God, I’m Tired of Dieting | Interview with Brandice Lardner 

God, I’m Tired of Dieting | Interview with Brandice Lardner 

by | May 4, 2026 | Bold Brave & Beautiful Podcast

Have you ever felt stuck on the diet roller coaster, bouncing between restriction, failure, and shame?

In this episode, Barb is joined by personal trainer and nutrition coach Brandice Lardner, founder of Grace Filled Plate, to talk about food freedom, faith-based wellness, and breaking free from diet culture for good.

Brandice shares her personal journey through dieting and disordered eating, and how it led her to create a compassionate, grace-filled approach to health that meets women’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. They discuss why traditional diets fail, how all-or-nothing thinking keeps women stuck in cycles of restriction and shame, and what it looks like to build “fruitful habits” instead of chasing perfect eating.

If you’re tired of the diet roller coaster and ready for a sustainable, Christ-centered approach to healthy living, this conversation will give you practical tools — and real hope — for lasting change.

 

RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE

Connect with Brandice on Instagram

Connect with Brandice on Facebook

Fully Nourished: A Grace-Filled Approach to Ditch Diets and Find Peace with Food and Your Body

Visit Brandice's Website

 

ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Brandice Lardner is a personal trainer, nutrition coach, and owner and author of Grace Filled Plate, which she founded in 2017. She has helped hundreds of women through one-on-one and group coaching programs, teaching them how to find food freedom by meeting their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. She’s appeared on numerous podcasts, including Do It Scared with Ruth Soukup, and has been featured as a guest expert on MyFitnessPal, TLC Online, MapMyRun, and Women’s Running. She lives in Clearwater, Florida, with her family.

Experience Life-Transforming Power of Prayer

Pray Like This Bible Study by Barb Roose

As a Christian, you know you’re supposed to pray. But do you ever find yourself wrestling with any of these questions related to prayer?

Do I have to pray the right way for God to answer my prayer?

Do I have to pray the right way for God to answer my prayer?

Am I still praying if I read pre-written prayers?

If you’ve pondered these questions or others about prayer, my Pray Like Bible Study is for you.

Even if you're a prayer warrior, Pray Like This sharpens your prayer focus and is a great resource for you to teach others about prayer.There's a reason why Jesus was passionate about prayer and I want to show you how!

Click Here
Stop Rushing Ahead of God! (Surrender Principle #4)

Stop Rushing Ahead of God! (Surrender Principle #4)

by | May 4, 2026 | Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus, The Surrendered Life

Happy Monday, friends!
 
Welcome to my new Happy Monday friends from my final Spring Aspire tour weekend. Our team loved meeting those of you who attended Aspire Events in Temperance, MI, Richmond, IN, and Jackson, OH! We pray that your hearts and minds are still full of inspiration and encouragement.
 
For everyone who is new to our Happy Monday community, we're on week four of a series titled "The Surrendered Life," based on the six surrender principles from my Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus Bible study. You can read the first three devotions in the series at the bottom of this blog post!

Friday night's event was extra special for me since our host church was located less than fifteen minutes from my home. Dozens of ladies from my home church, CedarCreek.tv, attended, and my heart was so full seeing them in the audience.

Today's devotion tackles Surrender Principle #4: Trusting God's promises will bless me, but pushing my plans will stress me.
 
This surrender principle seems like a no-brainer, right? Yet it's so easy for us to jump ahead of God, especially when we're afraid or feeling impatient. And when we do jump ahead of Him, we realize that we've overstepped and find ourselves asking God for help to deal with the stress and frustration.
 
One of the best stories in the Bible about jumping ahead of God and pushing for control is the story of Abraham and Sarah. Known as Abram and Sarai in this portion of Scripture, the couple struggled to have a baby. In the culture of the time, men desired children to carry on the family name, and a woman's social value was tied to her ability to have children. Even though they were well-off in resources, Abram and Sarai lacked the one thing they couldn't make happen on their own: a baby.
 
Genesis 16 records what happened when Abram and Sarai became impatient with God, who had promised Abraham that he'd have a son (Genesis 15:2, 4).
 
After many years of waiting, it seemed that God wasn't coming through with what was promised. In time, Sarai could no longer have a baby.
 
In Genesis 16, Sarai launches a plan and Abram agrees to go along with it.
 
Sarai said to Abram, "The LORD has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her." Genesis 16:2 NLT
 
Why did Abraham go along with this plan, especially when God had already told him he would have a son? It seems that because it wasn't happening on their expected timeline, Abram and Sarai assumed it wouldn't happen at all. So they took matters into their own hands.
 
If you read the rest of Genesis 16, a terrible mess unfolds. Hagar becomes pregnant (Genesis 16:4) and begins mistreating Sarai. Then Sarai blames Abraham for the situation (Genesis 16:5), and at one point Hagar runs off because Sarai treats her so badly. Eventually, God supernaturally enables Sarai to have a baby, but the family relationships are strained and damaged because Abram and Sarai pushed their plans instead of waiting on God.
 
Before we shake our heads at Abram and Sarai, how many times have we doubted God because He wasn't moving fast enough for us, so we took matters into our own hands?
 
Fear and impatience are powerful tempters, and we already know the regret and mess that comes when we are impatient. So let's focus on God's promises. They are so powerful, but only if we know them for ourselves. Here are just a few of the many promises of God. Which ones did you need to read today?
As much as we want our plans to work out or the picture in our heads to work out, what we need is to keep our eyes on God and not our circumstances. Focusing on God's promises keeps our eyes and our hope solely on Him. This means that if things work out, we're good. If things don't work out as we'd hoped, we're still good. But if we're locked into our plans, our hopes are tied to something that is out of our control, and that's asking for disappointment and resentment.
 
Dear friends, I'm waiting and praying right along with you! For years, I've prayed for prodigals and for a future spouse. When I feel fear that God may not answer my prayers, or I'm weary of waiting, I whisper Surrender Principle #4 to myself: "Don't rush ahead of God, Barb. Go at the pace of grace."
 
During my surrender journey, I had to learn to trust God with whatever the future holds, and He is still teaching me. I'm still tempted to straighten out my prodigals on my own. Thankfully, I've experienced the power of surrender and God's unshakeable peace, so I've learned to back off and keep trusting His promises and not push my plans. You can do this, too. It's not easy, but it's worth it!
 
One warning about God's promises: we must be careful not to stretch them beyond their intended meaning. The verses above, along with the other promises of God in Scripture, guarantee God's sovereignty over all things, His faithfulness in all things, and His unconditional love, but they don't guarantee specific outcomes or individual timelines.
 
Yes, there are times when we sense God's leading in a specific direction, but we must still apply wisdom and discernment and be careful about using specific promises to justify jumping ahead of Him.
 
I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU: How do you keep from rushing ahead of God, especially when you're tired of waiting or afraid that something bad will happen?
 
Thank you for joining me this week. I look forward to hearing from you!
Blessings, Barb
BUY SURRENDERED STUDY

Read the Entire Series: The Surrendered Life!

Bad-Day-Turn-Around Prayer (Surrender Principle #3)

Bad-Day-Turn-Around Prayer (Surrender Principle #3)

by | Apr 27, 2026 | Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus, The Surrendered Life

Hi Friends!
 
It’s the third week of our series, “The Surrendered Life." Last week, I received this powerful email from Chrystal about Surrender Principle #2, which is: I can choose to live by faith, rather than rush to follow my feelings.
 
She gave me permission to share this note and she hopes that it will encourage you:
:
Barb, while I was on a break at work, I started reading your email on Surrender Principle #2. Then, after work,  I volunteer at our local food pantry. While I was at the food pantry, I received a text message from my fiancé.  Let me tell you, the steam was coming out of my head! I had big feelings! The text message said that his youngest son's mom's car broke down. He let her use a car that he doesn't really drive. I didn't like the idea, and my emotions were running wild. I began to think of your email: I needed to talk to God.  I decided not to act on my feelings but have faith in God and our relationship. I choose to look at the bigger picture rather than my feelings. Thank you so much for the email!
 
I love this!  God knew the encouragement Chrystal needed and let's celebrate her decision to pause to check in with God first instead of following her fire-up feelings. You can do this, too!
Here's this week's Surrender Principle #3 from my Surrendered Bible study:
I can always let go and give my problems to God.
 
Did you know that anytime you're overwhelmed, you can stop and give your problems to God? Sounds so easy, but we forget! Once there's a problem, most of us believe it is up to us to hunker down and stay with it until it's resolved.
Yet some problems start out one size and then grow bigger. And we're still in there thinking we can handle it when we can't. We become overwhelmed and discouraged.
 
Once our hearts start racing and we begin to panic, that's the sure sign it's time to pause and say, "Wait, I don't have to carry this on my own. I can stop and give it to God!"
 
Here's one of my all-time favorite verses: Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. -1 Peter 5:7 NLT
 
God never runs out of room in His arms to hold what's too heavy for us. Even better, there's no timeframe on this verse. We can do it as often as needed! I love the premise that at any time, we can declare a new start for our attitude, our perspective, or our choice to live God's way rather than ours.
 
At any time, you can let go of speaking to others in negativity and choose words that reflect God's grace and love.
 
At any time, you can let go of nagging or helicoptering and choose to allow other adults to be responsible for their decisions.
 
At any time, you can let go of fear and focus on God's blessings and promises.
 
What a blessing it is that we can start over at any time because God's faithfulness and mercy are always available, at any moment! 
 
This means you are never stuck in a bad day, and best of all, you never have to feel hopeless in a difficult situation.
 
INTRODUCING THE BAD DAY TURN AROUND PRAYER
If you need to start your day over, prayer is the best way to reset your heart and mind. In my life, I realized that having a “Bad Day Turn Around” Prayer was helpful. Now, I’m sharing that prayer with you.
 
There are fill-in-the-blank sections so you can personalize it for your situation. If you engage with this exercise and it helps, hit reply and share that with me.
 
Even if you don’t need this Bad-Day-Turn-Around prayer now, keep this handy for a day when you do need it. You can take a screenshot of the prayer. If you know someone who needs this Bad-Day-Turn-Around prayer, you can forward this email to her!
 
I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Did you need this prayer? Comment “turnaround” and I'll know that this devotion resonated with you!  Also, what songs or Bible verses help you turn around a bad day? Tell me about it!
BUY SURRENDERED STUDY

Read the Entire Series: The Surrendered Life!

Holding on to Hope in a Heavy World | Episode with Shannan Martin

Holding on to Hope in a Heavy World | Episode with Shannan Martin

by | Apr 20, 2026 | Bold Brave & Beautiful Podcast

Most of our days are lived in the in-between; ordinary hours filled with small griefs, flickers of joy, quiet disappointments, and unexpected beauty. 

In this heartfelt conversation, Barb sits down with bestselling author Shannan Martin to talk about her newest book, Counterweights, and how to stay hopeful in a world that often feels heavy. With humor and honesty, Shannan shares the life-changing practice of “counterweights” — learning to hold both the good and the hard at the same time. Together, they explore how to navigate what’s outside our control, notice the ordinary delights hiding in plain sight, and experience life as deeply good, even when it’s tough.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed or weary, this episode is a gentle invitation to remain upright, hopeful, and fully alive right where you are.

 

RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE

Connect with Shannan on Instagram

Counterweights: An Essential Practice for Holding Hope in a Heavy World

Visit Shannan's Website

 

ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Shannan Martin is the bestselling author of several books, including Start with Hello, The Ministry of Ordinary Places, and the popular Substack The Soup. She is a wannabe gardener, a news geek, a fighter for justice, and a thrift store stalker. She and her family live as grateful neighbors in Goshen, Indiana, where Shannan is on staff at the local community kitchen.

Experience Life-Transforming Power of Prayer

Pray Like This Bible Study by Barb Roose

As a Christian, you know you’re supposed to pray. But do you ever find yourself wrestling with any of these questions related to prayer?

Do I have to pray the right way for God to answer my prayer?

Do I have to pray the right way for God to answer my prayer?

Am I still praying if I read pre-written prayers?

If you’ve pondered these questions or others about prayer, my Pray Like Bible Study is for you.

Even if you're a prayer warrior, Pray Like This sharpens your prayer focus and is a great resource for you to teach others about prayer.There's a reason why Jesus was passionate about prayer and I want to show you how!

Click Here
Keep Big Feelings from Making a Big Mess (Surrender Principle #2)

Keep Big Feelings from Making a Big Mess (Surrender Principle #2)

by | Apr 20, 2026 | Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus, The Surrendered Life

Hi Friends!
 
Welcome back to our Happy Monday series, The Surrendered Life.” If you missed last week’s kick-off on Surrender Principle #1, you can read it here.
 
This week, we’re moving on to Surrender Principle #2: I choose to live by faith, not rush to follow my feelings. How do we keep our faith in the driver’s seat of our thoughts and decisions and make sure that our feelings don’t grab the wheel? For sure, when our feelings are at the wheel, it’s always a wild ride that doesn’t always end well. Today’s devotion tackles that question with a powerful verse and a helpful tool to calm your big, anxious feelings.

Welcome to our new Happy Monday friends from this weekend's Aspire events in Frankenmuth, MI, Midland, Mi and Garden City, MI. God moved powerfully and I'm so honored we were able to share the Aspire experience with all of you! 

You’re supposed to have emotions! God created us to experience a wide range of emotions in our bodies. Feelings and emotions can be messy! Some of us were raised in families where big feelings led to careless words, yelling, or even abuse. Or, you may have grown up in a family where feelings were suppressed, or you were shamed if you showed emotion.
 
The truth is that our emotions are neither good nor bad. Friend, whatever you feel is real. But our feelings aren’t facts, just attention-getters. Your emotions should draw your notice, not determine your direction.
 
This brings us to today’s verse:
 
Guard your heart above all else,
  for it determines the course of your life.
-Proverbs 4:23 NLT
 
Whenever I see this verse, I’m reminded of comedian John Crist’s popular saying, “check your heart.” That phrase warns us to stop scrolling so much or take regular rest so we can pay attention to what’s happening in our hearts. The wisdom of Proverbs 4:23 instructs us to guard what we think and feel, because our behavior is shaped by them.
 
Back to Surrender Principle #2 - think about the difference between living by faith versus following feelings. If we guard our hearts well, living by faith means we protect our time with God, so we have plenty of time to pray and read scripture, and we can think about them during the day. On the flip side, when we don’t guard our hearts against excessive negativity or go too long without prayer or reading the Bible, the walls of our hearts weaken, and our feelings can run wild all through our bodies. That’s not good. 
 
Here are some questions to consider:
·      When’s the last time that you checked your heart?
·      What are the emotions you’ve been feeling most often lately?
·      How often do you feel like your emotions are bigger than your ability to handle them?
 
I want to be careful to point out that Surrender Principle #2 is about “letting go of following feelings,” but not letting go of feeling. Again, God created us to experience emotions, so we don’t need to beat ourselves up for our big feelings. The goal of guarding our hearts isn’t to make us feel nothing. This Surrender Principle gives us wisdom on how to avoid the mess that usually comes when something strong stirs in our hearts, and we act on it without checking with God first.
 
Here’s some background on how this week’s Happy Monday impacted me: I wrote today’s devotion while traveling with the Aspire Tour this weekend. We had a great weekend, but I also experienced some big, unexpected feelings that shouldn’t have been a surprise, given today’s topic. Life is always waiting to teach a lesson!
 
Last night’s powerful event was hosted by a church that I spoke at in 2017. On the way, I remembered that I was still married when I last visited this church. Cue lots of big emotions all at once!  I felt a wave of grief, sadness, peace, and excitement hit me all at once.
 
This happens to all of us. Then, add in some perimenopause hormones for some of us, the negativity of the daily news cycle, and lack of sleep  - we need to guard our hearts well because this has the potential to create big feelings leading us to say or do things we regret.  
 
Then, let’s add in a little perimenopause, the news cycle, and my preparation for multiple talks, I knew that I needed to anchor myself in God so I wouldn't bounce around emotionally all day. That’s exhausting.
 
I decided to use a tool that I wrote about in my Stronger Than Stress book called SOS Exercise. SOS stands for "stressed, overwhelmed, or struggling." I utilize the SOS exercise regularly. I can anchor myself in God’s care instead of flopping in the wind of my unpredictable feelings. Here’s the exercise:
 
Repeat the following statements to yourself:
1.     I am safe and not in physical danger.
2.     I am secure. I trust God to provide everything that I need.
3.     I am unconditionally loved by God, and He is with me right now.
 
Speaking these present truths to yourself informs your body, especially your nervous system, that even when you feel overwhelmed by emotions or other reasons, your body is physically safe. Even though you may be deep in difficult circumstances, this, too, reminds you that God loves and cares,, so you don’t need to fear the future. This is how we speak faith over our feelings.
 
One more tip: It’s more helpful to calm my body first before I attempt to discern what’s going on.  If you’re like me, intellectualizing (thinking things through) comes easily, but that doesn’t mean it has an effect. Let’s calm the body and then ask God to help us from there.
 
I hope today’s devotion on Surrender Principle #2 was helpful. Only you can guard your heart, dear friends! I promise that the SOS Exercise is effective when used regularly.
 
I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! How do you handle your big feelings, or do you stuff them? What verse helps refocus on God and calm down when you feel lots of emotions all at once?

ARE YOU TRYING TO TRUST GOD, BUT STILL HOLDING TIGHTLY TO CONTROL?

 

Last night, I met Char when she asked me to sign her Surrendered Bible study. Check out all of those tabs! Her Bible study group attended last night's event in Garden City, MI. Char's group leader told me that they are finishing up the study soon, and they will miss it because they've had such a great time. 
 
Char told me that those tabs helped her keep track of everything that she was learning. Love it! If you haven't done my Surrendered study, check it out!
BUY HERE
START A GROUP!

Read the Entire Series: The Surrendered Life!

You Were Never Meant to Hold It All Together (Surrender Principle #1)

You Were Never Meant to Hold It All Together (Surrender Principle #1)

by | Apr 13, 2026 | Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus, The Surrendered Life

Happy Monday, friends,
 
Welcome to our Happy Monday series called "The Surrendered Life." If you've been overwhelmed by situations or circumstances that are out of your control, I'm praying this series equips you to experience more of the peace that God alone can provide!
 
First, a special welcome to our new Happy Monday friends who joined us from my recent Aspire Event and from the ABIDE Conference in Lubbock, TX on Saturday. Welcome to our beautiful community of women around the world! We pray that you will be blessed as we spend time together each Monday morning

I love meeting Happy Monday friends when I'm on the road. Meet Cheryl! She became a Happy Monday reader after completing my Joshua Bible Study. Cheryl attended the ABIDE Conference in Lubbock on Saturday. So nice to meet you, Cheryl!

During this series, we'll cover the six Surrender Principles from my Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus Bible study. Let's jump into Surrender Principle #1: I am not in control of others or outcomes.
 
Not being in control is so hard to accept! In my Surrendered Bible study, I write that as women, we want three things: to protect what we love, fix what's broken, and keep everyone and everything on track. We do a great job at all of this! And because of that, people rely on us for help and we'll do whatever we can. But doing whatever we can doesn't mean that God has put us in control.
 
Sometimes, certain circumstances are beyond our control. Last week, one Happy Monday reader gave me permission to share her story:
 
Barb, I'm invited to my great-granddaughter's birthday party. Yet my grandson did not invite his dad because they're having some kind of issues. I really don't know the whole ordeal, but it's something between my daughter-in-law and my grandson's wife. This problem hurts me so much. I just want to get the four of them together and sort this out. But I'm not in control of others or outcomes. It's in God's hands. -from B
 
I know many of you can relate to family situations between other adults where you truly want to help. And how many of us have tried to help, only to have good intentions blow up in our faces?
 
1. Let's look at the first half of Surrender Principle #1: "I am not in control..."
The reality is that the only person we're in charge of is ourselves. One well-known Christian business owner said, "If I could control the person in my mirror, I'd be skinny and rich." We struggle to manage ourselves, and yet something inside us wants to tell others what they should do.
 
Dear friend, I know you're smart and resourceful. You know how to figure things out! I suspect you've prayed a lot about your situation or about the person who really needs to be straightened out. But that still doesn't mean God has placed the responsibility on you to fix what isn't yours to fix, even if you're impacted by the consequences.
 
Here's the bottom line: Acknowledging that we're not in control is a practice we should take time to do each day! If we don't acknowledge this, we will carry either the weight of the situation or the weight of responsibility, and feeling stressed out or hopeless is sure to follow.
 
The good news is that when we proclaim with our heads and our hearts, "I am not in control..." we begin to make room for God to restore our peace, settle our hearts, and calm our minds. We feel the weight roll off our shoulders, the tension in our necks release, and we can finally breathe again. You may even sleep better at night knowing that God's got it! Think of Surrender Principle #1 as a form of self-care that helps you fight anxiety.
 
Let's Try It: Think of something you are not in control of and say the following:
I am not in control of __(fill in the blank)___.
 
2. Let's move on to the second half of Surrender Principle #1, which is just as challenging:"...of others or outcomes."
 
There's a picture in our heads of how we think others should live or how the future should turn out. Maybe it's a really lovely picture of everyone sitting in church together, robust bank accounts, thriving kids or grandkids, or a husband who picks up his socks off the floor. There's nothing wrong with that!
 
When we release control of others and outcomes, the blessing is that we're more able to cling to hope in God's promises. Another bonus is that we avoid running ahead of God and inserting ourselves into situations that may create conflict with others.
 
Does this mean you stay quiet when someone is hurting themselves or others? Absolutely not! There's wisdom in Scripture that tells us how to approach others, particular believers, but you can reference this wisdom:
 
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.
-Galatians 6:1 NLT
 
This verse guides us to helping others, but this teaching doesn't mean you're now responsible for their lives. They belong to God, not you. If you are concerned and would like to talk with someone in a healthy way, here is a resource you can check out.
 
As we wrap up today's devotion…
Even though we may not have control of others or outcomes, God never loses control. We can trust Him! Rather than feeling discouraged by what we see, let us never forget that nothing is too hard for God! With Him all things are possible, and part of that is trusting His timing and His ways.
 
SURRENDER PRINCIPLE #1 REFLECTION
  1. What do you need to admit to God and yourself that you aren't in control of?
  2. Who do you need to stop trying to fix because you realize you're doing too much?
  3. What picture in your head do you need to let go of so that you can ask for help, live in reality, or make decisions that are healthy for you?
 
I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! As you reflect on today's devotion, what situation or person do you need to release control of and surrender to God?

ARE YOU TRYING TO TRUST GOD, BUT STILL HOLDING TIGHTLY TO CONTROL?

 

My Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus Bible study is my most popular study! This six-week study offers a powerful, Scripture-based Bible study that helps women release control and fully trust God in every area of life. Rooted in Jesus’ time of testing in the wilderness, this study reveals how surrender is not weakness, but the ONLY path to God's peace, freedom, and spiritual strength.

BUY HERE
START A GROUP!

Read the Entire Series: The Surrendered Life!

Searching for God in Seasons of Silence | Interview with Dominique Young

Searching for God in Seasons of Silence | Interview with Dominique Young

by | Apr 6, 2026 | Bold Brave & Beautiful Podcast

Sometimes it feels like God is silent, leaving us unsure of where to turn or how to keep going.

In this episode, Barb speaks with Dominique Young, author of God, Where Are You? and founder of Faith Mamas, as she shares her own journey through grief, doubt, and unanswered prayers. They discuss why healing is often a slow process, how faith and therapy can work together, and why dropping the “masks” we wear is essential for real growth. 

This episode is full of honest reflection, practical guidance, and hope for anyone navigating seasons of silence, struggle, or uncertainty in their faith.

 

RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE

Connect with Dominique on Instagram

Connect with Dominique on Facebook

God, Where Are You?: Unmasking Your Pain, Uncovering His Presence

Visit Dominique's Website

Download the Faith Family Worldwide App

 

ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Dominique Young is the founder of Faith Mamas Inc. (Faith Family Worldwide), a community of more than 6,000 Christian women and a private app serving over 1,700 believers. She helps people break free from fear through Scripture and has been featured on the Don’t Mom Alone podcast and The Refreshed Moms Podcast. Dominique holds a psychology degree from Hampton University and a master’s in theology from Fuller Seminary. She is also a devoted wife and a mother of four.

Experience Life-Transforming Power of Prayer

Pray Like This Bible Study by Barb Roose

As a Christian, you know you’re supposed to pray. But do you ever find yourself wrestling with any of these questions related to prayer?

Do I have to pray the right way for God to answer my prayer?

Do I have to pray the right way for God to answer my prayer?

Am I still praying if I read pre-written prayers?

If you’ve pondered these questions or others about prayer, my Pray Like Bible Study is for you.

Even if you're a prayer warrior, Pray Like This sharpens your prayer focus and is a great resource for you to teach others about prayer.There's a reason why Jesus was passionate about prayer and I want to show you how!

Click Here
The Surrendered Life!

The Surrendered Life!

by | Apr 6, 2026 | Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus, The Surrendered Life

Happy Monday, friends,
 
It's the day after Easter. For many of us, Resurrection Sunday stirred our hearts with gratitude for what Jesus has done for us. You're not alone if you sensed spiritual renewal and a desire to renew your commitment to God.
 
And yet, it's Monday. Some of us are waking up to a renewed faith that is already being tested by real life! 
 
How do we continue to live in the victory that Jesus won for us on the cross? How do we trust God and stay encouraged when we look at our lives, our families, our finances, or our relationships and want to pull our hair out?
 
I love what the late Tim Keller said: “If Jesus Christ was actually raised form the dead. If he really got up, walked out, was seen by hundreds of people, and talked to them, then everything is going to be alright. Whatever you're worried about - whatever you're afraid of, everything is going to be okay.”
 
To help us walk in Jesus' victory for these next few weeks after Easter, I'm kicking off a new Happy Monday series called “The Surrendered Life,” and as Jesus trusted God with his life, even when it was hard, we can trust God with our lives, even when it's hard. Trust often looks like surrender, and if you're like me, letting go of control isn't easy.
 
It's hard to care about someone or something so much and not fix it.
It's tough to be patient and let God work things out in His time.
Sometimes, we don't know how to stop being the Fixer, the Savings & Loan, or the Glue to tries to hold everyone together.
 
Why do we default to fix, even when we know it's not good for us or them?
 
Here's my belief: Often, our desire to control arises from the secret fear that God won't get it right. It's a fear that God won't get through to your loved one or He won't fix the crisis in time. 
 
Easter demonstrates that the same God who raised Jesus from the dead is at work in EVERYTHING you've been trying to control. Your efforts to fix or force solutions won't mess up God's power, but your efforts to fix or control will wreck your peace.
 
During “The Surrendered Life” series, we'll look at six Surrendered Principles from my popular Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus Bible study - which turns SIX on Tuesday! I'm including an advanced peek of all six principles in this graphic (see below) that you can save on your phone. Which one of these catches your eye today? Next week, we'll start with Surrender Principle #1 and go from there.
For now, I'd like to offer one practical, but powerful surrender prayer to help you today and the rest of this week. As you've read, did you feel God's prompting to let go of something beyond your control? Dear friend, let me help you be obedient to that leading. Here is a prayer that you can use. This is my favorite surrender prayer from my Stronger Than Stress book and Bible study:
 
PRAYER: God, I can't. But You can. I will let You. Amen.
 
Who or what do you need to pray this over? This prayer isn't for God, this prayer for you! This prayer releases you from the weight and responsibility that only God can carry. He can handle it - all of it, my friend. All of it.
 
Letting go isn't easy. God can do more than you could ever ask or imagine when you trust Him. It's okay if you need to repeat that little prayer a few times until your heart settles on giving the person or matter into His care and His timing.
 
I'm looking forward to the upcoming series with you!

ARE YOU TRYING TO TRUST GOD, BUT STILL HOLDING TIGHTLY TO CONTROL?

 

My Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus Bible study is my most popular study! This six-week study offers a powerful, Scripture-based Bible study that helps women release control and fully trust God in every area of life. Rooted in Jesus’ time of testing in the wilderness, this study reveals how surrender is not weakness, but the ONLY path to God's peace, freedom, and spiritual strength.

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Read the Entire Series: The Surrendered Life!

Finding Peace in Life’s Tough Transitions | Interview with Courtney Ellis

Finding Peace in Life’s Tough Transitions | Interview with Courtney Ellis

by | Mar 16, 2026 | Bold Brave & Beautiful Podcast

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What do you do when the life you planned gives way to a season you never saw coming?

In today’s episode, Barb is joined by pastor, author, and podcaster Courtney Ellis for a thoughtful conversation about navigating life’s tough transitions. Together they explore why God created change, what nature can teach us about living through it, and why even good change can bring real grief. 

If you’re facing a transition—expected or unexpected—this episode offers wisdom, honesty, and hope for the road ahead.

 

RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE

Connect with Courtney on Instagram

Connect with Courtney on Facebook

Weathering Change: Seeking Peace Amidst Life's Tough Transitions

Visit Courtney's Website

 

ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Courtney Ellis is a pastor at Presbyterian Church of the Master in Mission Viejo, California. She is the author of six books, including Looking Up: A Birder’s Guide to Hope Through Grief. Courtney hosts The Thing with Feathers, a podcast about birds and hope.

Experience Life-Transforming Power of Prayer

Pray Like This Bible Study by Barb Roose

As a Christian, you know you’re supposed to pray. But do you ever find yourself wrestling with any of these questions related to prayer?

Do I have to pray the right way for God to answer my prayer?

Do I have to pray the right way for God to answer my prayer?

Am I still praying if I read pre-written prayers?

If you’ve pondered these questions or others about prayer, my Pray Like Bible Study is for you.

Even if you're a prayer warrior, Pray Like This sharpens your prayer focus and is a great resource for you to teach others about prayer.There's a reason why Jesus was passionate about prayer and I want to show you how!

Click Here
How to Keep Believing When You’re Still Waiting | Interview with Lauren Gaskill

How to Keep Believing When You’re Still Waiting | Interview with Lauren Gaskill

by | Mar 2, 2026 | Bold Brave & Beautiful Podcast

Waiting for a miracle can be one of the hardest places to live, especially when faith wears thin, answers are delayed, and hope feels fragile.

In this episode, Barb talks with her long-time friend, author Lauren Gaskill about what it means to hold on to a faith that just won’t quit. Drawing from her book Until the Miracle Comes, Lauren shares how to begin again when disappointment has shaken your faith. She’ll share encouragement to remember your God-given identity changes everything. She tells us about why lament is a vital part of our faith journeys. This episode will remind you that God is working, even when you cannot see it.

If you’re believing for a breakthrough and wondering how to keep going, join Barb and Lauren for this powerful conversation.

 

RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE

Connect with Lauren on Instagram

Connect with Lauren on Facebook

Until the Miracle Comes: Finding Victory in a Faith That Won’t Quit

Visit Lauren's Website

 

ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Lauren Gaskill is an author, speaker, and the founder of the She Found Joy Podcast and retreats. She is passionate about helping others encounter Jesus and become transformed by His love. In her spare time she enjoys singing, hiking with her husband and sons, and baking just about anything — from cookies to crème brûlée.

Experience Life-Transforming Power of Prayer

Pray Like This Bible Study by Barb Roose

As a Christian, you know you’re supposed to pray. But do you ever find yourself wrestling with any of these questions related to prayer?

Do I have to pray the right way for God to answer my prayer?

Do I have to pray the right way for God to answer my prayer?

Am I still praying if I read pre-written prayers?

If you’ve pondered these questions or others about prayer, my Pray Like Bible Study is for you.

Even if you're a prayer warrior, Pray Like This sharpens your prayer focus and is a great resource for you to teach others about prayer.There's a reason why Jesus was passionate about prayer and I want to show you how!

Click Here
Why God Loves You Completely | Interview with Glenna Marshall

Why God Loves You Completely | Interview with Glenna Marshall

by | Feb 16, 2026 | Bold Brave & Beautiful Podcast

What would change if you truly believed you are fully known—and fully loved—by God?

In this episode, Barb is joined by author Glenna Marshall to talk about her book Known & Loved and the life-changing truths of Psalm 139. Together, they explore how God’s love differs from ours, and how the gospel reshapes our understanding of shame, suffering, and doubt. This conversation invites us to lift our eyes from ourselves and fix our gaze on the one true God whose love never runs dry.

 

RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE

Connect with Glenna on Instagram

Connect with Glenna on Facebook

Known and Loved: Experiencing the Affection of God in Psalm 139

Visit Glenna's Website

 

ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Glenna Marshall is married to her pastor, William, and is the mother of two sons. She is the author of The Promise Is His Presence, Everyday Faithfulness, Memorizing Scripture, and Known and Loved. She is a member of Grace Bible Fellowship in Sikeston, Missouri, where she and her husband have served for over twenty years.

Experience Life-Transforming Power of Prayer

Pray Like This Bible Study by Barb Roose

 

As a Christian, you know you’re supposed to pray. But do you ever find yourself wrestling with any of these questions related to prayer?

Do I have to pray the right way for God to answer my prayer?

Do I have to pray the right way for God to answer my prayer?

Am I still praying if I read pre-written prayers?

If you’ve pondered these questions or others about prayer, my Pray Like Bible Study is for you.

Even if you're a prayer warrior, Pray Like This sharpens your prayer focus and is a great resource for you to teach others about prayer.There's a reason why Jesus was passionate about prayer and I want to show you how!

Click Here
Preparing Your Heart for Their Return to the Father

Preparing Your Heart for Their Return to the Father

by | Feb 9, 2026 | Anxiety, Praying for prodigals, Praying for salvation, Prodigals, Worry

Happy Monday, friends!
 
Welcome to the final week of our series on praying for our loved ones. Today’s devotion closes out the final part of Jesus’ teaching in Luke 15.
In today’s devotion, we’re going to prepare our hearts in anticipation of our unsaved loved one’s salvation or our prodigal’s return to faith. Let’s read one of our favorite parts of Jesus’ teaching:
 
“So he (the prodigal) returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’” -Luke 15:20–21 NLT
 
Next, let’s look at how the father handled himself. There is some important guidance we can draw from this story.
 
1. Be Patient and Hopeful
First, notice how the father was watching and waiting. This speaks to patience and hope. Just as God the Father is patient (2 Peter 3:9) with our unsaved loved ones, the father waited with patience. He did not give up in discouragement or anger.
 
Let’s imagine ourselves in the place of the father. Take a moment and picture your loved one proclaiming Jesus. Together, we are believing God for that. Let it be soon, Lord!
 
Yet for some of us, it feels like that day may never come. I have heard from some of you who feel deeply discouraged because your loved ones still seem so far from God. Can I encourage all of us to remember this:
There is nothing too hard for God. No one is too far from God.
Let’s hold on to that hope today.
 
2. Don’t Bring an “I Was Right” Attitude to Your Anticipated Reunion
Next, notice that when the father saw his son coming, he ran out to meet him. Some of us may think, “The father shouldn’t move one inch until the son makes it right,” or “Does that prodigal even realize everything he put his family through?”
But that is not God’s way. In Romans 5:8, we are reminded that while we were still sinners, God moved toward us by sending Jesus to die for us. God came to make a way, not make us pay. We are called to carry that same spirit toward our unsaved loved ones and prodigals.
 
May I ask a question - and I'm asking with all due respect: Is there any chance that you give off an “I’m right, you’re wrong” attitude toward your unsaved loved ones or prodigals because you’re saved?
 
Our unsaved loved ones and prodigals can sense that “I have Jesus, so I’m better than you” self-righteousness. We may not intend to give it off, but this attitude can quietly creep in.
 
Here are a few signs it might be happening:
  • Your love and engagement flow freely when they make decisions you approve of, but you pull back when they do not.
  • You lose your temper when they express beliefs or behaviors different from what you want for them.
  • Deep down, you know you are judging them for not believing or living the way you do.
Friend, they can sense inconsistency and self-righteousness from a mile away.
We are blessed because we are saved, but we are not better than them. It is only by the grace of God that we live and breathe.
 
God convicted me of this kind of self-righteousness when my former spouse stopped going to church and fell into alcohol addiction. During the early years of that struggle, I was afraid, angry, and confused. To make myself feel better, I compared myself to him and believed I was better. Instead of giving thanks for the faith I could lean into, my pride looked and sounded like the Pharisee in Jesus’ story who prayed, “At least I’m not like this tax collector because I’m doing all the right things” (Luke 18:9–14, paraphrased).
 
As we pray for our unsaved loved ones and prodigals to come home, let’s make sure we carry the father’s heart when we run out to welcome them.
 
3. PRACTICAL STEP: Take the Temperature of Your Heart
First, write down the name(s) of an unsaved loved one or prodigal you have been praying for: ________________________.
 
Next, read the following passage from Colossians 3:12 and ask yourself if you are living out these qualities in your relationship with that person:
 
“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” -Colossians 3:12 NLT
 
REFLECTION: Which of these qualities are you doing well? Which ones feel difficult? Which ones do you need to pray about and ask God to help you grow in?
 
My prayer for you today is that God would gently deal with any areas of self-righteousness or anything else in your heart, so you stay prepared for the day when your loved one crosses the line of faith or repents. When you allow God to convict your heart and you respond with repentance, you will be more available for God to use you, bless you, and give you peace while you pray and wait.
 
I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Did today’s devotion give you hope or encouragement? If so, leave a comment with “encouraged.” If you have a story to share, I’d love to hear it! 

Read the Entire Series: Praying For Our Loved Ones

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