How To Be WellnStrong

79: She’s Not Your Enemy: Finding Freedom from Insecurity and Comparison | Jenn Schultz

• Jacqueline Genova • Episode 79

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Sometimes, the people in our lives feel like enemies: The colleague who threatens your position at work. The friend who talks behind your back. The person who seems to have it all together—while you are barely hanging on.
 
But the real enemy is the one who is trying to defeat you with lies that lead to isolation, insecurity, and division. I’m so excited to sit down with Jenn Schultz on the show today as we discuss her latest book, She’s Not Your Enemy. 

Jenn is a writer, a wife, and a mom. She’s known for sharing her messy faith journey and plenty of scriptures to help remind us that it’s ok to be imperfect because our God is perfect enough for us all.


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*Unedited Transcript*
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Jenn: [00:00:00] It's so cool to chat with you in

Jacqueline: I know! Jen, I was just thinking that. I was like, Jen has been the We've never spoken and you, Jen, were like one of the first people to ever follow Well and Strong, like when I first started. I just

Jenn: Isn't that 

Jacqueline: I 

loved your 

Jenn: And you've like exploded since then, which is amazing. I'm so happy for

you, That's awesome. 

Jacqueline: I appreciate that.

Yeah. We have, I have a lot to update you on, but no, I mean, I was just thinking that I was like, Jen was literally like one of the very first people. And I mean, I came across your account and I loved your work and I was like, I love this woman. She's just amazing. But it's wild that it took us four years to actually like talk.

Jenn: Now that I think about it, I'm like, we could have had a phone call or

Jacqueline: I know, but I'm so excited. I mean, I started this podcast a year and a half ago. Um, and I think it's been really fun for me because I've kind of shifted from more like physical health and wellness to more of the faith based approach to wellness, which, you Is a message that I myself have really needed to hear [00:01:00] right over the past, you know, a few years but um I'm, just so excited to have you on the show and to talk about Everything that jen does your books your encouragement your there's a lot going on So let's just let's just kick it off jen and I was I was thinking last night I was like, how do I want to structure this but I found that my favorite conversations are the ones where You I don't necessarily have a structure in mind, and I kind of just like say what comes to mind.

So I have some things I want to cover for listeners. And certainly there are topics that, you know, you write about that I think are really important to share. But with that, let's just kick it off. And I'd love for you to just give a brief intro as to Who you are, um, what you do and what got you in this space.

Jenn: Sure. Well, I am a gosh, I feel like lately I've been introducing myself as a reader, a writer, and a contemplative thinker. I, uh, I am a wife and a mom as well. Um, and those are very important [00:02:00] roles to me. But I think if I'm describing myself, that's where I would start. I have always loved reading, always loved writing, always. had, I feel like a very imaginative perspective of what the world was like. And, um, I think growing up, I was always, you know, imagining, always reading all the people in my books were my best friends and, uh, and I was getting to know God at the same time too. I was kind of, I was growing and building my faith at that point.

And so, yeah, I, God has kind of always been in the picture for me. And as I, I grew older. I discovered I still love to write. So I would kind of, um, I've been blogging for a number of years now and I've, I've shared about my faith journey. And a few years ago, I just made the point to like, I'm just going to talk about this and we'll see if anybody relates.

And I actually found that a lot of people relate to kind of a messy faith journey, especially having grown up going to church. I think a lot of people are now kind of reassessing and looking [00:03:00] back on their lives and trying to figure out, okay, what. What do I believe? What do I really want to do with my life?

Um, how do I stay close to god in this season of my life? How do I deal with all the craziness going on in the world all the chaos? Um, I mean even Uh to your point my my mother in law went through cancer like things things like that. You know, how do we manage? All of that and still trust in a loving God or still believe choose to believe in a loving God.

So all of that, um, so I've been sharing online for several years. I used to incorporate a lot more things, but now it's, it's just my faith. Uh, I wrote a book. I had a podcast for a while. I actually just, I loved the conversations part, but I got burned out on the tech end and I was like, I need to step back.

This

Jacqueline: I hear you Jen. You know it's funny.

I actually just got, uh, I, I use like a Logitech webcam right now, but I just got a Sony and I spent the like an hour this morning trying to figure out like how to connect it to my computer. It was like 

failed, failed USB. I was like, alright, well I guess I'll [00:04:00] just go back to my other camera. It's fine.

Jenn: No, I'm sorry. I had trouble with the editing. It was that was the the

Jacqueline: Yeah, 

Jenn: Like I would always make it if it was an individual show i'd be like fine I'll just write it out and i'll do it as many takes as it gets to not have to edit it But in the conversations I was like I can't do this like

Jacqueline: I know, Jen. It's a lot. Sometimes, sometimes I just like to not even edit and I just post as is because I feel like it's also more authentic. But it's a lot. People don't realize how much work it is. Um, but anyway, you wrote a book, Jen. She's not your enemy. And, um, It talks a lot about comparison, and this is a topic that every single one of us struggles with, and I think especially the nature of what you and I do with like being on social media and sharing content, and I hate social media, Jen.

Like, you're gonna laugh. I

Jenn: I have a love hate relationship.

Jacqueline: I have not touched my personal social media accounts in probably four years. And at one point I was just like, I considered deleting them. But I was like, [00:05:00] Oh, no, it's just for posterity to just, you know, have my photos there for whenever I go back, but I don't use them.

But sadly, the nature of well and strong is like, and your, your business too, you have to be active on social to build engagement, right. And build a, you know, a following and share your work. So. I'm so curious, Jen, how do you, like, what tools do you use in your daily life when you're on social media? You know, when you're promoting a new book to really help you, you know, I guess to help keep your head on straight and not always measure yourself up against, you know, the The same exact person who's doing the same exact thing, you know, in, in your space.

Well, not the same exact person, but the person who's doing

Jenn: There's a lot

of people who do 

similar things. It feels like it sometimes. Um, yeah, this was a topic that I really got into, um, in my book because it affects so many things, like, you know, well and strong. It is, it's not just your mental health, your, your physical health. even your spiritual health, your connection with other people.

Um, so I, [00:06:00] I started doing some research into that and I was, I was really surprised how much it's affecting us. I was surprised at how, um, we, I mean, there's good and bad things about social media. There's, there's a lot of really amazing connections. Like we got to be friends through social media. I've gotten to, um, Just grow a lot of really cool friendships with people I would have never met in real life.

And so there's, there's lots of good things you can keep in touch with people you don't see very often. Um, I don't, I don't think it's all bad, but I do think that, um, the nature of it, the way that the algorithms are set up, even like the goals of big social media companies, I mean, their goals are to keep you online constantly, constantly scrolling.

And you have all this content and all this stimulation. I'm the kind of person that gets overstimulated So to like have this always at my fingertips is not good for me. It's not healthy for my brain. Um, even the fact that we are looking for community and we're looking for connection, but it's so easy to make it shallow and superficial [00:07:00] online.

Um, it's so easy for it to be one sided. Um, even with celebrities, like we think we really know them. Some people get to this fanatic point of like, I do know you and I deserve to know more about you. You know, like it's like, It's crazy. We think we have so much access to people, but we don't, we're very limited in what we get to see and what people will allow us to see.

Um, so all of that to say it, it's a great place that it can become an unhealthy place. And I know for me, um, I am trying to, I have, I have time limits on my phone that I don't always honor because it lets you buy, I need to find a better, I need to find a better way. It's funny. I gave my husband, um, the ability to like.

Change the code in my phone so I couldn't just bypass it except the problem is it it it's It wasn't, it just wasn't what I thought it was. So I thought that I would have to enter his code and I'd have to ask him and it doesn't do that. Like it's still my personal phone code. So it's kind of [00:08:00] funny that that works.

But anyway, all that to say, I do have limits in place. And at least there was like this warning of like your time is about to end. Your time is over. Do you need to be online right now? Even Instagram and threads are doing that now. They're like, you've been on for 20 minutes or at least you can set that up in your face.

Yes. You 

can 

set it up in your settings where it says. It's been 20 minutes. Do you want to take a break? And I'm like, no,

Jacqueline: Wow.

Jenn: but it is, it's really cool. I think, I think social media companies are maybe kind of starting to come to this awareness of like, okay, maybe like give people a break, um, and they can come back later when they're ready.

But, um, yeah, limits are very good. I think, uh, for a while and nothing is consistent lately. I have three kids. I do my best, but, um, for a while we were doing kind of this no social media Sunday or no, no phone Sunday, really, which lent. itself to some problems because we would have people trying to get in touch with us.

So, you know, it's, it's all about balance, but, um, yeah, just no, no phones, no texting, no scrolling, set it [00:09:00] aside. And it was so real. It was such a relief, such a relief not to have to be so tied into everything, to the news and to social media and to all of that. Um, that What was I going to say about that? We, oh, your phone has do not disturb mode, it has um, personal mode, all of those things have been really helpful for me, so I think your phone has those things in place, it just takes a little bit of like, okay, I'm going to have the intention of, I'm going to set the limits, and I'm going to do this for 

Jacqueline: Yeah. No, that, that makes complete sense. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Jen, like, how, How do you yourself, like when you are creating content, like how do you maintain a sense of authenticity because again, everything is so curated and it's funny too, I kind of was like, the other day I was filming a video of myself, like just making food because I mean, one thing I don't really do, Jen, on Well and Strong, and you probably have noticed this, is I don't really put my face behind, like, anything, [00:10:00] like, stories or posts, like, I try not to be in it, and I, I did that intentionally, because I don't want Well and Strong to be about me, like, sure, I created it, It's really about the community of people, right?

So that's kind of why I've shied away. But in the same, like, you know, in the same vein, it's also like you do have to share yourself when you're building a brand because like you essentially are your brand. So it's like, what is that healthy balance? And then I was just watching these videos of myself that I recorded and I was like, is this really me?

Like, what am I trying to present? To the world of, you know, who I think I quote unquote should be versus like, who I really am. So yeah, I'm just curious, like, how do you help, like, like, what do you do to maintain that sense of like, this is Jen, like this is me, that sense of authenticity when you're putting content out there.

Jenn: That's a great question. It's hard. Uh, and I think social media is set up that way to kind of, uh, develop these trends and then put us like, okay, well you have to do this to be seen. You have to have these [00:11:00] videos that look like you're naturally making a cup of coffee when like you know you're being filmed.

So it's not 

natural. I've 

Jacqueline: so 

Jenn: done it. I've done it. It's what it, I mean, because I think we're curious and we want to see people in their, their element and in their environment. And so, um, I get why that works and I get why people are interested in that, but it also can feel very like inauthentic sometimes.

So sometimes I do, I just like set it up and I'm like, I'm here, whatever. You know, like I see the camera going, whatever. Um, but yeah, I think how do I stay authentic? I think, um. It's always been a really important thing for me in what I do and what I share and I want to, um, I want to feel connected with people.

I, I do have boundaries about what I share. I don't like to be very specific about my location. I don't like to be, um, I don't share my kids. I don't really share a lot about what's going on with them or their, you know, things like that, security, safety, like things like that. Those are very [00:12:00] precious to me, which is hard too, because it's trendy to share like everything don't hold anything back.

And I'm like, I just don't feel great about that, but I will tell you all about me. I will tell you about my mess. Like I'll tell you what I'm thinking, what I'm going through, um, as, as in so far as it affects me, I can do that. So I think, um, a way that helps me. me is to engage more in like direct messages.

Um, so I, you know, we'll post something that's more general that I'm like, okay, anybody can see this. But if somebody responds or somebody sends me a message, I'm like, let's talk. Like, you know, it doesn't have to be on, on the page for everybody to see, for it to be like, Um, personal, building up a relationship, all of that.

So that's been helpful for me. Um, it's just making it more, not more offline, I guess it has to still be online, but more, more of a personal conversation and more engaging. Um,

And yeah, I just write constantly. Like I'm, I've, I'm a writer. So I've, you know, [00:13:00] I take notes in my phone and I'm like, Oh, that's an idea.

I want to share that later. And then I kind of feel it out based on how people are responding. I'm like, Oh, so people are, are talking about this and I'm dealing with this. So let's talk about it a little bit more. And I think that's, that's helpful for me to kind of feeling it out with them. Um, and, and trying really hard not to sit and just scroll and see what everybody else is doing, which

Jacqueline: Yeah. And it's so hard, right? Because you want to see like what other people are doing for like trending content. But in the same vein, it's also like you don't really want to like, I don't care as

Jenn: Yeah, I don't want to like bow to that too much, 

Jacqueline: Yeah. And going back to Gen to Authenticity, Um, One thing obviously that ties into this is appearance, right?

And we always present our best selves on Instagram. Like, we're not going to record a video of ourselves, right? And we get out of bed in the morning. So with that too, like, what advice would you have for someone who just feels less? Uh, feels less than when they compare themselves to, you know, someone else's appearance, for example, on social, all these curated images of the quote unquote perfect life.

And, [00:14:00] you know, we say social media is a highlight reel, but it's hard to recognize that in the moment when you're just scrolling, right? It's just

Jenn: Right. Yeah, it's, I mean, it's what people have decided to show you. And we're so much more complicated than that. There's so much more going into it. I think something that affects me, um, I don't know if you talk about Enneagram at all, or if you, if you do that at all, but I'm an Enneagram three. And so I'll see people's success stories.

I'll see people say, look at this big thing that I'm doing. I just signed on for this new project or I got a book deal or, you know, whatever the thing is, and I'm like. Oh, like I'm so behind. I'm not that person. And um, so just, we're only seeing like the highlight, like, yes, like confetti balloons. And we're not seeing all the years that it took or all the rejections, all the nodes, all the, um, the failures, all the things that they tried.

And so I think that's something that I try to keep in mind when I'm on social media is I have no idea what's going on on the other [00:15:00] side of the screen. That's again, where good conversations come into play. Like, Hey, like. Let's talk more. Like, how did that go for you? Actually, it was really hard and I didn't know that, you know, just all of these things going a little bit deeper than that.

Um, I think Making sure that you again are having good boundaries and spending time offline and, and building those relationships offline. I think that's really important when you're, um, just scrolling through and just seeing things and feeling like you're connected, but not really having those connections.

Um, I think it comes back to that. And then, yeah, as you're scrolling online, I, it's, I, think it's,

just keeping it, just take a step back, take a deep breath. Remember like, I have been through all of these things to get to where I am. I am a complicated person and what I share on Instagram is only so much.

So to know that like other people are doing that as well, keeping that in mind, I think that's, that's a healthier mindset to have.

Jacqueline: [00:16:00] I couldn't agree more. I mean, we've been focused like so narrowly on social media, but if we take a step back and look at the broader image of just comparison in general, I mean, I touched on this so many times in a couple previous episodes, but one thing I really struggle with too. in the sense of comparison is looking at other people at different stages and seasons of life, right?

And I think it's so funny because up until college graduation, essentially, like we, we know what we're supposed to do, right? Like there are these milestones, like, you know, there's a lot of structure. And then once you graduate college, it's kind of just like a free for all where like someone's getting married or someone's, you know, moving to another country or pursuing something else.

And it's, It's funny because, you know, there are still milestones in life, but I feel like if a friend that is our age is on a different milestone, right, like, we feel like we're behind, and it's almost as if, like, how is that person crossing into that new season when I'm not even at, you know, the half mile marker yet?

So, you know, and recognizing that the [00:17:00] Bible says that. You know, there is a season for everything under the sun, right? Um, time to laugh, a time to cry. How do you just do yourself, Jen? Like, how have you dealt with that over the years too? Um, and not comparing yourself, uh, with people who are in different seasons that you aspire to, to one day be in?

Jenn: Yeah. You know, I think it's really important, and I wrote about this in my book, but it's so important to realize that comparison doesn't always have to be a bad thing. Uh, there, there was a study done on it in the 60s where we, uh, it was just found that we compare ourselves to other people and good things come out of it.

Things like belonging, like we kind of figure out who are our people. Um, we figure out, Oh, we're, we're alike in this way. We're different in this way. Um, it helps us to figure out what we have to contribute and what other people have to contribute to us. Um, because we're never meant to do it all on our own.

We're not meant to have it [00:18:00] all together. We're not meant to do all the things and not have any need for other people. No, we always need other people. Um, so as we compare, we kind of figure out, Okay, well, I can't do this as well, but you can. So maybe you can help. You know, I'm not as good as keeping, keeping myself healthy, but you are really good at that.

So maybe you can help me with, you know, like that's, that's, A way that comparison can be good. And it also motivates us. Like, it's, it's like, wow, like you've done this incredible thing. You've built this amazing podcast. Like maybe someday, if I ever get back into podcasting, that inspires me, I could do that.

Um, so I think that's really, really important. Like comparison does not have to be this big toxic, like, Oh, I shouldn't be doing any of that. Um, but it turns toxic when we, when we, Start using it to figure out our value and our worth and That was that was a big realization for me was oh like I'm trying to figure out how good I am based on You know how well other [00:19:00] people are living their lives how how quickly they developed a best Top ranked podcast or how, you know, how quickly they got married, um, how quickly they started having kids.

I, I went through infertility for years before I had my kids and, or for almost two years. And, um, you know, I was like, why am I not good enough? Why, maybe I was never meant to be a mom. Why is my body not working properly? Like just all of these questions. And so I would look at other people who were getting pregnant and just feel horrible about myself because I was like, I'm not good enough or maybe God doesn't want me to be a mom or, you know, just all of these thoughts.

And, um, I really had to ground myself in my, my own enoughness and my own worthiness. And for me, my, my choice is to believe that God gave me that worthiness. He called me worthy, called me loved. Um, He Designed me and said that's a good design, you know, fearfully and wonderfully made in the book of Psalms Like [00:20:00] I have to go back and really know those things and believe those things and take them on as my identity Before I can even begin to deal with like other people

before I can start looking at them and saying like We're, we're the same or we're different, but it doesn't affect my value.

It doesn't affect who I am to God. It doesn't affect, um, you know, who, yeah, who, who I was created to be. So that was, that was a big internal journey for me. And that's, I read a lot about 

Jacqueline: lot 

Jenn: book.

Jacqueline: of that.

Jenn: Yeah.

Jacqueline: But also, too, Jen, how do we be happy for other people in seasons where, again, we are not quite at the point that they are yet? Like, [00:21:00] how can we be a good friend, a good sister, um, You know, in seasons that are, that are hard for us, right? Like, how can we be actively present and be happy for the people who are experiencing the things that we ourselves want?

Jenn: That's really hard. And, uh, that was, I think it was hardest for me in that season of infertility and not knowing if I'd ever have a baby. And, um,

Jacqueline: Didn't you mention, Jen, like, you couldn't go to like, a couple baby showers or something?

Jenn: a hard time at baby showers. I, I remember I like got up and walked out one day, not, not dramatically, not, you know, threw my paper plate on the floor and ran out, but I, you know, kind of slipped out the back door and I was like, I'm just breathing heavy and just trying to get back this sense of control over my emotions because it just was hard.

It was hard to see somebody getting what I wanted. It was hard to understand why it wasn't happening to me. And, um, I know that for me, I think it, it helped to have [00:22:00] compassion on myself and know that, This is something that I want that is a good thing, and it's a core desire for me to be a mom. And, uh, you know, for example, or for, you know, it's a core desire for me to be loved or to be worthy.

And, um, to really recognize that, that I wasn't just being jealous, or I wasn't just being, Selfish or you know, like this is this is a deep pain for me. It's a wound for me and to have compassion on myself in that and for me to bring it to God to Work it out in my house on my floor. Sometimes just crying it out bringing everything to God being You know just Crying face and the agonizing prayers and all of that.

Um, that was work that I had to do behind closed doors before I could really go to other people and be like, I'm, I, I'm released from [00:23:00] that so I can be happy for you. Cause I was, it wasn't like all like, uh, 

Jacqueline: right, 

Jenn: I don't know, somebody else was pregnant. Like it was like, Oh, I'm so excited for you, but

Jacqueline: yep, yep, 

Jenn: you 

Jacqueline: I know and it's funny too I feel like Who is it? Someone, someone said to me, I don't know if it was my dad or one of my friends, but she was like, it was my, my friend, my friend Kristen told me, she said you can still be happy for someone else while also being sad for yourself.

And 

that really, you can hold both, like both can coexist. And like, I, I didn't realize that. And I, I kind of would just like shame myself if I felt, you know, feelings of jealousy or it was like, why is someone getting this? Like, what is, what is wrong? But I, I've also realized that. Understanding that God's timing is perfect

Jenn: Mm hmm.

Jacqueline: has also really been a game changer for me.

And for example, I had an episode on, um, singleness back in December with a really great pastor out in Colorado. And during that conversation, Jen, I, you know, it was just [00:24:00] evaluating my own life over the past few years. 

And I look around me and all of my friends seem to be married. Some of them have kids. I, I look back and I, I say, okay, God, but like, why didn't that happen for me? But then I, I take an even bigger step back and I look at what I've been able to build over the past few years with WellnStrong

and I recognize that if I was in a relationship, I probably would not be where I'm at right now in terms of the growth that this has been able to, To, you know, sustain over the past few years, but I, I recognize that God sees the bigger picture and sometimes like when we really want something that he is, we think withholding it's for our good. Right. And like how, I'm just curious, like how, how has, like, has that helped you too in the seasons of, of just waiting and doubting God,

Jenn: yeah. I think, um, our perspectives of God affect so much. Like it I, for a long time, I say this in the book, I really believed that God was like this disappointed boss. Like he would always look at me like, oh, [00:25:00] she messed up again, you know, like, or, oh, she's so whiny. She wants all these things, you know, like it's, it's, it was a really sad perspective to have of God.

And the more that I, um, I, I had really. Good, wise friends call me back to scripture and say, is that what, what the Bible really says about God? Is that really who God is? Uh, the more I came to understand, like he is so compassionate and so loving, like even one of the ways he introduces himself to Moses when he passes before Moses is he, you know, it says the Lord, the Lord, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love.

Like, Of all the things God would introduce himself as he doesn't introduce himself as I am sovereign You are little you are weak, you know, like that's not who God is. He introduces himself in relation to us He loves us so deeply His compassion is limitless compassion looks like I am going to actually become a person and give up my power and [00:26:00] my Sovereign to come and be in earth Like on earth with you and experience life with you.

Like that's what compassion looks like for God. And to, to shift that perspective made all the difference for me to be able to say, Oh, that's how God sees me. Oh, he's, he's not, you know, trying to punish me by not allowing me to have what I want. He is holding me through this and saying, I have a better plan.

I'm working for your good. I'm on your side. You just have to hold on for this part. And I'm holding. You with, with me through this part and to, to change that perspective. I mean, it, it made such a difference for me. And as I've become a mom, which, you know, thank, thank God that happened. Um, and it doesn't happen for everybody for whatever reason.

And I know that that can still be a really hard thing. I don't want to dismiss that at all, but, um, becoming a mom has helped me to see like, oh, I still love my kids when they mess up. I still love my kid, you know, like it's, I have compassion on them and that's how I'm learning [00:27:00] to see that God Sees me and that's still the process because, you know, letting go of kind of those old beliefs can be hard, but, um, that has really changed my perspective a lot.

And that gives me, um, helps me to be compassionate with myself, helps me to step back in those moments where I'm like, Ooh, like I really want that thing. And just to step back and say, okay. God's doing something, you know, even to have that perspective of this may not have happened if if my life had gone a different direction.

So all of that. Absolutely.

Jacqueline: I love that. For the woman, Jen, who is listening, who is in a waiting season, what advice would you share with her? So, like, what have been, I guess, some of the greatest, um, Insights or learnings that you experienced in those seasons of waiting that you know, you otherwise wouldn't have ever experienced

Jenn: Yeah, I think, um, you know, going back to who God is starting with that, who is God? Who is he really? And who have I believed him to be? Let's try to make make those two align. [00:28:00] Who do I believe God to be? And who, you know, what do I know of him start there? Um, go into the scriptures, read his promises, um, read the Bible as God's story of getting to us and being with us.

Um, when you see it that way, it changes so much. And then, uh, from there, identify yourself as God identifies you, as, you know, people. loved, chosen, uh, part of his family. He wants you to be part of his family. He'll do anything to be with you. All of those things. When you shift that perspective, you're coming from so much more of a stronger place so that when you do, um, kind of deal with those waiting feelings, or when you deal with the feelings of jealousy, which are real, you come from this place of, but I know who I am and I know who God is.

And. I can hold on even in these times because of that. Um, I know for me something that has been really helpful practically is just finding my own spiritual rhythms and patterns that I hold to. [00:29:00] This year in particular, I'm trying to before I do any social media, especially before I do any, you know, email checking or news checking or all of that.

I'm leaving my phone on the side. I'm trying to pray. I'm trying to move my body and I'm trying to Um have stillness with God and read at least a scripture. Um, as a mom, I feel like every day looks different in my, 

my times with God, but at least a scripture, like, let me get one. Um, but just to do all of that before I even.

deal with anything else, um, that has been really helpful for me. And I think, um, just those kind of small spiritual practices, um, getting out for a walk. Um, my prayer times look different all the time. Sometimes I do contemplative prayer. Sometimes I, um, I've done like labyrinth prayers where you kind of follow a maze and it helps me to just kind of be focused and be present with God.

Um, I try to pray throughout my day. You know, those kind of [00:30:00] patterns and those things that you hold to, even when things are hard, um, that's been really helpful for me. Um, I read the scripture, um, Hosea 10 12, uh, recently, and then yesterday it was on the YouVersion Bible app, and it's, um, talks about sow, sow righteousness for 

Jacqueline: yourself.

Jenn: Um, basically like plant righteousness for yourself. Uh, reap the fruit of God's love or reap the fruit of love, faithful love, and, um, basically keep doing these things, um, break up new ground, keep doing all of these things until you reap, uh, God's righteousness. And to me that translated to keep doing the, the faithful things that you know are right.

Um, keep seeing God's love in your life and then you will see the results of that. There's goodness is going to come from that spiritual fruit will come from that. Um, but we, all we can do sometimes is just make the decision to keep obeying and keep doing what we know what's right. Um, And keep drawing near to God, even when [00:31:00] things are hard.

Um, and I think it's also really important to do that in the off seasons, even when you're not waiting for something, even when things are good, you're like, no, I need these spiritual practices because I know those times are going to come back. I know, you know, that's just life. Um, so if you can hold the, to those things on and off season, that is really important too.

Jacqueline: It's so funny because, again, you know, as humans, for the most part, we only really draw near to God like when we are in seasons of suffering or when we don't understand what's going on and when we're approaching God to ask for something for what we want. Yeah. And, you know, I can look back, I've said this before, but I could look back at All the valleys in my life that I experienced, but I realized that God was always there with me, right?

He never left and those were the times where I felt closest to him So even if I am feeling discouraged or I am feeling, you know, something didn't go quite as I wanted it to I recognize that He is still there. He is still with me and he is still in control And you mentioned to I love the the labyrinth prayers I didn't realize that was like I'm gonna [00:32:00] actually start considering You Or trying to do that because one thing I struggle with 2Gen, I feel like I always have this idea of I want to read through the Bible A to Z in chronological order.

And I feel like I never, yeah, and I always attempt to start doing that and I never actually follow through. Um, but I feel like my prayers can also be like that where I have a sense of structure of I want to do my devotional and then I want to pray about X, Y, and Z prayer requests, but it doesn't end up ever being like that.

So, for someone out there who, again, you know, wants that daily quiet time with God, wants to really immerse themselves in Scripture, but they're just so overwhelmed with where to even start. What, what would you, what would you recommend that they, they start with?

Jenn: Yeah, I, I mean, I think it's really, really important to know that your time with God does not have to look the same every day. Um, you can be creative, you can do things a little bit differently. Um, I know if you're starting to read your Bible and you don't know where to start, I know for me, um, It's always helpful [00:33:00] to kind of start with Jesus because he's, he's kind of the point of the story is, you know, um, that God came to earth as a person to live among us and, uh, just how, how he lived his life, what was important to him.

All of those things I think are really important.

Jacqueline: Right,

Jenn: I think starting in Genesis is good, but it's really hard. You get to a point where it's like, wow, this is a lot of names of people that I don't know, and I don't even know how to pronounce half of them. So, um, if you're looking to start, that's a good place.

If you're looking to kind of grow your discipleship, um, the, I feel like the epistles are a really good place. Paul's, uh, letters, especially Philippians, uh, Ephesians. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians. Um, those are really good places to start as well. Um, I think if you're looking to get into more spiritual practices, I think there's just this wealth of information online.

I like to, to try new things and, and practice them. Labyrinth prayers, for example. [00:34:00] I, uh, did, I just was Google searching it and I found this website where it'll tell you where labyrinths are near you. And I found four or five and I was like, Oh, 

okay. And I went, I found this. Um, this church that had like this, this worksheet of like, this is what you do.

You pray before you go in and you just walk and kind of focus on whatever you feel like is coming to mind and you spend that time with God. And it just was, it was such a precious time to me. I've been two or three times now where I just go and I, I walk out. I don't know what I'm going to pray about sometimes.

And I just, I walk and I feel, um, just this incredible. presence and peace when I do it, um, because it's so focused. There's nothing else going on around me. I'm just focused on following this little path and it's, it's enough to make me feel, um, feel peace and feel close to God. Um, but there's so many different practices out there.

There are so many things. Um, I think if you're just starting praying and you don't know what to say, just say whatever comes to mind. You can journal your prayers.

Jacqueline: was just going to say that, [00:35:00] Jen, prayer of those 

Jenn: things. that's a new practice I started. So I'm sure you've heard of Stephanie Mae Wilson.

Yes, I have. Yeah,

Jacqueline: Stephanie. Yeah, I love Stephanie and she has these incredible prayer journals and I started actually Being more diligent in writing in them every single day and I love it I love it so much because I think it's just a great opportunity to get Obviously everything that's in your mind out on paper.

It helps you think You know, you see more clearly, and then also I think it's fun to look back and look at your prayer requests from months, years ago, not that I've been doing it that long, but just to see how God, God's worked, you know, I think that's a really cool thing.

Jenn: well, and I, I just feel like God wired us each differently to be able to respond to him differently. So maybe you love writing your prayers and that's something that makes you feel close to God. Maybe a prayer walk will be better. Will be

what 

somebody else needs like try things, you know, like try different ways of connecting with god Maybe you love to sing and you prayer worship and and that's something that you love or praying through the [00:36:00] psalms I mean, there's so many different things that you can try and and do what feels Let's you feel close to God.

I think that's, that's the most important thing rather than following, like, I have to do things this way. I prescribed path.

Jacqueline: Yeah. Do you know what's so funny, Jen? The other morning, so I, I do love prayer walks and I, I go out on my morning, this morning I didn't. Um, I had a late night last night, so I didn't miss my prayer walk this morning, but, um, it's funny because when I, when I do go in the mornings, I talk out loud, like when I'm praying, like I don't, I don't use, I always talk out loud to God so I can also hear my voice.

Um, and it's funny cause people will be looking at me and I won't have like ear pods, like air pods or

Jenn: Who's she talking

Jacqueline: is she talking to? And I'm just like, good morning. And I like keep talking.

Jenn: That's amazing.

Jacqueline: That's one of my favorite practices.

Jenn: Yeah. I love that. I, I getting outside and walking is. Gosh, like that's, it makes me feel so connected to God. I can see him in nature. I, I feel so, yeah, I love that. I'm definitely, definitely a nature person, definitely a contemplative person. There's this [00:37:00] great book called, um, Sacred Rhythms.

No, is it called Sacred Rhythms? Now I can't remember. No, that's not, that is a great book, but it's a different book. What is

Jacqueline: Okay. You have to Oh man, I'll have to send it to you. But it's basically about like, what is your personality and connecting with God? And, um, everybody kind of has a different one. And, um, That's how we're made.

Jenn: Like we're all designed differently, but God loves to connect to us on our level. And so that's an encouraging thought to me as well as like. God's like you don't have to do like what what feels like the right thing to do connect with me the way you want To connect with me, which I think is amazing

Jacqueline: I love that. Jen, you are just an incredible person and I'm so glad we finally got a chance to just chat. This is going to be the first of a few, because again, you write about so many awesome topics. I love your Instagram with that. Where can listeners find you on socials? Where can they pick up a copy of your books?

Jenn: I am I am at jen schultz author that's two n's and s [00:38:00] c h u l t z Um everywhere on uh, I spend a lot of time on instagram and threads, uh, to be honest, whatever Oh, thank you. I love friends. Friends is like ongoing conversation and whatever's going on in my brain. So it's the perfect fit for me. So that's, that's where I hang out.

Um, a lot of my Instagram posts just go to Facebook. So if you're more on Facebook, I'm sorry. Like that's just, it's kind of my, my Instagram posts, but if that's what you enjoy, that's totally cool. Um, I'm Jen Schultz author. com. I have, my book is on Pretty much wherever you look for books, christianbook.

com, Amazon. And, um, I'm also writing on Substack now, which is, uh, I'm, it's kind of getting back to blogging again, uh, but it's, it's been a place where I've gone a little bit deeper and it's, it's a little, it's a lot more in my messy faith journey. And so if that's of interest, you can find me there. It's called the Revivalist.

Jacqueline: I love that. I love that. I will be linking all of those in the show notes, Jen. Um, my very [00:39:00] last question for you is, what does being well and strong mean to you?

Jenn: It means. Being well and strong in all the areas. I think everything is connected. Our hearts and our minds and our souls and our spirits. All of those things are important. And I think when I am feeling my most well and most strong is when I'm taking care of all of those elements. I'm not sacrificing one at the expense of another.

I'm not, um, Yeah, letting my boundaries go wild, uh, just so I can focus on one thing. I'm, I'm, I'm practicing wellness physically and practicing wellness spiritually, mentally. And, uh, so when, when all of those things, even if they're not perfectly balanced or I'm not doing everything just right, um, I, I notice a difference when I'm taking care of all of those elements and taking care of me.

So 

Jacqueline: Couldn't I hope Jen. Love it. Nope. Perfect answer. Well, Jen, this has been so much fun. Again, I'm so glad I finally got to see your [00:40:00] beautiful face, but this is going to be the first of many and yeah, I'm excited to share this with listeners and I'll let you know when it goes live.

Jenn: Sounds good. Thank you so much for having me. It was great to chat with you.


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Jacqueline Genova

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