In Totality with Megan Ashley

Episode 102: Laying Down Idols in the Hidden Places ft. Dinorah Peña
Released December 30, 2025

Episode Overview

In this vulnerable and insightful conversation, host Megan Ashley and guest Dinorah Peña go deep on how Christian faith is lived out—especially around the challenges of idolatry, anxiety, and truly delighting in God. Using stories from Scripture and their own lives, they explore how personal preferences, ambitions, relationships, and “good things” can become idols, subtly hindering spiritual growth. Listeners are encouraged to examine their hearts, find assurance at Jesus’s feet, and let their lives act as authentic witness to the Gospel—even (or especially) in the hidden places.

Key Themes & Insights

1. Delighting at the Feet of Jesus

• Posture of True Devotion:
  Megan and Dinorah reflect on experiences of kneeling in prayer, relating them to Mary’s posture at Jesus’s feet (Luke 10, John 11).

  “I just wept because I just kept thinking about the day that we get to be face to face with him… the first place I’m gonna be—I just know that… I am going to be at your feet.” —Megan (04:24)

• Contrast Between Mary and Martha:
  They discuss the anxiety of always “doing” (Martha) versus the peace Mary had by abiding and waiting for Jesus.

  “There was an assurance that Mary had… even if He didn’t raise my brother from the dead, He’s still here.” —Dinorah (08:01)

“In every encounter that we see Mary and Jesus, she’s at his feet.” —Megan (08:39)

2. Remembering God’s Record and Dealing with Anxiety

• Spiritual Amnesia:
  Both admit to quickly forgetting God’s faithfulness and slipping into anxiety and impatience.

  “I struggle with impatience, and that impatience can produce a lot of anxiety in me. But I felt like the Lord was like, ‘Be patient and remember who it is that you’re waiting for.’” —Megan (09:13)

• The Importance of Knowing Scripture:
  Reading and delighting in the Bible roots the heart in trust rather than anxiety.

  “Get in the book… Read your Bible… Delight in this history that will give you the assurance that your heart needs to be steady.” —Megan (12:54)

3. Laying Down Idols: Hidden and Obvious

• What Are Idols, Really?:
  The conversation broadens the traditional view of idolatry to include good things—work, relationships, even ministry and Bible study—that take the place of God.

  “You don’t want to lay it down because it’s an idol. Oh, you don’t want to get off social media when He’s calling you to because it’s an idol. You don’t want to be consecrated because whatever he’s taking you apart from, it’s an idol.” —Dinorah (17:56)
  “Every time that you raise up an idol, you abandon God.” —Dinorah (18:27)

• Idolatry in Good Things:
  They warn that even God-given blessings or spiritual disciplines can become idols when pursued for validation, influence, or personal fulfillment.

  “Don’t turn a good thing into an idol… Don’t turn reading your word into an idol. Don’t turn your studying into an idol because I just want to have something to say.” —Megan (45:10)

4. The Call to Spiritual Community & Mutual Accountability

• Being Stewards of Each Other:
  The responsibility to lovingly warn and counsel fellow believers is emphasized (1 Thessalonians 5).

  “Yo. We have to be warning each other… that is being a good stewardship over your people, you know what I’m saying? We all have blind spots.” —Megan (23:32)

• Kindness & Witness:
  They stress that how Christians treat each other—publicly and privately—affects their collective witness.

  “Recognize how when we are not kind to others… we are tainting our witness.” —Dinorah (24:33)
  “My first priority as a Christian is to be a Christian. That means I have to love you… I may not agree with you, but I have to give you dignity.” —Megan (26:22)

5. Filtering All of Life Through the Gospel

• Practical Living:
  Choosing the Gospel over personal preferences is a continual process, requiring honesty, repentance, and reliance on God’s grace.

  “This is why we have to live with the Gospel as the filter through everything we do... what would bring Him glory, not what would vindicate me?” —Megan (31:44)

• Confession and Course Correction:
  Confessing quickly and repenting restores right relationship and reflects spiritual maturity.

  “Confess at a faster pace and repent.” —Megan (47:55)
  “And the Bible says that He will be faithful to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” —Megan (47:57)

6. Your Life is Your Greatest Ministry

• Authentic Witness:
  Ultimately, how one lives—especially in private—matters more than outward ministry.

  “The greatest ministry you will have is your life.” —Dinorah (32:39)
  “The real thing is the evidence of how He’s working in your life, period… if you would have normally popped off on somebody, but you don’t, you choose a better way… that’s evidence that the Holy Spirit is sanctifying you.” —Megan (35:48)

• Glowing with the Lord’s Countenance:
  As Christians delight in God, it changes them in visible ways, making their faith attractive to others.

  “That is the countenance of the Lord… when you are delighting in the Lord, that radiance you will have.” —Dinorah (38:11, 39:09)
  “Let your life preach the Gospel.” —Dinorah (37:18)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Idolatry:

  “If I’m not living it, then that’s also an idol. Then the ministry is just an idol to me.” —Dinorah (44:03)
  “Don’t turn good things into an idol. Fight that temptation. Ask the Lord to cultivate in you a fear of… Him so that your life is to worship one God. And that’s Him.” —Megan (46:08)

• On Accountability:

  “Every single friend of mine has the absolute right to correct me with love, period.” —Dinorah (24:10)

• On Delight:

  “The whole thing of this conversation is about delighting in the Lord… when you are delighting in the Lord… it makes me understand You more… it helps increase my devotion and my reverence for You.” —Dinorah (38:48, 39:09)

• On Community:

  “It’s so important to have people in your life that are fiercely running after the Lord in the same way that you are.” —Megan (43:20)

• Humorous, Relatable Moments:
  The episode is peppered with laughter, banter about aging (“Do you ever get ankle pain from sitting?” 34:03), and inside jokes, lending warmth and authenticity.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Posture at Jesus’s Feet, Mary vs. Martha: 03:02–09:05
• Remembering God’s Record & Overcoming Anxiety: 09:13–13:00
• Calling Out Hidden Idols (social media, ambition, etc.): 17:24–19:57
• Good Things as Idols; Biblical Example of Golden Calf: 20:13–22:31
• Christian Witness & Accountability: 24:10–32:09
• Living the Gospel & Course Correcting: 31:00–36:28
• Your Life as Ministry/Countenance of the Lord: 37:18–40:54
• Confession, Repentance & Delighting in the Lord: 47:55–49:18
• Journal Prompts & Reflection Homework: 48:41–49:41
• Closing Affirmations & Friendship: 42:15–44:10

Practical Takeaways & Journal Prompts

Journal Prompt 1 (Megan):
In what ways have I not been delighting in the Lord? Have I been doing things for selfish ambition rather than delight? Where can I take inventory and turn back to true enjoyment of God? (48:41)

Journal Prompt 2 (Dinorah):
What areas of my life am I upholding my personal convictions or preferences over the Gospel? How can I realign my priorities to reflect Christ’s love and truth? (49:21)

Final Thoughts

The episode is a powerful reminder that Christian living is not just about public ministry or activity, but a surrendered, honest, and worshipful heart before God—one that is vigilant against hidden idols and eager to delight in Him. Ultimately, it’s about letting one’s life, even in the hidden places, reflect God’s love and truth “in totality.”

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