Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith

*This episode mentions suicide and depression and may not be suitable for all listeners.* This week, we’re joined by Cristina Baker, a speaker, author, and digital creator. After growing up in a tumultuous family environment, experiencing homelessness, addiction, and jail time, Cristina bravely rebuilt her life after someone she barely knew encouraged her to go to a prayer meeting.  Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Becky Thompson. Becky is the founder of the Midnight Mom Devotional online community, where more than two million mothers gather each night to pray and encourage one another. Becky reminds moms of the strength found in community and the simple power of prayer.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Monique Rodriguez Upcoming interview: Chynna Phillips Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season  Cristina Baker  www.cristinabaker.com Hope in 60 Seconds   Becky Thompson Midnight Mom Devotional  www.beckythompson.com Healing Rest   Interview Quotes: “The great equalizer of life is pain, and we all end up in that place one way or another—where it’s just us and it’s God and that’s it.” - Cristina Baker “What happens when God leads you into what you think is a disaster, but actually that disaster is the very thing that He’s going to use to bless you?” - Cristina Baker “There’s no better place to be than when your back is up against the wall and you have no other option but God. He will take that night season that was meant to destroy you and turn it into something that you could have never thought or imagined.” - Cristina Baker “God hasn’t changed the subject because humanity will always need hope. And hope is not a concept, He’s a person. Hope is found in Him.” - Cristina Baker  “I am a spirit that lives in a body, and sometimes my body doesn’t line up with what my spirit knows is true.” - Becky Thompson “Just because the healing hasn’t come instantly, and just because it hasn’t happened as quickly as you wanted it to, does not mean that the Lord is not a part of the process.” - Becky Thompson “I think it’s so important that we remember that mental health situations don’t disqualify us from being women full of faith, they actually often cause us to be women of greater faith that lean more heavily on God’s sufficiency.” - Becky Thompson  “No one says you have to wake up the next day and do the hardest thing. You just have to wake up the next day and do the next thing that makes the most sense for you, which is whatever the Holy Spirit is putting on your heart.” - Becky Thompson  “The gift of this season in my life is that I’m learning to rest in the Lord even before the work is done. I can rest in a promise that I am safely held by a good God who loves me and promises to never leave.” - Becky Thompson  “Rest is not a reward for our finished work. Scripture’s very clear about that. We actually get to rest because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross. We get to receive the rest that He offers to us in relationship with Him because of what He has accomplished.” - Becky Thompson  “You get zero stars for trying to do it on your own when the Lord sends people to help you. Receive the help that the Lord is sending you because there may be other seasons when you can turn and be the help that you needed in another mama’s story.” - Becky Thompson “You have never been solely responsible for carrying that heavy burden on your own, and the rest that you really crave is attached to His presence and found in surrender.” - Becky Thompson   ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week, we explore the profound impact of service and caretaking for others, as highlighted by our two inspiring guests, former governor and presidential candidate John Kasich, and former governor Marty Schreiber. Join us as they share their personal journeys and insights into how dedicating oneself to the well-being of others can transform lives, both for those who serve and those who receive care.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Justin Knoop Upcoming interview: Cristina Baker Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season   John Kasich Ohio State Heaven Help Us   Marty Schreiber Dementia www.mytwoelaines.com My Two Elaines   Interview Quotes: “All of us who go through trials and tribulations, which we all do in one way or another,, we can hang in there. Even though very bad things can happen, there’s a higher power that cares about you and loves you even through difficult times.” - John Kasich “When I ran for president, the people that I was meeting with, they didn’t really care about my position on issues. They really cared that I cared about them.” - John Kasich “If people can get involved in some way in their community, where you would be helping somebody else—helping somebody else is going to make you feel good.” - John Kasich “People are so focused on these things that are far away instead of focused on what’s happening right next door. Because of my Father’s love for me, I believe fundamentally that we have a God who loves us, forgives us, gives us grace, gives us gifts, and encourages us. Faith, to me, is a gift. I think that’s something I can hold on to.” - John Kasich  “We may lose something, but we may never allow ourselves to feel defeated.” - Marty Schreiber “A person morphs into being a caregiver, and because of that morphing process, the mind, the energy, and the psychology—all of that has to change you as you morph from being a loving husband or spouse to being a caregiver.” - Marty Schreiber  “A caregiver understands the importance of joining the world of this person who now is. And a caregiver has to let go of this person who once was so that we can now embrace the person who is now.” - Marty Schreiber  “I had a chance, really, by the grace of God, to love two Elaines and to take care of two Elaines and to repay her for all of the great, wonderful things she did for me during our married life.” - Marty Schreiber  “The medical profession does not understand that when there is a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, there are two patients. There is the person who is ill, and then also, there is the caregiver.” - Marty Schreiber “I know I couldn’t fight Alzheimer’s disease because it is impossible to fight it. But I do know that I could give my wife moments of joy. I do know that I helped her have a better life. There’s a lot of comfort that we can take in that.” - Marty Schreiber “If you are a friend or a relative of a caregiver, as someone who’s taking care of their loved one on the Alzheimer’s journey, one of the most important things you can do is to simply acknowledge that you understand what a challenge it is to be a caregiver.” - Marty Schreiber  “It’s a difficult transition, there’s no question about it. You enter a dark room and you just kinda have to feel your way along and try to identify a specific guidepost, specific things that are going to help you on this journey to deal with this grief, to deal with this new world.” - Marty Schreiber  ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week, we’ll hear from husband and wife team Jason and Erica Redman. After Jason’s twenty-one years as a Navy SEAL—including surviving severe combat injuries in Iraq—and Erica’s steadfast role as caregiver, entrepreneur, and mother of three, the couple has learned to face life’s toughest battles together.  Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Scott Payne, a retired law enforcement officer who spent twenty-eight years serving his community, including twenty-three years with the FBI. Specializing in undercover work, Scott infiltrated gangs, drug cartels, and domestic terrorist groups, constantly stepping into roles far from his true self. Today, he shares how those experiences tested him and shaped who he would become.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Tom and Pam Banwart Upcoming interview: John Kasich Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season   Jason and Erica Redman Mission: Invincible Marriage Navy SEAL Al-Qaeda www.jasonredman.com   Scott Payne South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy Isaiah 41:10 NIV Code Name Pale Horse: How I Went Undercover to Expose America’s Nazis *Signed/personalized copies of Scott’s book can be procured from Union Ave Book in Knoxville, TN: https://unionavebooks.com/book/9781668032909-1 Interview Quotes: “I think you go into a marriage and you say ‘for better or worse, until death do us part,’ but there are a lot of marriages that get put to that test that break.” - Jason Redman “Marriage is continually communicating, continually updating your goals and what your priorities are and how you support each other and how we address the problems we’re facing together, whether those are financial or personal or whatever external things.” - Jason Redman “That night on the battlefield, I think there was no doubt I was dying. I prayed in that moment, ‘Lord, please let me go home to my wife and kids again,’ and I think that was a miracle moment.” - Jason Redman “Jesus is perfect, but it’s really guided me in my job to offer those second chances—third, fourth, fifth chances, twentieth chances.” - Scott Payne “It’s a calling—you take an oath—and in my mind, and the way I see it is, you are a servant. You have a servant’s heart. You are a shepherd. You’re not just a warrior, you’re a shepherd and you protect and you will leave the ninety-nine to go save the one.” - Scott Payne  “Throughout my career in law enforcement, there were times my marriage almost didn’t make it. Had it not been for God, prayer, and our small groups—they prayed for me even when I couldn't tell them what was going on—I wouldn’t have made it.” - Scott Payne ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week, we’ll hear from actor Michael Iskander who currently portrays King David on the House of David series. Michael opens up about his unconventional route to acting, the prayer and fasting that became his ritual as he waited to hear whether or not he would be cast in his dream role, and what portraying David has taught him about trusting God in every moment and in every decision.  Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Christian Dearman—a professional baseball player with the Savannah Bananas, a team known not just for their show-stopping performances, but their heart for people. Christian shares how his journey toward the big leagues was nearly cut short by a career-threatening injury and how that difficult season became a turning point in his faith.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Erin Hicks Moon Upcoming interview: Jason and Erica Redman  Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season    Michael Iskander  House of David  The Chosen  Jon Erwin Psalm 8:3-6 NIV   Christian Dearman Savannah Bananas latissimus dorsi tendon Jake Peavy Florida International University Jesse Cole   Interview Quotes: “Even in the mundane, God has a will for us, even in something that we think is unimportant or that doesn’t have a big impact. Maybe it feels like we’re throwing a tiny rock in the ocean and it has no ripple effect. God wills for that to happen, because He is pruning us and training us for something bigger.” - Michael Iskander  “Prayer is extremely important, and always having a moment of reflection of why we’re doing this is vital. For me, the show is not about David. The show is about God. I think even in the acting process of this, God was teaching me just to let go of any sort of idea of control that I have and just to surrender to Him and to trust that prayer is powerful.” - Michael Iskander “I’m just so grateful that God had put me into a positive mindset, because through reading Scripture, I was learning a lot of verses that I was looking at as motivational quotes.” - Christian Dearman “It’s insane because at one point, they were telling me I would never be able to pick up baseball again, and now, my name is in the Hall of Fame. It’s surreal. God is so good all the time.” - Christian Dearman “What I am able to do every single game is connect with kids about Jesus with something as simple as just wearing a cross.” - Christian Dearman “If you could add just a smile to brighten someone’s day—that’s truly God’s work right there.” - Christian Dearman “It doesn’t matter what you’re going through—Jesus already accomplished the ultimate goal. He fought the ultimate battle, and we are saved by grace.” - Christian Dearman  ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this honest and hope-filled interview, Rachel Wojo shares how her faith was tested through her daughter’s 22-year battle with a terminal illness, and how God met her in her grief. From wrestling with anger to discovering the power of simple, heartfelt prayers, her story is a raw reminder that it’s never too late to call on Jesus.   Guest’s Links Facebook: @rachelwojoauthor Instagram: @rachelwojo Watch this interview on our YouTube channel! https://bit.ly/46vT2eL  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website TikTok   *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media* Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week, beloved Bible teacher and speaker Lisa Harper shares her perspective on how she traded theological study for a personal God experience and began seeing the Bible as a love story. She stresses showing up to God just as you are—imperfections and all—illustrated by a story of shared heartache. Then, we’ll hear from Richard Gamble, the founder of the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer in the United Kingdom, which is set to open in the fall of 2027. Richard shares the vision behind the largest Christian landmark in Britain, which will contain one million bricks, each one containing a scannable QR code which will reveal someone’s answered prayer.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Josh Baldwin Upcoming interview: Christian Dearman Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season   Lisa Harper  Malachi 3:6 NIV www.lisaharper.org A Jesus-Shaped Life   Richard Gamble Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer  Royal Institute of British Architects www.eternalwall.org.uk Interview Quotes: “If we compartmentalize our relationship with Jesus to only when we’re reading the Bible, to only when we’re attending church or in a Bible study, then it can become segmented in our lives. Theology at its core is relational. It’s less about accruing data about who God is and it’s more about developing an intimate relationship with Jesus.” - Lisa Harper “When you think of the Bible as a rule book, or that it’s primarily about biblical ethics, then it becomes punitive—it’s something I have to get right. When you see it as primarily a love story,  then everything changes.” - Lisa Harper “If you look at all of Scripture, including the Old Testament, through a socio-historical context, you’ll see this ongoing theme of a good God who’s always in the process of redeeming our inherent dignity as His children.” - Lisa Harper “All of us experience exquisite loneliness, but that also shows we are hardwired for relationship.” - Lisa Harper “Jesus Christ, the Son of God, He chose to be accessible to us, to be near to us when our lives feel crushed, to get the residue of our heartache on His personhood. He doesn’t just love me because it’s His duty. He delights in me.” - Lisa Harper   “How kind is our God. It’s His mercy that leads us to repentance.” - Lisa Harper  “Whatever you do, don’t believe the lie that you have to clean yourself up first before you turn back to God. Bring everything to the Lord, even your disappointment, even the places where you’re stuck. Then ask Him to restore unto you the joy of your salvation, and He will.” - Lisa Harper  “My own prayer life has changed so much because I don’t worry about if I sound spiritual. I just want to be closer to my Redeemer. Some days that doesn’t look pretty. Some days, that’s really, really messy. But He says, ‘Bring me everything.’” - Lisa Harper “The first thing I did was to speak the dream. I think that’s an important step—when God gives you a vision, to actually speak it out to others.” - Richard Gamble “If God has given you a dream, the success of that dream is not limited to your ability. The success of the dream is just predicated on whether God has chosen it to be. If God is behind a dream, everything is possible.” - Richard Gamble “Ultimately, what we want people to do is to find stories that inspire them to go on their own personal journey to find Jesus, the God who answers.” - Richard Gamble  “You can overcome by sharing your testimony with somebody.” - Richard Gamble “The more those overwhelming moments come, if you are grounded in that truth of who God is daily, you don’t get the anxiety, you don’t get the fear—it bounces off you because you know the truth.” - Richard Gamble  ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week, we’ll hear from Dan and Sam Mathews, full-time content creators who’ve built a life rooted in creativity, family, and a passion for adventure. From backcountry camping and RV renovations to raising their kids on the road, they’ve shared their journey online—offering an honest look at the challenges and joys of living boldly and encouraging others to step outside their comfort zones and choose a more adventurous route. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Jacob Robinson, founder of Dig World, a construction theme park where kids and adults can operate real equipment. Behind the fun lies a deeply personal story. After a life-changing medical crisis with their son Pierce, Jacob’s world shifted, pushing him to navigate grief, hope, and a new way forward. Today, Dig World isn’t just a park—it’s a place where families connect, challenges are embraced, and joy is celebrated in its purest form.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Bear Grylls Upcoming interview: Lisa Harper  Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith on UPTV   Dan and Sam Mathews Always Choose Adventure   Jacob Robinson Dig World Texas A&M  Texas Children’s Hospital bacterial meningitis www.digworldnation.com   Interview Quotes: “There are a lot of times when multiple doors open, and we don’t know which one to choose. As long as it’s in line with the Lord’s will and we have a peace about it, we just look through the door and go, ‘Which one’s more adventurous?’” - Dan Mathews “The more you have, it can become a distraction in a way that keeps you from fully experiencing what God has.” - Dan Mathews “Chasing a new job title or a bigger house or nicer car or more zeros in your bank account—at the end of the day, it just leaves you unfulfilled. Having time to do what we love, to share Jesus with people, to love on one another, to spend time with our kids, to go and see new places, that became our idea of success. If we don’t have the time to do what we love and to spend time with each other, then all other measures of success don’t matter.” - Dan Mathews   “Adventure isn’t one-size-fits-all. Adventure can just be getting outside of your comfort zone and trying something new.” - Dan Mathews  “God doesn’t want us to live a stagnant life. If you look through the stories in the Bible, you can’t find anywhere God is like, ‘Hey, just stay where you’re at. Don’t change a thing. Long-term, we just want you to hunker down and be comfortable.’ He’s always calling people. He’s telling people to go.” - Dan Mathews “Jesus welcomes us through tough questions. He says, ‘I see you, I understand you, my heart is breaking with you and I love you. And there is a bigger plan.’” - Jacob Robinson “[My son] Pierce is now profoundly deaf in both ears. He’s nonverbal, he’s epileptic, and he’s in a wheelchair. But he is the happiest little dude you’ll ever meet. He radiates joy. He sees life the way that I think Jesus wants us to see life. He doesn’t see your skin color. He doesn’t see how much money you make. He doesn’t see what car you drive or what your house looks like. He truly just wants to be with you, and I think that’s how Jesus would want us to live.” - Jacob Robinson  “Don’t try to figure out your faith until you have a life experience that turns you upside down. Figure out what your faith is and lean into that faith when those times come, because Jesus promises us that challenges will come. Lean into that, and lean into Him.” - Jacob Robinson   ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Welcome to this special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, inspired by the topical themes from Sarah Young’s seasonal prayer devotional, Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season. Today we are featuring guests who speak to themes that all of us might be experiencing in this season of autumn. Fall is a time of dormancy, where we and nature begin the process of shedding old things, preparing for rest, and starting anew after winter. This episode offers us an opportunity to reflect, release what no longer serves us, and embrace a period of quiet rejuvenation in anticipation of new beginnings.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens   Tahj Mowry Demi-Leigh Tebow John Eldredge Danielle Coke Candace Cameron Bure Steve Wohlberg Kara Stout ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media* Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

*This episode contains content that may be triggering for some listeners. This week, we’ll hear from Jenny Marrs, an author, designer, and passionate advocate for community transformation, family preservation, and orphan care worldwide, who hosts the HGTV show Fixer to Fabulous with her husband, Dave. Jenny shares the path that led her to the business she is in today, and the challenges of leaving all that you know to embrace the unknown. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Struggle Jennings, an independent music artist, father of seven, and prison ministry leader. Struggle shares how growing up in a famous musical family didn’t shield him from tragedy and poor choices, but how God used even the hardest seasons, including prison, to rebuild his life.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Patricia Heaton Upcoming interview: Dan and Sam Mathews Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season    Jenny Marrs Fixer to Fabulous  University of Central Florida www.jennymarrs.com Trust God, Love People: Stories of My Openhanded Faith   Struggle Jennings Send Musicians to Prison Waylon Jennings  Jessi Colter www.strugglejennings.com   Interview Quotes: “We’re not meant to do life alone. In [a difficult] season, [my husband and I] needed to lean on each other and on God and get through it, and we realized we actually needed to let people in.” - Jenny Marrs "[God] works through us; He works through our inadequacies, and often when we don't want to do it, He can—even if we think there's no way." - Jenny Marrs "Identifying and spotting God's hand in all of it–the mundane, the hard, the beautiful, the mountain tops—all of those different experiences—we can spot His hand in that." - Jenny Marrs "I want my kids to be able to look back at the faithfulness of God in their lives that they didn't even know about before they were born and have that moving forward." - Jenny Marrs “I was introduced at an early age to both sides of the tracks—seeing Waylon with the security guards and the Cadillac and the Jaguar and the big house and [being a] successful country music icon. And then going back to my dad’s side of the family that lived in West Nashville who worked nine to fives and lived right at that poverty line.” - Struggle Jennings “I was caught up in that world—gangs and drugs and a lot of the beliefs like, Feed your family by any means necessary. It’s okay to do wrong if you’re doing it for the right reason—those types of things that I had to eventually strip myself of.” - Struggle Jennings  “Many times God showed His face and showed His favor, even though I didn’t know why, because I didn’t understand what my purpose was.” - Struggle Jennings “I knew that I finally had to strip down and take full responsibility and accountability and say, ‘This is my fault. I can’t blame the judge. I can’t blame the person that snitched on me. I can’t blame my circumstances or the cards I was dealt. I have the opportunity to turn this around.’” - Struggle Jennings “I just really felt that God had a plan for me, and I wasn’t going to take it for granted.” - Struggle Jennings  “Even the times that I had doubts, it was the responsibility to God and to my fans and to my children [that kept me going]. When you’re purpose-driven and you have a reason for getting up every day and you know you’re living in God’s glory and God’s mercy, you have that strength and that confidence that I’ve made it through a lot of things and I don’t know what’s ahead of me, but I know that if I keep moving in the right direction with love in my heart and God in my heart, it’s going to work out okay. God gives His greatest warriors the toughest battles.” - Struggle Jennings ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week, we’ll hear from three seasoned leaders from Cedarville University—Dr. Michael Sherr, Dr. Jason Lee, and Dr. Angelia Mickle—who bring together decades of experience in social work, theology, and nursing. United by a shared passion for equipping healthcare professionals, they explore how we can find renewed strength under tremendous pressures by bridging the gap between faith and health.  Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Dr. Drew Dickens, a technologist and storyteller exploring where faith, identity, and innovation meet. As host of the Encountering Peace and AI and Spirituality podcasts, he brings deep insight into how emerging technology is reshaping the way we think, connect, and seek meaning.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Brett Swayn Upcoming interview: Jenny Marrs   Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith on UPTV Dr. Michael Sherr Dr. Jason Lee Dr. Angelia Mickle Cedarville University Center for Biblical Integration at Cedarville University Colossians 3 NIV Isaiah 40:31 NIV Scripture and Scrubs: A Christian Calling to Healthcare   Dr. Drew Dickens Encountering Peace  AI and Spirituality  Whispers of the Spirit: A 40-Day Guide to Intimate Prayer Interview Quotes: “One of the things that we want to do is make sure that we’re setting our trajectory around what God wants from us, to listen to God regularly through His Word, and to connect with Him daily.” - Dr. Jason Lee  “We all have to live out our call to live the gospel, to be on mission, to live our relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in whatever endeavor we find ourselves in our lives.” - Dr. Michael Sherr “Part of the challenge is to see how we can pull the professional and spiritual journeys together and create a greater impact and a sense of purpose. But also a sense of longevity, because all these things are done not just in the moment and for immediate success or healing or any treatment, but ultimately for the glory of God.” - Dr. Jason Lee  “The purpose of us being here is to comfort people and to help them in their time of vulnerability, or if they’re hurt and suffering, and just love them unconditionally—the way that Jesus would.” - Angelia Mickle “If we have Jesus in our heart, the joy is going to show. Jesus is love, and we’re going to reflect Christ, so we’re going to reflect love.” - Dr. Angelia Mickle   “[AI] is still casually dismissed right now, and that’s concerning to me because we’re dealing with issues of identity, we’re dealing with issues of inspiration.” - Dr. Drew Dickens  “Prayer requires effort, and we need to remember that communicating with the Creator and Sustainer of this vast universe is an amazing privilege.” - Dr. Drew Dickens “We need to have these conversations on the effects of [AI] in the pews, on families and relationships—the effects it’s going to have on community, on communion, on what it means to gather together, or just to re-engage with a physical moment of intimacy with God.” - Dr. Drew Dickens “We’re not to be a people of fear, but of hope. So we can be intentional, we can find ways to engage with AI in a redemptive way, and we can be mindful of these opportunities because there is hope.” - Dr. Drew Dickens ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

On this episode of Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer, we’ll hear from physician, researcher, author, and speaker Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, who understands the daily pressure many of us feel to “perform” and live up to unrealistic standards of who we think we should be. When we can begin to understand who we are apart from what we do, God can help us remove the pressure to “do” and embrace the freedom to “be.”  Guest’s Links YouTube: @SaundraDaltonSmith Instagram: @drdaltonsmith Facebook:@DrSaundraDaltonSmith Watch this interview on our YouTube channel! https://bit.ly/4mzRd5X  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website TikTok   *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media* Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week, we’ll hear from Monique Rodriguez—an author, entrepreneur, and founder of the women-led beauty brand Mielle Organics, a hair care and beauty brand. Monique shares how a devastating personal loss became the catalyst for a deepened faith and the birth of a global beauty brand built on bold belief, healing, and hope in God’s promises. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Adam Young, a therapist and podcaster from Fort Collins, Colorado. Adam is the voice behind The Place We Find Ourselves, where he guides listeners through the intersections of personal story, trauma, and healing. In his work, Adam highlights the power of relationships, the wisdom of the body, and the role of faith in helping us find meaning and connection.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Tabitha Brown Upcoming interview: Drs. Michael Sherr, Angelia Mickle, and Jason Lee Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith on UPTV   Monique Rodriguez Mielle Organics emergency C-section Romans 8:28 NIV Psalm 30:1-5 NIV www.mielleorganics.com The Glory in Your Story   Adam Young The Place We Find Ourselves Make Sense of Your Story www.adamyoungcounseling.com   Interview Quotes: “I just didn’t have the courage and the faith in myself to believe that I could actually achieve what was deemed impossible for someone that looked like me growing up in the household that I grew up in.” - Monique Rodriguez  “I had to lean on His Word and trust Him by faith that He was going to see me through this with an even bigger promise on the other side of this.” - Monique Rodriguez “I decided that I wanted to follow God’s lead, and I wanted to live a purpose-filled life because you only get one shot. When you go through tragic events, it really causes you to have a different perspective.” - Monique Rodriguez “I decided to fulfill [my dream] when I went through that loss, and I am thankful for my son’s life because he caused me to have a relationship with God. He taught me to be fearless and to have courage and to be bold in my faith.” - Monique Rodriguez “Our mission is not only to empower, educate, and to excite women about healthy hair, but I also feel that we are empowering, exciting, and educating about the gospel.” - Monique Rodriguez “I do feel that Mielle—because it was birthed from a place of pain that ultimately was purposeful—is anointed.” - Monique Rodriguez  “If you’re having butterflies in your stomach, if you have a lump in your throat, if you have tightness in your chest because of a certain experience that you’re having or something coming up in your life, that is your body’s way of saying, ‘There is something inside your heart that needs to be addressed that is not well.’” - Adam Young “Part of the healing journey is getting honest, not just about what happened, but about the feelings that you have in your body, and welcoming those, making us a home for those feelings so that they can be felt, processed, and expressed.” - Adam Young  “Whenever you experience trauma, the single most effective way to experience healing of those neural networks is through healthy relationships with other people. Healing is necessarily relational, and it requires looking at the past.” - Adam Young  “We’re created for secure attachment, which means a healthy relationship with God where we have a felt sense that God is there for us, that God will respond to our cries, and that God is pursuing our hearts.” - Adam Young “Practices in general, whether it’s prayer, mindfulness, walking and looking at beauty, whatever practices you have in your life where you bring the fullness of your presence—and that’s the key attribute for a practice to be meaningful—you have to be aware and present.” - Adam Young  “The practice of prayer, the practice of solitude, both are necessary for the development of not just your brain, but for you to come to know who you are, who God created you to be, and how you uniquely reflect God in a way that others don’t.” - Adam Young   ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week on the podcast, we meet Justin Knoop—a husband, father of four, and the heart behind the Blessing Boys. What began as a small lawn care business grew into a mission to serve others, inspire his sons, and transform lives one yard at a time. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Tricia Goyer—an author, speaker, podcaster, and homeschooling mom whose journey has taken her from teen pregnancy to building a family of ten through adoption and foster care. Along the way, Tricia discovered that it’s not about doing more, but about noticing what matters most.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Gary Sinise Upcoming interview: Monique Rodriguez Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith on UPTV   Justin Knoop Blessing Boys   Tricia Goyer Psalm 22:6 Psalm 40:2  www.triciagoyer.com Faith That Sticks: 5 Real-Life Ways to Disciple Your Preteen Interview Quotes: “There was a search in my heart for purpose, for fulfillment. I spent a lot of my teenage years and even into my twenties just searching to fill that void. I think eventually it led me to where I am today, but it took me a long time to figure out what that purpose was that I was searching for.” - Justin Knoop  “My sons were getting into this phase of life where I needed to start thinking about what it meant to begin to set an example for them. So what I did was I set aside Fridays—one day a week—for me and my sons to actually go out and serve the community.” - Justin Knoop “I think we can get caught up in our own lives and what’s going on in our family and our home and forget that there’s a world out there that needs us. What we teach our kids is that your purpose in life—outside of being in relationship with God—is to bring value to others.” - Justin Knoop  “Yes, we have different hobbies and things that we do, but we want to pour the majority of our time into things that impact people around us. We’re not just about cutting grass and overgrown yards. We’re really after changing lives and impacting people.” - Justin Knoop “I realized through God, through prayer, through sitting before Him crying because I was so overwhelmed, that He already created [my children] as unique human beings with a purpose and I didn’t need to pour everything into them. I just needed to follow the purpose that God had given them.” - Tricia Goyer  “I think it really takes almost becoming students of our kids and seeing what God already put in them—the calling that He has on their lives—and really focusing on who God created each individual to be. And then going before God, sitting quietly before Him, praying for our kids, and asking Him to open the door that we can help them walk through.” - Tricia Goyer  “If we are listening—if we’re sitting around, driving, taking a walk around the block—if we’re there and listening to [our children], that’s when the big things come out, that’s when the questions happen.” - Tricia Goyer  “If we’re waiting for our kids to be adults before we have meaningful conversations with them, it is too late. We need to build that, and pre-teens is the perfect little window where they still think it’s really cool to go get a smoothie and talk, and we can use that time to pour into our kids.” - Tricia Goyer  “So many times we wonder how things are going to work out. Whatever God has called us to, we’re trying to see the end, and all we see is obstacle, obstacle, obstacle. I think that’s just a reminder that if God calls us to something, He is faithful and He’s going to be there.” - Tricia Goyer  ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week, we’ll hear from two incredible actors—Chrissy Metz, best known for her role on TV’s This Is Us, and Edwina Findley Dickerson, known for her roles on The Wire and Chicago Med. Through their transformative work as actors, they strive not only to compassionately portray their characters, they deeply inhabit them, telling powerful stories with empathy and grace.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Cole Prasse Upcoming interview: Justin Knoop   Chrissy Metz This Is Us Jim Carrey  Jack Black Robin Williams www.chrissymetzmusic.com When I Talk To God, I Talk About Feelings   Edwina Findley Dickerson  The Wire  Chicago Med Psalty’s Christmas Calamity Duke Ellington School of the Arts www.edwinafindley.com The World Is Waiting for You Interview Quotes: “I wanted to be an actor because I wanted to tell stories that I never saw or people like me that I’d never seen on TV or movies that weren’t just the butt of the joke, but had like full-fledged stories and important lessons to impart.” - Chrissy Metz  “I start my day with a gratitude list before I even get out of bed because life is fleeting, life is precious, people are going through so much—but you can always find at least ten things to be grateful for.” - Chrissy Metz  “I just know that what’s meant for me will find me, even if I’m running away from it. It will be God’s time, not mine.” - Chrissy Metz “When people tell you things almost as a fact, you can start to believe it if you don’t have another voice. God told me I was called to entertainment, and I thank God that I leaned into His voice even when other people’s voices seemed louder, because God’s plan is the one that won out.” - Edwina Findley Dickerson “We can end up with what I call the ‘curse of comparison,’ and then we can talk our way out of what God is trying to talk us into.” - Edwina Findley Dickerson  “From Genesis to Revelation, we see people who were not considered the smartest, who were not considered the most powerful, who were not considered the most beautiful, but were called for a purpose. If we lean into some of those scriptural examples of people who were not the likely candidate from other people’s point of view, but were exactly who God chose, then I think we can see ourselves in that lineup, and start leaning into our calling.” - Edwina Findley Dickerson  “I think like most people, there’s a chasm between what you believe that God has promised you in your life and your current circumstances. A lot of times when God’s promise enters your life, it can speak very differently from your current reality.” - Edwina Findley Dickerson “Sometimes the choices that you make aren’t necessarily about what would come naturally to you—sometimes it’s purely surrendering to what God is calling you to do.” - Edwina Findley Dickerson  “If God has called you to do something, do it in obedience, even if you don’t understand how it’s going to end up. You have no idea what kind of blessings are on the other side.” - Edwina Findley Dickerson ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week, we’ll hear from Bethany Joy Lenz, an actor, singer, director, and now author, who shares a deeply personal story of her time in a spiritually abusive community and the journey of healing and rediscovering faith that followed.  Later in the episode, we’ll hear from speaker and non-profit founder JT Mestdagh. Born with a rare and complex condition that led to over a dozen major surgeries before the age of sixteen, JT’s life has been anything but ordinary. From long hospital stays to reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, he’s faced life’s toughest challenges with an optimism and heart for helping others.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Amy Downs Upcoming interview: Chrissy Metz Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith on UPTV   Bethany Joy Lenz Dinner for Vampires Richard Barrett Brooklyn College of Opera Guiding Light  One Tree Hill Hebrews 11:1-2 NIV www.bethanyjoylenz.org   JT Mestdagh Mount Kilimanjaro JT Mestdagh Foundation VACTERL syndrome Dyslexia Children’s Hospital Colorado ww.JTMestdagh.com No Bad Days Interview Quotes: “I fundamentally believed—not in my head, but in my body and my heart—that if I did all the right things, if I checked off everything on the Christian girl list, then God would be pleased with me, and I would have a good life.’ - Bethany Joy Lenz “You need your brain in order to have faith. God is so big. He’s not afraid of us thinking. The more you think, the more you understand, the more Christianity makes sense out of everything else in the world.” - Bethany Joy Lenz “When you understand what you believe—when you think about it and you research it and you journal about it, the further you dissect it, the more intricate and fascinating it becomes.” - Bethany Joy Lenz  “God is big enough to not be intimidated or afraid of your questions, your mess, that spaghetti bowl of confusion. God is big enough to untangle it and to guide you.” – Bethany Joy Lenz “I always talk about finding your tribe—the people around you that are going to support you and help you throughout challenges.” - JT Mestdagh “I look back at moments where the Good Lord has worked in my life—where the doors were closed and new doors were opened along the way—and it is totally Him working with me and through me.” - JT Mestdagh “When I look back at my conversations with the Lord, my time with Him and speaking to Him has been some of the most encouraging moments that have gotten me back on track.” - JT Mestdagh “There are no bad days. There’s only hard days, and we get through them with the Good Lord.” - JT Mestdagh ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

*This episode contains mature content. This week, we hear from two remarkable women who dared to pursue their dreams even when faced with disbelief, ultimately dedicating their lives to helping others through their art and work. First, country music star Mickey Guyton shares her journey of breaking barriers and finding her voice in an industry that wasn’t always ready for her. Then, author and speaker Lea Hurley opens up about how her personal health experiences shaped a life and a business she created to help herself but ended up helping others in a way she never dreamed possible.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: David and Tamela Mann Upcoming interview: Bethany Joy Lenz   Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith on UPTV   Mickey Guyton  Joanna Gaines  The Cosbys LeeAnn Rimes Dolly Parton Jessica Bendinger Charlie Pride www.mickeyguyton.com Jesus Calling: Songs for Sundays CD   Lea Hurley  American Dream Nut Butter Neuroendocrine cancer Tunnels to Towers Foundation  St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital www.americandreamnutbutter.com   Interview Quotes: “The challenges were people trying to change who I was or trying to interpret who I was as a black woman. And I understand the cultural differences, but people were trying to make me palatable to a country music audience.” - Mickey Guyton “Country music literally fell into my lap. “It was a God thing. It was a spiritual thing. It chose me.” - Mickey Guyton “I was like, ‘Why do you think country music isn’t working for me?’ And my husband was like, ‘Because you’re running away from everything that makes you different. Country music is three chords and the truth. Why aren’t you leaning into that?’” - Mickey Guyton  “I’m not only pursuing a career for myself, but pursuing a career for people that come after me. How can I help them? This may never happen for me, but how can I help the people that are coming up after me?” – Mickey Guyton  “I would say to anyone out there who is struggling to change either physically or mentally or emotionally that you really need to dig deep and find what your “why” is. You are going to have to rely on that every single day when it’s hard.” - Lea Hurley “I’m a major dessert person, so I figured out that I can make nut butter taste like the desserts that I was missing, but still have all the things that I was allowed to have.” - Lea Hurley “I feel like you just have to be plugged into Him, plugged into the Word all the time, so that you can receive what He’s trying to tell you and to be open to where it might come from.” - Lea Hurley ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

On this episode of Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer, we’re joined by certified master naturalist and author Eryn Lynum. Eryn gives us insight into how Jesus used nature in His teaching, and how scripture reflects thoughts of nature as well. As she looks at these connections, Eryn finds that God is beckoning us toward rest, and she shares some practical ways we can weave rest into our day-to-day lives.    Guest’s Links  Facebook: @authorerynlynum Instagram: @erynlynumauthor  YouTube: @erynlynum Watch this interview on our YouTube channel! https://bit.ly/4l7Gbn5  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website TikTok   *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media* Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In honor of National Dog Day, we’re sharing a heartfelt story about the special bond we share with our pets—and the comfort they bring in life’s hardest moments. Steve Wohlberg, a husband, father, author, and speaker, grew up in Hollywood with a deep love for animals. From Great Danes to turtles to a dog named Jax, animals have always been part of his story. After a painful loss, Steve began to explore what that bond really means—and how it can point to something bigger than ourselves. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Dr. Sy Garte, a retired research biochemist who spent much of his life convinced that science held all the answers. Raised in an atheist household, Sy’s early perspective left little space for questions of faith or meaning beyond the material world. But as his life unfolded, experiences both personal and professional began to challenge that view and a growing curiosity led him to reconsider what he believed about life, purpose, and truth.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Michael and Zina Goodin Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith on UPTV   Steve Wohlberg National Dog Day Matthew 26:36-46 NIV White Horse Media Genesis 2:9-19 NIV Exodus 20:11 NIV Proverbs 12:10 NIV book of Jonah  Matthew 10:29 NIV Will My Pet Go to Heaven? *The first ten people who call Steve’s office at White Horse Media will receive a free copy of either “Will My Pet Go to Heaven?” or “Approaching Armageddon.” Call 800-782-4253 for your copy today!    Dr. Sy Garte National Institutes of Health Scientism American Scientific Affiliation   Interview Quotes: “I think the reason why people grieve so greatly over the loss of a pet is because God our Creator is the author of the bond between people and animals. I really believe that God ministers to people through animals.” - Steve Wohlberg “When people are hurting, when they need a touch of love, animals can be a big part of God revealing to us that He cares about us.” - Steve Wohlberg “The last thing [my dog Pooka] did was look full view into the eyes of her master. I thought, That’s the way we need to be with Jesus. When we get into tough times or if we’re about to die, we fix our faith on Him because He loves us and He wants us to have such a relationship with Him.” - Steve Wohlberg “God can use tragedy, and He can bring good things out of it. It really makes me look forward to heaven and to the new earth where we’ll be with not only Jesus but with friendly animals.” - Steve Wohlberg   “There are millions of things that we know to be true that we know not through science. Science can only address a certain number of things because the scientific method is not able to ask and answer questions on things like, Why do I love this or that person? Why am I the way I am?” - Dr. Sy Garte “If you think that God doesn’t love you, you’re wrong, because I know He loves you, because He loves even me. And if He could love me, how could He not love you?” - Dr. Sy Garte “Belief in Jesus Christ, belief in biblical reality, and everything in science are not in conflict, but in fact, completely compatible. I think that if you ask the right questions about all of this—where did this purpose come from, where did this cognition come from, why is life this way—there’s no scientific answer that relates to physics or chemistry, just as there’s no scientific answers to how life began that relates the physics and chemistry.” - Dr. Sy Garte “We have to be quiet if we want to hear the voice of God. You don’t know what form it’s going to take. It could be somebody smiling at you. It could be anything. But pay attention and you will hear it.” - Dr. Sy Garte  ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This episode mentions suicide and depression and may not be suitable for all listeners. This week, we’ll hear from actress and producer Patricia Heaton. Beloved for her roles in Everybody Loves Raymond and The Middle, Patricia has faced seasons of grief and depression while navigating the ups and downs of a demanding industry, and shares how she has used comedy as a way to connect on a deeper level, helping others find light and meaning even in life’s hardest moments. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from journalist Anita Vogel. With a career spanning more than three decades, Anita has reported from small-town newsrooms to national television screens. She’s covered some of the nation’s biggest stories, but behind the headlines, it’s her interviews with everyday heroes and her experiences on the frontlines of breaking news that have shaped her deep commitment to telling meaningful, lasting stories.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Nika King Upcoming interview: Steve Wohlberg Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith on UPTV   Patricia Heaton St. Cecilia’s convent Aneurysm Unexpected Everybody Loves Raymond  The Middle www.patriciaheatonofficial.com   Anita Vogel Fox News Channel  University of Southern California Congressional Medal of Honor The People Concern in Los Angeles Pacific Palisades  Interview Quotes: “When my mom died, it was so important that we had our Catholic faith because there’s a certain foundation with that that you land on when things like that happen. You’re still dealing with grief and pain and there’s suffering, but because we knew she was with Jesus, there’s certain things you don’t have to wonder about.” - Patricia Heaton  “There were times when I could feel depression coming on, as if someone was taking a shade and pulling it down. I could feel it coming on, and I remember I would just be saying prayers over and over. So, it definitely gives you a solid landing place while you’re struggling.” - Patricia Heaton   “The entertainment industry is really a difficult industry—there are no guarantees and there is zero security. It’s actually a really good place to be, because in life, there’s zero security except our relationship with Jesus. That’s the only guarantee.” - Patricia Heaton  “The balance to try and strike is to be in the moment as much as possible—present to what God wants you to do and present to the people that you’re in the room with so that no event is ever wasted.” - Patricia Heaton “You do commit, but you have to know that you’re not in charge of the result. So in that sense, I’ve always had to let God be God because things fall apart so easily. We just have to believe that He has a plan, and that He will open doors and shut doors, and that’s what’s best for us.” - Patricia Heaton “Your family and your relationships and each other are the most important things, and God has you in His hands through all of it.” - Patricia Heaton “God is much bigger than our problems. He’s much bigger than our sins. He’s bigger than our failings, so we just need to learn to rest and relax in Him and trust and have faith in His love for us.” - Patricia Heaton  “God is in control, and as a human being, you can only do as much as you can to survive, to protect your loved ones, to protect others. At the end of the day, God is present and He is watching all of this, and we just have to have faith that things are unfolding according to His plan.” - Anita Vogel “I always say a prayer and I always ask God to help comfort these people to get them through this horrific time. I don’t know how God does it. He has His own special way. We just have to have faith that He does something special for these people, to bring some kind of peace and comfort back into their lives.” - Anita Vogel “That’s one of the highlights of my career—that I do get to meet people from all walks of life and people who helped shape my life.” - Anita Vogel  _______________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u  What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Welcome to a special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, focusing on the tragic events in Texas that happened in July 2025 with deadly flooding in Kerr County, and the heroic folks who have come to the aid of those who have lost so much.   Devastating floods, triggered by torrential rains and the rapidly rising Guadalupe River, struck Kerr County, Texas. This catastrophe, which resulted in numerous missing persons and confirmed deaths, now stands as the second deadliest flood in Texas history. As search efforts for the missing continue and debris cleanup is underway, singer/songwriter Cory Asbury, known for his song “Reckless Love,” alongside other musicians, organized a benefit concert. Their aim was to provide hope, solace, and aid to the affected families who are striving to rebuild their lives. Cory highlights how these families’ experiences have resonated nationwide, underscoring the enduring power of love in times of adversity.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens   Camp Mystic Camp Mystic girls singing “Reckless Love” “Reckless Love” by Cory Asbury Texas On My Mind fundraiser t-shirts  Patrick Mahomes Tim Tebow Derek Carr Russell Wilson Morgan Wallen Eric Church    Cory’s website Corey’s Facebook Corey’s Instagram Corey’s Twitter/X Corey’s YouTube   Youth-Reach Houston Youth-Reach Houston’s Facebook Youth-Reach Houston’s Twitter/X Youth-Reach Houston’s Instagram   Interview Quotes: “When we heard about the flooding there in the hill country of Texas, we knew we had to get involved. We’re praying for you guys, we’re behind you guys, we know what you’re going through, and we’re with you in whatever capacity we can be.” - Cory Asbury “We put together the benefit show in literally 10 days. We did this show in Nashville as sort of an extension of love from here. To see people come together like that was really beautiful.” - Cory Asbury  “It was emotional just being able to gather for those folks and know that we can do something, whether big or small, to kind of lighten their load.” - Cory Asbury “I have been able to personally see the work that [Youth-Reach Houston has] done. And it's truly incredible to see these families when they knock on the door and say, ‘Hey, can we cut these trees down for you? Can we rebuild your roof?’ And to watch these families just weep knowing that God is there with them is incredible.” - Cory Asbury “I feel like [the song]  ‘Reckless Love’ is the opus of my life. I feel like it encapsulates all of my life, all of my experiences. It was me knowing what an absolute failure I was on so many colossal levels. And then God’s still going, ‘Hey, I’m still beating down your door. I still want you. I’m still chasing you down, though you’re chasing after other things.’” - Cory Asbury “Through all things with prayer and supplication, make your request known to God, right? So we open our mouths and we go, ‘God, I can’t do this. I’m freaking out. I don’t know how to deal with this situation. Can you please help?’ And I think there's something beautiful to that honesty that He steps in and He helps.” - Cory Asbury “There’s no better prescription for anxiety or stress than to actually take it to [God] in prayer. And He doesn’t mind honesty, that’s what I’ve found. He’s waiting to help.” - Cory Asbury ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Website TikTok   *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media* Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.