The French Press with Emily Downs

I’m recording in the semi-dark with sideways rain, gale warnings on Lake Michigan, and a dead power grid. I can't help but think of how life's sudden storms take us by surprise. In this episode, we chat about what happens when our spiritual power goes out, how God trains our endurance through the hard seasons, and why slow-cooked faith in an instant-microwave culture produces something tha...

In this episode, I step out of my comfort zone—talking about books and theology—to share some personal stories from the "life in between." Right in the middle of our chaotic move, I attended a retreat that turned into a powerful object lesson on God's personal, practical love, the necessity of community, and what it means to live a poured-out life.  A midnight crisis in a bunk bed ta...

Welcome back! I'm recording this episode from a completely new spot - we unexpectedly moved to a beautiful rental house right on the beach of Lake Michigan. While I am so grateful for this stunning space, the move has brought up some deep reflections on the temporary nature of life, the concept of stewardship, and how we handle major transitions. In this episode, I share stories about our pets...

How do we handle the bad cards we have been dealt without losing the game? Let's take an honest look at the stewardship of our minds. The person who talks to you the most every single day is you, and so much of our daily thought life runs on autopilot—just like driving a car or making a morning cup of coffee. But what happens when those background thoughts are holding us back, or when we hesit...

In this episode we're taking a close look at what it actually means to be human. We often rely on our culture to tell us what’s "normal," but culture is constantly shifting—and honestly, a lot of what the world calls normal comes out of brokenness. We will examine human nature and what it looks like to let God reshape our hearts to His standard rather than our own. Growth is messy and we all exper...

CORRECTION: We screwed up the difference between a watch and warning numerous times in this episode. Hopefully that doesn't hinder the message too much. We will try to do better with our weather-related metaphors in the future, but honestly, we're still confused, so it's not looking good. In this upcoming discussion, we’re digging deep into the world of soul care—what it actually means...

In this episode, we’re diving back into our ongoing conversation about soul care and what it really means to walk closely with the Lord. We often crave safety, baseline comfort, and an easy, orderly life, but kingdom work is rarely convenient or cheap. Using the story of the widow’s mites, the life and failures of Peter, and insights on the counsel of God, we examine how answering God's call r...

In this episode, we are getting vulnerable about the beautiful, chaotic, and deeply sacrificial reality of doing kingdom ministry. We are stripping away the "Instagram-perfect" version of faith and diving into what it actually looks like to live a life of joyful, grateful dependence on God. I talk about why we have to stop reading our messy circumstances like tea leaves, the true cost (a...

What if the things we’re chasing aren’t actually the things that will satisfy us? The perfect home. The perfect body. The perfect life. The version of ourselves we think will finally make us enough. In this episode of The French Press, we’re talking about the “glamorous lies” we believe — and how God gently invites us to trade them for something real. Because what matters most isn’t what people se...

Welcome back to The French Press with Emily Downs . If you have been following along recently, you know that we have been exploring the vital topic of soul care. In this episode, I am sharing my reflections fresh from attending a three-day, fully immersive Soul Care conference. To be completely honest, I initially felt so overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information and the depth of the experien...

We spend a lot of time wanting God to simply remove the hard things. And honestly? I still feel that way sometimes. But throughout Scripture, we see that God often does something deeper in the middle of the suffering instead of immediately taking it away. We talk through the story of the blind man in Mark 8 who was healed in two stages and how that mirrors our own spiritual growth. Sometimes we’re...

This week we’re diving back into  Soul Care  by Dr. Rob Reimer and unpacking the powerful idea of sinful family patterns—the habits, wounds, struggles, and strongholds that seem to repeat themselves, generation after generation. Sometimes we think time heals old wounds, but often the things left unaddressed don’t disappear; they simply go underground and show up later in different ways. I kept com...

Repentance isn’t about shame, it’s about freedom. In this episode, I share how coming into alignment with God brings healing, breaks cycles, and releases the weight we were never meant to carry. When we stay out of alignment through sin, wounds, or even hidden struggles, those things don’t just disappear. They linger, grow, and eventually show up in our relationships, our thoughts, and our behavio...

We spend so much of life building sandcastles - things that look important but won’t actually last. In this episode, I’m unpacking what it means to do real soul work and why so many of us are walking around with cracks in our foundation without even realizing it. Join me as we name the three big lies that shape our identity. What you build on matters. Castles will crumble, but a life built on Chri...

Any good gardener knows you can't just pull the leaves off the the top of a weed, it will grow back almost immediately. Unwanted plants in our flowerbeds need to be dug out by the roots. This is also true when it comes to the soil of our souls. We are hoping to grow the fruits of the Spirit but often find ugly weeds popping up when we are stressed or tired. It feels easier to manage our behavi...

In second Samuel God told David to move quickly when he heard a rustling in the mulberry trees. This was a supernatural act and David's job was to respond quickly. There is a wonderful picture here for us today; when God is stirring you to move forward, don't hesitate, He is with you. David won that battle because he listened for the rustling in the trees. Are you listening?  Books mention...

Our souls need tending. The Bible has a lot to say about the soul. David in the Psalms often talked to his soul. He encouraged it to look to the Lord in times of trouble. There is great mystery surrounding our inner beings. Soul. Spirit. Heart. On this episode, we wade into the inner working of our souls. Paul tells us there is a war waging inside of us. Are you being a good steward of your soul? ...

Little Women is one of my favorite stories. A novel worth re-reading in different stages of life. The March sisters make for a fascinating case study of the different ways we struggle in our hearts. Join me as we look at this wonderful classic. What's the history behind Louisa May Alcott writing this famous book, and how is it still relevant today? Books mentioned in this episode: Little Women...

Have you ever wondered why most books and movies follow a similar narrative? Join me as we explore the epic story arc of the Bible and see that as humans, made in God's image, we are so often retelling this awe-inspiring plot. You will never look at your favorite stories the same way. God has put the echo of a story in our hearts and it is full of lore, danger, evil and good. There is a bigger...

We were all born into an epic story. The narrative started long before we showed up on the scene. Most of us spend part of our life trying to figure out what happened and where we are at in the story right now. Thankfully, God gave us a guide book. The Bible tells us where we came from and where we are going. Are you looking at a map trying to figure out where you are in this timeline? Join me in...

Sometimes we focus too much on the task itself, like a young child walking with a cup of coffee, if we freeze up with every step it will jostle what's inside. When we pay attention to where we are going (eternity) we will walk with a natural gait and not spill the coffee. How do we keep our eyes on the Lord? In this episode, we dig deeper into how a Christian reaches perfection, or do they?  B...

At Christmastime we strive to make everything feel special. In the novella, The Romance of Christmas Cards, the author mentions the transformation of plain packages into those that are beribboned and behollied. We transform our homes for this season, but do we transform our hearts? Join me in a conversation about two classic Christmas stories of reconciliation, forgiveness and sacrifice. Let's...

Psalm 23 teaches that the Lord sets a table for us- even in the desert. He overwhelms us with hospitality. As Christians, we are set apart to Him, separate, no longer common, but holy. Like Abigail in 1 Samuel, we can come to a situation not only bearing gifts, but sweet words, bringing peace and encouragement. The Bible teaches that we are anointed with oil and our cup runneth over. Because of th...

Do you feel like you were cast in the wrong part? Surely someone more qualified or more loving or more "Christian" would be better leading this ministry, raising these kids, or talking to that person. We feel like God messed up when He cast our roll. Yet, He knows our short-comings and our weaknesses and He has chosen us to represent Him in the places we have been cast. We take a deeper...

Pearls are formed when an irritant or a sharp grain of sand gets inside an oyster shell. The same is true for us spiritually, the things that feel so painful to go through can actually be the catalyst to forming Pearls of Wisdom in our lives. Are we willing to step into other people's suffering and, alternatively, allow others into ours? How is the terrain of our heart? As we examine the parab...