Let's Be Cleere

Friendship didn’t stop mattering when we became adults.It just became more layered, more tender, and more vulnerable.The Bible never treats friendship as optional or superficial. From the very beginning, God said something was not good — and it wasn’t work, purpose, or responsibility. It was isolation.“It is not good for man to be alone.” — Genesis 2:18Friendship is not a bonus feature of life.It’s part of how God forms us.But because adult friendship looks different than it used to, there are a few quiet lies that tend to creep in — often unnoticed — and shape how we interpret our experiences.Dive deeper into the notes from this episode and more on substack at cleerelystated.substack.com

So much of our anxiety, exhaustion, and restlessness isn’t coming from bad choices—but from unexamined ones.Our calendars quietly shape our formation. What we allow onto them forms who we are becoming.These nine questions aren’t rules. They’re bumpers—loving boundaries that help you steward your time with wisdom, peace, and faith.Continue the ConversationAdditional reflections, extended audio, and written notes from this episode are available by subscribing to The Living Room on Substack.

Have you ever found yourself in a season where the unknowns feel stacked on top of each other? You’re praying, you’re showing up, you’re doing what you know to do—but the future still seems hazy. It’s like driving through heavy fog: you can see enough to keep moving forward, but what lies ahead feels blurred and out of reach.Seasons like this can make you wonder if God is distant, distracted, or even silent. But what if the fog isn’t proof of His absence, but a space for deeper formation? What if, instead of clarity, God is offering you the gift of closeness? In this episode, we talk about how fog-filled seasons are often the places where God is most at work, reshaping your vision and anchoring your trust in Him.  Could it be that the fog is your greatest gift to increase your faith and understand a new level of intimacy with the Shepherd?Through honest stories, Scripture, and gentle rhythms for drawing near, you’ll be encouraged to: • Name the fog that’s clouding your peace and perspective. • Recognize the pull toward control when what you really need is communion. • Anchor your heart in who God is, not just what He does. • Choose praise as warfare when clarity is out of reach. • Stay near to Jesus when the way forward feels uncertain.If your heart feels unsettled, your prayers seem unanswered, or you’re simply weary from the not knowing, this conversation is for you. It’s a reminder that proximity to God—not clarity of the path—is what steadies you. The fog isn’t your enemy; it may be the very place God reshapes your vision and deepens your trust.

What do you do when your life looks fine on the outside… but deep down, you’re wondering, “Is this really it?”In this episode, I sit down with my friend Rachel Awtrey—host of the Real Talk with Rachel podcast and author of her brand new book, Love Your Life, Even When You Don’t Like It. Rachel is the girl you want in your corner: deeply honest, wildly encouraging, and somehow able to make you laugh and cry in the same breath.We talk about what it looks like to actually love your life when it feels boring, heavy, or just plain hard. Not in a cheesy, throw-a-gratitude-journal-at-it kind of way—but in a real, boots-on-the-ground, Jesus-meets-you-in-the-middle kind of way.Rachel shares:    •    Why honesty is the doorway to freedom    •    How to hold grief and gratitude at the same time    •    The difference between joy for life and joy in life    •    And the questions that helped her stop faking “fine” and start living freeIf you’ve ever felt guilty for not loving the season you’re in—or if you’ve ever whispered “I love Jesus but I kind of hate this part of my life right now”—this episode is a safe, sacred space for you.You don’t have to love every part of your life to love your whole life. This conversation will show you how.Order “Love your Life (Even when you don’t like it all the time) here: https://amzn.to/4odAc2P Follow along with Rachel on IG here:

What do you do when the outcome you want feels out of reach?When the people you love are walking through things you can’t fix…And when control feels like a survival tactic you just can’t shake?In this episode, I sit down with Jodie Berndt—speaker, author, and the voice behind the Praying the Scriptures series—for a conversation that goes way beyond parenting.Whether you’re single, married, parenting toddlers, teenagers, or simply trying to love the people in your life well… this episode is for you.We talk about:• Why surrender is at the heart of every healthy relationship (marriage, parenting, or otherwise)• What it really means to trust God when your heart feels protective, anxious, or out of control• How to pray Scripture over your marriage (and why praying for your spouse changes you, too)• What to do when God feels silent• Releasing the need for quick fixes and embracing the long game of faith• Identity in seasons when prayers feel unansweredThis is not a conversation about perfect prayers or tidy outcomes. It’s about choosing trust over fear… surrender over striving… and remembering that God cares even more than we do.Where to find Jodie:​Website: jodieberndt.com​Instagram: @jodie_berndt