"Don't be angry with each other, but forgive each other. If you feel someone has wronged you, forgive them. Forgive others because God forgave you."
Colossians 3:13

Everyone loves the idea of forgiveness... until they're the one who has to forgive.

In today's episode of Everyday Joy, Ash and Lydia unpack Colossians 3:13 and have an honest conversation about forgiveness, offense, and the reality of doing life with imperfect people.

Together, they explore why forgiveness sounds simple in theory but can feel incredibly difficult when someone has hurt, disappointed, or let us down. From church relationships and friendship struggles to misunderstandings and unmet expectations, they discuss the very real challenge of choosing grace when it would be easier to hold a grudge.

Ash and Lydia also reflect on the importance of giving people the benefit of the doubt, resisting the temptation to judge too quickly, and remembering that everyone is carrying battles we can't always see.

This episode is a powerful reminder that unity doesn't require agreement, perfection, or having everything figured out. It requires humility, compassion, communication, and a willingness to forgive the way Christ has forgiven us.

If you've been struggling with hurt, disappointment, church conflict, or finding it difficult to forgive someone, this conversation will encourage you to choose grace, pursue peace, and keep your heart soft toward God and others.

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"Be still, and know that I am God."
Psalm 46:10

What if the peace you're looking for is on the other side of surrender?

In today's episode of Everyday Joy, Ash and Lydia unpack one of the most quoted verses in the Bible and discover that "be still" means far more than simply slowing down.

Together, they explore the challenge of letting go of control, releasing anxiety, and trusting God when life feels uncertain. From unanswered questions and overwhelming seasons to the temptation to rely on our own plans, this conversation dives into the reality that control often feels safer than surrender.

Ash and Lydia share honestly about being self-reliant, struggling with anxiety, and wrestling with the desire to have everything figured out. They discuss why trusting God isn't about understanding every detail, but believing that He is good even when circumstances don't make sense.

This episode is a powerful reminder that peace isn't found in controlling every outcome. It's found in knowing the One who holds every outcome in His hands.

If you've been feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, anxious, or stuck trying to manage every part of your life, this conversation will encourage you to release what was never yours to carry and trust the God who never loses control.

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Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence."
Jeremiah 17:7

Do you trust God... or do you just have a backup plan in case your own plan doesn't work?

In today's episode of Everyday Joy, Ash and Lydia have an honest conversation about self-reliance, control, anxiety, and what it really means to trust God.

Together, they unpack Jeremiah 17:7 and wrestle with a challenging question: if God can't get it wrong, why do we spend so much of our lives relying on ourselves instead of Him?

Ash and Lydia share openly about their own struggles with anxiety, independence, and the temptation to make God their "Plan B." They explore the tension between wanting control over our lives and surrendering to a God whose plans are often bigger than anything we could imagine for ourselves.

This conversation also dives into unanswered prayers, waiting seasons, disappointment, and the reality that trusting God doesn't remove hardship. What it does provide is something far greater: a source of hope, peace, strength, and joy that circumstances can't take away.

If you've been carrying anxiety, struggling to trust God's timing, or trying to control every outcome in your life, this episode is a powerful reminder that the safest place to be is rooted in the One who sees the whole picture.

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"Train up a child in the way they should go; even when they are old they will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22:6

What do children remember most about faith?

Is it the Bible stories? The church services? The family devotions?

In today's episode of Everyday Joy, Ash and Lydia reflect on the incredible influence faithful parents can have on a child's life and why Proverbs 22:6 is about so much more than teaching children what to believe.

Together, they share stories from their own childhoods, growing up in Christian homes, watching their parents pray, pursue God, and remain faithful through life's hardest seasons. From early morning Bible reading at the kitchen table to seeing parents trust God through disappointment, illness, and unanswered prayers, they discuss how faith is often caught before it's taught.

Lydia shares how watching her mother's unwavering trust in God shaped her own faith journey, while Ash reflects on the profound impact of seeing her parents remain faithful to Jesus despite decades of challenges and hardship.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that people may forget what you say, but they'll remember what you model. Whether you're a parent, mentor, leader, or simply someone influencing the next generation, your faithfulness could be shaping a future you may never fully see.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers."
Galatians 6:10

What if the thing weighing you down isn't what someone did to you... but your decision to hold onto it?

In today's episode of Everyday Joy, Ash and Lydia unpack Galatians 6 and explore one of the most challenging parts of following Jesus: choosing forgiveness over offence.

Together, they discuss personal responsibility, giving people the benefit of the doubt, and why it's often easier to take offence than it is to extend grace. In a world that encourages division, outrage, and keeping score, Jesus calls us to something radically different.

Ash and Lydia explore what it means to be "unoffendable," not by pretending hurt doesn't exist, but by refusing to let disappointment, frustration, and disagreement take root in our hearts. They discuss difficult conversations, church hurt, family relationships, and the importance of treating people with kindness even when we don't see eye to eye.

Because forgiveness isn't saying what happened was okay. It's choosing not to carry the burden any longer.

If you've been struggling with disappointment, conflict, church hurt, or learning how to extend grace to difficult people, this conversation will encourage and challenge you to respond more like Jesus.

Get Connected:

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
1 Samuel 16:7

Whose opinion has the loudest voice in your life?

In today's episode of Everyday Joy, Ash is joined by Christian artist Sean Rodriguez to unpack the powerful truth found in 1 Samuel 16:7. While people tend to judge by appearances, achievements, popularity, and perceptions, God looks much deeper. He looks at the heart.

Together, they explore the story of David, the unlikely king, and discuss how easy it is to become consumed by the opinions of others or even our own harsh self-criticism. From social media comments to self-doubt and insecurity, Sean shares how the loudest voice isn't always the criticism around us. Sometimes it's the criticism within us.

Sean also opens up about transitioning from rap into singing, battling insecurity, and learning to trust God's calling even when he didn't feel qualified. It's an honest conversation about confidence, identity, and what happens when we stop letting other people define our worth.

If you've ever struggled with comparison, criticism, self-doubt, or feeling like you're not enough, this episode is a powerful reminder that God sees something far more important than outward appearances. He sees your heart.

Get Connected:

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth."
1 Corinthians 13:6

What if the hardest thing you've been through isn't meant to define you?

In today's episode of Everyday Joy, Ash is joined by Christian artist Sean Rodriguez for a powerful conversation about identity, healing, and learning to see ourselves through God's truth rather than our pain.

Together, they unpack 1 Corinthians 13:6 and discuss our tendency to dwell on negative experiences, disappointments, anxiety, failures, and the moments that have hurt us most. While those experiences are real, Sean shares a life-changing revelation he learned through his own struggles:

The bad things that happen to us don't make us special. What makes us special is what God does through us in spite of them.

From anxiety and self-doubt to disappointment and difficult seasons, Ash and Sean explore what it means to process our feelings without allowing them to become our identity. They discuss the freedom that comes when we stop defining ourselves by our wounds and start defining ourselves by God's truth.

If you've ever felt stuck in your past, overwhelmed by your circumstances, or tempted to let your struggles become your identity, this conversation will remind you that your story isn't over and that God can bring beauty from even the hardest chapters.

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"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."
1 John 3:18

Is your love something people hear about... or something they actually experience?

In today's episode of Everyday Joy, Ash is joined by Christian artist Sean Rodriguez to unpack the challenge found in 1 John 3:18: true love isn't just something we talk about. It's something we do.

Together, they explore the gap between good intentions and meaningful action, and why Christianity was never meant to be a faith of words alone. From serving others and supporting our communities to showing up when it's inconvenient, this conversation challenges us to put action behind the things we say we believe.

Sean shares stories from his years in family ministry, the impact of practical generosity, and why some of the most powerful demonstrations of God's love happen through simple acts of service. They also discuss the danger of assuming good intentions are enough and why people are often influenced more by what we do than by what we say.

Because at the end of the day, love isn't proven by promises. It's proven by action.

If you've ever wondered what it looks like to live out your faith in a practical way, this conversation is a powerful reminder that sometimes the most Christ-like thing we can do is simply show up and help.

Get Connected:

1. Follow Ash & Everyday Joy on Instagram!

2. Subscribe to Everyday Joy Podcast: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

3. Join the conversation on Facebook: Everyday Joy Community

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.