054 : Answered Prayers, Spiritual Health, The Enemy, Ministry, & More!
Welcome to the Refined Sisterhood Podcast! We’re so glad you’re here!
If you have been here for any length of time, you know that the Lord has put it on our hearts to speak and to have a conference one day. We recently got a DM from a woman in ministry that was putting on a pretty big conference that wanted us to meet for coffee and we were so excited! When we met with her, she invited us to come and speak at the conference which was SUCH AN ANSWERED PRAYER!!!
We were beyond excited! We spent months praying over and preparing for it. When the date rolled around in early January, a big snow storm hit our area and the whole conference was cancelled.
We wrestled with disappointment, confusion, and even sadness. We were just so excited for what felt like our first BIG opportunity. But what could’ve felt like a loss turned into a divine redirection. Instead of letting the message go unheard, we decided to sit down and record the Q&A we had prepared to share at the conference—right here, with you!
Answering these questions from a ministry perspective, we hope you feel so encouraged!
What is the importance of spiritual health and spiritual disciplines?
Our purpose in this world is to be in relationship with Jesus - an intimate relationship. Yet, society begs for our attention in every way possible.
We are distracted by the news, the people around us, work, social media - we have access to so much information and entertainment.
Our spiritual health is the pillar by which we stay grounded in Christ, while it looks like the world around us is caving in.
We cannot lead well without allowing the Lord to fill the spring that wells up inside each of us by way of the Holy spirit through God’s word.
Being with Jesus, sitting with Him, reading the word, practicing spiritual disciplines - it shuts down the noise from the world.
Think of this - Have you ever been in a super noisy place and put your hands over your ears? Your hands significantly drown out the sound around you and you can hear your own thoughts. In the same way, practicing spiritual disciplines turns off the noise from the world and allows you to hear the Holy Spirit clearly.
We desperately need to come to this place of hearing the Holy Spirit so that our minds can be renewed and we can lead in alignment with God’s truth.
In, 1 Timothy 4 we are called to train for godliness. Godliness being the character and attitude of God. Spiritual growth is a gift bestowed on those who actively pursue it. Some spiritual practices that are necessary for training for godliness :
Solitude (being with Jesus, listening), Sabbath, Prayer (being honest, vulnerable, and conversational), Fasting (food, social media, etc.), Scripture, Community, Generosity (our time, money, talents and gifts), Service (sacrificially), Witness (being bold when the holy spirit calls on us to be a witness) (talk about these in our personal lives)
Spiritual disciplines bring you closer to Jesus and allow his peace to be more prevalent in your life than the busyness of this world. When we disconnect from the world, we connect with God.
Reminder : We cannot lead well without allowing the Lord to fill the well inside each of us.
2. In what ways does the enemy try to derail you in ministry and personally?
When I think about how the enemy tries to derail us, both in ministry and personally, one word comes to mind: distraction. He knows he cannot steal my salvation, but he can aim to make me ineffective. And one of his most subtle tools is pulling our focus away from our calling and onto things that seem urgent but aren’t eternal.
In ministry, the enemy often uses discouragement.
For example, when I pour my heart into something—a podcast episode, work, our Bible study, or simply disciplining someone—it’s easy to feel like I’m not making a difference if I don’t see immediate results.
Elijah in 1 Kings 19. After a massive victory on Mount Carmel, he felt alone, defeated, and ready to give up. But God met him in that place, not with condemnation but with sustenance and truth. He reminded Elijah that he wasn’t alone and that his ministry had purpose. Similarly, when I feel unseen or question my impact, I have to remember that God’s work is not always visible in the moment. It’s about faithfulness, not applause.
Personally, the enemy often tries to attack my identity and relationships. As a wife, mom, and leader, he whispers lies like, “You’re not enough,” or “You aren’t equipped.” Those lies can lead to comparison and insecurity.
From the very beginning, the enemy was trying to plant seeds of doubt and insecurity. In the garden, Eve experienced this in Genesis 3 when the serpent made her question what God said and who He created her to be. The enemy hasn’t changed his tactics. He plants seeds of doubt, hoping we’ll lose sight of the truth. But when I anchor myself in Scripture and Truth, like Ephesians 2:10—where it says we are God’s masterpiece, created to do good works—I find strength to reject those lies.
The enemy also thrives in busyness.
It isn’t “more” He requires of us. In fact, it may be less.
One of my favorite stories is when Jesus goes to visit Mary and Martha in Luke 10. Martha was busy doing everything and preparing and Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet.
I can be so much like Martha, serving and doing all the “right” things but missing the presence of Jesus. Because catch this, In Martha’s eagerness to serve Jesus, she almost missed the opportunity to know Jesus.
Ministry is never meant to be about striving; it’s about abiding. When I let busyness overtake me, I am missing the whole point.
I’ve also noticed how spiritual attacks increase when I’m stepping into something new or significant for the Kingdom. Before starting a podcast episode or speaking at an event, unexpected challenges often pop up—kids get sick, technical issues arise, or I wrestle with self-doubt. It reminds me of Nehemiah rebuilding the wall. The enemy used fear, mockery, and distraction to try to stop the work. But Nehemiah prayed and kept building, saying, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down” (Nehemiah 6:3). That verse has become a rallying cry for me.
Ultimately, the enemy’s schemes aren’t new, but God’s Word equips us to stand firm. Ephesians 6:10-18 reminds us to put on the full armor of God. The shield of faith, the belt of truth, the helmet of salvation—these aren’t just metaphors; they’re lifelines. And I’ve learned that prayer is my greatest weapon. Whether I’m on my knees crying out to God for wisdom or whispering a quick prayer in the middle of chaos, it reminds me that I’m not fighting alone.
3. How do you handle conflict in your ministry?
I have seen lots of conflict in ministry. I believe there are very obvious scriptures that tell us how to handle and resolve conflict within the church, ministry, and relationships in general.
Matthew 18:15-20 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18.15-20 ESV).
The person who has been sinned against should first go to that person. If they can’t resolve the issue, they can involve those who will prayerfully advise. If that doesn’t work, leadership can get involved and handle the situation as needed based on biblical principle.
For me personally, I believe that leaders are called to approach conflict with grace and patience, never ignoring a small fire that needs to be put out. Reconciliation in the body of believers matters.
I take a very logical approach to hear both sides. To recognize the truth and human error on either or both sides. Then, I would take the opportunity to pray through it.
The wisdom needed to resolve conflict comes from the Lord himself and biblically, I believe we should look to His counsel before anyone else. With that wisdom, I would act based on the situation. If I felt like the two sides needed to work it out amongst themselves further before involving myself, I would tell them that. However, if I felt led to step in and have conversations with the two sides separate or together, I would.
Confrontation is not easy but I believe that clear, face to face communication is key. AFTER prayer and checking my own eye for logs or my heart for bias.
I have been in conversations before where things have been said to me that truly hurt me by no fault of mine, just simply that person saying things that weren’t true. And I had to keep my composure and explain to them that I could not respond at that moment. That I had to pray about my response. And I think that is the most important part of resolving conflict - communication that biblically represents Christ himself and how he would handle it based on my own discernment.
4. Does your ministry have an intentional, clear plan to engage the lost? If so, what is it?
Yes, our ministry has an intentional plan to engage the lost, but it’s less about a rigid strategy and more about living out the example Jesus set—meeting people where they are with truth and grace.
While our ministry is a ministry that generally calls Christians who already know the Lord into deeper relationship with Him, we do feel that the things we speak on are to a person - believer or non believer on our podcast and social media.
And a lot of our personal ministry is being the hands and feet of Jesus everywhere we are. And part of that is talking to anyone the spirit leads us to in our personal lives who doesn’t know the lord - to speak into their lives and use our ministry as a way of connecting with them and inviting them into a space of believers.
We are wanting to be more and more like Jesus - He is our ultimate example and when I think about Jesus’ ministry, He met people where they were—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
He engaged with the woman at the well in John 4 by starting a conversation that connected to her everyday life.
He called Zacchaeus by name and invited Himself into his home (Luke 19:1-10).
In every interaction, Jesus was intentional about relationship and connection combined truth with grace.
5. As younger leaders, what has been the greatest challenge?
I would say our greatest challenge has been recognizing our own deep need for Jesus as we lead others to Jesus. To know that we aren’t perfect and often feeling unequipped to be in leadership. Learning and unlearning while teaching others.
But that challenge has also been our greatest blessing. Because we have taken it and understood that being in leadership is so much more than just growing the number of people we minister to. It is so much more than the photos and videos we can put on social media to show off our bible study group or our podcast quotes or our own knowledge. It is an opportunity to be in such an intimate place with the Lord that He gives us the opportunity to be in close relationship with women that He has hand picked to be in our space. And we get to foster those relationships and lead them in ways we never thought possible. We get to see them grow and flourish in Jesus because we are being obedient to what he has called us to.
The biggest challenge is ultimately ourselves. Our own minds and sinful nature. Our desire for perfection and for more when we know we aren’t quite ready for it yet. We have to fight daily in our walk with Jesus to remember that we are His hands and His feet. That we are called to serve and love others above ourselves. And that He is sovereign over our time, abilities, and what He trusts us with.
6. If you could encourage the listeners out there in ministry, what would you say? Maddie
Don’t lose sight of why you started. Ministry is not about platforms or a stage; it’s about people and the God who loves them. At the core of everything we do is the gospel—this life-transforming truth that Jesus died for sinners like us and calls us to share His love with others.
Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Ministry is hard work. It often feels like sowing seeds in a dry field, wondering if they’ll ever grow. But here’s the promise: God brings the growth. We’re called to plant and water, but He is the one who makes the fruit flourish (1 Corinthians 3:7).
Something that someone said to me that encouraged me so much was “Maddie, you work on the depth of your ministry and let Jesus work on the reach.”
One thing I’ve learned is that the enemy wants to make ministry feel lonely. But you’re never alone.
Moses in Exodus 17 - When he grew tired of holding up his arms during the battle, Aaron and Hur came alongside him to hold them up. That’s what we need too—a community of people who will lift us up when we feel like we can’t keep going. Seek out those people who will pray for you, encourage you, and remind you of your calling.
Seek out community and specifically a mentor that can pour into you and correct you.
I also want to encourage you to serve from a place of overflow, not exhaustion. Ministry doesn’t start with doing; it starts with being—being with Jesus.
John 15:5, Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.” If we’re not abiding in Him, our work becomes striving, and striving leads to burnout. So, prioritize your time with the Lord. It’s essential!
Finally, don’t underestimate the power of the “small moments”. Whether you’re leading a large ministry or having a quiet conversation with one person, every act of obedience matters. Jesus Himself often ministered to the one—one woman at the well, one blind man on the road, one tax collector in a tree. In those moments, eternity was changed.
So, my encouragement is this: Stay faithful. Stay rooted in the Word. Trust that God is using you, even when you can’t see the results. And remember, He is far more concerned with who you are becoming in Him than what you are doing for Him.
We hope that you were encouraged by our words and that you take something away that allows you to grow deeper in your relationship with the Lord. If you need community, send us a DM and we would be honored to chat with you, pray for you, and be a friend! We also have a bible study that if you are local and want to join, we would love to have you. You are so loved, friend! Thank you for being here!
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Music : Gold Dust - Instrumental Version by To The Valley