BONUS Q&A: Real Talk About Mean Girls, Toxic Friends & Caring What People Think

What is up my summer squad! Tell me, are you lounging at the pool right now or sipping on your Starbucks, Summer Skies refresher? Wherever you are, I wish I were right there with you! 

OK anyway… letʼs get straight to the point of todayʼs bonus episode, shall we? Maybe youʼre asking why the bonus episode? 

Well babe, because yʼall have been HOT AND HEAVY with all the questions lately. And I am LOVING it. And I want to HONOR IT. 

So today, we’re returning to the very reason FR, Let’s Talk came to life—to answer your burning questions. That’s the heartbeat of this podcast, right? I want to stay true to this space I created—a safe spot where every question you send gets the attention, truth, and love it deserves. So, Letʼs go babe! 

Alright weʼre jumping straight in with Question 1 who came from one of our listeners, Aislynn: She asked… “How do I make Jesus the center of my life? I can’t even remember the last time I picked up my Bible, and honestly, I feel kinda gross about that. I do pray a lot and talk to God like He’s my friend, but I just can’t seem to make this a daily thing.”

Okay, so you’re basically saying: “I want Jesus front and center, but I’m stuck. My Bible’s gathering dust, and I feel like I’m failing. Is just talking to Him enough?”

Here’s the deal: breathe. You’re not failing, you’re figuring things out—and that matters to God way more than perfection.

Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” It’s about making Jesus your priority—not getting it perfect. This isn’t a checklist, it’s a heart thing.

Try flipping your mindset: instead of feeling guilty or disgusted with yourself, lean into God’s love that pulls you closer. Prayer is beautiful—keep that up! Now, add something small: maybe one verse a day.Thatʼs it babe. ONE VERSE. It doesnʼt have to be an entire chapter! Just a couple sentences. Start by writing it down, stick it on your mirror, or meditate on it as you start your day. Let this verse or verses be front and center.

The guiding light for your day or even your week.

Baby steps. 

Daily routines take time. But daily choices? Thatʼs where the change begins. 

So start small, stay gentle with yourself, and keep coming back. God’s grace is big enough for all of it. Bonus… throw in worship music whenever you can. Iʼve personally been cycling through all the Forrest Frank and NicD songs as of late. When we flood our minds with goodness, we will find that same goodness pouring out.

Alright now on to Question 2 where Delilah, one of our most loyal listeners, asked: “How do I tell if mean girls are actually mean or just hurting and need help?”

Girl, this is such a wise question! Seriously! So You’re wondering: “Are these girls like, actually, truly mean, or are they just hurting and lashing out?”

This is all about discernment—and just by asking, you’re already doing the hard work.

Proverbs 4:23 tells us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” That means protecting your peace, but also looking beneath the surface.

Truth bomb: hurt people hurt people. Sometimes, girls act mean because they’re struggling inside. But here’s the thing—someone needing help doesn’t give them a free pass to hurt you.

So ask God for wisdom (James 1:5). Set healthy boundaries, and if your heart leads you, pray for them. You can be kind and compassionate without carrying their chaos on your shoulders. The truth is, so many times, the hurt that someone is experiencing inside becomes an outward manifestation. 

Theyʼre just delivering the mail to the wrong address. 

So the next time you stand face-to-face with a potential “hurt” girl…I would challenge you to ask yourself this question OR better yet, just put on the lens that this person is having a hard day, a hard week maybe even a hard month and meet that anger or bitterness with compassion and empathy. A tender response. 

After all Proverbs 15:1 tells us that “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” 

Next time you experience this, pause and reframe it. Be the tenderness that she needs instead of meeting her with the same level of wrath… ya know what I mean? That babe, is being Jesus here on earth. 

Alright, letʼs keep this momentum going by diving straight in to question number 3 that actually comes from a listener in Mobile, Alabama. She asked…“How do you go ALL IN with the Lord when my mind’s filled with negative thoughts? Plus, I have friends who cuss all the time, and I don’t—how do I handle that?”

Girl, going “all in” with God doesn’t mean you have to hide from the world or be perfect—it means living boldly in a messy world with a heart full of faith.

A verse that we go back to over and over again on this podcast is Romans 12:2 that says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” 

The enemy wants you drained trying to fit in. But God wants you empowered to stand out.

Here’s a power move: every time a negative thought creeps in, take it captive. (2 Corinthians 10:5) Replace those lies with God’s truth—say it out loud if you need to.

About your friends? Be the thermostat, not the thermometer. Set the tone for your circle. If they cuss and you don’t, guess what? You might be the only Jesus they ever meet—and that’s strength, not weakness.

Wow you guys, we are seriously vibing through all these questions today… letʼs keep the truth bombs coming with question number 4 that came from an unknown listener… last week she sent in a question asking “How do I know if my friends are toxic? And what do I do if they are?”

This is such an awesome question, girl! Relevant for absolutely everyone listening to this podcast.

Thanks for taking the time to send it in.

OK… toxic friends.  Guys, toxic friends are the ones who drain your joy, disrespect your boundaries, and pull you away from God’s best for you. A real friend sharpens and encourages. That truth is cemented for us in Proverbs 27:17 that reads: "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

If you feel smaller or sadder after hanging out with someone, pause and check in with your heart. 

If they disrespect your values, push you toward things you’re not comfortable with, or make you feel less than, those are red flags.

So what now? Pray first. Then set clear boundaries. Sometimes, loving from a distance is the healthiest choice. Remember, God wants you to walk with friends who lift you up, not tear you down (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Alright girl, letʼs zip this up with our final question…question number 5 which came from another loyal listener, Elise… and Elsie asked, “Why do I care so much about what people think?” Whew girl, this question just sits SO heavy with me. You know why? Because I am asking myself this same exact question EVERY SINGLE DAY. Like, FR! 

Girl, you are so not alone in this one. So welcome to the everyone cares too much club!

Honestly, this question runs deep—because it’s not just about worrying what someone thinks of your outfit or your post. It’s about that craving we all have to feel seen, accepted, and… enough.

And here’s the truth: God wired us for connection. We’re created in His image, and God is relational. So that desire to belong? That’s not wrong. It’s actually human. But where it goes sideways is when culture—and let’s be real, social media—starts twisting that good desire into something toxic.

The world is LOUD about who it says you should be.✨ Perfect skin.✨ The “right” body.✨ The aesthetic room.✨ The viral-worthy personality.✨ The trend-following everything.

And then we add in influencers, celebs, TikTok stars—it’s like a constant stream of “you’re not enough unless…”

So we start performing.We shift how we act.We silence our true thoughts.We shrink our faith to not “weird anyone out.”All in the name of fitting the mold and keeping the likes coming.

But here’s the danger: when you start shaping your identity around what others say… you start losing touch with what GOD says. And His opinion? It’s the only one that actually holds eternal weight.

Galatians 1:10 hits this right on the nose:“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? ... If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

That stings a little, huh?

So why do we care so much? Because the world trains us to believe that acceptance equals worth. But the kingdom of God flips that on its head: your worth was sealed at the cross. Before you ever had a platform. Before you ever wore that outfit. Before you ever got invited or excluded.

When what they think gets louder than what He says, you will always feel like you’re not enough. But when you tune back into God’s voice? Suddenly you realize—you’re not here to be liked by everyone. You’re here to be loved by the One who made you.

And girl, His love doesn’t come with terms and conditions.

So if you feel stuck in the trap of trying to be who others want you to be—take a breath. Take a break. And get back to the Word. Because that’s where you’ll remember who you really are.

Whew, what a ride! You guys, we just tackled some major questions—and I sincerely hope you leave feeling seen, known, and loved through it all. 

If one of these questions was yours, thank you for being brave. And if you were just quietly nodding along? Girl, same. This episode’s for you, too.

Don’t forget: God welcomes your questions. He’s not intimidated by your doubt or your mess. So let’s keep leaning in, keep asking, and keep growing together.

💌 Drop your own question anytime at www.frletstalk.com. And psst—make sure you and your mom are signed up for the newsletter. You do not want to miss the good stuff! Love you big, babe. See you next time!