You Have to Take the First Step | Matthew 7:7 with Shaylee

"Don't be angry with each other, but forgive each other. If you feel someone has wronged you, forgive them. Forgive others because God forgave you." Colossians 3:13 Everyone loves the idea of forgiveness... until they're the one who has to forgive. In today's episode of Everyday Joy, Ash and Lydia unpack Colossians 3:13 and have an honest conversation about forgiveness, offense, and the reality of doing life with imperfect people. Together, they explore why forgiveness sounds simple in theory but can feel incredibly difficult when someone has hurt, disappointed, or let us down. From church relationships and friendship struggles to misunderstandings and unmet expectations, they discuss the very real challenge of choosing grace when it would be easier to hold a grudge. Ash and Lydia also reflect on the importance of giving people the benefit of the doubt, resisting the temptation to judge too quickly, and remembering that everyone is carrying battles we can't always see. This episode is a powerful reminder that unity doesn't require agreement, perfection, or having everything figured out. It requires humility, compassion, communication, and a willingness to forgive the way Christ has forgiven us. If you've been struggling with hurt, disappointment, church conflict, or finding it difficult to forgive someone, this conversation will encourage you to choose grace, pursue peace, and keep your heart soft toward God and others. Get Connected: Follow Ash & Everyday Joy on Instagram!

"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10 What if the peace you're looking for is on the other side of surrender? In today's episode of Everyday Joy, Ash and Lydia unpack one of the most quoted verses in the Bible and discover that "be still" means far more than simply slowing down. Together, they explore the challenge of letting go of control, releasing anxiety, and trusting God when life feels uncertain. From unanswered questions and overwhelming seasons to the temptation to rely on our own plans, this conversation dives into the reality that control often feels safer than surrender. Ash and Lydia share honestly about being self-reliant, struggling with anxiety, and wrestling with the desire to have everything figured out. They discuss why trusting God isn't about understanding every detail, but believing that He is good even when circumstances don't make sense. This episode is a powerful reminder that peace isn't found in controlling every outcome. It's found in knowing the One who holds every outcome in His hands. If you've been feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, anxious, or stuck trying to manage every part of your life, this conversation will encourage you to release what was never yours to carry and trust the God who never loses control. Get Connected: Follow Ash & Everyday Joy on Instagram!

Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence." Jeremiah 17:7 Do you trust God... or do you just have a backup plan in case your own plan doesn't work? In today's episode of Everyday Joy, Ash and Lydia have an honest conversation about self-reliance, control, anxiety, and what it really means to trust God. Together, they unpack Jeremiah 17:7 and wrestle with a challenging question: if God can't get it wrong, why do we spend so much of our lives relying on ourselves instead of Him? Ash and Lydia share openly about their own struggles with anxiety, independence, and the temptation to make God their "Plan B." They explore the tension between wanting control over our lives and surrendering to a God whose plans are often bigger than anything we could imagine for ourselves. This conversation also dives into unanswered prayers, waiting seasons, disappointment, and the reality that trusting God doesn't remove hardship. What it does provide is something far greater: a source of hope, peace, strength, and joy that circumstances can't take away. If you've been carrying anxiety, struggling to trust God's timing, or trying to control every outcome in your life, this episode is a powerful reminder that the safest place to be is rooted in the One who sees the whole picture. Get Connected: Follow Ash & Everyday Joy on Instagram!

"Train up a child in the way they should go; even when they are old they will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 What do children remember most about faith? Is it the Bible stories? The church services? The family devotions? In today's episode of Everyday Joy, Ash and Lydia reflect on the incredible influence faithful parents can have on a child's life and why Proverbs 22:6 is about so much more than teaching children what to believe. Together, they share stories from their own childhoods, growing up in Christian homes, watching their parents pray, pursue God, and remain faithful through life's hardest seasons. From early morning Bible reading at the kitchen table to seeing parents trust God through disappointment, illness, and unanswered prayers, they discuss how faith is often caught before it's taught. Lydia shares how watching her mother's unwavering trust in God shaped her own faith journey, while Ash reflects on the profound impact of seeing her parents remain faithful to Jesus despite decades of challenges and hardship. This conversation is a powerful reminder that people may forget what you say, but they'll remember what you model. Whether you're a parent, mentor, leader, or simply someone influencing the next generation, your faithfulness could be shaping a future you may never fully see. Get Connected: Follow Ash & Everyday Joy on Instagram!

"Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers." Galatians 6:10 What if the thing weighing you down isn't what someone did to you... but your decision to hold onto it? In today's episode of Everyday Joy, Ash and Lydia unpack Galatians 6 and explore one of the most challenging parts of following Jesus: choosing forgiveness over offence. Together, they discuss personal responsibility, giving people the benefit of the doubt, and why it's often easier to take offence than it is to extend grace. In a world that encourages division, outrage, and keeping score, Jesus calls us to something radically different. Ash and Lydia explore what it means to be "unoffendable," not by pretending hurt doesn't exist, but by refusing to let disappointment, frustration, and disagreement take root in our hearts. They discuss difficult conversations, church hurt, family relationships, and the importance of treating people with kindness even when we don't see eye to eye. Because forgiveness isn't saying what happened was okay. It's choosing not to carry the burden any longer. If you've been struggling with disappointment, conflict, church hurt, or learning how to extend grace to difficult people, this conversation will encourage and challenge you to respond more like Jesus. Get Connected: Follow Ash & Everyday Joy on Instagram!