Hey friend,

This conversation with Raleigh Sadler felt like a gentle invitation to breathe deeper, look around, and return to what matters most.

Raleigh is the founder and executive director of Let My People Go, a ministry that equips churches to serve those who are vulnerable to exploitation. In this episode, he shares so beautifully about the difference between happiness and joy, how slowing down has helped him grow in creativity and connection, and why vulnerability is essential for meaningful relationships. We also talk about his experiences with pilgrimage, and how being present in our bodies and stories is one way we reflect God's love to the world.

This episode reminded me that sometimes the deepest joy is found not in fixing everything, but in being with, with God, with others, and with ourselves.

Here are two takeaways I hope you hold onto:

✨ Joy is rooted in identity, not circumstance. It’s less about what’s happening around you and more about who you’re becoming as you return to Jesus.

✨ Vulnerability invites connection. When we slow down long enough to be honest with ourselves and others, we create space for real community to grow.

Raleigh’s gentle wisdom and deep compassion make this episode one to revisit whenever life feels rushed or disconnected. I hope it meets you right where you are.

Truly Yours,

Jen

Raleigh Sadler contact information:

Website: https://www.lmpg.org/

Podcast: https://www.mercycast.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mercycastpod/

Jen Thompson contact information:

www.trulyyoursjen.com

www.jenthompsonauthor.com

email - jen@trulyyoursjen.com

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @trulyyoursjen!

Grab your copy of Return to Jesus! https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/747877/return-to-jesus-by-jen-thompson/

Hey friend,

You’re in for such a rich conversation this week. I sat down with Lauren Fernandez — author, mother of five, and a woman who knows what it means to hold both joy and pain in the same breath.

Lauren shares so openly about her journey of faith, what it looks like to keep showing up in dry seasons, and how joy isn’t about everything being perfect. It’s about trusting that God is still working, even when things feel messy or mundane. Together we talked about the power of remembering God's promises, the importance of sharing our stories honestly, and how we can each find purpose right where we are — dishes in the sink and all.

Here are two takeaways I hope stick with you:

✨ Joy isn’t the absence of pain. It’s rooted in hope — and you can hold both joy and grief at the same time.

✨ Your ordinary matters. God meets you in the carpool line, the quiet morning moments, and even in the overwhelm. None of it is wasted.

This conversation felt like a deep breath and a gentle reminder that faith isn’t always loud — sometimes it’s just the quiet decision to keep showing up.

Truly Yours,

Jen

Hey friend,

This episode is a little different, it’s just me, and I’m inviting you into something personal.

As the holiday season unfolds, I wanted to pause and reflect with you. No guests, no plans, just an honest conversation from my heart. This year has brought some unexpected challenges, the heartbreaking loss of my mother-in-law, some health scares, and the kind of moments that remind you how much we need rest, community, and the peace only Jesus can give.

If the holidays feel a little heavy for you too, if the joy is mixed with grief, or the traditions feel like pressure instead of comfort, I want you to know you’re not alone. In this episode, I share what I’m learning about accepting help, letting go of the stress I usually carry, and finding the sacred in the simple.

Here are two things I hope you’ll carry with you:

You don’t have to do it all. Let the simplicity of Christ’s birth remind you that peace often comes when we release expectations and return to what truly matters.

It’s okay to need help. Community is a gift, and learning to receive is just as holy as learning to give.

I close this episode with a prayer for peace and acceptance, for you, for me, and for all of us navigating the holidays with tender hearts.

Let’s keep returning to Jesus, together.

Truly Yours,

Jen

Grab your copy of Return to Jesus HERE - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/747877/return-to-jesus-by-jen-thompson/

Grab your copy of Grace in All Places HERE -

https://amzn.to/48n3Bli

Jen Thompson contact information:

www.trulyyoursjen.com

www.jenthompsonauthor.com

email - jen@trulyyoursjen.com

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!