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 episodeWant 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 episodeWant 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 episodeWant 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 episodeWant 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 episodeWant More on This Topic? Listen to “How To Slow Down When Life Can’t Stop” with Laura L. Smith.