Episode 135 :: Anjuli Paschall:: Stories of Vulnerability & Living Awake to Life with Christ
Today I get to share my beautiful conversation with Anjuli Paschal. Anjuli is an author who exquisitely and intentionally shares in her books and online about her journey of coming undone and being put back together by God’s love. She serves alongside her pastor husband, she’s a mother of five children whose ages range from 4-15, and today we talk about things like wrestling with reentry emotionally into society, being a woman and a mother with really big feelings and aftershocks of what we’ve been all through, trauma as a whole, and also helping our children navigate those things as well.
One of my favorite things she shares in her newest book Awake: Paying Attention to What Matters Most in a World That’s Pulling You Apart is unpacking the differences between being transparent and being vulnerable. Anjuli shares that “Vulnerability is being seen from the inside out, exposing who we truly are.” We talk about how hard that can be, and what kind of risk it can feel like to truly be ourselves for better or worse with others, but Anjuli argues that “It’s a greater risk to not be vulnerable.” We unpack that a little bit and it's just a really refreshing and powerful conversation on transformation, how trustworthy God truly is and His call for us to be awake to who He is, and who He made us to be. God is always providing us opportunities to be honest, come as we are and connect more intimately with Him and more deeply with those we live life with. What a scary concept, but with the potential for such rich fruit.
I hope this conversation helps you to feel less alone knowing that none of us have this figured out, and we are always being transformed and becoming more awake to the abundant life Christ gives us. Listen, friend, wherever you are today, remember that you matter, and your story matters. Thanks for hanging out with me and I’ll see you next time.
Connecting with Anjuli:
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References:
Anjuli’s first book Stay: Discovering Grace, Freedom, and Wholeness Where You Never Imagined Looking
Her latest book Awake: Paying Attention to What Matters Most in a World That’s Pulling You Apart
Her instagram post of resetting in the car
My conversation with PSP hosts Sarah and Beth
Their book Now What: How to Move Forward When We’re Divided About Practically Everything
Looking for Lovely by Annie F. Downs
Scripture References:
Luke 23:26-43- The greatest vulnerability was Jesus on the cross
John 3:16, John 15:13, 1 John 3:1- God loves us (just to name a few!)
Isaiah 41;13, 1 Peeter 5:7-God cares for us
Psalm 130, Psalm 139:23-24- When we come to Him and say “I don’t know what I’m doing”
2 Chronicles 7:14, Joel 2:12-14- He says “I know, I’ve been here the whole time”
Ephesians 5:14- Wake up!
Ezekiel 37:1-14- Valley of dry bones
Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 28:20- God is with us
Romans 12:2, John 15- God is always transforming and refining us
Matthew 25:14-30- Parable of the Talents
Genesis 16:13, Psalm 17:8 God will never lose sight of me
Proverbs 3:5-6, Matthew 8:5-13- Jesus is trustworthy
Matthew 14:22-23, Hebrews 12:2-4- Keep your eyes on Jesus
John 12:32- Jesus will draw you to Himself
Psalm 118:22-23, Ephesians 2:19-22, Hebrews 12:1-3- Jesus is the foundation, the cornerstone and He will not be shaken (and neither will I in Him)
Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast:
Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life)
*Intro and Outro music is from audionautix.com