By Words: Honest Faith Talks to Encourage Everyday Christian Women

Have you ever felt the pressure to “bounce back”? The pressure to recover quickly, to be okay, to return to who I used to be. But what if that’s not what God is asking of us?
In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Charaia Rush, author of The Myth of Bouncing Back, and we’re having a real conversation about failure, disappointment, and what it actually looks like to rebuild.
Because I know so many of us aren’t “bouncing back.” We’re in the middle. (And sometimes… we’re barely holding on.)
We talk about:
Where the pressure to “bounce back” really comes from
Why failure isn’t the end—but part of how God forms us
How we sometimes confuse hope with outcomes
What it looks like to hold onto biblical hope when life doesn’t go as planned
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” — Hebrews 10:23 (ESV)
If you’re in a rebuilding season, I want you to hear this: you’re not behind, and you’re not broken. Today might not be about going back, it might be about becoming.

To connect with Charaia, head over to @charaiarush on IG!
Get Charaia’s book here: https://amzn.to/3NY3vJh 

Submit a question for “Ask Han” here: https://forms.gle/qWGxyy9M5Q5N2tMz9 

SUPPORT BY WORDS: https://buymeacoffee.com/bywords

My favorite Bible studies + devotionals - HANNAHHUGHES10  for 10% off: https://thedailygraceco.com?dt_id=300773 

CONNECT:
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https://www.instagram.com/thehannahhughes

Do your mornings feel sacred or stressful?
Today I’m joined by Jennifer Dukes Lee to talk about how to love your morning — not through hustle culture or productivity hacks — but through grace.
Because if we’re honest, many of us carry quiet guilt before 7am. Maybe you used to wake up early, journal prayers, and linger in Scripture. Now it’s rushed, chaotic, or you just don’t feel the motivation you once had. And the shame creeps in.
But Scripture reminds us:
“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” Lamentations 3:22–23
Not new pressure, but new mercy.
We talk about:
Untangling quiet time from performance
Experiencing God in rushed and chaotic mornings
What to do when motivation is gone
The smallest faithful step you can take tomorrow
This conversation is for the woman who feels behind (spiritually or otherwise). God is not grading your mornings. He’s meeting you in them.

To connect with Jennifer, head over to https://jenniferdukeslee.com or @jenniferdukeslee on IG!
Jennifer’s book, How to Love Your Morning: https://amzn.to/40iTUPI 
Jennifer’s FREEBIES: https://jenniferdukeslee.com/freebies 

Submit a question for “Ask Han” here: https://forms.gle/qWGxyy9M5Q5N2tMz9 

SUPPORT BY WORDS: https://buymeacoffee.com/bywords

My favorite Bible studies + devotionals - HANNAHHUGHES10  for 10% off: https://thedailygraceco.com?dt_id=300773 

CONNECT:
[email protected]
https://www.instagram.com/thehannahhughes

Shame wants to keep you stuck in cycles of shame. Jesus is inviting you into the fullness of freedom.
In today’s conversation, I’m sitting down with Heather O’Brien to talk about something so many Christian women carry quietly: shame that was never meant to be ours to hold.
We’re getting honest about how shame gets passed down in subtle ways, how it keeps us silent, and why it can make hearing God feel confusing or distant.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” — Romans 8:1 
Heather shares what it looks like to invite Jesus into those deeper emotional wounds — not with pressure, but with gentleness — and how true healing leads to clarity, confidence, and a restored voice.
If you’ve been feeling stuck, small, or unsure if God is really speaking to you, this episode is for you.

To connect with Heather, head over to @healwithgodpodcast on IG!
Heal with God podcast: https://heatherobrien.net/podcast 
My interview on Heal with God podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/217-in-a-hidden-season-this-christmas-hearing-god/id1151250243?i=1000741814807
Join Heather’s FREE live prophetic healing workshop every 3rd Monday of the month: https://heatherobrien.net/workshop 

Submit a question for “Ask Han” here: https://forms.gle/qWGxyy9M5Q5N2tMz9 

SUPPORT BY WORDS: https://buymeacoffee.com/bywords

My favorite Bible studies + devotionals - HANNAHHUGHES10  for 10% off: https://thedailygraceco.com?dt_id=300773 

CONNECT:
[email protected]
https://www.instagram.com/thehannahhughes

I used to be obsessed with personal development and self-help books and resources. I thought reading and learning more would make my faith stronger, but instead of feeling closer to Jesus, I just felt exhausted.
In today’s episode, we’re chatting with author Kelsey McGinnis about the subtle weight of Christian self-help culture and how something meant to help us grow can quietly turn into pressure to perform.
If you’ve ever felt spiritually exhausted while doing all the “right things,” you’re not alone. I’ve been there too — trying to manage my faith instead of actually abiding in Jesus.
Galatians 3:3 (ESV) says, “Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” That one hits.
This conversation is an invitation to lay down the spiritual to-do list and return to something deeper, rooted, and relational.
Today is the day we come back to Jesus, not as a project to perfect, but a Savior to rest in.

To connect with Kelsey, head over to @kelseykmcginnis on IG or https://kkramermcginnis.substack.com!
Self-Help Me, God article on Kelsey’s substack: https://substack.com/@kelseykramermcginnis/p-183162193 

Submit a question for “Ask Han” here: https://forms.gle/qWGxyy9M5Q5N2tMz9 

SUPPORT BY WORDS: https://buymeacoffee.com/bywords

My favorite Bible studies + devotionals - HANNAHHUGHES10  for 10% off: https://thedailygraceco.com?dt_id=300773 

CONNECT:
[email protected]
https://www.instagram.com/thehannahhughes

The word theology can feel intimidating. Like something reserved for pastors, scholars, or seminary classrooms.
But here’s the truth: if you love God and want to understand His Word, you’re already stepping into theology.
In today’s episode, we’re talking about what theology actually is and why it matters for everyday Christian women. You don’t need a degree to grow deep roots in your faith. You simply need curiosity, humility, and a willingness to open your Bible and ask honest questions.
Scripture reminds us: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved… rightly handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV)
Theology isn’t about becoming the smartest person in the room. It’s about knowing God more deeply and learning to handle His Word with care in your daily life.
In this episode we talk about:
• What theology really means
• Why every believer already has theology (whether we realize it or not)
• Why understanding God’s character shapes how we walk through hard seasons
• 3 simple ways to start learning theology right where you are
Friend, you don’t need a seminary classroom to study God. Sometimes theology looks like opening your Bible at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and a hungry heart.

Submit a question for “Ask Han” here: https://forms.gle/qWGxyy9M5Q5N2tMz9 

SUPPORT BY WORDS: https://buymeacoffee.com/bywords

My favorite Bible studies + devotionals - HANNAHHUGHES10  for 10% off: https://thedailygraceco.com?dt_id=300773 

CONNECT:
[email protected]
https://www.instagram.com/thehannahhughes