SEASON 4 • EPISODE 6 — WHEN WE FEEL BEHIND: TRUSTING GOD’S TIMING DURING THE HOLIDAYS

The holidays have a way of amplifying comparison, pressure, and the quiet fear that we are somehow falling behind. In this episode, Coach Gigi speaks directly to the sister who feels late, overlooked, or out of step with where she thought life would be by now. Through Scripture, lived experience, and mental health insight, this conversation reframes delay, disappointment, and perceived lack as places where God is still deeply at work.

Coach Gigi shares a personal story from her first Christmas in Paulding County during the pandemic, reflecting on how even joyful moments like decorating can subtly shift from delight to comparison when intentions change. This episode explores how easily we can drift into performing, proving, or competing, and how God gently invites us back to peace, presence, and purpose. Drawing from Ecclesiastes 3, Psalm 37, and other biblical truths, listeners are reminded that God is not rushed, delayed, or confused by our timeline.

This episode offers practical tools for recognizing when comparison is stealing joy, how to reset intentions, and how to choose contentment without shrinking hope. It affirms that healing is holy according to Exodus 15:26, and that God’s timing is not punishment, but protection. If the holidays stir feelings of inadequacy, restlessness, or grief over unmet expectations, this episode offers grounding, encouragement, and a reminder that you are not behind, you are becoming.

This episode is sponsored by FOCUS: Faith & Mental Health, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization where faith and mental health meet. Learn more, book coaching, partner with us, or support our mission at https://focusfaithmentalhealth.com/

We are deeply grateful to No Child Goes Hungry for their generous food donations supporting families in Paulding County, and to Publix for gift cards that helped support our holiday food basket initiatives. You can also support our outreach and community efforts through our Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3DUJNOXS1DPDA?ref_=wl_share

Coach Gigi’s newest book, Withholding Love: When Intimacy Becomes a Weapon, is now available in ebook and paperback. This faith-centered resource explores how intimacy can be withheld as control or punishment in relationships and offers biblical insight, psychological clarity, and practical solutions for healing and restoration.

Get the book here: https://a.co/d/8sD1MEq

Additional books by Coach Gigi include:

My Body Is God’s Gift https://a.co/d/iEwYbVx

Jesus, Lover of My Soul https://a.co/d/8NzA35Z

Beautifully Broken https://a.co/d/a4AViP5

Catch & Release: Seeds of Deception https://a.co/d/bBCiNIw

Children’s books:

Chef Gigi Serves Today https://a.co/d/7cprHL7

Gigi’s French Bakery https://a.co/d/5lUJ9Qy

If you are experiencing domestic violence or feel unsafe in your home or relationship, help is available. You can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), text START to 88788, or visit https://www.thehotline.org/

Background music: “Be Still and Know.” Written and composed by Geleta “Gigi” Parker. Arrangement and piano accompaniment by Debary Thompson