The Valley's Other Side

Everyone, on some level, is creating what they think are highlight-worthy moments in their life. Anybody can usually name a few things that, in their mind, are worth a clap or two. But often, we treat our connection with God the same way, not realizing that what He views as a heavenly highlight reel may include things we'd otherwise deem unimportant or just want to leave out altogether. The stuff that God thinks matters changes our whole outlook on success and accomplishment, and that's the focus of today's episode. For more information on my book Unshakeable: Stories To Anchor You Through Life's Storms as well and how to reach me on social media or read my weekly blog, visit my website at: https://www.open-to-grace.com/

Earthquakes are common here in Alaska, and they're common in real life too. Massive things happen all the time that shake up our lives in different ways, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and in shock, struggling to pick up the pieces and figure out how to start over and learn to live again. Today's episode talks about the resilience Alaskans showed in the wake of the famous 2018 earthquake and how we can better prepare for and navigate the shakeups in our own lives. For more information on my book Unshakeable: Stories To Anchor You Through Life's Storms as well and how to reach me on social media or read my weekly blog, visit my website at: https://www.open-to-grace.com/

Walking through the "valley of the shadow" is its own kind of challenging, but we often don't talk about what happens on the other side of the valley. When the storm actually dies down, what can we expect as we exit our suffering season? This episode walks you through how to view your valleys and how to position yourself for healing and recovery afterwards. For more information on my book Unshakeable: Stories To Anchor You Through Life's Storms as well and how to reach me on social media or read my weekly blog, visit my website at: https://www.open-to-grace.com/

Being left behind can come in many forms: parental abandonment or emotional unavailability, betrayal, divorce, infertility, prolonged singleness, workplace drama, career redirection or delay. So many things take place that put us in a space where we feel like the things we pray or hope for are happening for others but not for us, and the disappointment and loneliness that accompanies this is real and very painful. How do we learn to trust the promises of God in such a season and to hold onto faith that our time will come when it feels like we're being passed over in the blessing? Tune into the episode today to find out! For more information on my book Unshakeable: Stories To Anchor You Through Life's Storms as well and how to reach me on social media or read my weekly blog, visit my website at: https://www.open-to-grace.com/

So often we carry around feelings of resentment and hold onto grudges because it feels wrong to let go of a past disappointment or hurt in our life. We may even think we've forgiven the offending source while we still refuse to turn loose of how it made us feel or what happened. In some cases, we're still beating ourselves up over something in the past that we can't seem to forgive ourselves for. This episode tells you why it's essential to your healing that you forgiven and be forgiven and why you can let this hard thing go: because God has. For more information on my book Unshakeable: Stories To Anchor You Through Life's Storms as well and how to reach me on social media or read my weekly blog, visit my website at: https://www.open-to-grace.com/

Studies have shown that people who regularly practice some form of creativity are happier, more confident, and have an overall better quality of life. Imagination and creativity help expand the brain's health and function as well as improve our general sense of well-being, making it a vital part of mental wellness. Art instructor and self-described Creativity Mentor, Kit Curious is here to discuss this connection as well as his own journey, so join us for a powerful conversation on the necessary art of creativity and learning to dream again. You won't want to miss this! Disclaimer: we had some technical issues with a slight echo during the recording process. Apologies in advance, and hope you still enjoy the episode! For more information on my book Unshakeable: Stories To Anchor You Through Life's Storms as well and how to reach me on social media or read my weekly blog, visit my website at: https://www.open-to-grace.com/

Most of us think we know who we are, but what if a lot of how we see ourselves has simply been shaped by how others perceive us? How might it change the way we view ourselves if we began to see who we are through the lens of truth? Whether it's uncovering our ancestry, learning how our Creator looks at us, or appreciating the parts that make us unique, uncovering the reality of who we are... really... changes everything. Today's episode will help you see that you are made for far more than you realize! For more information on my book Unshakeable: Stories To Anchor You Through Life's Storms as well and how to reach me on social media or read my weekly blog, visit my website at: https://www.open-to-grace.com/

When you're up against something that is way beyond your ability to fix or understand, what do you do? Is your first response to try and control or solve it yourself, or do you entrust it into the capable Hands of the One who rules the world? Learning to sit with the truth that we don't need answers in order to have faith is one of the greatest lessons we can ever learn, and it's the subject of today's episode. Come find out how you can rest in the God who has all the answers even when you don't. For more information on my book Unshakeable: Stories To Anchor You Through Life's Storms as well and how to reach me on social media or read my weekly blog, visit my website at: https://www.open-to-grace.com/

Individuals are often surprised when following God gets hard. We've been led to believe that faith is somehow easy when, the reality is that it's one of the hardest things you'll ever do in your life. And the most rewarding. Going all-in on your divine destiny and the plan God has written for your life takes all the trust in the world and sometimes, it comes at a great cost. Today's episode discusses why God asks hard things of us and why still choosing to say yes to Him changes everything. For more information on my book Unshakeable: Stories To Anchor You Through Life's Storms as well and how to reach me on social media or read my weekly blog, visit my website at: https://www.open-to-grace.com/

More people than ever before are struggling with resilience and the ability to suffer well. Scientific studies are showing as much, and the truth just may be that we've grown too accustomed to comfort. Our lives are too cushy to build the necessary maturity that can endure and survive challenging things. In this episode, we'll explore the existence of a comfort crisis and how we need to change our perception of hardship in order to grow. For more information on my book Unshakeable: Stories To Anchor You Through Life's Storms as well and how to reach me on social media or read my weekly blog, visit my website at: https://www.open-to-grace.com/