Wonderfully Made

You have been made to play an irreplaceable role in God's great story that ends in victory. Our guest, Stasi Eldredge is an encourager of women and the author of many books including the bestseller "Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul." Stasi joins Allie Marie Smith to talk about the heart of a woman. Stasi uncovers our longing to be loved, to play an irreplaceable role in a great adventure, and to bring life and beauty to the world. As a woman, you have been created to bear the image of God in a unique way to a lost and hurting world. We are invited to live a life greater than ourselves and to be transformed by the redeeming love of Christ. As we surrender our hearts to Jesus, we discover the life we have been created for and are invited to play an unmatched role in an eternal story. This popular episode has been edited and re-released since we first aired it in May of 2021. For show notes and noteworthy links, visit wonderfullymade.org/podcast.

Dr. Alison Cook, a psychologist and writer, teaches women to live empowered and cultivate life-changing strategies to help them develop their voices, forge healthy relationships, and embrace the holy, sacred work of becoming their best and truest selves in God. Dr. Cook shares how developing a strong sense of self is paramount to living the life God has for us and offers wisdom for women who feel so stuck in an endless cycle of meeting everyone else's needs and expectations that they lose sight of their own. May our enlightening conversation with Dr. Alison Cook inspire you to stop playing small, break free from codependency and find the joy of true connection with yourself, God, and other people.   For show notes and noteworthy links, visit wonderfullymade.org/podcast.

Tori Hope Petersen has emerged victorious from the ashes of abuse, trauma, and the adversity she endured in the foster care system. Tori lived in twelve different homes before aging out of foster care at 18 without being adopted. She went on to be an All-American in track and field and is one of the 3% of foster youth to graduate from college. Today, she is a wife, mom, foster parent, foster care advocate, bestselling author, and non-profit founder and holds the title of Mrs. Universe 2021. She is passionate about foster care reform, adoption advocacy, vulnerable populations, and seeing the love of God change people's lives. May our conversation with Tori remind you that God can do immeasurably more than you can ask or imagine in your life, and through His power, you can overcome your greatest struggles and challenges. Get the show notes and links at wonderfullymade.org.

In a world being torn by political and cultural wars, economic fears, isolation, anxiety, and grief over loved ones lost, the emotions and experiences expressed in the Psalms are as real, essential—and necessary—as ever. Songs, poems, prayers, laments, pleadings, praises, and confessions . . . the Psalms are all these things and more. Countless people around the world turn to these ancient “songs” for hope and comfort in their times of personal suffering as they have for centuries past. Bestselling author Laura L. Smith shares how her own brokenness drove her to the Psalms and offers comfort and hope for those of us who are feeling broken and scared in today’s world. May our conversation with Laura inspire you to hide your tears in the pages of these ancient holy words, trusting that God is near to you and hears the cries of your heart.   Visit wonderfullymade.org for show notes and links.

Do you ever find yourself hustling for your worth or looking for it in all the wrong places? You are not alone. Too many girls and women are lost and wandering, endlessly seeking security and approval in places and things that never satisfy. Brittany Maher and Cassandra Speer, authors and leaders of the popular Her True Worth Community join Allie Marie Smith for a powerful conversation to help you discover, strengthen or reclaim your true identity and value. They share their own journeys of finding freedom from the exhausting search for human approval and share how they have found their security and significance through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Be encouraged and equipped to live with unshakable confidence in who God says you are and stop measuring your worth by the world’s metric system.   Visit the show notes at wonderfullymade.org for noteworthy links and more.

Many Christians question whether anxiety is a sin and wonder why it often persists despite prayer and faith. Today’s guest helps us understand anxiety as a natural, biological emotion that can help free us from shame and stigmas and help us move forward and receive help. Dr. Amanda Porter is an author, psychiatric nurse practitioner, and anxiety sufferer who has lived at the intersection of mental health and faith for many years. As one of the 40 million adults in the U.S. who struggle with anxiety, Dr. Porter shares a message of hope that feelings of anxiety can be managed through our thoughts, behaviors, and actions and with professional help when needed. If you have grown weary in your search for relief, may this conversation help you push forward, trust God, and find greater healing and freedom.   Visit the show notes at wonderfullymade.org for noteworthy links and more information.

Blair Linne , author, speaker, actress, and spoken word artist, shares her story of experiencing the pain of fatherlessness and offers an invitation to be loved by a Father who will never abandon us. Blair’s personal story of growing up without a father at home reflects the experiences of millions. She shares how the gospel reshaped her identity and transformed her life. Our conversation with Blair will help girls and women with father wounds shift their eyes from what they do not have in their earthly fathers (who, whether present or absent, loving or the opposite, can never be perfect) to what they do have in their eternal Father, who will never disappoint, reject, or abandon them. Be encouraged that no matter what your story is, the gospel promises not just forgiveness but also a place in God’s family, experienced in a local church, where you can enjoy the fullness of his fatherly joy, care, wisdom, provision, protection, and security.   Visit the show notes at wonderfullymade.org for noteworthy links and

Bailey T. Hurley, author of “Together Is A Beautiful Place” is everyone’s favorite community cheerleader. She encourages women to pursue a faithful relationship with God so they can build fruitful friendships in their corner of the world. Are you lonely? Do you struggle to find the real friends you long for? Be encouraged that it is possible to grow healthy friendships, starting now. Bailey helps us identify what makes a true friendship, tackles lies and false expectations about what it takes to build lasting friendship and offers wisdom and practical tips for healthy friendship rhythms. We hope this conversation gives you the inspiration to cultivate positive and life-giving friendships in your own life. Visit the show notes at wonderfullymade.org for noteworthy links and more information.

Anne Wilson, a 20-year-old popular singer/songwriter whose powerful song, “My Jesus,” reached number 1 on the Billboard charts joins us to share her journey of enduring and worshipping through grief after the loss of her 23-year-old brother at the age of 15. Losing friends and family members we love and care deeply about is an inescapable part of this life and can be earth-shattering. Anne shares how worship helped her to endure the loss of her brother and led to an unexpected music career. She offers encouragement and empathy for anyone walking through grief and missing their loved ones. Anne also reflects on the lies many young women believe and inspires girls and women to find their worth and identity in God alone. Her mountain-moving faith will inspire you to celebrate the joy found in a life with Jesus. May our conversation with Anne bring you hope and remind you that God is working all things together for your good. Visit the show notes at wonderfullymade.org for noteworthy links and more information.

Grace Valentine, popular twenty-something author and speaker, joins us for a conversation about courageously and boldly stepping into our God-given callings without seeking the approval of others. You will be reminded that women are celebrated and included in scripture, loved by God, and have unique and beautiful callings on their lives. Soak in life lessons and wisdom from women of the Bible like Deborah, Rahab, and Tabitha as you seek to live your life for God. Christie and Grace explore the bondage of people pleasing and share practically ways they rise above it. Let’s be women who unafraid and are passionately answering the call on our lives rather than trying to perform, impress, or win the approval of others.   To connect with Grace and get her book, please visit the show notes at wonderfullymade.org.

Joni Eareckson Tada’s life was forever changed in an instant at the age of seventeen. A reckless dive into shallow water broke her neck, rendering her young, athletic body a quadriplegic, wheelchair-bound for the rest of her life. But instead of wallowing in misery, Joni found God in her disappointment and has lived a life of faithful triumph over pain and suffering, pointing others to a God of hope and love, ever since. Over fifty years after her accident, Joni is still impacting the world in extraordinary ways through her speaking, writing and ministry Joni and Friends. She joins us to talk about how she finds strength and joy for each day, the hope of heaven and what it means to her to be fearfully and wonderfully made. Joni’s story will give you the faith and courage to overcome the unthinkable in your own life and inspire you to press on with joy and perseverance. To connect with Joni and get her book, please visit the show notes at wonderfullymade.org.

Elizabeth Woodson is a Bible teacher and the author of Embrace Your Life: How to Find Joy When the Life You Have Is Not the Life You Hoped For. Elizabeth knows what it like to have unfulfilled longings and unmet dreams. In this conversation, she helps us walk through our own areas of loss or disappointment, reminding us that it’s okay to grieve the life we hoped for and shares how the spiritual practice of lament can help us find healing. Elizabeth shares six stages that can help us make peace with our stories and move forward even when the future is uncertain. Friend, whatever you story is — be encouraged that God has not forgotten you. Have faith that you can find purpose and joy as you embrace the beautiful and unique life God has given you to live. Get the show notes and noteworthy links at wonderfullymade.org.  

Kechi Okwuchi is a Nigerian American recording artist, author, and motivational speaker. One of two survivors in the Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145 crash on December 10, 2005, that killed 100 people, she was a finalist on America's Got Talent in 2017 and has put out her own original music since her appearance on the hit TV show. As a burn survivor, one of the first things you will notice when you meet Kechi Okwuchi is her scars that cover her body, but Kechi has refused to be defined by them. Kechi shares her incredible journey with us — a story of not just surviving impossible odds but thriving in a world that is too often caught up with how we look on the outside rather than seeing that our true value is within. Kechi has spent the last 16 years refusing to be defined by her trauma. Kechi’s strong sense of identity, rooted in seeing herself the way God sees her, has allowed her to live authentically in a world that constantly seeks to define us by its ever-changing (and ever-shallow) standards. Kechi's story

Nicole Zasowski, author and marriage and family therapist challenges us to let go of the habit of practicing disappointment and fully embrace joy as we practice the spiritual discipline of celebration. Does the fear that disappointment or tragedy is ahead keep you from fully celebrating the gifts you have right now? This conversation will help you overcome the fears that keep you from looking toward the future with joy and let go of the lies you've believed about happiness. Learn to embrace celebration as a part of spiritual growth and approach life with an expectant heart and courage to trust God's good gifts. While it’s true that God's purpose for us is worked out in our struggles, may you also be encouraged that it is also worked out in our dreams and our delighted joy. Visit wonderfullymade.org for show notes and links.  

Rachel Cruze, financial expert and bestselling author, joins us to talk about Biblical principles for financial wisdom. Rachel shares truth and encouragement for the woman who has tied her worth to her financial status and shares the 7 Baby Steps to financial freedom. She reflects on how what we believe about money, ourselves and our world shapes our lives and tackles some of the limiting beliefs many women have around money. Be empowered to take control of your finances so you can become debt free and use money as a tool to be generous and live the kind of life you desire. Grab today's show notes here.  

Ruth Chou Simons, best-selling author, speaker, artist, and entrepreneur, joins us to talk about the life-transforming power of living in God’s grace. If you find yourself weary from the endless loop of performance and from constantly trying to improve yourself, let this be your invitation to stop striving and discover the freedom that comes from living fueled by grace rather than chasing after perfection. Ruth offers some practical tips for helping us discern when we are starting to cross the fine line of slipping into performance-oriented thinking and living, and how we can step out of the anxiety it creates and into the peace of knowing that we are seen, known and extravagantly loved by Christ. Ruth shares a powerful description of what Biblical grace actually looks like and how it is so much sweeter than anything we know. For more inspiration on your journey, check out Ruth’s latest book, When Strivings Cease: Replacing the Gospel of Self Improvement with the Gospel of Life-Transforming Grace. Grab our f

Morgan Harper Nichols, popular poet, artist and bestselling author joins us to talk about finding peace in an uncertain and chaotic world. If you feel overwhelmed with anxiety about the future, you're far from alone. May our conversation with Morgan inspire you to become a peacemaker in your own life. Morgan shares some of the practices she uses in her life to unearth peace and shares her life verse with us that has guided her through her creative journey as a prolific artist, musician and writer. Morgan has lived with undiagnosed autism for the majority of her life and reflects on how that experience, and eventual diagnosis, informed her understanding of peace and gave her more grace with herself. Morgan is a beautiful soul with so much wisdom to share. May this conversation encourage you to trade a distracted life for your actual life and pursue greater contentment and joy. Be encouraged by Morgan's art and poetry on Instagram and grab a copy of her new book "Peace is a Practice." Grab our free guide “5 Key

Happy Valentine's Day! Today's episode is a reading of the Father's Love Letter which is a compilation of Bible verses from both the Old and New Testament that are presented in the form of a love letter from God to you. If you've ever wondered what the Bible really says about God and His love for you, you will discover the answer here. Each line in the Father's Love Letter is paraphrased, which means every Scripture's overall message has been summarized as a single phrase to best express its meaning. We invite you to receive the gift of God’s love and to share this with your friends and loved ones. To learn more about the Father's Love Letter and to read or watch it, visit fathersloveletter.com. To learn more about our ministry visit our website at wonderfullymade.org and get a free guide titled “5 Keys to Walking In Your Worth” we wrote just for you. You are so loved.  

Sadie Robertson Huff, New York Times bestselling author and whole-hearted encourager joins us to talk about how to navigate social media with wisdom and live counter-culturally. In Sadie's brand new book "Who Are You Following: Pursuing Jesus in A Social Media Obsessed World" she draws on her own experience and addresses topics such as online comparison, being truly loved and so much more. We talk about some shocking statistics about our overuse of social media and how to live differently. Sadie shares about her experience using Snapchat and why she stopped using it and also shares some of her own social media boundaries that protect her peace of mind and joy. May this inspiring conversation with Sadie encourage you to trade a distracted life for your actual life and live with intentionality and purpose as you whole-heartedly pursue Jesus. Grab our free guide “5 Keys to Walking In Your Worth” and join our insider community. Watch our short film about social media, "Made for More" here. Get Allie’s book “Won

Are you tired of dieting or the daily struggle with food? What if there is another way to live and eat that would help you discover whole health for your body, mind and spirit? Erin Todd, blogger and co-host of the Intutive Eating for Christian Women Podcast joins us to share her journey of going from being a slave to skinny to finding freedom from dieting which has brought her peace, purpose and joy. Erin shares about the toxicity of diet culture and offers encouragement for the girl or woman who believes her weight is tied to her worth. She shares an overview of what Intuitive Eating is and how it can help you ditch dieting for good and live with greater freedom and wholeness. Be encouraged that you too can find freedom from the struggle and live the life you've been created for. Grab our free guide “5 Keys to Walking In Your Worth” and join our insider community. Get a copy of "HEAL: Healthy Eating and Abundant Living." Get Allie’s book “Wonderfully Made: Discover the Identity, Love, and Worth You Were Cr