Return to Jesus Podcast

Hey friend,I’m so grateful you’re here for the start of this new season. This one feels especially close to my heart because we’re talking all about peace,  not the kind the world offers, but the kind Jesus promises us. The kind that steadies you, even when life feels anything but calm.In this episode, I’m sharing a bit more personally about what this season has looked like for me. From navigating big life moments like parenting shifts and graduation, to walking through the quiet and not-so-quiet challenges that come with change, I’ve been learning what it really means to hold onto peace when life feels uncertain.We’ll talk about the words of Jesus in John 14:27 and how His peace is available to us right here, right now. Not when everything is perfect. Not when life slows down. But in the middle of it all.Here are two things I hope you carry with you into this season: Peace is something we practice, not just something we hope for. In the quiet moments, in prayer, in stepping outside and noticing God’s creation,  we make space for His peace to meet us.You can trust God even when life feels unclear. His peace isn’t dependent on your circumstances. It’s rooted in His presence and His promises.This season is an invitation to slow down, breathe deep, and return again and again to the One who holds it all together. I’m so glad we get to walk through it together.Truly Yours, Jen Jen is the host of The Return to Jesus Podcast, a writer, speaker, and spiritual encourager who is passionate about helping women slow down and reconnect with God in their everyday lives. Through honest reflections and meaningful conversations, she gently reminds listeners that peace is always available when we choose to return to Jesus. Check out her book, Return to Jesus hereCheck out her website here Connect with her on Facebook hereConnect with her on Instagram here 

Hey friend,This conversation with Raleigh Sadler felt like a gentle invitation to breathe deeper, look around, and return to what matters most.Raleigh is the founder and executive director of Let My People Go, a ministry that equips churches to serve those who are vulnerable to exploitation. In this episode, he shares so beautifully about the difference between happiness and joy, how slowing down has helped him grow in creativity and connection, and why vulnerability is essential for meaningful relationships. We also talk about his experiences with pilgrimage, and how being present in our bodies and stories is one way we reflect God's love to the world.This episode reminded me that sometimes the deepest joy is found not in fixing everything, but in being with, with God, with others, and with ourselves.Here are two takeaways I hope you hold onto:✨ Joy is rooted in identity, not circumstance. It’s less about what’s happening around you and more about who you’re becoming as you return to Jesus.✨ Vulnerability invites connection. When we slow down long enough to be honest with ourselves and others, we create space for real community to grow.Raleigh’s gentle wisdom and deep compassion make this episode one to revisit whenever life feels rushed or disconnected. I hope it meets you right where you are.Truly Yours,Jen Raleigh Sadler contact information:Website: https://www.lmpg.org/Podcast: https://www.mercycast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mercycastpod/ Jen Thompson contact information:www.trulyyoursjen.comwww.jenthompsonauthor.comemail - [email protected] me on Facebook and Instagram @trulyyoursjen!  Grab your copy of Return to Jesus! https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/747877/return-to-jesus-by-jen-thompson/

Hey friend,You’re in for such a rich conversation this week. I sat down with Lauren Fernandez — author, mother of five, and a woman who knows what it means to hold both joy and pain in the same breath.Lauren shares so openly about her journey of faith, what it looks like to keep showing up in dry seasons, and how joy isn’t about everything being perfect. It’s about trusting that God is still working, even when things feel messy or mundane. Together we talked about the power of remembering God's promises, the importance of sharing our stories honestly, and how we can each find purpose right where we are — dishes in the sink and all.Here are two takeaways I hope stick with you:✨ Joy isn’t the absence of pain. It’s rooted in hope — and you can hold both joy and grief at the same time.✨ Your ordinary matters. God meets you in the carpool line, the quiet morning moments, and even in the overwhelm. None of it is wasted.This conversation felt like a deep breath and a gentle reminder that faith isn’t always loud — sometimes it’s just the quiet decision to keep showing up.Truly Yours, Jen

Hey friend,This episode is a little different,  it’s just me, and I’m inviting you into something personal.As the holiday season unfolds, I wanted to pause and reflect with you. No guests, no plans, just an honest conversation from my heart. This year has brought some unexpected challenges, the heartbreaking loss of my mother-in-law, some health scares, and the kind of moments that remind you how much we need rest, community, and the peace only Jesus can give.If the holidays feel a little heavy for you too,  if the joy is mixed with grief, or the traditions feel like pressure instead of comfort,  I want you to know you’re not alone. In this episode, I share what I’m learning about accepting help, letting go of the stress I usually carry, and finding the sacred in the simple.Here are two things I hope you’ll carry with you:You don’t have to do it all. Let the simplicity of Christ’s birth remind you that peace often comes when we release expectations and return to what truly matters.It’s okay to need help. Community is a gift, and learning to receive is just as holy as learning to give.I close this episode with a prayer for peace and acceptance,  for you, for me, and for all of us navigating the holidays with tender hearts.Let’s keep returning to Jesus, together.Truly Yours, JenGrab your copy of Return to Jesus HERE - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/747877/return-to-jesus-by-jen-thompson/Grab your copy of Grace in All Places HERE - https://amzn.to/48n3BliJen Thompson contact information:www.trulyyoursjen.comwww.jenthompsonauthor.com email - [email protected] me on Facebook and Instagram!

Hey friend,I’m so excited to share this beautiful and deeply honest conversation with Jillian Benfield. She’s a writer, speaker, disability advocate, and mom who knows what it’s like to walk through unexpected seasons — and still find joy on the other side.Jillian and I talked about the idea of living with awe not in the big, flashy moments, but in the ordinary rhythms of life. She shared how her morning routine overlooking the river grounds her, how she's learned to hold grief and gratitude together, and why it’s okay if your life looks different than you imagined.We also talked about the danger of toxic positivity and how important it is to let our scars remind us not only of what we’ve endured, but also of how we’ve healed.Here are two takeaways I hope land gently in your heart:You can hold both joy and sorrow. Life isn’t either-or it’s, both-and. And God meets us in that sacred in-between. Pay attention to awe. When we slow down enough to notice beauty, even in the chaos, we remember that God is still near.Jillian's vulnerability, wisdom, and truth-telling will stay with you long after the episode ends. I pray this one helps you breathe a little deeper and return to Jesus, no matter what kind of season you're walking through.Truly Yours, JenGrab your copy of Return to Jesus here - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/747877/return-to-jesus-by-jen-thompson/Jen Thompson contact information:Blog - www.trulyyoursjen.comWebsite - www.jenthompsonauthor.com email - [email protected] me on Facebook and Instagram!@trulyyoursjen Jillian Benfield contact information:FREE Ebooks: www.JillianBenfield.comFacebook: @jillianbenfieldInstagram: @jillianbenfieldblog

Hey friend,This conversation is tender, beautiful, and one I think you’ll carry with you for a while.I sat down with Chelsea Ohlemiller, a grief advocate, speaker, and author whose journey through the loss of her mother reshaped how she lives and loves today. Chelsea shares so honestly about the ways grief shows up, sometimes quietly, sometimes like a storm, and how it can actually live alongside joy. Yes, both. At the same time.We talked about giving ourselves permission to feel happy again, the guilt that sometimes comes with that, and how writing became a healing outlet for her in the middle of the mess.Here are two takeaways I hope stay with you:Grief and joy are not opposites, they can walk hand-in-hand. Feeling joy after loss doesn’t mean you’ve forgotten. It means you’re still living.There is no perfect timeline. Your grief journey is yours alone, and there is no “right” way to walk through it.Chelsea’s words will make you feel seen and less alone, especially if you're holding heartache of your own. This episode is for anyone who’s loved deeply and lost someone who shaped their world.Let’s keep learning to return, even to joy, one gentle step at a time.Truly Yours, Jen Grab your copy of Return to Jesus here - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/747877/return-to-jesus-by-jen-thompson/Check out her Website, Happiness, Hope & Harsh Realities: www.hopeandharshrealities.comFollow Chelsea on Facebook: @hopeandharshrealitiesFollow Chelsea on Instagram: @hopeandharshrealitiesFollow Chelsea on TikTok: @chelseaohlemiller

Hey friend,You know those conversations that feel like a deep breath and a warm hug at the same time? That’s exactly what this episode with Laura L. Smith felt like.Laura is a gifted author and speaker who’s passionate about helping women uncover the truth of who they are in Christ. In today’s episode, she and I talk about how we can find joy in our everyday moments, even the ones that feel slow or frustrating. We dive into what it means to wait well on God, how to be brave even when we're afraid, and why building community and friendships is more than just a “nice idea”  it’s essential.Here are two takeaways I hope you carry with you:✨ Prayer doesn’t need to be fancy or formal. It’s a real conversation with a real God who cares deeply about your real life.✨ There is joy to be found right where you are. Even in the ordinary, even in the waiting, even in the hard, joy is there, if we slow down enough to see it.Laura’s heart for women and her love for God’s Word shine through every story she shares. If you’ve been longing for a reminder that God sees you, hears you, and is walking with you — this is the episode to press play on.Truly Yours,Jen Grab your copy of Return to Jesus today! https://amzn.to/48GFONu Laura L. Smith contact information:Instagram @laurasmithauthorhttps://www.instagram.com/laurasmithauthor/ https://www.laurasmithauthor.com/ And the first chapter of Brave Woman, Mighty God for FREE https://forms.gle/iGe1KnjucM89a1nB7

Hey friend,I cannot wait for you to hear this conversation with my friend Leslie Means. If you’ve ever read a post on Her View From Home, then you’ve already been impacted by her work. Leslie is the founder of that beautiful community and platform, and she’s spent years creating space for women to share their honest, real-life stories, especially the ones tucked into the ordinary moments of motherhood and midlife.In today’s episode, Leslie and I talk about the surprising joys that come with slowing down, the beauty of storytelling, and how the simplest moments often hold the most meaning. We talk about what it means to keep showing up, even when life feels loud or a little lonely, and how choosing vulnerability can be the very thing that opens us up to deeper connection.A couple takeaways I hope stay with you:✨ It’s okay to hold both joy and sadness. Life is layered and messy, and God meets us in all of it.✨ Your story matters. Sharing what you’ve lived through might be the very thing that helps someone else feel less alone.About Leslie Means:Leslie is the founder of Her View From Home, a platform that invites women to share their personal stories of motherhood, faith, grief, and growth. She is a writer, speaker, and community builder who believes that storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for connection and healing. Her work has encouraged millions of women to embrace their stories and know they aren’t alone.Leslie’s wisdom and warmth are such a gift, and this episode will leave you breathing a little deeper and remembering the beauty of simply showing up in your own life.Truly Yours,JenGrab your copy of Return to Jesus: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/747877/return-to-jesus-by-jen-thompson/ Grab your copy of So God Made a Grandma: https://amzn.to/4600XAICheck out Her View From Home - https://herviewfromhome.com/Follow Leslie on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/14RKEv5YsN4/?mibextid=wwXIfrFollow Leslie on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leslielmeans?igsh=MWYzMXcwYXNwbWVyaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Hey friend,You are going to love this conversation with Tabitha Yates. She is an author, speaker, and mental health advocate who is passionate about bridging the gap between faith and emotional wellness. Her book Jesus and Therapy invites readers to explore healing through both spiritual practices and therapeutic tools. Tabitha is also a mom, and she shares how motherhood has been one of the most powerful catalysts in her journey of self-love and growth.In this episode, we talk about the deep kind of joy that isn’t dependent on circumstances, but one that’s discovered through healing. Tabitha shares her story of walking through trauma, the challenges of writing her book, and how she’s learned to embrace continued healing without shame. It’s an honest, powerful conversation about how God meets us in our pain and invites us into wholeness.Here are a couple of things I hope you carry with you:Your story, even the painful parts, has purpose. Sharing it might be the very thing someone else needs to hear so they can take their next step toward healing. Healing is ongoing and holy work. There’s no shame in needing time, space, therapy, or community. God is present in every part of that process.If you’ve ever felt like your pain disqualified you, or wondered how God could use your story, this conversation is for you. Let’s keep returning to Jesus, even in the hard places.Truly Yours, JenGrab your copy of Return to Jesus - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/747877/return-to-jesus-by-jen-thompson/ Grab your copy of Jesus and Therapy and check out more from Tabitha Yates! Jesus and Therapy- https://a.co/d/hjmRicaWebsite- www.theredeemedmama.comFacebook- https://www.facebook.com/TheRedeemedMamaInstagram- Tabitha Yates (@tabitha_yates_author) • Instagram photos and videosTik Tok- Tabitha Yates, Author (@tabitha.yates.aut) | TikTok

This is the last episode of the season! Thank you for tuning in to Season 1 of the Return to Jesus Podcast. Stay tuned for a bonus episode between Seasons 1 and 2 with author, Laura Smith. Thank you for all the ways you continue to support me and this journey. My heart is so grateful!Also, my book, Return to Jesus: An Invitation to Abide with Him in Every Beautiful, Stressful, or Tedious Moment is officially released! Yay! Be sure to grab your copy today! https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/747877/return-to-jesus-by-jen-thompson/

In this episode of the Return to Jesus Podcast, host Jen Thompson, talks to author, Natasha Smith, about all things related to grief and grace. Natasha Smith is a Certified Grief Educator, grief advocate, speaker, and podcast host. She shares from a place of 30-plus years of lived grief experience, research, and biblical study. Her work has appeared in Guideposts, Propel Women, Influence Magazine, HerBible, and elsewhere. She and her husband, Clinton, have four children and live outside of Raleigh, NC.Her book Can You Just Sith With Me: Healthy Grieving for the Losses of Life and Black Woman Grief: A Guide to Hope and Wholeness are available wherever books are sold. Connect with her at imnatashasmith.com.This is a conversation you won’t want to miss. 

In this episode of the Return to Jesus Podcast, host Jen Thompson, talks to emotional stability coach, speaker, somatic healing practitioner, and founder of Dancing in the Mess, Jill Howell about all things related to learning to heal and regulate your mind, body and spirit - and of course, grace. Jill has overcome Complex PTSD, chronic pain, IBS, chronic fatigue, anxiety, and depression. She guides women to transform the relationship they have with themselves + embody peace and joy again. Jill’s holistic mind-body-spirit coaching equips women to listen to their body, rewire their nervous systems, heal mind-body symptoms, + break free from survival mode + the negative patterns of emotional suppression. Jill can be found on Instagram + Facebook @Dancinginthemess and online at www.dancinginthemess.com

In this episode of the Return to Jesus Podcast, host, Jen Thompson, talks with her oldest daughter, Sophia Thompson, about all things related to parenting, grace, the teenage years and relationships between siblings and parents. This is conversation you won’t want to miss! 

This is the second part of host, Jen Thompson’s, interview with her husband about all things related to grace, marriage and family. This is a fun conversation that you won’t want to miss....especially if you’ve been waiting for that cliffhanger to be answered! 

In this episode of the podcast, host Jen Thompson, talks with her husband, Patrick Thompson, about all things related to marriage, grace and raising a family. This episode had some recording mishaps - so it’s real life grace in action. Sometimes, this is life, folks. It’s real. It’s messy. And we learn to roll with the punches as they come. 

This episode of the Return to Jesus Podcast is short and sweet. Host, Jen Thompson, talks with her listeners about going with Plan B when life throws you a curve ball, and learning how to give yourself grace when things don’t go as planned. This wasn’t the episode that was intended, but this is real life and this is real grace in action. Tune in next week for a conversation between Jen and her husband, Patrick, about all things grace, family and marriage. 

In this episode of the Return to Jesus Podcast, host Jen Thompson, talks with business owner and CEO of Nuss Partners, Bob Stanton, about all things related to taking a leap of faith, family and of course - grace.Bob Stanton is an accomplished senior executive with a diverse background and proven track record in operations, IT, and metrics. With over thirty years of experience in the insurance industry and now as a leader in the food industry, Bob has demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and operational excellence across multiple sectors. Bob is the current CEO of Nuss Partners, a holding company with a clear mission to reinvigorate interpersonal connections through the food industry. Nuss Partners focuses on empathy, integrity, and innovation while prioritizing people as its most valuable asset. Under Bob’s leadership, Nuss Partners acquired its first business, Jones Meat & Locker, a historic meat processing company known for its high-quality products and deep community roots. As CEO of Jones Meat & Locker, Bob is overseeing the company’s transformation, implementing operational improvements and strategic growth initiatives to ensure it thrives in a modern, competitive market.Bob holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University, where he studied Mathematics/Statistics and Actuarial Science. Throughout his career, Bob has consistently demonstrated his ability to lead teams, transform businesses, and drive strategic growth, most recently expanding his leadership into food processing and retail with Nuss Partners and Jones Meat & Locker.You can learn more about Bob through his website - www.nusspartners.com and his Facebook Page - www.facebook.com/jonesmeatandlocker. You can also email him at [email protected]   . 

In episode 5 of the Return To Jesus Podcast, host, Jen Thompson, talks with the author of You’ll Make It (And They Will, Too): Everything No One Talks About When You’re Parenting Teens about all things related to grace and the teen years. Raising teens today is not for the faint of heart, and Amy Betters-Midtvedt has certainly been through it. She’s come home to a teenage daughter with a “surprise” tattoo…obtained from a guy outside Walmart. She’s held tight to another one of her teens suffering with an eating disorder, finding her way through to get her help and heal. She’s laid outside her son’s room at night as he struggled with anxiety, so riddled with worry, all she could do was pray.The stories are endless, but for Amy, so is the beauty, the grace, and the opportunity to love and raise our evolving humans with the same devotion, patience and persistence God extends to us. As a mom with five kids ages twelve to twenty-two (currently all living at home!), Amy Betters-Midtvedt found that parenting teens challenged everything she thought it meant to be a “good” mom. But in the unraveling came the building of something new and more beautiful than she could have imagined: an incredible sense of love, hope, joy, and relationship—even in the mess. You can learn more about Amy on her website at www.amybettersmidtvedt.com and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/amy.betters.midtvedt/ and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/amybettersmidtvedthidingintheclosetwithcoffee.

In Episode 4 of The Return to Jesus Podcast, Jen Thompson talks with Mikala Albertson ,MD ,author of the books Ordinary on Purpose and Everything I Wish I Could Tell You About Midlife, about all things family, health , accepting the body you have and grace. Mikala inspires readers every day to stop striving for “perfect” lives or some unattainable cultural ideal of “beauty and wellness” and instead aim for wholehearted living through a gentle, achievable, sustainable approach. Visit https://www.mikalaalbertsonmd.com/ to sign up for her monthly Love Notes and freebies!

In Episode 3 of The Return to Jesus Podcast, Jen Thompson talks with singer, songwriter and winner of The Voice, Craig Wayne Boyd, about all things family, travel, songwriting, making music and the importance of grace. Days after his victory on The Voice, Craig debuted at #1 on Billboard with “My Baby’s Got a Smile on Her Face” tying Garth Brooks for the honor and recently Morgan Wallen doing the same! Beyond his musical achievements, Craig is known for his genuine humility and dedication to his craft. He has guest hosted or appeared on Today In Nashville, The Great American Food Truck Challenge,  Hallmark channel’s Home and Family, The Ellen Show, Jimmy Fallon, Fox, Good Morning America, Good Morning LALA Land, TODAY, TMZ, All Access Hollywood etc. His most prized musical accomplishments is playing the Grand Ole Opry 25+ times. Whether jamming with his five children, playing back under that steeple on his off Sundays or entertaining his fan club the #YALLERS on the road, he remains a beloved figure in the country music community, inspiring aspiring artists with his talent and down-to-earth personality.Craig Wayne Boyd's story is one of talent and “stick-to-itiveness”. With album number six well on it's, he's ready to unleash his most real, raw, country yet. For all things Craig Wayne Boyd visit www.craigwayneboyd.com

In this episode, host, Jen Thompson, talks with Enneagram Coach, Ro Elliott, about all things related to faith, grace and the Enneagram.    Ro holds a Narrative Focus Trauma Care Certificate from the Allender Center and is a certified Enneagram Coach. In our conversation, Ro explains how the Enneagram can help us both to give grace and to receive grace. She gives a brief explanation of the 9  Enneagram Types, including their core fears and core longings, and touches on the importance of pursuing healing and mental health throughout our lives.    You can learn more about Ro and her coaching business at https://www.roelliottconsulting.com. Thanks for tuning in! This is a conversation you won’t want to miss! 

Do the words stressed, overwhelmed, exhausted or worn-out ring a bell? Do you feel those things in your busy days? In our fast-paced society, it is hard to find time to rest. It is hard to find spiritual practices and habits that work when we are stretched so thin. Without even realizing it, our faith can become just another box we check off each day instead of the restorative, transformational relationship it is intended to be . In this first episode, host, Jen Thompson shares more about what the Return to Jesus Podcast will be about and what to expect this season.