan, you’ll want to hear the story of the once-in-a-lifetime night we got to watch a World Series grand slam in person. Pure magic.

Kasey is one of the most thoughtful, wise, and hilarious people I know, and I’m so glad she’s part of my girls' lives—and mine. Whether you're a mama, a mentor, or navigating your own season of waiting, I think you’ll find something special in this conversation.