Dear Annie Joy

If joy is something God promised… why does it sometimes feel so hard to actually experience it?In this episode, my dear friend, Chelsey Seibold, and I talk about why so many faithful women secretly feel like they’re doing everything right but still feel emotionally heavy, disconnected, or afraid to fully receive joy. If you’ve ever found yourself bracing for what might go wrong instead of enjoying what is going right, you are not alone.In this episode you'll hear about:• The difference between happiness and true gospel centered joy• Why joy can feel vulnerable even when life is good• How fear and overthinking can keep us from peace• How to access more joy through small mindset shifts• How faith and emotional health support each otherFollow Chelsey on Instagram @chelseyseiboldJoyful Discipleship online class will be held Mondays at 10:00 am - 11:30 am PST. April 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th. Email me at [email protected] to register.Gathering Ground Workshop will be held on April 25th 9:00 - 11:20 AM in downtown Gilbert, Arizona. Email me for the registration link.

In this episode, we're talking about authenticity, emotional healing, and what it really means to be seen with co-founder of The Glory Retreat, Tricia Emmett.So many Christian women carry invisible masks, or coping patterns that once created safety but now keep us from experiencing deeper connection and joy. We explore why those masks form, how they affect our relationships, and why being loved doesn’t always feel connecting when we’re not fully known.We also talk about the quiet, steady kind of joy that comes from showing up as your real self, with safe people and with God.If you’ve been working on emotional wellness, self worth, or learning how to stop shrinking in relationships, this conversation will gently encourage you to take one small step toward being seen.Because love feels different when you are known.Sign up for the Glory Retreat at www.thegloryretreat.com

What if emotional dysregulation is not s sign that something is wrong with you, but a signal inviting you into compassion?In this episode, I’m joined by my dear friend Laura Dugovic for a powerful, honest conversation about reframing dysregulation as information, not failure. We talk about what happens when we stop fighting our bodies, stop forcing peace, and allow God to meet us in the middle of our hardest moments.Laura shares from her own lived experience with panic disorder, trauma recovery, and nervous system healing, and we explore why bypassing our emotions, spiritually, emotionally, or cognitively, keeps us stuck. Instead, we talk about curiosity, validation, boundaries, and learning to say, “Of course I feel this way.”In this episode, we cover:Why dysregulation isn’t the enemy, but a signal asking for careHow forcing peace can actually be an act of war against yourselfThe difference between spiritual peace and emotional bypassingWhat it looks like to let God be with you instead of asking Him to take the pain awayWhy your body’s response to stress, trauma, or grief doesn’t mean you’re brokenHow compassion and validation create real regulation and healingIf you’ve ever felt frustrated with yourself for not being “fine,” or wondered why your body reacts the way it does, this episode is a gentle reminder that nothing has gone wrong with you—and you don’t have to do this alone.💌 You can email me at [email protected] or come say hi on Instagram @dear.anniejoyFor more of Laura, check out her website becausetheworldneeds.com and for more info on her wellness studio and salt cave go to getsalted.com

What if balance was never the goal?In this episode, I sit down with Becky Squire to talk about why the pressure to “do it all” quietly exhausts so many faithful women, and what God actually offers us instead.We talk about the difference between good, better, and best, why letting something wait doesn’t mean you’ve failed, and how grace meets us right in the middle of seasons that feel heavy or unfinished. This is a conversation about capacity, wisdom, and trusting God to guide the river—especially when life feels anything but balanced.If you’ve ever felt guilty for saying no…If you’ve wondered whether you’re falling behind spiritually…If you’re doing your best and still feel stretched thin…This episode is for you.My hope is that you walk away feeling lighter, steadier, and more at peace with where you are right now.Grace was always the promise.💌 You can email me at [email protected] or come say hi on Instagram @dear.anniejoyFollow Becky on Instagram @beckysquire and check out her website beckyquire.com

What if some of the hardest stories in scripture are actually meant to give us hope?In this episode, we talk about a powerful reframe of the Flood story—one that moves it away from fear and punishment and toward mercy, patience, and eternal progression.Instead of seeing the Flood as God giving up on people, we explore the idea that it was God giving them their best chance to keep growing, even if that growth couldn’t happen in this life.In this episode we explore:A mercy-centered view of the FloodEternal progression over perfectionRepentance without fear or heavinessLetting go of pressure and comparison in Church cultureWhy God’s patience gives us real hopeThis episode is a gentle reminder that God is not rushing you—and He’s not disappointed in you either.You’re not failing. You’re still learning. And turns out… God’s been playing the long game all along.Follow Bethany Comerford on IG @bethanythelifecoach or check out her website or podcast!💌 You can email me at [email protected] or come say hi on Instagram @dear.anniejoy

I used to think saying yes was always the right answer.If I could do it, I should do it.But over time, I realized some of my yeses weren’t coming from peace, they were coming from pressure.And my body knew it long before my mind did.In this episode, I sit down with my friend and Human Design coach Stacey Foust to talk about what it actually looks like to trust the way God leads you , not through proving, pushing, or overcommitting, but through alignment, discernment, and embodied trust.We talk about:Why saying yes from pressure eventually costs you peaceHow to tell the difference between forcing something and being ledWhat it means to listen to your internal signals, and why they matter spirituallyWhy alignment often feels calm, not urgentHow to give yourself permission to pause, wait, or say no without guiltThis conversation isn’t about doing less for the sake of doing less.It’s about saying yes only when you actually mean it — and trusting that God knows what you’ll have energy for, even when you don’t yet.If you’ve ever wondered, Is this faith… or am I just pushing?This episode is for you.💌 You can email me at [email protected] or come say hi on Instagram @dear.anniejoy.Check out Stacy Foust on FB or IG! @yourhumandesigncoachOr at her website stacyfoust.com

If you’re a Christian mom who feels like you have a PhD in worrying, this episode is for you. 🫶 In today’s conversation, my dear friend and God-centered intuitive healer, Kenzi Fackrell and I, are talking all about worry, anxiety, and what it really means to trust God in the middle of the mental spiral.A while ago, Kenzi said something that tattooed itself on my heart: “Worries are like little friends pointing out where you’re not trusting God.” In this episode, we unpack what that actually looks like in real time—especially as moms who are constantly worried about our kids, our families, and if we’re doing any of this “Christian mom” thing right.We talk about:How worry can be a helpful signal instead of a shame spiralWhy your emotions are not the truth about who you are, but are honest messengers about what you’re experiencingThe idea of worry as a “false escape”—a way to feel productive while actually avoiding the real problemHow anxious energy can either keep you stuck or fuel creative, faith-filled action (like my story about starting a sensory room at church for my son and other kids who need it)What it looks like to “put your worries on the right altar” and ask, “What’s mine to carry and what belongs to Jesus?”Kenzi also shares a beautiful picture of God’s character, how He doesn’t panic about our darkness, doesn’t shame our worry, and doesn’t rush to “fix” us. Instead, He stays. He sits with us. And He gently leads us back to love, trust, and our true identity in Him.If you’ve ever thought, “Good Christians shouldn’t be this worried,” I want this episode to lift that shame right off your shoulders. You’re not broken. You’re not faithless. You’re a human with a tender heart that loves deeply—and God knows exactly what to do with that.💌 You can email me at [email protected] or come say hi on Instagram @dear.anniejoy—I love hearing how these episodes land for you.And make sure to follow Kenzi on Instagram to stay updated on her Ceremony classes and spiritual alignment work. Her Instagram handle is @alignintuitivehealing

I’m opening up about the miscarriages I experienced during my first marriage, and how they changed the way I understand prayer, peace, and God's presence in pain.For a long time, I believed that if I prayed hard enough and had enough faith, I could control the outcome. But when my prayers didn’t "work" and I lost not one but two pregnancies, I was forced to face the deeper truth—that prayer isn’t about getting what we want... it’s about being held when we don’t.In this episode, I share:My personal miscarriage story and the emotional aftermathWhat it taught me about control, surrender, and faithWhy peace comes through alignment with God—not perfect circumstancesHow prayer shifted from performance to intimate connectionThe night I felt completely alone, and the moment I knew I wasn’tIf you've ever walked through miscarriage, grief, spiritual doubt, or felt like God was silent when you needed Him most, I hope this story reminds you that you're not alone.Because real peace doesn’t come from getting your way—it comes from letting go.If this episode spoke to your heart, I’d love to hear from you.You can send me a message on Instagram @dear.anniejoy or email me at [email protected] if you know someone who needs this message too, will you send it their way? Let’s keep building this community of heart-led women who are finding their joy again—one brave step at a time.

He was the fun one. The loud one. The light in every room.But behind the smile, he was quietly falling apart.In this vulnerable and powerful conversation, we explore what happens when the version of you that everyone loves stops working—when the mask slips, and the pain finally surfaces.My longtime friend, Kyle Flanagan, shares his journey through emotional burnout, identity crisis, self-destructive choices, and the slow process of rebuilding his life with honesty and compassion. We talk about:Hiding in the role of “the happy one”What unaddressed pain can do to a marriage, faith, and friendshipsThe lies we tell ourselves to avoid shameRadical self-compassion and what it really means to healHow tiny acts of kindness and connection rebuild your sense of worthThe difference between pretending to be joyful and actually feeling joy againThis episode is a powerful reminder that you’re not too far gone, you’re not too broken, and you don’t have to perform to be loved.Whether you’re holding it all together for everyone else, or just starting to question who you really are beneath the mask—this one’s for you.

I turned 43 this week—and in a twist of timing (or divine alignment?), it just so happens this is also the 43rd episode of Dear Annie Joy. So I'm opening up with 3 honest confessions about the things I used to believe, the stories I’m unlearning, and the freedom I’ve found on the other side.In this episode, I’m sharing the emotional truths behind:Midlife rediscovery and starting something newLetting go of hustle culture and learning to trust alignmentThe power of trying even when you’re not sure you’ll get it “right”What burnout recovery, spiritual growth, and nervous system peace actually feel likeIf you’ve ever felt behind, too messy, or unsure of your next step—I hope this feels like a warm hug and a deep exhale.Feel free to each out through IG @dear.anniejoy or email me at [email protected]