Fullness of Joy with Jessica Mathisen

Well friends, this was a bittersweet episode for me because it is my last one for the season, but also for the show. I won’t be gone forever, but in this new season of homeschooling, the podcast will be on hiatus for the foreseeable future. I hope and pray that this show has encouraged you and that you feel seen, known, and loved by listening to the wisdom and candor of the guests I’ve shared with...

This conversation with Alexandra Hoover is so life-giving. We discuss what it means to let go of offense, which is rooted in pride and making an idol of our pain. She pulls no punches as she tells us how God led her on a journey of learning to forgive, which is a part of living a life of full surrender to Him. If you’re struggling with letting go of past hurts and holding on to pain, this episode...

You are in for such a treat today! My friend Gretchen and I have known each other for about fifteen years, and she is as dear as she seems on the internet. Perhaps even more so. Gretchen has a deep love for God’s word and helping women connect it to their everyday lives. She is the founder of the global ministry Well Watered Women , the author of several books, and a mama to three. Our conversatio...

This week's guest is my friend Bethany Kimsey. She is a deep well of wisdom, and you are going to want to take notes during this episode. She shares with us about how God has changed her from the inside out over the last few decades of being a wife and mom to eight children. Yes, you read that right, eight children. Through it all, Bethany has learned that the best thing about her is not the r...

The podcast is back with a new series called Wholehearted. This series will focus on what it looks like to love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. You will hear from women who have walked through various challenges and come out on the other side saying, “Jesus is worth it.” This week’s guest is Christine Hoover. Christine shares with us about the challenge and blessing of writin...

Maria Roy is a registered nurse and a bio, foster, and adoptive mother. She is also the author of the book One Day at a Time: A Story About Big Feelings, Foster Care, and Finding Hope . In this conversation, we chat about her journey into foster care, the challenges and joys of parenting children from hard places, and the impact of her foster care on her family as a whole. FULL SHOW NOTES No Matte...

Today’s guest is Ashley Poptodorova , and she and I have known each other for years because we used to attend the same church here in metro-Atlanta. She is pure light and joy and has a deep passion for God’s word and for wellness through holistic health. Her story involves foster care and a tumultous childhood, but as you’re about to hear, God has done a miraculous work in her life and changed her...

This week’s guest is Dr. Danisha Keating. Danisha has an incredible story which involves not only being a part of the foster care system as a former foster youth, but also gaining guardianship of her siblings when she was only 24 years old. Through God’s grace, she has defied the odds against her in many ways.  My new children's book: No Matter Where I Go: God’s Love for Kids in Foster Care Da...

In this episode, I get to chat with Raquel McCloud, who shares her journey from a challenging childhood marked by instability and trauma to becoming a mother at a young age and placing her daughter for adoption. Her story is one of great redemption and hope. Trigger warning: Sexual, physical, and emotional abuse FULL SHOW NOTES Raquel’s Instagram Raquel’s Website Follow along: Jessica’s Instagram...

This week’s guest is Emily Assell. Emily shares her journey of understanding pain and suffering through a spiritual lens and experiencing the transformative power of God's word. Our conversation encouraged me for days and weeks afterward, and thinking about her wisdom still brings a smile to my face. ⁠FULL SHOW NOTES⁠ Emily’s Instagram Emily’s Website Follow along: Jessica’s Instagram Podcast Inst...

In this week’s episode, Aubrey Coleman shares her journey of motherhood, discussing the joys and challenges of raising three children while also navigating her faith. She reflects on the lessons learned about God's patience and grace, the importance of setting boundaries, and the inspiration behind her new book, When Our New Baby Comes . We talk about how motherhood transforms you from the ins...

Life comes and goes in seasons, and we find trials and triumphs in each one. Three years ago, I was in a season of profound grief after experiencing several trials within the span of a few months. I wrestled with loneliness, grief, and questions about how to start over in my mid-thirties. But through it all, God was faithful, steadfast, and true. This week on the podcast, I reflect on the journey...

After taking the summer off of social media and the podcast, I’m back today with a new episode sharing about what God did in my heart and where I’m headed. This year has been a journey of learning to slow down and surrender. I’ve been wrestling with the pressure to build an online platform, but God keeps whispering to my heart: “Not by might, nor by power, only by Your Spirit.” In this episode, I’...

This week, I get to chat with Natasha Smith, the author of Can You Just Sit With Me?:Healthy Grieving for the Losses of Life. If you’re a human walking on this earth, you have walked through hard things. And if you haven’t known much grief in your life, chances are you know someone who could use some encouragement and a friend in the journey. This conversation with Natasha will give you the tools...

In this week’s episode, I chat with Anna Mae Groves about walking out our faith, even when it doesn’t make sense. Anna is such a beautiful light and shares with transparency about her journey with mental health struggles and how the Lord brought her out of the darkness with one simple habit that changed everything. She also shares with us about faith-filled decisions that helped her to see God as...

In this episode, I chat with my dear friend Nicole about taking the risk of inviting joy into your everyday life. So often, joy can feel like a dangerous emotion to embrace, because when we have walked through hard times, it is easier to always anticipate the next storm around the corner. Through infertility, loss, and a cross-country move, Nicole has found the beauty in learning to embrace joy, e...

This week, I’m chatting with Portia Collins about how God has sustained her through health issues and discouraging times when she wanted to give up. She shares with us how God has used her struggles to draw her to Him and make her more dependent on Him instead of trusting in her own strength.  If you’re in a season where you feel like you just don’t have much to give, this one is for you!  FULL SH...

In this week’s episode, Laura Godfrey shares a powerful, personal story of how God showed up in her weakest moment and let her know that He was for her and with her.  Walking with her husband through chronic illness has literally brought her to her knees, but God has given her the strength to walk with her head held high. Whether you’re walking through chronic illness, job loss, financial difficul...

This week, I get to introduce you to my friend Jules Smoak. She is a radio talk show host and is such a delight. Jules vulnerably shares with us about her lifelong struggle with dyslexia and how she has learned to see it as a gift from God. She also has a specific word of encouragement for those who feel forgotten by God while waiting for a dream He has laid on their hearts. You’re going to be so...

What a joy to be back in your earbuds today! Today we kick off a new series called “Held in His Hands.” We get to talk about how God meets us in our suffering and dark days when it feels like He has left us. Jamie Klusacek shares with us the beauty of walking with God amid suffering and how to find joy and purpose in the path God has for you, even when it looks different than you thought it would....

This week, I chatted with Cortney Norris about the power of fasting as a spiritual rhythm in our lives as believers in Christ. Oftentimes, we neglect to fast simply because we don’t understand it nor see it as a necessity. But Jesus instructed us to fast, and the Bible is full of verses that point to its significance. This rhythm is not simply to get something from God, but rather to get to know H...

In this episode, Courtney Foster and I chat about what it looks like to integrate your faith into your fitness journey. So many women struggle with what it looks like to pursue wellness in a Christlike way. Many voices are telling us the “right” way to be healthy, and many of these voices are conflicting. It can be hard to know which way to turn and how to take care of the temple God has given you...

In this week’s episode, pastor’s wife Carla Sibley and I chat about how to live within the boundaries God has given you. She shares with us how learning to steward her time, talents, and treasures has been an act of obedience for her that has helped her to grow in her dependence upon the Lord. Her wisdom about how to choose contentment is gold! You’ll be so encouraged by this episode. FULL SHOW NO...

Friendship as an adult can feel complicated at best. You wonder if everyone else feels lonely and left out or if it’s just you? Are you doing something wrong? Does everyone else have a best friend? If you’ve struggled with friendships and community, this episode is for you. Bailey Hurley and I chat about where we get it wrong, how to get it right, and why we need each other.  Bailey Hurley and I c...

In this week’s episode, I chat with Hunter Beless about the importance of memorizing and meditation on Scripture. Hunter shares with us how her love for the Word came from a desperate need for joy after a season of not walking closely with the Lord. Instead of a list of to-dos, Hunter leaves us with a practical perspective on how to incorporate memorizing God’s word into our daily lives.  FULL SHO...