1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:05,660 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Love Offering Podcast. I'm your host, Rachel Adams, 3 00:00:08,740 --> 00:00:11,500 Speaker 2: author of Everyday Prayers for Love, Learning to Love God, Others, 4 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 2: and Even Yourself. Each week, we have meaningful conversations about 5 00:00:15,220 --> 00:00:18,020 Speaker 2: how to live out the greatest commandment, loving God with 6 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 2: all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving 7 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:23,980 Speaker 2: our neighbors as ourselves. My hope is to encourage you 8 00:00:24,060 --> 00:00:27,340 Speaker 2: to love boldly, live faithfully, and reflect God's love in 9 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 2: your everyday life. Today, I'm honored to welcome Elizabeth Lang 10 00:00:31,070 --> 00:00:34,879 Speaker 2: Thompson to the show. Elizabeth is a speaker, novelist, and 11 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:37,699 Speaker 2: author who writes about clinging to Christ through the chaos 12 00:00:37,740 --> 00:00:40,739 Speaker 2: of daily life. Her newest book, In Season, is a 13 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 2: 90-day devotional written for young female athletes, but its message 14 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:49,030 Speaker 2: reaches far beyond the world of sports. Through scripture, real-life stories, 15 00:00:49,110 --> 00:00:53,250 Speaker 2: reflection questions, and practical exercises, Elizabeth explores how we can 16 00:00:53,310 --> 00:00:57,570 Speaker 2: cultivate resilience, navigate pressure, and remain spiritually grounded through adversity 17 00:00:57,590 --> 00:01:01,300 Speaker 2: and setbacks, and disappointment. Whether we are competing on a field, 18 00:01:01,700 --> 00:01:04,590 Speaker 2: raising a family, pursuing a calling, or adjusting to an 19 00:01:04,790 --> 00:01:08,090 Speaker 2: unexpected season, we all need the reminder that our identity 20 00:01:08,170 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 2: is secure in Christ and that God can use every 21 00:01:10,660 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 2: part of our story to help us grow. Well, hello, Elizabeth, 22 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:16,980 Speaker 2: and welcome to the Love Offering Podcast. I'm so happy 23 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:17,540 Speaker 2: to have you again. 24 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:19,820 Speaker 1: Oh, I'm so excited to be back. I've been looking 25 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:23,220 Speaker 1: forward to catching up and spending time talking about this 26 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 1: with you. 27 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:27,610 Speaker 2: So I think this might be the fourth time you've 28 00:01:27,620 --> 00:01:29,410 Speaker 2: been on the show. Now that I'm thinking about it, 29 00:01:29,410 --> 00:01:33,250 Speaker 2: because it's like when God says, wait, no, and go, 30 00:01:33,510 --> 00:01:37,869 Speaker 2: all the feels, the friendship. I mean, four times, friend, 31 00:01:37,910 --> 00:01:39,670 Speaker 2: you're obviously one of my favorites. Oh, well, thanks. 32 00:01:39,690 --> 00:01:43,770 Speaker 1: Thanks. Well, clearly you're one of mine, too. So I'm 33 00:01:43,890 --> 00:01:46,950 Speaker 1: thrilled and honored that you would invite me back. Didn't 34 00:01:46,970 --> 00:01:47,670 Speaker 1: kick me off. 35 00:01:48,270 --> 00:01:51,150 Speaker 2: Well, you actually came to my hometown and spoke to 36 00:01:51,170 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 2: my church as well on the topic of friendship. And 37 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:57,020 Speaker 2: so I do just value your friendship. But for those 38 00:01:57,060 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 2: that aren't a friend of you yet, they're going to 39 00:01:59,140 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 2: love you, I know. But tell us a little bit 40 00:02:01,180 --> 00:02:05,870 Speaker 2: about your life and home and family in this current season. 41 00:02:06,150 --> 00:02:09,810 Speaker 1: Yes. Well, your friendship means a lot to me as well. 42 00:02:11,070 --> 00:02:15,030 Speaker 1: I am a mom of four and saying that sentence 43 00:02:15,090 --> 00:02:17,239 Speaker 1: never gets old to me because we went through a 44 00:02:17,460 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: season of infertility years ago. And so every time I 45 00:02:20,780 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 1: look at my children, I just think what miracles they are, 46 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 1: what a blessing it is to get to be a mom, 47 00:02:26,020 --> 00:02:27,860 Speaker 1: to get to be a wife. It's a privilege. It's 48 00:02:27,900 --> 00:02:30,549 Speaker 1: a gift, but it's crazy for me to say now 49 00:02:30,590 --> 00:02:33,770 Speaker 1: that two are in college and like my son just 50 00:02:33,830 --> 00:02:36,570 Speaker 1: transferred to a school that's like six hours away. So 51 00:02:36,590 --> 00:02:39,450 Speaker 1: I'm just like, no, my babies, my nest is emptying, 52 00:02:39,510 --> 00:02:42,090 Speaker 1: but I've still got two at home. My oldest one 53 00:02:42,110 --> 00:02:44,530 Speaker 1: who's still at home is a senior in high school. 54 00:02:44,889 --> 00:02:47,589 Speaker 1: And then the next one is in eighth grade. And 55 00:02:47,690 --> 00:02:50,260 Speaker 1: my husband is a church planter. So we live in 56 00:02:50,300 --> 00:02:54,130 Speaker 1: a coastal town where we planted a church about 14 57 00:02:54,130 --> 00:02:57,010 Speaker 1: years ago. And it is, that's our fifth child, you know, 58 00:02:57,430 --> 00:02:59,590 Speaker 1: our other baby that we just love so much. And 59 00:02:59,630 --> 00:03:03,920 Speaker 1: it's such a joy doing church in this town. And yeah, 60 00:03:03,980 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 1: I teach bar classes, sort of random little tangential thing 61 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,549 Speaker 1: that I do on the side. But yeah, love in life, 62 00:03:10,790 --> 00:03:13,670 Speaker 1: love writing books that encourage women in their faith and 63 00:03:13,930 --> 00:03:14,570 Speaker 1: their friendships. 64 00:03:15,020 --> 00:03:18,340 Speaker 2: This new devotional is about sports. Did you play sports? 65 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:21,410 Speaker 2: You mentioned bar, which is hard, by the way, because 66 00:03:21,470 --> 00:03:24,310 Speaker 2: I know you've got to be somewhat coordinated and athletic 67 00:03:24,370 --> 00:03:26,790 Speaker 2: and strong. What sports did you play in your kids? 68 00:03:26,970 --> 00:03:29,049 Speaker 2: And I'd love to hear more about that. 69 00:03:29,070 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: Yes. So sports were a really big, important part of 70 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: my high school experience, especially. I played basketball in my 71 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:39,820 Speaker 1: freshman year, and we moved a lot. So I sort 72 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:43,090 Speaker 1: of like got jerked around and changed courses a lot. 73 00:03:43,130 --> 00:03:46,550 Speaker 1: But freshman year, I played basketball in Miami. And then 74 00:03:46,610 --> 00:03:48,410 Speaker 1: sophomore year, we moved to New Jersey and I didn't 75 00:03:48,430 --> 00:03:50,100 Speaker 1: play a sport there. I wasn't there long enough to 76 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 1: figure it out. But junior, senior year, I ran cross 77 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:56,580 Speaker 1: country and track. And then I ended up marrying a 78 00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:00,390 Speaker 1: division one quarterback. So my husband's sports were like his life. 79 00:04:01,070 --> 00:04:03,450 Speaker 1: It was like sports and Jesus. That was about it. 80 00:04:03,570 --> 00:04:06,030 Speaker 1: And so, of course, all of our kids have loved sports. 81 00:04:06,110 --> 00:04:08,550 Speaker 1: It's been a super fun part of parenting for us. 82 00:04:08,630 --> 00:04:13,130 Speaker 1: This book really came about because my third child, Avery, 83 00:04:13,170 --> 00:04:15,460 Speaker 1: the one who's a senior in high school, sports are 84 00:04:15,500 --> 00:04:19,040 Speaker 1: like her thing. She loves the Lord, and then she 85 00:04:19,100 --> 00:04:22,620 Speaker 1: just really loves sports. And going on that journey with 86 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:27,600 Speaker 1: her of really pursuing sports and trying to figure out 87 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 1: the travel thing and how do you prepare to play 88 00:04:31,060 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 1: in college, all of that, while also really shepherding her 89 00:04:35,580 --> 00:04:38,300 Speaker 1: heart toward the Lord to stay close to God. It's 90 00:04:38,339 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 1: been a really big part of her journey. And so 91 00:04:41,290 --> 00:04:44,230 Speaker 1: this book was really born out of, it's kind of 92 00:04:44,270 --> 00:04:46,690 Speaker 1: like a passion project for my Avery. It's what she 93 00:04:46,750 --> 00:04:49,270 Speaker 1: really needed and we couldn't find for her. And so 94 00:04:49,310 --> 00:04:51,870 Speaker 1: it's for my Avery and all the Averys out there, 95 00:04:51,890 --> 00:04:54,290 Speaker 1: the girls who love the Lord and love sports. Or 96 00:04:54,350 --> 00:04:56,490 Speaker 1: maybe they just love sports and they realize they need 97 00:04:56,529 --> 00:04:58,909 Speaker 1: something more. They need to be grounded in their faith. 98 00:04:59,250 --> 00:05:02,570 Speaker 1: So yeah, this is a very personal project that comes 99 00:05:02,610 --> 00:05:05,330 Speaker 1: out of a lot of fun memories and challenging memories 100 00:05:05,390 --> 00:05:06,890 Speaker 1: in my own life and my family's life. 101 00:05:07,390 --> 00:05:08,980 Speaker 2: Well, I love that so much. So I was a 102 00:05:09,060 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 2: swimmer and played basketball in high school. My husband was 103 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 2: a Division I basketball player. And then now my son, 104 00:05:16,460 --> 00:05:20,280 Speaker 2: he is a quarterback in high school and also plays 105 00:05:20,300 --> 00:05:22,850 Speaker 2: in the outfield for baseball. And then my daughter, she 106 00:05:22,890 --> 00:05:24,940 Speaker 2: did play volleyball. She swam and now she's got an 107 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:27,779 Speaker 2: after school job. I mean, kind of laid those things down. 108 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:32,220 Speaker 2: But when you're talking, I can see the need for 109 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 2: this kind of book because it is really hard to 110 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 2: balance it all. And we need that encouragement. I'm really 111 00:05:38,490 --> 00:05:40,810 Speaker 2: thankful here in Kentucky. We kind of do live in 112 00:05:40,830 --> 00:05:44,430 Speaker 2: a Bible belt and our community is pretty conservative in 113 00:05:44,450 --> 00:05:47,530 Speaker 2: the fact that A lot of times the whole stands 114 00:05:47,570 --> 00:05:50,790 Speaker 2: will pray before games or after games. The teams are 115 00:05:50,890 --> 00:05:53,090 Speaker 2: very strong in their faith. We're just a public school. 116 00:05:53,650 --> 00:05:57,330 Speaker 2: But they have like a team chaplain for the football team. 117 00:05:57,890 --> 00:06:01,500 Speaker 2: And even some of my son's football teammates, they have 118 00:06:01,540 --> 00:06:03,900 Speaker 2: a podcast that my son Will was just on. It 119 00:06:03,940 --> 00:06:05,860 Speaker 2: was called Iron Sharpens Iron is the name of the 120 00:06:05,900 --> 00:06:09,100 Speaker 2: podcast where they're sharing about their faiths. It is so 121 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:12,600 Speaker 2: important to keep the Lord in the sports. My son 122 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:15,160 Speaker 2: even wears a shirt that says like Jesus over baseball. 123 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:17,730 Speaker 2: So I know like this is a passion project, but 124 00:06:17,750 --> 00:06:19,610 Speaker 2: we have to be really intentional about it. And I'm 125 00:06:19,650 --> 00:06:23,790 Speaker 2: so thankful you've created a tool and a resource for 126 00:06:23,890 --> 00:06:26,190 Speaker 2: young girls. You should write one for boys next. I 127 00:06:26,230 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 2: will say that as I'm talking, but I can't wait 128 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 2: to continue today's conversation. But we are going to take 129 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:35,700 Speaker 2: a brief break to hear a word from our sponsor. 130 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:38,360 Speaker 2: And when we come back, we'll talk about cultivating resilience 131 00:06:38,820 --> 00:06:41,260 Speaker 2: and remaining rooted in Christ when life does not go 132 00:06:41,380 --> 00:06:49,510 Speaker 2: according to plan. Welcome back. I'm talking with Elizabeth Ling 133 00:06:49,570 --> 00:06:53,890 Speaker 2: Thompson about her new devotional, In Season. So although this 134 00:06:53,910 --> 00:06:57,010 Speaker 2: devotional is written for young female athletes, I imagine that 135 00:06:57,050 --> 00:07:00,770 Speaker 2: there's not a lot of young female athletes listening right now. 136 00:07:00,790 --> 00:07:04,850 Speaker 2: But there might be some mamas and some grandmamas and 137 00:07:04,870 --> 00:07:07,099 Speaker 2: some friends of some. But I do think its themes 138 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:10,040 Speaker 2: apply to all of us. So what can sports teach 139 00:07:10,100 --> 00:07:14,820 Speaker 2: us about faith, perseverance, identity, and just navigating life's changing seasons? 140 00:07:15,060 --> 00:07:18,660 Speaker 1: You know, I think sports are a crucible in which 141 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:24,290 Speaker 1: God teaches us really key lessons. And yes, I mean, 142 00:07:24,330 --> 00:07:26,230 Speaker 1: some of your listeners, you may be like, man, sports 143 00:07:26,250 --> 00:07:29,070 Speaker 1: were a long time ago for me, or they never 144 00:07:29,110 --> 00:07:31,810 Speaker 1: were there for me. But maybe you know a kid 145 00:07:31,850 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 1: who's in sports are really important to them. But God 146 00:07:35,500 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 1: might use some different crucibles in your life, your work, 147 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 1: your relationships, anything that pushes you, that challenges you. It's 148 00:07:42,900 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 1: a way that God can develop our character. You know, 149 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:47,340 Speaker 1: one of the big things that I talk about in 150 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 1: the book and try to help young girls to grow 151 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:56,470 Speaker 1: in and understand is that sports or maybe for, you know, 152 00:07:56,490 --> 00:08:00,810 Speaker 1: the people listening today, your work, your activity, those are 153 00:08:00,850 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 1: the things that you do, but they are not who 154 00:08:03,860 --> 00:08:07,780 Speaker 1: you are. And the world really pushes us to define 155 00:08:07,860 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 1: ourselves based on our activity, right? And our productivity, our success. 156 00:08:14,150 --> 00:08:16,610 Speaker 1: If the season's going well, I feel good about myself. 157 00:08:16,950 --> 00:08:19,390 Speaker 1: If I make the team, I feel great about myself. 158 00:08:19,490 --> 00:08:22,690 Speaker 1: I'm doing well. I'm a valuable person. If it's not 159 00:08:22,730 --> 00:08:26,470 Speaker 1: going well, I feel bad about myself. And we as 160 00:08:26,570 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 1: women of God have to root ourselves in who God 161 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:33,560 Speaker 1: says we are, in being His daughter, in having His 162 00:08:33,660 --> 00:08:37,780 Speaker 1: purpose and His calling. And yes, we serve Him through 163 00:08:37,820 --> 00:08:41,180 Speaker 1: the things we do, whether that's sports or work or whatever. 164 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:43,949 Speaker 1: We serve Him there. We honor Him there. We glorify 165 00:08:43,990 --> 00:08:46,010 Speaker 1: Him there. But who we are is we are daughters 166 00:08:46,070 --> 00:08:49,350 Speaker 1: of God. And that never changes based on our success, 167 00:08:49,410 --> 00:08:53,570 Speaker 1: our productivity, our you know, value according to the world. 168 00:08:53,710 --> 00:08:56,050 Speaker 1: So that's one of the big lessons that I think 169 00:08:56,110 --> 00:08:58,870 Speaker 1: sports can really teach us. It does teach us, I 170 00:08:58,890 --> 00:09:02,530 Speaker 1: think you mentioned the word resilience, so much about resilience. 171 00:09:02,940 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 1: And let me just say this, as a mom, everything 172 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 1: in me just wants everything to go smoothly for my 173 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:11,679 Speaker 1: children at all times, right? I never want them to 174 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:14,660 Speaker 1: be disappointed. I never want them to cry. I never 175 00:09:14,710 --> 00:09:16,710 Speaker 1: want them to not make the team. I never want 176 00:09:16,750 --> 00:09:20,069 Speaker 1: a bad game. I just want success on success for them. 177 00:09:20,540 --> 00:09:23,860 Speaker 1: But that does not teach them resilience. It doesn't teach 178 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:26,560 Speaker 1: them strength. It doesn't teach them to get back up 179 00:09:26,620 --> 00:09:30,339 Speaker 1: again or to turn to God. And God allows some 180 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:33,170 Speaker 1: of those disappointments through sports and through the things that 181 00:09:33,210 --> 00:09:37,410 Speaker 1: we engage in. And there are opportunities to invite God 182 00:09:37,510 --> 00:09:39,470 Speaker 1: in to teach us when we do go through the 183 00:09:39,510 --> 00:09:42,990 Speaker 1: hard stuff. So I think sports are a great way 184 00:09:43,070 --> 00:09:46,940 Speaker 1: to teach our children, hey, invite God into this thing 185 00:09:46,980 --> 00:09:50,020 Speaker 1: that you're doing. What might God be teaching you? Yes, 186 00:09:50,059 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 1: you're learning to play baseball. Yes, you're learning to play softball. 187 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:55,849 Speaker 1: You're learning to be a teammate. But how might God 188 00:09:55,910 --> 00:09:57,530 Speaker 1: be shaping you as well? 189 00:09:58,770 --> 00:10:02,020 Speaker 2: Yeah, you also write about discipleship. a growth mindset. What 190 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:04,849 Speaker 2: does a growth mindset look like from a biblical perspective? 191 00:10:04,870 --> 00:10:07,929 Speaker 2: And how is biblical resilience, like we talked about, different 192 00:10:07,970 --> 00:10:10,729 Speaker 2: from simply trying harder or thinking more positively? 193 00:10:10,750 --> 00:10:14,339 Speaker 1: I love that question. You know, I think a growth 194 00:10:14,410 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 1: mindset is it's a lot of what Paul wrote about 195 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:22,540 Speaker 1: in Philippians. He wrote that letter, which most people consider 196 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 1: his most joyful, even exuberant letter. He wrote it from 197 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:30,350 Speaker 1: prison in chains. And yet he talks so much about 198 00:10:30,490 --> 00:10:34,830 Speaker 1: just his mindset and what he chose to think about. 199 00:10:35,300 --> 00:10:38,460 Speaker 1: And it's not just like fluffy, positive thinking, but it's 200 00:10:38,740 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 1: intentionally setting his mind on the things of God that 201 00:10:43,140 --> 00:10:47,720 Speaker 1: are lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy, the things that he can 202 00:10:47,740 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 1: be grateful for. And I think sports really provide us 203 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:56,319 Speaker 1: an opportunity to practice that, to learn, to say, okay, 204 00:10:56,340 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 1: so I had a bad game, but what did go well? 205 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:03,920 Speaker 1: Where can I identify some growth? Or If nothing, literally 206 00:11:03,980 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 1: nothing went well, okay, well, where is the opportunity for 207 00:11:08,300 --> 00:11:11,860 Speaker 1: growth here? How might I turn this into a win 208 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:15,150 Speaker 1: down the road? How might I dig in deeper? Where 209 00:11:15,210 --> 00:11:17,670 Speaker 1: can I ask for help? Where can I get additional 210 00:11:17,730 --> 00:11:21,290 Speaker 1: coaching and training? So teaching our kids to take those 211 00:11:21,350 --> 00:11:25,469 Speaker 1: defeats and those challenges and use them to empower their 212 00:11:25,510 --> 00:11:28,300 Speaker 1: next decision. I think that is a godly thing. That 213 00:11:28,460 --> 00:11:32,230 Speaker 1: is a biblical thing. That's that growth mindset. that God 214 00:11:32,290 --> 00:11:33,230 Speaker 1: welcomes us to have. 215 00:11:33,429 --> 00:11:36,410 Speaker 2: All of us are balancing work and family and ministry 216 00:11:36,429 --> 00:11:39,189 Speaker 2: and friendships and caregiving and so much more. So why 217 00:11:39,210 --> 00:11:42,150 Speaker 2: do you think our spiritual well-being often is the first 218 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:45,040 Speaker 2: thing that we neglect? And what are some realistic ways 219 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:47,620 Speaker 2: to remain connected to God, even when we feel overwhelmed 220 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 2: or especially busy? 221 00:11:48,900 --> 00:11:51,560 Speaker 1: Oh my goodness. Well, the struggle is real. I think, 222 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:53,959 Speaker 1: I know for me, when I get up in the morning, 223 00:11:54,100 --> 00:11:57,230 Speaker 1: it is so tempting to go first to check the email, 224 00:11:57,350 --> 00:11:59,110 Speaker 1: first to figure out, okay, what do I have to 225 00:11:59,190 --> 00:12:00,670 Speaker 1: do today? What do I need to get done? Let 226 00:12:00,690 --> 00:12:02,949 Speaker 1: me look at my to-do list. I love a good 227 00:12:03,010 --> 00:12:05,830 Speaker 1: to-do list. And then before you know it, you've lost 228 00:12:05,990 --> 00:12:08,050 Speaker 1: the 20 minutes, the half hour, the hour that you 229 00:12:08,070 --> 00:12:10,530 Speaker 1: were supposed to spend with God. You just spend it 230 00:12:10,570 --> 00:12:12,929 Speaker 1: at your computer. That happens to me more than I 231 00:12:12,980 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 1: wish it did. So I think just giving ourselves permission 232 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:20,980 Speaker 1: and reminding ourselves, let me make space for God. And 233 00:12:21,020 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 1: maybe for you, that's not first thing in the morning. 234 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:25,640 Speaker 1: Maybe you're too groggy to even think straight, to even 235 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:29,220 Speaker 1: have a coherent prayer. But making space for God every 236 00:12:29,260 --> 00:12:32,470 Speaker 1: day somehow. One of the things that I really encourage 237 00:12:32,530 --> 00:12:35,589 Speaker 1: girls to do in the devotional book, which I think 238 00:12:35,650 --> 00:12:40,030 Speaker 1: is a life skill in season or out of season, is, hey, 239 00:12:40,230 --> 00:12:44,960 Speaker 1: think ahead and plan ahead to intentionally carve out daily 240 00:12:45,020 --> 00:12:48,119 Speaker 1: time with God. And you might have to be creative, 241 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:52,449 Speaker 1: especially in those busy seasons. During the sports season, girls 242 00:12:52,530 --> 00:12:55,010 Speaker 1: need God so much, but they have very little time 243 00:12:55,070 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 1: to pursue Him. So helping them be creative, what might 244 00:12:58,010 --> 00:13:01,000 Speaker 1: that look like for the next six weeks? Well, you know, 245 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:05,000 Speaker 1: I've got a 15-minute break between school and practice. I 246 00:13:05,020 --> 00:13:07,480 Speaker 1: could sit in my car with my devotional book and 247 00:13:07,500 --> 00:13:10,020 Speaker 1: have a little prayer, read a scripture. Maybe that's my 248 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:12,910 Speaker 1: time today, and that is okay. God is there for that. 249 00:13:13,030 --> 00:13:15,350 Speaker 1: Or maybe it's when I get home. It's 15 minutes 250 00:13:15,410 --> 00:13:17,610 Speaker 1: before bed. I drink my sleepy time tea, and I 251 00:13:17,670 --> 00:13:20,310 Speaker 1: spend some time with God. But I think no matter 252 00:13:20,370 --> 00:13:22,910 Speaker 1: what stage of life we're in, we can be creative. 253 00:13:22,950 --> 00:13:25,810 Speaker 1: We can be intentional. We can say, OK, God, you 254 00:13:25,850 --> 00:13:29,770 Speaker 1: are important to me. Yes, life is busy. Family is busy. School, 255 00:13:29,910 --> 00:13:33,220 Speaker 1: work is busy. But how can I make sure that 256 00:13:33,300 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 1: you and I connect every day in some way? That's 257 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:39,579 Speaker 1: an invaluable thing that will serve us well and keep 258 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:42,900 Speaker 1: us close to God, no matter how hectic life gets. Yeah. 259 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 2: And that's at any age. We have to be really 260 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:48,280 Speaker 2: intentional about that. You know, you kind of mentioned this, 261 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:49,800 Speaker 2: and I'd like to circle back and see if you 262 00:13:49,820 --> 00:13:52,500 Speaker 2: have anything additional to say, but we live in a 263 00:13:52,540 --> 00:13:56,370 Speaker 2: culture that measures us by our accomplishments and productivity and 264 00:13:56,420 --> 00:14:00,470 Speaker 2: our appearance and recognition. So how do we recognize when 265 00:14:00,550 --> 00:14:04,270 Speaker 2: something good has become the source of our identity and 266 00:14:04,309 --> 00:14:06,850 Speaker 2: remember that our worth is rooted in Christ alone? 267 00:14:06,950 --> 00:14:09,729 Speaker 1: Oh, I love that question. You know, Avery and I 268 00:14:09,809 --> 00:14:12,790 Speaker 1: actually talk about this a lot. Her sport of choice 269 00:14:13,050 --> 00:14:16,020 Speaker 1: is lacrosse. She just loves it so much. And when 270 00:14:16,059 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 1: it's going well, it brings her so much joy. And 271 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:21,220 Speaker 1: that's a good thing. And she can turn that joy 272 00:14:21,260 --> 00:14:24,860 Speaker 1: around and share it with God and celebrate with God. 273 00:14:24,900 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 1: And she can invite her friends from youth group to 274 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:28,780 Speaker 1: share that with her and to come cheer her on, 275 00:14:28,820 --> 00:14:31,650 Speaker 1: be part of that journey with her. And that's great. 276 00:14:32,750 --> 00:14:34,710 Speaker 1: You know, but I think a lot of times when 277 00:14:34,750 --> 00:14:38,350 Speaker 1: it shows up is when it's not going great and 278 00:14:38,510 --> 00:14:43,530 Speaker 1: suddenly we become insecure when the things that we do 279 00:14:44,460 --> 00:14:50,760 Speaker 1: our sport, our work, our volunteerism, wherever we feel valuable, 280 00:14:50,860 --> 00:14:54,950 Speaker 1: when that thing isn't going exactly to plan and if 281 00:14:55,030 --> 00:14:57,870 Speaker 1: our confidence tanks, that's a good sign that, hey, maybe 282 00:14:57,910 --> 00:15:00,550 Speaker 1: my confidence is too entangled in this. I need to 283 00:15:00,610 --> 00:15:03,760 Speaker 1: remember who I am, that it's not about what I do, 284 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:06,710 Speaker 1: that God loves me whether I win a game or not. 285 00:15:06,750 --> 00:15:08,890 Speaker 1: God loves me whether work is going great or not. 286 00:15:08,970 --> 00:15:11,450 Speaker 1: He loves me even if I get fired. He's not 287 00:15:11,510 --> 00:15:15,990 Speaker 1: going anywhere. So just it's a good reminder to step 288 00:15:16,070 --> 00:15:19,860 Speaker 1: back and lean back into those all the Bible verses 289 00:15:19,890 --> 00:15:22,200 Speaker 1: where God says, here's who you are to me. Here 290 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 1: is what it means to be my daughter. Here is 291 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:28,320 Speaker 1: what it means to be in Christ continually. Yeah. 292 00:15:29,030 --> 00:15:31,710 Speaker 2: I know at least for my husband, when he graduated 293 00:15:31,750 --> 00:15:34,110 Speaker 2: from college, he kind of went through an identity crisis. 294 00:15:34,170 --> 00:15:37,630 Speaker 2: He's worked for 21 years on a sport and he 295 00:15:37,650 --> 00:15:39,680 Speaker 2: was a basketball player. That's who he was. And then 296 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:43,080 Speaker 2: he's not playing anymore. And then same thing with my son. 297 00:15:43,140 --> 00:15:46,060 Speaker 2: If there's an injury and you're not able to play, 298 00:15:46,140 --> 00:15:50,060 Speaker 2: then am I still valuable? There is always a time 299 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:52,660 Speaker 2: when a season's going to end. And sometimes you're not 300 00:15:52,710 --> 00:15:55,070 Speaker 2: ready for the season to end. Sometimes it ends before 301 00:15:55,130 --> 00:15:57,520 Speaker 2: you're even ready for it to end. So we have 302 00:15:57,570 --> 00:16:01,370 Speaker 2: to be secure in that. Another thing with sports, I 303 00:16:01,410 --> 00:16:06,270 Speaker 2: think that we find is expectations between social media and 304 00:16:06,550 --> 00:16:10,150 Speaker 2: other people's expectations, comparison in our own inner critic. Many 305 00:16:10,230 --> 00:16:13,850 Speaker 2: voices are evaluating us, especially with social media. We find 306 00:16:13,890 --> 00:16:16,150 Speaker 2: that everybody's got a voice. So how can we learn 307 00:16:16,170 --> 00:16:19,650 Speaker 2: to listen to God's voice and coon everybody else out 308 00:16:19,690 --> 00:16:20,030 Speaker 2: of that? 309 00:16:20,820 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 1: I do think a lot of that has to do 310 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:25,620 Speaker 1: with living in the Word, you know, being in God's Word. 311 00:16:25,820 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 1: And for me, one thing I like to do that 312 00:16:28,140 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 1: I've encouraged my kids to do is I sort of 313 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 1: find my lifeline verses, the verses that I read it, 314 00:16:34,900 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 1: and I immediately am reminded who I am. And I 315 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:41,180 Speaker 1: am immediately brought back to who I'm supposed to be 316 00:16:41,950 --> 00:16:46,270 Speaker 1: in Christ. And they recenter me in my identity as 317 00:16:46,330 --> 00:16:48,150 Speaker 1: a follower of Jesus. You know how there are those 318 00:16:48,230 --> 00:16:52,290 Speaker 1: verses that just get you, they just Boom. Isaiah 43 319 00:16:52,290 --> 00:16:54,490 Speaker 1: is one of those for me that when you walk 320 00:16:54,530 --> 00:16:56,870 Speaker 1: through the waters, I will be with you. When you 321 00:16:56,910 --> 00:16:59,980 Speaker 1: walk through the fire, the flames will not set you ablaze. 322 00:17:00,060 --> 00:17:03,800 Speaker 1: I have chosen you. It's just such a beautiful passage 323 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 1: that reroutes me in who I am and that God 324 00:17:06,540 --> 00:17:08,920 Speaker 1: loves me. But I think we all need those scriptures 325 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:11,320 Speaker 1: and we, hey, put it on your wallpaper of your phone, 326 00:17:11,380 --> 00:17:13,949 Speaker 1: put it on your mirror when you're getting ready. and 327 00:17:13,990 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 1: remind yourself, pray through them. That's really important. Another thing 328 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:20,459 Speaker 1: that we talk about a lot in our house and 329 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:23,380 Speaker 1: I have to talk to myself about is, hey, reevaluating 330 00:17:23,420 --> 00:17:25,909 Speaker 1: your relationship with social media because the truth is it 331 00:17:26,050 --> 00:17:30,399 Speaker 1: does affect The way you view yourself, you're looking at 332 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:32,639 Speaker 1: those likes, you're looking at the follows, you're looking at 333 00:17:32,700 --> 00:17:36,120 Speaker 1: the things that God doesn't want us counting friends, followers 334 00:17:36,180 --> 00:17:39,820 Speaker 1: and likes, right? So if you catch yourself in those 335 00:17:39,900 --> 00:17:42,580 Speaker 1: unhealthy ways of thinking, just sort of saying, do I 336 00:17:42,619 --> 00:17:44,219 Speaker 1: need to take a step back? Do I need to 337 00:17:44,270 --> 00:17:47,270 Speaker 1: just rework the way I'm thinking about this? Because we 338 00:17:47,330 --> 00:17:51,990 Speaker 1: do live in a very image conscious society. My goodness, 339 00:17:52,130 --> 00:17:53,910 Speaker 1: I think I would have imploded if I had been 340 00:17:53,950 --> 00:17:57,220 Speaker 1: a teenager with social media. Me too. So, you know, 341 00:17:57,280 --> 00:17:59,719 Speaker 1: taking those little heart checks and taking the time to 342 00:17:59,790 --> 00:18:03,030 Speaker 1: reevaluate and reset as needed. 343 00:18:03,950 --> 00:18:06,870 Speaker 2: That's good advice. I know for my son, he wears 344 00:18:06,890 --> 00:18:09,390 Speaker 2: a bracelet that he never takes off. And it's that 345 00:18:09,810 --> 00:18:11,780 Speaker 2: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 346 00:18:12,130 --> 00:18:14,000 Speaker 2: And that was the same verse that my husband would 347 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:16,520 Speaker 2: quote as he's doing all the strength and conditioning. Like 348 00:18:16,540 --> 00:18:18,300 Speaker 2: when you just want to give up, that's been the 349 00:18:18,340 --> 00:18:20,800 Speaker 2: verse for both of my boys. Brian and Will have 350 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:23,379 Speaker 2: both said that on those hard days when they just 351 00:18:23,420 --> 00:18:26,680 Speaker 2: want to quit that verse. We'll encourage them to stay 352 00:18:26,740 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 2: the course. Well, we are going to take another brief 353 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:32,119 Speaker 2: break to hear a word from our sponsor. And when 354 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:35,070 Speaker 2: we come back, we'll talk about handling disappointment, pursuing goals, 355 00:18:35,130 --> 00:18:37,550 Speaker 2: and trusting God through every changing season. 356 00:18:40,910 --> 00:18:41,450 Speaker 1: Welcome back. 357 00:18:41,510 --> 00:18:45,270 Speaker 2: I'm talking with Elizabeth Lang Thompson about her devotional in season. 358 00:18:45,890 --> 00:18:49,390 Speaker 2: Sometimes a setback feels like evidence that we have failed 359 00:18:49,530 --> 00:18:51,850 Speaker 2: or that God has forgotten us. So how can we 360 00:18:52,030 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 2: allow disappointment to actually help us grow without minimizing the 361 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:57,880 Speaker 2: pain or rushing the grieving process? 362 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:00,359 Speaker 1: I love that you talk about that we have to 363 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:03,660 Speaker 1: kind of leave room for both emotions, that you have 364 00:19:03,859 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 1: grief and you have disappointment. And sometimes you do have 365 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 1: to sit in that, but also not letting yourself get 366 00:19:10,580 --> 00:19:14,400 Speaker 1: stuck there. Continuing to move forward is an important part 367 00:19:14,420 --> 00:19:17,180 Speaker 1: of life. You know, one of the things that I 368 00:19:17,220 --> 00:19:19,140 Speaker 1: did in the devotional book is I told stories from 369 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:21,699 Speaker 1: real athletes' life. And one of my favorite ones is 370 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:23,290 Speaker 1: of a girl named Allie, who is a swimmer. And 371 00:19:24,130 --> 00:19:28,659 Speaker 1: she had this one big meet with, And it was 372 00:19:28,700 --> 00:19:31,420 Speaker 1: supposed to be her breakthrough race. Like she had been training. 373 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:34,380 Speaker 1: She was ready for a breakthrough. She swam her little 374 00:19:34,420 --> 00:19:36,919 Speaker 1: heart out. It was the 50 meter free. Comes up, 375 00:19:36,980 --> 00:19:40,700 Speaker 1: hits the wall, pops up. And she was in the heat. 376 00:19:41,140 --> 00:19:43,609 Speaker 1: This wasn't the finals. And her coach held up three fingers, 377 00:19:43,690 --> 00:19:46,310 Speaker 1: meaning she had gotten third place in her heat. And 378 00:19:46,350 --> 00:19:48,570 Speaker 1: she wasn't going to make it to the finals. And 379 00:19:48,609 --> 00:19:51,340 Speaker 1: she was just devastated. Like this was supposed to be 380 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:55,480 Speaker 1: my big day, my big breakthrough. So disappointed. And I 381 00:19:55,660 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 1: loved the way Allie's mom helped her work through that 382 00:19:59,900 --> 00:20:03,120 Speaker 1: disappointment because on the ride home, she pulled out all 383 00:20:03,140 --> 00:20:05,590 Speaker 1: of her times from her last few meets. And she 384 00:20:05,619 --> 00:20:07,710 Speaker 1: was like, Allie, I know you didn't make the final, 385 00:20:07,890 --> 00:20:10,359 Speaker 1: but Did you notice what you did with your time? 386 00:20:10,460 --> 00:20:13,330 Speaker 1: You dropped a whole second off of a 50 meter 387 00:20:13,369 --> 00:20:16,690 Speaker 1: freestyle swim. That is a huge breakthrough. You did have 388 00:20:16,730 --> 00:20:20,610 Speaker 1: your breakthrough. You can't control what happens in the lane 389 00:20:20,650 --> 00:20:22,710 Speaker 1: next to you. That's not your job. You did your 390 00:20:22,750 --> 00:20:23,619 Speaker 1: job and you did it. 391 00:20:23,930 --> 00:20:24,560 Speaker 2: Beautifully. 392 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:28,200 Speaker 1: You did it beyond amazing. So her mom really helped 393 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 1: her take what originally started out as a disappointment and 394 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:35,209 Speaker 1: reframe it and find that there was a victory hiding 395 00:20:35,270 --> 00:20:38,590 Speaker 1: in that disappointment. And I think so many times we 396 00:20:38,790 --> 00:20:42,750 Speaker 1: sort of limit ourselves because we are fixated on one 397 00:20:42,850 --> 00:20:47,460 Speaker 1: interpretation of success. Well, it looks like this. Success looks 398 00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:50,900 Speaker 1: like This and only this. And if it doesn't play 399 00:20:50,940 --> 00:20:53,970 Speaker 1: out the way I have in my imagination, it's a loss. 400 00:20:54,109 --> 00:20:56,730 Speaker 1: It's a disappointment. But I think so many times what 401 00:20:56,790 --> 00:21:00,530 Speaker 1: God does is he helps us like with Philippians 4 402 00:21:00,530 --> 00:21:03,659 Speaker 1: to find what's lovely, hiding in a defeat, to find 403 00:21:03,700 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 1: what's excellent, what's still praiseworthy in there. And that's how 404 00:21:07,940 --> 00:21:10,580 Speaker 1: we grapple with disappointment. We find the things that we 405 00:21:10,619 --> 00:21:14,390 Speaker 1: can be grateful for. We find and identify the small wins, 406 00:21:14,770 --> 00:21:18,050 Speaker 1: even if there was a larger loss. And I think 407 00:21:18,090 --> 00:21:21,930 Speaker 1: that's how we keep growing. We handle disappointment. We move forward. 408 00:21:21,970 --> 00:21:23,990 Speaker 1: We don't get stuck in that loss. 409 00:21:25,010 --> 00:21:27,470 Speaker 2: I love that story so much. Well, so let's talk 410 00:21:27,510 --> 00:21:30,820 Speaker 2: about rest. Rest can feel unproductive and our goals can 411 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:32,820 Speaker 2: easily become a measure of our worth. So how can 412 00:21:32,859 --> 00:21:35,960 Speaker 2: we receive rest as an act of trust? while pursuing 413 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:38,399 Speaker 2: meaningful goals with open hands before going. 414 00:21:38,500 --> 00:21:42,240 Speaker 1: I love that. I remember in high school, my cross-country 415 00:21:42,300 --> 00:21:45,970 Speaker 1: coach used to make us promise to take two weeks 416 00:21:46,150 --> 00:21:47,889 Speaker 1: off at the end of the season. And we were 417 00:21:47,950 --> 00:21:52,109 Speaker 1: all like, are you insane? Like, I am used to 418 00:21:52,170 --> 00:21:55,230 Speaker 1: running five or six days a week. One rest day 419 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:57,480 Speaker 1: off is all I need per week. And I'm sure 420 00:21:57,520 --> 00:22:00,320 Speaker 1: some girls didn't do it. It was so hard, even 421 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:03,750 Speaker 1: in high school, to agree to rest, you know? And 422 00:22:03,850 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 1: yet when you would come back from that, your muscles 423 00:22:07,140 --> 00:22:09,460 Speaker 1: would feel fresh. Your lungs would feel fresh. You wouldn't 424 00:22:09,500 --> 00:22:12,500 Speaker 1: have gone backwards. You would actually feel better. And that 425 00:22:12,540 --> 00:22:15,200 Speaker 1: was a good early lesson for me in the value 426 00:22:15,260 --> 00:22:18,680 Speaker 1: of rest and also the value of trusting people who 427 00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:22,050 Speaker 1: tell you, hey, you need to take a break. Hey, 428 00:22:22,070 --> 00:22:24,010 Speaker 1: you need to take a rest. I think I told 429 00:22:24,050 --> 00:22:26,510 Speaker 1: you before we spoke that this week my husband made 430 00:22:26,550 --> 00:22:28,469 Speaker 1: me take like two half days off. And I was like, 431 00:22:28,570 --> 00:22:32,710 Speaker 1: what are you talking about? But God has rest built 432 00:22:32,790 --> 00:22:37,010 Speaker 1: into his people's lives for a reason. It's so valuable. 433 00:22:37,030 --> 00:22:40,020 Speaker 1: It's so needed. We do not need to buy into 434 00:22:40,119 --> 00:22:43,170 Speaker 1: hustle culture. And the earlier we can help our daughters 435 00:22:43,450 --> 00:22:47,000 Speaker 1: and any young women that we influence and help ourselves 436 00:22:47,100 --> 00:22:49,780 Speaker 1: to learn that, the better our lives are going to go. 437 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:53,300 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely. I needed that reminder too. Although I was 438 00:22:53,500 --> 00:22:55,960 Speaker 2: honest with you and said, I took a walk. I 439 00:22:55,980 --> 00:22:56,619 Speaker 2: did the sauna. 440 00:22:56,640 --> 00:22:57,320 Speaker 1: I took a bath. 441 00:22:57,840 --> 00:23:00,090 Speaker 2: This morning because I knew I had a full rest 442 00:23:00,140 --> 00:23:01,790 Speaker 2: of my day. And so I almost did my day 443 00:23:01,830 --> 00:23:03,729 Speaker 2: in reverse. Like I've got to gear up for this 444 00:23:03,790 --> 00:23:06,030 Speaker 2: day and take care of myself. And that's okay. It 445 00:23:06,090 --> 00:23:09,590 Speaker 2: is okay to take care of ourselves. So on this podcast, 446 00:23:09,630 --> 00:23:12,290 Speaker 2: we always come back to the greatest commandment. And this season, 447 00:23:12,310 --> 00:23:14,340 Speaker 2: I've been asking all of my guests, is there a 448 00:23:14,390 --> 00:23:17,660 Speaker 2: biblical concept of love that you think applies to this 449 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:18,260 Speaker 2: topic today? 450 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:21,060 Speaker 1: Oh, goodness. I think that love is really threaded all 451 00:23:21,140 --> 00:23:25,340 Speaker 1: through all through this topic. And my hope for this 452 00:23:25,420 --> 00:23:29,889 Speaker 1: book is that every student athlete who reads it walks 453 00:23:30,010 --> 00:23:33,860 Speaker 1: away with a better sense of God's love for her, 454 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:38,060 Speaker 1: really understanding that You are more than your skills. You 455 00:23:38,119 --> 00:23:41,659 Speaker 1: are more than your sport. You are more than your stats. 456 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:45,800 Speaker 1: You are a beloved daughter of God. And no matter 457 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:50,060 Speaker 1: what's happening in your sport, that never changes. And that's 458 00:23:50,100 --> 00:23:52,900 Speaker 1: a lesson we all need, that no matter what's happening 459 00:23:52,940 --> 00:23:56,959 Speaker 1: in our life, our productivity, our work, our family, we 460 00:23:57,010 --> 00:23:59,650 Speaker 1: are a beloved daughter of God. And that never, ever changes. 461 00:24:00,350 --> 00:24:03,500 Speaker 2: I'm so thankful for that truth. Well, so tell us 462 00:24:03,540 --> 00:24:06,140 Speaker 2: something you are loving in this season of life. 463 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 1: You know, when my kids were toddlers, I thought it 464 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:13,840 Speaker 1: doesn't get any better than this, like the cuteness, the 465 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:19,080 Speaker 1: Thomas the Train, the princess stage, all that. But I 466 00:24:19,119 --> 00:24:23,379 Speaker 1: have to say, I am loving watching my children step 467 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:27,120 Speaker 1: into the young adult versions of themselves and watching them 468 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:31,109 Speaker 1: kind of stretch their wings. It's terrifying. And there are 469 00:24:31,119 --> 00:24:35,869 Speaker 1: times I can't sleep. I'm like, what's going on? How 470 00:24:35,910 --> 00:24:39,070 Speaker 1: are they doing? But even the letting go has been 471 00:24:39,109 --> 00:24:42,340 Speaker 1: a beautiful thing. And I wouldn't have thought 15 years ago, 472 00:24:42,340 --> 00:24:44,619 Speaker 1: 20 years ago when I was a toddler mom that 473 00:24:44,660 --> 00:24:46,919 Speaker 1: I would be saying that. But it's a beautiful thing 474 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:49,719 Speaker 1: to watch them step into their own faith, their own 475 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:52,879 Speaker 1: young adulthood, and become the people that God has created 476 00:24:52,940 --> 00:24:55,000 Speaker 1: them to be. So it's been a way that God 477 00:24:55,020 --> 00:24:58,000 Speaker 1: has really surprised me, something I've loved that I didn't 478 00:24:58,040 --> 00:24:58,800 Speaker 1: think I would love. 479 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:02,910 Speaker 2: Yeah. He's surprising me in that same way. right now. 480 00:25:03,090 --> 00:25:06,410 Speaker 2: I feel very similarly and can relate to that. Well, 481 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:08,320 Speaker 2: I know that I want to stay connected with you. 482 00:25:08,340 --> 00:25:10,320 Speaker 2: I'm sure listeners are going to want to. So tell 483 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:11,280 Speaker 2: us how we can best do that. 484 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:15,300 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm very active on Instagram, Elizabeth Lang Thompson, and 485 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:19,320 Speaker 1: there is a little sneaky I in my maiden name, L-A-I-N-G. 486 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:23,000 Speaker 1: But I'm active on Instagram, Facebook, have a YouTube channel, 487 00:25:23,080 --> 00:25:26,280 Speaker 1: Elizabeth Lang Thompson as well, and my website. You can 488 00:25:26,380 --> 00:25:30,000 Speaker 1: either get there through ElizabethLangThompson.com or if Lizzy Life is 489 00:25:30,060 --> 00:25:34,460 Speaker 1: easier for you to spell, L-I-Z-Z-Y, life. But I love 490 00:25:34,500 --> 00:25:39,080 Speaker 1: hearing from listeners, from readers. The relationship at the other 491 00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:41,360 Speaker 1: end of the words that I write is really meaningful 492 00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:43,060 Speaker 1: to me. So I would love to hear from you. 493 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:45,040 Speaker 2: We will include that in all of the show notes, 494 00:25:45,060 --> 00:25:46,880 Speaker 2: but would you pray for us as we close today? 495 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:50,840 Speaker 1: Absolutely. Father God, we are We're thankful to get to 496 00:25:50,900 --> 00:25:53,380 Speaker 1: talk about you today. We're thankful to get to talk 497 00:25:53,420 --> 00:25:56,370 Speaker 1: about your word and your son. And God, we're so 498 00:25:56,420 --> 00:25:58,909 Speaker 1: grateful for the people that you allow us to be. 499 00:25:58,950 --> 00:26:02,310 Speaker 1: We're grateful for the identity that you do give us 500 00:26:02,490 --> 00:26:04,570 Speaker 1: in Christ, that you set us free from the need 501 00:26:04,609 --> 00:26:08,030 Speaker 1: to perform and produce. And you allow us just to be, 502 00:26:08,250 --> 00:26:13,240 Speaker 1: to abide in your son and to bask in your love, 503 00:26:13,359 --> 00:26:17,700 Speaker 1: to be beloved by you. What an absolute privilege and joy. 504 00:26:18,590 --> 00:26:21,630 Speaker 1: I pray that everyone listening today feels your love, feels 505 00:26:21,670 --> 00:26:26,070 Speaker 1: your presence, feels you caring for them in every possible 506 00:26:26,130 --> 00:26:30,820 Speaker 1: way and steps into that identity and that security more 507 00:26:30,890 --> 00:26:33,419 Speaker 1: fully with every passing day. Thank you for Rachel and 508 00:26:33,460 --> 00:26:36,780 Speaker 1: her ministry. I pray that you will bless everyone her 509 00:26:36,900 --> 00:26:40,340 Speaker 1: words touch. And thank you so much for this time. 510 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:42,660 Speaker 1: In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. 511 00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:45,629 Speaker 2: Elizabeth, I just was thinking how neat it would be if, 512 00:26:46,350 --> 00:26:48,969 Speaker 2: Just some coach or team mom just said, let's all 513 00:26:49,010 --> 00:26:51,270 Speaker 2: do this as a team, the whole volleyball team, the 514 00:26:51,290 --> 00:26:54,130 Speaker 2: whole swim team. What a great way to bring your 515 00:26:54,470 --> 00:26:58,230 Speaker 2: team together. But even if not, if just one person 516 00:26:58,270 --> 00:26:59,990 Speaker 2: doing it that is a part of your team, it 517 00:27:00,040 --> 00:27:02,409 Speaker 2: will make a difference. So I love this resource and 518 00:27:02,450 --> 00:27:04,200 Speaker 2: love you and just appreciate your time so much. 519 00:27:04,740 --> 00:27:07,320 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate 520 00:27:07,359 --> 00:27:08,320 Speaker 1: our discussion today. 521 00:27:08,520 --> 00:27:11,680 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for listening to the Love Offering Podcast. 522 00:27:11,740 --> 00:27:14,340 Speaker 2: I hope today's conversation reminded you that setbacks do not 523 00:27:14,359 --> 00:27:16,640 Speaker 2: have to define you and disappointment does not mean God 524 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:19,649 Speaker 2: has abandoned you. Resilience is not about pretending life is 525 00:27:19,790 --> 00:27:22,270 Speaker 2: easy or relying on your own strength. It is about 526 00:27:22,369 --> 00:27:25,710 Speaker 2: remaining rooted in Christ, allowing adversity to shape you and 527 00:27:25,750 --> 00:27:28,189 Speaker 2: trusting that God is still working even when the outcome 528 00:27:28,250 --> 00:27:30,730 Speaker 2: is different than what you hoped. Whatever season you find 529 00:27:30,750 --> 00:27:32,970 Speaker 2: yourself in today, your worth is not measured by your 530 00:27:33,010 --> 00:27:36,669 Speaker 2: performance or productivity. Your identity is secure in Christ, and 531 00:27:36,710 --> 00:27:39,990 Speaker 2: with Him, every challenge can become an opportunity to grow 532 00:27:40,050 --> 00:27:44,510 Speaker 2: in faith, courage, compassion, and love. If you enjoyed this episode, 533 00:27:44,530 --> 00:27:46,109 Speaker 2: please share it with a friend and leave a review. 534 00:27:46,150 --> 00:27:48,100 Speaker 2: It helps others find the show and spreads the message 535 00:27:48,130 --> 00:27:51,120 Speaker 2: of love even further. To connect with me, visit me 536 00:27:51,260 --> 00:27:54,879 Speaker 2: on my website at rachelkadams.com, where you can download the 537 00:27:54,920 --> 00:27:58,060 Speaker 2: Love Always devotional, a free resource to help you realize 538 00:27:58,100 --> 00:28:01,379 Speaker 2: how beloved you already are. Be sure to check out 539 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:05,310 Speaker 2: In Season by Elizabeth Lang Thompson. And a special thank 540 00:28:05,390 --> 00:28:08,190 Speaker 2: you to Life Audio for supporting this podcast and making 541 00:28:08,260 --> 00:28:12,700 Speaker 2: it possible. To find more great podcasts, visit lifeaudio.com. Until 542 00:28:12,740 --> 00:28:15,860 Speaker 2: next time, let's make our lives an offering of love.