In this powerful episode of Everything Made Beautiful, I sit down with marriage and family therapist Kimberly Haar to discuss her extraordinary journey from trauma to triumph. Four years after Kim's divorce, when she thought she was ready for a new beginning, an unimaginable night changed everything. What started as the worst night of her life became the catalyst for one of the most remarkable redemption stories I've ever heard.

Kim vulnerably shares how she moved from victim to survivor, the sacred space where her healing began, and the choice to forgive the unforgivable—not just once, but over and over again. As both a trauma survivor and professional therapist, she offers wisdom that can only come from someone who's walked through the valley and emerged whole.

This conversation tackles the hard questions: Where is God when bad things happen? How do we not get stuck in victimhood? How do we choose healing when we've been shattered? Kim's story is proof that no one is too broken for God's redemption, and that beauty truly can emerge from the deepest ashes.

Whether you're walking through your own dark valley or simply need a reminder of God's faithfulness, this episode will challenge your heart and strengthen your faith in ways you don't expect.

Be advised: This episode discusses domestic violence and gun violence, but culminates in the hope of Christ.

Kimberly's Website: https://kimberlyhaar.com
Kimberly's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Kimberly.haar
Kimberly's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyJHaar/
Kimberly's Book: https://kimberlyhaar.com/healing-from-lifes-deepest-hurts-book/

It’s hard to believe we’ve reached 40 episodes of Everything Made Beautiful. This one feels different—because it is.

In today’s episode, I’m sharing a personal update and reflecting on what it looks like to intentionally press pause. Lately, the Lord has been inviting me to slow down, to be fully present for the season I’m in, and to make space for rest, reflection, and renewal.

I talk about the significance of the numbers 7 and 40 in scripture, why I’m stepping back from the podcast for a little while, and how I’m leaning into a quieter rhythm—both for my family and for my soul. I also share where I’ll still be writing during this time and how you can stay connected.

This isn’t goodbye—it’s just a sacred pause. And maybe, just maybe, it’s an invitation for you too.

If you’ve been feeling the pull to breathe, recalibrate, or listen for God’s leading in a noisy world, I hope this episode encourages you to do just that.

Let’s embrace intentional presence together.

In this episode of Everything Made Beautiful, I had the absolute joy of sitting down with author, speaker, and all-around kindred spirit, Rebecca George. From the moment I picked up her book Do the Thing, I knew we shared the same heartbeat for helping women discern God’s calling and walk it out with bold, gospel-centered obedience.

Rebecca shares how her life mission—to leave people better than she found them and help them know Jesus more fully—shapes every part of her ministry. We talk about her newest book You're Not Too Late (and the surprising backstory behind that powerful title), what it looks like to pursue our God-given callings without shame or hesitation, and how to navigate the “meanwhile” seasons of life—those liminal spaces of waiting, longing, and not-yet.

We also explore how unmet desires can either drive us to resentment or draw us closer to God, and how things like envy and comparison often creep in when we’re longing for what we see others receive. Rebecca offers practical wisdom on pre-deciding how we’ll respond in those moments, and we even talk about the necessity of “chill hours”—those hard, cold seasons that actually prepare us to bear fruit.

Whether you’re just starting to sense a nudge from God or you’ve been sitting on a dream for years, this episode is for you. It’s a tender, hope-filled conversation about obedience, timing, and the truth that you are not too late for the good works God prepared in advance for you.

Rebecca's Books

• (NEW!) You're Not Too Late: Trusting God's Timing in a Hurry-Up World
• Before Dawn: Knowing God's Presence in the Dark Seasons of Life
• Do the Thing: Gospel-Centered Goals, Gumption, and Grace for the Go-Getter Girl
• Prepare Him Room: Radical Radiance Interactive Advent Devotional
• Passionate Prayer: Radical Radiance Podcast Companion Guide

Connect with Rebecca:

Speaking

Creative Business Coaching

Camp for Creatives

Listen to Radical Radiance on Apple Podcasts

Listen to Radical Radiance on Spotify

Take the FREE Waiting Personality Quiz

Take the Why are you stuck in your calling? Quiz

Friend, if you’ve ever felt like your story was too broken, too messy, or too far gone to be made whole again—this episode is for you.

I had the absolute joy of sitting down with my friend Meshali Mitchell, a gifted photographer, writer, and storyteller whose heart beats with hope and healing. Her book Restored: Partnering With God In Transforming Our Broken Places is more than just a story about renovating an old Texas farmhouse—it’s about the slow, sacred, sometimes painful process of partnering with God as He restores what’s been lost, broken, or buried deep within us.

Meshali shares so honestly about the wounds she carried from childhood, the fear and perfectionism that shaped her early years, and the lies she once believed about herself and her story. But she also shares how God, in His kindness, began to rebuild her life piece by piece—teaching her that restoration isn’t just possible, it’s promised.

This conversation felt like balm to my own soul, and I pray it will feel the same for you. So wherever you are—driving, walking, folding laundry, or curled up on the couch—I hope you’ll join us. Because restoration is real. It’s happening. And yes, it’s for you too.

Meshali's Website: https://www.meshali.co/
Meshali's Book: https://www.meshali.co/restored
Meshali's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meshali/

In this episode of Everything Made Beautiful, I sit down with my longtime friend, David Nasser — a powerful communicator, gifted evangelist, and someone whose personal journey has impacted thousands. David shares his compelling story of fleeing Iran as a child, finding faith in Jesus at 18, and discovering that pastoring wasn't just a profession, but a natural extension of who he is.

We talk about what it means to live on mission, no matter your vocation, and the importance of embracing how God uniquely hardwires each of us for Kingdom work. David reflects on his years leading the world’s largest collegiate ministry and how young adults are uniquely positioned to discover their calling.

We also dive into the brand-new From Grief to Glory Holy Week video series we recorded together with QAVA — a journey through the final days of Jesus' life, one day at a time. David shares what surprised him most as he revisited these familiar stories, how his personal grief brought new depth to Silent Saturday, and why we can't afford to skip over the harder moments on our way to resurrection.

This conversation is real, rich, and rooted in the reminder that we are resurrection people — not just on Easter Sunday, but every day. I can’t wait for you to hear it.

David's Website: https://www.davidnasser.com/
David's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidnasser/
David's Resources: https://www.davidnasser.com/#books
From Grief to Glory Holy Week Series: https://qava.tv/from-grief-to-glory-david-nasser/

In this episode, Maggie and Ali take over the podcast to kick off something new—our very first “Surprise Guest” episode—and they couldn’t have picked a more perfect guest than our dear friend (and ride-or-die) Kasey Ridling.

Kasey has been part of our family for 15 years. From helping build a children’s ministry from the ground up to Braves games and breakups, she’s been right in the middle of it all with us. She’s not just someone we know—she’s family.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How Kasey became such a pivotal part of our lives
• Her honest and beautiful reflections on singleness and the church
• What teenage girls are really struggling with (and what moms need to hear)
• Why social media is shaping—and shaking—the next generation
• The deep grief of losing her mom, and how God is still making that part of her story beautiful

We also laugh a lot. (Like, a lot.) And if you're a Braves fan, you’ll want to hear the story of the once-in-a-lifetime night we got to watch a World Series grand slam in person. Pure magic.

Kasey is one of the most thoughtful, wise, and hilarious people I know, and I’m so glad she’s part of my girls' lives—and mine. Whether you're a mama, a mentor, or navigating your own season of waiting, I think you’ll find something special in this conversation.

In this episode, I sit down with my 22-year-old daughter Maggie to talk about something so many of us have experienced—heartbreak. Maggie recently walked through her first serious breakup, and we had an honest, emotional, and surprisingly hopeful conversation about what that process looked like for her.

We talk about why Jeffrey and I chose to hold off on dating during our kids’ high school years, what Maggie learned as she navigated her first relationship as a young adult, and how deeply painful and disorienting it was when it ended. Maggie shares how she processed the grief (spoiler: video diaries and lots of tears), how God showed up for her in unexpected ways, and what healing has looked like on the other side.

If you're a mom walking through something similar with your daughter—or you're someone healing from heartbreak yourself—this conversation is for you. We hope it brings you comfort, encouragement, and maybe even a few laughs. Hearts may not be built to be borrowed, but I believe God meets us right in the middle of the breaking. And He’s always making something beautiful, even here.

Chapters

00:00 | Navigating Breakups: An Introduction

03:58 | The Impact of High School Dating Restrictions

06:46 | First Love: The Significance of Maggie's Relationship

10:00 | Realizations and Challenges in the Relationship

12:51 | The Breakup: A Sudden Shift

15:54 | Processing Grief and Emotions

18:50 | Finding Healing and Moving Forward

28:29 | Navigating Heartbreak Together

33:11 | The Role of Faith in Healing

38:06 | Emotional Growth Through Breakups

40:07 | Advice for First-Time Heartbreakers

44:40 | Supporting Daughters Through Heartbreak

47:02 | Setting Standards in Relationships

48:59 | Reflections on Maturity and Growth

Grief is not something we would ever choose, and yet, at some point, we all find ourselves walking through it. Maybe it’s the loss of a loved one, the shattering of a dream, a shift in relationships, or even the realization that life doesn’t look the way we thought it would. Grief comes in many forms, and sometimes, we don’t even recognize we’re grieving.

In this episode, I want to have an honest conversation about grief—what it is, what it isn’t, and how, in the hands of our Shepherd, it can actually be a gift. I know, that may sound impossible, especially if you’re in the middle of deep sorrow. But grief invites us to know God in ways we never would otherwise. It teaches us to lament, to remember, to heal, and ultimately, to trust that even in our pain, God is present and at work.

If you’re carrying grief today—whether it’s fresh or something that’s been with you for a long time—I hope this episode reminds you that you are not alone. The Shepherd walks with you through the valley, and even when you can’t see it, He is making all things beautiful in His time.

• Grief can be a gift that reveals God's character.
• Lament is an essential part of processing grief.
• Grief is not just about loss; it's about love and value.
• Grief can transform us and deepen our relationship with God.
• God's comfort is most profound in our moments of grief.
• Grief allows us to remember and honor what we've lost.
• Healing comes from engaging with our grief.
• Grief can lead to personal transformation and growth.
• We are invited to grieve together as a community.
• Grief ultimately points us to hope and redemption.

Chapters

00:00 | Understanding Grief as a Gift

07:02 | The Pain of Grief

16:47 | Grief as a Sacred Tool

27:02 | Grief: A Tool for Healing and Transformation