In Part 1 of this special relationship series, Kayla shares how God used some of the most unexpected seasons of her life to prepare her for the love story she couldn't yet see.

From spending a year on The World Race to walking through the devastating loss of her family home during the Colorado fires of 2020, Kayla reflects on the lessons God taught her about trust, surrender, identity, and dependence on Him during her season of singleness. Looking back, she can now see how those experiences shaped her heart and prepared her for the dating season that eventually led her to meeting her husband, Gabe.

Together, we discuss how singleness can be one of the most valuable preparation seasons of your life when viewed through God's perspective rather than the world's. We share practical advice on how to steward this season well, pursue personal growth, and deepen your relationship with the Lord instead of simply waiting for the next chapter to begin.

We also dive into what it looks like to navigate Christian dating in today's culture. From the biggest lies society tells us about relationships to recognizing red flags and green flags, we discuss why dating should be viewed as an intentional evaluation process rather than a game. We also share practical wisdom for setting healthy boundaries, pursuing purity, and honoring God while getting to know someone.

Whether you're single, dating, or hoping for a relationship one day, this episode is full of encouragement, biblical wisdom, and practical tools to help you trust God with your love story.

In this episode, Jaci shares her powerful testimony of walking through pornography addiction, abusive relationships, heartbreak, and years of placing her identity in guys instead of God.

Starting in middle school, she struggled with shame, feeling like “used goods,” trust issues from being cheated on, and constantly searching for love and validation in relationships that left her broken. But through Jesus, Christian therapy, and a willingness to confront the pain she tried to hide, Jaci began finding true healing and freedom.

This conversation is raw, honest, and full of hope for anyone who has wrestled with shame, insecurity, addiction, relationship wounds, or feeling unworthy of love. Jaci’s story is a reminder that no past is too messy for God to redeem and no person is too far gone for healing. 🤍

In this episode, we sit down with my future sister-in-law, Darci — a Division I athlete at the University of Northern Iowa and the owner of Gather Together Company, a charcuterie business built around creating memorable experiences and fostering genuine community.

If you know Darci, you know she has the spiritual gift of hosting and fostering community. We talk through practical, fun, and realistic ways to step out of loneliness and into connection, including joining intramurals, church small groups, and interest-based clubs like crocheting, rollerblading, or sand volleyball to meet like-minded people.

She encourages listeners not to wait around for an invite or fall into a pity party when feeling alone, but to be bold, put themselves out there, and intentionally pursue community. We also discuss how to discern the right people to surround yourself with and what it looks like to choose a life-giving community that pours back into you.

If you’ve been feeling lonely or unsure how to find your people, this episode is full of practical wisdom and encouragement to help you take the first step.