Former Real Housewives Star Lydia McLaughlin recently reflected on how God has transformed her life and addressed her time on the reality show.
McLaughlin, who recently released her book JoyFull: 365 Daily Devotions for Women, reflected on her faith and time on The Real Housewives of Orange County in an interview with CBN's Faithwire.
"My time in the spotlight or on 'Housewives,' I was known for being a happy housewife … being someone [who has] a lot of joy," she told Faithwire in a recent interview. "I just believe in the joy that comes from the Lord."
She also cited the Apostle Paul's words on joy in Philippians 4 and how Christians can apply it in their walks of faith.
"Paul wrote, 'I have learned to be content,'" she said. "Joy is something that we can learn to do even if it's not something that comes natural to us."
Reflecting on her own life, McLaughlin shared how the joy of the Lord has sustained her throughout this year.
"I've had the hardest year," McLaughlin said of her own journey. "My mom's been sick, and even in the midst of hardship and trial, no one can steal my joy because the joy comes from the Lord. And that is everlasting, and that is never changing."
Despite not growing up in a Christian home, the reality star shared that she believed in God and ultimately professed her faith as a freshman in high school.
"I just started seeking God," she said. "I never was introduced to Jesus the way that these people were talking about Jesus. And so I continued to seek and search, and God just really broke open my heart."
Following her conversion, McLaughlin began attending church and even got involved in youth ministry. She later met her husband, Doug, when she served in Young Life, a nonprofit Christian ministry.
"I walked into a Young Life leadership meeting, and across the room, I saw Doug," she said. "And I feel like it's one of the most profound times the Holy Spirit has spoken to me. And He was like, 'You're gonna marry him.'"
During her interview with Faithwire, McLaughlin shared that she landed on the reality show after casting directors called her "out of the blue."
"They called me literally out of the blue, and I answered," she said. "I thought it was a work call … they were like, 'We're [the] casting directors of 'Housewives.' Would you wanna audition for the show?'"
Despite her initial objections, McLaughlin's husband encouraged her to try it out.
"He was like, 'You should do it. It'd be really good for business, and it would be good for you,'" she said. "I had been leading Bible studies for like 20 years, and he just was like, 'I think you're supposed to do it.'
"In all the auditions, I was basically telling them why I wasn't good for it. I was like, 'I like people to get along. I'm a peacemaker. I love Jesus,'" she shared. "And at the time … the cast was really separated, shocker. "And so, they … weren't looking for drama."
She ended up starring on the show for two consecutive seasons before leaving in 2018, believing God had other plans for her.
Ultimately, Mclaughlin thanked God for everything He has done in her life.
"[God] has transformed my life," she said. "His word has transformed my life."
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Jean Baptiste Lacroix/Stringer
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
