In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with my friend Sara for an honest and deeply meaningful conversation about addiction, identity, and the sanctification process.

Sara shares how her struggle with addiction didn’t begin with drugs or alcohol, but much earlier, through relationships, validation, and looking for worth in the wrong places. Over time, those patterns led her into substance abuse, brokenness, and a life that felt far from who she was created to be.

What makes Sara’s story so powerful is not just where she’s been, but how clearly she sees God’s hand through it all. We talk about how God doesn’t wait for us to clean ourselves up before He steps in. He meets us exactly where we are, in the middle of the mess, the addiction, the confusion, and the shame.

This episode is a real conversation about sanctification. Not the polished version we sometimes hear about, but the slow, daily work of God transforming a heart over time. We talk about grace, accountability, healing, and what it looks like to walk forward even when the past feels heavy.

If you’ve ever struggled with addiction, unhealthy patterns, or believing that your story somehow disqualifies you from God’s love, I hope this conversation reminds you that nothing is wasted. God is patient. God is present. And God is faithful to finish the work He starts.

I’m so grateful Sara trusted us with her story, and I believe her honesty will encourage anyone who feels stuck, ashamed, or unsure of their next step.

Thank you for being here and for listening. My prayer is that this episode helps you see yourself the way God sees you, fully known, fully loved, and never beyond His reach.

Welcome back to Thrive Through the Fire. In today’s episode, I’m talking about a phrase that can sound harsh at first but has actually become one of the most freeing mindset shifts in my life. This episode is called Nobody Cares.

I share why this conversation was inspired by something my grandma used to say and how, as an adult, I’ve come to understand the wisdom behind it. We talk honestly about the feeling of being overwhelmed, unseen, or forgotten and how quickly that feeling can turn into isolation, resentment, or silence if we aren’t careful.

I unpack what people usually mean when they say nobody cares and why it’s often not that people don’t care, but that they are human, limited, tired, distracted, and carrying their own burdens. I share stories from my own life and reflect on how unrealistic expectations of others can leave us disappointed, even when those people love us.

This episode also looks closely at what the Bible says about being seen, known, and cared for. I talk about how scripture reminds us that while people are limited, God is not. We explore passages that speak to casting our cares on the Lord, understanding weakness as a place where God’s strength shows up, and why God is the only one capable of sustaining us fully.

I also open up about sharing pain, especially on social media, and why vulnerability must be paired with wisdom and boundaries. I explain how I decide what to share, what I keep private, and why sharing from a place of healing is very different from sharing from a place of wounding.

Finally, I offer practical steps for what to do when it feels like nobody cares. I talk about naming your feelings honestly, choosing safe people, lowering expectations without lowering boundaries, bringing your complaints to God first, and becoming the kind of presence you wish you had. We close with encouragement and a reminder that your worth is not measured by how many people show up perfectly, but by the faithfulness of a God who never leaves.

If you’ve been feeling overlooked, emotionally exhausted, or like you’re carrying too much alone, this episode is for you.

As we step into a new year, there is so much conversation around fresh starts, clean slates, resolutions, and becoming a new version of ourselves. In this episode, I talk honestly about why that idea can feel both hopeful and heavy at the same time. While the new year promises possibility, it often brings pressure, comparison, and unrealistic expectations that leave many of us discouraged before we even begin.

I also share a little about why I took a break from recording over the holidays and why rest and resetting are sometimes necessary, especially in full and demanding seasons of life. Pausing does not mean quitting or falling behind. Sometimes it is exactly what we need to move forward in a healthier way.

In this episode, I unpack why we are drawn to the idea of starting fresh, why starting over is not always the answer, and how chasing reinvention can sometimes cause us to miss refinement. I explore what Scripture actually says about new beginnings, reminding us that God offers renewal daily, not just once a year. His mercies are new every morning, not just every January.

We talk about the difference between resolutions and spiritual growth, and why self fixing often leads to burnout while God following leads to transformation. I reflect on how Jesus calls us into relationship rather than perfection and how real change happens through abiding, not striving.

I also share practical and realistic ways to approach the new year with intention and grace. This includes taking inventory instead of making endless lists, choosing rhythms over resolutions, setting intentions that align with who you are becoming, and remembering that growth is often quiet and unseen.

If you are entering this year feeling weary, behind, or disappointed with how the last season went, this episode is for you. Starting fresh does not mean starting over. Sometimes it simply means continuing forward with more wisdom, humility, and trust than before.

My prayer is that as we move into this new year, you would feel less pressure and more peace, less striving and more clarity, and a deeper awareness that God is walking with you right where you are.

Thank you for being here and for stepping into another season with me.