Bumps, Falls, and Finding the Light

Claire Black: Welcome to the True Girl podcast—the place where we help you and your mom grow closer to each other and closer to Jesus! I’m Claire Black, and today’s episode is . . . well, let’s just say it’s a little bumpy.

[tractor]

Hold on to a hay bale, friend! We’re on a hay ride with Dannah Gresh and Staci Rudolph. 

Remember, this season we want God to ignite the wonder in you!That is, be surprised and full of admiration at the Word of God. You might remember that the New Living Translation of Psalm 119 verse 18 says: “Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.” We’ve been asking God to do that as we study verses in the longest chapter of the Bible, Psalm 119.

Now, picture this: the True Girl team, two dogs, a wagon full of hay, and Staci and Dannah trying to stay on board during a nighttime hayride.

And that leads to a big lesson: obeying God’s Word is the only way to stay on track when life gets wild.

Let me pray for you before we get the tractor rolling.

Lord Jesus, open our eyes. Help us to wonder at Your Word today as we learn more from Psalm 119. In Jesus’ name, amen!

Okay, let’s head out under the stars and join Dannah and Staci on the hay ride. Here’s episode 4 of season 19, called “Bumps, Falls, and Finding the Light ” 

Staci Rudolph: This hayride is lit! And I don’t just mean the stars. Frankie! Moosie! You two are living your best lives back here!

Dannah Gresh: I think Frankie and Moosie are trying to set a panting world record. They’re happier than me at a donut shop, right now. 

Staci: Okay, okay, hear me out. Let’s make this even better. You and me climb up here on the top rail of the wagon! Sitting on the edge is SO much more fun than those hay bales.

Dannah: Um, Staci . . . Farmer Bob did say to stay on the hay bales. There is a big dip in the field at the corner of the pasture.

Staci: Oh come on! Live a little. Gotta make the most of life, right?

Dannah: (laughs nervously) Oh boy . . . okay. But if we fall off, you are explaining it to my husband!

Staci: Come on! 

Dannah: Ah, Stacin . . . ’lil’ help here?

Staci: I gotcha! (Pause) See there? Now, this is living!

Dannah: Wow. It sure is. I love it up here. WOOO HOOOO!!

[Tractor sound; Wagon suddenly creaks, then bumps hard.]

Staci & Dannah: AHHHHH!!!!

[Thud, dogs barking widely and growing gradually distant, tractor fading away in the distance. Rustling in the grass.]

Staci: (laughing breathlessly) Well, that escalated quickly.

Dannah: (laughing)Are we okay? Nothing is broken is it?

Staci: Just my dignity. Do you think they’re coming back for us?”

[Distant team laughter fading, wagon wheels creaking; tractor stops. Silence.]

Dannah: Uh oh . . . maybe not. This grass is wet! Over here guys! Farmer Bob has got a big field. This is going to take a while for him to turn that tractor around.

Might as well sit back and enjoy the night sky.

Staci: It woulda been a lot faster if they just waited for us to come back. Now they’re too far away.

Dannah: Yeah, well, that would be too practical. But ya know, Staci, this actually reminds me of some verses in Psalm 119. Yes, it does! Really important ones.

Staci: Oh no . . . we’re about to get a life lesson from falling off a hayride, aren’t we?

Dannah: You better believe it. Let’s talk about what happens when we ignore God’s instructions, and why hiding His Word in our hearts can keep us from falling off the wagon—literally and spiritually.

You know, I memorized the first part of Psalm 119 once. I haven’t reviewed it in a while though. Let’s see if I can find those words in my brain. Well . . . I always have a hard time getting started.

Staci: Well, while you dig around up there in your noggin, did you know Psalm 119 is like a Hebrew ABC poem? It’s true. Each section starts with a letter of their alphabet, and all the verses in that section begin with that same letter. That helped them memorize it and also brought to mind the words after.

Alef is the first section. In the Hebrew alphabet, alef is the first letter and represents the number one. It signifies the oneness and unity of God, and can also symbolize the beginning, truth, or wisdom. Alef!

Dannah: Yes! That’s it. Alef. Oh, I actually just got the first line . . . “Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord.”

Staci: Ooooh! It’s coming back to you, is it?

Dannah: Yes! Listen to this:

Joyful are people of integrity, 
who follow the instructions of the LORD. 
Joyful are those who obey his laws 
and search for him with all their hearts. 
They do not compromise with evil, 
and they walk only in his paths. 
You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. 
Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! 
Then I will not be ashamed 
when I compare my life with your commands. 
As I learn your righteous regulations, 
I will thank you by living as I should! 
I will obey your decrees. 
Please don’t give up on me! (vv. 18)

Staci: Hi five, girlfriend! 

Dannah: Thank you! Do you hear that theme, Staci? Joy. Twice in the first two verses. And where does it come from? Obedience. Following God’s instructions, walking in His path, keeping His commands carefully. That’s where real, lasting joy is found—not in doing whatever we want.

Staci: Obedience is really hard for me sometimes. I mean . . . really hard. And you know what? When I disobey God, I can feel my joy slipping away. But there’s a verse that helps me a lot.

It’s actually also in Psalm 119. In the next section—beit—which carries on the theme of obedience, building on how we can experience joy in life. It gives us some practical help in building our obedience muscle.

Dannah: Which verse, Staci?

Staci: Psalm 119:11: “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

When I memorize God’s Word, it’s like I’m putting His instructions deep inside me. So when I’m tempted to disobey, His words pop up and help me make the right choice.

Dannah: Exactly. You know, Staci, that reminds me of when I really struggled with lying. I found myself telling little lies all the time. And for a while, I didn’t even feel bad about it. I thought no one knew it.

They weren’t like big lies, they were more like exaggerations, like if I don’t know. Say if 118 True Girl friends came to a live event. I might say, “Almost 200 True Girls came!” It wasn’t true. And one day, I was reading a book by my friend Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth. It said, "exaggerating is a really proud way of just lying.”

Staci: Youch!

Dannah: It was stealing my joy because I was always worried about getting caught. 

It was a real struggle. But then, my husband, Farmer Bob, ever-so-gently said: “Baby, I think you’re exaggerating a lot. And what you are saying, it’s not true. I wonder, do you believe those exaggerations?

Staci: Farmer Bob said that to you?

Dannah: Yeah, and it was a wake up call. I realized I was lying to myself by believing no one saw this sin in my life.

But, I remembered when my children were really, really young, like preschool, they’d lie to me. We all kind of do that when we’re little, hiding our sin sometimes. And, well, I always knew when they were lying . . . always. Lying is more obvious than we’d like to believe.

Staci: Yeah, I’ve seen that. It’s like the only person believing the lie is the one telling it!

Dannah: I asked God to help me to stop sinning. But, Staci, lying is a really hard habit to break.

Well, I came across a verse that hit me hard. Psalm 119:29 listen to this: ‘Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing your instructions.’”

I memorized it. And every time I lied or exaggerated, I prayed it. “Lord Jesus, please keep me from lying to myself about lying to others. They can see it. Give me the honor of experiencing how it feels to obey You!”

Staci: You were kind of asking God to restore your joy! Well, did He?

Dannah: He did! I’m still tempted to exaggerate sometimes. But once I memorized that verse, it was less and less.

Staci: Wow! That’s exactly what happens when we hide His Word in our hearts. It protects us and changes us.

Dannah: Just another lesson for life from Psalm 119. And Staci, I really did find myself surprised and amazed by the power of the words in my Bible.

Staci: Your wonder was ignited!

Dannah: It surely was!

[Wagon wheels creaking louder, tractor engine humming, team voices faintly shouting “We’re coming back for you!” Dogs barking happily.]

Staci: I think that’s them, or at least I hope it is. 

Dannah: Well, I doubt anyone else is out here picking up hayride dropouts, Staci.

Staci: Good point. I was about two minutes away from building a hay bed and calling this my new home.

[Tractor grows closer. Dogs barking.]

Staci: (shouting) Hey, Farmer Bob! Don’t mind us . . . just enjoying the scenic route.

Dannah: Pretty sure falling off wasn’t part of the tour package.

Staci: Well, we’re fine! Nothing bruised but our pride . . . and maybe my elbows.

Dannah: Maybe our reputation as responsible adults?

Staci: Speak for yourself. I never claimed that title.

But I do think I’m going to obey Farmer Bob’s rules this time!

Claire: So, falling off a hayride wasn’t exactly in the plan, but I think Staci and Dannah learned something even more important down there in the grass. Next time you’re tempted to wander off God’s path, remember Psalm 119:11. Hiding God’s Word in your heart keeps you from falling spiritually.

And here’s your pro tip for today: memorize the words of the Bible! Seems like a no-brainer after today’s lesson, right?

You might want to memorize the New Living Translation, because that version can make the Bible really easy to understand. You can read more about how it was translated or get samples of it at NewLivingTranslation.com. But it’s also okay to memorize a different version!

That’s it for Season 19 of the True Girl podcast, “Ignite the Wonder.” But don’t worry, we have some amazing ways for you to keep igniting the wonder of God’s Word in your life.

First, the True Girl Subscription Box. We’re just getting ready to ship the Friendship Box! Each one comes with daily devos to help you stay in God’s Word every single day, plus a mom+daughter activity that’ll help you dive into the Bible together. This one is all about friendship and loyalty. We’re even including specially-curated content to keep you wondering at God’s Word. Subscribe at MyTrueGirl.com.

But there’s more. We’re working with our friends at Revive Our Hearts on a very special project called Wonder of the Word. It’s a six-year journey, led by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, to help women of all ages and all places wonder at God’s Word like never before.

And get this: as part of that project, Dannah’s launching a brand-new app for girls aged twelve and up to help them read the Bible every day. It’s called, Wonder. Ask your parents if you can check it out. And if that’s not something you’re ready for yet, that’s okay. We will still be here to encourage you and your time in the Word.

Thanks for joining us this season. Until next time, keep your lamp lit, your Bible open, and your heart steady.

The True Girl Podcast is produced by Revive Our Hearts, calling women of all ages to freedom, fullness, and fruitfulness in Christ.

*Offers available only during the broadcast of the podcast season.