Do you REALLY believe God is good? Knowing vs believing with Alena Franklin
Do you have a child that is wrestling with their faith? Or maybe you fear this scenario with your little ones? What if they grow up and deny their faith or doubt God? What you will hear today through Alena’s story is that God is faithful. She is confident in that truth after a 7-year wrestling period with God.Alena’s quest to know God helped her to know herself in a foundational way. This conversation not only helped me as a mom, but as a follower of Christ. Alena is a creative, author, speaker, actor and more who is wise beyond her years. She always makes me think in a new and fresh way.My favorite part honestly is when she talks about the “ick” of women’s conferences. I could not get it together from laughing. She reminds me so much of her late mother Wynter Pitts. She is refreshingly honest, true to herself, wise and hilarious. You will be encouraged to be patient with the wrestling periods of your own faith and your children’s faith. You will hear practical ways to support your children during their doubts.Be sure to check out her new devotional, God Is, available now for teen and young women.Enjoy!Courtney(00:00) The Emotional Journey of College Transition(02:59) Wrestling with Faith and Identity(05:48) Understanding God Through Personal Struggles(08:29) Navigating Parent-Child Relationships(11:26) Experiencing God's Presence in Grief(14:15) The Importance of Knowing God(17:08) Hearing from God in Everyday Life(19:51) Creative Pursuits and Personal Growth(22:44) The Impact of 'For Girls Like You' MagazineConnect with Pardon The Mess:Christian ParentingPardon The Mess Courtney DeFeoORDER YOUR 2026-2027 PRAYER JOURNAL NOWResources from today’s show:God Is - Alean’s new devotionalFor Girls Like YouAfrica New LifePardon The Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.orgOur Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com* Check out Mr. Pen and use my code MESS10 for a great deal: https://mrpen.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Week 3: Persevere in faith - Jacob
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:3–5)Jacob fought and wrestled and did things his own way his entire life: He grabbed his twin brother’s heel as he was being born and then stole that same brother’s birthright. He was so angry that he left town. Talk about sibling rivalry! Years later when Jacob decided to return home, he came across a mysterious man and wrestled him all night. Jacob refused to quit until he received a blessing. Little did he know the man he was wrestling with was God. God changed his name to Israel—meaning one who struggles with God.Jacob was changed in that moment. He went from living life for himself to depending on God. He went from wrestling with God to clinging to him.Faith isn’t always easy. Our kids will face struggles, and they will try to do things their own way! Toddlers and teenagers alike notoriously doubt their parents’ abilities to know what is best and right at times. There will also be times when they doubt God’s ability to know what is best, wrestle with their understanding of him, or even try to live independently of him.Questions are a natural part of making faith your own. God welcomes our questions, our struggles, and even our doubts—they do not scare him! Instead, he meets us in them and draws us closer to him. As parents, we don’t have to be afraid of our kids’ questions either. It does us well to remember that faith is not linear and our kids will have many ups and downs as they journey through their lives of faith.This week, let’s pray that our kids persevere in their faith, that they go to God to get answers to their questions when they inevitably have doubts, and that they surrender to him instead of fighting against him.Jesus, I pray that ________ will lead a life of faith. Knowing there will be ups and downs and seasons of questions and doubts, I pray they will be confident going to you with all their feelings, questions and emotions. May they always remember that wrestling is worth it for a relationship with you. Amen.If you love this episode and don’t have your copy of A Great Cloud of Witnesses yet, it’s not too late to get yours! Go ChristianParenting.org to get your copy and follow along. (It also makes a wonderful gift for grandparents or friends!) And don’t forget to tune in to Pardon the Mess every Monday for more prayer episodes. Order A Great Cloud of Witnesses todayPardon the Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.orgOur Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com* Check out Mr. Pen and use my code MESS10 for a great deal: https://mrpen.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Is motherhood your HIGHEST calling? Let’s debate it with Vicki Courtney
Buckle in for a fantastic and thought-provoking chat with author and speaker Vicki Courtney. Have you ever heard the phrase, “motherhood is your highest calling” ? Did you believe it? And do you agree with it?I love that Vicki is looking back as a grandmother and assessing this common phrase and belief that impacted her motherhood journey. She wants to help our generation properly grapple with our highest calling. She believes motherhood is a high calling but not THE highest calling. And there is a difference. This statement isn’t just about semantics. If we believe motherhood is our highest calling, then the way we parent is informed and impacted by that belief. That belief ushers in perfectionism and pressure that’s not manageable. I loved this conversation and mindset shift - not just for myself but for my daughters. Let’s look to scripture and make sure we are all on the same page - that our highest calling is actually not motherhood.My favorite part is when Vicki talks about the trap of comparison at the end. She helps us dial down the guilt and increase the freedom that is found in Jesus. I am grateful for the encouragement and teaching of Vicki Courtney. Her work has mattered to me at every phase of motherhood. Enjoy! Courtney (00:00) Reconnecting and Reflecting on the Past(04:49) The Journey of Motherhood and Writing(09:36) Rethinking Motherhood as a Calling(14:06) The Pressure of Perfectionism in Parenting(19:02) Finding Balance and Freedom in Motherhood(23:41) Embracing Identity Beyond MotherhoodPrefer video? This episode is on YouTube!Connect with Pardon The Mess:Christian ParentingPardon The Mess Courtney DeFeoORDER YOUR 2026-2027 PRAYER JOURNAL NOWResources from today’s show:Connect with VickiMotherhood is not your highest calling by Vicki CourtneySubscribe to Christian Parenting’s Friday FavoritesPardon The Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.orgOur Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com* Check out Mr. Pen and use my code MESS10 for a great deal: https://mrpen.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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Week 2: Trust in the Lord - Abraham
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5–6)Think about the amount of trust Abraham had in the Lord: He was told to leave his home and move to a new land and wandered for decades, not knowing where he was going, but he went anyway. He was told he would be the father of a great nation, but he didn’t have any kids. Then he was told he would have a baby when he was very old. Then God told him to go sacrifice his beloved son.There is a reason God made a covenant with Abraham that changed the course of the world: He had a deep trust in the Lord and in the Lord’s love for him. Even when something seemed impossible, Abraham believed God would be faithful. Looking at Abraham’s life teaches us that we don’t need to have all the answers to obey God; we just need to have unwavering trust in his goodness. God will be true to his promises, even though his timing and his ways are sometimes different from ours.God has a great plan for your child. We don’t know what that looks like: friends, activities, college, careers, relationships, kids. There are a lot of unknown variables at play and there is no glimpsing into the future, but God holds it in his hands. Trusting God means believing that he is leading our kids to their great future, even when we can’t see the whole picture.This week, let’s pray that our kids put their trust in the Lord just like Abraham did and stand firm in their faith when things feel uncertain.Lord, help __________ to trust you like Abraham did. Give them faith to follow where you lead them. Reveal your great purpose for their life to them and teach them to rely on your promises. May they walk in confidence knowing that you are always with them and they are deeply loved by you. Amen.If you love this episode and don’t have your copy of A Great Cloud of Witnesses yet, it’s not too late to get yours! Go ChristianParenting.org to get your copy and follow along. (It also makes a wonderful gift for grandparents or friends!) And don’t forget to tune in to Pardon the Mess every Monday for more prayer episodes. Order A Great Cloud of Witnesses todayPardon the Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.orgOur Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com* Check out Mr. Pen and use my code MESS10 for a great deal: https://mrpen.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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How to surrender our kids (over and over again) with Christy Nockels
My natural reaction is to CONTROL my kids and I wish that wasn’t the truth. I know that the best thing for them and for me is to surrender all of it to God every day. Why is this so hard for me? Do you also struggle with wanting to control and hold onto your kids? Join me today as I chat with Christy Nockels about this idea of surrendering our kids through various seasons. Christy has been writing songs and leading worship for more than 30 years. She is a wife and a mom living in the Nashville, TN area. My favorite part about Christy is her humility. Jesus just oozes through her music and her life.My favorite part is how she shares a couple of practical ways you can still connect with your kids as adults. And don’t forget to put her new album King Who Never Sleeps on repeat in your car and kitchen. It will feel like a balm to your soul.Enjoy!Courtney (00:00) Introduction to Christy Nockels(02:55) The Heart Behind the New Album(05:43) Lessons in Surrender and Trust(08:26) Navigating Parenting Transitions(11:09) The Power of Prayer in Parenting(14:14) Being Present in the MomentPrefer video? This episode is on YouTube!Connect with Pardon The Mess:Christian ParentingPardon The Mess Courtney DeFeoORDER YOUR 2026-2027 PRAYER JOURNAL NOWResources from today’s show:Connect with ChristyChristy’s bookChristy’s podcastChristy’s new album - King Who Never Sleeps Subscribe to Christian Parenting’s Friday FavoritesPardon The Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.orgOur Sponsors:* Check out IXL and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com* Check out Mr. Pen and use my code MESS10 for a great deal: https://mrpen.comPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
About Pardon the Mess with Courtney DeFeo - Christian Motherhood, Biblical Parenting, Raising Christian Kids
As parents, we know raising kids is the opposite of neat and tidy. Each day brings wins, losses and valuable lessons. Pardon the Mess is a place where we discuss parenting and faith in a biblical, approachable and relatable way. We may cry and laugh while we learn and grow together in our beautiful mess. Pardon the Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org
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