Marriage: The Stories We Tell Ourselves

Life as a parent (and just as a human) can hand you plenty of reasons to grow bitter — disappointments, unanswered prayers, hurt from others. In this conversation, Adam, Chelsea, and Cassie talk honestly about how bitterness creeps in and why it’s so dangerous for our hearts, families, and churches. They share personal stories, unpack what the Bible says about forgiving like Jesus, and offer practical ways to choose joy over resentment. If you’ve been carrying around some spiritual “junk mail” marked bitterness, this episode is an invitation to throw it out for good.Resources Mentioned:Good News for Parents by Adam GriffinHebrews 12:15Ephesians 4:31–32Colossians 3:13Matthew 18:21–35 Follow Us:Instagram | Facebook | WebsiteEditing and support by The Good Podcast Co.

If you’ve ever felt too busy, too tired, or just plain unmotivated to disciple your kids — this one’s for you. Adam, Chelsea, and Cassie swap summer stories and get honest about the difference between being truly exhausted and just lacking enthusiasm. They open 1 Thessalonians 5:14 to talk about when parents need encouragement, when we need help, and when we need a loving push to “keep up the good fight.” You’ll leave reminded that grit, patience, and perseverance aren’t just personality traits — they’re gifts from the Spirit to help you keep going when parenting gets hard.Resources Mentioned:Good News for Parents by Adam Griffin1 Thessalonians 5:14Proverbs 29:17Psalm 73Luke 5Isaiah 40:31 Follow Us:Instagram | Facebook | WebsiteEditing and support by The Good Podcast Co.

Adam Griffin is joined by Yusef Emmanue to hear his story of how God met him and transformed his life!Questions Covered in This Episode:Where did you grow up?Can you tell us a little bit about your tribe?What about your family?Where did God meet you?What did you do after that?How did your father get saved?What about your brother's story?What is Twelve21 Global?How can someone be involved?Guest Bio:Yusef Emmanuel is the founder and CEO of Twelve21 Global. He grew up on the streets of Tanzania, and Yusuph experienced hopelessness at the deepest levels. Abandoned by his father, Yusuph slept on the streets, couldn’t afford school, and experienced deep depression. Yet, God miraculously saved him from committing suicide and radically transformed his life. Once hopeless and alone, the gospel gave Yusuph the only Hope that genuinely transforms. Today, Yusuph’s calling is to share that Hope with the nations.Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Matthew 12:21Twelve21 Global Follow Us:Instagram | Facebook | WebsiteEditing and support by The Good Podcast Co.

Chelsea Griffin and Cassie Bryant are joined by Lindsay Blanchard, who is a mother of nine, to discuss how she is discipling her family!Questions Covered in This Episode:Will you start at the beginning of motherhood for yourself and tell us about the journey you’ve been on? How old are each of your kids now?What are the questions you’re tired of hearing when y’all go out together or when people hear that you have 9 children?What helped shape your view or your theology of motherhood?How have you stayed positive and grateful as parents even when it’s difficult?What wisdom do you have for women who are trying to navigate different schedules and different school choices?How do you and Brad prioritize your marriage as parents?How do you manage to prioritize serving?What has discipleship looked like for y’all? How have y’all shaped your spiritual life at home for your children?How would you encourage a family who is struggling to show up?For the family who is just getting started, what is something you wish someone would have told you about the early days of parenting?Are there any scriptures that have been a comfort and blessing to you as you’ve led your home?Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Galatians “Loving the Little Years” by Rachel JankovicRefugee Resources Follow Us:Instagram | Facebook | WebsiteEditing and support by The Good Podcast Co.

Adam Griffin and Cassie Bryant are joined by Sissy Goff and David Thomas to discuss how their books “Lucy Learns to be Brave” and “Owen Learns He Has What it Takes” help teach our kids about anxiety and resilience.Questions Covered in This Episode:Why is anxiety so prevalent in children?Why did y’all choose to use dogs in “Lucy Learns to be Brave”?In “Lucy Learns to be Brave.” you tell the story of how fear makes Lucy start to believe things that aren’t true. Is that the approach that parents should take with their kids, helping them see what’s real or not?How do you see the lesson on resilience in “Owen Learns He Has What it Takes” as an important biblical principle for families?How do you help parents decide when it’s appropriate to let their kids face difficult circumstances and resist the temptation just to rescue them from their challenges?Can you explain what a “thermometer chart” is for and why you wanted to include that in the book?Can you tell us how you use a “feelings chart” in your counseling with kids?Can you tell us more about the books you have coming out this fall?Are these resources you see churches being able to use?How would you connect what y’all are teaching in these books with what Spiritual Leadership looks like at home?Guest Bio:Sissy Goff is the Executive Director of Daystar Counseling Ministries in Nashville, Tennessee, where she works alongside her puppy counseling assistant-in-training, Patches the Havanese. Since 1993, she has been helping girls and their parents find confidence in who they are and hope in who God is making them to be. Sissy is a sought-after speaker for parenting events across the country and is a frequent guest on media outlets including NBC News, CNN, Good Morning America, Inside Edition, and Christianity Today. She is the bestselling author of 14 books including her first full-color children’s book, Lucy Learns to be Brave: A Lesson in Courage. She is the co-host of the 11 million+ downloaded podcast, Raising Boys and Girls. A transplanted Razorback who lives in Nashville, you can follow Sissy on Instagram.David Thomas is the Executive Director of Daystar Counseling Ministries in Nashville, Tennessee. He is the co-author of eleven books, including his first full-color children’s book, Owen Learns He Has What It Takes: A Lesson in Resillience. He is an in-demand speaker and frequent guest on national television, radio and podcasts and has been featured in publications like The Washington Post and USA Today. He is the co-host of the 11 million+ downloaded podcast, Raising Boys and Girls. He and his wife, Connie, have three adult children, a new son-in-law, a soon-to-be daughter-in-law, and a yellow lab puppy named June. Follow David on Instagram.Resources Mentioned in this Episode:John 16:33, Romans 5:1-5, Romans 8:22-23,“Lucy Learns to be Brave” by Sissy Goff“Owen Learns He Has What it Takes” by David ThomasHope Heals Follow Us:Instagram | Facebook | WebsiteEditing and support by The Good Podcast Co.

Adam Griffin, Chelsea Griffin, and Cassie Bryant have a conversation about raising kids to be Christlike singles and spouses.Questions Covered in This Episode:Would anything be different if we had some forward thinking goals for what we are raising our children to be?What are practical ways to teach boys to be Christlike husbands and fathers? Same for girls?How are you raising girls to know whether a man is a “good man”?What role does modeling play in this?What is a contented single?Why is it important to raise children with a biblical perspective on marriage and singleness?How can parents instill respect for biblical manhood and womanhood without reinforcing cultural stereotypes?How do you value the single people in your church?Resources Mentioned in this Episode:1 Corinthians 7, Ephesians 5 Follow Us:Instagram | Facebook | WebsiteEditing and support by The Good Podcast Co.

Adam Griffin, Chelsea Griffin, and Cassie Bryant discuss how following Jesus together in marriage leads to flourishing. Questions Covered in This Episode:What does it mean for a couple to follow Jesus together?Is there a difference between what we are called to do with the church at large and what we are called to do with our spouse?How does marriage reflect the gospel?What does it mean to have Christ at the center of a marriage?What are some practical ways to grow spiritually together?How does it look when one spouse is convicted about something, but the other isn’t?What are some biblical ways to handle disagreements over faith, doctrine, or church involvement?Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Ephesians 5:25-32, Colossians 3:18-25 Follow Us:Instagram | Facebook | WebsiteEditing and support by The Good Podcast Co.

Adam Griffin, Chelsea Griffin, and Cassie Bryant have a conversation about how to learn to borrow the strength of our spouse.Questions Covered in This Episode:Finish this statement: “I love my husband, I wish I had more of his…”?Fill in these blanks. “When I am ____, I look to my spouse for _____”How can the faith of one spouse be a blessing to the other? Can you think of a time when you saw the faith of one spouse carry the other?What does it look like to share burdens in a marriage (Galatians 6:2)?What kind of energy or care would it be great to offer if your spouse looked to you?  What do you think you struggle more with, giving or receiving in marriage?What comes to mind when you think of borrowing the strength of a spouse?Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Galatians 6:2, Matthew 8:23–27, Acts 2 Follow Us:Instagram | Facebook | WebsiteEditing and support by The Good Podcast Co.

Adam Griffin and Chelsea Griffin have a conversation about how to serve your spouse well.Questions Covered in This Episode:What comes to mind when you hear the phrase, “I wish you just did it without being asked”? Why do you think it makes a difference to do something to serve your spouse without them asking you to do it?How does that look like Jesus? What does the Ant in the Proverbs have to do with this?  Why don’t we serve like this all the time?What are some simple, everyday ways to surprise your spouse with kindness?What role does attentiveness play in serving our spouse well?What does the Bible say about giving without expecting something in return?What if one spouse feels like they are always serving but not receiving the same in return?Resources Mentioned in this Episode:Proverbs 6:6-11, Hebrews 11:6, Matthew 6:4, Acts 20:35, Romans 12:10 Follow Us:Instagram | Facebook | WebsiteEditing and support by The Good Podcast Co.

Adam Griffin, Chelsea Griffin, and Cassie Bryant discuss how the stories we tell ourselves have an impact on our marriage.Questions Covered in This Episode:What comes to mind when you hear the phrase, “I was telling myself a different story”? Are there any persistent false narratives that tend to repeat themselves in a marriage?How does our personal history shape the stories we tell ourselves? How does making assumptions about our spouse hurt our relationship?  What does it mean to take our thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5)? If false stories thrive in the dark, what should we do with them?Is it possible to not be defensive when someone shares the assumption they made about you?Resources Mentioned in this Episode:2 Corinthians 10:5 Follow Us:Instagram | Facebook | WebsiteEditing and support by The Good Podcast Co.