The Table of Grace Podcast

Send us Fan MailShe had spent everything. She had tried everything. Then she did the one thing no “good girl” would do: she pushed through the crowd, reached low, and touched the hem of Jesus’ garment.We sit down with Tessah and Courtney to walk through the bleeding woman’s story in Mark 5:25–34, Luke 8:43–48, and Matthew 9:20–22, pulling out the details that change how you read it. We talk about what it meant to be ceremonially unclean, cut off from worship and community, and why her healing is bigger than a physical miracle. When Jesus stops and calls her “Daughter,” we see a Savior who restores identity, reputation, and belonging without a hint of disgust or distance.From there, we connect the passage to the Good Girl Complex and the quiet ways women learn to cope: hiding pain, trying to fix ourselves first, and making Jesus our last resort because surrender feels like losing control. We ask the hard questions: Are you crawling to Him, or managing your life around Him? What are you willing to risk to bring your real need into the light?If this conversation gives you hope, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more women can find a seat at the table.Follow along at:Instagram: @tableofgraceFacebook: The Table of Grace Podcast

Send us Fan MailShe shows up at the well when no one else would be there, carrying more than a water jar, carrying shame, isolation, and a story she would rather keep quiet. Then Jesus does the unthinkable: he goes straight through Samaria, sits down, and starts a conversation with the very person the culture would have overlooked. John 4 is not just a famous Bible passage; it is a spotlight on the heart of God and a mirror for anyone trapped in the good girl complex. We talk through the Samaritan woman’s encounter with Jesus, the tension between Jews and Samaritans, and why it mattered that a Jewish rabbi spoke to a woman alone in public. We also wrestle with the assumptions people make about her past and ask a harder question: what if she wasn’t the problem, but the one everyone blamed? We trace how Jesus names what is true without shaming, and how being fully known becomes the beginning of real healing. If you have ever felt like you have to look perfect to be accepted, or you have hidden parts of your story because Christians can be judgmental, this conversation is for you. We keep coming back to one simple invitation: you do not have to clean up first. Put the bucket down, lift your eyes, and let Jesus meet you right where you are. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review telling us what part of this story you cannot stop thinking about.Follow along at:Instagram: @tableofgraceFacebook: The Table of Grace Podcast

Send us Fan MailComparison doesn’t just steal your joy. It can quietly replace God on the throne of your heart.We sit down for some honest table talk about what God is doing in our lives, what conviction feels like, and why obedience can make you look a little weird. Then we open Genesis and walk through the messy, human story of Leah and Rachel. Two sisters set up to compete, one husband treated like a measuring stick, and two different insecurities chasing the same false promise: “If I get what she has, I’ll finally be okay.”Along the way, we connect their rivalry to modern Christian life and the good girl complex: the pressure to prove you’re worthy, the habit of justifying comparison, and the temptation to make a spouse, kids, or approval carry God-sized needs. We also talk about the practical way out: choosing connection over competition, getting honest in community, and learning to recognise the Holy Spirit’s nudges through conviction, wise counsel, and confirmed direction.We end with a bigger lens: Leah and Rachel’s legacy stretches all the way into the story of Israel and the lineage of Jesus, reminding us that God’s plans for us are often larger than what we can see in the middle of a struggle. If this encouraged you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more women can find a seat at the table.Follow along at:Instagram: @tableofgraceFacebook: The Table of Grace Podcast

Send us Fan MailSome stories in the Bible feel like they were written for the women who sit quietly in the back of the room, doing the most and feeling the least seen. Hagar is one of those stories, and once you notice her in Genesis 16, you can’t unsee how personal God gets with the overlooked.We walk through Hagar’s life as an Egyptian slave caught in Sarah and Abraham’s conflict, and we talk honestly about what it looks like to be silenced, used, and then blamed for the fallout. From a therapy lens, we trace trauma responses in real time: freeze when her body isn’t her own, fight when pregnancy briefly elevates her, flight into the wilderness, and fawn as she returns to survive. If you’ve ever lived under the pressure to perform, keep the peace, or be “good enough” for God to show up, this conversation puts words to that Good Girl Complex and offers a gentler way forward.The turning point is the character of God. He meets Hagar in the wilderness, calls her by name, invites her to speak, and she names him El Roi, the God Who Sees. Listen, share this with a friend who needs to feel seen, and then subscribe and leave a review so more women can find a seat at the table.Follow along at:Instagram: @tableofgraceFacebook: The Table of Grace Podcast

Send us Fan MailSome of the hardest faith battles don’t look like rebellion, they look like responsibility. When you’re capable, busy, and used to handling life, “I’ll do it myself” can sound normal… until you realize you’re trying to outrun God’s timing. That’s why Sarah’s story in Genesis still feels so personal, especially for women carrying the pressure of being a “good girl” who is not supposed to doubt.We talk about Sarah as the Mother of Faith and the parts of her story we often skip: the ache of infertility, the long wait for a promise, the powerlessness of feeling like a passenger in your own life, and the moment her unbelief leaks out in laughter. We connect her choices to the good girl complex patterns so many of us know well: controlling the narrative, hiding the struggle, intellectualizing pain, and believing we have to earn God’s favor. Along the way, we ask the question God asks Sarah: Is anything too big for the Lord?We reflect on seasons when doors close, when life feels out of control, and when faith becomes a whole-body experience of peace that surpasses understanding. Most of all, we hold tight to the hope Sarah’s life proves: your worst decision cannot cancel God’s promise, and His character does not change because you’re still growing.If this brought something up for you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more women can find The Table of Grace!Follow along at:Instagram: @tableofgraceFacebook: The Table of Grace Podcast

Send us Fan MailThat anxious moment after a conversation when you replay every word and wonder, “Are they mad at me?” isn’t just overthinking; it can be a sign you’re living under a hidden script: the Good Girl Complex. We pull up a chair and talk candidly about people pleasing, perfectionism, and the exhausting need to manage how others see us, even when we love Jesus and genuinely want to follow Him. We unpack what this looks like in real life: performing to feel safe, being overly responsible for other people’s comfort, and carrying “should” language that keeps us on a spiritual hamster wheel. We also talk about how church culture and high expectations can shape a performance lens, where faith starts to feel like a checklist instead of a relationship. The heart of the question is simple but confronting: am I walking in obedience to God, or am I working to control approval, reactions, and outcomes? Then we go back to Genesis and name Eve as a picture of the first “good girl” pattern: partial truths, doubt, shame, hiding, and fig leaves. But the most hopeful part is God’s response. He doesn’t lead with condemnation, He leads with pursuit and intimacy: “Where are you?” We connect that to everyday life, college seasons, secret struggle, and the practical path forward, honest prayer, daily repentance, and letting yourself be seen by God and by safe people who point you back to grace. Share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more women can find a seat at the table. What part of the Good Girl Complex do you recognise in yourself?Follow along at:Instagram: @tableofgraceFacebook: The Table of Grace Podcast

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when you stop trying to sound put together and tell the truth instead? We pull up a chair for some honest table talk, the kind that starts with laughing about quirks and ends with naming the deeper patterns we all carry. Along the way, we even call our husbands and ask them to describe our toxic traits and yes, they answer. It’s light, a little uncomfortable, and surprisingly clarifying.From there, the conversation moves into the real heart of so many women’s stories: the fear that there isn’t room for us at the table. We talk about where that fear can begin, how middle school moments and performance pressure can plant “not good enough” beliefs, and how control can become our way of avoiding discomfort. If you’ve ever rehearsed conversations in your head, overthought yourself into a spiral, or tried to earn belonging by being the “good girl,” you’ll feel seen.We also talk about discipleship, false narratives, and why the narrative of Scripture matters when your brain is building worst-case scenarios. Grace is not just something we offer other people; it’s for us too, and receiving it can feel like surrendering control. We end by sharing why we’re launching a new Good Girl Complex series!Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a seat at the table, and leave a review so more women can find these faith-filled conversations. What part of the “good girl complex” do you want us to talk about next?Follow along at:Instagram: @tableofgraceFacebook: The Table of Grace Podcast

Send us Fan MailTrust issues don’t just affect dating or friendships. They can quietly shape how we pray, how we read Scripture, how we handle conflict, and whether we let anyone truly know us. We’re sitting down for an honest, practical conversation about where distrust comes from, why control can feel like safety, and how those patterns can spill from our relationships with people into our relationship with God.Courtney brings her perspective as an EMDR-trained therapist, and we unpack why defining “trust” matters before you can heal it. We talk about the wound behind the wall, the early “touchstone” moments that form beliefs like “I’m not safe” or “people always disappoint,” and how a loud nervous system can keep scanning for danger even when you want to move forward. We also share why learning the character of God is not a churchy cliché, but a real foundation for rebuilding faith when your past has trained you to brace for impact.If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t trust people” or “I’m not sure I trust God,” press play and come sit with us. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more women can find these faith-filled conversations.Follow along at:Instagram: @tableofgraceFacebook: The Table of Grace Podcast

Send us Fan MailWhat if the line you’ve heard your whole life—“forgive and forget”—isn’t actually in the Bible? We dig into what Scripture really teaches about forgiveness,  and how to honor God while protecting your heart. With real stories and practical wisdom, we unpack the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation, explore when boundaries are not just allowed but essential, and name the red flags of spiritualized pressure to “just move on.”We start by grounding forgiveness in passages like Matthew 6:14 and Ephesians 4:32, then clarify Hebrews 8:12: God chooses not to hold our sins against us in Christ; that’s not amnesia, it’s grace. From there, we get practical about living with clear eyes and a soft heart. You’ll hear a simple boundary framework, the ARC model of Access, Responsibility, and Consequences, to help you match closeness with proven care. We also confront the “good girl” and people-pleasing reflex that keeps so many of us stuck. Are we rushing to reconcile to avoid discomfort, or is the Holy Spirit truly leading? Together we sift motives, manage expectations, and close the gap between what we hoped for and what’s actually happening. If the person is unavailable or unsafe, we share steps to process forgiveness with God: honest prayer, Scripture journaling, scheduling space to feel, and leaning on wise, godly community.By the end, you’ll have language to separate mercy from naivety, tools to set clean boundaries without bitterness, and a clearer path to healing that honors both truth and love. If this conversation helps you breathe a little easier, subscribe, share with a friend who needs courage today, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. What’s your next faithful step toward forgiveness?Follow along at:Instagram: @tableofgraceFacebook: The Table of Grace Podcast

Send us Fan MailPlans change. God doesn’t. We open up about the quiet grief that comes when life looks nothing like the picture in your head, and why that’s not a personal failure but a sacred invitation. You’ll hear practical ways to process the ache without getting stuck: journal God’s past faithfulness to steady your present, pray the whole truth when you feel wrecked, and practice listening so your prayers become a dialogue. We talk about hidden seasons that build character, the danger of chasing a platform before formation, and the gift of slow growth that makes you sturdy. Scripture anchors the journey as we reflect on the God who sees, meeting women personally, naming them, restoring them, and calling them forward with dignity and purpose.If you’re navigating a desert season, wrestling with singleness, waiting for a child, grieving a friendship, or questioning a career path, this conversation offers hope. You can mourn what you expected and still choose what God is shaping. Take a breath, release the timeline, and lean into the next faithful step. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review so more women can find a seat at this table.Follow along at:Instagram: @tableofgraceFacebook: The Table of Grace Podcast

Send us Fan MailReady to start 2026 without the weight of hustle culture on your shoulders? We launch season two with a heartfelt, practical conversation about setting wiser yeses, embracing Sabbath as a command that heals, and building small, repeatable rhythms that actually fit real life. Courtney, our co-host for season two and a mental health therapist, and Tessah unpack why resolutions often fail, how comparison distorts our goals, and what it looks like to trade striving for trust.We dig into the difference between routines and rhythms, showing how tiny anchors like five minutes of Scripture audio while you cook, a worship playlist on the school run, or one quiet walk with God can renew your energy far more than another ambitious checklist. You’ll hear real talk on seasons of life, from new motherhood to demanding workweeks, and how to practice rest without shame. We share resources like The Best Yes and The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, plus simple reflection prompts to keep your heart aligned: Where am I striving more than trusting? What small rhythms draw me closer to God? Who can keep me accountable to rest?Pull up a chair. Leave the scorecard. Let Sabbath reshape your week and your worth. If this conversation helps you breathe a little easier, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more women can find a seat at the table.Follow along at:Instagram: @tableofgraceFacebook: The Table of Grace Podcast

Send us Fan MailGrief has a way of making the holidays louder—the empty chair, the quiet phone, the tradition that now feels like a gap. With licensed clinical social worker Mandy Young, we talk candidly about why this season magnifies loss and how to face it with a plan rooted in compassion, faith, and rest. Instead of forcing yourself to “be strong” or attempting to skip December entirely, we explore a gentler path that honors love and creates space for both tears and tenderness.Mandy introduces the idea of dosing your grief: small, intentional moments to feel and remember so the emotions don’t crash without warning. We unpack her ocean analogy, where early grief feels like riptides and later like shifting waves at your feet. Because holidays are predictable waves, Christmas Eve, church services, family meals, New Year’s, you can prepare with lower expectations, shorter visits, delegated tasks, scheduled breaks, and a friend on standby. We also name what helps and what hurts. Retire the clichés and anything that starts with “at least.” Choose presence over fixing. Say their person’s name. Meet simple needs: trash to the curb, mail collected, tissues and groceries, fresh pajamas, a reminder to shower and eat.On the faith side, we offer realistic ways to connect with God when focus is hard: listen to Scripture, lean on worship, borrow hope from a friend whose faith is steady, and remember that Jesus modeled rest and limits. Therapy, prayer, and Jesus belong together; feeling distant does not mean God is distant. If you’re grieving, assign roles to your people, a friend for fun, another for deep talk, someone for logistics, and ask specifically for what you need.If this encouraged you, subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help others find these tools and this hope.Follow along at:Instagram: @tableofgraceFacebook: The Table of Grace Podcast

Send us Fan MailWhen the holiday calendar fills, and expectations skyrocket, opening your door can feel like a performance test. We push back on that pressure and return to the heart of hospitality: seeing people, making room, and letting welcome outweigh perfection. We unpack why hospitality matters in a hyperconnected yet isolated world, drawing from the way Jesus used meals to restore dignity and build relationships. You’ll hear how an ordinary family table turned into a decades-long ministry, why no one remembers last year’s sides but everyone remembers who listened, and how to include people who don’t have a place to go during the holidays. Expect practical takeaways you can use this week: a “party box” that reduces last-minute stress, three or four go-to meals you can repeat without guilt, small sensory touches that say “you belong here,” and simple first steps like calling someone who needs a voice of care or inviting a not-yet-close acquaintance to lunch. Whether you host in a cozy living room, a park, or your favorite coffee shop, the goal is the same: open doors, open hearts, and a welcome that points to Jesus.If this resonated with you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs the nudge to host without pressure, and leave a review telling us one small step you’ll take to practice hospitality this week.Follow along at:Instagram: @tableofgraceFacebook: The Table of Grace Podcast

Send us Fan MailEver wish your child would come to you first, not last, when life gets messy? We sit down with therapist and mom Courtney Newberry to unpack how to create a shame-free home where honesty feels safe, boundaries are clear, and grace stays at the center. Courtney draws a clean line between shame (I am wrong) and guilt (I did wrong), then shows how that shift changes the entire tone of discipline, confession, and repair. We talk about the pressures teens and college students carry—performing for peers, meeting moving expectations, chasing instant gratification—and how parents can respond with presence over control.You’ll hear practical phrases that de-escalate conflict without backing away from truth, including how to validate feelings without crowning them as facts. We explore why predictable rules reflect God’s unchanging character, and how simple, sincere apologies from parents model humility and invite kids to be honest. Courtney shares how prayer turns into a living classroom: when kids hear us pray for them and with them, vulnerability stops being scary and starts feeling normal.We also address the parent side of the heart: what to do with your own guilt and shame, how to return to your identity in Christ, and how sharing a wise, age-appropriate testimony can break cycles and open conversations. If you’re longing for a home that blends steady boundaries with warm connection—where kids learn to confess, repair, and grow—this conversation offers language, mindset shifts, and faith practices you can use today.If this encouraged you, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so more families can find grace-filled guidance. Follow along at:Instagram: @tableofgraceFacebook: The Table of Grace Podcast

Send us Fan MailHoliday rush, heavy schedules, and heart-weary weeks can make gratitude feel out of reach. We open the door to a calmer, deeper way by treating gratitude not as a feeling we chase but as a daily posture shaped by Scripture and practiced in the real moments of life.If your faith feels stretched, you’ll find simple steps you can try today, on a commute, during a lunch break, or as you're going through your everyday routines. We talk about capturing answered prayers on paper, using Philippians 4:6–7 as a battle plan for anxious moments, and choosing trust when it feels hard to. By the end, you’ll have a gentle but sturdy framework for gratitude that works in joy, in grief, and in the in-between.If this encouraged you, share it with a friend who needs a breath of hope, subscribe for more faith-filled conversations, and leave a review to help others find the show. Tell us: where did you see God today?Follow along at:Instagram: @tableofgraceFacebook: The Table of Grace Podcast

Send us Fan MailShe walked into rooms with glitter, a gentle laugh, and a quiet focus on Jesus and somehow everyone felt seen. We dedicate this conversation to our friend, Melinda Emerson, whose life of art, hospitality, and prayer taught us how to live with eternity in mind. From choir risers to hospital rooms, her creativity became care, her presence became welcome, and her faith became courage for the rest of us.We share first encounters that show her calm in chaos, the way she saved seats for newcomers and followed up when they were missing, and how a simple painting turned into comfort after unimaginable loss. You’ll hear community stories that reveal the depth of her impact: custom canvases that carried Scripture into classrooms, a reimagined “tikveh” image that steadied a family through cancer, and a dropped pot of taco meat that turned into laughter and a feast anyway. Through it all, Melinda kept the main thing the main thing eyes fixed on Jesus, hands open to serve, heart ready to pray.We also get practical about carrying her legacy forward. We talk about slowing down, lifting our heads, and choosing presence over performance. And we introduce Create With Me, our partnership with Together We Foster, building an arts space for children entering foster care—because creativity can give words to pain and dignity to waiting. It’s a simple, local way to honor the woman who turned every hallway into a welcome.If you're interested in donating or learning more about the Create with M.E. program, reach out to Kara Spencer at [email protected]. If this story stirs you, share it with a friend who needs hope, subscribe for future episodes, and leave a review to help others find the show. Tell us how you plan to “love big” this week and keep the main thing the main thing.Follow along at:Instagram: @tableofgraceFacebook: The Table of Grace Podcast

Send us Fan MailEver felt like your calendar is full but your soul is running on fumes? We sit down with Bible teacher and author Tara Dew to get honest about why doing for God often feels easier than being with God, and how abiding can become a daily rhythm instead of an occasional retreat. Tara brings warmth, wisdom, and practical ways to cultivate a life that actually overflows.We unpack John 15 with fresh clarity: joy grows as we accept pruning, live in God’s presence, and persevere in love. That joy is not the same as happiness; it holds steady when life doesn’t. Tara offers simple practices for busy women: arrow prayers, scripture on sticky notes, worship woven into chores, and reframes Sabbath as a weekly rehearsal of trust. We also talk about stepping outside to remember our limits in a world that trains us to act like we’re omnipresent and always on.The conversation then moves to Psalm 23, the heart behind Tara’s new book, Overflowing Peace. “You are with me” becomes more than a line—it’s the anchor that lets us sit at God’s table even when enemies still linger. For women pouring out in motherhood, careers, or ministry, Tara shares gentle, doable resets: say the brave no, delegate where you can, rise a few minutes early to be with God before the noise. We close by spotlighting her passion for equipping pastors’ wives and pointing you to communities and resources that sustain the long journey.Get Tara's book, Overflowing Joy, at the link below:https://a.co/d/bOgbm6MPreorder her upcoming book, Overflowing Peace, at the link below: https://a.co/d/dFNzGUULearn more about Tara's ministry at prepareher.com Follow along at:Instagram: @tableofgraceFacebook: The Table of Grace Podcast

Send us Fan MailIf you’re navigating sorrow, heaviness, or a season that won’t end, pull up a chair. Tessah, Traci & Lori talk through steps you can take when it's not well with your soul. You’ll leave with language for your lament, anchors for your heart, and steps you can actually practice this week. If this conversation helps you or someone you love, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review telling us which practice you’re trying first. Follow us at:Instagram: @centralbaptistwomenFacebook: CBC Women's MinistryFollow Lori at:Instagram: @lorimmcdaniel@thegreatinvitationlifeFollow along at:Instagram: @tableofgraceFacebook: The Table of Grace Podcast

Send us Fan MailWhat if honesty with God is the most courageous step you can take today? We invited mentor and soul care leader Lori McDaniel to help us name the ache so many of us carry—those seasons when we mouth “it is well” while our inner life says otherwise—and to show us how hard can actually be holy. Lori shares her journey from decades of ministry into a new chapter of soul care alongside her husband, walking with pastors, missionaries, and everyday women who feel stretched thin by grief, fatigue, and questions that don’t resolve on cue.Lori offers a hope-filled reframe you may never forget: this is the only time in all eternity we will commune with God from a place of pain. That doesn’t glorify suffering—it dignifies your story and calls you to steward it as sacred space where intimacy with Christ deepens. If you’ve felt God’s silence, if your scaffolding has collapsed, if you need language for your lament, pull up a chair. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs courage, and leave a review to help more women find a seat at the table.Follow along at:Instagram: @centralbaptistwomen Facebook: CBC Women's MinistryFollow Lori & The Great Invitation at:@lorimmcdaniel@thegreatinvitationlifeFollow along at:Instagram: @tableofgraceFacebook: The Table of Grace Podcast

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Table of Grace, Tessah sits down with Tracy Smith and Tracy Osborne to unpack this year’s word for our women’s ministry—Abide. Together, they share how this word came to life, what it means to remain in Jesus day by day, and how abiding transforms every part of our lives—our faith, relationships, and purpose.Through honest conversation and biblical reflection on John 15, they talk about what it looks like to stay connected to the Vine in every season—from the busy, chaotic moments to the quiet times of spiritual growth. You’ll hear personal stories, practical rhythms, and real encouragement to slow down, rest in His presence, and remember that apart from Him, we can do nothing.Whether you’re in a season of pruning, flourishing, or simply trying to keep your head above water, this episode will remind you that Jesus is your home—and that there’s always a seat for you at His table.Register for our upcoming Flourish event happening October 27th, 2025 at the link below! https://churchteams.com/m/Register.asp?a=VTF6UDNRRU5GdTg9Follow along at:Instagram: @centralbaptistwomenFacebook: CBC Women's MinistryFollow along at:Instagram: @tableofgraceFacebook: The Table of Grace Podcast

Send us Fan MailIn this very first episode, hosts Tessah Luebke, Traci Smith, and Tracy Osborne open up about the heart behind The Table of Grace Podcast.They share the story of how this podcast came to life, the “why” that fuels it, and the vision for what they hope it becomes for every woman who listens.If you’ve ever wondered if there’s a seat for you at this table, the answer is always yes.So pull up a chair, pour yourself a cup of coffee, and join the conversation. Register for our upcoming Flourish Event at the link below: https://churchteams.com/m/Register.asp?a=VTF6UDNRRU5GdTg9Follow along at:Instagram: @centralbaptistwomenFacebook: CBC Women's Ministry Follow along at:Instagram: @tableofgraceFacebook: The Table of Grace Podcast