Stay True with Madison Prewett Troutt
Episode: What We Learned in 2025… with Grant Troutt
Date: December 22, 2025

Overview

In this reflective and heartfelt episode, Madison Prewett Troutt is joined by her husband, Grant Troutt, to look back on the year 2025. They candidly share personal stories, spiritual growth, parenting milestones, and the lessons they've learned as a couple and young parents. Throughout, they provide practical advice and questions for listeners to reflect on their own year, with a focus on faith, identity, rest, and intentional living. The episode wraps with encouragement for the holidays and a prayer for those navigating both joyful and difficult seasons.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Kicking Off Christmas & Personal Life Updates

• Opening with excitement for Christmas and reflection on family traditions.
• Talking about their daughter Hosanna's first Christmas and the joy of experiencing the season through her eyes.
  • "It's the best day of my life because it's just so close to Christmas." (Madison, 02:44)
  • "We're decorating for Christmas… Trees going up, lights are going on the house. She's making hot chocolate." (Madison & Grant, 03:00)
• Reminiscing about Madison's pregnancy last Christmas and the shifts in their family dynamic.

2. Reflections on Stay True Live & Building Community

• Madison discusses the impact and emotional processing after hosting Stay True Live.
• Both reflect on the encouragement they received from community and feedback from listeners.
  • "Even posting about on social media, there were so many people that were, like, come to Dallas, Ohio, Atlanta… it gets me excited to think about, I don't know, what could be, man." (Madison, 06:29)
  • "It was all so good. It really was. I'm so proud." (Grant, 06:51)

3. Major Milestones: The Birth of Hosanna & Early Parenting

• Chronological walk-through of 2025 starting from New Year's (watching Braveheart because Madison was nearly due).
  • "We watched Braveheart alone because you were so pregnant. We had just moved into our house." (Grant, 09:26)
• Sharing the vulnerability and challenges of newborn life, including sleep deprivation, postpartum struggles, and shifting roles in marriage.
  • "Those first couple months were really hard. Hosanna did not sleep." (Madison, 13:52)
  • "I learned a whole new level of dependence on the Lord and also just what it looks like to sacrifice." (Madison, 15:16)

4. Spiritual Growth & Practices

• Both share how their faith grew through the year, emphasizing shifting spiritual routines with new parenthood.

  • Scripture Memorization: Madison shares how memorizing larger passages transformed her mind and deepened her faith.
    • "That's when I really started memorizing… books of the Bible. And that… literally renewed my mind." (Madison, 17:22)
    • "Anyone can do it, right? It will start with discipline… and all of a sudden you will see what it develops in you. And now it's a delight." (Grant, 22:00)
  • Practical Tip: Use accountability and set deadlines with friends for memorizing scripture (21:15).

• Grant’s Social Media Fast & Hiddenness:

  • Inspired by a question from Madison’s mom, Grant decided to step back from social media for the year to pursue a deeper, hidden walk with God.
    • "Give me your 29th year and see what I can do." (Grant, 24:40)
    • "I've never walked in more authority, never walked in more power of the Holy Spirit." (Grant, 25:56)
  • The beauty and biblical pattern of hiddenness are discussed, referencing the “iceberg equation”: 90% of Jesus’ life was hidden, with only 10% public ministry (38:50).

5. Themes for the Year: Words Chosen and Lessons Learned

• Grant’s words: Servant and fearless.
  • “To be a fearless servant, which is someone who has true God confidence and knows who they are in Christ, fears God, so that you don't fear the things that are not of God or from God.” (Madison, 26:56)
• Madison’s words: True worship.
  • Inspired by Mary and Martha (Luke 10); prioritizing being with God over doing for God (28:51).
  • "I want to be Mary who sits at your feet and worships you and doesn't miss you." (Madison, 29:16)
  • Reframing life from striving to resting in God’s presence.

6. The Call to Rest, Contentment, and With-ness

• Discussing the cultural and generational hunger for rest and the danger of defining identity by doing instead of being.

  • “He made us human beings, not human doings… He made us to be, not do.” (Grant, 36:31, 36:38)
  • “So many people want to experience true rest, true peace, true contentment, true joy.” (Madison, 37:15)

• Emphasizing the biblical call to hiddenness and humility, using stories from Jesus’ life (41:29).

• Grant’s acronym for humility, F.R.E.E. (42:19):

  • Fix your eyes on the cross
  • Remember your own mess
  • Encourage authentically
  • Enjoy hidden yeses to Jesus

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “You cannot be prideful when you stand in front of that bloody, wooden, middle cross.”
  — Grant (01:43 & 42:19)
• “Memorizing scripture… literally renewed my mind. It healed parts of my mind I didn’t even know needed healing.”
  — Madison (17:22)
• "He made us human beings, not human doings."
  — Grant (36:31)
• "The way up is the way down."
  — Grant (41:29)
• "We can do a lot of good things, maybe even a lot of God things, but still miss God completely."
  — Madison (56:13)

Reflection Exercises for Listeners

Madison’s End-of-Year Inventory (59:07):

• Ask yourself, “How would you rate this year out of 10?”
• Five key areas: Spiritual, Relational, Emotional, Mental, Physical.
• Encourage monthly or end-of-year reflection, possibly with friends or family:
  • “What were the goals and dreams that I set for this year? How did I do? Was I faithful?” (62:28)

Grant’s Practice:

• Choose a word for your coming year and keep it visible.
• Journal reflections or record video diaries of what God is doing in your life (64:09).

Gratitude:

• Take intentional time to thank God for ways He’s shown up in your year—small and big.

• “It’s so easy to jump to the next thing… take the time to just sit and thank God for all the ways He showed up.” (65:54)

• “We mistake emotion for devotion. We mistake adrenaline for anointing.” (Grant quoting Alicia Britt Chole, 68:01)

Community, Accountability, and Honest Conversations

• The transformative value of real, local community and accountability:
  • “Our community is what has inspired me this year.” (Madison, 45:13)
  • “You don’t graduate from needing this… it takes two pieces of iron to continually sharpen each other.” (Madison & Grant, 50:10)
• Honest, loving confrontation: being "kind not just nice," and the willingness to speak truth in love (51:37–52:19).

Pursuing the Spiritual Over the Superficial

• Encouragement to pursue God quietly and intimately, not just for the platform or public approval:
  • “What if there’s so much power, beauty, and the answer to everything that we’re looking for in tucking away with Jesus?” (Madison, 39:33)
  • “Who are you alone with Jesus? Do you worship him in gladness and thanksgiving?” (Madison, 69:18)
  • Practical Advice: “Lay on your back on some carpet, turn on some soaking worship music, put your phone away, and just think about God.” (Grant, 69:46)

End of Year Encouragements & Challenges

• “Before we jump into a new year, take time to reflect. Be honest: What am I doing well? What needs to change? Where do I need to grow?” (62:24)
• “Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances. That is God’s will for your life.” (Madison, 73:00)
• Invitation to Pray and Invite the Holy Spirit: Don’t jump to others’ opinions first, but seek God’s counsel (69:58).

Encouragement & Prayer for Listeners

(74:00–77:43)
Grant prays for listeners:

• For those who had a hard year: “What the enemy intended for evil, you work it for good…”
• For those who had a good year: “Sit in that gratitude that you’re a good God who delights to give good gifts.”
• Encouragement that God is faithful regardless of circumstances, and that He can turn pain into a testimony.

Episode Takeaways

• Reflect with intention: Recall and celebrate God’s faithfulness, and be honest about areas for growth.
• Make space for God: Pursue hiddenness, rest, and intimacy with God above striving and performing.
• Practice humility: Walk out the F.R.E.E. acronym daily.
• Be with, not just do for: Value being in God’s presence over doing things for Him.
• Embrace community: Seek accountability, honest conversations, and invest in your local church or small group.
• Move at God’s pace: Don’t be afraid to say no to “good” opportunities to say yes to God’s specific call for your current season.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Christmas Traditions & Parenting Joys: 02:26 – 05:58
• Stay True Live & Community Reflections: 05:59 – 06:58
• 2025: Major Life Moments & Parenting: 09:24 – 15:37
• Spiritual Practices (Scripture Memory, Hiddenness): 16:59 – 25:42
• Themes & Words for the Year: 26:35 – 36:38
• The Call to Rest, Iceberg Equation, Hiddenness: 37:01 – 41:29
• Grant’s F.R.E.E. Acronym for Humility: 42:19 – 45:30
• Value of Community & Speaking the Truth: 45:13 – 53:26
• Reflection, Journaling, and Year-End Inventory: 59:07 – 65:45
• Encouragement, Worship, and Practical Spiritual Advice: 67:06 – 73:10
• Grant’s Closing Prayer: 74:00 – 77:43

Conclusion

This episode weaves together real-life stories, deep spiritual lessons, and practical takeaways for living intentionally and faith-filled in every season. Madison and Grant invite listeners to pause, reflect, and reset with God—entering the new year with courage, humility, and a commitment to staying true.

For more, connect with Madison and check out Stay True on YouTube and Instagram. Stay you, stay true!