Surviving Toxic Relationships Podcast with The Matadoras · Elizabeth Jane and Deana Lynn

Episode #90: What Is Discernment? Faith-Based Relationship Wisdom for Mothers Raising Daughters (And Every Christian Woman)

·24 min·1 clip

Prayer alone is not enough; the hosts say parents must pray, ask for truth, and then act.

1. Surviving Toxic Relationships Podcast with The Matadoras centers Episode #90 on discernment, mothers raising daughters, and Christian relationship wisdom. 2. Lizzie and Dina are the hosts, and they connect their new book Love with Eyes Wide Open to their own marriages and parenting experience. 3. The episode asks what discernment is for: teaching daughters to recognize red flags, hear God’s voice, and walk away from manipulation. 4. The opening claim is that “discernment is protection,” especially when discomfort, pressure, secrecy, control, and disrespect show up. 5. The hosts say parents should monitor where children are, who they are with, and what influences surround them. 6. Dina says a daughter does not need a perfect mom, only a “discerning” one who seeks answers in God’s presence. 7. She describes growing up without much parental discernment and says two grown married men tried to make a move on her when she was about 12 or 13. 8. Dina says she felt terrified, shame, and guilt at the time, but did not know what to do with those feelings. 9. Lizzie defines discernment as seeing what is true beneath the surface and asking whether something is aligned with truth and peace. 10. She says discernment grows through observations over time and through prayer, Scripture, and spiritual sensitivity. 11. The hosts connect discernment to the church by warning about “wolves in sheep’s clothing” and people who use Scripture to manipulate. 12. Lizzie says some people can talk about the Lord and still be different “behind closed doors.” 13. Dina says her ex-husband could cry and talk about God, but that did not match his private behavior. 14. The hosts argue that mothers must know their children’s friends, families, and leaders, whether at school, church, or campgrounds. 15. They also stress that a strong relationship with a child matters, especially before the teenage years, because teenagers often resist parenting and withhold what is happening. 16. One of the strongest warnings comes from a story about a 17-year-old girl who said her mother prayed with her but did not act when her father behaved inappropriately. 17. The hosts say prayer matters, but it must be paired with discernment, questions, boundaries, and action. 18. The tone is conversational and instructional, with pauses for questions and repeated examples from the hosts’ own lives. 19. Listeners who want faith-based parenting guidance and relationship boundaries will get the most from this. 20. Listeners wanting light entertainment or a casual chat should probably skip it.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Surviving Toxic Relationships Podcast with The Matadoras