Latest / The Living Freed Podcast / Soft Girl Era
Transcript
- WEBVTT 00:00:20.250 --> 00:00:25.070 Hello, hello, hello and happy Thursday. I hope 00:00:25.070 --> 00:00:28.129 that y 'all are doing great because per the use 00:00:28.129 --> 00:00:34.649 I am I actually am now on week 2 of my job. That's 00:00:34.649 --> 00:00:38.289 right, I completed a whole week at my job. And 00:00:38.289 --> 00:00:40.570 let me just tell you, even though it's a huge 00:00:40.570 --> 00:00:45.689 salon, so far I love everyone. Well, yeah, so 00:00:45.689 --> 00:00:49.229 far. I will say, I did experience some pretty 00:00:49.229 --> 00:00:52.250 angry people. In fact, I've actually never seen 00:00:52.250 --> 00:00:55.450 someone quite as angry. There's this one lady 00:00:55.450 --> 00:00:59.070 who genuinely got so upset about her apple juice, 00:00:59.289 --> 00:01:01.390 y 'all. I guess someone drank it or took it or 00:01:01.390 --> 00:01:04.569 whatever. And when I tell you the anger that 00:01:04.569 --> 00:01:07.969 radiated off of this woman was insane. And now 00:01:07.969 --> 00:01:09.989 I might have already talked about this last week, 00:01:10.010 --> 00:01:13.069 but that's how much it's sticking with me to 00:01:13.069 --> 00:01:15.930 have seen that and experienced it was like just 00:01:15.930 --> 00:01:19.909 next level. It really was. I just can't get over 00:01:19.909 --> 00:01:25.189 it. And then Friday, a totally different person 00:01:25.189 --> 00:01:28.049 got super mean and angry to one of the assistants 00:01:28.049 --> 00:01:30.909 and just said some really hateful stuff and at 00:01:30.909 --> 00:01:32.829 first we thought she was joking turns out she 00:01:32.829 --> 00:01:37.310 wasn't um and management got called in and the 00:01:37.310 --> 00:01:40.969 owners got called in and then the girl quit like 00:01:40.969 --> 00:01:43.849 Sunday or Monday I don't even know what it wasn't 00:01:43.849 --> 00:01:46.450 my drama not my problem so I haven't been paying 00:01:46.450 --> 00:01:48.959 that much attention if I'm honest It was just 00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:51.799 kind of crazy to watch happen and experience. 00:01:52.079 --> 00:01:53.780 And you know when you want to stand up for someone, 00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:57.700 but you're like new to the atmosphere. You're 00:01:57.700 --> 00:01:59.680 new to the job. You're new to work. You're like 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:01.959 new to the vibes. You don't really know the pecking 00:02:01.959 --> 00:02:04.519 order. You don't really know how they joke there 00:02:04.519 --> 00:02:06.739 because you're just figuring it out. You're brand 00:02:06.739 --> 00:02:08.860 new. Once again, that's kind of how it felt. 00:02:08.919 --> 00:02:10.560 And I don't want to like step on someone's toes 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:12.699 and then be like, you're creating unnecessary 00:02:12.699 --> 00:02:15.479 drama. It was just a joke. So I stayed out of 00:02:15.479 --> 00:02:19.080 it. But next time if something like that happens 00:02:19.080 --> 00:02:22.039 again, I don't think I will because Like I don't 00:02:22.039 --> 00:02:23.840 think I will stay out of it because I was kind 00:02:23.840 --> 00:02:26.419 of crazy how that lady talked to the assistant 00:02:26.419 --> 00:02:29.139 How that person talked to the assistant? I don't 00:02:29.139 --> 00:02:32.780 even know If they were a lady or if they're like 00:02:32.780 --> 00:02:35.539 a they them I I didn't ever get to talk to them 00:02:35.539 --> 00:02:38.180 Really? They did come up to me on Friday before 00:02:38.180 --> 00:02:39.960 all this and they came straight up to me. They 00:02:39.960 --> 00:02:42.060 said who are you? What's your name? I said, I'm 00:02:42.060 --> 00:02:45.610 Hannah Liz and they said, okay They didn't really 00:02:45.610 --> 00:02:47.310 say it that nicely though. And then they walked 00:02:47.310 --> 00:02:49.789 away without introducing themselves, so I don't 00:02:49.789 --> 00:02:54.129 even know their name. But yeah, that was all 00:02:54.129 --> 00:02:58.069 within the first week of my new job. But it was 00:02:58.069 --> 00:03:00.469 fun. I had some good clients, met some cool people, 00:03:00.669 --> 00:03:04.050 made some money because the Lord provides. And 00:03:04.050 --> 00:03:09.490 then Saturday, we went out to Mark's to celebrate 00:03:09.490 --> 00:03:12.949 my first full week. at the job. So I got a spicy 00:03:12.949 --> 00:03:15.550 mark and then I got like a fruit punch mark which 00:03:15.550 --> 00:03:18.610 I've learned I really only like the spicy marks 00:03:18.610 --> 00:03:22.870 from Satellite in Wilmington. So shout out Satellite 00:03:22.870 --> 00:03:26.009 in Wilmington. Your skinny spicy mark. It's a 00:03:26.009 --> 00:03:28.189 die for. Don't really like it anywhere else apparently. 00:03:29.189 --> 00:03:33.210 Yeah, but it was still fine. It was good. I just 00:03:33.210 --> 00:03:35.389 wouldn't drink it again unless I'm at Satellite. 00:03:35.610 --> 00:03:40.180 You know? Anyways, um also what we did was Friday 00:03:40.180 --> 00:03:42.900 night we had worship and serena was on the worship 00:03:42.900 --> 00:03:46.400 team. So I got to Be their second row not first 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:50.500 row And watch her lead worship and it was so 00:03:50.500 --> 00:03:53.819 fun and I loved it Um, and I just love a worship 00:03:53.819 --> 00:03:57.759 night. I really do. It's so good And then Sunday 00:03:57.759 --> 00:04:00.360 she led worship at church then too and that was 00:04:00.360 --> 00:04:04.379 so fun I don't know, I just love it when my people 00:04:04.379 --> 00:04:06.400 do the things that they're passionate about. 00:04:07.099 --> 00:04:09.099 So yeah, and then I made pasta sundae because 00:04:09.099 --> 00:04:11.240 if you follow me on Instagram, you see that I 00:04:11.240 --> 00:04:14.479 posted that pasta sundaes are back. And I made 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:16.879 homemade pasta while I facetimed with a friend. 00:04:18.259 --> 00:04:21.259 And now it's sitting in the fridge. So if anybody 00:04:21.259 --> 00:04:24.180 wants pasta, hit me up. I got a bunch. I'm happy 00:04:24.180 --> 00:04:27.800 to share. And that is that. That was it. That 00:04:27.800 --> 00:04:30.730 was my whole week in a nutshell. I went to the 00:04:30.730 --> 00:04:33.589 beach, of course, but we've been getting a lot 00:04:33.589 --> 00:04:36.470 of afternoon thunderstorms and I'm not gonna 00:04:36.470 --> 00:04:39.350 lie, they're kind of great. Except for as we 00:04:39.350 --> 00:04:41.689 dive into what's in and what's out, it's not 00:04:41.689 --> 00:04:44.550 great for when I'm outside walking because what 00:04:44.550 --> 00:04:49.069 is in right now is outdoor walks. I would not 00:04:49.069 --> 00:04:51.629 be upset about the rain raining on me while we 00:04:51.629 --> 00:04:55.170 walk, while I walk, but thunder and lightning, 00:04:55.430 --> 00:04:57.689 no thank you. You genuinely think the Lord's 00:04:57.689 --> 00:05:01.100 coming back. With how bad this thunder is, you 00:05:01.100 --> 00:05:04.040 do. You would be like, the Lord is on his way. 00:05:04.759 --> 00:05:06.579 And if he's not on his way, he's on his way to 00:05:06.579 --> 00:05:08.819 take me to him because I know that lightning 00:05:08.819 --> 00:05:11.459 is coming for me. I just know it is, you know? 00:05:12.079 --> 00:05:14.620 It's serious. That thunder and lightning, crazy. 00:05:14.800 --> 00:05:16.560 It's like a mini hurricane. It's just happening 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:18.339 in the split of like 20 minutes and then it's 00:05:18.339 --> 00:05:21.560 gone right back out the door on its way to who 00:05:21.560 --> 00:05:23.459 knows where, probably the ocean, if I had to 00:05:23.459 --> 00:05:27.939 guess. Okay, what is out? Wow, this is a quick 00:05:27.939 --> 00:05:31.019 intro by the way What is out is gonna be spending 00:05:31.019 --> 00:05:34.579 money? Y 'all your girl is broke as a joke starting 00:05:34.579 --> 00:05:38.259 this new job after moving anyone who moves Who 00:05:38.259 --> 00:05:40.680 is in my like line of work or similar lines of 00:05:40.680 --> 00:05:43.759 work? You probably get it It's not guaranteed 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:45.079 money right away. It's not like you're moving 00:05:45.079 --> 00:05:48.579 for a job So you end up broke as a joke for like 00:05:48.579 --> 00:05:51.399 a few months and that is me. The girl is broke 00:05:51.399 --> 00:05:53.240 So we are not spending money. I have bought the 00:05:53.240 --> 00:05:57.740 necessities That is it. Nothing else. We're sticking 00:05:57.740 --> 00:06:01.980 with the necessities. Anyways, now that you're 00:06:01.980 --> 00:06:05.660 all caught up, let's dive into this week's episode. 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:10.639 At the beginning of season 2, I told y 'all I 00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:14.360 am stepping into my soft girl era. This has also 00:06:14.360 --> 00:06:17.959 been seen as a very popular trend in the Christian 00:06:17.959 --> 00:06:21.300 girl sphere. You might have even been wondering 00:06:21.300 --> 00:06:24.860 what is it and how do you enter into it quote 00:06:24.860 --> 00:06:28.500 -unquote? First there's so many trends on social 00:06:28.500 --> 00:06:31.199 media So if you aren't on social media, then 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:33.459 you probably have no idea what I'm even talking 00:06:33.459 --> 00:06:37.240 about if I'm gonna be honest We obviously have 00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:40.339 the soft girl era trend that I just talked about 00:06:40.339 --> 00:06:43.759 We have that it's chic trend, which I personally 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:47.740 think is really cute Tradwives are trending especially 00:06:47.740 --> 00:06:50.560 for Christians right now and we have the he's 00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:54.060 such a girl dad trend in reference to God which 00:06:54.060 --> 00:06:59.259 I'm not saying he's not But it's definitely a 00:06:59.259 --> 00:07:03.220 trend. That's for sure Now some people who know 00:07:03.220 --> 00:07:06.240 me you might be thinking hasn't she been in a 00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:09.079 soft girl season? Others might be thinking the 00:07:09.079 --> 00:07:12.319 exact opposite But I'm here to set the record 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:15.079 straight on what a soft girl era is and if it's 00:07:15.079 --> 00:07:18.259 biblical, or are we just overthinking it like 00:07:18.259 --> 00:07:22.439 we love to do? So, what does it mean to be in 00:07:22.439 --> 00:07:25.439 your soft girl era as a Christian and is it different 00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:29.399 for non -Christians? I think in the year 2026, 00:07:29.560 --> 00:07:32.220 it is so easy to get caught up in life. Whether 00:07:32.220 --> 00:07:34.379 it's grabbing dinner with friends, going out, 00:07:34.439 --> 00:07:36.959 joining a run club, hosting Bible study, working 00:07:36.959 --> 00:07:40.779 out, book club, the gym, Pilates, work, meeting 00:07:40.779 --> 00:07:44.339 friends for coffee, church, brunch, travel, picking 00:07:44.339 --> 00:07:46.800 up a new hobby, or honestly, if you're like me, 00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:49.120 you somehow do all of that in just one week. 00:07:49.319 --> 00:07:53.250 It becomes exhausting to do all of that. Forget 00:07:53.250 --> 00:07:55.730 it if I bought a new piece of furniture off a 00:07:55.730 --> 00:07:58.250 wayfair that I now have to put together. Just 00:07:58.250 --> 00:08:01.250 go ahead and add that one to the list. And it's 00:08:01.250 --> 00:08:03.810 not that I don't love putting together furniture. 00:08:03.990 --> 00:08:08.250 I do. Trust me. I really do. In fact, I've helped 00:08:08.250 --> 00:08:10.810 my guy friends put together furniture when they've 00:08:10.810 --> 00:08:13.610 moved because that's how deep I was in my boss 00:08:13.610 --> 00:08:17.579 girl era. One time my dad called me. to invite 00:08:17.579 --> 00:08:20.459 me to dinner in last minute because that's just 00:08:20.459 --> 00:08:23.079 the type of planner he is, and I said I can't 00:08:23.079 --> 00:08:25.500 because I'm helping Harrison put his bed together. 00:08:25.660 --> 00:08:28.579 Well, I dramatically told Harrison and Corbin 00:08:28.579 --> 00:08:30.980 that they were doing it wrong because while they 00:08:30.980 --> 00:08:33.820 were, I'm sure that sounded so weird to my dad 00:08:33.820 --> 00:08:36.460 on the other side of the phone. Like, what does 00:08:36.460 --> 00:08:39.019 she mean she's helping two guys put together 00:08:39.019 --> 00:08:42.200 a bed? Being in a soft girl era means stepping 00:08:42.200 --> 00:08:45.240 away from constant pressure to hustle. overwork, 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:48.539 stay consistently tough. It means you're making 00:08:48.539 --> 00:08:52.820 the conscious decision and choice to put your 00:08:52.820 --> 00:08:56.139 peace first, rest, emotional well -being over 00:08:56.139 --> 00:09:00.039 stress and burnout. Now it's easy to pull back, 00:09:00.500 --> 00:09:03.100 chill out, and choose to not run at full speed 00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:05.519 the second your feet hit the ground in the morning. 00:09:05.700 --> 00:09:09.460 Well, no it's not, but it gets easier with each 00:09:09.460 --> 00:09:12.899 rising of the sun. Soft Girl Era is the mental 00:09:12.899 --> 00:09:17.120 work that refrains productivity as energy management 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:21.840 as a leadership strategy. It asks what do I actually 00:09:21.840 --> 00:09:25.159 have to be capable of right now? How do I work 00:09:25.159 --> 00:09:27.759 with my natural rhythm instead of against it? 00:09:28.620 --> 00:09:31.600 Now to me, what we just talked about is regular 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:34.340 -regular for Christian girls and non -Christians. 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:37.740 What does it look like as a Christian, though, 00:09:37.879 --> 00:09:42.120 is now our subject. It's back to the age -old 00:09:42.120 --> 00:09:45.659 saying, be in the world but not of it. If non 00:09:45.659 --> 00:09:47.940 -Christians are in their soft role era, what 00:09:47.940 --> 00:09:50.480 does it look like for Christians? How do we do 00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:53.700 it in a way that causes people to go, huh, there's 00:09:53.700 --> 00:09:55.580 something different about her, and I want it 00:09:55.580 --> 00:09:59.480 to reflect in my life just like that too. Let's 00:09:59.480 --> 00:10:02.940 break it down to four parts. Choosing peace over 00:10:02.940 --> 00:10:06.019 conflict, releasing burnout, gentleness has strength, 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:10.299 and a prayer -led life. Choosing peace over conflict 00:10:10.299 --> 00:10:13.960 is letting go of the urge to argue or fix every 00:10:13.960 --> 00:10:17.340 little thing. Choosing instead to hand our battles 00:10:17.340 --> 00:10:20.340 over to God. For me, it's not continuing the 00:10:20.340 --> 00:10:22.720 conversation with the super annoying know it 00:10:22.720 --> 00:10:25.379 all at the table and just letting it go and realizing 00:10:25.379 --> 00:10:28.340 I have actually not a single dog in this fight. 00:10:28.919 --> 00:10:31.360 Or it looks like the day I was walking down the 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:34.240 Walmart aisle four moving boxes and a couple 00:10:34.240 --> 00:10:37.230 hundred fell over into the ground. before I could 00:10:37.230 --> 00:10:40.049 even freaking touch them. And instead of being 00:10:40.049 --> 00:10:43.269 frustrated, I said, oh gosh, and started picking 00:10:43.269 --> 00:10:46.289 them up and actively choosing my energy and attitude 00:10:46.289 --> 00:10:48.610 in that moment. What I really wanted to say was, 00:10:48.990 --> 00:10:51.710 are you freaking kidding me? Today is not the 00:10:51.710 --> 00:10:55.009 day. What the heck? Stomp away and leave them 00:10:55.009 --> 00:10:58.970 there. Releasing burnout is just stepping away 00:10:58.970 --> 00:11:02.090 from exhausting cultural demands to constantly 00:11:02.090 --> 00:11:05.830 strive, produce, and overextend oneself. I saw 00:11:05.830 --> 00:11:08.049 this as stepping away from using social media 00:11:08.049 --> 00:11:11.470 so much. Showing up to every event because I 00:11:11.470 --> 00:11:14.070 had the fear that if I didn't, then I would be 00:11:14.070 --> 00:11:17.070 left out of the next one. Because 99 % of the 00:11:17.070 --> 00:11:20.370 time, that is actually not the case, believe 00:11:20.370 --> 00:11:23.649 it or not. For those who, interestingly, sign 00:11:23.649 --> 00:11:26.190 up for every event that we get asked to go to, 00:11:26.710 --> 00:11:29.950 if you say no, the chances are you will be invited 00:11:29.950 --> 00:11:33.450 to the next one. It seems unlikely to you, but 00:11:33.450 --> 00:11:36.360 I promise you, Typically, if it's good people, 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:38.220 they will invite you again. If they're not good 00:11:38.220 --> 00:11:40.059 people and they don't invite you again, those 00:11:40.059 --> 00:11:42.419 are not meant to be your friends. That's all 00:11:42.419 --> 00:11:46.860 I'm gonna say. Gentleness as strength is embracing 00:11:46.860 --> 00:11:51.539 a quiet, calm spirit, like Proverbs 31 or 1 Peter 00:11:51.539 --> 00:11:55.820 chapter 3 verse 4, while recognizing that true 00:11:55.820 --> 00:11:59.000 power comes from the Holy Spirit, not loud behavior. 00:11:59.639 --> 00:12:01.779 I personally didn't read this and think meek 00:12:01.779 --> 00:12:05.830 and quiet. I put it into practice of picking 00:12:05.830 --> 00:12:08.690 my battles instead of fighting every battle because 00:12:08.690 --> 00:12:11.029 the more I read proverbs, the more I realize 00:12:11.029 --> 00:12:14.370 a fool will fight every battle, and that I have 00:12:14.370 --> 00:12:18.230 nothing to prove. Not to the client in my chair, 00:12:18.450 --> 00:12:20.970 the guy at lunch who argues for fun, not the 00:12:20.970 --> 00:12:23.509 person slamming on their horn as soon as the 00:12:23.509 --> 00:12:26.649 light turns green. Sometimes I just keep my opinion 00:12:26.649 --> 00:12:29.509 to myself, even if it is correct, and trust me, 00:12:29.509 --> 00:12:32.570 most of the time. I believe it is. I sit back 00:12:32.570 --> 00:12:35.649 and listen. I slowly ease my foot off the brake 00:12:35.649 --> 00:12:38.809 and step on the gas to get the car going. I choose 00:12:38.809 --> 00:12:42.269 to allow my calmness to be my strength. There 00:12:42.269 --> 00:12:45.769 was definitely a time I spoke up when someone 00:12:45.769 --> 00:12:48.830 said something stupid or racist or mean. There 00:12:48.830 --> 00:12:51.629 was a time I would feel some type of way when 00:12:51.629 --> 00:12:54.389 a person behind me hit the horn as soon as the 00:12:54.389 --> 00:12:57.029 light turned green, but gentleness as strength 00:12:57.029 --> 00:13:00.049 is a quiet confidence, and I want to lead a life 00:13:00.049 --> 00:13:05.210 with a quiet confidence. Okay, lastly of part 00:13:05.210 --> 00:13:09.480 four. Prayer -led living is relying on prayer 00:13:09.480 --> 00:13:13.039 and the fruits of the spirit. Love, joy, peace, 00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:16.720 patience, etc. We have done that study. You can 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:18.980 hear that episode if you want to know what living 00:13:18.980 --> 00:13:22.220 with the fruits of the spirit look like. It's 00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:25.419 that rather than reacting out of anxiety or anger. 00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:27.899 Prayer just keeps coming up lately and I think 00:13:27.899 --> 00:13:31.279 it's because it is so important in today's culture. 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:34.779 and Christians just don't really pray a lot, 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:37.340 especially cultured Christians. They just don't 00:13:37.340 --> 00:13:40.340 really pray a lot. I've been doing a 40 day prayer 00:13:40.340 --> 00:13:43.559 challenge called Draw the Circle. It's like my 00:13:43.559 --> 00:13:46.480 fourth time doing it, I think. And let me tell 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:49.179 you, every time I do it, it just stirs something 00:13:49.179 --> 00:13:52.159 in me, y 'all. Like today was day four and it 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:54.419 was talking about praying away a problem versus 00:13:54.419 --> 00:13:57.480 praying through a problem. I just got to thinking 00:13:57.480 --> 00:14:00.679 how often do I pray that God just makes the problem 00:14:00.679 --> 00:14:03.379 go away versus asking him to walk with me through 00:14:03.379 --> 00:14:06.759 it. If it went away, yeah, sure, life would be 00:14:06.759 --> 00:14:09.940 easier. But what will I have learned? How will 00:14:09.940 --> 00:14:12.659 I continue to put my trust in His strength? What 00:14:12.659 --> 00:14:15.980 opportunities were likely taken away from me? 00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:19.340 that didn't allow me to grow. Something I think 00:14:19.340 --> 00:14:22.779 about is when being soft, is it how I'm processing 00:14:22.779 --> 00:14:25.860 my emotions? Am I allowing myself to be happy 00:14:25.860 --> 00:14:28.960 in the moment? Am I sitting in my sadness? When 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:32.179 I was go, go, going, I didn't have time to think 00:14:32.179 --> 00:14:34.659 about how I was feeling and processing it. I 00:14:34.659 --> 00:14:37.759 had too much to do. Something I often ignored 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:42.179 and I think most Christians do right now is sadness. 00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:46.340 We feel so compelled to sit in the joy or talk 00:14:46.340 --> 00:14:49.519 about how good God is because he is, that we 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:53.059 ignore what we're feeling which is true sadness. 00:14:53.860 --> 00:14:57.879 In fact, a website slash blog post called Grace 00:14:57.879 --> 00:15:00.919 To Be Imperfect says about embracing sadness, 00:15:01.500 --> 00:15:04.200 I think that many Christians feel a need to be 00:15:04.200 --> 00:15:06.980 joyful all the time and feel guilty for experiencing 00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:10.519 sadness and discouragement. However, as I read 00:15:10.519 --> 00:15:13.059 the Bible, I am struck by godly men and women 00:15:13.059 --> 00:15:15.320 who embrace their honest feelings before God. 00:15:15.549 --> 00:15:18.129 Hannah cried out in the temple because she was 00:15:18.129 --> 00:15:21.090 barren and without a son. Elijah expressed his 00:15:21.090 --> 00:15:23.669 despair to God as he was running from Ahab and 00:15:23.669 --> 00:15:26.470 Jezebel. Job grieved and mourned his losses. 00:15:26.970 --> 00:15:29.009 Even Jesus cried over the death of his friend 00:15:29.009 --> 00:15:31.909 Lazarus in the Garden of Gethsemane. There is 00:15:31.909 --> 00:15:34.490 a reason God has given us tears. Sometimes what 00:15:34.490 --> 00:15:36.870 we really need is a good cry. Ain't that the 00:15:36.870 --> 00:15:39.570 truth? And I know from personal experience that 00:15:39.570 --> 00:15:42.269 softening of fact that tears can have on our 00:15:42.269 --> 00:15:46.220 hearts. Y 'all, I have been so blessed, by the 00:15:46.220 --> 00:15:48.159 way, to have certain friends that allow me to 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:52.039 cry at their kitchen table after a horrific date, 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:54.960 that send groceries to my house after I've spent 00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:57.419 days at the hospital with a family member, who 00:15:57.419 --> 00:15:59.879 send videos of them crying to help normalize 00:15:59.879 --> 00:16:04.059 it to me. Your friendships can have an impact 00:16:04.059 --> 00:16:06.500 and I would say mine have allowed me to become 00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:11.049 more soft and be safe in it. So, If you don't 00:16:11.049 --> 00:16:13.470 feel safe with your emotions, it will definitely 00:16:13.470 --> 00:16:15.690 make it harder for you to enter your soft girl 00:16:15.690 --> 00:16:19.669 era. Another thing that can keep us from being 00:16:19.669 --> 00:16:23.750 soft is our sin or a hard heart. And when my 00:16:23.750 --> 00:16:26.789 heart feels hard, sometimes the culprit is unconfessed 00:16:26.789 --> 00:16:30.909 sin, pride, or I need to forgive someone. Dang, 00:16:31.269 --> 00:16:33.649 can I just say forgiveness has now popped up 00:16:33.649 --> 00:16:37.509 for like 3 episodes in a row? I really probably 00:16:37.509 --> 00:16:40.190 should do an episode on forgiveness. But let's 00:16:40.190 --> 00:16:42.970 stay on subject. What does it mean to have a 00:16:42.970 --> 00:16:45.529 soft heart? Is it caring about other people? 00:16:45.789 --> 00:16:49.570 Feeling all the emotions? Being super emo? Not 00:16:49.570 --> 00:16:52.370 being so tight -lined about your boundaries? 00:16:52.850 --> 00:16:55.509 Well, per the usual, let's look at what the Bible 00:16:55.509 --> 00:17:02.690 has to say. Ezekiel 36, 26 says, and I will give 00:17:02.690 --> 00:17:05.369 you a new heart and a new spirit I will put within 00:17:05.369 --> 00:17:07.450 you and I will remove the heart of stone from 00:17:07.450 --> 00:17:10.410 your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." To 00:17:10.410 --> 00:17:12.450 me, this means that when you are a Christian, 00:17:12.750 --> 00:17:15.450 you already should have a new heart and a new 00:17:15.450 --> 00:17:17.809 spirit in you. That we shouldn't be hard of heart 00:17:17.809 --> 00:17:21.029 as followers of Jesus because we are filled with 00:17:21.029 --> 00:17:24.650 the Holy Spirit. Now, Proverbs 4 .23 says, keep 00:17:24.650 --> 00:17:27.230 your heart with all diligence. From it flows 00:17:27.230 --> 00:17:30.690 the spring of life. I want to say two things 00:17:30.690 --> 00:17:33.549 about this verse. One being that we have to be 00:17:33.549 --> 00:17:36.150 aware of our heart. Are we filled with anger 00:17:36.150 --> 00:17:38.549 towards someone? Are we filled with hope and 00:17:38.549 --> 00:17:41.309 joy? Are we intentional and aware of our heart 00:17:41.309 --> 00:17:45.470 posture? And two, can something grow from a hard 00:17:45.470 --> 00:17:50.059 ground? No, life grows from soft soil, not hard, 00:17:50.119 --> 00:17:52.259 neat -up bobcat to breakthrough type of soil. 00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:54.460 And for those who don't know what I'm talking 00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:57.319 about when I say bobcat, that reference to like 00:17:57.319 --> 00:17:59.359 a piece of machinery that we had on the farm 00:17:59.359 --> 00:18:02.960 growing up that can like help dig into clay and 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:06.819 move dirt around. I think my southern is definitely 00:18:06.819 --> 00:18:10.559 showing in the moment. Now, the Bible frequently 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:13.779 will contrast a soft heart with a hard heart. 00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:17.400 A soft heart is open and receptive to God's Word 00:18:17.400 --> 00:18:19.940 and guidance, while a hard heart is resistant 00:18:19.940 --> 00:18:23.480 and rebellious. Like we read in Ezekiel 36 -26, 00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:27.079 speaks of God's promise to His people a new heart. 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:29.380 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit 00:18:29.380 --> 00:18:31.359 within you. I will remove your heart of stone 00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:34.339 and give you a heart of flesh. Here, a heart 00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:37.099 of flesh symbolizes a soft, responsive heart 00:18:37.099 --> 00:18:40.180 that is sensitive to the Holy Spirit. not one 00:18:40.180 --> 00:18:43.380 that is shut down from people's emotions or from 00:18:43.380 --> 00:18:46.680 hearing feedback. Proverbs talks about the wellspring 00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:49.279 of life, reminds me of how we use our words. 00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:53.400 Words can bring life or speak death. Words are 00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:56.180 powerful. The Bible encourages believers to use 00:18:56.180 --> 00:18:59.019 soft, gracious words in their communication. 00:19:00.099 --> 00:19:03.299 Colossians 4 -6 advises, let your speech always 00:19:03.299 --> 00:19:05.740 be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you 00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:08.750 may know how to answer everyone. This reflects 00:19:08.750 --> 00:19:10.930 the importance of speaking with kindness and 00:19:10.930 --> 00:19:13.609 consideration, embodying the softness of Christ 00:19:13.609 --> 00:19:15.869 -like character in interactions with others. 00:19:16.390 --> 00:19:18.930 This doesn't mean giving up boundaries or standing 00:19:18.930 --> 00:19:21.869 up for yourself or someone else. It goes back 00:19:21.869 --> 00:19:25.049 to being aware of your heart, posture, and intention 00:19:25.049 --> 00:19:28.009 with how we speak. What's that saying? You get 00:19:28.009 --> 00:19:31.269 like more flies with honey or something like 00:19:31.269 --> 00:19:35.380 that? I don't know. I think it's catch. You catch 00:19:35.380 --> 00:19:38.920 more flies with honey, right? Y 'all let me know. 00:19:40.019 --> 00:19:45.259 So what is our soft girl era looking like? It's 00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:47.920 you and me choosing peace over conflict, not 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:50.680 worrying or running to the next thing at top 00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:53.940 speed, girl. It's us being aware of what could 00:19:53.940 --> 00:19:57.259 cause burnout and making different choices. It's 00:19:57.259 --> 00:20:00.150 accepting gentleness as strength. It's leaning 00:20:00.150 --> 00:20:03.029 into a prayer -filled lifestyle, whether that's 00:20:03.029 --> 00:20:05.990 just you talking to God every day, a prayer challenge 00:20:05.990 --> 00:20:08.569 like I'm doing right now, or just picking up 00:20:08.569 --> 00:20:11.509 a journal, or low -key, it could be all of those. 00:20:12.230 --> 00:20:14.890 Yeah, Joseph's War, I would say, is a really 00:20:14.890 --> 00:20:17.309 good start for understanding this part of my, 00:20:17.329 --> 00:20:22.920 yours, our, journey, I guess. Okay, let's pray 00:20:22.920 --> 00:20:26.000 dear Jesus Thank you for trends like this that 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:28.279 just bring us aware aware of the space that we're 00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:30.980 setting in whether you're in your boss girl era 00:20:30.980 --> 00:20:33.140 where you're getting things done and we're on 00:20:33.140 --> 00:20:36.279 the grind and We you know get to function like 00:20:36.279 --> 00:20:39.400 jail or she she put in the work. She did something 00:20:39.400 --> 00:20:42.980 rough and Judges and for those representations 00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:45.220 Thank you that we get to be soft that you give 00:20:45.220 --> 00:20:48.299 us guidance on what that looks like to be soft 00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:51.460 or what it looks like to work hard and be on 00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:54.700 the grind for you and with our lives. Thank you 00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:57.500 for creating a space where in this time, day, 00:20:57.539 --> 00:21:01.700 and age on the earth, we get to do this. We get 00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:04.660 to be aware of our words, be aware of our emotions, 00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:07.019 be aware of how hard we're running versus how 00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:10.789 soft and slow we're going, that we get to You 00:21:10.789 --> 00:21:13.650 know, just function through the world and society 00:21:13.650 --> 00:21:16.309 safely in this manner, where we get to just be 00:21:16.309 --> 00:21:18.789 soft and enjoying you and your presence. That 00:21:18.789 --> 00:21:22.210 we are so aware of where our heart stands and 00:21:22.210 --> 00:21:24.609 if there's forgiveness that we need to ask for 00:21:24.609 --> 00:21:28.509 or forgiveness we need to give. If there is a 00:21:28.509 --> 00:21:30.869 hardness about us that we need to question and 00:21:30.869 --> 00:21:33.289 invest and see what's going on inside of our 00:21:33.289 --> 00:21:35.710 heart with so that we can create spaces where 00:21:35.710 --> 00:21:38.769 things grow and bring honor and glory to you. 00:21:39.429 --> 00:21:42.410 I thank you for just the opportunities and the 00:21:42.410 --> 00:21:44.809 love that you show us through this and that we 00:21:44.809 --> 00:21:46.970 get to know you and rely on you in a different 00:21:46.970 --> 00:22:00.559 way. And in your name, Jesus' name, amen. Okay, 00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:02.880 well that is all I have for you today. Thank 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:04.900 you so much for listening to the Living Free 00:22:04.900 --> 00:22:08.180 Podcast. If you want to get connected, you can 00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:10.799 follow me on Instagram at HannahLizD and send 00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:14.440 me a DM, or you can email me at livingfreepod 00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:17.220 at gmail .com. If you're loving the podcast, 00:22:17.339 --> 00:22:19.599 I'd be so honored, y 'all, if you'd go ahead 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:21.920 and hit that subscribe button and leave me a 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:27.220 five star review. Anyways, that's all I have. 00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:30.279 Next week we will be doing the genealogy of Jesus 00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:32.920 once again, which I'm really excited for and 00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:34.920 then we're gonna take a two -week break as we 00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:39.180 prepare for The next big thing that's coming 00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:41.500 our way. So anyways, yeah, thank you so much 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:43.660 for listening. I hope you feel encouraged and 00:22:43.660 --> 00:22:46.279 lighter today y 'all. Bye