Ministry life often pulls us in many directions—serving others, leading faithfully, and juggling family responsibilities. But what about our own walk with Jesus? How do we keep our devotional life fresh and alive when ministry itself can leave us weary?

In this episode of the Ministry Wives Podcast, host Amy Petersen sits down with Gayle Rogers Foster—daughter of the late Adrian Rogers and author of In His Footsteps: A 90-Day Devotional to Enjoy Jesus Daily. Gayle shares her personal story of growing up in a ministry family, navigating seasons of busyness, and learning the joy of abiding with Christ.

With wisdom, honesty, and humor, Gayle encourages ministry wives to embrace margin, surrender what we cling to, and resist the temptation to simply “power through.” She reminds us that keeping our devotional lives vibrant isn’t about doing more—it’s about living with open hands, listening to the Spirit, and making space for God’s voice in the everyday.

• Why ministry wives can struggle with spending time with God while serving Him
• How Gayle’s upbringing shaped her faith and the lessons she’s carried into adulthood
• The story behind her devotional In His Footsteps and how God called her to write it
• How to release what you’re holding onto and walk in daily surrender
• Practical ways to keep your quiet time fresh in every season of life

Whether you feel spiritually “stuck” or simply need encouragement to keep going, this conversation will refresh your soul and remind you that God meets us in the quiet places.

• In His Footsteps: A 90-Day Devotional to Enjoy Jesus Daily (Featuring Daily Words of Wisdom from Adrian Rogers) by Gayle Rogers Foster
• Love Worth Finding
• Opportunity Leadership by Roger Parrott

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Joy doesn’t always feel easy—it often feels vulnerable, even risky. In this episode of the Ministry Wives Podcast, Amy Petersen sits down with author and therapist Nicole Zasowski to talk about her new Bible study Daring Joy: What Six Women in the Bible Teach Us About the Power of Celebration When It Feels Risky, Complicated, and Even Impossible.

Nicole shares how her own seasons of loss, transition, and disappointment led her to a deeper understanding of joy—not as a reward for when life goes well, but as a practice we can step into, even in life’s hardest seasons.

• Why joy can seem like one of our most vulnerable emotions
• The difference between gratitude and thanksgiving (and why speaking it aloud doubles your joy!)
• Simple practices that retrain your brain toward joy
• What six women of Scripture—Eve, Sarah, Miriam, Mary, Elizabeth, and Mary Magdalene—teach us about daring joy in the middle of uncertainty
• And more!

• Daring Joy: What Six Women in the Bible Teach Us About the Power of Celebration When It Feels Risky, Complicated, and Even Impossible by Nicole Zasowski
• What If It’s Wonderful?: Release Your Fears, Choose Joy, and Find the Courage to Celebrate by Nicole Zasowski
• From Lost to Found: Giving Up What You Think You Want for What Will Set You Free by Nicole Zasowski

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Suffering is something every believer will face—but what do we do when it feels relentless, unfair, or overwhelming? In this powerful episode of the Ministry Wives Podcast, host Amy Petersen sits down with author and speaker Vaneetha Risner to talk about walking with Jesus through seasons of deep pain.

Vaneetha’s story is marked by challenges: childhood polio, the heartbreaking loss of her infant son, a painful divorce, and the ongoing struggles of post-polio syndrome. Yet, through every valley, she has discovered the nearness of Christ—not through quick fixes or easy answers, but through honest lament and raw dependence on God.

Together, Amy and Vaneetha explore common misconceptions about suffering, the beauty of biblical lament, and how to come alongside others who are hurting with both truth and tenderness. If you’ve ever felt like your faith faltered under the weight of pain—or if you’ve walked with someone in the midst of grief—this conversation will remind you that your hope is not in an outcome, but in a Savior who draws near.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode with Vaneetha Risner:

• Why there is no “quota” for suffering—and how to reframe hardship as a means of drawing closer to Christ
• The false belief that obedience keeps us from pain, and what Scripture really teaches about suffering
• How lament gives language to our grief and creates deeper intimacy with God
• Practical ways to walk with others in their pain without minimizing or sermonizing
• Why our ultimate hope is not found in changed circumstances, but in Jesus Himself

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Watching for the Morning: 90 Devotionals for When Hope is Hard to Find by Vaneetha Risner

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