The Holy Pause That Changed Everything | Healing After a Breakup, Heartbreak & Toxic Relationships

I’m back, sis. ❤️ After three months in a Holy Pause—a season of consecration, surrender, and getting quiet with God—I’m finally back behind the microphone. And I’m not coming back as the same woman who stepped away. In this episode, I’m opening up about what happened during those three months and sharing parts of my story I haven’t really talked about here before. I grew up in religion, spent years searching for freedom and validation in the world, and eventually discovered something that changed everything: grace. I’m imperfect. That’s exactly why I need Jesus. During this Holy Pause, God began revealing just how much of my life had been shaped by survival, people-pleasing, perfectionism, fear, control, and the need to hold everything together. I had spent years trying to fix things I was never meant to fix—and even trying to save myself. Then came a night of raw honesty with God. Face-first on my pillow, crying out for Him to heal the places in me I could no longer carry, something broke. I stopped trying to put all the pieces of my life together and surrendered them to the One who could. I laid things on the altar. Including expectations. Because sometimes God asks us to surrender more than our sin. Sometimes He asks us to surrender our plans, our timelines, our need for control, and even the things we desperately want Him to do. And somewhere in that surrender, I found a peace I had never known before. This episode is also a reintroduction to Girl, Date the Good Guy and the beginning of a new season. We’re talking about the heart behind this podcast, what God has been birthing during my Holy Pause, and why I believe this space is becoming something bigger than dating. We’re talking about The Holy Rescue. A place for the woman sitting in the wreckage of a breakup. The woman healing from heartbreak. The woman trying to recover from a Toxic Relationship. The woman looking back and wondering why she ignored the Red Flags. The woman with a Broken Heart who isn't sure what comes next. If that's you, I want you to know something: God meets you right where you are. You don't have to have it all figured out before you come to Him. You don't have to be perfect. You just have to come. This is your holy space to heal, rise, and love again. This time... with God. In this episode: • Why I stepped away for three months • What God revealed to me during my Holy Pause • Growing up in religion and discovering grace • People-pleasing, perfectionism, and living from survival mode • The night I finally surrendered everything to God • What it means to lay expectations on the altar • Why this podcast is about more than dating • The beginning of The Holy Rescue • What's coming next for Girl, Date the Good Guy • The Holy Rescue Love Letters and The Vault • Why we're moving to one new episode every Thursday at 5:00 AM Stay Connected If this episode spoke to you, share it with a woman who needs to hear it. Follow Girl, Date the Good Guy so you never miss a new episode, and if you've been enjoying the podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your review helps another woman find this space. And if you'd like to stay connected between episodes, join The Holy Rescue Love Letters for weekly encouragement, behind-the-scenes updates, and letters from my heart to yours. I'll see you next Thursday at 5:00 AM. Until then, keep your eyes on Jesus. And remember... Welcome to your Holy Rescue. ❤️ 💌 Join The Holy Rescue Love Letters Receive weekly encouragement, biblical truth, podcast updates, and behind-the-scenes moments from Emily straight to your inbox. You’ll also be the first to know when new pieces are released from The Vault—a curated collection of creations, books, resources, and meaningful pieces designed to encourage your heart and remind you of the truths God is writing in your story. Join the Love Letters and be part of the journey. 👉 https://girldatethegoodguy.com 🎧 Listen to Girl, Date the Good Guy Follow the show so you never miss an episode. ⭐ Help More Women Find This Message Leave a review on Apple Podcasts and share this episode with a woman who needs this rescue. 🤍 Connect with Emily [email protected]