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Dr. Jessica Peck: We live in a culture saturated with stories
And welcome to the Dr. Nurse Mama show prescribing Hope for healthy families here on American Family Radio. Here's your host, professor, pediatric nurse practitioner and mom of four, Dr. Jessica Peck.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, hey there friends. Welcome to my favorite time of day, being able to spend time with you prescribing Hope for Healthy Families. How are we hanging in there? Getting. Can you believe that we are almost halfway through January now? It feels like we blinked and we have had a jumpstart into 2026. At least that's the way that I feel. And we're here to really help you think about this year intentionally at we're in January. The whole year of 2026 is a blank slate. And even maybe if you're already starting to fall off some of those new year resolutions that you made, that's okay. There is of plenty, plenty of time for fresh starts. And the good news is God's word promises us that his mercies are new every single morning. So every morning is a great chance to start over. And as I'm thinking about this year already, I feel like we are just in living in a culture that is saturated with stories. We live in a pretty story obsessed culture. Stories about who we are, what will make us whole, where peace and joy found. What are stories of all overcoming stories of surviving against all odds. We hear these stories everywhere and these stories really give us subtle and sometimes not so subtle messages. If you can be a self made man or woman, you'll be secure. If you take control, that's how you'll find your peace. If you protect yourself at all costs, you'll, you'll finally be free or follow your heart. All of these messages that are good sounding on the surface but that are really contrary to, to God's word because scripture tells the best story ever told and gives us a very different story. And the truth of us is if you think, oh, I'm not being impacted by culture, that is really not true. We are always being impacted by culture. Even when we try to protect ourselves, we are always being formed by what we love. What we watch, what we see, what we practice, what we believe, what we think, what we listen to. And if you are not intentionally seeking to be discipled by Jesus, you will be passively discipled, with or without your knowledge or consent, by the culture around you. That is just a, real truth. You can't even go to the grocery store without hearing music playing. You can't go anywhere in this screen saturated world without being inundated with messages, many of them marketing messages, telling them how to fix whatever it is that you're discontent with, which all often culture makes you discontent in the first place. So if that is you, if you're thinking, okay, I feel that then today's guest is going to help us all name those competing narratives and show us how to resist them. How do we resist those cultural narratives? Not by withdrawing from the world, living in a bunker, although that can be tempting sometimes, but really being formed more deeply by Christ.
Elizabeth Woodson is a Bible teacher and author of Habits of resistance
My guest today is Elizabeth Woodson. She's a Bible teacher and an author who is part of passionate about equipping believers to understand the rich theological truths of scripture and more than that to connect them practically to your everyday life. She's a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary with a master's degree in Christian education and she's a contributing author to World on Fire and the author of Live free, Embrace your life. Her newest book which I have here today, Habits of resistance. Seven ways you're being formed by culture and gospel practices to help you push back. That's what we are talking about about today and it is releasing February 3rd. You can pre order now. She regularly teaches with Lifeway Women Academy. Elizabeth, I am so glad that you are here and I'm really looking forward to our conversation.
Elizabeth Woodson: Thanks for having me.
Elizabeth came to faith as a kid at the Felt Board VBS presentation
Dr. Jessica Peck: Well Elizabeth, let's really talk about just your story. I would love for you just to introduce yourself to our listeners, tell them a little bit about your background, how you came to know the Lord and how he put this message on, on your heart.
Elizabeth Woodson: Yeah, I was blessed to grow up in a Christian family. And so my parents married for 40 years. Wonderful Christian people taught me what it looks like to follow Jesus between the Sundays. And so I came to faith as a kid at the Felt Board VBS presentation and the Lord just did a work in my life from that moment I really showed me what it looks like to live out the gospel. And so like many folks I learned that in some hard ways and running after things that were not for my good, things I thought would fulfill me, that didn't. And so all of that led me to ministry in the local church. Kind of the overflow of my own experience and for many years, serving in discipleship ministry, walking alongside people, holding space for their pain, but also showing them through the scriptures. This is what it looks like for us to live with the Lord. And so I think about the work I do, it really is from that place, seeing where people are at and trying to connect them back to what is true, what is eternal, and that is the way of Jesus.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, I have to give a shout out to the felt board. My listeners know I love me a felt board. I think that in this world of technological overload, sometimes it's the simple things. And I just love to take a moment anytime I hear about that to thank those workers. It's usually the sweet little older ladies. I don't mean any disrespect towards age, but it is those faithful people who are sitting there just telling the gospel stories with something as simple as felt. So I have to give that a shout out. And, you know, this is, this is a topic that is really relevant, Elizabeth, when we're talking about cultural narratives that are. And false gospels and being formed by culture, this is happening. Where did you see this? When did you realize this? Was it gradual? Was there a specific moment when you had this awakening to realize these cultural false gospels are really profoundly shaping us often without even realizing it?
Elizabeth Woodson: I think is two things. One, you. I reached a moment in my own life where I was just really tired, right? I exist in a space where I have to show up on social media and create content and try to engage people. Like, why do I feel so tired? Maybe, Elizabeth, because you were listening to all the people that tell you have to do all these things to be super productive and strive in order to get to where you need to go. And so just saw so much of my time in a place where I'm trying to achieve, things that maybe I don't need to achieve, that I've had my value in places that it shouldn't be. But then I look around at the folks online, my fellow friends, and just people that I minister to and just other Christians across the country. I'm like, why does the common section get so filled with vitriol? why are we so concerned about comparison? And we have homes full of things. Why do we have an increase in mental illness, of anxiety and depression? I do believe in counseling, I believe in medicine. But I also see something happening that maybe there's something we need to pay attention to as connected to our activities, particularly on social media. And so I think all of those things mix together my own life and my own struggles, but also the struggles I saw people are having made me want to pay attention more and try to lean in and see how is this connected to discipleship and what it means for us to be formed in the way of Jesus.
Dr. Jessica Peck: I, I really couldn't agree with you more. When I look at social media, you see all of those comments section and then it's just this real shift and how we even interact with each other, how we depersonalize people, we dehumanize people, we say things online we would never say in person, and we're looking for interactions online like we would never do in person. If you translate some of those online behaviors to in person, it's just weird, honestly, in a lot of ways. But we've normalized those kinds of interactions online and through, it all. I think the heart of it all is people are seeking connection. And just as you said, they're seeking validation. And even when we're well intentioned, that can go quickly awry. When you are navigating those turbulent waters of social media where the creators of that are not for our good, they are not creating with the intent of, oh, let's help them thrive. They're thinking, what can we sell? That's their job.
You talk a lot in your book about the false stories that disciple us
And you talk a lot in, in the book about the false stories that disciple us. What do you mean by that? What is a false story? And why are, why are we so prone to want to believe these and grasp onto them like they're true?
Elizabeth Woodson: I think about a false story. I think about a narrative. We're narrative people. So that's why we love movies and TV shows. usually the good ones get us to the place where we don't want to be, to the place we want to be. So I think about every false story. Every story has a heaven and a hell and a savior that's going to get you from one side to another. And so we're all looking for the good life. We're looking for what is going to fill our life with joy and hope and peace and significance and value. And so we see options all the time that say, hey, if you have these things in your home, you will have the good life. If you look this certain way, you will have the good life. If you have this particular type of relationship, you will have the good life. But sometimes we have to ask questions. Is it really taking us to a place that's connected with who God calls us to? Be as his people in this world. And really it's. Do we reflect the way of Jesus? Is our hope in him or in something else for us to experience? This is the word I love to use, Shalom. It's wholeness and delight and goodness. It's the world as it ought to be. And is our desire for that rooted in Christ, or is it rooted in something else? And I think those false stories tell us we can get all of those things without Jesus.
Dr. Jessica Peck: That is very true. So give us. Can you give us a specific example, some more examples of what would be those false stories? Because I can just feel listeners thinking, okay, I feel like I am susceptible to this, but how do I recognize it? How do I see it? How do I be more intentional about paying attention to that?
Elizabeth Woodson: I think one thing that is really common for a lot of people is a desire for peace. Life can feel very chaotic. And so when we look for peace, the false story that we will be given is we find peace through control. So if I can control my situation. So one easy way we try to do that is we love a deep dive on the Internet. We want to go to Google and try to find all the answers for our problem. And sometimes those answers may not be the best, but the. Having that information gives us a sense of security. But what we, didn't do before the deep dive is we didn't pray, we didn't ask God for wisdom. We didn't read our scriptures because we went out on our own to try to accomplish something that God says, you need to start with me first. And so I think it's really subtle, but it's a. Comes from a good desire. I want peace. I want to feel stability about what's happening in the world. But our desire, our. Our pathway to achieve that is by us doing something and not relying on the sovereignty of God, his power, his. His ability to control all things, and that we rest in that. and so to me, it's. All of them are connected to what we will do for ourselves and not where we go to God for those things first.
Dr. Jessica Peck: That's a great example. And I, I read some statistics, and these are just rough estimates from my memory, but it was something around 85% of people, when they have a problem, any sort of problem, they'll go to an Internet search, and only 15% will go to a trusted friend. And it was even lower than that. Those who seek a spiritual source first. And when we don't have prayer going to God, as natural as the breath that we Breathe. It's so easy and so tempting to seek control. And that makes so much sen, how you said it. Whether you're looking up about a relationship problem that you're having or a financial problem, or even a logistical organization in your home problem. You know, there's so many things that we can try to solve on our own. And there are ways that God has equipped us to enact, you know, to act for our good. But without that first instinct of going to God, we're going to get counterfeit peace. I feel like a lot of times and there's a tension between the story that culture is telling us and the story that God is telling for us. Where do you see us trying to navigate that tension? Trying to, yes, we want to put God first in all of things, but I also have to go to the grocery store and I also have to navigate all of these real life things that I have. Where do we, where should we be trying to rest in that tension?
Elizabeth Woodson: I think that resting in attention comes by acknowledging our limitations. There's only so much information we can gather and information doesn't equate into wisdom. and so living in that kind of gap requires us to trust God. And trusting God sometimes is uncomfortable, sometimes it's hard. And I think that is a place in which Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit meets us and gives us the strength we need. But I think it's that place that we don't like sitting in because we don't want to be limited in that way. We want to have all of the information so we can feel secure. But it is, I can only do so much and I have to trust God to do the rest.
Dr. Jessica Peck: I think that's one of the hardest things because we're told so much about. So given so many messages in culture about self help and here's how to help yourself. And when we look at the self help industry, I mean we're talking about a multibillion dollar industry and so much of it is really a lie. There is, there is some, there are some things in there that are helpful. But to basically say you have everything you need to solve all of your problems and achieve all of your potential, it's so hollow. And I think the key points here, Elizabeth, are that if we're not intentional about seeking out discipleship, if we are not walking with the Lord every day, if we are not regularly going to church, listening to good Bible based preaching, then we're going to be formed by culture more than we think think that we are. And good intentions aren't enough. But when we come back, we'll talk more about seven false gospels that compete with the Gospel of Jesus. And Elizabeth will help us to name those lies that culture is feeding us. And if you're not intentional about resisting, identifying and resisting those false stories that are given to you, you won't stay neutral. You'll be formed by it. But we have hope and help on the way. More with Elizabeth Woodson on habits of resistance coming up.
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Big God by Terrian: Yeah, yeah. With foes on my left and fears on my right they think that I'm, all by myself in this fight but they do not know the infinite size of the God who is by my side hey, on the fire but my Goliath standing in the shadow of the Almighty I ain't lying Testify, man I'm talking about a big God Big God when trouble comes around the way Only remedy for big odds is a big God Ain't nobody gonna shake my faith no, I'm not afraid Throw my hands up and praise for the times that he pulled me through I'm counting on a big God that they can't.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Stop He's a big God welcome back, friends. That is big God by Terrian Isn't that great news today? Listen, I know there's a lot of you out there facing big things. You're looking out at 20, 26 and thinking, oh, these are the trials that I have before me. These are the things that I'm struggling with. These are the things I don't know what's going to happen. Maybe you have some fears, maybe you have some anticipations, but we do serve a big God. And your questions are never too big for him. Your problems are never too big for him.
Elizabeth Woodson writes about the problem of being formed by culture
And today we're talking about the problem of being formed by culture. And I was just speaking with our guest, behind the scenes, Elizabeth Woodson. And I was telling her how concerned I am about the rise of screen saturation and how many families are just streaming things in silos and even toddlers are watching things on their own. Maybe it's a married couple who's sitting in bed at night streaming different things on their phone. And these views, these videos, these, these worldviews that are being presented to you are forming you. They're forming your thoughts, your emotions, your opinions about the world. And more importantly, I think they are one of the biggest thieves of time. They are taking away time where you could think about those problems that you have and take those to the Lord where you could be spending time praying about it, seeking wise godly counsel, expressing gratitude for the things that have gone right in your life, which is one of the biggest mental health boosters there are so much. So we call it vitamin G. And we're talking about Elizabeth's books today. How do we resist that? And her book is called Habits of Resistance. Seven ways you're being formed by culture and gospel practices to help you push back. And Elizabeth was just telling me, she didn't want to just say here's the problem. She wanted to offer a solution, a gospel centric solution. So Elizabeth, in this book you identify seven false gospels. And you've already talked about peace through control, but there are so many others. Identity through achievement, love through selfishness, justice through vengeance, joy through overconsumption, hope through escapism, or a good life through unhindered autonomy. So much to unpack there. What do you think is the biggest lie that people believe? Where do you want to go first?
Elizabeth Woodson: I think one, because I think I just feel it right now is hope through escapism is that we have this. Maybe it's fear, maybe it's being unsettled about things that we see happening in our world right now. And, and we will find ourselves on our couch, in the car, on the bed, like you said, with our spouse. And we're just scrolling and we're scrolling and we're scrolling in Three hours disappear, you wonder where the time is went. But it's distraction. And distraction keeps us from navigating what's really going on and thinking about it and sitting in the things. And also distraction deceives us to believe that if I just don't pay attention to it, it kind of goes away. The reality is it doesn't. And so I think with all of these, some of the things that I see is people are seeing the fruit of, practicing the ways of the culture instead of the ways of Christ. And so our inability to have a steadiness, if anyone should have hope in the world, disbelievers. We have hope because we know that the story is a new beginning when Christ returns, that he is where true peace and joy and love and all the things we desire is found. But if we're not meditating on that, we are not reflecting on that, we are not celebrating that with our people in our community. That will go to the back of our minds. And what will be at the front of our minds are our distraction habits and our denial habits, which aren't strong enough to give us true hope.
Dr. Jessica Peck: You definitely see this playing out because of the statistics and the money being made on streaming platforms. How much money can be made by content creators, by streaming video or companies, that are streaming content constantly encouraging binge watching? And you're right, you know, you don't think about it. You think, oh, nobody sits down and thinks, okay, I'm just going to scroll on my phone for three hours. They think, oh, I'm just going to scroll for a few minutes. But it is amazing how much time that can consume. And I heard a statistic that this generation of kids who's being born now will die with more of other people's memories, living other people's lives vicariously through them than living their own. And that has really stuck with me. The other thing I see, Elizabeth, bearing that out, the truth of what you're saying in escapism is the, the hunger for experiences and how travel is up and how hotels are even changing, how they are catering to customers. Because it used to be, you know, the, the main thing in a hotel would be a bar in the lobby, but now people want experiences. They rock climbing wall, they want an excursion, something like that. And we're looking to escape the problems of this world. How, how do we resist that? What, what is what? Where's the starting place to resist that and not try to find just temporary hope there, but eternal hope in the.
Elizabeth Woodson: Gospel, I think the first thing is we need to turn down the noise. it's so easy to turn on our phones and to turn on the TV or to run it out and have all of these wonderful excursions and experiences. But we're not asking ourselves, what am I running away from? When you send the silence, those things come to the surface pretty quickly. And so I just encourage people turn down all the noise and get in silence with the Lord, even if you have to kind of get in your car because you have a house full of kiddos. But then the other thing is to go to the word that what we find hope in is a truth of who God is and what he has already done. We serve a God who keeps his promises, and the more familiar we are with his truth, the more that changes our lives. That's why you see in scripture God reminding Israel to rehearse the truth of scripture over and over again, because he knew they were forgetful people. And we are forgetful people. But the power of celebration, the power of gratitude, I think you called it vitamin G. I did. Does something for us. But you only get that when you're sitting with the Lord and with His Word and not the words of everybody else. And that might feel like work a little bit, because we have stronger muscles sometimes from running from our situation than sitting in it with the Lord.
Dr. Jessica Peck: That is so true. And it does feel like work at first. That was certainly my experience. But then what I found is that God is so gracious. He blesses such small steps of obedience. And the more that you do it, it starts to feel less like work and more like a lifeline, like oxygen, like you can't live without it. You don't know how to function without that mindset. And that's where we need to be. And another L that culture tells that you talk about in the book that I want to talk about here is love through selfishness. Now, I see this narrative everywhere, and I'd love to talk about it. Can you explain what you see here? And. And where's the lie in that?
Elizabeth Woodson: I think when I talk think about love, it's both in romantic relationships, so dating and marriage, but also in friendship. And so we desire companionship. We. Loneliness is a significant issue for our moment, but the information we consume when it talks about what should I look for? Who should I be when it comes to the love I receive? All talks about what you should get. so I hear people talk about, well, I cut this person off because I need to protect my peace. they became toxic because they were just giving you constructive criticism to help you grow because that made you feel uncomfortable. You decide to do something out of a place of selfishness and not being in a place of how can this person help me be a better version of myself? Which sometimes is difficult and work. We're more concerned about what we can get than what we can give. And the scriptures are interesting. The love that Jesus talks about is self sacrificial. Something happens when you show up to give love, that in doing that I believe you do receive. But the starting place for us is what we see modeled through our Savior, which is to be people who are giving and that builds the relationships we want. But what you're going to get on social media is not telling you what you should give. It is telling you what you should get. And we have an over focus on that.
Dr. Jessica Peck: We really do. There's a balance there because there are some relationships that do need boundaries. But I see people going too quickly to that. And that's another thing, Elizabeth, I see being shaped by social media because when you don't have in person interactions, it's easy to ghost someone, to unfriend them, to just not follow them on their network. We just cut people out of our lives when things get uncomfortable. And that really goes back to even what you were talking about with hope through escapism. And when we are not having these relationships, we're seeing the rise of AI companions start to try to replace human connection. And what I see with those is that the AI companion is programmed to make you happy, to be the best companion it can be. It's not, it's not programmed to give you hard truths and to work through conflict. And I see increasingly, you know, working in pediatrics generations who are very conflict averse, conflict, avoidant conflict, fearful, any conflict, they're like, oh, I don't want to deal with that. And we don't have those interpersonal skills. And, and when we think about what Scripture tells us about love, love is patient, love is kind, love does not boast. We think about from First Corinthians 13 those things, those are certainly in stark contrast to what the world is telling us love is. How do we recognize when we're falling for, that twist that's not true, that false gospel of what the world says love is. And how do we turn back toward the biblical vision of love?
Elizabeth Woodson: I think again for me the starting point is slowing down, right? We have these knee jerk reactions. This particular situation has happened in a friendship or marriage or dating relationship. And so my response is to cast aside. My response is to ghost. My response is to paint a picture of this person, where they're not for my good. And it's, let me take this to what scripture says, let me take this to in prayer to the Holy Spirit, Let me take this to a wise friend who can give me wisdom. Because maybe what this person is giving me is exactly the truth that I need and they are for my good. But when we respond what I would say, in a fleshly response instead of, godly discernment, I think we can make decisions that center love around who we are and not what we're called to be for others.
Dr. Jessica Peck: It's so true. And in relationships as Christians, as believers, we're called to help call each other to holiness, not to happiness. And that I think is a big mix up that we get. We think, okay, this, this relationship is not making me happy. Well, sometimes it's God doing refining work in you in that moment. And there's so many things that I can look back on my life, Elizabeth, thinking, oh, I would prefer not to have these events happen, not to have these interact with people. But I can see how God used it in a way that was for my good and more importantly, for his glory. And sometimes it's just so hard for us that, that goes back to what you were saying about control. We want control of the narrative. And another place that I see people really wanting control and that you talk about in your book is believing the lie, that justice occurs through vengeance. How are you saying this one play out?
Elizabeth Woodson: Yeah, I see this play out in interpersonal relationships. And so justice happens on a big level. But also people wrong us, they do things to hurt us and wound us. And we tend not to want to walk in the place of forgiveness. We want to cut people off. we want them to experience the fullness of the consequences. Because if we're honest, we really like that. We like forgiveness. This idea of we're being wronged by someone, they, they've incurred a debt against us. And we like it when people owe us. We don't like it having to set them free from that debt. But for the believer, that just shows we've forgotten our story. We've forgotten that we are people that have received grace and redemption from God. We are so undeserving. And so the culture will say anything that someone does is worthy of cutting them off. But what the, what the scriptures say is that we ought to be people of forgiveness and reconciliation because we ourselves have been forgiven.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Those are such tough Truths just easier said than done. But again, Elizabeth, I think the key to all of this is, like you said, slowing down, going to God's word first and foremost, making that a habit. And here on the show we do 52 habits for healthy Families where we talk about stackable habits that are really just essentially spiritual disciplines. Everyone wants a magic, something that's going to instantly make them a disciple. But the process of sanctification is so messy and it can be slow and it's looping and it's back and forth and it's up and down and it can be feel like a roller coaster sometimes. But there is nothing that is going to replace those simple disciplines, starting with prayer and reading God's words. A spoiler alert. That's what we're talking about this week on Friday when we talk about our habits is reading God's word and one of the other, lies that you talk about that this is probably going to really step on some toes, but we'll go for it anyway. Is joy through over consumption. Now this, this is going to hurt because this is a very American thing to do. How, how is that a lie?
Elizabeth Woodson: We believe that if we have more, it'll make us happy. And so we buy stuff from TikTok shops, we have Amazon boxes that stay on our doorstep. We have kitchen remodels and clothes and makeup and everything we can consume. Even highlighters for your Bible study. the world just shows that the more it is, the better it is. But the reality is it wears off. Anyone who has children and it's Christmas Day and your children get gifts and they're playing with them for a little while and then a couple days or a couple weeks pass and those gifts are in the corner somewhere, it is worn off and they're looking for something new. The same is true for us. And I think we like it's a shiny object. It distracts us from a joy that is stable, a joy that is eternal because we're always just looking for the next thing. And what's hard is it's always in front of us. And so one of the things we have to do is step away from the screen, step away from the inputs to be reminded of where true joy can be found.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, I did warn everyone we're going to step on your toes. And that joy is fleeting because it may feel good when you hit order, but when the box shows up and then, not speaking from experience at all, Elizabeth, but your husband starts to see boxes stack up on the ring camera and it's like, what have you done? The joy is fleeting, I will tell you that. But we are helping our listeners as well. Yesterday we had a guest, Kathi Lipp, on who we are doing a series called the Declutter Diaries and we're really talking about the spiritual impacts of having so much clutter in our lives. And so if you are thinking, okay, I am over consuming, take a listen to that series and we will help you to declutter your home and your heart. And on the other side of this break, we are going to talk about being formed by a better story. We're going to talk about what Elizabeth said. She loves to talk about shalom. How do we find true peace in a world that seems so chaotic that it seems just absolutely impossible to find peace? We'll take talk about how you can do that. When we come back. We'll be talking about Habits of Resistance with Elizabeth Woodson. We'll see you on the other side of this break. The AFR app is a powerful tool, but it does have limitations. You can't use it to change the oil in your vehicle or get rid of carpet stains. It won't walk the dog, won't pick up the dry cleaning or take the kids to practice. But while you're doing those things, you can listen to your favorite AFR content through the app on your phone, smart device or Roku. Just go to your app store or visit afr.net Listen to AFR wherever you go with the AFR app, whether it's.
I'm so blessed by CAIN: Your best day, your worst day, some Tuesday or your birthday, every day's a good day. Now let me tell you why. If you got air in your lungs. You got blood in your body. You are a child of God. Come on and sing it, somebody. On my best day I'm a child of God. On my worst day I'm a child of God. This heartbeat in my chest. No, it doesn't matter about the rest if I got you, Lord, I'm still singing it again.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Welcome back, friends. That is I'm so Blessed by CAIN And let me tell you, that is a song that my kids all laugh and look at each other when it comes on because they know mama's going to have a praise party on that song. It is so true though we are so blessed. If you've got a, a heartbeat in your chest, there is always something to be grateful for. Always. And I tell myself that all the time. We talked earlier in the show about vitamin G. God gives us, so many commands, commands to give thanks so many ways so many circumstances, so many reasons to give thanks. And that's because God knows how he designed our bodies. And if you are looking around and feeling like your circumstances are overwhelming, this is what my son will do. He will come up to me and he'll give me. Now he doesn't even have to say it. He just gives me the eyebrow. And I'm like, oh, no, no, no, not right now. Yes, right now, Mom. Give me three things you're thankful for, and I'll tell you if I'm really sincere about that. By the third thing, I feel my blood pressure coming down. I feel my heart rate coming down. I feel my outlook increasing.
Elizabeth Woodson has written a book called Habits of Resistance
There is always something to be grateful for, and today I am grateful for Elizabeth Woodson. She has written a book called Habits of Resistance. Seven ways you're being formed by culture and gospel practices to help you push back. And what I was talking to Elizabeth about during the break is that this is such a timely message. For now. We kind of tend to latch onto those messages, those threats that everybody agrees on. Like, we want to talk about things like human trafficking, which are really important and we will be talking about this month, or you want to talk about, you know, the drug crisis or other things. But. But it is those subtle, sneaky things that come into our lives that seem good on the surface that are stealing our time, that are stealing our joy. And false gospels aren't necessarily rejecting Jesus by strategy. It's replacing him with something else in your life, making something else more important, more timely, more prioritized. And cultural lies often sound very Christian adjacent. And it's kind of. Kind of like. It's one of my, I really have a pet peeve when, when scriptures are misattributed or misquoted or only partially quoted and, and thinking like, that things like cultural messages, like God helps those, who helps them, who help themselves. That's not in the Bible, actually, exactly like that. But awareness is the beginning of resistance. And we. You can't live faithfully in God's story if you are unknowingly reading the script that the world is just giving you.
Elizabeth: What keeps us from experiencing the peace that God has designed for us to have?
So, Elizabeth, in this, in our last minutes together, we're going to offer hope and practices and a vision for wholeness. And I want you to talk about shalom and about God being the ultimate source of peace. What keeps us from experiencing the peace that God has designed for us to have?
Elizabeth Woodson: I think reality is shalom is something that God created. We see it in the very beginning. I love Genesis and I love revelation. Maybe, for reasons where people may not expect, because it shows us the world as it was intended to be, and revelation shows us the world as it will be, and we will live. In Shalom, you have these bookends to the entire story of Scripture. That God created a world for us as his creation. It's his image bearers to have perfect peace, love, joy, hope, strength, no need for justice, because there wouldn't be any wrongdoing. And what he does through Christ is to restore what sin has broken. And he will restore it in full when Christ returns. And so I think about shalom as it is wholeness and delight. It is everything as it ought to be. And we can only get it when we are connected to the One who created it. And that's the thing about the false gospel. They cause us to drift. And they tell us, you can find these things and you do not need Jesus. You do not need the way that was presented for you in the scriptures. You can find it on your own. And every time you leave the path, you are led into what I think is maybe a literal or figurative gutter where you have fallen into a place that does not provide what it's promised. And that's everything. what I, what I love about the way of Jesus is it's not only true, it's better. It is better than anything else the world could provide, because it alone gives us what we were created to desire and long for. Is like there's this missing puzzle piece, and we're trying to use pieces that don't fit. The only one that fits is the one that was created by the One who created us.
You outline in your book seven habits of resistance essential to discipleship
Dr. Jessica Peck: You know, you talked about this, concept of drift, and it really resonates with me because if we imagine ourselves in a boat, in the stream of culture, if you can just imagine in your mind that you're in a boat, we're paddling upstream. That takes effort, that takes intention. And if you stop paddling, you start drifting. And, it's just going to happen. But you outline in your book seven habits of resistance. Resisting that cultural drift, resisting that drift away from God. And those habits are prayer, gathering, service, confession and forgiveness, fasting, meditation, and a rule of life. Why are these habits so essential to our discipleship journey?
Elizabeth Woodson: There are things that we can do both individually and corporately in small ways and big ways, to remind us of the truth of scripture. That we don't just learn these verses, we don't memorize them in our minds. Our actions in our everyday life are connected to them. We live out the truth we believe. And again, we're just a forgetful people. And so these things create a muscle memory so that the way we live, we stay on the path, we don't drift, because we learn to see the false gospels for what they are. We learn to identify, oh, that's a cheap counterfeit. That's not going to really work. Those Amazon boxes, it's great to get things like, I'm not saying you should shop at all.
Dr. Jessica Peck: My husband already is like, yes, but.
Elizabeth Woodson: They have a limitation. I think that's what it trains us to see, is that you genuinely fall in love with God and that you believe that life with him is better than anything else. And we get that when we pray and we speak in conversation to God, we get a deep sense of identity when we show up to church and are, loved unconditionally by people that we get to live in community with. On our good days and our bad days, they stick with us. We don't have to earn that space. That, space is freely given to us. You think about confession and forgiveness, but as we remind ourselves of our own sin, we show up as more graceful people because we need the same grace that we are called to give. And then a rule of life says, this thing is not going to happen unintentionally. You don't accidentally grow in your faith in the same intention we give to everything else. We create a plan, and we live out that plan with the grace that comes from the Holy Spirit. But all of these things change how we think. They change how we feel. They change what we love, they change our actions. And so all of that will line up with the only true way of shalom, which is Jesus.
We don't often feel very attracted to confession and forgiveness
Dr. Jessica Peck: Elizabeth, let's go back to that confession and forgiveness, because I think in some of the others, they're like, people know they need to pray, they need to go to church, they need to serve. We don't often feel very attracted to confession and forgiveness. When we pray, we think, okay, well, they need forgiveness. And that person certainly needs some forgiveness in their life. And God binge my enemies and God, I need this and God, this, this person sick. But we don't often go to God first with true confession and, and forgiveness for ourselves. What do you see as that being a superpower, really, in resisting culture?
Elizabeth Woodson: It keeps our heart soft. I think culture wants us to easily dehumanize people, wants us to cancel. Culture is really real and very strong that people are deemed no longer to be worthy of a career. people's personal information will be leaked Online, their home address, they will get death threats, horrible emails. All of this because we have decided that their social crime is not worth redemption. When you confess to a friend, to God, you're reminded that, ah, oh, I too am imperfect. Oh, I too mess up, or I too had a bad day and I need grace. And the more you are intimately acquainted with your need for grace, the more you will give it because you remember that I too need the same thing. And so I just think it's really powerful. But when we don't do it, it hardens us. And I think that, that, that we can see that in our culture today.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, let's talk about the role that community and accountability play in all of this. Because one thing that we see is that Bible sales are soaring. We see people buying Bibles more than they have in any recent history. And we see curiosity about Christianity. But we see a lot of solo engagement online where some people, maybe their only interaction spiritually is following a Christian influencer or content creator or looking at services online. What does, what is the. Where's the power in community and accountability and helping us to resist the lies that culture is feeding us and instead reject those and find hope in the. And the gospel that God has given us?
Elizabeth Woodson: Community and accountability? I think so. Multiple purposes. One, you can't live out the Christian faith on your own. even when you think about the New Testament and the commands we have to love one another, to serve one another, all the one another is, they're plural. and so for us to really be the people of God, it's a corporate activity. But the community helps provide a mirror to you. I like to say everybody thinks they're a great roommate until they actually get a roommate. You realize that maybe you have some inner secrecies you didn't realize. You need someone to be a mirror to you, to show you the opportunities you have to grow in the Lord. You need someone to help you practice the things you believe. So to practice service, to practice forgiveness, to practice that conflict resolution, that the people of God should know how to resolve conflict because we're able to lean into those hard and tough spaces. you also need people to link arms with. I think about in scripture, Moses and Eryn and her in a situation when he couldn't hold his arms up on his own, he needed help. And sometimes when faith feels really hard, when life is heavy, I say you need to piggyback on some other folks. Faith you the saints to come around you and hold your arms up to help you remember that Jesus is In fact, better. Who he says he is is who he is, and he will show up in your life. But you can't get that when you're on your own. And sometimes you can't get that even through a screen. We're an embodied people. There's something about showing up in live and living color with people that changes how you live your faith. And so it's so key, and I think it's something that we are missing in many people's faith journey today.
Dr. Jessica Peck: My pastor invites radical accountability in his life
Dr. Jessica Peck: That accountability piece is key. And, you know, my pastor invites radical accountability in his life. And the first time that he was sharing about how he holds himself accountable as a pastor, honestly, Elizabeth, I thought, oh, there are hardly any people in the world who would do this. There are elders who have access to every financial transaction that he makes because he wants to have nothing hidden and to be completely accountable. There are, elders who have access to his passwords on social media, to his phone. He just. And of course, you know, anybody can always, I know there's always. When I say this, there's a degree of skepticism, like people can get around that. But it. But that's. That's a pretty cynical way to look at it. But thinking about that kind of accountability is something that. That we don't like. We don't want somebody to call us out. We don't want somebody to tell us what to do. What does it look like to intentionally invite that kind of accountability? Because that's not something that you can just have on your own. You have to take intentional steps and be vulnerable enough to, to invite it in.
Elizabeth Woodson: I think this is one of the beauties of really engaging in a local church community. And so whether it's a ministry that you're serving with, it's a small group that you're a part of as you're building relationships with people, that you're asking the Holy Spirit to show you someone who can be that type of friend. Now, I will say not everyone is built to be an accountability partner for you. you need someone who can speak grace with love and truth. Speak truth with love and grace. but that you would ask that person to kind of join you and, hey, can I share about what's going on in my life? Can you? Maybe there's a sin habit that you are trying to work through, and you give this person freedom to ask you, how's it going? Where have you been? What have you been looking at? All the things that might relate to what you're struggling with. You give this person the freedom to speak in and that you would feel the freedom to be honest. And I think as we see those interactions be full of grace and not acceptance. As if, what you did was okay. But I'm not going to reject you because maybe you had a bad day, maybe you did something you didn't want to. I'm going to pray for you. I'm going to help brainstorm some ways that you can have boundaries in your life and point you back to the way of Jesus. but it's small steps with a trusted person who's proven to have the spiritual maturity to help you in that way.
Dr. Jessica Peck: It's so true. And that's one of the habits that we've adopted in our family as a measure of accountability is just text tech transparency. So all of the computers are out in a public area. There is no, you know, private use of a computer. Anybody can walk by at any time. You know, we all have passwords to each other's phones and that kind of tech transparency. Knowing that, hey, my kids can open my phone anytime and look at what I'm looking at. It's just good little small measures of accountability that help you to resist culture. Well, Elizabeth, I thank you so much for joining us today. I thank you for writing this book, bringing us, bringing us this message of habits of resistance. Seven ways you're being formed by culture and gospel practices to help you push back. It is releasing soon. You can pre order now. And I thank you for reminding us us that spiritual formation really requires structure. It's not enough just to be sincere. You've got to be intentional in taking steps to do that. But habits will reshape your desires over time.
Join us on Fridays to talk about 52 Habits for Healthy families
I invite you once again to join us on Fridays where we talk about 52 Habits for Healthy families. We are just getting started in 2026. We have only talked about one habit so far and that is the habit of praying. And I pray that the Lord will bless you and keep you and make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. This Friday, we'll be talking about reading and memorizing scripture. This was absolutely transformational for me as I know it is for anyone who invests in the word of God. And I pray that you will find shalom. you're not going to accidentally experience you can be intentional about running after Jesus and I pray that you would feel blessed today. I'll see you right back here tomorrow. We'd like to thank our sponsors, including preborn. Preborn has rescued over 400,000 babies from abortion and every day their network clinics rescue 200 babies lives. Will you join PreBorn in loving and supporting young moms in crisis? Save a life today. Go to preborn.com/AFR the views and.
Jeff Chamblee: Opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
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Dr. Jessica Peck: We live in a culture saturated with stories
And welcome to the Dr. Nurse Mama show prescribing Hope for healthy families here on American Family Radio. Here's your host, professor, pediatric nurse practitioner and mom of four, Dr. Jessica Peck.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, hey there friends. Welcome to my favorite time of day, being able to spend time with you prescribing Hope for Healthy Families. How are we hanging in there? Getting. Can you believe that we are almost halfway through January now? It feels like we blinked and we have had a jumpstart into 2026. At least that's the way that I feel. And we're here to really help you think about this year intentionally at we're in January. The whole year of 2026 is a blank slate. And even maybe if you're already starting to fall off some of those new year resolutions that you made, that's okay. There is of plenty, plenty of time for fresh starts. And the good news is God's word promises us that his mercies are new every single morning. So every morning is a great chance to start over. And as I'm thinking about this year already, I feel like we are just in living in a culture that is saturated with stories. We live in a pretty story obsessed culture. Stories about who we are, what will make us whole, where peace and joy found. What are stories of all overcoming stories of surviving against all odds. We hear these stories everywhere and these stories really give us subtle and sometimes not so subtle messages. If you can be a self made man or woman, you'll be secure. If you take control, that's how you'll find your peace. If you protect yourself at all costs, you'll, you'll finally be free or follow your heart. All of these messages that are good sounding on the surface but that are really contrary to, to God's word because scripture tells the best story ever told and gives us a very different story. And the truth of us is if you think, oh, I'm not being impacted by culture, that is really not true. We are always being impacted by culture. Even when we try to protect ourselves, we are always being formed by what we love. What we watch, what we see, what we practice, what we believe, what we think, what we listen to. And if you are not intentionally seeking to be discipled by Jesus, you will be passively discipled, with or without your knowledge or consent, by the culture around you. That is just a, real truth. You can't even go to the grocery store without hearing music playing. You can't go anywhere in this screen saturated world without being inundated with messages, many of them marketing messages, telling them how to fix whatever it is that you're discontent with, which all often culture makes you discontent in the first place. So if that is you, if you're thinking, okay, I feel that then today's guest is going to help us all name those competing narratives and show us how to resist them. How do we resist those cultural narratives? Not by withdrawing from the world, living in a bunker, although that can be tempting sometimes, but really being formed more deeply by Christ.
Elizabeth Woodson is a Bible teacher and author of Habits of resistance
My guest today is Elizabeth Woodson. She's a Bible teacher and an author who is part of passionate about equipping believers to understand the rich theological truths of scripture and more than that to connect them practically to your everyday life. She's a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary with a master's degree in Christian education and she's a contributing author to World on Fire and the author of Live free, Embrace your life. Her newest book which I have here today, Habits of resistance. Seven ways you're being formed by culture and gospel practices to help you push back. That's what we are talking about about today and it is releasing February 3rd. You can pre order now. She regularly teaches with Lifeway Women Academy. Elizabeth, I am so glad that you are here and I'm really looking forward to our conversation.
Elizabeth Woodson: Thanks for having me.
Elizabeth came to faith as a kid at the Felt Board VBS presentation
Dr. Jessica Peck: Well Elizabeth, let's really talk about just your story. I would love for you just to introduce yourself to our listeners, tell them a little bit about your background, how you came to know the Lord and how he put this message on, on your heart.
Elizabeth Woodson: Yeah, I was blessed to grow up in a Christian family. And so my parents married for 40 years. Wonderful Christian people taught me what it looks like to follow Jesus between the Sundays. And so I came to faith as a kid at the Felt Board VBS presentation and the Lord just did a work in my life from that moment I really showed me what it looks like to live out the gospel. And so like many folks I learned that in some hard ways and running after things that were not for my good, things I thought would fulfill me, that didn't. And so all of that led me to ministry in the local church. Kind of the overflow of my own experience and for many years, serving in discipleship ministry, walking alongside people, holding space for their pain, but also showing them through the scriptures. This is what it looks like for us to live with the Lord. And so I think about the work I do, it really is from that place, seeing where people are at and trying to connect them back to what is true, what is eternal, and that is the way of Jesus.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, I have to give a shout out to the felt board. My listeners know I love me a felt board. I think that in this world of technological overload, sometimes it's the simple things. And I just love to take a moment anytime I hear about that to thank those workers. It's usually the sweet little older ladies. I don't mean any disrespect towards age, but it is those faithful people who are sitting there just telling the gospel stories with something as simple as felt. So I have to give that a shout out. And, you know, this is, this is a topic that is really relevant, Elizabeth, when we're talking about cultural narratives that are. And false gospels and being formed by culture, this is happening. Where did you see this? When did you realize this? Was it gradual? Was there a specific moment when you had this awakening to realize these cultural false gospels are really profoundly shaping us often without even realizing it?
Elizabeth Woodson: I think is two things. One, you. I reached a moment in my own life where I was just really tired, right? I exist in a space where I have to show up on social media and create content and try to engage people. Like, why do I feel so tired? Maybe, Elizabeth, because you were listening to all the people that tell you have to do all these things to be super productive and strive in order to get to where you need to go. And so just saw so much of my time in a place where I'm trying to achieve, things that maybe I don't need to achieve, that I've had my value in places that it shouldn't be. But then I look around at the folks online, my fellow friends, and just people that I minister to and just other Christians across the country. I'm like, why does the common section get so filled with vitriol? why are we so concerned about comparison? And we have homes full of things. Why do we have an increase in mental illness, of anxiety and depression? I do believe in counseling, I believe in medicine. But I also see something happening that maybe there's something we need to pay attention to as connected to our activities, particularly on social media. And so I think all of those things mix together my own life and my own struggles, but also the struggles I saw people are having made me want to pay attention more and try to lean in and see how is this connected to discipleship and what it means for us to be formed in the way of Jesus.
Dr. Jessica Peck: I, I really couldn't agree with you more. When I look at social media, you see all of those comments section and then it's just this real shift and how we even interact with each other, how we depersonalize people, we dehumanize people, we say things online we would never say in person, and we're looking for interactions online like we would never do in person. If you translate some of those online behaviors to in person, it's just weird, honestly, in a lot of ways. But we've normalized those kinds of interactions online and through, it all. I think the heart of it all is people are seeking connection. And just as you said, they're seeking validation. And even when we're well intentioned, that can go quickly awry. When you are navigating those turbulent waters of social media where the creators of that are not for our good, they are not creating with the intent of, oh, let's help them thrive. They're thinking, what can we sell? That's their job.
You talk a lot in your book about the false stories that disciple us
And you talk a lot in, in the book about the false stories that disciple us. What do you mean by that? What is a false story? And why are, why are we so prone to want to believe these and grasp onto them like they're true?
Elizabeth Woodson: I think about a false story. I think about a narrative. We're narrative people. So that's why we love movies and TV shows. usually the good ones get us to the place where we don't want to be, to the place we want to be. So I think about every false story. Every story has a heaven and a hell and a savior that's going to get you from one side to another. And so we're all looking for the good life. We're looking for what is going to fill our life with joy and hope and peace and significance and value. And so we see options all the time that say, hey, if you have these things in your home, you will have the good life. If you look this certain way, you will have the good life. If you have this particular type of relationship, you will have the good life. But sometimes we have to ask questions. Is it really taking us to a place that's connected with who God calls us to? Be as his people in this world. And really it's. Do we reflect the way of Jesus? Is our hope in him or in something else for us to experience? This is the word I love to use, Shalom. It's wholeness and delight and goodness. It's the world as it ought to be. And is our desire for that rooted in Christ, or is it rooted in something else? And I think those false stories tell us we can get all of those things without Jesus.
Dr. Jessica Peck: That is very true. So give us. Can you give us a specific example, some more examples of what would be those false stories? Because I can just feel listeners thinking, okay, I feel like I am susceptible to this, but how do I recognize it? How do I see it? How do I be more intentional about paying attention to that?
Elizabeth Woodson: I think one thing that is really common for a lot of people is a desire for peace. Life can feel very chaotic. And so when we look for peace, the false story that we will be given is we find peace through control. So if I can control my situation. So one easy way we try to do that is we love a deep dive on the Internet. We want to go to Google and try to find all the answers for our problem. And sometimes those answers may not be the best, but the. Having that information gives us a sense of security. But what we, didn't do before the deep dive is we didn't pray, we didn't ask God for wisdom. We didn't read our scriptures because we went out on our own to try to accomplish something that God says, you need to start with me first. And so I think it's really subtle, but it's a. Comes from a good desire. I want peace. I want to feel stability about what's happening in the world. But our desire, our. Our pathway to achieve that is by us doing something and not relying on the sovereignty of God, his power, his. His ability to control all things, and that we rest in that. and so to me, it's. All of them are connected to what we will do for ourselves and not where we go to God for those things first.
Dr. Jessica Peck: That's a great example. And I, I read some statistics, and these are just rough estimates from my memory, but it was something around 85% of people, when they have a problem, any sort of problem, they'll go to an Internet search, and only 15% will go to a trusted friend. And it was even lower than that. Those who seek a spiritual source first. And when we don't have prayer going to God, as natural as the breath that we Breathe. It's so easy and so tempting to seek control. And that makes so much sen, how you said it. Whether you're looking up about a relationship problem that you're having or a financial problem, or even a logistical organization in your home problem. You know, there's so many things that we can try to solve on our own. And there are ways that God has equipped us to enact, you know, to act for our good. But without that first instinct of going to God, we're going to get counterfeit peace. I feel like a lot of times and there's a tension between the story that culture is telling us and the story that God is telling for us. Where do you see us trying to navigate that tension? Trying to, yes, we want to put God first in all of things, but I also have to go to the grocery store and I also have to navigate all of these real life things that I have. Where do we, where should we be trying to rest in that tension?
Elizabeth Woodson: I think that resting in attention comes by acknowledging our limitations. There's only so much information we can gather and information doesn't equate into wisdom. and so living in that kind of gap requires us to trust God. And trusting God sometimes is uncomfortable, sometimes it's hard. And I think that is a place in which Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit meets us and gives us the strength we need. But I think it's that place that we don't like sitting in because we don't want to be limited in that way. We want to have all of the information so we can feel secure. But it is, I can only do so much and I have to trust God to do the rest.
Dr. Jessica Peck: I think that's one of the hardest things because we're told so much about. So given so many messages in culture about self help and here's how to help yourself. And when we look at the self help industry, I mean we're talking about a multibillion dollar industry and so much of it is really a lie. There is, there is some, there are some things in there that are helpful. But to basically say you have everything you need to solve all of your problems and achieve all of your potential, it's so hollow. And I think the key points here, Elizabeth, are that if we're not intentional about seeking out discipleship, if we are not walking with the Lord every day, if we are not regularly going to church, listening to good Bible based preaching, then we're going to be formed by culture more than we think think that we are. And good intentions aren't enough. But when we come back, we'll talk more about seven false gospels that compete with the Gospel of Jesus. And Elizabeth will help us to name those lies that culture is feeding us. And if you're not intentional about resisting, identifying and resisting those false stories that are given to you, you won't stay neutral. You'll be formed by it. But we have hope and help on the way. More with Elizabeth Woodson on habits of resistance coming up.
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Big God by Terrian: Yeah, yeah. With foes on my left and fears on my right they think that I'm, all by myself in this fight but they do not know the infinite size of the God who is by my side hey, on the fire but my Goliath standing in the shadow of the Almighty I ain't lying Testify, man I'm talking about a big God Big God when trouble comes around the way Only remedy for big odds is a big God Ain't nobody gonna shake my faith no, I'm not afraid Throw my hands up and praise for the times that he pulled me through I'm counting on a big God that they can't.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Stop He's a big God welcome back, friends. That is big God by Terrian Isn't that great news today? Listen, I know there's a lot of you out there facing big things. You're looking out at 20, 26 and thinking, oh, these are the trials that I have before me. These are the things that I'm struggling with. These are the things I don't know what's going to happen. Maybe you have some fears, maybe you have some anticipations, but we do serve a big God. And your questions are never too big for him. Your problems are never too big for him.
Elizabeth Woodson writes about the problem of being formed by culture
And today we're talking about the problem of being formed by culture. And I was just speaking with our guest, behind the scenes, Elizabeth Woodson. And I was telling her how concerned I am about the rise of screen saturation and how many families are just streaming things in silos and even toddlers are watching things on their own. Maybe it's a married couple who's sitting in bed at night streaming different things on their phone. And these views, these videos, these, these worldviews that are being presented to you are forming you. They're forming your thoughts, your emotions, your opinions about the world. And more importantly, I think they are one of the biggest thieves of time. They are taking away time where you could think about those problems that you have and take those to the Lord where you could be spending time praying about it, seeking wise godly counsel, expressing gratitude for the things that have gone right in your life, which is one of the biggest mental health boosters there are so much. So we call it vitamin G. And we're talking about Elizabeth's books today. How do we resist that? And her book is called Habits of Resistance. Seven ways you're being formed by culture and gospel practices to help you push back. And Elizabeth was just telling me, she didn't want to just say here's the problem. She wanted to offer a solution, a gospel centric solution. So Elizabeth, in this book you identify seven false gospels. And you've already talked about peace through control, but there are so many others. Identity through achievement, love through selfishness, justice through vengeance, joy through overconsumption, hope through escapism, or a good life through unhindered autonomy. So much to unpack there. What do you think is the biggest lie that people believe? Where do you want to go first?
Elizabeth Woodson: I think one, because I think I just feel it right now is hope through escapism is that we have this. Maybe it's fear, maybe it's being unsettled about things that we see happening in our world right now. And, and we will find ourselves on our couch, in the car, on the bed, like you said, with our spouse. And we're just scrolling and we're scrolling and we're scrolling in Three hours disappear, you wonder where the time is went. But it's distraction. And distraction keeps us from navigating what's really going on and thinking about it and sitting in the things. And also distraction deceives us to believe that if I just don't pay attention to it, it kind of goes away. The reality is it doesn't. And so I think with all of these, some of the things that I see is people are seeing the fruit of, practicing the ways of the culture instead of the ways of Christ. And so our inability to have a steadiness, if anyone should have hope in the world, disbelievers. We have hope because we know that the story is a new beginning when Christ returns, that he is where true peace and joy and love and all the things we desire is found. But if we're not meditating on that, we are not reflecting on that, we are not celebrating that with our people in our community. That will go to the back of our minds. And what will be at the front of our minds are our distraction habits and our denial habits, which aren't strong enough to give us true hope.
Dr. Jessica Peck: You definitely see this playing out because of the statistics and the money being made on streaming platforms. How much money can be made by content creators, by streaming video or companies, that are streaming content constantly encouraging binge watching? And you're right, you know, you don't think about it. You think, oh, nobody sits down and thinks, okay, I'm just going to scroll on my phone for three hours. They think, oh, I'm just going to scroll for a few minutes. But it is amazing how much time that can consume. And I heard a statistic that this generation of kids who's being born now will die with more of other people's memories, living other people's lives vicariously through them than living their own. And that has really stuck with me. The other thing I see, Elizabeth, bearing that out, the truth of what you're saying in escapism is the, the hunger for experiences and how travel is up and how hotels are even changing, how they are catering to customers. Because it used to be, you know, the, the main thing in a hotel would be a bar in the lobby, but now people want experiences. They rock climbing wall, they want an excursion, something like that. And we're looking to escape the problems of this world. How, how do we resist that? What, what is what? Where's the starting place to resist that and not try to find just temporary hope there, but eternal hope in the.
Elizabeth Woodson: Gospel, I think the first thing is we need to turn down the noise. it's so easy to turn on our phones and to turn on the TV or to run it out and have all of these wonderful excursions and experiences. But we're not asking ourselves, what am I running away from? When you send the silence, those things come to the surface pretty quickly. And so I just encourage people turn down all the noise and get in silence with the Lord, even if you have to kind of get in your car because you have a house full of kiddos. But then the other thing is to go to the word that what we find hope in is a truth of who God is and what he has already done. We serve a God who keeps his promises, and the more familiar we are with his truth, the more that changes our lives. That's why you see in scripture God reminding Israel to rehearse the truth of scripture over and over again, because he knew they were forgetful people. And we are forgetful people. But the power of celebration, the power of gratitude, I think you called it vitamin G. I did. Does something for us. But you only get that when you're sitting with the Lord and with His Word and not the words of everybody else. And that might feel like work a little bit, because we have stronger muscles sometimes from running from our situation than sitting in it with the Lord.
Dr. Jessica Peck: That is so true. And it does feel like work at first. That was certainly my experience. But then what I found is that God is so gracious. He blesses such small steps of obedience. And the more that you do it, it starts to feel less like work and more like a lifeline, like oxygen, like you can't live without it. You don't know how to function without that mindset. And that's where we need to be. And another L that culture tells that you talk about in the book that I want to talk about here is love through selfishness. Now, I see this narrative everywhere, and I'd love to talk about it. Can you explain what you see here? And. And where's the lie in that?
Elizabeth Woodson: I think when I talk think about love, it's both in romantic relationships, so dating and marriage, but also in friendship. And so we desire companionship. We. Loneliness is a significant issue for our moment, but the information we consume when it talks about what should I look for? Who should I be when it comes to the love I receive? All talks about what you should get. so I hear people talk about, well, I cut this person off because I need to protect my peace. they became toxic because they were just giving you constructive criticism to help you grow because that made you feel uncomfortable. You decide to do something out of a place of selfishness and not being in a place of how can this person help me be a better version of myself? Which sometimes is difficult and work. We're more concerned about what we can get than what we can give. And the scriptures are interesting. The love that Jesus talks about is self sacrificial. Something happens when you show up to give love, that in doing that I believe you do receive. But the starting place for us is what we see modeled through our Savior, which is to be people who are giving and that builds the relationships we want. But what you're going to get on social media is not telling you what you should give. It is telling you what you should get. And we have an over focus on that.
Dr. Jessica Peck: We really do. There's a balance there because there are some relationships that do need boundaries. But I see people going too quickly to that. And that's another thing, Elizabeth, I see being shaped by social media because when you don't have in person interactions, it's easy to ghost someone, to unfriend them, to just not follow them on their network. We just cut people out of our lives when things get uncomfortable. And that really goes back to even what you were talking about with hope through escapism. And when we are not having these relationships, we're seeing the rise of AI companions start to try to replace human connection. And what I see with those is that the AI companion is programmed to make you happy, to be the best companion it can be. It's not, it's not programmed to give you hard truths and to work through conflict. And I see increasingly, you know, working in pediatrics generations who are very conflict averse, conflict, avoidant conflict, fearful, any conflict, they're like, oh, I don't want to deal with that. And we don't have those interpersonal skills. And, and when we think about what Scripture tells us about love, love is patient, love is kind, love does not boast. We think about from First Corinthians 13 those things, those are certainly in stark contrast to what the world is telling us love is. How do we recognize when we're falling for, that twist that's not true, that false gospel of what the world says love is. And how do we turn back toward the biblical vision of love?
Elizabeth Woodson: I think again for me the starting point is slowing down, right? We have these knee jerk reactions. This particular situation has happened in a friendship or marriage or dating relationship. And so my response is to cast aside. My response is to ghost. My response is to paint a picture of this person, where they're not for my good. And it's, let me take this to what scripture says, let me take this to in prayer to the Holy Spirit, Let me take this to a wise friend who can give me wisdom. Because maybe what this person is giving me is exactly the truth that I need and they are for my good. But when we respond what I would say, in a fleshly response instead of, godly discernment, I think we can make decisions that center love around who we are and not what we're called to be for others.
Dr. Jessica Peck: It's so true. And in relationships as Christians, as believers, we're called to help call each other to holiness, not to happiness. And that I think is a big mix up that we get. We think, okay, this, this relationship is not making me happy. Well, sometimes it's God doing refining work in you in that moment. And there's so many things that I can look back on my life, Elizabeth, thinking, oh, I would prefer not to have these events happen, not to have these interact with people. But I can see how God used it in a way that was for my good and more importantly, for his glory. And sometimes it's just so hard for us that, that goes back to what you were saying about control. We want control of the narrative. And another place that I see people really wanting control and that you talk about in your book is believing the lie, that justice occurs through vengeance. How are you saying this one play out?
Elizabeth Woodson: Yeah, I see this play out in interpersonal relationships. And so justice happens on a big level. But also people wrong us, they do things to hurt us and wound us. And we tend not to want to walk in the place of forgiveness. We want to cut people off. we want them to experience the fullness of the consequences. Because if we're honest, we really like that. We like forgiveness. This idea of we're being wronged by someone, they, they've incurred a debt against us. And we like it when people owe us. We don't like it having to set them free from that debt. But for the believer, that just shows we've forgotten our story. We've forgotten that we are people that have received grace and redemption from God. We are so undeserving. And so the culture will say anything that someone does is worthy of cutting them off. But what the, what the scriptures say is that we ought to be people of forgiveness and reconciliation because we ourselves have been forgiven.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Those are such tough Truths just easier said than done. But again, Elizabeth, I think the key to all of this is, like you said, slowing down, going to God's word first and foremost, making that a habit. And here on the show we do 52 habits for healthy Families where we talk about stackable habits that are really just essentially spiritual disciplines. Everyone wants a magic, something that's going to instantly make them a disciple. But the process of sanctification is so messy and it can be slow and it's looping and it's back and forth and it's up and down and it can be feel like a roller coaster sometimes. But there is nothing that is going to replace those simple disciplines, starting with prayer and reading God's words. A spoiler alert. That's what we're talking about this week on Friday when we talk about our habits is reading God's word and one of the other, lies that you talk about that this is probably going to really step on some toes, but we'll go for it anyway. Is joy through over consumption. Now this, this is going to hurt because this is a very American thing to do. How, how is that a lie?
Elizabeth Woodson: We believe that if we have more, it'll make us happy. And so we buy stuff from TikTok shops, we have Amazon boxes that stay on our doorstep. We have kitchen remodels and clothes and makeup and everything we can consume. Even highlighters for your Bible study. the world just shows that the more it is, the better it is. But the reality is it wears off. Anyone who has children and it's Christmas Day and your children get gifts and they're playing with them for a little while and then a couple days or a couple weeks pass and those gifts are in the corner somewhere, it is worn off and they're looking for something new. The same is true for us. And I think we like it's a shiny object. It distracts us from a joy that is stable, a joy that is eternal because we're always just looking for the next thing. And what's hard is it's always in front of us. And so one of the things we have to do is step away from the screen, step away from the inputs to be reminded of where true joy can be found.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, I did warn everyone we're going to step on your toes. And that joy is fleeting because it may feel good when you hit order, but when the box shows up and then, not speaking from experience at all, Elizabeth, but your husband starts to see boxes stack up on the ring camera and it's like, what have you done? The joy is fleeting, I will tell you that. But we are helping our listeners as well. Yesterday we had a guest, Kathi Lipp, on who we are doing a series called the Declutter Diaries and we're really talking about the spiritual impacts of having so much clutter in our lives. And so if you are thinking, okay, I am over consuming, take a listen to that series and we will help you to declutter your home and your heart. And on the other side of this break, we are going to talk about being formed by a better story. We're going to talk about what Elizabeth said. She loves to talk about shalom. How do we find true peace in a world that seems so chaotic that it seems just absolutely impossible to find peace? We'll take talk about how you can do that. When we come back. We'll be talking about Habits of Resistance with Elizabeth Woodson. We'll see you on the other side of this break. The AFR app is a powerful tool, but it does have limitations. You can't use it to change the oil in your vehicle or get rid of carpet stains. It won't walk the dog, won't pick up the dry cleaning or take the kids to practice. But while you're doing those things, you can listen to your favorite AFR content through the app on your phone, smart device or Roku. Just go to your app store or visit afr.net Listen to AFR wherever you go with the AFR app, whether it's.
I'm so blessed by CAIN: Your best day, your worst day, some Tuesday or your birthday, every day's a good day. Now let me tell you why. If you got air in your lungs. You got blood in your body. You are a child of God. Come on and sing it, somebody. On my best day I'm a child of God. On my worst day I'm a child of God. This heartbeat in my chest. No, it doesn't matter about the rest if I got you, Lord, I'm still singing it again.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Welcome back, friends. That is I'm so Blessed by CAIN And let me tell you, that is a song that my kids all laugh and look at each other when it comes on because they know mama's going to have a praise party on that song. It is so true though we are so blessed. If you've got a, a heartbeat in your chest, there is always something to be grateful for. Always. And I tell myself that all the time. We talked earlier in the show about vitamin G. God gives us, so many commands, commands to give thanks so many ways so many circumstances, so many reasons to give thanks. And that's because God knows how he designed our bodies. And if you are looking around and feeling like your circumstances are overwhelming, this is what my son will do. He will come up to me and he'll give me. Now he doesn't even have to say it. He just gives me the eyebrow. And I'm like, oh, no, no, no, not right now. Yes, right now, Mom. Give me three things you're thankful for, and I'll tell you if I'm really sincere about that. By the third thing, I feel my blood pressure coming down. I feel my heart rate coming down. I feel my outlook increasing.
Elizabeth Woodson has written a book called Habits of Resistance
There is always something to be grateful for, and today I am grateful for Elizabeth Woodson. She has written a book called Habits of Resistance. Seven ways you're being formed by culture and gospel practices to help you push back. And what I was talking to Elizabeth about during the break is that this is such a timely message. For now. We kind of tend to latch onto those messages, those threats that everybody agrees on. Like, we want to talk about things like human trafficking, which are really important and we will be talking about this month, or you want to talk about, you know, the drug crisis or other things. But. But it is those subtle, sneaky things that come into our lives that seem good on the surface that are stealing our time, that are stealing our joy. And false gospels aren't necessarily rejecting Jesus by strategy. It's replacing him with something else in your life, making something else more important, more timely, more prioritized. And cultural lies often sound very Christian adjacent. And it's kind of. Kind of like. It's one of my, I really have a pet peeve when, when scriptures are misattributed or misquoted or only partially quoted and, and thinking like, that things like cultural messages, like God helps those, who helps them, who help themselves. That's not in the Bible, actually, exactly like that. But awareness is the beginning of resistance. And we. You can't live faithfully in God's story if you are unknowingly reading the script that the world is just giving you.
Elizabeth: What keeps us from experiencing the peace that God has designed for us to have?
So, Elizabeth, in this, in our last minutes together, we're going to offer hope and practices and a vision for wholeness. And I want you to talk about shalom and about God being the ultimate source of peace. What keeps us from experiencing the peace that God has designed for us to have?
Elizabeth Woodson: I think reality is shalom is something that God created. We see it in the very beginning. I love Genesis and I love revelation. Maybe, for reasons where people may not expect, because it shows us the world as it was intended to be, and revelation shows us the world as it will be, and we will live. In Shalom, you have these bookends to the entire story of Scripture. That God created a world for us as his creation. It's his image bearers to have perfect peace, love, joy, hope, strength, no need for justice, because there wouldn't be any wrongdoing. And what he does through Christ is to restore what sin has broken. And he will restore it in full when Christ returns. And so I think about shalom as it is wholeness and delight. It is everything as it ought to be. And we can only get it when we are connected to the One who created it. And that's the thing about the false gospel. They cause us to drift. And they tell us, you can find these things and you do not need Jesus. You do not need the way that was presented for you in the scriptures. You can find it on your own. And every time you leave the path, you are led into what I think is maybe a literal or figurative gutter where you have fallen into a place that does not provide what it's promised. And that's everything. what I, what I love about the way of Jesus is it's not only true, it's better. It is better than anything else the world could provide, because it alone gives us what we were created to desire and long for. Is like there's this missing puzzle piece, and we're trying to use pieces that don't fit. The only one that fits is the one that was created by the One who created us.
You outline in your book seven habits of resistance essential to discipleship
Dr. Jessica Peck: You know, you talked about this, concept of drift, and it really resonates with me because if we imagine ourselves in a boat, in the stream of culture, if you can just imagine in your mind that you're in a boat, we're paddling upstream. That takes effort, that takes intention. And if you stop paddling, you start drifting. And, it's just going to happen. But you outline in your book seven habits of resistance. Resisting that cultural drift, resisting that drift away from God. And those habits are prayer, gathering, service, confession and forgiveness, fasting, meditation, and a rule of life. Why are these habits so essential to our discipleship journey?
Elizabeth Woodson: There are things that we can do both individually and corporately in small ways and big ways, to remind us of the truth of scripture. That we don't just learn these verses, we don't memorize them in our minds. Our actions in our everyday life are connected to them. We live out the truth we believe. And again, we're just a forgetful people. And so these things create a muscle memory so that the way we live, we stay on the path, we don't drift, because we learn to see the false gospels for what they are. We learn to identify, oh, that's a cheap counterfeit. That's not going to really work. Those Amazon boxes, it's great to get things like, I'm not saying you should shop at all.
Dr. Jessica Peck: My husband already is like, yes, but.
Elizabeth Woodson: They have a limitation. I think that's what it trains us to see, is that you genuinely fall in love with God and that you believe that life with him is better than anything else. And we get that when we pray and we speak in conversation to God, we get a deep sense of identity when we show up to church and are, loved unconditionally by people that we get to live in community with. On our good days and our bad days, they stick with us. We don't have to earn that space. That, space is freely given to us. You think about confession and forgiveness, but as we remind ourselves of our own sin, we show up as more graceful people because we need the same grace that we are called to give. And then a rule of life says, this thing is not going to happen unintentionally. You don't accidentally grow in your faith in the same intention we give to everything else. We create a plan, and we live out that plan with the grace that comes from the Holy Spirit. But all of these things change how we think. They change how we feel. They change what we love, they change our actions. And so all of that will line up with the only true way of shalom, which is Jesus.
We don't often feel very attracted to confession and forgiveness
Dr. Jessica Peck: Elizabeth, let's go back to that confession and forgiveness, because I think in some of the others, they're like, people know they need to pray, they need to go to church, they need to serve. We don't often feel very attracted to confession and forgiveness. When we pray, we think, okay, well, they need forgiveness. And that person certainly needs some forgiveness in their life. And God binge my enemies and God, I need this and God, this, this person sick. But we don't often go to God first with true confession and, and forgiveness for ourselves. What do you see as that being a superpower, really, in resisting culture?
Elizabeth Woodson: It keeps our heart soft. I think culture wants us to easily dehumanize people, wants us to cancel. Culture is really real and very strong that people are deemed no longer to be worthy of a career. people's personal information will be leaked Online, their home address, they will get death threats, horrible emails. All of this because we have decided that their social crime is not worth redemption. When you confess to a friend, to God, you're reminded that, ah, oh, I too am imperfect. Oh, I too mess up, or I too had a bad day and I need grace. And the more you are intimately acquainted with your need for grace, the more you will give it because you remember that I too need the same thing. And so I just think it's really powerful. But when we don't do it, it hardens us. And I think that, that, that we can see that in our culture today.
Dr. Jessica Peck: Well, let's talk about the role that community and accountability play in all of this. Because one thing that we see is that Bible sales are soaring. We see people buying Bibles more than they have in any recent history. And we see curiosity about Christianity. But we see a lot of solo engagement online where some people, maybe their only interaction spiritually is following a Christian influencer or content creator or looking at services online. What does, what is the. Where's the power in community and accountability and helping us to resist the lies that culture is feeding us and instead reject those and find hope in the. And the gospel that God has given us?
Elizabeth Woodson: Community and accountability? I think so. Multiple purposes. One, you can't live out the Christian faith on your own. even when you think about the New Testament and the commands we have to love one another, to serve one another, all the one another is, they're plural. and so for us to really be the people of God, it's a corporate activity. But the community helps provide a mirror to you. I like to say everybody thinks they're a great roommate until they actually get a roommate. You realize that maybe you have some inner secrecies you didn't realize. You need someone to be a mirror to you, to show you the opportunities you have to grow in the Lord. You need someone to help you practice the things you believe. So to practice service, to practice forgiveness, to practice that conflict resolution, that the people of God should know how to resolve conflict because we're able to lean into those hard and tough spaces. you also need people to link arms with. I think about in scripture, Moses and Eryn and her in a situation when he couldn't hold his arms up on his own, he needed help. And sometimes when faith feels really hard, when life is heavy, I say you need to piggyback on some other folks. Faith you the saints to come around you and hold your arms up to help you remember that Jesus is In fact, better. Who he says he is is who he is, and he will show up in your life. But you can't get that when you're on your own. And sometimes you can't get that even through a screen. We're an embodied people. There's something about showing up in live and living color with people that changes how you live your faith. And so it's so key, and I think it's something that we are missing in many people's faith journey today.
Dr. Jessica Peck: My pastor invites radical accountability in his life
Dr. Jessica Peck: That accountability piece is key. And, you know, my pastor invites radical accountability in his life. And the first time that he was sharing about how he holds himself accountable as a pastor, honestly, Elizabeth, I thought, oh, there are hardly any people in the world who would do this. There are elders who have access to every financial transaction that he makes because he wants to have nothing hidden and to be completely accountable. There are, elders who have access to his passwords on social media, to his phone. He just. And of course, you know, anybody can always, I know there's always. When I say this, there's a degree of skepticism, like people can get around that. But it. But that's. That's a pretty cynical way to look at it. But thinking about that kind of accountability is something that. That we don't like. We don't want somebody to call us out. We don't want somebody to tell us what to do. What does it look like to intentionally invite that kind of accountability? Because that's not something that you can just have on your own. You have to take intentional steps and be vulnerable enough to, to invite it in.
Elizabeth Woodson: I think this is one of the beauties of really engaging in a local church community. And so whether it's a ministry that you're serving with, it's a small group that you're a part of as you're building relationships with people, that you're asking the Holy Spirit to show you someone who can be that type of friend. Now, I will say not everyone is built to be an accountability partner for you. you need someone who can speak grace with love and truth. Speak truth with love and grace. but that you would ask that person to kind of join you and, hey, can I share about what's going on in my life? Can you? Maybe there's a sin habit that you are trying to work through, and you give this person freedom to ask you, how's it going? Where have you been? What have you been looking at? All the things that might relate to what you're struggling with. You give this person the freedom to speak in and that you would feel the freedom to be honest. And I think as we see those interactions be full of grace and not acceptance. As if, what you did was okay. But I'm not going to reject you because maybe you had a bad day, maybe you did something you didn't want to. I'm going to pray for you. I'm going to help brainstorm some ways that you can have boundaries in your life and point you back to the way of Jesus. but it's small steps with a trusted person who's proven to have the spiritual maturity to help you in that way.
Dr. Jessica Peck: It's so true. And that's one of the habits that we've adopted in our family as a measure of accountability is just text tech transparency. So all of the computers are out in a public area. There is no, you know, private use of a computer. Anybody can walk by at any time. You know, we all have passwords to each other's phones and that kind of tech transparency. Knowing that, hey, my kids can open my phone anytime and look at what I'm looking at. It's just good little small measures of accountability that help you to resist culture. Well, Elizabeth, I thank you so much for joining us today. I thank you for writing this book, bringing us, bringing us this message of habits of resistance. Seven ways you're being formed by culture and gospel practices to help you push back. It is releasing soon. You can pre order now. And I thank you for reminding us us that spiritual formation really requires structure. It's not enough just to be sincere. You've got to be intentional in taking steps to do that. But habits will reshape your desires over time.
Join us on Fridays to talk about 52 Habits for Healthy families
I invite you once again to join us on Fridays where we talk about 52 Habits for Healthy families. We are just getting started in 2026. We have only talked about one habit so far and that is the habit of praying. And I pray that the Lord will bless you and keep you and make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. This Friday, we'll be talking about reading and memorizing scripture. This was absolutely transformational for me as I know it is for anyone who invests in the word of God. And I pray that you will find shalom. you're not going to accidentally experience you can be intentional about running after Jesus and I pray that you would feel blessed today. I'll see you right back here tomorrow. We'd like to thank our sponsors, including preborn. Preborn has rescued over 400,000 babies from abortion and every day their network clinics rescue 200 babies lives. Will you join PreBorn in loving and supporting young moms in crisis? Save a life today. Go to preborn.com/AFR the views and.
Jeff Chamblee: Opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
Elizabeth Woodson, author and Bible teacher, joins Jessica to discuss gospel-centered strategies for resisting the influence of worldly values.
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