Mar 4, 2022
Today I get to share my conversation with Bethany Beal of Girl Defined Ministries. Bethany and her sister Kristen Clark have written a timely book called Not Part of the Plan: Trusting God with the Twists and Turns of Your Story where they both share their stories of learning to trust God and deepen their faith in Him as they experienced seasons of longing and waiting. Bethany shares from her journey of singleness and longing for marriage, and Kristen shares her journey of infertility, multiple miscarriages and ultimately pursuing adoption. In this conversation Bethany and I talk about more of their story, what led them to create Girl Defined ministries, and growing hearts that are for women to have a place to truly find their identity in Christ so that they could cling to the hope of Christ no matter what happens in their lives.
We also talk about what it looks like in seasons where you do receive answers to prayer, but then those answers aren’t what you thought they would be, how to steward those experiences, and just generally how do we live by faith and wrestle with God well, not perfectly, but with perseverance. The only thing constant this side of Heaven is Christ and as we begin this Lenten season, I felt so called to look at stories of people who have really grieved, and wrestled and continue to do so, as we wait and long for Christ’s coming at Easter and Him coming again to make all things new, and I think Bethany’s story and her infectious hope for the Gospel is a really beautiful place for us to start.
Additionally, they have a deep connection to what is going on in Ukraine and are walking out a deep season of grief and trusting God in a way they’ve never experienced before. On of their sisters and her husband live in Ukraine and are fleeing from the attacks happening there. They are sharing their story transparently on instagram in particular, specific ways to pray for their sister, her husband’s family, their friends. Additionally, Kristen Clark’s adopted children are Ukrainian, so there’s this whole other level of grief for their homeland and people they love still in crisis there. The boys and their cousins are actually trying to help raise money for their orphanage in Ukraine, so if you would like to support their efforts, I have included Kristen’s venmo and cashapp links over in the show notes, and in my stories as well. Be sure and follow them, check out ways you can support them, and then maybe check out the resources they present on their website, in their book, and other books they’ve written that are designed to help us stand firm in what God says is true when life is happening in a way you never saw coming. No matter what happens, next, friends. You matter, and your story matters. God is not finished with your story. He will carry it through to the day of completion.
Connecting with Bethany Beal and Girl Defined Ministries:
Today’s episode sponsor: Tony Crabtree Homes with Exit Realty
Home buyer guide: http://bit.ly/buyersguidecrabtreehomes
Seller guide: http://bit.ly/sellerguidecrabtreehomes
References:
Not Part of the Plan: Trusting God with the Twists and Turns of Your Story
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Besser van der Kolk
The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands by Lysa TerKeurst
Ukraine Support:
Follow Kristen Clark- the other half of GD and her boys from Ukraine- on instagram
Follow their sister Ellissa Petrenko on instagram for updates
Kristen’s Venmo: @KristenClark73
Kristen’s Cash App: KristenClark123
Proceeds from their shop are going 100% to Ukrainian support
Scripture References:
Genesis 3- Part of Eve’s curse from the garden
Proverbs 3:5-6- “Trust in the Lord with all your heart”
Proverbs 16:9- Man makes his plans, but the Lord determines His steps
Mark 10:35-45-Disciples arguing about who will sit next to you in Heaven?
Hebrews 11, 2 Corinthians 5:7-By faith, what can happen
John 10:10- Life abundant in Christ
Genesis 2:18, Romans 12:4–5, Colossians 3:13–14, Hebrews 12:1- We weren’t made to live alone/Surround yourself with other believers
Deuteronomy 31:6- God will never leave you or forsake you
Psalm 27:12-14- God is good even when things don’t feel good ( a picture of the psalmist- despairing, but my hope is with You)
2 Corinthians 5:17, Revelation 21:1-8- All things will be made new
Psalm 25:1-3 We have a hope that will not be put to shame
Psalm 73:26- My heart and my flesh may fail
Hebrews 10:23- Hold unswervingly to the hope we profess
1 Peter 5:7- God cares for you
Daniel 3:18- “And if He will not”
Jeremiah 29:11- I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord
Revelations 3:7-13, Revelation 21- Where we are now, is not all there is
Ephesians 3- God’s given us insight into the mystery of the Gospel
Philippians 3:14-We press on toward the goal that calls us Heavenward
Philippians 1:6- He will complete the work He began in you
Micah 6:8, Ephesians 4:1-6- Who does God call us to be
Matthew 28:16-20, Acts 1:1-11, Acts 2- The Good News that the church is founded on
John 15:1-17, 1 John 4:13- We allow Him to make His home in us
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*Intro and Outro music is from audionautix.com