Peace Over Perfection | Christian podcast | Devotional | Scripture, Biblical Encouragement, Bible Verses for Anxiety, Biblical Application | Trusting God

29 | God May Move the Mountain, But Don’t Be Surprised If He Hands You a Shovel

Do you ever pray for God to help you… and then feel frustrated when nothing changes?
You ask God to fix the situation, change the person, remove the obstacle—and instead of an instant solution, you’re handed responsibility.
In this episode of Peace Over Perfection, we’re talking about a tension we see all throughout Scripture:God is powerful. God is faithful. God moves.But He often invites us to move too.
This isn’t about earning God’s help or forcing His hand. It’s about understanding how obedience, trust, and movement often go hand in hand with God’s work in our lives.
We’re looking at real stories from the Bible where God did the impossible—but people still had to take a step of faith.
You’ll learn:✨ Why trusting God doesn’t always mean standing still✨ Biblical examples where God made a way, but people still had to move✨ How obedience plays a role without turning faith into performance✨ Why waiting for clarity or confidence can keep us stuck✨ What it looks like to take the next step—even when it feels uncomfortable
This episode is for anyone who feels stuck waiting on God, wondering why help hasn’t come yet, or wrestling with the tension between prayer and action. It’s a reminder that God is not distant or withholding—He’s often inviting us into the process.
📚 Resources Mentioned
🛒Simple Daily Faith - Scripture Verse Cards & Sugar Scrubs
🛒 My favorite Things → Amazon Storefront
📚 Get on the Waitlist for the "How to Study the Bible" Course
💌 Connect With Me
📧 Email → susan@simpledailyfaith.com🎙️ Podcast → Peace Over Perfection on Apple Podcasts📸 Instagram → @susan.shropshire🎵 TikTok → @susanshropshire

28 | How Distraction Pulls Us Away from Jesus: The Story of Mary and Martha

Do you ever feel like everything needs your attention at the same time?
Like if you don’t deal with it right now, it’s going to fall apart?
In today’s episode of Peace Over Perfection, we’re talking about the story of Mary and Martha—and how distraction and urgency can pull our focus away from what matters most.
This isn’t about being “a Mary” instead of “a Martha.” Martha wasn’t doing something wrong. It was her focus. And that’s the part that hits real life—because most of us aren’t trying to ignore Jesus. We’re just busy. And urgent things don’t stop coming.
In this episode, you’ll hear:✨ Why the Mary and Martha story is often misunderstood✨ What Jesus actually says to Martha (and what He doesn’t say)✨ How urgency convinces us we’re being responsible while quietly stealing our focus✨ The everyday ways distraction shows up—especially when life is full✨ How to start living with more intention instead of just reacting to what’s urgent
Verse for the Week:Luke 10:41–42 — “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.”
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or disconnected, this episode will help you take an honest look at what’s been getting your attention—and how to bring your focus back to Jesus.
 
📚 Resources Mentioned
🛒Simple Daily Faith - Scripture Verse Cards & Sugar Scrubs
🛒 My favorite Things → Amazon Storefront
📚 Get on the Waitlist for the "How to Study the Bible" Course
💌 Connect With Me
📧 Email → susan@simpledailyfaith.com🎙️ Podcast → Peace Over Perfection on Apple Podcasts📸 Instagram → @susan.shropshire🎵 TikTok → @susanshropshire

27 | Stop Managing Time, Start Managing Priorities: Living Aligned with God’s Vision

Do you ever feel like you’re constantly busy but still unsure if you’re focusing on the right things?
So many of us try to manage our time better, hoping that will fix the overwhelm—but the real issue usually isn’t time. It’s priorities.
In this episode of Peace Over Perfection, we’re talking about why priority management matters more than time management, and how learning to live intentionally can bring clarity, peace, and direction. This isn’t about hustling harder or fixing your whole life. It’s about slowing down, getting honest, and aligning your life with what God is calling you to focus on in this season.
You’ll learn:✨ Why managing priorities is more important than managing time✨ How living reactively keeps you stuck and exhausted✨ What the Bible says about living intentionally✨ A simple way to review your life and identify what matters most✨ How to choose what to focus on without feeling overwhelmed✨ How to turn priorities into realistic goals and daily habits✨ Why clarity for the next 90 days is more important than a five-year plan
This isn’t another productivity pep talk. It’s an invitation to step off autopilot, ask God for guidance, and start making small, intentional choices that lead to a life rooted in peace and purpose.
Scripture of the WeekProverbs 16:9 (NIV) —“In their hearts humans plan their course,but the Lord establishes their steps.”
📚 Resources Mentioned
🛒Simple Daily Faith - Scripture Verse Cards & Sugar Scrubs
🛒 My favorite Things → Amazon Storefront
📚 Get on the Waitlist for the "How to Study the Bible" Course
💌 Connect With Me
📧 Email → susan@simpledailyfaith.com🎙️ Podcast → Peace Over Perfection on Apple Podcasts📸 Instagram → @susan.shropshire🎵 TikTok → @susanshropshire

26 | Looking Back Before Moving Forward: A Faith-Filled Year-End Review

Before you start planning a new year, setting goals, or thinking about what needs to change, this episode invites you to pause and look at the year you’re finishing.
Not to analyze every detail.Not to judge yourself.Just to reflect.
In this episode of Peace Over Perfection, we’re walking through a simple, intentional way to review the past year—so you don’t rush ahead without recognizing what this season actually held. Together, we’ll look at the big picture, notice patterns, reflect on key areas of life, and take time to recognize where God was present along the way.
This episode isn’t about fixing everything before January arrives. It’s about slowing down, gaining clarity, and moving forward with wisdom instead of pressure.
You’ll learn:✨ How to pause and reflect on the year you’re finishing before jumping into planning✨ A simple way to identify the overall theme of your past year✨ How to look honestly at highs, lows, and what they revealed about you✨ How to review 8 key areas of your life without judgment or pressure✨ How to notice where God was present—even when it wasn’t obvious at the time✨ Why reflection creates clarity before you think about goals or change
Scripture of the Week
Psalm 90:12 (NIV)“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
📚 Resources Mentioned
🛒Simple Daily Faith - Scripture Verse Cards & Sugar Scrubs
🛒 My favorite Things → Amazon Storefront
📚 Get on the Waitlist for the "How to Study the Bible" Course
💌 Connect With Me
📧 Email → susan@simpledailyfaith.com🎙️ Podcast → Peace Over Perfection on Apple Podcasts📸 Instagram → @susan.shropshire🎵 TikTok → @susanshropshire

25 | A Study of Luke: The Triumphal Entry through the Resurrection (Chapters 19-24)

Do you ever slow down long enough to take in the final days of Jesus’ earthly ministry—not just the resurrection, but everything that led up to it?
In this final episode of our Luke Study, we’re walking through Luke chapters 19 through 24. This is the final stretch of Jesus’ earthly ministry—His entry into Jerusalem, His teaching in the temple, His betrayal, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.
These chapters bring us straight to the heart of why Jesus came. What we see is Jesus continuing forward, even knowing what’s ahead. Nothing catches Him off guard. Nothing is accidental. Every step is purposeful, even when the cost becomes clear.
You’ll hear about:✨ Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus and how true repentance leads to real transformation✨ The Parable of the Ten Minas and the call to be faithful with what God has given us✨ Jesus’ authority being questioned—and how He exposes hypocrisy and empty religion✨ The widow’s offering, end-time warnings, and the call to remain watchful and prayerful✨ The Last Supper, betrayal, denial, and Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane✨ The crucifixion, forgiveness at the cross, and the promise of redemption✨ The resurrection, the road to Emmaus, and Jesus’ final commission
From Zacchaeus to the thief on the cross, we see the same invitation over and over again: to come close, to turn toward Jesus, and to trust Him. Luke doesn’t end with answers to every question or neat resolutions for every struggle. It ends with a risen Savior and ordinary people learning to live differently because of Him.
The story doesn’t end at the cross.And it doesn’t end at the empty tomb.It continues in our lives, every single day, as we follow Jesus—one step at a time.
Because that’s where we find peace.
📚 Resources Mentioned
🛒Simple Daily Faith - Scripture Verse Cards & Sugar Scrubs
🛒 My favorite Things → Amazon Storefront
📚 Get on the Waitlist for the "How to Study the Bible" Course
💌 Connect With Me
📧 Email → susan@simpledailyfaith.com🎙️ Podcast → Peace Over Perfection on Apple Podcasts📸 Instagram → @susan.shropshire🎵 TikTok → @susanshropshire

24 | A Study of Luke: Following Jesus on the Road (Chapters 10-18)

Do you ever wonder what it really looks like to follow Jesus—not just believe in Him, but walk with Him day by day?
In this episode, we’re diving into Luke chapters 10 through 18. These chapters show us what life with Jesus looks like in practical, everyday ways. From compassion and prayer to humility, repentance, persistence, and trust, Jesus gives us a blueprint for authentic discipleship.
You’ll learn:✨ How Jesus models compassion and priorities for His followers✨ Why prayer, persistence, and childlike faith matter in our everyday lives✨ How humility and gratitude shape the way we live and interact with others✨ Lessons from parables like the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, and the Persistent Widow✨ What it truly means to take up your cross daily and follow Jesus
This episode isn’t about perfection or getting everything right. It’s about noticing God at work around you, trusting Him even when life is messy, and allowing Him to guide your steps. Following Jesus is a daily journey—and He invites us to walk it with faith, hope, and love.
📚 Resources Mentioned
🛒Simple Daily Faith - Scripture Verse Cards & Sugar Scrubs
🛒 My favorite Things → Amazon Storefront
📚 Get on the Waitlist for the "How to Study the Bible" Course
💌 Connect With Me
📧 Email → susan@simpledailyfaith.com🎙️ Podcast → Peace Over Perfection on Apple Podcasts📸 Instagram → @susan.shropshire🎵 TikTok → @susanshropshire

23 | A Study of Luke: The Ministry Begins (chapters 6-9)

Sometimes we move through the Gospels quickly and miss just how much Jesus is doing—how He teaches, how He loves, and how He meets people right where they are.
In this episode, we’re continuing our December study in the book of Luke and looking at Chapters 6–9. Each chapter highlights something different: conflict with the Pharisees, powerful miracles, stories of compassion, and moments where the disciples begin to understand who Jesus truly is.
This isn’t a deep, verse-by-verse study. It’s a big-picture look at what Jesus taught, what He did, and how people responded to Him—and how these moments still speak to us today.
You’ll learn:✨ How Luke 6 shows Jesus’ teaching in contrast to the Pharisees — including the Sabbath stories, the Beatitudes, the woes, and His call to love our enemies✨ How Luke 7 highlights Jesus’ authority and compassion through the healing of the centurion’s servant, the raising of the widow’s son, John the Baptist’s question, and the forgiveness of the sinful woman✨ How Luke 8 gives us parables to think about and several powerful healings — including the calming of the storm, the man with many demons, the woman with the bleeding issue, and Jairus’ daughter✨ How Luke 9 shifts the focus as the disciples step into ministry, witness the feeding of the 5,000, see the Transfiguration, and learn what it truly means to follow Jesus✨ One simple application drawn from these chapters: choosing compassion over judgment as we interact with people this week
These chapters remind us that Jesus isn’t distant or demanding. He steps into real moments, real emotions, and real situations, inviting us to trust Him, follow Him, and see people the way He does.
📚 Resources Mentioned
🛒Simple Daily Faith - Scripture Verse Cards & Sugar Scrubs
🛒 My favorite Things → Amazon Storefront
📚 Get on the Waitlist for the "How to Study the Bible" Course
💌 Connect With Me
📧 Email → susan@simpledailyfaith.com🎙️ Podcast → Peace Over Perfection on Apple Podcasts📸 Instagram → @susan.shropshire🎵 TikTok → @susanshropshire

22 | A Study of Luke: The Story Begins (Chapters 1-5)

Do you ever feel like the Christmas season gets so busy that you lose sight of what the story is actually about?
We jump into December, the calendar fills up, and before we know it, our hearts feel rushed instead of rooted.
In this episode of Peace Over Perfection, we’re beginning our December study in the book of Luke — starting with Chapters 1–5. These chapters are full of angel announcements, unexpected miracles, ordinary people being pulled into God’s plan, and the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry.
This isn’t a deep, verse-by-verse study. It’s a big-picture look at how the story of Jesus begins — and how these familiar moments speak right into the middle of our everyday lives.
You’ll learn:✨ What Luke’s opening chapters tell us about who Jesus is and why His story matters✨ Why God chose ordinary people like Mary, Elizabeth, Zechariah, and a group of shepherds✨ How Jesus meets people right in the middle of their regular routines✨ What the miracles in Chapters 1–5 reveal about God’s character✨ A simple way to pay attention to His presence in your own everyday moments this week
This episode is a reminder that the story of Jesus didn’t start in perfect circumstances — it started with real people, real questions, and real moments where God stepped into ordinary life. That same God meets you today, right where you are.
📚 Resources Mentioned
🛒Simple Daily Faith - Scripture Verse Cards & Sugar Scrubs
🛒 My favorite Things → Amazon Storefront
📚 Get on the Waitlist for the "How to Study the Bible" Course
💌 Connect With Me
📧 Email → susan@simpledailyfaith.com🎙️ Podcast → Peace Over Perfection on Apple Podcasts📸 Instagram → @susan.shropshire🎵 TikTok → @susanshropshire

21 | Someone Is Watching You… and It Matters More Than You Know

Do you ever forget that people are paying attention to the way you live… even in the small moments you barely notice? Not in a scary way — but in a real, everyday, “your life makes an impact” kind of way.
The truth is: someone is watching you, and it actually matters.They’re paying attention to how you respond when you’re stressed.How you talk about others.How you treat the people who cross your path.And whether you realize it or not, those moments are shaping the way they understand your faith — and the Jesus you say you follow.
In today’s episode of Peace Over Perfection, we’re talking about the quiet influence you carry, the way your life reflects Christ long before you ever say a word, and why your everyday choices reach people in ways you might never see. This isn’t about pressure or perfection. It’s about walking in a way that points to Him — simply because you live like someone who has been changed.
You’ll learn:✨ What Scripture says about being a light in everyday life✨ How people form impressions of your faith through your reactions✨ Why small moments carry more weight than big ones✨ What it means to be an ambassador for Christ in real, ordinary places✨ How to handle the moments when your behavior doesn’t match what you believe✨ Why humility speaks louder than a perfect performance✨ Practical ways to live in a way that makes others curious about Jesus
This episode is a gentle reminder that your life is sending a message — and God can use every bit of it. You don’t have to be loud. You don’t have to be flawless. You just have to keep showing up with a heart that wants to reflect Him. And trust me… someone will notice.
📚 Resources Mentioned
🛒Simple Daily Faith - Scripture Verse Cards & Sugar Scrubs
🛒 My favorite Things → Amazon Storefront
📚 Get on the Waitlist for the "How to Study the Bible" Course
💌 Connect With Me
📧 Email → susan@abundantlylivedlife.com🎙️ Podcast → Peace Over Perfection on Apple Podcasts📸 Instagram → @susan.shropshire🎵 TikTok → @susanshropshire
 

20 | Walking on Water: Keeping Your Focus on Jesus When Life Feels Like a Storm

Do you ever notice how quickly your peace slips away the moment life gets chaotic?
One minute everything feels steady… and the next, your thoughts are racing, your heart is tight, and you’re wondering how everything got so overwhelming so fast.
In this episode of Peace Over Perfection, we’re talking about Peter’s moment on the water in Matthew 14—and what it shows us about staying focused on Jesus when the circumstances around us feel bigger than we can handle. This isn’t about pretending the storm isn’t real. It’s about learning how to keep your eyes on the One who never moves, even when the waves rise.
You’ll learn:
✨ What led up to the storm—and why Jesus sent the disciples into it✨ How Jesus prayed before the miracle (and why that matters for us)✨ Why Peter could walk on water one moment and sink the next✨ The real reason fear overtook him (hint: his circumstances didn’t change—his focus did)✨ How Jesus responds when our faith falters✨ Practical, grace-filled ways to steady your heart when life feels stormy
This isn’t another “just trust God more” message. It’s a reminder that Jesus sees you, comes toward you, and reaches for you the moment your faith starts to slip. You don’t have to hold it all together—His hand is already reaching toward you.
📚 Resources Mentioned
🛒Simple Daily Faith - Scripture Verse Cards & Sugar Scrubs
🛒 My favorite Things → Amazon Storefront
📚 Get on the Waitlist for the "How to Study the Bible" Course
💌 Connect With Me
📧 Email → susan@abundantlylivedlife.com🎙️ Podcast → Peace Over Perfection on Apple Podcasts📸 Instagram → @susan.shropshire🎵 TikTok → @susanshropshire