The Messy Table with Jenn Jewell

It’s unsettling times like these that nudge us to consider what matters most. Life, death, purpose, faith. One conversation that’s especially relevant to this generation involves the perceived tension between science and faith. Can science and faith really mix, or do we have to choose just one? Does Christianity have a reasonable foundation, or is it simply a wishful leap in the dark?...

Nope, it is not Tuesday, friends. But desperate times call for desperate measures… of hope. That’s right, a BONUS episode is now LIVE at The Messy Table Podcast : Fighting Fear + Covid-19 . It’s 8 short minutes—packed with scripture, prayer, and critical reminders for this unprecedented time. Wherever you find yourself today (likely “social distancing” in your home or...

Hi, friend. As we continue maneuvering our way through this ever-changing situation regarding COVID-19— with as much grace and patience as we can possible muster —how about a meaningful conversation to help ease the isolation? Today at The Messy Table , we’re chatting about: The familiar obsession with people-pleasing. The blaring addiction to approval. The endless pursuit of perfection. Rin...

Can life be both bitter and sweet? Can you experience chaos and peace at the very same time? Can your heart break and simultaneously overflow with compassion, endurance, and love? Raised by her grandparents, faced with an unexpected divorce, stirred to adopt two additional children as a single mom fighting to keep the lights on, Stefannie Powell knows firsthand that GOD SHOWS UP IN THE GLORIOUSLY...

What’s holding you back? Weighing you down? Do you continue in a circle of defeat regarding things that have prevented you from living free? God is ALL ABOUT our freedom—and joy! But we can easily find ourselves distracted, discouraged, or feeling downright defeated. We know we’re supposed to live a life that’s free in Christ, but is it really possible? Can we truly walk in freed...

Halfway through Keri Young’s pregnancy, she and her husband, Royce , were blindsided with devastating news: their baby girl didn’t have a brain . In the blink of a moment, joy-filled expectation turned excruciatingly terminal. What happened in the following months was tragic, heart-wrenching, and shockingly beautiful. To be honest, it feels ridiculously insufficient to try and conjure...

Y’all, I am especially thrilled about today’s episode at The Messy Table !  Craig Groeschel is not only my pastor and friend, but someone I deeply respect and one of the wisest leaders of our time. Craig is the senior pastor at Life. Church and host of the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast . He’s a family man, leadership expert, and bestselling author who’s crazy-passionat...

New decade, new decisions. Who are you going to be? What are you going to value? “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” (Thanks for that, Mary Oliver.) Kicking off 2020 at  The Messy Table Podcast is someone who’s passionate about creating space for your soul. Someone who will gently invite you to stop earning your significance—it’s already been f...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Until it isn’t. Throw in some impossibly high expectations, plus a hefty dash of comparison, and we’ve got ourselves a bunch of stressed-out women who never feel like enough. Today at The Messy Table , Amy Groeschel is shedding light on the ridiculous (but real) pressure we face to GET IT ALL RIGHT, especially when it comes to motherhood....

Happy almost-Thanksgiving, friends! Time for some turkey, board games, and pumpkin spice everything. But as we head into the holidays, we’re reminded that this season can be a MAGNIFIER. The good times are great and the hard times can be overwhelmingly hard—especially for those in untraditional settings. In today’s episode at The Messy Table , Kim Duncan recounts how she embraced the s...

You know those stories that leave you speechless? Stories so heartrending, so tender, so nearly impossible to comprehend. Stories that provoke you to punch somebody while simultaneously beckoning you to worship. Today at The Messy Table , Jessica Laure’l Hall holds nothing back as she chats with LaTonya Pratt and me—unveiling the shaky foundation on which she was raised. The sexual abuse. Th...

You know what we need? To hear from someone who’s BEEN THERE. To learn from someone who understands. To glean from a boldly surrendered woman who’s already gone through the fire—and lived to tell about it. Carol McLeod is a wife of 42 years, mom of 5 kids on earth (as well as 5 babies in heaven), and “Marmee” to 7 grandchildren. She’s an author, podcast host, avid che...

Is it possible to have joy in the depths of suffering? To find peace in a pit of despair? To cling to faith during the thrashing of a storm? Y’all, today’s episode at The Messy Table is a PERSPECTIVE SHIFTER. While serving her slowly deteriorating mother over the course of several years, Jennifer Cantrell uncovered the seemingly contradictory gifts that come with NOT refusing the hard...

If you haven’t noticed, our world is rapidly increasing in all things stress, anxiety, depression, and fear. Have you felt it?  Frenzied and frantic have become the norm; overwhelmed and overextended are flaunted like crowns of honor. But we don’t have to live like this. YOU don’t have to live like this. Today, Rebekah Lyons is joining me at The Messy Table , where she’s di...

Truth? It’s hard to talk about anxiety and depression, especially that which knocks on even darker doors. But we need to talk about it. We MUST talk about it. A week ago, Cindy Beall and I sat down with Molly Allen as she shared her powerful story. A story of generational wounds, recently triggered by postpartum depression. A story of darkness and light; brokenness and restoration; devastati...

What happens when your plans are shattered by reality? When your bright days turn overwhelmingly dark? When you’re not sure HOW IN THE WORLD you can keep going, let alone breathe? Cheryl Lange was in the crux of raising a family—five kids ranging from 4 to 18—when she unexpectedly lost the love of her life and father of her children to cancer. Never did Cheryl envision living 20+ years as a...

Today is the day! The Messy Table is BACK from summer siesta—kicking off a stunning fall semester with the wise + darling gals over at Risen Motherhood . Emily Jensen + Laura Wifler are down-to-earth mamas (as well as sister-in-laws) who are following Jesus’ lead through the peaks and valleys, wonders and trenches of motherhood. Through endless diaper changes and the ebbs and flows of work +...

Hello friend! You might notice we’re posting this week’s episode a tad early, because SUMMER. We also believe you need these words in your earbuds as quickly as possible! Today at The Messy Table , Cindy Beall and I are chatting with a real-life hero who’s teaching us a thing or two about brokenness and belonging. Britanie Ramirez is a pastor’s wife, biological + foster mam...

Have you ever felt alone in a crowded room, just wishing you could scream at the top of your lungs? Dozens of people might surround you, but they have NO CLUE what you’ve actually lived through… Today at The Messy Table , we get the opportunity to hear April McCloskey’s story. Not only did she nearly lose her daughter in a wild turn of events, but she also refused to back down fr...

Who are you— really ? A question that taunts us all. The truth is, we were created by God and for God. But too often we believe the lies and labels that are constantly screaming: Unworthy. Unqualified. A mess. A failure. Even “good” labels that cause us to strive for our own righteousness and perfection. Today at The Messy Table , Amy Groeschel and I are chatting with Sheri Yates . Sheri is a wife...

In a magical land far, far away, storybook fairytales are sprinkled with dreamy filters and cotton-candy perfection. But that’s not always real life, is it? With great expectations for motherhood, Marlissa Sheffield strolled into the hospital to deliver her first baby, but—much to her surprise—she could not walk out. Due to a rare series of events and severe nerve damage, Marlissa’s le...

Some topics are heavier than others—today’s episode at The Messy Table includes one of them. But just because a conversation is hard, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have it. Just because there is darkness or brokenness, doesn’t mean radiant light can’t come blazing through the cracks. For Episode 54, Divina Bruss and I are sitting down with Toni McFadden as she shares her...

When life gets messy, overwhelming, and complicated, we’re tempted to do one of three things: 1) Run. 2) Retreat. 3) RISE. Today, Holly Wagner is joining Amy Groeschel and me for Episode 53 at The Messy Table . Holly’s a fiery blonde hailing from Los Angeles, California, where she and her husband lead  Oasis Church —right in the heart of LA. She’s also the mastermind behind She Rises , the h...

Do you ever feel like you’re missing out on your one actual life? Your body is coasting through the motions, but distraction and disappointment have crept in, leaving your soul overwhelmed… Today’s guest at The Messy Table is shaking us conscious with an urgent wake-up call. Six years ago, Kate Merrick  said goodbye for now to her 8-year-old daughter, Daisy Love , after a grueling battle wit...

Trust is the glue of life. The essential foundation beneath ANY relationship—whether that’s with a spouse, a friend, a parent, or even God. But sometimes life hurts and trust gets shattered. Sometimes we’re dealt unfair circumstances and the people we love most let us down. Sometimes we find ourselves wondering if we’ll ever trust again… Today at The Messy Table , my great...