← Stay True with Madison Prewett Troutt
Stay True with Madison Prewett Troutt
The Kind of Friend Everyone Wants (And How to Be One) with Jeanine Amapola Ward
00:57:06
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- [00:00]
Madison Pruitt Trout
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- [00:26]
Janine
Another pina colada?
- [00:28]
Madison Pruitt Trout
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Janine
Fantastic.
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Madison Pruitt Trout
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- [00:35]
Janine
You're hired and you're hired.
- [00:36]
Madison Pruitt Trout
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Janine
they didn't say that mother had changed their friendships. Because it does. It just looks so different. It's important to try. If someone invites you somewhere, you say yes. The Bible literally says that, like God laughs at our plans. My whole plan went out the window and it just made me realize God's plan truly is the best plan. It creates the most dependence you'll ever have on God.
- [01:10]
Madison Pruitt Trout
How do you create friendships?
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Janine
That last friendship should be frogs. It should be faithful. It should be reciprocal. It should be organic. The next one is growth and the last one is safe.
- [01:19]
Madison Pruitt Trout
How do you abide in the Lord in seasons of transition?
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Janine
Abiding truly looks like constantly communication with Jesus. If I made decisions without Christ, sorely regretted it. So it looked like to me, pausing, slowing down, constantly seeking the Lord. If you do that, you can't mess it up.
- [01:42]
Madison Pruitt Trout
What's up, guys? Welcome back to another episode of Stay True podcast. I'm your host, Madison Pruitt Trout, and I have really not like a guest on the podcast because she's been on the podcast, I think more than anybody else other than Grant. And she is my best friend. And you guys know her very well. You guys have seen our friendship through lots of different seasons of life. And she is a mother, a wife, she's an author, she's a speaker, she's a YouTuber, she's a content creator. She does a lot of stuff. She does a lot of stuff. And she's also a host of Happy and Healthy and we just recorded on her podcast as well. Welcome, Janine.
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Janine
Thank you for having me. I think this is round four on your podcast.
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Madison Pruitt Trout
I really think it is. Yeah.
- [02:25]
Janine
Me and Grant are in competition.
- [02:26]
Madison Pruitt Trout
We have recorded. You know, we never got to record. We did on yours. In Seasons of Singleness. Because I started this when I was married.
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Janine
Yeah. You didn't have a podcast yet?
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Madison Pruitt Trout
Cause I was gonna say we've done a lot of different seasons of life on my podcast, but really, it's been, I guess, married and then pregnant and then now having little babies, which is crazy.
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Janine
Yeah. Which. Wait, whoa, whoa. I'm not pregnant. No, no, no, no. You guys know we're not.
- [02:50]
Madison Pruitt Trout
This is not a pregnancy announcement.
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Janine
This is not what you guys think.
- [02:53]
Madison Pruitt Trout
But Duke is how old?
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Janine
He's.
- [02:56]
Madison Pruitt Trout
And Hosanna's, like, 14 months, which is crazy.
- [02:58]
Janine
I know. And seeing them play together is just, like, the cutest little thing. Like, Hosanna's blowing kisses at him. She keeps trying to kiss him. It's so cute.
- [03:07]
Madison Pruitt Trout
She was, like, sitting across the table for him, and she. From him at lunch today, and she couldn't reach him, and so she kissed the table to symbolize that she was trying to kiss.
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Janine
She's like, this is meant for you.
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Madison Pruitt Trout
Yeah. I'm like, sweetie, no. Gray and I are trying to teach her right now that we. We don't kiss anybody except Mommy and Daddy. But we're just. We're still learning that.
- [03:26]
Janine
We're like, yeah, Duke is very grabby to strangers. And I'm like, wait, whoa, whoa. We were on the plane, and he's just grabbing this guy's sweater, and I'm like, I'm so sorry. And, you know, people are like, it's fine, but there may be annoyed deep
- [03:36]
Madison Pruitt Trout
down inside, you get stressed when you travel. Like, I have to remind myself. I'm like, okay, everything's fine. Like, because it gets so stressful. You have, like, 20 bags.
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Janine
You're, like, carrying around sweating.
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Madison Pruitt Trout
Oh, yeah, yeah.
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Janine
No, absolutely. Get stressed. But I, like, kind of what I think you were alluding to is you're just like, it's fine. We got it. Like, this is just how it is.
- [03:53]
Madison Pruitt Trout
They feed off of your energy.
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Janine
100%.
- [03:55]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Babies feed off your energy. Okay, but he's nine months. How has. Okay, first, actually, I want to hear. I'm sure you've talked about this on your podcast, but I had you on when you were pregnant last. I want to hear a little bit about as much as you want to go into detail about your birth experience, because it was a hard one and a crazy one, and I was, like, praying and interceding and just, like, felt like I was in it with you. And it was so hard that I was not, like, Grant saw me in such a weird position because I wanted to be in the room with you,
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Janine
and it was you. You would have been there for sure.
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Madison Pruitt Trout
It was so weird, like, being here and not being able to, like, be there but walk. Walk us through, like, what was birth like? And then just the first, like, few months of postpartum. We talked about this a little bit on your podcast for my experience, but now I want to hear, like, what were those first few months like with postpartum?
- [04:41]
Janine
Oh, my gosh. Okay. So birth was completely different than I ever expected. And I feel like with birth, they say, like, you can have a plan, or actually, they say you can have a preference, but just know that's probably going out the window.
- [04:56]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Yeah.
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Janine
And so just like, I'm sure you had. I had. Like, this is what I want and don't want. And I wrote it all out with my doula. She came with me, gave it to the doctor, and pretty much every single thing I didn't want, it was just like, yeah, just like, my whole list was just out the window. And I was in labor for. I was in the hospital at 1am that's when my water broke, was 1am And I didn't have Duke till 10pm the next day. So I was in labor for almost 24 hours, and my water broke at the hospital, which was so crazy. Like, I prayed. I was like, lord, please let him come natural. But we did end up getting to the hospital to do an induction, and that's a whole nother story in itself, because I really did not want to do an induction. I was like, no, I want him to come when he feels ready. And Caleb. Caleb is very, very discerning. Caleb was like, janine, I feel like something is wrong. He's like, let's just schedule an induction. My doctor recommended don't go past 41 weeks. Which most people are like, no, they're fine up until 42 weeks. And so I literally was like, okay, before we schedule this induction, I'm going to go pray upstairs. So I went upstairs, got on my hands and knees. I was like, lord, if you want me to do this induction, give me peace. Give me a sign. And I feel like the Lord just completely gave me the confirmation I needed. And I was like, okay, like, we'll do it. But I was partially sad because I wanted, like, my birth plan or whatever. And so I get there. I cried on the way to the hospital because I was like, I feel like I'm forcing This. I feel like I'm rushing this. Like, this isn't on God's timing.
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Madison Pruitt Trout
And Are you, like, in pain yet or. No, like, it hasn't started really yet.
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Janine
You know, like, the bloody show. I know. Sorry. It's kind of disgusting. It's not. It's natural. It's part of God's plan. I had, like, kind of the bloody show, and I was starting to get back cramps, and so I was like, okay, I think the process is starting. Which gave me peace knowing it could happen when I'm at the hospital.
- [06:48]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Yeah.
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Janine
I literally put my gown on. And, like, I kid you not, 30 minutes later, like, I put my gown on. I'm getting ready to, like, go get all, like, the cords and stuff on me. My water breaks, like, in the hospital. And I was like, thank you, Jesus. Because it. To me, that was confirmation that God was like, trust me, get to the hospital, and then I'm going to do the rest. Which still didn't go according to plan.
- [07:10]
Madison Pruitt Trout
But your water broke early because. Did they measure you? Were you pretty dilated at that point?
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Janine
I was 1cm.
- [07:15]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Okay, so your water broke early.
- [07:16]
Janine
So my water broke, yeah. And I was like, okay, we're doing this. And so in my mind, I'm like, he's coming. This is going to happen natural. I'm so excited. I had prepped for natural birth, like, with my doula. We had done all the exercises, the breath work, the Christian hypnobirthing. I had the combs. I had everything. I got my stag. I was like, she's ready. And Duke just did not want to come.
- [07:39]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Yeah.
- [07:39]
Janine
I was stuck at 6cm for hours, and stuck, like, no epidural, like, going through the actual birth, like, the labor process, which, you know, it is the most insane experience I've ever been in my entire life. I mean, I'm literally, like, calling out to God. I'm clenching my hands, and it's amazing because it really does make you be, like, lord, I absolutely need you in this moment. And Duke just did not want to come naturally. And then they started monitoring his heart rate, and his heart was decelerating, like, every contraction. And then we started to get nervous, and the nurse was like, if I were you, I would have gotten this baby out hours ago. And I'm like, wait, what? And I'm like, is it that severe? And I just felt like my doctors weren't very clear. And I also met my doctor at 35 weeks pregnant, so, like, I didn't have a lot of time to Know him, to give him my excite, like, my birth plan. I feel like he's very pro C section, which isn't necessarily bad, but that was not obviously what I wanted. And so I just felt like in my mind, I was like, okay, are you sure I have to do C section? Because he came in, he was like, if I were you, I would get this baby out right away. And so we tried and tried everything we could to come out naturally. And I just was stuck at 6cm. And so I remember just being on the hospital bed, and I literally put my hands up, and I just was like, lord, I surrender. I surrender my plan. If this is what you want me to do, then, like, I'll do it. And Caleb looked at me. My doula looked at me. They're like, janine, this isn't anything that you did wrong. This isn't your fault. You've done all you can. The doctors have done all they can. And, like, ultimately, you just want a healthy baby. And I was like, you're right. And so we rushed over and got a C section. And it was, like, a crazy experience because they're like, there's all these bright lights. It's like I'd never had surgery in my entire life. There's, like, literally, I feel like I'm in a. A doctor show. People are coming in and out. It's loud. It's super bright. They, like, immediately medicate me. They're like all these noises and sounds. It's, like, very overstimulating. Like, not, like, the peaceful, dark candles. You know what I mean? It was not that at all.
- [09:43]
Madison Pruitt Trout
And were you, like, fully alert and awake the whole time? Wow.
- [09:47]
Janine
So I did end up getting an epidural because I could not sustain the pain anymore. My. I had been in labor, like, just stuck at 6 centimeters for, I think, four or five hours. And I was just. Every contraction, I literally was like, I can't do this anymore. And so got the epidural, had this C section, and then all of a sudden, you see your baby, and it's like, oh, my gosh, your whole world changes. And you're like, it was all worth it. And it's just like, the crazy experience. And then he was kind of rushed to the nicu. Shortly after that, we were in the NICU for about a week. And that. I mean, I've prayed in my life, but, like, that made me pray like never before. Yeah, it's crazy when you have to, like, intercede for your child. It's a whole different level of faith. Truly.
- [10:30]
Madison Pruitt Trout
How did that test your faith? And how did you and Caleb respond in that moment when it's like, for you, we just had our child. All you want to do is, like, hold your child, feed your child, love your child, go home with your child, and to have your. Your child rushed off to the nicu, and you feel like that separation, and you just, like, want to be there. How was that for you in your faith journey? And what was that like, processing with Caleb?
- [10:57]
Janine
Yeah, I think it. What it taught me was that in life in general, you can have a plan and you can have a preference, but they. The Bible literally says that, like, God laughs at our plans because we make all these, like, I'm going to move here and marry this guy and do this and do that. But then all of a sudden, like, my whole plan went out the window. And it just made me realize that God's plan truly is the best plan, even if it doesn't look like yours. It's. Even if it's not anything you imagine, like, it truly made me surrender. And in your. When you're in that moment, it creates the most dependence you'll ever have on God, because there's nothing I can do. It is completely out of my control. It's like, God, you are in control. And that whole experience, I feel like, in general, like, bonded. Caleb and I, we prayed so hard together, we worshiped together, we cried together. I mean, I'm looking at my son in this little bed. He's like £5. He's so small. All these little cables on him. And when I looked at him, I was just like, this is not God's design. Like, it's not God's design for my baby to be strapped up. All these wires. He can't breathe on his own. His blood sugar is dropping. He wasn't using the bathroom. Like, that's why he was in the nicu. But then it also made me be like, God, thank you for medicine. Like, thank you for doctors. Thank you that we were here, because if, I don't know, for some reason I had chosen to do a home birth, which. No shame if someone decides to do that. Like, I don't know where Duke would be, because immediately he was taken away. He was not well. And it just made me, like, really learn the utmost surrender. Like, the whole whole process is just, like, solely, lord, this is all you. And I was so thankful to have, like, you and my family, like, interceding and praying for us, because I really feel like I saw prayer change our whole situation, our circumstance. Some of the doctors were saying that he was going to be in the NICU for a month. And I was like, oh my gosh, like, I don't even know. It's just so weird. It feels so unnatural to like go home and you don't take your baby with you. And so he got out of the nicu like way faster than he was supposed to. So that it also just showed me like prayer works.
- [12:59]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Yeah.
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Janine
100.
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Madison Pruitt Trout
Yeah. How was the first little bit of postpartum? And how has motherhood changed your relationship with Jesus and your relationship with Caleb?
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Janine
It like in the best way possible. Like I'm sure you and Grant experience this, but like, I feel like seeing Caleb as a dad has made me fall even more in love with him because you see this like so super. Yeah, like tender sweet side and them like holding the baby and feeding him a bottle and it just like melts me every single time. And I look at Caleb and I'm like, you were meant to be a dad. And it's just really cool watching your husband kind of get this like new purpose as well. And of course I feel like with the mom, your life changes more than their does cuz like the baby's so dependent upon you. But I don't know, I feel like in every way possible, it has changed me for the better. It has stripped me of comfort. It stripped me, stripped me of like all the things I thought I wanted. It has changed my priorities. It has made me realize like, my body is a sacrifice for my child. But I'm like, but God, you gave your son as the ultimate sacrifice. Like if Jesus could die on the cross and sacrifice his body for us, I'm like, I. I can do this for my child. And it doesn't mean it's not hard. I mean, the hormones are crazy. I feel like I was pretty sensitive postpartum. I mean, definitely angry, emotional. And you know, when you're not sleeping, you're just. You're just not the same human being at all. But it also just same thing. Like I feel like it has made me look at God in a way I've never seen before because it has shown me I don't have to do anything to earn God's love. I don't have to be anything. I don't have to look like anything. And I look at Duke and I'm like, I just love you because of you. You are my son. I'm obsessed with you. I love you. I would literally die for you. I would do anything for you. That's what we are to God. And I'm like, wow, what a beautiful comparison. So it has shown me that sacrificial love. It has shown me unconditional love in a way that I've never experienced before, because I thought, like, I thought I loved big before. I thought I was selfless before. Oh, no. Like, it's a new level 100, and you can't be selfish. I feel like.
- [15:13]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Like, yeah.
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Janine
And it helps you and your partner realize, like, okay, I'm being selfish. When the baby's crying at 3am it's like, who's going on getting him? Who's changing his diaper when it's a massive blowout? Truly, it strips you of all selfishness. And I know that I needed that refined in me. So it's beautiful. But I feel like it's. It's just changed me in the best way possible. And I think a lot of times, a lot of women struggle really, really badly in postpartum, which is natural. Like, they're just going through so much change. Hopefully, if you can use that season to help you, like, teach you things, you can come out better on the other side.
- [15:48]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Okay. I'm really excited to share this because as a new mom, I feel like I'm constantly thinking about how to best support my daughter's health. And honestly, it can feel a little overwhelming trying to figure out what to trust. I recently came across First Day, and I'm really looking forward to starting Hosanna on their multivitamins as she gets a little older. One thing that really stood out to me is learning about something called hidden hunger, which is when kids are eating but still not getting all the nutrients they need. And I feel like that's something so many parents don't even realize. What I love about First Day is that they are designed specifically to help fill those nutrient gaps. They have a blend of organic fruits and veggies along with key vitamins to support things like brain development, mood, and overall health. And it's just two gummies a day, which feels so doable. And as a mom, one of the biggest things for me is trust. I love that they are super transparent, tested for over 200 toxins. Toxins, and don't include artificial ingredients or dyes. That just gives me so much peace of mind. And it's not just for kids. They actually have options for every stage, from kids to teens to adults, which I think is so important because our nutritional needs change as we grow. So I'm really excited to make this a part of our routine as a family. Clinically absorbable, family safe, actually effective for a limited time only. Our listeners are getting an insane deal. Use code stay true to get up to 57 off@firstday.com that's up to 57 off and a free gift with code 7 stay true firstday.com after you purchase they will ask you where you heard about them. Please support our show and tell them our show sent you. You guys know we talk a lot on this podcast about purpose and really seeking the path God has for our lives. And when it comes to education, I truly believe that path should lead to something meaningful. That's one of the reasons I love Grand Canyon University. GCU is a private, nonprofit Christian university located in beautiful Phoenix, Arizona and they are passionate about making education an affordable path forward for students who want to grow in faith and in their calling. What I really love about GCU is that they are grounded in Christian truth and focused on equipping the next generation to lead with integrity and serve with purpose, which is something I know so many of you care about too. And they've actually kept tuition at the same rate on their traditional campus for 17 years. Plus in 2025 alone, they awarded over $404 million in institutional scholarships. So whether you're looking to earn your degree on campus or online, you can pursue your purpose at gcu. Private Christian affordable non profit. Visit GCU Edu to learn more. Yeah, I was gonna say, like, how have you navigated? Because you talking about getting stripped of a lot of comfort. You've been stripped of a lot of comfort in a lot of areas and you moved to a new city. You were kind of still newly married. Yeah, you, you know, have to start over with friendships. You're like pregnant and become a new mom and there's just so much new. I mean your world changes. You were a strong, independent working woman and like boss woman and you know, running all these different things and motherhood just naturally shifts some of those things. So how have you navigated being stripped of comfort and navigated kind of this season of transition and change into motherhood and living in a new sense city and all the different seasons of change?
- [18:58]
Janine
Oh my gosh, it is probably the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. I've never had this much transition all at once. And like truly it's like new city, new home, new baby, new friends, like completely starting over and you're freshly postpartum. And I never want to kind of have like a victim mentality or I never want to be like guys. My life is so hard. But I will say, like, it was probably the hardest year of my life that I've had in a very, very long time. And it again, it just makes you be like, okay, God, are you enough for me? And there were times where I. I didn't feel like that. There were times where I was like, I want my comfort. I want to run back to Dallas. I want to run back to my friends, my family, my old restaurants, and my favorite shopping places. And I want to, like, cling to control. And I mean, who doesn't like, control? And it just completely stripped me in every way possible. But at the same time, I feel like that's what pruning is. Like, that's literally what God does. And I'm a huge proponent of John 15 and how God prunes. And I felt like that's he was what he was doing. And I had so many people prophesy over me that I would be in a wilderness season. And I'm like, nope, don't want to hear that.
- [20:08]
Madison Pruitt Trout
I don't receive that.
- [20:09]
Janine
Someone else, please. I rebuke that prophecy. But, you know, like, Jesus went away. Jesus was in a wilderness season. He fasted, he prayed, he went often alone to pray and to be with the Father. And he did it frequently. And so I'm like, okay, Jesus, if you did this, then, like, I can do this too. And it's. I have to follow your example. But it doesn't mean that it's easy. It does not mean that it was fun. Like, there were definitely times where I was just, like, angry at God, where I'm like, why did you bring me here? Why am I alone? Why do I not have, like, the support system I thought I would have? And of course, God has shown up in so many different ways. Like, Caleb's family has been absolutely amazing. Like, my mother in law, she watches Duke all the time. But there's definitely times where I have had to just hold Duke in the rocking chair and I'm alone and I'm like, bawling my eyes out. But that's also where you meet God the most. It's like, how would I experience a different type of love from the Lord if I hadn't gone through that? And that is why I know that pruning is always for our good. And pruning is always to grow us and to help us deepen with the Father and to abide in him more. Because, like, if I'm not connected to that vine, I'm gonna be reaching for other places. And that's What I did in Dallas, like, there's so many other things that you can run to. You can be boarding birds, distractions. Yeah. You can go to the mall. You can go spend money. You can just be like, I'm just gonna call a friend up. But when you're alone, that tests you. And not even that. Like, you can't just pick up and leave when you have a baby who has a sleep schedule and you're breastfeeding them. And so it tested me. Let me say that. But God is so sovereign. He's got me through it for an entire year already. And I can confidently say, like, I can look back and see all the change, all the good, all the positives, how he's even deepened my intimacy with Kayla, because we've had to depend on each other as well. And I knew that it would do that. But it's like, until you're going through it, you can't see it. And then you look up and you're like, okay, I. There's some fruit from that season, but it's painful for sure sometimes.
- [22:10]
Madison Pruitt Trout
So how do we resist that temptation to run to other comforts in seasons of change and transition? Because that's so real. Like, when you're in a season of change, it's like, all you want is what's comfortable or what's easy or what you're used to or what's convenient. And so for the person listening who's like, yeah, that's me, like, I'm in a season of change. I'm in a season of transition, and maybe they've been going back to what's comfortable, or they feel that pull or they feel that temptation. Like, what would your advice be? Like, how do we resist those temptations?
- [22:42]
Janine
And.
- [22:43]
Madison Pruitt Trout
And I would say tied to that as well. Like, how have you stayed so grounded in your faith in the wilderness and transition season?
- [22:51]
Janine
That's super good. Yeah. I mean, I feel like if you're in that season and you're in a transition and you're wanting to run back, like, just pause for a second and ask yourself, okay, first of all, what am I trying to run back to? Why do I want this so badly? What is this temporarily trying to bring me? Like, what am I thinking? I'm gonna get life out of this, and you're not. You're never gonna get life out of that. You might for, like, a moment, you might get that hit, but it's never going to satisfy. And instead of running back to what's comfortable, I would press even more into the discomfort Because I really, really do believe that in the discomfort is where God is going to show up the most. Like if we're constantly clinging to what feels right, what's comfortable, convenient, what I like, what I enjoy. It's like, what if that's not God's best for you? What if God doesn't want you to have that? What if God completely uprooted you for a reason, but you keep trying to go back because you think this is good for you, but that's not what's best for your soul. That's not. That's not what's best for your marriage, for the kingdom, for your relationship with your children, with your business. So sometimes I think we can get so narrow minded of just like, this is what I want. And if I've learned anything in life is that God works in the unexpected. Like, that is who he is. He does not come packaged in the way we think. Like Jesus rode on a donkey, they were expecting this king with a purple robe and like a shiny crown. Yeah, like I'm sure they were like, wait, that's him. You know, they were so confused. If that's still the same God that we serve, then we should expect that he's going to do the same type of things for us today. And so I had to truly reshift my perspective and say, God, are you not the same God of the God that lives in Oklahoma? Like, if you were the God for me in Dallas, you can be the same God in Oklahoma. Like, you haven't changed. My circumstances have changed, but you haven't changed. Your character is the same. Just because I move states doesn't mean like you're silent or you've left me or that now all of a sudden you're like, okay, good luck, you're on your own. Like, I just know that that's not God's character. And so remind yourself God's character, because that is what will sustain you when you want to fight, you want to go back, you want to cling to comfort, you want to run back to slavery like the Israelites did. It's like, no, go back to God's character. And he never wastes a season, he never wastes a moment, he never does anything without reason. And that is what I always remember. I'm like, you wouldn't have brought us here, you wouldn't have given us peace and confirmation to move here if it weren't for something. And so if God brought you somewhere, trust that he has you there for a reason and lean into him, know he is Your sustainer, like, he will sustain, sustain you. He is the rock. If he is your foundation, it doesn't matter where you are. He will sustain you and uphold you and place your feet on a solid ground again.
- [25:40]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Amen. I literally was just reading in Exodus and numbers and reading about Moses and the Israelites and God setting them free from the Egyptians and being set free from slavery. Yet as they were wondering in the wilderness, they continued to be plagued with this slave mindset. Like, they continued to even long to go back to slavery. And because the wandering in the wilderness was messing them up, like, they didn't know how to rely on God. And it was comfortable. It was more comfortable for them to go back to slavery and to go back to what they knew than to trust God in the unknown and to trust God in the discomfort. Like, you're saying, and I think that's such a good pause to just be like, do I have a, like, slavery mindset? Do I want to go back to what once enslaved me to what once was comfortable? Or do I want to have a promised land mindset and set my eyes on eternal things and to set my eyes on the promises of God, even in this discomfort season, even in this wilderness season? And it is so challenging to trust God in the process. When you're like, I don't see this going anywhere. Like, I don't see anything changing. Will I be happy again? Will I find my spouse? Will I get the job? Will I? And you're just in this will I season. And I just think that relying on the promises of God is kind of like flipping that mindset of, like, no, I will, and I'm gonna declare it in faith. I'm gonna believe in faith. And whether I experience those promises here on Earth or just in heaven, like, I'm gonna believe that God is who he says he is. And I love that you're bringing it back to that. And I love that you brought up to John 15. Because when I think about your life, when I think about your ministry, when I think about the message you're most passionate about, it's this abide in him message. And I'd love for you to just touch on that, too. It was kind of a part of my other question as well. But just how do you abide in the Lord in seasons of transition?
- [27:31]
Janine
Yeah, abiding. I feel like, isn't this picture perfect thing that people think it is? Because I think sometimes when we think we're abiding, it looks like you're just sitting in the. In this dark room, you're weeping, you're on your hands and knees, and you're just like, lord, I'm abiding in you. Which absolutely you can do. But sometimes abiding is like your kid is screaming in the back and you're putting on worship music and blasting that and literally clinging on your steering wheel, and you're just like, jesus, I need you. That's abiding. You are staying connected to the vine in every single thing that you do. And that's what I've learned is like, no matter where I go, no matter, you know, even if I went a different route, I lived in a different state, or I married to someone else or whatever, like, if I stayed connected to the vine, I'll be okay. And abiding truly looks like constant communication with Jesus. It's not a touch point. He's not just like a. A prescription medicine that you take occasionally. It's a daily vitamin. It is a daily intake of Jesus, I need you, Jesus. I need you, Jesus. Be with me, Jesus. Cover this podcast, cover my drive, cover this flight. You know, show me who I need to speak to. Show me who I need to bless today. It's a constant communication. And I learned in my life, if I made decisions without Christ, sorely regretted it. If I went before God, sorely regretted it. So it looked like to me, pausing, slowing down, resting in, Jesus, Jesus, do you want me to go here? Do you want me to move to this place? Do you want me to take this brand deal? Do you want me to marry this person? Do you want me. You know what? What's the perfect timeline for me to have a baby? Constantly seeking the Lord in everything you do. Because if you do that, you can't mess it up. If God is the one ordaining and orchestrating your steps, like, you will be led to the path of righteousness.
- [29:18]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Yeah. Amen.
- [29:19]
Janine
And that is what I've learned in my life is like, if you wait on the Lord, like, to me, abiding is waiting. It is slowing down. It is not striving. It is not trying to get before God. It's not trying to, you know, just be like, God, this is what I want right now. So give it to me. It's like, what do you want, Lord? Seeking the Lord in everything you do. And that's like, my next book is the Abiding Way. It's like, how do we live life? Like Jesus did? He went away, he sought his father, but then he also served. He went to people that no one touched. That was the People that. The people that everyone was like, ew. We don't want to be near them. We don't want to sit with them, we don't want to touch them. It's constantly being in communication with God and obeying the Father and saying, lord, your will be done, not mine. The hardest prayer you could pray, truly, like, who wants to do that? Like, who wants. Like, okay, God, I'll move to Oklahoma, which I don't want. I don't want anyone to hear me bashing Oklahoma. Please don't hear me say that. It's just. It's so different than I've ever experienced before. Like, it's a completely new, different type of lifestyle there. It's like my.
- [30:18]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Wake up. We talk about that. Yeah, yeah.
- [30:20]
Janine
Because I lived in la, I lived in Austin and Dallas. They're all very, like, hustle and bustle cities. And so, I don't know, I just feel like if. If I can't abide and be joyful in all circumstances in Oklahoma, I'll never be happy anywhere else. Yeah. Like, if you think that your relationship with God and your happiness is contingent upon where you live, which definitely it helps. But, like, Paul was in prison and still worshiped God, like, still wrote the whole, you know, New Testament, basically. So, like, if we can't be in a city that we don't love and still praise God, like, we've got to look internally, because I feel like that is a hard reflection that you need to fix with the Lord, because he needs to be the God of every state, every season, every hardship. And so definitely a hard lesson to learn, but necessary.
- [31:09]
Madison Pruitt Trout
That's so good. I love that you brought up Paul, because I thought about that as you were talking. Is that verse in Philippians 4 that so many of us have heard before, but the verse right before Philippians 4:13 is Paul's talking about, like, I've learned the true secret to contentment, and I've learned what it is to be content in abundant seasons. I've learned what it is to be content in seasons of lack. It's that I can do all things through Christ. And I think that's so true to what you're saying, is that it's not contingent upon circumstances. It's not when you have the seasons of success and prosperity and promotion and all these amazing things going on. It's not the seasons where everything's horrible and hard. And it's like in both seasons or when you're in the middle and it's like, neutral in all seasons, it's that Christ is your everything. That's the secret to true contentment. It's that he is your rock. It's that he is your help. It's that he is your hope. It's that he is your joy. It's that he is your peace. And I love that you're speaking to that because that's just. It's so profound. But for you, what does that look like practically when you're like, okay, abiding, you know, secret place, relying on him. You talked about prayer a little bit too, but just dive into that a little bit more of like, practically speaking for those who are like, I just moved to a new city, or I just got married, or I just had a baby. Like, you can even give personal examples, but what does that looked like for you of staying connected to Him? Staying connected to Jesus in a new season of moving to a new place or in a new season of entering into motherhood?
- [32:34]
Janine
Yeah. So very new again because I didn't have like a continual Bible study. And then as you know, with a baby, your quiet times kind of like go out the window for a good bit there where you try to have a quiet time and then they start crying or they have a poopy diaper. And so I feel like I've a learned that my quiet times don't need to look this picture perfect way like they used to. It literally can look like putting on worship on the tv, which I do every single morning for Duke and just worshiping in my house. But I thankfully now, like, Duke is super great at playing by himself. I make sure, like, I journal almost every single day. I'm a huge journaler. I know you are too. Just writing those prayers to the Lord. And I feel like that's the best thing you can do is you look back and you can see how far God has taken you. When you're in that moment where you're just like, God, where are you? You look back to those journal, journal entries and you're like, oh, he was there. And maybe he was silent for a second, but that doesn't mean he left me. And so I feel like now it's still like daily reading my Bible. I just got a new Bible and I'm so excited about it. I get so excited about that.
- [33:37]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Oh, there's nothing better than a fresh.
- [33:39]
Janine
I love it. So I'm going to the book of Psalms right now and that's just been like, super speaking to me because a lot of it is just like, God, where are you? And I'm not I'm not necessarily in a season where I don't feel like God is showing up. It's more just like, God, I need more of you. Because I do. I always want more of him. So definitely worship, Definitely prayer with Caleb before bed.
- [33:58]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Yeah.
- [33:59]
Janine
A lot of just really honest journal entries. And I think a lot of times I've. I've even seen in my own Instagram, people always say to me, like, what do you. What do you journal about? Like, what do I journal? I don't even know what to journal.
- [34:09]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Yeah.
- [34:09]
Janine
And it's literally just letters to God. It's like, God, like, this is what I need today. Or this is what I'm thankful for. This is where I need you to show up. Or who do you want me to call today? Because I think when you move to a new city, like, you're lonely for sure. And I'm always asking God, like a lord, bring me the right people, Bring me the right people at the right time. And also, like, help me be someone who initiates. Because a lot of times we think that everyone needs to call us and reach out to us and we need to be invited. It's like, okay, no, you have a house. You can also initiate, you can host, you can invite people over. And so it's also, I feel like God asking me, like, okay, you also go, like, don't expect for people to always initiate with you or invite you. Like, you can also be an initiator. And I've called you to do that. And so I just feel like it. It can look many different ways, but mainly, like, worship in my house is like a non negotiable. I play piano with Duke a lot and we sing worship together.
- [35:00]
Madison Pruitt Trout
So cute.
- [35:01]
Janine
And it's just like the sweetest thing, just like worshiping with Duke. And I feel like for me, that is the way that I abide in the Lord the most is just worshiping with him. And so many times I'll just be at my piano and I'll just like start sobbing. And it's so, so cool how the Lord just moves.
- [35:16]
Madison Pruitt Trout
I love that so much. So you mentioned, like, you journal a lot about just like, lord, bring the right friends into my life. Like, show me who to initiate with. Show me who to love. And that was a question. And kind of where I want to take the kind of rest of the podcast is talking about friendship. That's something that I think so many people struggle with, especially in seasons of change and transition, when you move to a new city, when you first get married, when you Graduate college, when you start college, when you have a child. I mean, all of those different seasons of change kind of bring you into this place of, like, who are my people, who are my friends? How do I make friends? And especially because we live in such a social media time, I feel like there's been just a rise of, like, social anxiety and it's hard to, like, make friends. And Covid kind of made that weird. And so I'd love to kind of park there for a little bit of how has motherhood changed your friendships? And how do you make community in this new season or transition season?
- [36:16]
Janine
Yeah, I feel like anyone would be lying if they didn't say that mother had changed their friendships, because it does. And as much as you don't want to admit it or you're maybe fighting to hold on to a certain friendship, it just looks so different because maybe you have a friend who is single and she's off traveling the world, and you're over here nursing your baby for 30 minutes, and you're just like, wow, Our lives are very, very different. But it's super sweet when you can celebrate each other in different seasons of life. But it definitely tests your friendships, I feel like, because suddenly you don't have as much capacity. You're not as available on your phone, you're not available to travel. You know, bachelorettes are happening and bridal showers and baby showers. And it sucks because you have to start saying no when you probably normally would have said yes and been like, I'm showing up to everything. Like, I was a yes woman before. And you know that.
- [37:06]
Madison Pruitt Trout
You so were.
- [37:07]
Janine
And I still am to an extent, because I obviously, like, if it really, really matters to me, I will show up. But you also have a limit now. Like, you're shaping your schedule around a baby's nap time, their bedtime, and so organically is going to change your friendships. And I do think it's a healthy assessment because you will kind of see who's still rocking with you and who's not. Yeah. And it's hard when people maybe don't understand because I remember before I had a baby, I was like, okay, you're being really dramatic.
- [37:34]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Like, you just don't get it.
- [37:35]
Janine
You do not get it. And I. And I'm so sorry to have my mom friends out there who I like, maybe didn't understand it before because I just thought people were being dramatic. I'm like, really? Like, they can't just nap in the car seat. Oh, no, it doesn't work.
- [37:45]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Like, no, it doesn't work like that even for my wedding. I mean, I had so many bridesmaids that, like, had fresh babies, and I just, like, didn't. I couldn't comprehend it at that time in my life of just, like, wait, why can't you just, like, be with me all day long? Why do you have to keep running off to your baby? Like, and not in, like, a mean way, but I just, like, my brain.
- [38:02]
Janine
You don't get it.
- [38:04]
Madison Pruitt Trout
And then now and having a child, I'm like, no, no. Yeah. Like, I. I'm so sorry. Like, I so get it.
- [38:10]
Janine
No. And I remember I actually texted you at one point, and I was like, I'm so sorry I didn't show up for you in postpartum the way I needed to, because I had no idea. And now that I've had a baby, I'm like, I want to make sure any of my friends who've had a baby, they have, like, lactation, everything. They need balls and water, and they're getting text messages and Bible verses sent to them because it is insane. But, sorry, back to your point. I feel like when you become a mom, and maybe for me specifically, I moved to New City, you can very easily shift to loneliness where you feel like, all I need is my baby. My baby is my world. Which your baby should be your world. But you still need community. You still need other moms and not even just moms. People pouring into you, checking into you, and vice versa. It is so easy just to be like, well, I hung out with my baby all day, so I don't need to text. So and so. And it's like, no, you still need community. Like, just because you have a baby doesn't mean that all of a sudden, like, you can survive alone. Like, remember again, when you're abiding in Jesus, like, you're still part of that branch and that vine where, like, there should be other believers on that branch with you. And so I find that a lot of moms don't know how to ask for help. They don't know how to text people. They feel like they're good because they had time with their baby and their husband, and that's it. And I just don't think that we're meant to live life like that. But if you're in that season, like me, where you're in a new city, you're really struggling, and it is hard. You do have to make kind of new friends in some senses with moms, you have to try. Like, that is one thing I told myself I was like, I know this is hard, but I have to try. And sometimes it's uncomfortable to text that friend and say, hey, do you want to go on a walk? And maybe they're busy, or maybe they say no, or maybe it doesn't go as you planned, or maybe you didn't vibe with them like you thought you were going to, but it's important to try. Like, that is always my motto. I wrote that in a chapter in my old book is say yes. If someone invites you somewhere, you say yes. Or if you are feeling anxious or whatever, do it anyway. Because you don't know what friendships can form. You don't know who you're going to meet along the way. And oftentimes, like, I've met my friends in the most, like, random way, like at a workout class or at a coffee shop, or I decided to go to this, like, random event that I was super nervous to go to, but I was like, you know what? God can do anything. And I met, like, some of the coolest people.
- [40:23]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Totally.
- [40:23]
Janine
And so you put yourself out there. You have to put yourself out there. You have to let it be uncomfortable. You have to kind of let those first couple hangouts be a little iffy where you're like, oh, does she like me? Does she not? It's like, kind of uncomfortable, you know? But then sometimes you're like, wow, I just met my best friend. Like, this is the coolest thing ever. And so say yes. Try new things. Try a church. Like, we just joined a church. And I'm believing that God is going to move in that way because that's what the body of Christ is for. Like, if you're not plugged into a church in a new city, I just feel like you're missing out massively.
- [40:53]
Madison Pruitt Trout
And, like, a step deeper than that. Like, you're doing a Bible study. And I think that that's what's so beautiful about, like, that's where I found. I know when I first got into college, it was so intimidating. It was so overwhelming. And I had a really hard rush experience and sorority experience, so I kind of wasn't in the, like, quote unquote, like, at the time at least, I felt like in crowd and everyone kind of had their automatic, like, group of friends. And I really struggled in that area, ended up dropping my sorority, and I felt so lonely. I have to share something that has honestly made my life so much easier lately. I feel like dinner can so easily become this daily stress. Like, you either don't know what to make, don't have the ingredients or just, just feel like you don't have the energy for it. And that's exactly why I've been loving Home Chef. It just takes all the pressure off. Everything comes pre portioned, the recipes are super easy to follow, and the meals actually taste so good. It's one of those things where I genuinely look forward to cooking again because it doesn't feel overwhelming. And what I love is how flexible it is whether I want something quick like a 30 minute meal or something even easier like an oven ready dish. They have so many options. There are over 30 meals to choose from every week. So you're not getting bored or stuck in a routine. Also, the quality is amazing, like restaurant level meals at home. They've even partnered with chefs like Gordon Ramsay. And that is so cool to me. And people really love it. Home Chef is rated number one by users of other meal kits for quality, convenience, value, taste and recipe ease. So if you're trying to simplify your routine or just take one thing off your plate, I definitely recommend trying it for a limited time. Home Chef is offering my listeners 50% off and free shipping for your first box, plus free dessert for life. Go to homechef.com stay true. That's homechef.com staytrue for 50 off your first box and free dessert for life. Homechef.com staytrue must be an active subscriber to receive free dessert. Okay, I have a question. Have you ever just felt off and couldn't really figure out why? Like, nothing major has changed, but your energy all of a sudden is lower, your mood feels a little all over the place, you're seeing skin's acting different and you're just not feeling like yourself. I think for so many of us, we don't even realize how much of that can actually be tied to our hormones. And for me, that's what led me to try Glow by Beam. I'll be honest, I was a little skeptical at first just because there are so many wellness products out there. But after taking it consistently, I can genuinely say I've noticed a difference. My energy feels more stable throughout the day, My skin looks clearer, and overall I just feel more balanced and like myself again. It's also been so easy to stay consistent with, which I feel like is half the battle. I just do one packet a day and my water bott bottle and I've just been loving the raspberry flavor. It tastes so good. It's only 10 calories. Caffeine free, gluten free, dairy free, vegan and third party tested, which I really appreciate. And the results have honestly been so good. Less bloating, more steady energy, brighter skin. Even my hair and nails feel stronger. And I'm clearly not alone. Over 40,000 women have tried Glow and it has thousands of amazing reviews. So if you've been feeling a little off or just want to support your body in a simple, consistent way, I definitely recommend trying it. For a limited time. Beam is offering my listeners up to 35% off Glo. Just visit shop beam.com stay true and use code Stay True at checkout. They just released their variety pack, so now you can try all of the flavors in the Glow lineup. That's shop b.com stay true and don't forget to use code Stay True for your exclusive discount of up to 35% off. And I was like, God, where are my friends? Like, why do I not have all of these people? And it was so hard. But I remember I joined my local church. I joined a small group, and that changed everything. Even just meeting that one. Like, meeting one.
- [44:25]
Janine
One person.
- [44:25]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Yeah, like, amazing friend that can hold you accountable, push you closer to Jesus, that you can confess to, that you can have fun with. Godly fun. Yeah, that's, you know, like, and just, like, enjoy life together. Encourage one another in your faith. Spur each other on. Like, that changed so much for me then. I felt like I then had this, like, confidence to go out and make all these other friends. But it kind of started with that one initial. Putting yourself out there, you know, getting a little uncomfortable initiating, like, you're saying,
- [44:53]
Janine
and knowing it takes time.
- [44:54]
Madison Pruitt Trout
And knowing it takes time. And you even talked about even before that, like, praying, yeah, lord, show me the friends. Send me the friends. Show me how to be the friend. How do I show up for my friends who are in this season, which I think is such a powerful, like, perspective to have. How have you navigated long distance friendships? I mean, we're now in a long distance friendship, which is.
- [45:15]
Janine
Which is not fun.
- [45:16]
Madison Pruitt Trout
It's. It is hard. And we've had to have so many conversations about it. But I think a lot of people are in that reality where, you know, maybe you go to college with these friends, you get super close, and then everyone kind of moves away or you're
- [45:28]
Janine
like a military wife or whatever, and
- [45:30]
Madison Pruitt Trout
you're constantly like, yeah, your, your spouse, like, has to travel for his job and so you've moved around a lot or, I don't know, maybe you just, like, had to move for whatever purpose and you've had to Figure out and navigate long distance friendship. How has that been for you? And what would be your advice to someone who's having to navigate a long distance friendship?
- [45:47]
Janine
Yeah, I mean, it definitely isn't fun, but I feel like that's one area that I'm really proud of myself in, is that all my bridesmaids I still talk to. Every single one of my bridesmaids I still talk to on a regular basis. Call them, text them, voice memos, prayers, travel to visit them, show up for whatever I can show up for. And it definitely takes more intentionality because it's like, you can't just be like, hey, come on over. Watching a movie, eat some popcorn. Okay, bye. Love you. See you tomorrow.
- [46:13]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Cause all your bridesmaids are long distance.
- [46:14]
Janine
All my bridesmaids, all my sisters, all my bridesmaids. So it is a lot of phone calls, a lot of voice memos, a lot of like, hey, when are we gonna see each other next? When am I coming to you? When are you coming to me? What does that look like? Because it, it really is give and take. And the only thing that's hard is like, you do have to be way more type A. You have to plan. And sometimes they're like, hey, I'm not free in two months or three months. And you're like, okay, add that to the calendar. But I feel like a good friend should show up up in. Regardless of whether there's a plane ticket or not. You know, I feel like a good friend. If that's a friendship that you want to fight for, it's like, fight for it, you know, Like, I don't feel like just because you're not in proximity with someone that you should just let your friendship fade. Unless you genuinely feel like the Lord is like, this isn't a friendship for you any longer. But I feel like you can make friendships last regardless of distance or time. Maybe there's a time change if you genuinely want that friendship, if you're willing to fight for that friendship. And it will look different. You may go a week or two, sometimes without talking. Sometimes like, you and I don't talk for a week. And then we're like, wait, I miss you. How's it going? And we sent each other like seven minute voice memos. But I feel like if you're willing to fight for it, like, fight for it, you know, and that can look like sending gifts or sending things in the mail and surprising them. And so I just feel like if you want to fight for the friendship, do it. And if you don't fight for it. You're gonna drift, and it's just. You're gonna look up, you're gonna be like, wait, I don't even talk to her anymore. And it's, like, kind of depressing, you
- [47:35]
Madison Pruitt Trout
know, and be honest with each other. I think that's something that you and I, like, have done also really well is there's been seasons where I feel like in Waco, I voice to you, like, hey, I don't feel like you showed up well for me. And then in this season of you being in Oklahoma and postpartum, you're like, hey, I don't feel like you've shown up well for me. And we've been just super honest with each other where there's been seasons where it's like, hey, we've, like, crushed this. Like, we've done long distance real good. Yeah. And then seasons where it's been harder, you know, and we've had to, like, really extra fight for it, or one person's, like, busier than the other, whatever it may be. And it can kind of feel like you're missing each other, but it's what you're saying. It's that, you know, continual intentionality. It's that continual honesty and, like, communication and making the effort, which I think is so beautiful. And I also think there's so much power in prayer. Like, I literally have a photo of y' all in my prayer closet, and, like, I have yalls names written out of my prayer closet. And so even though I may not be talking to you every single day, like, I'm praying and interceding for you and your family every day. And that even is such a powerful way where I feel so bonded to you and so connected to you, and, like, we're in close proximity. And how I even stay connected to, like, what's heavy on your heart, like, what you're walking through, what you're feeling, what you're facing, because I'm, you know, taking that to God, and I'm just, like, fighting on your behalf. And that's even something I would add to, you know, long distance friendships is just, like, really go to war for your friend. Like, really intercede and pray for those that you are in long distance. I mean, for all your friends, but, like, especially for long distance, because it is so easy when you're not seeing each other all the time to kind of, like, forget what each other's, like, going through and to, like, show up in that way. And. And so anyways, that was just, like, another little tidbit And. And we've not done it perfectly. I think we're still navigating it because so much of our friendship, I mean, we lived together.
- [49:21]
Janine
We did so everything together, traveled together, and now we, like, both moved, we both have babies, we're both working. So it is like, a lot of, like, yeah, hey, I'll get back to you soon. I love you, you know, and that is something I've been so thankful for you is like, I know if I ask you, like, hey, I need prayer right now. Like I said, we got a sermon coming. It's great. And so I do feel like that is so, so important is like, also realizing, because I think sometimes people think that friendship needs to look like this one way. They see on Instagram. Like, there's this one Instagram friendship I see on Tick Tock, and a lot of people comment, they're like, I'm so jealous. I wish I had a friendship like this. And it's amazing if you have that. But sometimes your friendships go through different seasons and different ebbs and flows. And I feel like if you can hold your friendships loosely, where you're like, I love you. I know you might not be able to text me back right now, but I trust that our friendship is secure enough to where you'll come back. It's not on the basis of us texting every single day. And I love this. Friendships that are organic. Like, when you and I see each other, it's like, boom, we're right back to it. And it's not like this, like, oh, my gosh, how have you been? You know? Yeah, it's so, like, organic. And I love those friendships, and I feel like those are the ones you should. Should pour into. But knowing that, like, your friendship should be able to sustain not talking every single day. And I feel like that also shows, like, a healthy friendship, too.
- [50:40]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Yeah. And not depending on one person for everything. Like, not creating unhealthy, I think ties. And, like, I don't know. I think it can be so hard when you depend on one person, like, whether this is, like, your spouse or a friend for, like, to meet every need. It's like, no, no, that is God. Like Psalm 16. You alone, Lord, are my portion and my cup, you make my lot secure. That's not a friend, that's not a spouse, that's not a family member. Like, just even bringing it back to that, of making sure you're not looking to another person, like, for that sense of security or that sense of validation or that sense of, you know, like, feeling Good about yourself or whatever it may be. And just reminding yourself, like, friends add to your life. Like friends are additions to your life, but they are not like what keeps your life stronger. You know, like, we were not made to go through life alone at all. Like, we were made to do life in community. And community is so important. We talk about in this podcast all the time. Time. But also I think we can have like an unhealthy view of.
- [51:36]
Janine
You don't want to be codependent, you know, because your friend truly, like, they will fail you, they will hurt you, you will get in conflict and whatever. And if you put all your eggs in that one basket, that basket might hurt you.
- [51:47]
Madison Pruitt Trout
That is facts. That is facts. And, and honesty is the best policy. Like, if you have been hurt by a friend, like voice that and come together and like seek peace and unity and love. I would love to end with, with the question of like, how do you maintain a good friendship no matter what season you're in, no matter what you're going through, how do you create friendships
- [52:07]
Janine
that last, friendships that last. So like I said, I'm very thankful that most of my friendships I've had for like 10 plus years. And so again, I feel like it is what I said earlier, but really holding your friends loosely because I feel like the more you cling to something, you suffocate it. And so when you can relinquish and say, you know, even if we're not talking right now, I'm gonna trust that like our friendship is secure enough for me to love them, to pray for them, even if I don't know what's going on. Like you said to be interceding for them or praying for them or when you're journaling, lord, who do you want me to pray for today? And write your friends names down. And I feel like, keep those, those close three, five people. Even if you have one person, that's great. Like, I think a lot of times people think, oh, I need to have 10 people and I need to look super popular. I'd rather you have one loyal ride or die intercessor go to war with you friend than ten flaky fake friends. Yeah, because like, what, what good is that when, when crap hits the fan? Like, you want someone who is going to put you before the feet of Christ and say, we are going to fight some demons right now. And I'm so serious because that is what it is right now. We are in a spiritual battle. And so I feel like being that friend for someone else too because Sometimes I feel like we'll be like, oh, yeah, I'm praying for you. I love you. Like, I'll pray for you. Stop right then and there and pray for them. Like, I remember when you texted me and you're like, hey, I need prayer. And I was like, yeah, I'll pray for you. I was like, why don't I just send her the voice memo and, like, let her hear me praying for her? Send your friend the voice memo prayer. Give them random encouragement, random acts of kindness. Show up for them. Like, I feel like I have this actual. This random acronym that I recently came up with, and I did speaking engagement, and it's called FROGS and I. Frogs. I was literally, like, practicing my message, and it just, like, came to me.
- [53:54]
Madison Pruitt Trout
I love it.
- [53:55]
Janine
And I feel like friendship should be frogs. It should be faithful so that your friend knows you have my back and I have yours. And if you're not in the room, I have your back. If someone is speaking badly about you, I have your back, and I know that you have mine. So it's a faithful friend in all seasons. It should be reciprocal. So it should be give and take. Like, like, she's leaning into me, I'm leaning into her. We're giving and taking in both seasons. It shouldn't be only one person pursuing, one person reaching out, one person texting, and you're getting ghosted. I'm like, that's not a reciprocal friendship. I'm so sorry to break the news to you. Yeah, you heard it here first. I'm sorry. But it should be reciprocal. It should be even give and take. And one person may. May be able to give more in one season than the other in different seasons. It should be organic. So it should feel natural. If you're showing up and you're just absolutely drained by the time you're done hanging out, and you're like, whoa, that was a lot. This person's dumping everything on you. And it might be helpful. Like, you might be maybe stronger in your faith. You want to encourage the person, but if it's always or you're leaving and you're like, that was a lot. And they're texting you and you're like, oh, my gosh, I don't really want to hang out with her. That's not an organic friendship. You should want to hang out with the person. The next one is growth. So the person should be invested in your growth. Like, you should want to grow together, challenge each other, sharpen each other, want the best for them, even if it's Something you don't have if they are crushing it. And a new job. They have a baby. You don't. They're getting married. You don't. Whatever. Like, you should want your friend's growth, spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally. You should want that for your friend. And the last one is safe. You should feel so safe to tell them anything, and they're not going to judge you, and they want the best for you. They're gonna call you higher, they're gonna challenge you. They're gonna meet you with scripture, but love also. And you should feel safe to tell them things and knowing that they're not gonna take that and run to someone else and be like, did you hear that? Maddie did that. You should feel so safe to tell them, like, your deepest, darkest thoughts, because that's how you grow. Like the Bible says, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another. I should be able to confess my sins to you and be like, I'm so embarrassed about this, but this is what I did. And be met with grace, but also truth. And so it should be frogs.
- [56:01]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Come on, you heard it here first. Frogs.
- [56:04]
Janine
Frogs. Don't forget it.
- [56:05]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Find a frog.
- [56:05]
Janine
Don't forget, call your frog right now.
- [56:09]
Madison Pruitt Trout
That's gonna be like so many new named group chats.
- [56:12]
Janine
Yeah, it's my frogs.
- [56:13]
Madison Pruitt Trout
My frogs.
- [56:14]
Janine
And honestly, I know it's so random, but you won't forget it. Like, you won't forget it.
- [56:18]
Madison Pruitt Trout
You will love frogs. I used to be obsessed with frogs, so I probably won't forget it.
- [56:21]
Janine
Really, Frog girl.
- [56:22]
Madison Pruitt Trout
I know, but that's. I love that so much. And that's so many good things to remember and to keep in the back of your mind to not only look at a friend, but to be that. That as a friend. And I love that you even hit on gossip because the Bible is so clear. Like, gossip separates the closest friends. That means you should not tolerate gossip. That means you should not entertain gossip. You should not allow gossiping talk around you. I think it can be so easy, especially as females, to just, like, sit around and talk about tea, to sit around and gossip about people and to tell about other people's stories and lives and feelings and things that they have going on. And I just want to encourage everyone listening. Like, that is not. Not. That's not godliness. Like, that is not being a woman of God, a man of God that we are called to be. And so I would just so encourage you to tame your tongue. Do not entertain or tolerate gossip. Because if someone's gossiping about you or to you about something else. That means they're gonna be gossiping about you to someone else. Like, that's right. If they're doing it to your face, they ain't gonna have no problem doing it behind your back about you.
- [57:21]
Janine
It's so true.
- [57:22]
Madison Pruitt Trout
I. I just would encourage you, like, don't give into that and entertain that. But I love that so much. And I think having those friends that push you, like you said to the feet of Jesus, because we are in a spiritual war, our struggle is not against flesh and blood. The enemy so often wants to make it about flesh and blood and to pit people against each other, to separate friendships, to separate family, all the things. But to have those people that are truly interceding for you, that are pushing you closer to Jesus, that are making you look more like Jesus. That's our role, and that's our goal as friends, is to make you look more like Jesus, to prepare you for the day that you're gonna be face to face with Jesus. Iron, sharpening iron. And so, just as an encouragement, if you have not found that friend, like so much of what we've talked about, like, pray, Pray for those friendships. Be intentional and initiate, Reach out and be that friend.
- [58:11]
Janine
Cause I think we're afraid of rejection. We're afraid, like, oh, I'm gonna reach out and she's not gonna respond. And it's like, well, how will you know if you don't try?
- [58:17]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Right?
- [58:18]
Janine
Right.
- [58:18]
Madison Pruitt Trout
You know, you gotta put yourself out there. And friendships are not easy. You're gonna go through lots of different seasons. There's gonna be hard moments, there's gonna be hard conversations, but the things that are truly worth it, like, you fight for, you sacrifice for. And I'm so grateful for our friendship through the ups and the downs, through all the different seasons of life that we've been through. We've truly seen each other through so much, through heartbreak and marriage and babies and postpartum and just navigating lots of different seasons of life. And I'm so thankful. And I just know, like, no matter what comes our way or where we're living or what's going on, like, we're gonna fight for the. This friendship. And that doesn't mean it's going to be easy, but I'm so grateful that we have chosen to fight for this. And. And we just pray over everyone listening, like, that is what we hope for. You, too. And I'd honestly love for you to just pray over the listeners as we end the podcast for them to find maybe they're navigating a season of change and transition. And also maybe they're. They're hoping for those kind of godly friends. Yeah.
- [59:19]
Janine
I think also my last encouragement is that maybe God doesn't want you to have friends right now. Now maybe God wants you to be alone in a wilderness, to depend on him to make Jesus your number one friend. Because if we're so reliant upon other people to hear the voice of God or again, find that comfort, God's like, hello, I'm right here.
- [59:37]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Yeah.
- [59:38]
Janine
And so I think if you are in a wilderness season, if you're lonely, if you're feeling despair, if you're just like, God, I don't have anyone. You do. You have the Almighty God on your side. And so lean into that. Like, let God be. Be your best friend. Let God be the person you spend hours with, you hang out with. Like, it's fun. I'm in my house by myself with my baby, and I'm like, me and God are just hanging out. It's so cool. I'm like, yes, Jesus, we're worshiping, we're cooking. And so it's like, if you're in the wilderness season, don't waste it. Don't waste it. Use the season and let God teach you something that he wants to teach you.
- [60:10]
Madison Pruitt Trout
So Psalm 23:1. The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing.
- [60:13]
Janine
That's right. Amen. Okay, well, let's pray. Jesus, we just thank you so, so much for this podcast and what you're doing. And, Lord, I just pray for the person listening. That's like, God, I'm so alone. I feel like no one sees me. No one cares. No one reaches out. I'm the only one ever initiating. Lord, would you just let that person know how seen they are, that you care for them so deeply, that you are their friend, that you are their. Their. Their. Their rock. You are their comforter. You are their joy. Lord, I pray that you would bring godly people into their life in whatever season that they're in. Maybe they're single. Maybe they're a new mom and they're struggling. They're freshly postpartum. Lord, I just pray that you would let them know your name is the God who sees that. You see them right now where they are. Maybe they're driving. Maybe they're crying in their living room. Maybe they just feel so isolated. Lord, may they not waste this season. May they lean into you and say, God, what do you want me to learn from this season? What do you need me to Know, what do you want me to do? Who do I need to reach out to? Who do I need to talk to? Who do I need to call? How can I be a better friend? And Lord, I pray that we would know that we will be the bestest of friends by becoming best friends with the ultimate friend, which is you, Lord, you showed us how to be a friend, how to walk. You had your close three, but also you're 12, Lord. May we mimic that. May we model that. May we wash each other's feet. So remind us, who do we need to serve? Who do we need to reach out to? Who do we need to bake cookies for? Who needs a friendly voice memo or prayer or something like that, Lord? And I just pray, Lord, you would meet them right where they are and remind them that not all hope is lost, because hope is still alive and his name is Jesus. So may we lean on you and just find joy from this podcast that there is hope on the horizon and that you are making all things new you are restoring and that you truly do have good things for us when we seek you, when we pursue you with our whole heart. In Jesus name, amen.
- [62:17]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Amen. That was so powerful. And I, I feel like I got a picture as you were praying just as like the Lord's hand reaching out and just like grabbing someone's hand who's listening to this. And so I just, I love that you said that his name is the God who sees. And it's so true.
- [62:30]
Janine
Elroy, I think, Elroy, he sees you like that.
- [62:33]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Yeah, he sees you. He's with you. He loves you and he has such good in store for you. Thank you so much for coming on. This was so happy. Good. I loved everything we had to talk about and I feel like it just resonates with so many people and so much of what you guys have been dming and sending on Instagram. And so if you don't follow us on Instagram, be sure to follow us. And I'm also going to link Janine's podcast as well. I'm going to link Janine's Instagram so you guys can go and check her out and check out out the podcast we filmed on hers. But as always, guys, be sure to
- [63:02]
Janine
stay you and stay true. We love you.
- [63:04]
Madison Pruitt Trout
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- [63:33]
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