The ABIDE Podcast With Gretchen Stevenson

Send us Fan Mail For a prolonged period in my life, I harbored the belief that I was unnoticed by God, not due to words spoken, but because of actions taken.  In my youth, I regrettably endured an act of violence that cast a shadow over the joy in my heart, leaving it fragile and susceptible to deception.  In this episode, I pray you find healing in the life-affirming words of Psalm 139 that God u...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine being a young girl growing up in rural Kenya where you had to walk miles to collect your own water and wash your clothes in the  river.  Life in a Kenyan village was not always easy, especially if you were one of twenty-five children in a culture that practices polygamy.  In today's episode, you are going to hear how Irene Tongoi was drawn out of humble beginnings, ga...

Send us Fan Mail El Roi - A Hebrew name we only see once in the Old Testament. This name applies specifically to a specific conversation that God had with an Egyptian slave, named Hagar.   In this episode, I encourage you to take a moment and consider what it truly means to be known and loved by El Roi. Take in the awesomeness of this rich reality and listen to what the Father has to say to you. H...

Send us Fan Mail What do you do when an unexpected health crisis takes over your life? My guest learned to persevere through pain, setbacks, and disappointment from a young age.  In this episode, you will hear how her faith gave her the grit and grace to keep fighting when all hope seemed lost. Her story, breaking through brokenness, will inspire and encourage your faith as she shares her journey...

Send us Fan Mail We live in a world where joy is often commodified, offering an abundance of seemingly "thirst-quenching" styles and alternatives, these variations will never satisfy the soul like God can. Our bodies and souls were not designed to endure prolonged periods without the essential elements of water and love. In this episode, you'll be inspired to take in the living wate...

Send us Fan Mail Unfortunately, no person will escape life without experiencing some trauma. Although this is a sad and true statement,  there is hope and His name is Jesus! What are we to do when our grief, pain, and trauma leave us doubting God, feeling forgotten, and alone?  In this episode, you will hear how one woman's journey left her asking these same questions. In her fight to find he...

Send us Fan Mail Elohim , the Hebrew name for God appears in the very first sentence of our Bible. His ancient name holds within it all creative power, authority, and sovereignty. This name of God is used more than 2,500 times to emphasize the majesty of Him as the One True God. In this episode, you will take in the beautiful account of creation and be asked to consider how Elohim, the God of crea...

Send us Fan Mail Does your worship resonate with joy? Is joy the foundation from which you rise each day to set your affections? If you’re at all like me, these questions pose a challenge to the heart, especially when navigating difficult seasons that might make it seem like there's little to be grateful for, let alone joyful.  If you would like to support this ABIDE podcast and the other res...

Send us Fan Mail Do you ever wonder how to compile and process everything from a previous year and then how to integrate it into a new year? Not that we have it all figured out but here's what we've learned. In this episode, you will hear how Mark (my sweetie) and I have sorted through 2023 and captured what was most important to launch into 2024.  Through many conversations and prayers,...

Send us Fan Mail Woven throughout Christmas are stories that weave through hearts both young and old; yet, there’s one narrative that rises high above them all. It stands resolute, adorned with passion, draped in triumph, marked by beauty, and dances with grace. Its message resounds with joy as God’s Divine words gently extend an invitation of hope, reaching out to all of humanity. In this episode...

Send us Fan Mail During the Christmas season, it’s common to drift or feel unsettled by pain, hardships, uncertainties, and memories past. These experiences can leave us fatigued and adrift, akin to travelers without a place to call home. Jesus, the light of the world has arrived to rescue those who live in darkness, inviting all who wonder to return to Him. The account of Christ’s birth as the Sa...

Send us Fan Mail In the season of Christmas, getting lost in the chaos is easy. However, the promised Messiah invites us to anchor our hope in Him. This message reminds us of the unwavering hope and peace we can have in Christ amidst life’s challenges, pain, and uncertainties.  In this episode, you will be encouraged to share a message of hope to others. Whether it's through an act of kindnes...

Send us Fan Mail We all know what it’s like to be thirsty to the point of dehydration. But what about desperation to the point of death? To be so thirsty that you set out on a journey in hopes of finding whatever will quench your “thirst” in order to live another day. In this devotional, you will learn of the Living water that Jesus offers to all who come to Him. If you have been on a quest to fin...

Send us Fan Mail To my listeners, Happy Thanksgiving! I am grateful for you and for the encouragement you give for the Abide podcast. In today's episode, we will explore how the wisdom and guidance from God's Word can provide solace and encouragement during Thanksgiving, especially when our hearts carry the weight of pain. Join me and my dear friend, as we delve into Scriptures that offe...

Send us Fan Mail It is impossible not to worry.  Jesus Himself commands us to cast all our cares onto Him. Sounds easy, not so.  Worry is one of humanity's greatest challenges when it comes to experiencing true rest in Jesus.  In this episode, you will experience the sacredness of rest as you make space to be still with Jesus and surrender all your worries into His hands.   Beloved, you are w...

Send us Fan Mail God is able! Whatever you face today or in the future, you can trust Him.  Are you stuck, left spinning your wheels in a situation or relationship and you don't know what to do? God can help.  Are you facing uncertainty in your job, fighting to overcome an addiction, or needing strength to stand up against those who oppose you for your faith? God can help! God is able to do f...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever noticed how life often doesn't often go as planned?  Even when we cover all the details and have the perfect strategy, often our plans don't align with the plans God has for us. In this episode, you will hear a beautiful story of one couple's journey and how God used the blessing of adoption to restore joy and hope in their life and family!  If you wou...

Send us Fan Mail Life in Christ is hard when we look to the things of this world rather than the ways of Christ.  In the book of Colossians, we are instructed to, "set our hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God."  In this podcast, you will meditate on the beautiful words of the Apostle Paul, who instructs us to set our mind on things above, not on earthly...

Send us Fan Mail Choosing Jesus over the demands and expectations of family, work, hobbies, worldly gain, and notoriety, exemplifies a posture of surrender and humility, proving our deepest longings are met not through our efforts, but through a surrendered heart that is eager to receive God’s grace, wisdom, and love if we choose.  In this devotion, you will be inspired as you hear how one woman c...

Send us Fan Mail Marriage is the schoolroom from where one learns the hard lessons about love, brokenness, and surrender.  What better way to engage in this authentic conversation than with my brave and sweet husband, Mark!  In this episode,  Mark and I will share some of the most life-shaping moments in our relationship. Throughout the course of our 36 years of life together, we have grown to val...

Send us Fan Mail Life's responsibilities and expectations can weigh us down if we aren't careful. You and I are not meant to carry these burdens but there is One who is, and His name is Jesus! In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus invites us to come weary and thirsty from the back-breaking burdens of life. In this episode, I will guide us through a meditation that focuses on our hope in Christ...

Send us Fan Mail Everyone loves a good story.  My favorites are ones with heroes, villains sinners, and saints.  Actually, these are our stories, yours and mine. God’s relentless pursuit of us as sinners never ceases to amaze me. The labyrinth of sin and flesh that entangles us is impossible to escape, yet by God’s glorious grace Christ enters into our web of chaos and calls us out of darkness and...

Send us Fan Mail How and when a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ, is unique and beautiful for every person. In this episode, you will hear how one person describes her faith journey as being hunted down by the "hound of heaven."  We are never too old, too lost, or too broken that God can't find us.  If you would like to support this ABIDE podcast and the other resources provide...

Send us Fan Mail When was the last time you intentionally slowed down long enough to soak in the comforting words of Scripture?  Learning to drink deep from the well of God's Word is a discipline we all could use a little practice in doing.  Get comfortable friend, turn off your phone, and dim the lights. Give yourself permission to step away from whatever task you are doing and settle into t...

Send us Fan Mail Season 2 is kicking off strong! In this conversation, you will learn how our strengths, the way we are gifted and wired by God can either play out in the basement or the balcony of our lives.  This is an excellent introduction if you are new to understanding what it means to know your strengths. Grab a pen and get comfortable, I am confident you will enjoy this conversation with m...