God is Kind | Girls Gone Bible

Summary

Girls Gone Bible – "God is Kind" (August 7, 2026)

Podcast: Girls Gone Bible
Hosts: Angela Halili ("Ange") & Arielle Reitsma ("Ari")
Episode Theme: The kindness of God, healing, transformation, community, and reflecting on the journey of faith through challenges and seasons of life.

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Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Angela and Arielle delve into the kindness of God, what it means to grow and change through suffering, and how faith and community help carry us through the hardest moments of life. With their characteristic humor, vulnerability, and grounded biblical wisdom, the hosts reflect on personal growth during their tour, the value of relational equity (with God and people), how to heal from heartbreak, and the difference between quirks God celebrates and what He transforms in us. The conversation is candid, practical, and deeply encouraging for anyone who might be struggling or questioning their identity and purpose.

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Key Discussion Points & Timestamps

1. Friendship, Family, and Humor (00:00–05:31)

• Light-hearted banter about coffee habits, TikTok algorithms, group chats, and family dynamics kicks things off.

  • Ange admits to 1930 unread texts:

    "I don't even know. I get really overwhelmed by the phone." (01:17, Ange)

  • Warm stories about their family group chat called "Jesus is Lord" highlight close-knit relationships and the joy of supportive, faith-filled community.

• Tour Reflections:

  • Ari: "Angela and I have been sleeping on the phone every night together." (03:29, Ari)
  • Ange reminisces about soccer as a formative family legacy and its influence on her sense of identity.

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2. Transformation through Touring and Ministry (05:44–08:50)

• Personal Change on Tour:

  • Both reflect on how two years of touring transformed them—through hardship, growth in courage, and discovering where true strength comes from.
    • "It's raised us. We've become different women from this past year and a half touring." (06:05, Ari)
    • "We died so many times. I can't explain it any other way than it was just a continuous death." (07:03, Ange)

• Impact & Invisible Growth:

  • While the tour changed cities and lives, the deeper, unseen transformation was internal—learning to rely on Jesus privately before and after the visible ministry moments.

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3. The Heart of the Gospel and Identity in Christ (09:17–16:43)

• Summary of the Faith:

  • Ange provides a passionate overview of the Christian gospel—emphasizing grace, adoption, and the uniqueness of Jesus.
    • "The blood of Jesus is the only thing on the earth in the universe that can forgive sins, that can set people free, that can give people salvation..." (10:00, Ange)
    • "If you're watching this and you feel far gone, or you feel like you're just being thrown around, or you don't know where you belong, just know you are safe in Jesus. Nobody can take you out of his hand." (15:08, Ange)

• Memorable Teaching on Ephesians 1:

  • The idea that "God chose us before the foundation of the world" and predestined us for adoption is unpacked practically.
  • Identity as being sealed with the Spirit and the security of belonging matter deeply.

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4. Accepting Ourselves & Distinguishing Quirks from Sin (16:43–23:16)

• Embracing Our Uniqueness:

  • Ari: "He makes no mistakes. When he made us, and he makes all of us so different." (16:51, Ari)
  • Discussion about societal standards, quirks, and the importance of not conforming to expectations imposed by others.

• Transformation vs. Personality:

  • How do we know what God wants to change and what He celebrates?
    • "If there are parts of you that are opposing to the fruit of the spirit, then I would say that's something you need to let Jesus [change]." (20:38, Ange)
  • The difference between being authentically oneself and allowing Jesus to prune the parts that don’t bear good fruit.

• Humorous Take on Personality:

  • Ari and Ange joke about not easily fitting into 'gentle and quiet' molds (21:59–22:16).
    • "I want to be gentle. I can't be quiet. Let's be honest." (22:16, Ange)

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5. Friendship, Community, and Healing (23:16–26:37)

• How Friendship Works:
  • Ange and Ari share about the depth of their friendship, hot takes on how they comfort each other, and how they’ve become 'siblings' in Christ.
  • On comfort:
    • "When I'm crying, Ari's initial response is immediately hug. But it's our—it's an Ari hug. It's a bear hug." (25:34, Ange)
    • "For someone that's going through a breakup right now, what advice would you give them on how to move forward in healing?" (31:37, Ari; see next section for Ange's answer)

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6. Healing from Pain and Breakups: Jesus + Time (26:37–34:41)

• Personal Story of Heartbreak:

  • Ange shares how her breakup taught her the value of relational equity with both God and people ("you can't wait for things to be bad to set up support in your life or to seek Jesus." 28:48).
  • On difficult seasons:

    "I had relational equity with the Lord. ...I would keep saying to Jesus, I remember. I remember who you are. I remember what you've done, and I know you'll do it again." (29:28, Ange)

• Advice for Healing:

  • "What heals is Jesus plus time. ... It's not time without Jesus." (31:47, Ange)
  • Encouragement for those who feel stuck: focus on today, take it a step at a time, and keep turning to Jesus even when it feels dry.

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7. The Importance of Community & Persistent Prayer (34:41–37:47)

• Against Isolation:

  • Ari: "One of the biggest things we tend to do during breakups is self-isolate." (34:50, Ari)
  • The torment of isolation is contrasted with the healing that comes through courageously seeking community.

• Power of Prayer:

  • "I've been struggling with weird weariness…The power of prayer is everything.” (36:55, Ari)
  • Both hosts emphasize praying for and with others and note remarkable changes that come from persistent, fervent prayer.

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8. Suffering, Growth, and Joy (38:10–45:13)

• Trials as Teachers:

  • The hosts offer encouragement: suffering, while painful, is a "gift," producing endurance, depth, and gratitude for everyday joys.
    • "If your biggest fear came true and you survive it... you get to move through the rest of your life... I'm still standing." (39:03, Ange)
    • "Consider it an opportunity for great joy. That's how much of a blessing troubles are for you." (44:16, Ari, quoting James 1:2-4)

• Finishing Well:

  • Ange: "The most important thing that we do is finish the rest of our lives loving Jesus and being faithful." (41:54, Ange)
  • Reflection on how seasons of spiritual dryness are opportunities to get to know Jesus in new, deeper ways.

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9. Closing Prayer & Final Encouragements (45:13–End)

• A heartfelt prayer for strength, comfort, and spiritual renewal:

  • "I pray that dead and dry bones would come to life in Jesus' mighty name…" (45:16, Ange)

• Encouragement to listeners:

  • "Whatever you're going through right now, you will get through it. There is a harvest when you don't give up. ...Keep growing, keep fighting, keep being in community, keep crying, keep healing." (47:35, Ari)

• Memorable Blessing:

  • "May the Lord bless you and keep you. May he make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May he turn his face towards you and give you peace. Shalom." (48:18, Ange)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• "We both went through this where we've just… We died so many times. I can't explain it other way than it was just a continuous death." (07:03, Ange)
• "The blood of Jesus is the only thing... that can forgive sins, that can set people free, that can give people salvation." (10:00, Ange)
• "If you're watching this and you feel far gone... just know you are safe in Jesus. Nobody can take you out of his hand." (15:08, Ange)
• "He makes no mistakes when he made us, and he makes all of us so different." (16:51, Ari)
• "You can't wait for things to be bad to set up support in your life or to seek Jesus." (28:48, Ange)
• "What heals is Jesus plus time. ... It's not time without Jesus." (31:47, Ange)
• "One thing I'm really realizing is just the power of prayer... It works. And I can't believe how free I've been feeling lately." (36:55, Ari)
• "Whatever you're going through right now, you will get through it. There is a harvest when you don't give up." (47:35, Ari)

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Episode Takeaways

• God’s kindness is felt most clearly in both the beauty and the brokenness of life.
• Transformation is ongoing: It’s okay to feel both weak and strong, insecure and bold; God prunes what isn't fruitful but celebrates the unique ways He made us.
• You’re not alone: Whether it’s heartbreak or spiritual dryness, community and persistent seeking of God are vital.
• Healing is Jesus plus time: It doesn’t happen all at once, but through daily faith and embracing support, freedom and joy return.
• Finish well: The goal isn’t a perfect faith journey but a faithful pursuit—loving Jesus and others, and allowing suffering to deepen, not destroy, us.

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For listeners:
This episode is a balm for anyone questioning their worth, struggling through heartbreak, or wondering where God is during tough times. Ange and Ari remind us, in their honest and relatable style, that God is both kind and utterly invested in our journey—celebrating our quirks, walking us through change, and giving us people (and Himself) to rest on along the way.

Transcript

[Ari]

How many coffees do you have a day?

[Ange]

I have one Keurig coffee in the morning and then just one latte in the afternoon. But I'm a little bit like.

[Ari]

I'm a little bit like.

[Ange]

Do you know that Katy Perry song that goes. You're like an Indian Summer.

[Ari]

I could never get a hold of Katy Perry's music. It's the one music I can't listen to.

[Ange]

I'm a plastic bag.

[Ari]

Like, a plastic bag.

[Ange]

Our algorithms are so different because my algorithm is like God knows what. Mine is just like, TikTok. Sounds like people doing stupid stuff.

[Ari]

Mine are all prank videos. I love the prank videos.

[Ange]

Why don't you send me those?

[Ari]

I do.

[Ange]

I don't open them because I don't go on Tik Tok.

[Ari]

Because I don't open anything.

[Ange]

I know. My mom says the same thing. I have so many can. I want to know how many unanswered texts you have.

[Ari]

I answer my text. Actually, I'm pretty good. I know you don't, but I actually answer my tags. That's good. I. How do you know how many unread you have?

[Ange]

So get out of it. And then you just see.

[Ari]

Mine doesn't.

[Ange]

Oh, yours doesn't say. Mine says 1930.

[Ari]

What?

[Ange]

Like, I don't know.

[Ari]

You don't answer. Why don't you answer people?

[Ange]

I don't know. I actually don't know. It's like, a thing. I actually don't know. And maybe someone can talk. I get really overwhelmed by the phone.

[Ari]

How do you know 1,100 people?

[Ange]

I don't think I do. I don't know. I have no idea.

[Ari]

Like, the scammers texting you probably.

[Ange]

They'll probably take my money. Trying to take my coins. Also, thank you for letting me wear this shirt.

[Ari]

That J. Crew, baby. I'm an outlets girl now. I love going to the outlets. I don't. I don't pay full price.

[Ange]

You've never paid full price.

[Ari]

You've always loved a bargain. Such a penny pinch.

[Ange]

Until. Until you decide that you're not. And then it's just like, why are

[Ari]

we paying, like, $11,000 for a shirt?

[Ange]

Well, it's crazy.

[Ari]

It is.

[Ange]

Well, you know, when I find something that I like, you wear it every

[Ari]

day till I have to wear it rag. You'll be wearing that for the next.

[Ange]

I wore this on the Bible study podcast yesterday. I'm wearing it on this podcast today. I'm taking it on tour with us tomorrow, wearing it again, and then I'll

[Ari]

give it to You. I'm like a two and done like

[Ange]

you wear it twice. Okay. Thank you.

[Ari]

Who's that? My mom. What'd you say?

[Ange]

It's my. My group chat. Fantastic. It's me, Julio and Velma. We're the Fantastic four. We have a group chat and the other day I texted them and I go, wait, I just thought about something. Do you guys have a group chat without me? And Velma was like, yeah, but it's only because we don't want to bought. Like, we only say like talking when we don't want to bother you. And I'm like, how could you say that? If I don't want to respond, I just won't respond. Clear.

[Ari]

You know, I'm in a group chat with her family and the. The. It's called Jesus is Lord.

[Ange]

So. So we have a group chat. Me, my brothers, my mom, Vilma, my sister in law, Socrates and Ari. And it's called Jesus is Lord. And it's just Socrates sending memes.

[Ari]

God bless America. God. Jesus loves you.

[Ange]

Jesus loves you. Jesus is Lord. I miss Socrates so much. I love him so much. That man single handedly changed my life.

[Ari]

I love him too. If you see him, I go, you are a best friend, Socrates.

[Ange]

And he feels that.

[Ari]

Yeah. And other news. Angela and I have been sleeping on the phone every night together. I wake up the other day, I woke up and I saw she was still sleeping on the phone. And I felt so comforted. And I'm like, if anybody ever knew. So I saw she was still sleeping and I was like, ang.

[Ange]

Oh no. And she goes, ang, ang, Ang. I thought I was dreaming and I thought to myself, for the love of God.

[Ari]

And I, I like unmute it. She's really moody. When you wake her up, she snaps back, she pops off.

[Ange]

I'm unmute. I unmute it. And I go, ari, I'm sleeping.

[Ari]

I go, no, I just want to make sure you're there. I'm so sorry.

[Ange]

It's not me.

[Ari]

In the morning. You're not gonna believe this. I have to. Sorry.

[Ange]

Don't be sorry.

[Ari]

Hi.

[Ange]

Well, in other news, I have made the World cup my entire personality, if you guys don't know, while our uses the restroom. I played soccer for 10 years. I played from like four to 14. It's in my blood. Generationally. My. My. Both of my brothers over overplayed. Okay? Both of my brothers played my. My dad played his entire life. And then my dad's dad was like a really, really elite soccer player in Albania. His name is Skinder Halili. And it's like part of my life that is so. I don't know, it just means. So is there like a part of your guys life that you think about and you're like, wow, this just like made me who I am and it means so much to me. Soccer is like such a huge part of my family lineage. And so every four and I don't. But I don't watch it. But every four years, like the World cup is very important to me. And this year I've watched every game. I'm driving everybody nuts. I have it playing with me. Spain just beat Argentina. I think while you've been gone, I've been talking about the World Cup.

[Ari]

Oh my God.

[Ange]

Well, you've been gone. I've been driving everybody absolutely insane. So tomorrow Spain and England play, which is huge. We'll see who wins and then by the time this is out, we'll already know who had won.

[Ari]

I felt so cool with that Spain jersey on.

[Ange]

Yeah. I mean, you looked so cute.

[Ari]

You do too.

[Ange]

We're coming up to the end of tour, you guys. We have six gatherings left. We've been on tour for two years through hell and high water, baby. We. It is the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that has gotten us through to this point. Is.

[Ari]

And it's raised us. Raised us. We've become different women from this past year and a half touring.

[Ange]

How do you feel like you've changed?

[Ari]

Oh, my gosh. I'm a completely different person. It's taught me, it's given me courage, it's shown me Jesus strength.

[Ange]

Yeah.

[Ari]

How much he works in you when you don't know what you're doing. It's just grown me so much. It really has.

[Ange]

Oh, man.

[Ari]

What about you? Same.

[Ange]

Same with me. I think when Tor began, I probably would have described myself as like someone without insecurity. You know what I mean? Like, just like so unaware of. I was just so unaware of like so many things that were inside of me. And I think Tor brought out so much, like being on stage in front of people brought out so much like just weird insecurities and. And performance or striving or just like unworthiness and like just wanting people to like you or think you did a good job or genuinely with a pure heart wanting people to be impacted but in a way that is like harmful to yourself, you know, like feeling like that's your responsibility to carry. So I think, I mean, both of us went through this where we've just. We died so many times. I can't Explain it other way than it was just a continuous death. The GGB tour the past two years, it's going to be like 54, 53 cities that we went to. It's gonna, it's literally. There was so much impact, so much transformation, so many healings. I can't even imagine how many people got saved. But for us, what happened was so much like that was for all of them. And what the Lord did in us through Tor was just for us, it was something nobody got to see. Like those big moments on stage where you're preaching and it's powerful, it's really so special and profound and important. But like those moments when we go back to our hotel room where it's just in Jesus, the moments before when we're so desperate for Jesus, the days afterwards, you're where you're just like winding down and, and coming down from, you know, a big gathering. It's like, and doing that continuously with all the other stuff we do, we've grown exponentially. And when the tour is over in September, in September, because we really spaced it out, it's going to be like, we'll probably be back, we'll probably do more gatherings. Maybe it'll look differently, but like, we'll probably do more gatherings eventually. But yeah, I'm so excited to see what God does after that.

[Ari]

You know, it's like a new season we're coming into and I'm really excited

[Ange]

for it and I think that's when we'll probably do a second episode.

[Ari]

I know, I'm excited.

[Ange]

I am so excited to do a second episode.

[Ari]

It's going to be really cool. I was reading James this morning and there's all different kinds of things, so I was reading. What were you reading?

[Ange]

Ephesians this morning?

[Ari]

Oh, I read Ephesians the other day. The other day? Yeah.

[Ange]

Hi, I'm Ange.

[Ari]

And I'm Ari.

[Ange]

And this is Girls Gone Bible. We're a faith based podcast where we talk all things spirituality, mental health, the Bible, relationships. We love Jesus so much and this podcast is literally just two of your sisters and friends walking through life with Jesus with you. We share a lot of what our lives look like, what our experiences with Jesus, us, what we've learned, how we've grown, mistakes that we make, things that we realize in hindsight. And so that's what we do here. We forget to introduce ourselves because we're family and we just love you guys so much. We're so happy to be here with you. Oh my gosh, I just love this so much when I was reading it. As you guys know, we follow a God. He's an exclusive God, He's a sovereign God. There is no other God. If you're watching this and you believe in anything other than Jesus, you put your trust in anything other than Jesus, we completely understand because we've been there throughout our lives. We know what it's like to not know Jesus at all. And we know what it's like to know Jesus and a couple other things and a little new age and a little manifesting and a little whatever it might be. But I think what is most important for us to realize is that the blood of Jesus is the only thing on the earth in the universe that can forgive sins, that can set people free, that can give people salvation, that can bring any true help or transformation or saving. It's the Jesus is the only and Christianity is the only religion in which it's a grace based salvation. Not by works, not by anything you can do. And it's also faith that's not centered on yourself. It's not that you're a God or that you might become a God. No, it's about a God who loved humanity so much even though we were unfaithful and disobedient and a God who chose to leave like a royal heavenly throne to come down onto earth, take form as a baby. The most humble position that he could take, grow up in obscurity and then start his ministry. His name is Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Start his ministry at 30 years old, spent three years healing the sick, casting out demons and proclaiming that the kingdom of heaven has come. It's at hand and repent and believe. Turn from your wicked ways and put your trust and faith in a God who loves you more than anything, is so close to you, he's not far. And so what we want to say today is anything else that you might be believing in is false. It's wrong. There is no other option. And I wanted to read a little bit of Ephesians. It's Paul writes to the church of Ephesus and says, praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ, for He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Jesus chose us, thought about us before the earth even was formed. He had every single one of us on his mind. So if anybody is watching this thinking that they could be a mistake, first of all, God doesn't make mistakes And Scripture is very clear that he chose you before any of this was even. But he didn't even build this first and say, hey, that person might be a good addition. No, he said, you are the most important thing. And he built the earth for us to be in relationship with him, in love. He predestined us for adoption to sonship and daughtership through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will, to the praise of his glorious grace which he has freely given us in the one he loves. The grace of God is found in the face of Jesus. The glory of God is found in the face of Jesus. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment, to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christmas. In him we are also chosen, having been predestined, according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will. If you're watching this and you're wondering if God works things out, he works things out better than you can possibly imagine, because he works things out not by your will, but by his, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of the truth, the gospel of your salvation, when you believed you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who was a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession, to the praise of his glory. This is what's so important. This whole, like, passage for me really speaks to the adoption that we receive into the family of Jesus Christ, into the family of God. If you're watching this and you're wondering what your life means, what you should be doing, what it's all about, this is what it means that you have been adopted into sonship and daughtership with Jesus Christ, that you are not only. And it's not something that's fleeting. It's not something that you're given one day and can be taken the next. It says when you give your life to Jesus, you are marked in Him. You are in him with a seal, your seal. Do you know what a seal is? It's you seal something shut. The promised Holy Spirit. It is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession. So when you give your life to Jesus, you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you. You are sealed, you are marked. You cannot be taken away. Nobody can snatch anybody out of Jesus's hand. So if you're watching this and you feel far gone, or you feel like you're just being thrown around, or you don't know where you belong, just know you are safe in Jesus. Nobody can take you out of his hand. You are sealed with the promise of the Holy spir. You have the Holy Spirit living inside of you. Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing can touch you. When you're under the blood of Jesus. Satan will try. He will confuse you. But God will never abandon you. He does not leave us. We can walk away from him for sure. But the second we turn around, what matters the most is how you see Jesus's face when you turn around to. To see him again. If you've sinned, if you've fallen short, if you've fallen away and you look back to turn to Jesus, how you see his face is everything. If you see an angry and disappointed father, it'll show through your life. But if you see a dad who literally, with compassion all over his face, a grin and a smile on his face, that's how you live a life of true freedom. That's what he looks like. So, anyways, I love that you read

[Ari]

that about identity, because we question, like, why am I this way? And I think what I've learned on, I've learned in this journey is he. He's so intricate with each and every one of us, and he makes no mistakes. So even these little things that we don't like about ourselves, he made you like that. Yeah, and I always remind myself like that. And it's really helped me a lot to accept myself. Because he makes no mistakes when he made us, and he makes all of us so different. We have this beauty standard in society of what we should look like and how we should be and all these. It screws you up a little bit. Yeah, but God makes no mistakes. When he makes you.

[Ange]

What do you think the difference is? Because that's such a good point, that there's so many things about us that are unique, that like, God never wants to go away because he made us like that. He loves that about us. What would you say is something that. But then at the same time, you give your life to Jesus and everything changes. So it's like an interesting thing. Like he created you exactly as you are because he loves you. In your truest form. And at the same time, you give your life to Jesus, and there should be full, complete 180 transformation.

[Ari]

Yeah.

[Ange]

So what do you say? How would you tell people, like, is the difference between the things Jesus wants to keep about you and the things that he wants to be transformed?

[Ari]

So it's like that scripture, I cut off every branch that doesn't bear fruit, so anything that isn't of him, he prunes, and he, like, puts us through the refining fire. But he still loves us, and he sees us, and he knows what we've been through and trauma and that we're like. Like, he says we're like filthy rags. Yeah. You know, that's why we beat ourselves up so much about how we are. And he doesn't expect you to be perfect. And I think that's one thing I'm really learning is when I first came into Christianity, I always felt like I. I felt like I had to be this perfect.

[Ange]

Yeah.

[Ari]

Robotic person. And it's quite the opposite.

[Ange]

So I agree completely. And I think it's like. Because I'm also trying to learn what are the quirks about me that Jesus loves.

[Ari]

Yeah.

[Ange]

And then what are things that he wants to change? You know what I mean? And so I think. Because I think I went through something similar that you did, where I gave my life to Jesus, and we start a podcast. And then I'm like. I'm like, everybody from the south, you know. Yeah. I'm like, everybody from middle America do not have the sense of humor you have. Do not have that. Like, you know what I mean? And we both went through that. We were like, hey, how are you, ma'? Am? Everything, you know, and. And it was.

[Ari]

I think so many people go through that, for sure.

[Ange]

And I think we've only just recently, genuinely only just recently settled into, like. No, no. You give your life to Jesus, and it doesn't mean that, like, you have to look like every preacher on the planet. It means that you are displaying fruit. Like, fruit should be evident. And if there's a part of your personality that is opposing to the fruit of the spirit. Right. Like, if you have, like, some people are more joyful and some people are, you know, more melancholy in a sense. And some people might say, like, I was just born melancholy. It's just my personality. But I would argue that there's a chance the Lord wants to make you or, like, the Lord wants to, like, give you joy and, like, have you operate out of joy more.

[Ari]

Yeah.

[Ange]

But then there's also some people who kind of go like, who are very, like, challenging and very bold and they're like, well, that's just how I am. I say everything that comes to my mind and, and it's ok. Okay. If it hurts someone's feelings.

[Ari]

Yeah.

[Ange]

And that's not okay either. That's not, you know, gentle or displaying self control. So it's kind of like things like that. If there's parts of you that are opposing to the fruit of the spirit, then I would say, like, that's something that you need to let Jesus. But if thing. If it's things like me and you,

[Ari]

how we're just like shooting the sheep.

[Ange]

Shooting the sheep.

[Ari]

Sometimes I really be wanting to pop off, though, I gotta say.

[Ange]

Like, in what moment to say when

[Ari]

you grow up in Massachusetts where you've been popping off your whole life and then you can't pop off anymore when someone wants to cut you off at a red light.

[Ange]

I know, Tell me about it. I'm like, I know.

[Ari]

And. Okay. And you will.

[Ange]

Yeah.

[Ari]

And I'mma take out my.

[Ange]

The earrings that I'm not wearing right now. Yeah.

[Ari]

You think God have Jesus? Because I'm. Can anyone agree? I agree.

[Ange]

I agree completely.

[Ari]

It's like, oh, man, I. I don't know, man.

[Ange]

I've said this before, but like, you know, I want to be gentle and quiet. I really do. But Jesus made me.

[Ari]

Who told you you need to be gentle and quiet?

[Ange]

But Jesus made me Albanian and from the east coast, so it's like, not easy.

[Ari]

Why do you want to be gentle and quiet?

[Ange]

Isn't that what the Bible says? No, that's not what it says.

[Ari]

I'm just kidding.

[Ange]

I'm spreading misinformation. Sorry, that's not.

[Ari]

That's. So you want to be gentle and quiet.

[Ange]

I want to be gentle. I can't be quiet. Let's be honest.

[Ari]

You're also fiery and fun. And sometimes we get involved with people that make you feel like the things about yourself aren't good. And that happens so much.

[Ange]

Yeah.

[Ari]

Like you will start to second guess the things that make you you. Make you, you. And then you're like, wait a minute, is that. Should I not be like this? Because people will try to conform you into what they want, which is also a projection. Anyone who tries to change you, it's just a projection of how they feel about themselves. That's what it is.

[Ange]

So 100%.

[Ari]

And so you want to be around. It's very important to be around people who love your quirks, who accept you, who call you Higher. But who love.

[Ange]

Who love that I've made the World Cup? My personality, you know?

[Ari]

You know? Who love that? You like to go get four. I see four acai bowls a day.

[Ange]

Anyways, Thomas. Thomas and his girlfriend are going to church. God bless you, Thomas.

[Ari]

God bless.

[Ange]

We're gonna get you saved, buddy. All right? You heard Ephesians. Thank you. Okay, okay. I'm so sorry to doubt your salvation, Thomas. Hey, I want to know about you.

[Ari]

I want to know about you.

[Ange]

Tell me the most traumatic thing that's ever happened to you. I want to talk about. What's your background?

[Ari]

We're not going to do that, dude.

[Ange]

I have questions.

[Ari]

No, we're going to talk about Jesus.

[Ange]

Okay? We're going to talk about Jesus.

[Ari]

Brazilian.

[Ange]

You are not Brazilian.

[Ari]

I would talk about my background if I wasn't something other than white.

[Ange]

I want to know about you. I want to know about you. I want to know what makes you tick.

[Ari]

When you slurp in the morning. That's what makes me tick. It's.

[Ange]

I don't even do that anymore. What about this? I'll just. I'll tell everyone what a good friend you are.

[Ari]

No.

[Ange]

Oh, my gosh. No, you are. Hey, look at me the other night. Look at me. Oh, by the way, Ari and I are at the point in our friendship, we're not like sisters. Like, oh, we're sisters in Christ. No, we're siblings. As in, like, if we compliment each other, it's disgusting. I just don't.

[Ari]

When you.

[Ange]

When I compliment you, you get so uncomfortable. You have no idea what to do.

[Ari]

Well, you like. When you. When it's like a real friend. Like, you just, like.

[Ange]

We don't hug. No, we hug.

[Ari]

You're like, bros. No, we are like

[Ange]

bros, but we can't. When you compliment me, I don't even

[Ari]

believe you like this.

[Ange]

It's not true.

[Ari]

Okay. Okay.

[Ange]

So whenever.

[Ari]

Ari.

[Ange]

Whenever I'm crying, it's not that I don't want to be hugged. I just need a minute. I actually probably. I don't think I want to be hyped. Like, Ari likes to be hugged when she's crying. I don't, because I want to, like, experience the moment with the other person. Like, I want to keep crying. For some reason, when someone hugs me, I just stop crying.

[Ari]

I actually don't need to talk. If someone could just hold me like a little girl.

[Ange]

Yeah. While you cry.

[Ari]

It will heal me in that moment. Really?

[Ange]

See, I just want to talk it through. Whoa. Look at. You know.

[Ari]

Oh, yeah. Oh, me Rock me like a baby.

[Ange]

And when I'm like. And then. So when I'm crying, Ari's initial. Ari's initial response is immediately hug. But it's. It's our. It's an Ari hug. It's a bear hug. She puts her. She puts her whole body, like, around my head, like, nursing her. So, like, my. No, actually. So my initial response is just to go like this, to give me space to keep crying. And then eventually. That was a funny season. So much fun. I loved. I love crying. I don't cry anymore. I'm healed. We're healed. In Jesus name. Look which of my favorite animal I like. Lions. What's my favorite color? Depends on the day. What's my favorite food? Depends on the hyper fixation. What's my favorite movie? Probably Manhunt. Osama bin Laden.

[Ari]

Where have you seen God's kindness recently?

[Ange]

The season that was my breakup.

[Ari]

Okay. Why? How do you feel? Like you're growing.

[Ange]

How did it grow me, genuinely? I mean, I could go down a whole list. I think one of the things that I learned the most. Most. The most, I think, is what I learned honestly, is I've. I leaned on people more than I ever had in my life. I realized that you have to develop. You need to have relational equity in your life. Not in a bad time. Because when, like, hard stuff hit in my life, the amount of people that I had around me, the amount of love that I had, the amount of support that I had, I could not have even, like, predicted that. And so just like with Jesus, like, when I hit a bad time, it was when I hit a bad time and I was struggling in my mind, which led me to, like, just, like, struggling my f. I couldn't do the things that I once did. I couldn't hear God the way that I once did. I was so consumed with, like, grief and hardship and all the things. During a season where it was so hard to feel God, hear God, see God. I was so grateful to rely on the friendship I had created with God. I had relational equity with the Lord. I was able to. Every single day. I. I didn't have big prayers. I had really quiet prayers. Like, I remember who you are. You'll do it again. You've done it before. You'll do it again. I remember. I remember. I just. I would keep saying to Jesus, I remember. I remember who you are. I remember what you've done, and I know you'll do it again. And much like with Jesus, I had the same experience with people. Relational equity with people. Is what I was able to. That I created throughout years of my life, pouring into relationships, which led me to a hard moment where so many people were able to be there for me. And it was that relational equity that I had formed. Not in a bad time. You cannot wait for things to be bad, to set up support in your life, or to seek Jesus. Don't. Most of us do wait until we're desperate, but it's so good to have relational equity with God and relational equity with people so that when push comes to shove and you need that, you have that. And so that's what I think I learned the most. I leaned on people in a way I never would have. I had so many friends. I had you. You held my arms up like nobody's business. I had pastoral covering for the first time in my life, and that was absolutely, truly what carried me. I had Darren and his wife Alex, who walked with me through so much. I think something I think about and talk about a lot is, like, we started the Bible study podcast kind of, like, around a time where, you know, things weren't easy. And one of the most healing things for me. Yeah, first of all, I've grown exponentially being on that podcast with Darren, where Darren teaches and I sit and I. And I listen, and other people get to hear the word from a pastor, because as you and I know, like, there are so many people who don't have pastors. They don't go to church. They don't have, like, and, like, the. This podcast is so incredibly important. And even that podcast is important. But having a pastor in your life that knows you, walks with you, knows your patterns, and can speak into your life is so important. So. But then at the same time, pastors are really busy. Pastors don't have the luxury to meet with every single person in their congregation. They don't have the. Usually they don't have the time or the capacity, especially if it's a big church, to know everybody intimately or to spend hours upon hours upon hours, hours. And for me, I was able to sit with Darren, a pastor who's also, like, a genius in biblical theology. So I was, like, learning from him for hours at a time and also being strengthened. Like, I would sit on that podcast not in a good spot, but, like, my inner man was being strengthened so much because I was sitting around believers hearing the gospel for hours at a time. So during, like, the. God was just. So when you ask, like, when have you seen the kindness of God? That's an example for me that he gave Me, that little place, that little podcast in my life during a time where, like, I needed so bad to just hear the things of God. I needed to hear about him, I needed to remember him. And so, yeah, for someone that's going

[Ari]

through a breakup right now, what advice would you give them on how to move forward in healing you?

[Ange]

For anyone who's going through any sort of hard time, anything, a breakup, which they're like some of the hardest things you can ever go through. And. But I'm also, we're also sensitive that there's like a lot worse things that can happen. There's a lot scarier tragedies that can happen in the world. And so all I would say is what heals is Jesus plus time. You cannot. And for people who say time heals all wounds, no, it doesn't. Because there are people who are 30 years down the road still incredibly hurt from and operating out of a trauma and pain that happened a long time ago. So it's not time without Jesus. But then, even if you have Jesus, things take time. And so that's what I would say to people. It's Jesus first and it's time to heal. You need to give yourself grace and the space and the ability to just say, one more day. If I can get through today and make it to tomorrow, that is a major success to look at. Just the day before you, just the five minutes before you, just the hour, just the work shift that you have to go to before you, just the hour long podcast that you have to film before you, just that, like, family event that you feel like you can't get through. It's just minute by minute, moment by moment, healing, constantly bringing everything to the feet of Jesus. There's so many things, you guys, that we try to do in our own might, in our own minds, in our own strength. This is your reminder to do the things you did at first. You pray, you read the Bible even when you don't want to, even when it doesn't. You have to understand that healing does not take place like this. And even the peace of God that we talk about, yes, sometimes it comes over you like a blanket. And sometimes it's something that quietly creeps in over time. Sometimes it's something that has taken place that you're not even aware of at times, but you have to trust. When you're doing spiritual disciplines, when you're staring at the face of Jesus, when you're in the Word, when you are bringing your cares and your concerns to him, something is taking place and you have to have faith in that, even if it's not happening automatically. So we're here to encourage you that, like, you just keep going. You put one foot in front of the other. You. You seek Jesus with all your heart, and you simply give yourself time.

[Ari]

Yeah.

[Ange]

Eventually you notice shifts. Eventually the things become smaller and Jesus becomes bigger. Eventually things are less triggering. Eventually you have longer stints of not thinking about something. And again, but that doesn't just happen because there are people who suffer forever from things that happen. Jesus, first time, second. That's my remedy.

[Ari]

Yeah. I love that you talked about people, because that's why he. He. He works through people to heal.

[Ange]

Yeah.

[Ari]

And I think one of the biggest things we tend to do during breakups is self isolate. I remember when I was isolated in my house, just the mental torment that would replay in my mind that I should just give up, that where I was was the best it was ever going to be. And just being in that dark apartment, just isolated, with the mental torment in my mind, I just. Even when I think about that moment, I. My heart just. Even thinking that someone is actually going through that right now and just fighting through that and finding community, even being so courageous to go to church by yourself.

[Ange]

Totally.

[Ari]

I remember sitting there on Sundays and just by myself. And in time, God brought the right people into my life. But it's just that little push of having the courage to go to church by yourself, having the courage to introduce yourself, saying yes to things, being in community, pushing through the pain to just reach out, to have faith, to just say, help me. Being dependent on God moment by moment. Cry, grieve, let it out. That is not weakness. It's strength. One thing I'm really realizing is just the power of prayer. I have James Open right now, and I was reading this morning. Are any of you suffering from hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call on the elders of the church to have them pray over you. I've been struggling with joy a lot. I've been struggling with weird weariness. And I have been so persistent in prayer. That's why I love the story of Hannah. She was so fervently praying, and she would. She didn't stop till she got an answer from God. And I've just really been praying. And not only praying, but having people pray for me. I kind of got in a moment of, like, desperation again, where I was, like, hungry, like. And I kind. And now that I'm. It kind of felt good. To be in that place of hunger again. And I. Because I was just. I told you guys a couple of episodes that I was feeling just really tired in my soul, like, and you could see it in my eyes. And I just wanted to feel alive again. And so I. It, like, sparked that faith in me to get hungry again and reach out to people. And I started to do these. These prayer nights and just have people pray for me over the phone. And I'm telling you, the power of prayer is so powerful and it works. And if we believe in a God that hears us, then we have to come together as a community and PR over one another and pray fervently, like, and pray for others. And it works. And I can't believe how free I've been feeling lately. Yeah, the joy has come back. And so the power of prayer is everything.

[Ange]

It's everything. It's everything. And guys, we're here to remind you. And before we go, we're going to pray for you guys, too. Just that, like, your inner man gets strengthened in that. Like, we'll pray for that afterwards. Words. But yeah. How you overcome challenges, you just keep going. You have to just keep going and you have to want to overcome.

[Ari]

It's that hunger in that fight that activates faith. If we didn't get to those low places of suffering, it wouldn't create a hunger in our hearts. Yeah. But just know that you will get on the other side of it. It will get better. And God sees you and he knows what he's doing, and he will never withhold something that is meant for you. And so you have to just rely on this more than the heartbreak. Rely on this more than the chaos and the torment that's going on in your mind and just keep resting in other people. Let them hold you, let them carry you, and just keep healing. Because on the other side of what you're going through is going to be just richness and beauty and radiance and life and harvest. And you will thank him later for all of the pain and all of the heartbreak is who you will be is someone that you won't even be able to recognize in the very best way.

[Ange]

And if you're facing a situation that was like, your biggest fear, like, if your biggest fear came true, what a gift. What a gift that if your biggest fear happened to come true and you survive it, which you will, you get to move through the rest of your life going, the thing I was afraid of most happened, happened. And I'm still standing and I'm still here. And I'm still pursuing Jesus and like, what I can say of, like, the hard times that I've been through throughout my life, throughout my faith journey, you know what I feel on the other side of it, I have a race to run. I have a race to run and I need to finish well. There is a hill, a mountain that I must die on. And that's like all I can think about now. I want to go so fast after things of God. I'm so grateful for the days that were hard. I'm so grateful for the moments I didn't have joy. I'm so grateful for the moments where I was in a lack of faith, in a lack of trust. Because coming on the other side of it, I'm like, yeah, I never want that to happen again. And it might. Right? But I know now how to get through it. And. And by going through that, I just realized that the most important thing that we do is finish the rest of our lives loving Jesus and being faithful. What matters to us the, is not the hard times that we go through, but that through them we stay faithful. We still stay loving Jesus. That doesn't mean that you have to be perfect or that every moment you're on fire or that every even season you're on fire. But it means that when you come out of it, you realize that the goal is that you die on the hill. That is Jesus Christ. The death, the burial and the resurrection of Jesus. You died staying faithful, you die. And your last words are, find me faithful, Lord, Find me pure, find me holy. Find my heart undivided. That's like genuinely coming out of that season, coming out of like darkness and hardship. That's all I think about. And I think, what a gift. What a gift. Like, for the moments I didn't have joy, because Ari can tell you guys, I value joy more than anything. I wake up every day so grateful to be alive when I feel good, because I'm like, there was a period I didn't. There was a period I couldn't feel joy. There was a period that everything was hard, hard. And so every day that I wake up and things are okay and the sun is shining, I have that much more of an appreciation. Like, someone asked me the other day, what's your five year plan? I'm like, I don't care. Like, I literally, I don't know. I want to love Jesus. I want to spend time with people I love and that love me.

[Ari]

Yeah.

[Ange]

And I want to be healthy.

[Ari]

Yeah.

[Ange]

And I want to have joy, you know, And I want to help people. Yeah. And I want to preach the gospel. And, yeah, there are things that. But, like, genuinely, all that matters is that we're faithful and that we're in love. And so coming out of that season, I hope that just encourages somebody that, like, yes, things are hard and I'm not. I'm not, like, diminishing that for you at all. But eventually, I promise you, if you keep fighting time and Jesus in time, if you keep going, you're going to get to a place where you're going to go. That was a close call. Let me finish this race, Grace. And it's going to give you such an appreciation for the things of God because you're going to be like, oh, yeah, this is what truly matters. I was thinking about this the other day, that, like, when you're married, Ari and I are in. But when you're married, I imagine, and I've heard this from married couples, that, like, when you go through life married, you have to continuously be falling in love with a new person. Because people change so much. Imagine if you're married to someone for 50, 60 years, how many times in their lives they have become a different person. They've grown, they've evolved, they've changed. So you have to continuously get to know a new person. Obviously your spouse, not like a new person, but, like, you have to get to know a new version of your spouse. You have to fall in love with a new version. You have to adapt and change with them and learn to, like, admire things that are changing. And I feel like it's the same thing with Jesus. He never changed, but seasons do. And what I've learned is that, like, I had to learn how to love Jesus in new ways. I related to him in different ways. I needed him in different ways. I had to enjoy him during really difficult, hard situations. And so I'm constantly getting to know him in a new way because I'm changing. And so I just think instead of going through seasons, that. Because I feel like when people go through seasons where they're like, I don't hear God, I can't see God. I don't know God. What if he just. What if you're just meant to get to know him in a new way? What if he's showing you something new because you've changed, you've grown, or you're meant to grow and be different, and he's just inviting you into a new space, into a new season where you're loving him and learning him differently.

[Ari]

When troubles of any kind Come your way. Consider it an opportunity for great joy. That's how much of a blessing troubles us are for you. Consider it a great joy for you. Know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow. So when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. I can't imagine not going through any type of suffering. Even when we started tor, I would come back to the room and be like, if I never went through that, how would I have been able to. Able to see these people where they're at? How would I be able to relate like, you have to understand, it is such joy that we go through these things. I know it doesn't feel good, but I promise the character it produces in you is something that it just would not produce if you didn't go through these hardships.

[Ange]

I want to pray for you guys. I want to pray. Lord Jesus, we just lift up every single person listening and watching. Holy Spirit of the living God, I pray Lord that you would meet them wherever they are are Jesus. I thank you for your nearness. I thank you that you wanted to be as close to us as, as truly possible by giving us your spirit as a seal of our inheritance, marking us by filling us with your spirit. So Lord, I pray for every single believer who's listening that you'd fill them with your spirit, Lord. And if you're listening, you can say, God, fill me with your spirit. Baptize me in your holy Spirit, Spirit and Lord, I pray in the name of Jesus that you'd strengthen their inner man. God. I pray that dead and dry bones would come to life in Jesus mighty name. I pray that people who have felt stagnant and alone and scared. I pray Jesus, that you would comfort them, that you'd encourage them, that you'd speak truth and life over them. The opposite of depression isn't happiness, but Lord, it's life. So we speak the life of the spirit of Jesus into every single person listening and watching. And Lord, I pray in Jesus name by the blood of the Lamb and the power of the Holy Spirit that you would strengthen their inner man. That they would rise up in power, Jesus, that they would pursue the things of God with all their hearts. Lord, I pray that they pursue holiness and righteousness and purity with all their might. I pray God that they would invite the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, that Lord, you would conform them into the image of God, back into Christ likeness and God. I pray whatever's been hindering them in their walk with you, whatever distractions might be coming up, the phone, social media, whatever it might be, Jesus, that you would remove everything that hinders them, that they would shake off, throw away anything that hinders them, any sin that is in their lives. God, I pray that you'd empower them to walk away from it, to drop it. That you'd heal them, Lord, and that they would rise up. That they would rise up like warriors, warriors in Christ Jesus. That you would renew their strength. They would mount up with wings like eagles. They'd be strong, alive, awake, full of life. In the mighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Jesus name, amen.

[Ari]

Thank you guys so much. We love you. Whatever you're going through right now, you will get through it. There is a harvest when you don't give up. Keep growing, keep fighting, keep being in community, keep crying, keep healing. I don't know what led us to this, talking about healing and suffering. Take it from two girls who have had many trials and many sufferings and have gone through heartbreak and hardships and we truly wouldn't be the woman we are today without all the hardships, without the heartbreak. You know, we talk about it all the time and so just know that you're not alone. You're not alone. And we've been through it too. And you will get through it. And we are so proud of you.

[Ange]

We love you guys so much. You're our people. We love you. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May he make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May he turn his face towards you and give you peace. Shalom. Shalom. Love you.