Advertise on podcast: Living the Grace Life

Where is God when life around you is dark—when trauma has turned your life inside out? Healing from trauma is possible, even when pain runs deep and hope feels out of reach. But moving from survival to wholeness often means facing what has been buried and inviting God into the places that hurt most.  ⚠️Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion about sexual assault and deep trauma. Lisa Saruga is a licensed professional counselor who knows firsthand how trauma can leave pain hidden between layers of fear. Thirty-five years after she was assaulted on her college campus, Lisa's cold case was reopened—and with it, deep wounds she had carried for decades. In her book, The Trauma Tree, Lisa explores the difficult journey of recovery and what it means to welcome God into our deepest pain. Her story offers hope that even when the world doesn't offer a happy ending, we can discover God's presence with us through the darkest places. In this episode, we talk about: Lisa's journey from condemnation to grace How the amygdala responds to trauma and affects mental and physical well-being EMDR and its role in trauma treatment Three questions Lisa uses to help identify personal "property lines" Developing "beautiful boundaries" during healing from trauma Why Lisa uses the term PTSI (Post-Traumatic Stress Injury) Lisa's RAW journaling technique Practical steps for moving from survival toward wholeness Healing from trauma can feel like throwing a mountain into an ocean. The journey is intense, and healing doesn't always come with the happy ending we hope for. But Lisa reminds us that we don't have to walk through the darkness alone—or remain stuck in survival mode.    💬  Healing from Trauma Quotes: "There's nothing wrong with your brain. We just need to figure out how to heal it." "There's something powerful about seeing God write brightness into our future." "It is well with my soul because Jesus is there."   Scripture Mentioned:  Psalm 27:13- I am confident that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Resources Mentioned: 🌿 Lisa's book The Trauma Tree 🌿 Lisa's grief resources 🌿 Boundaries by Townsend and Cloud 🌿 Newsletter sign-up for Lisa's RAW Journaling Techniques + Trauma Tree Playlist 🎶 Lisa's Go-to grace song, It Is Well by Hillsong Chapel National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE (800-656-4673) online.rainn.org En Español Llame al 800-656-4673 Connect with Lisa Saruga: Website: LisaSaruga.com Instagram: @LisaSaruga Facebook: @LisaSarugaAuthor   Related Episodes: Ep. 86 How to Forgive When Forgiveness Feels Impossible with Johanna Henderson Ep. 60 Healing from Life's Deepest Hurts with Kim Haar Ep. 36 Don't Hoard Your Healing with Nancy Manassero Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gifts to you: Go-To Grace Songs to Deepen Your Faith & Prayers That Change Us 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates ⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!   👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata helps us bridge the gap between grace as a theological idea and lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.   Website | Instagram | Facebook

Where is God's welcome in weakness and wreckage? What happens when God's mercy doesn't arrive the way you want it? Where is God's presence in grief? Lisa Appelo went to bed happily married and woke up a widow and single mom to her seven children, ages 4-19. In the wake of tremendous grief, she discovered that many of us are grief-illiterate, with little understanding of how to begin putting the pieces of a shattered life together again. Lisa believes that the way through grief isn't a method; it's a person—the God of all comfort. As we lean into God's character, He meets us at every point of our pain and becomes our comfort in the middle of it.  In this episode, we explore how God's Presence in grief offers comfort, sustaining grace, and hope when life feels undone. We talk about: Lisa's devotional, God of Comfort: A Devotional Journal for the Grieving Heart Moving from being "grief naive" to navigating the messy emotions of grief Why lament matters in the grieving process Sustaining grace and God's Presence during grief The three most important words to hear when grieving How to compassionately support someone who is grieving Grief is disorienting and can leave us feeling isolated and undone. But you don't have to navigate it alone. Let today's conversation remind you that the God of all comfort meets you in your pain—not with a formula to fix your grief, but with His Presence in sustaining you through it.   💬  God's Presence in Grief Quotes: "The way through grief is a Person—our God of comfort." "God never expects us to show up all put together or fake that we’re fine. He says, ‘Come to me. Bring it all to Me.’" "God’s goodness does not start and stop. There are seasons where life doesn’t feel good. But His goodness has not stopped for us."   Scripture Mentioned:  Psalm 147:3- God heals the broken-hearted and bandages wounds Resources Mentioned: 🌿 Lisa's book God of Comfort 🌿 Lisa's grief resources 🌿 Daughters First Retreat and information 🎶 Lisa's Go-to grace song, Held by Natalie Grant Connect with Lisa Appelo: Website: LisaAppelo.com Instagram: @LisaAppelo Facebook: @LisaAppeloAuthor   Related Episodes: Ep. 84 Grateful for COVID? with Evelyn Sherwood Ep. 34 How to Live on Both Sides of Desperate Prayers with Rachel Wojo Ep. 42 God, Can We Chat? with Niki Hardy Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gifts to you: Go-To Grace Songs to Deepen Your Faith & Prayers That Change Us 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates ⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!   👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata helps us bridge the gap between grace as a theological idea and lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.   Website | Instagram | Facebook

What do you do when you discover the disconnect between you and Jesus? If a cluttered or hoarded home mirrors a hoarded heart, how do you address emotional hoarding? Laurie Davies, speaker and author of Emotional Hoarding: Letting Go of the Stuff That Keeps You Stuck, believes we can live free, but cleaning house is hard. Laurie helps us recognize the emotional clutter that keeps us bound and discover how God's grace invites us to let go. In this episode, you'll discover: How to deal with regret and the shame that often accompanies it The key question that distinguishes genuine conviction from false guilt How regret can become an invitation to God's grace and welcome  The two questions Laurie asks herself when dealing with anger How the story of Joseph invites us to yield when anger feels easier to grab If regret, anger, bitterness, shame, or false guilt have gotten too cozy in your life, let Laurie's relatability, biblical wisdom, and authentic sense of humor lead the way from emotional hoarding to living free. 💬  Overcome Emotional Hoarding Quotes: "Let God's love go where you don't think it belongs." "If the invitation is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, then I want to free up every bit of capacity that's in me to love Him that way." "When we look at people the way God sees them, that's when we can tell grace has gotten into us. It's in our inner workings now."   Scriptures Mentioned:  Genesis 4 - The Story of Cain and Abel Genesis 37-50 - Joseph's story and waiting in the unfairness Resources Mentioned: 🌿 GIVEAWAY: Enter here through October 19 for your chance at a free copy of Laurie's book 🌿 Laurie's book Emotional Hoarding 🌿 Laurie's Five Days of Living Lighter, FREE 🌿 Daughters First Retreat and information 🎶 Laurie's Go-to grace song, Jesus Paid It All by Fernando Ortega Connect with Laurie Davies: Website: LaurieDavies.com Instagram: @LaurieDaviesAuthor   Related Episodes: Ep. 87 I Don't Have to Hold It All Together with Nichole Suvar Ep. 88 How to Live in the Freedom of Surrender with Mary DeMuth Ep. 86 How to Forgive When Forgiveness Feels Impossible with Johanna Henderson Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gifts to you: Go-To Grace Songs to Deepen Your Faith & Prayers That Change Us 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates ⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!   👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata helps us bridge the gap between grace as a theological idea and lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.   Website | Instagram | Facebook

How do you trust God when your heart is breaking? When you can barely breathe, afraid after your life has changed irreparably? Learning to trust God on the unwelcome days isn't easy. In this episode, Jennifer Sakata shares three ways to trust God when life turns upside down—through honesty with God, recognizing His Presence, and finding courage to take the next step when the way forward doesn't make sense.  In this episode, you'll discover: Jennifer's journey learning to trust God through her husband's extended unemployment How honesty with God grows trust What we can learn from the Israelites as they crossed into the Promised Land The risky prayer Jennifer has learned to pray on the unwelcome days What we risk when we don't learn how to trust God Why struggling to trust God isn't necessarily a lack of faith Sometimes learning how to trust God isn't about trying harder to have faith. It's about adjusting the direction of our faith—recognizing where God has been present all along, risking honesty with God, and receiving courage to step forward with God when it doesn't make sense.    💬  Grace Quotes: "Trusting God means leaning into the promise that God and His Presence never leave." "Learning to trust God in the unwelcome places requires stepping into situations and circumstances that don't make any sense to us—things we can't control and don't understand." "We have to close our eyes to all the impossibilities and still ourselves to the small quiet voice Who says, 'You are safe with me.'"   Scriptures Mentioned:  2 Corinthians 12:9 - God's response to Paul's thorn in the flesh Matthew 28:18-20 - The Great Commission and Jesus' promise never to leave Joshua 3 - The Israelites crossing into the Promised Land Resources Mentioned: 🌿 FREE downloadable: The Welcoming Prayer by Father Thomas Keating   Related Episodes: Ep. 18 Sometimes I Forget with Julie Sunne Ep. 87 I Don't Have to Hold It All Together with Nichole Suvar Ep. 89 The Art of Vinemaking with Bette Dickinson Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gifts to you: Go-To Grace Songs to Deepen Your Faith & Prayers That Change Us 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates ⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!   👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata helps us bridge the gap between grace as a theological idea and lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.   Website | Instagram | Facebook

Do you ever find yourself struggling to pray? Or compare yourself to that friend for whom prayer seems to come effortlessly? If God wants me to pray—and I want to pray—why is prayer so hard? What if struggling to pray doesn't mean you're doing something wrong? Shellie Tomlinson, author of Don't Try to Pray Like Her, invites you to experience prayer, not as a formula to master, but as time spent with a God who actually wants to be with you.  In this episode, we talk about: Shellie's journey from struggling to pray to loving prayer Two ordinary analogies for prayer that lead to actually praying How to respond to unanswered prayer The church's sad secret—and the hiding it can lead to Prayer as an inheritance for those who pursue life through Jesus The surprising impact Shellie's book has had on men Through her desperation, Shellie learned to embrace prayer. Through her words and this conversation, she invites you to do likewise. Because prayer isn't about getting the words right or unlocking some secret pathway. It's about spending time with God, who wants to spend time with you. 💬  Grace Quotes: "God always loves first." "It's not my desire for God that transforms me. It is being in His actual presence that's transformative and prayer takes us there." "Our inheritance as children of the Most High is communion with Him."   Scriptures Mentioned:  John 7:37 - An invitation to bring your thirst to Jesus Ephesians 3:20 - God accomplishes more than you can imagine Resources Mentioned: 🌿 Shellie's book Don't Try to Pray Like Her 🌿 Shellie's FREE resources 🎶 Shellie's Go-to grace song, No One Ever Loved Me Like Jesus by Stephanie Gretzinger Connect with Shellie Rushing Tomlinson: Website: BelleofAllThingsSouthern.com Instagram: @ShellieTomlinson Facebook: @ShellieRushingTomlinson   Related Episodes: Ep. 92 Awaken Delight: God is Delicious with Stephanie Rousselle Ep. 91 Grace and Belonging: Welcome to the Grace of God | Season 3 Opener Ep. 83 The Pursuit of Holy Leisure with Cara Ray Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gifts to you: Go-To Grace Songs to Deepen Your Faith & Prayers That Change Us 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates ⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!   👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata helps us bridge the gap between grace as a theological idea and lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.   Website | Instagram | Facebook

What does it mean to be uniquely made by God—and how might embracing the person He created us to be open the door to newness of life? Psalm 139 reminds us that we are beautifully and wonderfully made. But sometimes, the life in front of us tells a very different story. We're impatient and tired, overwhelmed and distracted, distant from God, and unsure of where we belong. We may love the idea of belonging, yet still decide that belonging must be somebody else's story.  Author Mary Rooney Armand wants us to see ourselves differently—as beloved, forgiven, and freed children of God. In this conversation about her book Uniquely Made, Mary and Jennifer talk about what it means to receive the identity God has already given us and walk forward in the newness of life Christ offers. In this episode, we talk about: Walking in newness of life with Christ What we need to turn over to embrace our new identity Strengthening your spiritual C.O.R.E. What forgiveness is—and what it isn't The dual impact of forgiveness and unforgiveness Receiving the welcome of God as His beloved daughter or son Mary Rooney Armand is one of those people who lights up a room with her Southern smile and genuine welcome. Listen in to discover what it might look like to welcome the identity God has given you as a uniquely made daughter or son of the King.   💬  Uniquely Made Quotes: "God didn't just use flawed people. He used their stories to build His Kingdom, and that's the nature of grace." "We are all extended the same cup of grace." "There's no expiration date on God's grace, forgiveness, and on His ability to use you for His purpose."   Scripture Mentioned:  Romans 6:4 - Walk in newness of life Resources Mentioned: 🌿 Mary's books Uniquely Made + Life Changing Stories 🌿 4 Lessons on Surrender and Grace by Jennifer Sakata 🌿 How to Forgive and Surrender with Mary + Jennifer on YouTube 🎶 Mary's Go-to grace song, The Goodness of God by Cece Winans Connect with Mary Rooney Armand: Website: ButterflyLiving.org Instagram: @ButterflyLiving_ Facebook: @ButterflyLiving2022   Related Episodes: Ep. 91 Grace and Belonging: Welcome to the Grace of God | Season 3 Opener Ep. 90 Grace Says You Belong Here with Jennifer Dukes Lee as Host Ep. 83 The Pursuit of Holy Leisure with Cara Ray Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gifts to you: Go-To Grace Songs to Deepen Your Faith & Prayers That Change Us 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates ⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!   👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata helps bridge the gap between grace as a theological idea and lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.   Website | Instagram | Facebook

How do you know a fake from the real thing? Think imitation vanilla versus that luscious flavor scraped straight from the vanilla bean. One is manufactured; the other contains the substance to awaken delight.  What if the same is true of our spiritual lives? What if delight isn't something we produce—but something we receive as we awaken to the goodness and Presence of God?  Stephanie Rousselle is a former atheist who once resolved to live inside the fullness of God's grace for seven days. Thirty years later, she is still proclaiming the life-changing truth she discovered: God is delicious. In her book Awaken Delight, Stephanie invites us to rediscover delight as a gift from God and a way of experiencing His Presence.  She describes delight as "the quiet revolution that reshapes how we endure pain, love others, and understand our own heart." Stephanie invites us to a fresh awakening and a deeper understanding of what it means to "taste and see that God is good." In our conversation, we explore: The staggering claims God makes on our lives The "fake vanillas" we reach for instead of the real thing How delight and deliciousness invite us to taste and see the goodness of God Spiritual practices and disciplines as an extension of God's welcome to us The surprising relationship between pain and delight How pruning can become an invitation to trust God If you've ever found yourself exhausted trying to manufacture spiritual feelings or make yourself "better" at faith, this conversation offers a different way. What if delight begins, not with striving, but with receiving? What if God Himself is the deepest joy we've been looking for?   💬  Awaken Delight Quotes: "God has used the way he has wired us to welcome him." "There's absolutely nothing you can do for God to make him love you more. And there is nothing you can do for God to make him love you less." "True happiness is found in delighting in God, not in the fleeting pursuit of happiness our culture endeavors."   Scripture Mentioned:  John 15 - Abide in the Vine Resources Mentioned: 🌿  Awaken Delight 5-Day Devotional 🌿 Awaken Delight book 🎶  Stephanie's Go-to grace song, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus by Helen Lemmel Connect with Stephanie Rousselle: Website: GospelSpice.com Instagram: @GospelSpiceLife Facebook: @GospelSpice   Related Episodes: Ep. 90 Grace Says You Belong Here with Jennifer Dukes Lee as Host Ep. 67 Awakening to the Spirit of Christmas with Cynthia Ruchti Ep. 39 God's Steadfast Love in Daily Life with Rachael Adams Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gifts to you: Go-To Grace Songs to Deepen Your Faith & Prayers That Change Us 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates ⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!   👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata helps bridge the gap between grace as a theological idea and lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.   Website | Instagram | Facebook

When have you felt the most welcome? Not just included or invited, but truly welcomed—that deep-in-your-bones feeling that says, I belong here. In this Season 3 opener of Living the Grace Life, Jennifer Sakata explores grace and belonging, and what happens when we recognize God's grace as His welcome to us. Grace and belonging aren't yours because you've earned them or deserved them. They become yours as you receive them from the God who created you in His image. After two seasons of exploring what it means to live with grace in the middle of real life, Jennifer returns to the heart of the message: grace was never meant to stay a theological idea. God's grace is meant to do something—to change us, impact us, and transform us in ways we could never manufacture on our own. And that transformation begins with the welcome of God. In this episode, you'll discover: Why God's grace is more than a theological concept How grace and belonging are deeply connected What God's welcome reveals about our identity and belonging How living from God's grace changes the way we live in real life Season 3 is an invitation to discover grace as the welcome of God—and to explore what changes when we stop striving to earn our place and begin receiving the welcome that God has already extended.   Reflection question: Where might God be inviting you to stop striving for belonging and simply receive His welcome? Key Scripture: Genesis 1:27    💬  Grace and Belonging Quotes: "Grace was never meant to be just a theological idea. Grace is always meant to change us, impact us, and transform us. It all begins with the welcome of God." "The welcome of God is never forced or manipulated. And it's not put on one moment and removed for less-than-stellar behavior the next." "God's welcome reminds us that we belong—no matter what."   Related Episodes: Ep. 90 Grace Says You Belong Here with Jennifer Dukes Lee as Host Ep. 51 The Grace Thread in Everyday Life with Eric Nevins Ep. 2 Real Grace for Your Real Life, Sunday to Everyday Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gifts to you: Go-To Grace Songs to Deepen Your Faith & Prayers That Change Us 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates ⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!   👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata helps bridge the gap between grace as a theological idea and lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.   Website | Instagram | Facebook

Grace says you belong here. Two years of Living the Grace Life have brought us back to the heart of the message that started it all: God's grace welcomes us, meets us in the hard places, and reminds us that we belong. What began as a tiny God-whisper in front of a blank canvas eventually made its way to a hot-tub conversation—and then into the launch of Living the Grace Life podcast. Two years and 90 episodes later, we're gathering around the table of God's welcome to celebrate what grace has been teaching us along the way. In this special two-year anniversary episode, Jennifer Sakata turns the mic over to author, speaker, and friend Jennifer Dukes Lee, who takes on the role of host and asks Jennifer some fun, thoughtful, and deeply personal questions about grace and the journey of Living the Grace Life. In this episode, we talk about: If grace were a dessert, what would it be? When has grace felt more like sandpaper? What do you most need to remember about grace? What is your personal morning ritual? How does grace tuck you in at night, or wake you in the morning? How has podcasting changed you? Share a Bible passage that's enlightened your understanding and experience of grace. Where is Living the Grace Life podcast headed in the next year? Underneath all the laughter and reflection is this reminder: Grace comes, even in the hard places. It doesn't require holding it all together or having all the right answers. Grace grows in us as we remain connected to the Vine—in the big things and the beautifully ordinary ones. If you've ever felt like you don't measure up or somehow missed your invitation to the Table, let this anniversary conversation remind you: You belong here.   And Jennifer Dukes Lee? She's not only a seasoned-through-life author, but also a queso-loving, bright lipstick-wearing, loud-singing harmonizer whose love for Jesus shows up as real grace in real life.   💬  Grace Quotes from Our Conversation: "God is never stingy with grace." "Communion is the ultimate place of welcome without words—where we not only see the cost of God's welcome, but also experience freedom because of it." "Lord, I belong to you. And so do they." Resources Mentioned: 🌿  Go-To Grace Songs Spotify Playlist  🎶  Jennifer's Go-to grace song, Names by Tiffany Hudson Connect with Jennifer Dukes Lee: Website: JenniferDukesLee Instagram: @JenniferDukesLee Facebook: @JenniferDukesLee Related Episodes: Ep. 69 How to Love Your Morning with Jennifer Dukes Lee Ep. 51 The Grace Thread in Everyday Life with Eric Nevins Ep. 49 What G.R.A.C.E. Taught Us: Season One Reflections on Real Faith and Healing Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates ⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!   👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata helps bridge the gap between grace as a theological idea and lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.   Website | Instagram | Facebook

What if surrender isn't the end of your story, but the beginning of something beautiful? What if the places you feel most emptied are the very places God is preparing to grow the richest fruit? And what if the life you've been longing for isn't found in striving harder, but in the art of abiding? In this third and final episode of our Summer Book Club: The Grace of Surrender, Jennifer joins author and artist Bette Dickinson in the vineyard to explore what it really means to surrender, abide, and bear fruit. Drawing from John 15 and Bette's book, The Art of Vinemaking, this conversation challenges our culture's deeply rooted connection of fruitfulness with productivity. Instead, Bette invites us to embrace a vine-over-fruit mindset—one that prioritizes abiding with Jesus over striving to produce. Together, Jennifer and Bette discuss: Moving from a productivity-driven approach to a flourishing mindset Bette's Vine-over-fruit mindset and how it transforms our experience of fruitfulness How surrender nurtures a rhythm of rest Lament as an act of surrender Practical postures and rhythms that help us live surrendered lives Whether you consider yourself a wine connoisseur or have no interest in swishing reds and pairing food, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on what it means to bear fruit and how God grows something beautiful through the slow, sacred work of surrender. **This episode is the final conversation in our Summer Book Club series: The Grace of Surrender. If you've joined us for the series, I hope this conversation brings the themes of surrender, abiding, and grace together in a meaningful way that leaves you wondering—not, What fruit am I producing? but rather, Am I abiding in the Vine? 💬  Grace Quotes from Bette Dickinson: "Our souls were never meant to bear the weight of endless harvest." "The vinedresser's primary concern isn't fruit - it's flourishing." "When we abide in the vine, we don't lose ourselves; we become more fully who we were created to be. Our uniqueness isn't erased; it's brought to life." Resources Mentioned: 🌿  Bette's books The Art of Vinemaking 🌿  Bette's FREE Seasons Quiz 🎶  Bette's go-to grace song, Come Tear Down the Walls by Common Hymnal Connect with Bette Dickinson: Website: bettedickinson.com Instagram: @Bette_Dickinson Facebook: @BetteLDickinson# Related Episodes: Ep. 88 How to Live in the Freedom of Surrender with Mary DeMuth Ep. 87 Don't Have to Hold It All Together with Nichole Suvar Ep. 47 Embracing Grace, A Summer in the Psalms | Psalm 46 Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates ⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!   👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata helps bridge the gap between grace as a theological idea and lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.   Website | Instagram | Facebook

How do we let go when holding on feels safer? In this second conversation of our Summer Book Club series, Jennifer welcomes bestselling author Mary DeMuth to explore the freedom of surrender—and why surrender isn't about losing yourself but finding deeper healing, hope, and life with God. Together, they unpack how open hands create space for God's grace, Living Water, and lasting transformation. Drawing from her books, The Freedom of Surrender and Restory Your Life and her own journey of healing from childhood trauma, Mary shares how God has rewritten her story and how He continues to invite each of us into freedom through surrender. We talk about: Why surrender is an invitation to freedom—not defeat Mary's journey through trauma toward healing and restoration The role of community in God's healing work How to anchor your identity in Christ instead of your circumstances Simple spiritual practices that cultivate surrender The prayer Mary returns to when surrender feels difficult If you've ever wondered if your story is too broken for God to redeem, this conversation offers a hopeful reminder that his grace meets us in our surrender. 💬  Grace Quotes from Mary DeMuth: "The Lord uses the way He made you as an avenue for healing." "An untold story never heals.” "Lord, I can't. You can. Help.'" Resources Mentioned: 🌿  Mary's books The Freedom of Surrender and Restory Your Life 🌿  Mary's Substack newsletter 🌿  Pray Every Day Podcast 🌿  Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence 🎶  Mary's go-to grace song, Gratitude by Brandon Lake Connect with Mary DeMuth: Website: marydemuth.com Instagram: @MaryDeMuth YouTube: @MaryDeMuth Related Episodes: Ep. 88 I Don't Have to Hold It All Together with Nichole Suvar Ep. 60 Healing from Life's Deepest Hurts with Kim Haar Ep. 45 Embracing Grace, A Summer in the Psalms | Psalm 91 Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates ⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!   👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata helps bridge the gap between grace as a theological idea and lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.   Website | Instagram | Facebook

Do you live overwhelmed, rushed, and stretched thin by anxiety? Do you struggle to let things go? What if there's a slower, more grace-filled way? According to author Nichole Suvar, there is. It begins by realizing you don't have to hold it all together. This episode launches our Summer Book Club mini-series, The Grace of Surrender—three conversations centered on three formational books that invite us into deeper trust, open hands, and God's grace in the places where life feels a little undone. Nichole shares her personal journey with anxiety, panic attacks, and the habits of control that often masquerade as peace. Together, we explore how surrender impacts both our spiritual lives and our physical well-being. We talk about: Nichole's experience with panic attacks—beginning at age eight The difference between being busy and overwhelmed How the vagus nerve helps regulate the body's stress response Practical rhythms that support nervous system regulation  The difference between trying harder and trusting God more deeply Moving from rigid boundaries to grace-filled living Surrender isn't about giving up—it's about loosening your grip and learning to trust God when life feels heavy. If you struggle with letting things go, listen in for real grace, open hands, more grace. 💬  Grace Quotes from Nichole Suvar: "Controlling my environment felt like it helped quiet the anxiety. But it really just shoved it down further." "We need to take our overwhelm to the Lord first—even if it's just to say, 'This is too much. I can't hold all of this.” "God's answer, everytime, is this: 'I never asked you to hold it all together.'" Resources Mentioned: 🌿  Nichole's book I Don't Have to Hold It All Together 🌿  Eden attribute quiz  🌿  Free Gift: Resource for an Intentional Summer 🎶  Nichole's go-to grace song, Be Thou My Vision by Keith and Krysten Getty Connect with Nichole Suvar: Website: livewithintent.org Instagram: @MrsNicholeSuvar YouTube: @NicholeSuvar Related Episodes: Ep. 76 Grace for the Anxious Soul with Becky Keife Ep. 86 Training in Grace: From Trying to Formation with Kyle Waid  Ep. 49 What GRACE Taught Us: Season One Reflections on Real Faith and Healing Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates ⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!   👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata helps bridge the gap between grace as a theological idea and lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.   Website | Instagram | Facebook

When forgiveness feels impossible, where do you turn? What happens when the people who should have protected you are the ones who caused the deepest wounds? In this deeply honest conversation, Johanna Henderson shares her story of discovering that she had been abused as a child and the long road God led her on toward healing, identity, and forgiveness. Together, we talk about the complexity of trauma, the weight of unforgiveness, and the grace of a God who restores what feels beyond repair. A Gentle Note to Listeners ⚠️ This episode includes discussion of physical and sexual abuse. If this is part of your story, please listen at your own pace and with care for yourself. You are not alone. In our conversation, we explore: Johanna's discovery of childhood abuse Why identity in Christ matters in healing What forgiveness is—and what it is not The cost of carrying unforgiveness How God brings redemption and restoration through surrender If you or someone you know is walking through the difficult process of healing from trauma, this conversation is a reminder that God meets us with compassion, patience, and grace—even when forgiveness feels impossible. 💬  Grace Quotes from Johanna Henderson: "I had to know how much God loved me before He could take me to the darkness." "God wants to take you somewhere—not to hurt you, but to bring healing and restoration. To redeem you for His Glory.” "Sometimes, it's just saying the words: Help me, Lord."   Scriptures Mentioned: Isaiah 43:2 – God's abiding presence Luke 8:38-48 – Jesus gives the bleeding woman an identity Resources Mentioned: 🌿  Bessel Van Der Kolk's The Body Keeps the Score 🌿  Journey with Maker quarterly magazine 🎶  Johanna's go-to grace song My Redeemer Lives by Nicole C. Mullen Connect with Johanna Henderson: Website: JourneywithMaker Instagram: @Johanna_journeywithmaker Facebook: @JourneywithMaker Related Episodes: Ep. 35 Where Grace Intersects with Sexual Trauma with Nancy Manassero Ep. 36 Don't Hoard Your Healing with Nancy Manassero Ep. 79 He Knows Your Name with Paige Allen Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates ⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!   👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata helps bridge the gap between grace as a theological idea and lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.   Website | Instagram | Facebook

What if spiritual growth isn’t about trying harder—but about training in grace? In this conversation with Kyle Waid, we explore the difference between effort-driven performance and grace-shaped formation. So often we find ourselves praying the same prayers, repeating the same patterns, and still feeling stuck. Trying harder leaves us frustrated. Grace invites us into a different way. Kyle Waid, Lead Pastor of New Circle Church in Lexington, KY, joins us to talk about spiritual formation, growth through seasons of change, and what it looks like to “put in the reps” of grace. Using the metaphor of marathon training, we discuss how setbacks, rhythms, inward journeys, and steady practices shape us over time. In our conversation, we explore: The difference between trying harder and training for spiritual formation Why grace is about process, not performance How to respond to setbacks in growth Taking the inward journey during seasons of change Running your own race in faith Practical rhythms that support training in grace If you’re weary of striving and longing for sustainable spiritual growth, this conversation offers encouragement and practical next steps. 💬  Grace Quotes from Kyle Waid: "You don't try to be Christlike—you train." "This is what pleases God—when you're dependent on Him and his grace to grace you in your weakness.” "The whole idea with grace is do what you can. Let God do what you can't."   Scriptures Mentioned: Matthew 5:1-12 – The Beatitudes Ephesians 2:8-10 – Grace is the gift of faith.  Luke 15:11-32 – Parable of the Lost Son(s) Resources Mentioned: 🌿  Henri Nouwen's The Return of the Prodigal Son 🎶  Kyle's go-to grace song Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord  Connect with Kyle Waid: Website: newcircle.church Instagram: @newcircle.church Facebook: @NewCircleChurch Related Episodes: Ep. 50 Five Grace Takeaways that Still Stick with Jennifer Sakata Ep. 72 Grace Behind Our Smiles with Joe and Tara Buchanan Ep. 61 Walking in Grace & Other People's Shoes with Neil Matthews Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates ⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!   👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata helps bridge the gap between grace as a theological idea and lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.   Website | Instagram | Facebook

In Grateful for COVID, Evelyn Sherwood shares how her COVID diagnosis led to the discovery of lung embolisms and ultimately cancer—an unexpected sequence that reshaped her understanding of grace. What began in fear became a testimony of gratitude, not because illness is good, but because it revealed something that needed to be treated. Her story invites us to reconsider what it means to be Grateful for COVID in light of God’s redemptive work. We explore how grace meets us in suffering and how lament can lead to deeper trust and peace. In this conversation, we discuss: Evelyn's "Job season" and what it taught her about surrender The distinction between grief and lament—and how both lead us to grace Practical, everyday practices that nurture gratitude and peace How gratitude can coexist with suffering Why worship can grow in the middle of hard seasons  If you’re navigating illness, diagnosis, or an unexpected storm, this episode will equip and encourage you to experience grace in the messy middle. 💬  Grace Quotes from Evelyn Sherwood: "Hard is hard but God is good." "I [God] can do more in your surrender that you can do with all your striving.” "Gather gratitude like a bouquet and give it to Jesus."   Scriptures Mentioned: Hebrews 4:16 – Approach God with boldness to receive grace Resources Mentioned: 🌿  Evelyn's The Pocket Full of Hope Series  🌿  Shop Evelyn's watercolors and other resources 🌿  Soakstream on YouTube 🌿 Dark Clouds, Deep Mercies by Mark Vroegop 🎶  Evelyn's go-to grace song Goodness of God by Cece Winans + Always on Time by Elevation Worship Connect with Evelyn Sherwood: Website: evelynsherwood.com Instagram: @evelynshwerwoodauthor Facebook: @evelyn.sherwood Related Episodes: Ep. 25 Divine Detour and Deepened Faith with Lori Ann Wood Ep. 59 Chased by Grace, Marked by Love with Crystal Mayo Ep. 18 Sometimes I Forget with Julie Sunne Stay Connected with Jennifer Sakata: 🎁 My FREE gift to you: Prayers That Change Us 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content & episode updates ⭐ If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with a friend!   👉🏼Living the Grace Life is the place where real grace meets real life. Host Jennifer Sakata helps bridge the gap between grace as a theological idea and lived practice in everyday moments of faith, encouraging listeners to experience forgiveness, freedom, and trust that they then extend to others.   Website | Instagram | Facebook