Awaken Delight: Embracing Delight in God Even When Life Feels Heavy | with Erica Wiggenhorn

Stephanie welcomes her dear friend Erica Wiggenhorn for a transparent, encouraging conversation about what it means to delight in God. Drawing from personal experiences, Scripture, and practical examples, they explore how all believers can experience and sustain joy in the Lord—even through difficult seasons.

Listen here: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/410505/link/ 

Ready to awaken your delight in God through "Awaken Delight" the book? Purchase it here: https://a.co/d/0625K1AZ 

Stephanie, when pondering this conversation, took away these key points to remember:

• Delight is not limited to profound spiritual moments; it can be awakened in ordinary, beautiful encounters with God’s world.
• Delight is sometimes borrowed from others, shared through community, creativity, and kindness to oneself during dry seasons.
• God uses even our hardest experiences as a foundation for authentic delight and hope, especially as we support each other.
• Getting the Word into us daily is not just a duty—it’s the ongoing source of delight and transformation.
• Delight is rooted not in our performance but in Christ’s finished work and the Father’s unchanging love.

Listen here: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/410505/link/

Watch the conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice 

Here’s more from this conversation:

Delighting in God doesn’t require deep theological expertise or perfection. Instead, it’s woven into everyday life and accessible to everyone. Erica describes experiences from her childhood at the beach—watching children squeal with joy as they run into the waves, or observing baby whales playing for the first time—highlighting how witnessing God’s creation leads her heart to delight in Him.

Life isn’t always easy. Erica is honest about facing times when delight in God seems distant—whether due to discouragement, struggles, or the pressures of daily life. She insists it’s a common, human experience and gives listeners permission to acknowledge seasons where faith feels routine or strained. She offers three practical helps for regaining delight:

• Music – Worship songs often “tear down the walls” of her heart and renew her connection with God.
• Movement – Getting outside and moving, especially in sunshine, lifts her spirit.
• Community – Sharing experiences with others, and especially seeing God through the delight in someone else’s eyes, reignites her own joy.

Erica shares personally about parenting wayward children and organizing resources for others in similar struggles. She teaches that as we surrender our pain to God, He uses it for deeper purpose—serving others and discovering fresh delight through His redeeming work. Community and expectancy in God’s goodness anchor us during heartbreak. For more details about the MOMentum conference, see below.

Scripture is the chief wellspring of delight. We get to know God, experience His love, and gain new joy through His Word. Erica encourages varied approaches—listening to the Bible, studying alone or with others, or combining the Word with creative activities. The important thing is to absorb Scripture in the way that fits how God has wired you.

In Isaiah 61:10, God dresses us in garments of salvation as a beloved bride. Erica reminds listeners that while we may struggle with shame or self-critique, God sees us beautifully in Christ. We don’t earn His delight; we receive it as a gift by simply approaching Him.

If you struggle to believe God delights in you, print a picture of a radiant bride and declare, “This is me in the eyes of my King.” Ask Him for faith to accept His joy over you.

MORE ABOUT THE MOMENTUM CONFERENCE, JANUARY 29-31 2027, PHOENIX, AZ

Your child is going their own way, in a direction you would never choose, leading to disruption and separation in your relationship.

But what if you found a new pathway for connection, where you could both move forward, together?

The Momentum Conference provides a safe place to rest, remember you’re not alone and receive tools and perspective empowering you to stand strong in faith and pursue healthy connection with your child.

God is for you, for your family — and together we can cling to His promises and find hope.

Details and tickets at https://ericawiggenhorn.com/momentum/

What is the Momentum Conference?

Momentum is a Friday night through Sunday morning getaway with a balance of biblical teaching, practical help, group connection and time to pursue individual rest.

The weekend schedule has been designed to lavish love, impart resources and provide hope to moms who are walking a hard road with their teens, young adult, or adult children.

Freedom to pursue preferential activities provided by the resort promises a time of rejuvenation as well as a mental, emotional and spiritual reset.