The Flourishing Life with Tina Avila

Waiting is hard—especially when you’re convinced you’ve reached the end of your capacity. But what if the eleventh hour isn’t evidence that God forgot you, but the very place where he’s doing his deepest work? Tune in for more!Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

Have you ever felt like you keep messing up your faith even when you’re trying your best?This episode explores what happens when we repent, believe, and follow but still fall short. Failure isn’t the end, but it is part of the rhythm.So maybe faith isn’t about getting it right but returning to Jesus again and again. Tune in for more!Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

Have you ever started reading Leviticus and quickly felt lost?This episode explores why some Old Testament laws still matter while others don’t—and how understanding the difference can actually deepen our faith. What if making sense of these laws help us to see God more clearly?Maybe it’s simpler and more meaningful than you think. Tune in for more!Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

Have you ever felt like you needed to have the “right words” before coming to God? This episode explores the story of Hannah: a woman who shows us what it looks like to pray with raw honesty, to trust God in the waiting, and to surrender even our deepest desires.Maybe God isn’t asking for polished prayers… maybe he’s inviting you to come as you are. Tune in for more!Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

Have you built your life around something you were sure would hold, only to watch it fall apart?  This episode explores disappointments that shake us… the relationships, plans, and expectations we place our hope in that were never meant to carry that weight. And what if those moments of instability are not random but intentional? Maybe the shaking isn’t meant to destroy you… maybe it’s meant to lead you to something unshakable. Tune in for more!Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

Does prayer actually work—or are your prayers just hitting the ceiling? In this episode, we unpack the power of prayer, move beyond “thoughts & prayers,” and rediscover how honest, Scripture-shaped prayer can transform your relationship with God. Tune in for more!Click HERE for the blog version of this episide.

Why does David ask God for joy after committing some of the worst sins recorded in Scripture?In this episode, we dive into Psalm 51 and ask: What if the freedom we’re searching for isn’t found in trying harder… but in rediscovering that God himself is our joy? Tune in for more!Click HERE for the blog version of this epidose.

Most of us are not at rock bottom, but we’re not exactly desperate for God either. Somewhere in that comfortable middle, pride can keep us from the very repentance and restoration our souls need. What would it look like to show up honestly with God? Tune in for more!Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

When darkness lingers and prayers feel unanswered, what do you do? In this episode we explore Psalm 88—the Bible’s darkest prayer—and discover how God meets us in honest lament, persistent prayer, and in the hope that we are never alone. Tune in for more!Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

What’s so significant about the cross? In this episode, we trace the breathtaking thread that culminates at Easter when God provided the ultimate sacrificial Lamb. Tune in for more!Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

“I don’t deserve this.” It’s a phrase many of us whisper—or shout—when life takes a painful turn. But Scripture tells a different story about suffering. In this post, we explore how God can work through the trials we’d never choose in order to bring about something far more lasting. Tune in for more!Click HERE for the blog version of the episode.

When you read the Bible, how do you know what really matters? In this post, we explore how repetition is used in Scripture to help us recognize God’s voice and uncover what he’s emphasizing for our lives today. Tune in for more!Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

Ever feel like God is silent when you need him most? The book of Esther tells a story where God is never mentioned—yet his fingerprints are everywhere. In this episode, we explore how the “Silent Partner” is still at work in our lives, even when we can’t hear his voice. Tune on for more!Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

Are you chasing freedom—or becoming who you were designed to be?In this episode, we unpack what it means to be chosen by God and called with purpose. You’re not free to become whoever you want—you’re empowered to become who you were always meant to be. Tune in for more!Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

Are you leaving behind something sour or sweet?In this episode, I share the sweet legacy of a woman who carried Smarties in her purse—and what her quiet faithfulness taught me about intentional presence and leaving a sweet legacy. Tune in for more!

What does it mean to truly live free from comparison?This episode examines the tenth commandment, envy, and contentment by offering biblical insight into how satisfaction grows when God—not comparison—is at the center. Tune in for more!Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

“They soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His plan to unfold.” (Psalm 106:13) This episode is about remembering, waiting, and trusting God when silence feels unbearable. Tune in for more!Click HERE for the blog version of this podcast.

There was life before the fire… and life after. Faith milestones can shape us—but they’re not meant to sustain us forever. In this episode, I wrestle with what it means to keep seeking God when the noise dies down and the feelings fade. Listen to After the Fire.Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

Why does the life of faith have to be such a struggle? Am I doing something wrong? Wrestling through matters of faith can be frustrating until we see how normal and healthy it really is. Tune in to find out more!Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

Do you have a hard time getting into reading Scripture, so it's hard to make it a habit? Me too. Tune in for 7 tips that have been really helpful to me!Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

Ever feel like despite your best efforts you can't seem to hold it together? Me too. Tune in to discover why we were never meant to and what to do about it. Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

If you know me even a little bit, you know how much I love to read. For this first post of the year, I share my favorite books from 2025 including impactful quotes and recommendations. Some I read as audiobooks, and some printed text, but all great reads. Tune in to find out more!Click HERE for the blog version of the episode.

Do you have a hard time getting into Bible reading? Looking for some guidance in how to engage with Scripture in a meaningful way? Consider this invitation to read the Bible in a year with Tina. Tune in to find out more!Click  HERE for the blog version of this episode.The Bible Recap & YouVersion

What is it about Christmas that draws you in? After 400 years of radio silence with no one hearing from God. The first person to be filled with the Spirit of God is an unlikely choice. Tune in to find out more!Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

How does Scripture anchor us when truth feels slippery? Tune in to explore Tina's 3 approaches to reading Scripture that are an absolute game-changer!Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

Lord, how should we pray? Jesus' closest friends asked him this and as his followers today, we can as well. In this episode Tina explores how the most famous prayer in history helps us reorder our lives. Come discover it for yourself!Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

Perhaps the most powerful thing about the wilderness experience is to realize that you’re not wandering, but being led. Tune into this episode as Tina explores what the wilderness can teach us.Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

What happens when the truth God speaks over us meets the trials that test it? Tune into this episode as Tina explores the temptations of Jesus and their relevance for our own lives.Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

Before Jesus preached a sermon or performed a miracle, God declared his identity over him. This is my Son whom I love. With him I am well pleased. Do you know this is true of you, too? Tune into this episode as Tina unpacks the truth of our identity found in who God says we are over what we do.Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

Do you feel like your faith has run out of oxygen? Tune into this episode as Tina explores how the Ignatian Examen helps us recover peace, truth, and presence in Jesus.Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

When people spend time with you, can they tell you've spent time with Jesus? Tune into this episode as Tina unpacks Acts 4:13, where 2 ordinary guys make an extraordinary impact because they had spent lots of time with Jesus.Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

Do you believe your heart more than you believe God's truth? Which is guiding your life and decisions? Tune into this episode as Tina explores what Scripture says about our hearts condemning us and how God is greater than our hearts.Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

For some, God would have to be explained by science to exist. For others, his existence isn't in question, it's what you must give up to follow God that holds you back. Tune into this episode as Tina dives deep into some of the reservations we have about going "all in" with God. Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

What if your life doesn't need a big overhaul or dramatic fix? What if you just need to slow down, listen, rest, and remember that God hasn't left you. Tune into this episode as Tina explores a comical story from the Bible where God's big miracle was a simple snack and a quick nap and see if you can't relate to it too.Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

We all want some version of God's Kingdom to rain down on us in abundance—full of grace, mercy, and peace, BUT without any infringement on our personal rights and freedoms. Tune into this episode as Tina explores what "kingdom come" really means today.Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

In your darkest moments, is it difficult to imagine that God really sees you? In your hardest seasons, do you feel overlooked? In your deepest need, do you feel forgotten? Invisible? Tune into this episode where Tina grapples with the universal and age old longing to be seen by God.Click HERE for the blog version of this episode.

We usually think of the prodigal as the one who leaves. But what if staying home is its own kind of lost? Tune into this episode where Tina explores the familiar story of the Prodigal Son with a deeper exploration into the self-righteous first son. Click HERE to read the blog version of this episode.

Have you ever gone through something so awful that it left you feeling disoriented, disillusioned, or hopeless about the future? Tune into this episode where Tina explores how Jesus walks with us even in seasons when we want to walk away through the story in Luke 24 titled The Road to Emmaus. 

Why do we struggle in our faith? Why do we fall into the same patterns and bad habits? In this episode Tina explores how the flourishing life starts by making room for God to act in our lives. This is Part Two of a two part series. Click HERE to check out Part One titled, What Am I Missing?

In this episode, Tina explores how we can stay rooted when our minds drift. Click HERE for the related episode that Tina mentions.

In this episode, Tina tackles some of the biggest questions we wrestle with in our faith:• Where do I stand before God?• Have I done enough?• Have I sacrificed enough?• When God weighs my life on a scale, will my good deeds outweigh my bad?Click ⁠HERE⁠ for the reader's version on Tina's blog.

In this episode, Tina unpacks two ways of reading the Bible that not only help make senses of the weird stuff, but more importantly, help us understand the God of the Bible.Click ⁠HERE⁠ for the reader's version on Tina's blog.

In this episode, Tina reflects on how God and life goals intersect.Click ⁠HERE⁠ for the reader's version on Tina's blog.

What are you engaged in that makes you feel God’s pleasure? Click ⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠ for the reader's version on Tina's blog.

What does a life of human flourishing look like?What does it really mean to live your best life?Click ⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠ for the reader's version on Tina's blog.

It’s the question I’ve asked myself in different ways and in different seasons. It’s the question that makes us either give up, or drives us harder to find the answer.Go to the link below for more from Tina.www.tinaavila.com

After a 3 year hiatus, the pod is back and better than ever! Tune in for a new blog and podcast episode every Friday and be sure to subscribe so you don't miss a thing. This episode is short and sweet, with a little sneak peek of where this new season will take us. So take a listen and then share with a friend!www.tinaavila.com

This blog/podcast sat in my drafts for AT LEAST 5 months because it was really hard to wrestle through some of the ugly inside me. Now that it's out in the world... let me know your thoughts or if you can relate!Click HERE for the reader's version including links to previous relevant blog post episodes. 

We'll be exploring laments today! Largely because of my personal experience. Here's my working definition of lament: An expression of heartbreak or grief because something you are experiencing does not line up with what you understand about God. Click HERE for the reader's version and let me know your thoughts in the comments!

It was around this time 7 years ago that we listed our home in Montreal in anticipation for setting a new course in life.In today’s blog + podcast, I share about the experience of uprooting my life to a new town, some of the internal struggles along the way, and what helped my troubled heart in the process.Click HERE for the reader's version, share your thoughts in the comments, and share with a friend too!