Living in the tension of overwhelmed and grateful as a parent with Jillian Benfield — The Christian Parenting Podcast - Motherhood, Teaching kids about Jesus, Intentional parenting, Raising Christian kids

Have you ever felt pulled between being deeply grateful and totally overwhelmed? You’re not alone, and today’s conversation will meet you right in that tension.

I’m joined by author and TV journalist Jillian Benfield, who shares her powerful story of navigating unexpected challenges and discovering a deeper, more honest relationship with God along the way. We talk about avoiding toxic positivity, embracing life’s hard and holy moments, and learning to live in the “and.”

Here are a few of my favorite takeaways:

How the Psalms teach us to see life through the lens of order, disorder, and reorder
What it means to raise emotionally aware kids using simple practices like “highs and lows”
Why honesty with God is more powerful than forced positivity
How to start practicing daily rhythms of gratitude and lament

Meet Jillian Benfield:

Jillian is a former TV journalist turned author and disability advocate. Her book, Overwhelmed & Grateful , invites readers to reframe unexpected seasons and find deeper purpose in the midst of pain. She writes and speaks with vulnerability, wisdom, and a deep heart for helping others see God’s goodness even when life doesn’t go as planned.

With Love,

Steph

(03:02) Navigating Parenting Challenges

(06:08) The Power of Vulnerability

(08:56) Understanding Overwhelm and Gratitude

(11:55) Practicing Honest Gratitude

(14:55) Order, Disorder, and Reorder

(18:02) Finding God in the Everyday

(21:03) Creating a Daily Rhythm of Gratitude

(24:03) Connecting with Jillian Benfield

Connect with Jillian

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