Put down the Sugar. Striving Won't Heal You.

Some weeks we feel unwell: a head cold, a hard season, a Sunday-night heaviness we can't quite name. And our first reach is for a little sugar. Recorded partly from Miches in the Dominican Republic, this episode starts at a steakhouse table where Marlena said no to dessert, then goes back to a Friday evening when her whole house went down with a cold, and the whisper she heard in the middle of it: "I was already healing you, even before you started getting sick." IN THIS EPISODE: Why the little nudges are often God preparing you, the way Joseph filled the barns before the famine The Sunday scaries and the everyday sugar we reach for: scrolling, snacking, over-planning, numbing out Two ways we strive: the woman who feels she's not enough, and the woman who believes she always has to be the strong one Protection, not punishment, and what an empty field teaches about waiting A word for anyone living with chronic illness, and for the caregivers beside them Abiding grace: the grace that stays, wave after wave The recipe for restoration: rest, nourishment, and time THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE: Pick one thing on your list and let it wait, on purpose. Then do the restful thing instead. Stay connected: If this episode spoke to you, share it with a sister who needs it. 03:17 Where It Started 04:40 Welcome! 06:01 The Nudges I Almost Missed 10:15 Into the Kitchen 11:28 The Night It Showed Up 13:14 Two Ways We Reach for Sugar 15:58 Protection, Not Punishment 17:35 For the One Still Waiting 20:14 The Recipe for Restoration 21:45 One Step This Week 22:29 A Prayer Just for You 23:13 A Quick Challenge! 2027 Abiding Grace Planner by Marlena Smith: https://livingsimplyredeemed.com/prod... Socials and Such on Linktree: https://livingsimplyredeemed.com/prod... Subscribe to the LivingSimplyRedeemed Newsletter: https://living-simply-redeemed.ck.pag... Official Website: LivingSimplyRedeemed.com Where to Listen & Subscribe YouTube Podcast:    / @marlenajsmith   Apple & Spotify Podcasts via Transistor FM: https://livingsimplyredeemed.transist... New episodes release weekly! Subscribe, share with a friend who needs this encouragement, and drop a DM to share how this episode resonated with you.