Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith

Jesus Calling

Millions have been encouraged and inspired by the words of the #1 best-selling 365-day devotional "Jesus Calling." Listen to real-life stories of faith as told by those who have experienced the power of living in His presence.

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S1 · E525
Yesterday · 25 min
How Faith Finds Us When Life Takes a Detour: Heather Land & Rachel Kessler
Joining us this week is worship leader turned viral comedian Heather Land. After growing up in the shadow of her mother’s decades-long addiction, Heather reflects on how this painful season—alongside her unexpected shift from the worship stage to the world of comedy—taught her that while our paths may take unforeseen turns, our core calling to encourage and uplift others remains constant. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Rachel Kessler, an Episcopal priest and Kenyon College chaplain who completed her PhD in medieval studies at the University of Toronto before pivoting to seminary after hitting academic burnout, then built a following as the “Nerdy Priest” on TikTok after a student secretly downloaded the app on her phone. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Cole Arthur Riley Upcoming interview: Dude Perfect Heather Land @heatherland_iaintdoinit Heather Land’s books Rachel Kessler “Nerdy Priest” on TikTok Harcourt Parish Episcopal Church Rachel Held Evans www.nerdypriest.com Interview Quotes: “It was challenging growing up in addiction. I think when you’re young, you don’t necessarily know what’s going on. You hear your family talking about it or you know it in theory, but you don’t know how to piece it together.” - Heather Land “When you’re in addiction, codependency is just alive and well. And I think it makes the best of people act extremely erratically and say things they don’t mean.” - Heather Land “I asked [my mom] one time, ‘What keeps you sober now?' And without hesitation, she said, ‘This time, I finally decided to stop living in shame.’” - Heather Land “I went through a little season where I really questioned my faith. I had a lot of doubt. I think I was undoing some messed up theology that I needed to deconstruct. This was no surprise to God.” - Heather Land “When you’ve had a certain life for fourteen years or however long, and then you find yourself walking into the unknown, it is very scary.” - Heather Land “When we doubt God and we’re like, ‘I don’t know about this,’ He’s like, ‘Well, hang on, I’ve got something up My sleeve!’ I just think that's such a beautiful story of who God is and how faithful He is.” - Heather Land “There is something to be said for the habits of faith when we’re not necessarily feeling that deep connection to God, for just still showing up.” - Rachel Kessler “My online platform as ‘The Nerdy Priest’ really is just an authentic representation of who I am.” - Rachel Kessler “I think you get burnt out in ministry when you are focusing on the ends as opposed to the means. It is so easy to get caught up in writing a good sermon or making a good post that goes viral and getting the engagement. What’s so critical is staying grounded in the truth.” - Rachel Kessler “What I came to realize is that there aren’t rules on how we are meant to relate to Jesus. Through ritual, through the traditions of the church, those are the ways that I communicate with Jesus.” - Rachel Kessler ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Interviews: https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 Video Interviews: https://bit.ly/4f79RAW Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer: https://bit.ly/4q5iTCx Scripture Series: https://bit.ly/4wAVGKU Celebrity Readings: https://bit.ly/4bIS5BJ Video Devotionals: https://bit.ly/4fG1kFb Sleep Meditations: https://bit.ly/4w0xu37 Shorts: https://bit.ly/3RHFubh ________________________ 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.
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S1 · E522
August 6 · 32 min
Living Truth in a World of Lies: Sarah Jakes Roberts & Timothy Cho
*This episode contains content that may be triggering for some listeners.* Today we’re joined by author and speaker Sarah Jakes Roberts, who invites us to rethink what true strength looks like—shifting from building a tolerance for the world’s noise to finding stillness in our calling. From stepping back from social media to anchoring identity in daily prayer, Sarah shares the liberating truth she discovered when she finally hit “mute” on the digital world. Next, we hear from human rights defender Timothy Cho, who recounts his harrowing escape from North Korea. He recounts the oppression and lies that were leveled at him from an early age and the moment he was labeled a traitor in his own country, driving his daring escape to experience the freedom truth brings, and how he now advocates for others to find their own freedom. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Cyntoia Brown-Long Upcoming interview: Heather Land Sarah Jakes Roberts Woman Evolve 2 Corinthians 12:9 www.SarahJakesRoberts.com The Power in Surrender Timothy Cho Tumen River Timothy Cho’s Instagram Interview Quotes: “Strength is not our tolerance for whatever comes our way. It is our ability to stay focused regardless of what comes our way.” - Sarah Jakes Roberts “Coming to a place where you can admit that I don’t have to be strong enough takes so much pressure off of yourself.” - Sarah Jakes Roberts “My gratitude becomes more magnified because I realized just how unworthy I am, and how good God has been in allowing me this space and opportunity.” - Sarah Jakes Roberts “When we talk about trying to figure out our identity in Christ in a world that is so noisy, we have to be the one to turn the volume down. You have to remember that you hold the remote control. At any given moment, you can hit mute. And in the process of hitting mute, you have to be willing to confront some of those voices that exist within our own head.” - Sarah Jakes Roberts “Our identity is constantly being developed, and we get to decide whether we allow it to be formed by digital algorithms or by words from God, affirmations that come from stillness and prayer.” - Sarah Jakes Roberts “Connecting with God daily allows us to be rooted and anchored in such a way that when we show up to the world, we’re not asking the world to tell us who we are.” - Sarah Jakes Roberts “I asked God, ‘If you are really there and you give me freedom, I will give my life to you.’” - Timothy Cho “Arriving in a democratic country, a free country, I thought it was the end. What I didn’t realize was that it was the beginning of another part of the journey.” - Timothy Cho “I was [able to] fight back against a wave of darkness and trauma. In my desperation and screaming out and tears, I would keep hearing, ‘Son, I love you, I love you, I love you.’” - Timothy Cho “We are facing a lot of hatred in this world at the moment. But hatred never [wins]; only love can overcome all of this hatred.” - Timothy Cho ________________________ 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.
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S1 · E523
July 30 · 21 min
How We Find God In the Highs and Lows of Life: Butch Hartman & Matt Cooper
This week, we’ll hear from Butch Hartman, the animator and creator behind Nickelodeon’s biggest shows, including The Fairly OddParents and Danny Phantom. Butch grew up in a chaotic household in Michigan, where television and comic books served as his primary escape. This early passion eventually led him to California’s top animation school and then to a long career at Nickelodeon. Today, we’ll hear why he walked away after nearly twenty years at the network to start his own studio. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Matt Cooper, a country artist from Jacksonville, Florida who turned the worst year of his life into a number one radio single. After losing his mother to cancer, Matt found himself white-knuckling his grief, until a late night group therapy session cracked something open and sent him home to write a song in a single hour that would change everything. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Jimi Cravity Upcoming interview: Sarah Jakes Roberts Butch Hartman CalArts The Garden - Cartoon created by Butch Hartman Matt Cooper “Good God” - song by Matt Cooper “Highs and Lows” - song by Matt Cooper Interview Quotes: “I was [at Nickelodeon] for a lifetime, and I thought it’s time to go build a new life somewhere else with my own way to do this.” - Butch Hartman “There are millions of people out there that will never go into a church, but they’ll hold a screen in their hand and they’ll watch something. So it’s my job as a producer and a showrunner and a studio head to make sure that whatever goes on that screen is uplifting and is good for people’s souls and their spirit.” - Butch Hartman “There are kids out there I will never meet, but I know that the content I’m producing is going to somehow affect their life in a positive way for the Lord.” - Butch Hartman “We have to be very wise about the decisions we make, especially when it comes to entertainment, because it lives forever.” - Butch Hartman “I think it’s really hard, especially as a man, to deal with grief, because you try to white knuckle everything as a dude.” - Matt Cooper “I’m a big believer in therapy. It was really, really great for me. It was a way for me to talk through the emotions that I had just been hiding a lot.” - Matt Cooper “I wrote my song 'Highs and Lows' in one hour. It was the fastest song I ever wrote. And that was the first sense of like finding music as a way of dealing with my grief.” - Matt Cooper “I think the biggest thing that I’ve taken away from grief is that I understand more of the love of the Father than I ever had in my life.” - Matt Cooper ________________________ 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.
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July 28 · 10 min
[JESUS LISTENS MONTHLY SERIES] God, Help Me Move from Shame to Wholeness: Erin Kerry
In this deeply honest conversation, Erin Kerry opens up about living with PTSD, depression, and bipolar disorder—and the labels that once defined her. As a nutritionist and health coach, Erin shares how she moved from shame and self-limiting beliefs to a place of healing, hope, and wholeness. Guest’s Links YouTube: @erinbkerry Facebook: @ErinBKerry Instagram: @sparkingwholeness Watch this interview on our YouTube channel! https://bit.ly/44xz2Xs ________________________ 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.
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S1 · E522
July 23 · 30 min
Hope Through Life’s Deepest Heartaches: Dr. Jim Burns and Dr. Joshua W. Brown
Dr. Jim Burns, founder of HomeWord, returns to the Jesus Calling Podcast to discuss how parents can navigate the heartbreak of estrangement with their adult children. He offers advice on avoiding self-blame, communicating without unsolicited criticism, and prioritizing healthy boundaries. Later, neuroscientist Dr. Joshua W. Brown shares how a terminal brain tumor diagnosis at age thirty sparked his interest in investigating how faith practices and prayer contribute to healing. Using his scientific training, he describes seeing cases that medical professionals cannot explain, exploring how healing may happen beyond the scope of traditional treatment. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Brooke Envick Upcoming interview: Butch Hartman Dr. Jim Burns Doing Life with Your Adult Children: Keep Your Mouth Shut and the Welcome Mat Out - Book by Dr. Jim Burns When Your Adult Child Strays: Trading Heartache For Hope - Book by Dr. Jim Burns Reconnecting with Your Estranged Adult Child: Practical Tips and Tools to Heal Your Relationship - Book by Tina Gilbetson Dr. Joshua W. Brown Global Medical Research Institute Proving a Miracle: Unlocking the Power of Prayer to Heal - Book by Dr. Joshua W. Brown Interview Quotes: “I say to people whose kids are just moving into adulthood: ‘Number one, you’re fired as a day-to-day parent. You have to give the kid the passport to adulthood.’” - Dr. Jim Burns “Mentors don’t necessarily give advice, they give advice when they’re asked.” - Dr. Jim Burns “I say to parents all the time, take the lead, but take the lead with love. Take the lead with kindness.” - Dr. Jim Burns “There are very few estrangements where we don’t need the help of counsel. We need somebody coming alongside us to give us insight, especially with estrangement, because we don’t know what to do.” - Dr. Jim Burns “So the tightrope that you walk is you show love, you practice kindness, you expand the relationship to not just be a one-topic parent. And in doing that, you can embrace your child and love your child.” - Dr. Jim Burns “I think the bottom line with a lot of people, a lot of adult children, is they’re asking one question, ‘Do you still love me?’” - Dr. Jim Burns “If you hope for nothing, you are protected from being disappointed. And so hope has a cost to it. I was starting to see people, right in front of me, experience healing through this kind of prayer ministry. And so that gave me some degree of hope that there was at least something going on there that was worth pursuing.” - Dr. Joshua W. Brown “If you spend your time praying, thinking about God, thinking about His goodness, thinking about how He loves you and cares for you, your brain cells will become more responsive to those thoughts over time.” - Dr. Joshua W. Brown “Can what we believe, or our prayers for example, lead to mind-body effects that can have effects on actually reducing pain?” - Dr. Joshua W. Brown “As with food, you are what you eat. And I think the same principle applies spiritually and even psychologically [as to] the things that you spend time thinking about.” - Dr. Joshua W. Brown _______________________ 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.
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S1 · E521
July 16 · 28 min
Breaking Free from The Wreckage of Our Past: Tom Hardin & Dawn Cazedessus
Today, we’re joined by two people who found their way through the wreckage of their pasts to build something new. First, we hear from Tom Hardin. A former Wall Street insider trader, Tom saw his entire world unravel the morning the FBI knocked on his door. He joins us to share how he moved from a double life of secrets to finding a faith that finally holds up on Monday mornings. Then, we’re joined by Dawn Cazedessus [CAZZ de sue], author of Trailer Park CEO. Raised in an environment of generational poverty and abuse, Dawn navigated the difficult path from survival to becoming a regional leader for Keller Williams International. She’ll walk us through how she broke that cycle and why she’s learned to embrace failure as a way to fail forward. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Tim Green Upcoming interview: Dr. Jim Burns Tom Hardin Wired on Wall Street: The Rise and Fall of Tipper X, One of the FBI’s Most Prolific Informants - Book by Tom Hardin Dawn Cazedessus Trailer Park CEO: 12 Leadership Cornerstones to Become a Godly Woman of Influence - Book by Dawn Cazedessus Interview Quotes: “Ambition without any anchoring was sort of like velocity without direction. I had all the drive in the world; I just hadn’t built the moral infrastructure to sustain it.” - Tom Hardin “The most dangerous lie isn’t the one you tell others; it’s absolutely the one you tell yourself so fluently you forget it’s a lie at all.” - Tom Hardin “God didn’t meet me at the top of my career; He met me at the bottom of my character.” - Tom Hardin “Guilt says, I did something bad, shame says, I am something terrible. Guilt can drive you towards repentance, but shame drives you into hiding—not only from yourself, but from others and from God.” - Tom Hardin “This idea of “Who am I hurting” is the most seductive question a person can ask because the answer is always larger than you’re willing to imagine while you’re asking it.” - Tom Hardin “Faithfulness isn’t a feeling. It’s a decision you make every morning before the feelings arrive.” - Tom Hardin “As I drove off [from the trailer park], in my mind, I was leaving that past behind and going into the future, but what I realized later on in my life is that I physically left that day, but it took years to mentally leave.” - Dawn Cazedessus “The people who have given me their time have been even more valuable because they took time to pour into me, to speak into me.” - Dawn Cazedessus “You’ve got to be able to approach life with a glass that is overflowing, so that you can navigate the difficulty of the things.” - Dawn Cazedessus ________________________ 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.
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July 14 · 18 min
Jesus Calling Scripture Series: Understanding the Trinity with Timothy Jones
Welcome to a special scripture-focused bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, where we think about the concept of the Trinity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—and what their presence and purpose means to each of our individual lives. Pastor, author, and speaker Timothy Jones helps us contemplate this relational view, and how the communing of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit brings a new level of intimacy and belovedness to each of us. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Timothy Jones Fully Beloved Interview Quotes: “I found that knowing God as Father, Son, and Spirit warms our view of God. There’s a real tenderness here, and that surprises some people.” - Timothy Jones “I see in the three-person portrait of God a wonderful invitation to know all three in more intimate ways, to realize how God comes close to give us help for our everyday life.” - Timothy Jones “Before humankind even appeared on the scene, God was already busy relating. It makes sense that God, already full of love and communing, would create.” - Timothy Jones “God is not some aloof, distant being. This is not some deity who can’t understand what it means to be in an intimate relationship.” - Timothy Jones “Because God has shown us this picture of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we glimpse a delight that grows out of a communion that’s already at play between the three persons of the Trinity.” - Timothy Jones “We’re all searching for a more lasting love, something that’s reliable, sturdy, dependable, and abundant. This is what I see in the picture of the Trinity. Because of all this relational depth, it’s not intimidating as much as it is life-changing.” - Timothy Jones “Human tenderness alone cannot satisfy our deepest longings. What I’m seeing here [in the Trinity] can heighten our anticipation for a life with God, a relationally richer life.” - Timothy Jones “God cares about our daily worries, about the hardest things that happen to us, whether we’re loved and valued.” - Timothy Jones “The early church spoke of the Trinity not merely as doctrine, but as something that could take a lifetime of exploring and pondering, and could deepen and enrich our worship in wonderful ways.” - Timothy Jones ________________________ 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.
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S1 · E520
July 9 · 27 min
Choosing Freedom Over Fear in the Wake of Crisis: Jameson and Mary Reeder & Greta Eskridge
This week, we hear from Jameson and Mary Reeder, authors of Rescue at the Reef. They share the miraculous story of their ten-year-old son, Jameson Jr., who narrowly survived a devastating bull shark attack in the Florida Keys. Despite a life-altering injury, Jameson Jr.’s faith remained unshaken, and just four days later, he asked to return to the reef. Later in the episode, we hear from Greta Eskridge, author and homeschool mom of four, who shares her story of healing after her husband Aaron confessed to an affair and a years-long pornography addiction. While working to heal the damage to their marriage, Greta became convinced that parents must break the silence around this issue and initiate difficult conversations with their kids about pornography. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Chelsea Damon Upcoming interview: Tom Hardin Jameson & Mary Reeder Rescue at the Reef: The Miraculous True Story of a Little Boy with Big Faith - Book by Jameson & Mary Reeder Greta Eskridge It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn - Book by Greta Eskridge Interview Quotes: “It goes from the greatest day of our life to the worst day, just like that. [My son] hears me scream, “No,” and the first words out of his mouth are, “Daddy, it’s okay. Jesus is going to save me.” - Jameson Reeder “When you face your fear, the fear doesn’t go away, but what you focus on is what rises. Do you focus on the fear or do you focus on your heavenly Father who’s with you in those fearful moments? He’s not abandoned you. He’s with you. And when you focus on your Father over the fear, then freedom rises.” - Jameson Reeder “Cultivating connection isn’t about these singular once-a-year, twice-a-year big moments. It’s everyday intentional time spent with one another.” - Greta Eskridge “We need to have conversations about pornography and the disconnection that it causes.” - Greta Eskridge “Out of that brokenness [of betrayal] has come a desire for both of us to not only cultivate meaningful, intentional, lasting connection as a couple, but also with our children, with friends, because not only have we experienced the disconnection ourselves, but we have recognized that our world is becoming increasingly more disconnected.” - Greta Eskridge “As much as [my husband] wanted to escape addiction, the nature of addiction is that it is very hard to do that on your own, and he needed support.” - Greta Eskridge “Beginning to understand what [my husband] was dealing with was impactful for me to have compassion and understanding for him..Being willing to do that and pursue my own healing as a betrayed spouse at the same time, those two things were transformative, and really, honestly, what changed everything for both of us.” - Greta Eskridge “When we allow ourselves to have that conversation [about pornography] with our kids or with one another, it takes away the power of the thing, and it reduces the shame. Shame tells us this is the end. But when we bring it into the light, it loses its power.” - Greta Eskridge “It’s incredible how much can change just by simply opening the door to honest, heartfelt conversation.” - Greta Eskridge ________________________ 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.
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S1 · E519
July 2 · 23 min
Despite Suffering, We’re Promised Hope and a Future: Victoria Arlen & Hillary Phillips
This week, we’ll hear from Victoria Arlen, a former Paralympic swimmer and ESPN personality, who shares her harrowing journey of surviving a rare autoimmune condition that left her in a “locked-in” vegetative state for four years beginning at age eleven. Beyond her physical recovery, she faced the intense emotional pressure of being labeled a “miracle,” while silently struggling with trauma and mental health. She eventually found peace by learning to embrace vulnerability, a transformation she details here. Later in the episode, we hear from author and actress Hillary Phillips as she bravely shares about transforming a broken view of God—seeing Him as angry and tallying mistakes—into an authentic relationship. After a complicated childhood turned into years of internalizing pain, Hillary recounts the raw moment she cried out to God in anger, only to be met with a supernatural love she never knew was possible. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Chris & Lindsey Wheeler Upcoming interview: Jameson and Mary Reeder Victoria Arlen Victoria’s Victory Foundation Dancing with The Stars Hillary Phillips My Brain While Reading the Bible - Book by Hillary Phillips The Big Blue Book - Show ft. Hillary Phillips The Greatest Thing Ever! - Movie ft. Hillary Phillips Interview Quotes: “What the doctors failed to realize was I could hear everything that they were saying, and I could see, but nobody knew that I could. So I was literally locked inside my own body.” - Victoria Arlen “..You really have a choice—you fight or you give in. I saw how my family refused to give up on me.. They set up a hospital room in our living room and basically brought the world to me, because in their eyes, if they had a month with me, or a couple years, or the rest of my life, they wanted to take care of me.” - Victoria Arlen “I had this peace that surpassed understanding, and this journey as my mom calls it—our tragic, beautiful journey—is where we found God. It’s where we found our family, on a whole different level, and it really set my life in a whole different direction.” - Victoria Arlen “When I broke down, that was the beginning of that breakthrough in which God orchestrated so many things, to essentially help me get to that path where, Oh, I get that peace that surpasses understanding.” - Victoria Arlen “It was the first time the Gospel really sunk in for me—You don’t just love me because of how I perform or because of all these outward things, You love me [through] all of that stuff that I’m seeing.” - Hillary Phillips “Learning to be still with God and realize, Oh wait, you don’t actually expect me to be anything other than who I am. You don’t call me to wear a mask. You call me just to be. And learning how to do that is such a liberating thing, but also it’s just ongoing.” - Hillary Phillips “I was angry and felt wronged, and God really started to challenge me on how I was showing up in love. One of the things I realized was that I was not accepting my parents as they were [or] where they were. I was holding them to this idea of who they needed to be and who they weren’t.. God really helped me realize that’s not actually walking in love. I am rejecting who they are and only holding them to this idea or their past.” - Hillary Phillips “God didn’t promise us an easy life, He didn’t promise us a life free of suffering, but He did promise us hope and a future. He promised us that whenever we are struggling, He’ll be there with us through it. He’ll never leave us or forsake us.” - Hillary Phillips “I think that God used that experience to really show me His love is because I had to learn to sit and see trauma up close, but also recognize it’s not my job to fix.” - Hillary Phillips ________________________ 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.
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June 30 · 11 min
[JESUS LISTENS MONTHLY SERIES] God, Help Me to Know You More: John Eldredge
Author and counselor John Eldredge joins us to share why the Christian life was always meant to be more than information—it’s meant to be deeply experiential. In this conversation, learning to receive God’s love, and allowing His presence to heal our deepest wounds. Guest’s Links YouTube: @WildatHeartOfficial Facebook: @wildatheartministries Instagram: @wildatheart Watch this interview on our YouTube channel! https://bit.ly/4ojPthk ________________________ 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.
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S1 · E518
June 25 · 23 min
Disbelief and Anxiety - The Surprising Places We Find God: Dr. Michael Guillén and Chris Hodges
This week, we hear from Dr. Michael Guillén, a physicist who grew up in East LA, earned his PhD from Cornell, taught at Harvard, and spent fourteen years as the science editor for ABC News—including a dive to the wreck of the Titanic that nearly killed him. Dr. Guillén shares how decades of studying invisible forces in the universe—dark matter, hidden dimensions, the limits of what science can actually see—ultimately led the self-described atheist to faith and why he believes science makes the case for God stronger, not weaker. Later in the episode, we hear from Chris Hodges, founding pastor of Church of the Highlands, who opens up about the grief, burnout, and panic attacks that brought him to a breaking point after a decade of leading one of the country’s fastest-growing churches—and the five-step process he found in scripture that pulled him out. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Nathan Davis Jr. Upcoming interview: Victoria Arlen Dr. Michael Guillén The Invisible Everywhere: Believing Is Seeing - Documentary by Dr. Michael Guillén Church of the Highlands Highlands College Legacy Letters: Timeless Principles I Learned, Lived, and Leave Behind - Book by Chris Hodges Interview Quotes: “It’s not seeing is believing; it’s believing is seeing.” - Dr. Michael Guillén “Far from there being any contradictions, actually there were a lot of similarities between how the Bible describes heaven and how modern science describes this visible realm beyond the cosmic horizon.” - Dr. Michael Guillén “There is no fundamental contradiction between the Biblical worldview and the modern scientific worldview.” - Dr. Michael Guillén “Now that I’m grown up, I’m still a scientist, but now I’m a devout Christian. I don’t feel that lonely. I’m finding that more and more scientists are very receptive to the idea of God.” - Dr. Michael Guillén “Science has made it easier for me to believe in God, not harder. I’ve grown accustomed to dealing with invisible realities. It’s the bread and butter of modern science. The fact that God is invisible is no big deal for me, because I see His fingerprints everywhere.” - Dr. Michael Guillén “I liken the process or the feelings of depression and burnout as kind of being in the cave. Like, you know there’s a way out, but you don’t know where it is and it’s dark and it’s confusing.” - Chris Hodges “Many people only know God in the dynamic; they don’t know Him in the intimate.” - Chris Hodges “When I had a new assignment, and a fresh purpose for life.. Joy flooded my heart the moment I knew God had something He wanted me to do.” - Chris Hodges “I call it the bucket list principle—if you want to start living, start dreaming.” - Chris Hodges “I think people can come out of their burnout conditions by their closeness with the Lord, by renewing their sense of purpose and hope.” - Chris Hodges ________________________ 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.
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S1 · E517
June 18 · 24 min
Healing Your Past to Lead Your Family Well: Jeff Hamilton & Glen Henry
This Father’s Day week, we hear from two men whose completely different experiences of childhood and fatherhood led them to the same mission: helping dads show up with intention. Jeff Hamilton, pastor and author of Dad Academy, grew up with the rare gift of an engaged, present father. Today, he’s helping dads build stronger relationships with their children through intentional parenting. Later in the episode, we hear from Glen Henry, known online as Beleaf in Fatherhood, whose story couldn’t be more different—a childhood marked by feeling unwanted and unloved, and a young adulthood spent shifting his identity just to feel accepted. It was becoming a father himself that finally forced the inner work he’d avoided and how he learned the importance of fathering yourself first. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Dr. Meg Meeker Upcoming interview: Dr. Michael Guillén Jeff Hamilton Dad Academy Dad Academy: Raising Courageous, Capable, Confident Kids - Book by Jeff Hamilton Glen Henry Beleaf in Fatherhood YouTube Channel Father Yourself First: Everything You Need to Become the Father Your Family Deserves - Book by Glen Henry Interview Quotes: “Kids are going to be kind of self-conscious as they start to compare themselves to the environment or to the relationships that are around them, but our job is not to let their self-worth and value be influenced by an image of what other people want them to be.” - Jeff Hamilton “There’s inherent greatness in our kids, and it’s our job as parents to nurture it within them.” - Jeff Hamilton “I think the greatest thing that we can pass on to our kids is the value of serving. We find a sense of significance by the value and benefit that we bring to others.” - Jeff Hamilton “A dad’s mission is to prepare their kids for life by passing on their values and their skills to their children.” - Jeff Hamilton “The rituals and traditions of your family are the things that give your children a sense of identity and understanding of who they are and the priorities that they need to establish in the course of their lives.” - Jeff Hamilton “[Traditions and rituals] create memorable moments that help our kids understand when they move from one stage to another, and it affirms who they are becoming and the future and the destiny that’s ahead for them.” - Jeff Hamilton “Once I started to grow as a man by having to apply the things that people were trying to teach me my whole life, I recognized the true gift that fatherhood was.” - Glen Henry “My thought is that you would father yourself out of that and start to change your inner voice so that you always speak to yourself as a father that loves you, just like you love your children.” - Glen Henry “The way I have been held as a father, I’ve never felt closer to God than I have being a part of a family. You’re collaborating with God on a masterpiece.” - Glen Henry “There are things hidden in the relationship [with your family] that if you allow it to teach you, you will grow closer to God.” - Glen Henry ________________________ 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.
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June 16 · 25 min
[BONUS] A Father’s Influence and God’s Healing Love
Welcome to this special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast. We’re talking to men who look at their lives as fathers as one of the most important roles they’ll ever have. Our earthly fathers—or the significant father figures in our lives—cast a profound and lasting shadow on who we become. We carry their wisdom, their lessons, and their support as a foundation for our own lives. Yet, for many, that influence also includes painful memories—moments of absence, criticism, or misunderstanding that leave behind wounds and a deep yearning for unconditional acceptance. No human father is perfect, and the imperfections in our relationships can sometimes make it difficult to grasp the concept of a loving Father in heaven. Through prayer and faith, we can allow God’s perfect love to mend the broken places and provide the strength to honor and navigate our relationship with our human fathers. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Steven Curtis Chapman & Emily Chapman Richards Rob Kenney Kirk Cousins Jeremy Rosado Trey Tucker ________________________ 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.
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S1 · E516
June 11 · 20 min
Rebuilding Sanctuary in the Wake of Trauma: Tim Hawkins & Michael Charles Olson
This week, we hear from comedian Tim Hawkins, who shares what it took to build a career on clean, relatable comedy—and the surprising lesson he learned when nearly two decades of constant road life led to complete burnout. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from singer-songwriter and pastor Michael Charles Olson, who shares a life influenced by both worship and wounds. Raised in a church where music and faith were woven into everyday life, Michael reflects on how that early sense of sanctuary was later shaken to its core by a church fire that damaged more than just its walls. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Becky Thompson Upcoming interview: Jeff Hamilton Tim Hawkins Fist Bump - Comedy Special by Tim Hawkins Michael Charles Olson Rocketown Records Daddy Set the Church on Fire: A Journey Toward Restoration - Book by Michael Charles Olson Interview Quotes: “I grew up in a very fun family. We laughed a lot. We enjoyed comedy. I didn’t know what it was. I just know it made me feel good, and it was fun to create it and make people laugh.” - Tim Hawkins “My job is to be funny. People call me a Christian comedian, but I’m a Christian who is a comedian.” - Tim Hawkins “It’s all about connection. Connection is something that we need—and lack. It’s a need that fulfills something in us.” - Tim Hawkins “A thing that I needed to learn was to control my brain, to just shut it down.. And being able to just stop that and be quiet and present.” - Tim Hawkins “Just like that organ was a really, really intricate instrument of praise, my dad was a beautiful soul, deep soul, and through the power of unforgiveness, our home fell apart.” - Michael Charles Olson “When the heart of the father turns inward on itself through pain, the child is kind of left not knowing what to do because we’re hardwired in the way that we were created in our relationship with God for this openness and vulnerability.” - Michael Charles Olson “I really feel like my role as a worship leader is to create environments where the fire of God is experienced in the church.” - Michael Charles Olson “We all go through seasons of brokenness. We all go through seasons where we feel like we’ve let God down. We feel like we let ourselves down. I think I would just say that I’ve had those seasons, and it’s very, very important to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd speaking to you in the midst of your brokenness.” - Michael Charles Olson “When you’re wounded in the sanctuary, when the thing that you hold most dear burns to the ground, God meets you in a restorative place.” - Michael Charles Olson ________________________ 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.
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June 9 · 16 min
[BONUS] Jesus Calling Scripture Study: Mornings in the Bible with Jennifer Dukes Lee
Welcome to a special scripture-focused bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, where we contemplate the two hundred plus mornings mentioned in the Bible with author and Bible teacher Jennifer Dukes Lee. Jennifer walks us through notable mornings from Scripture, like God’s first creation on earth when He said “let there be light,” to Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, and the tasks God gives people like Abraham, Moses, and Jacob to begin at daybreak. Jennifer reminds us how each sunrise reminds us that God’s mercies are new each and every day, giving us built-in do-overs and a chance to fall in love with life and the role God has for us all over again. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Jennifer Dukes Lee How to Love Your Morning by Jennifer Dukes Lee Interview Quotes: “Anytime we look east, we see the sun rising and it reminds me that God’s mercies are new every morning.” - Jennifer Dukes Lee “God built these do-overs every twenty-four hours into this cycle on earth, and every morning is a new opportunity to wake up and say, ‘Thank you for this day you have given me.’” - Jennifer Dukes Lee “You study all these mornings in Scripture, and you see it as a really special time for God to set His people out to be obedient to what He has called them to do.” - Jennifer Dukes Lee “If you chase a sunrise, you stand with your eyes facing east, and you see a little bit of light creeping up over the horizon. And it’s like God saying to you, ‘Welcome to a new day. This is your day to love and enjoy and to be present with Me.’” - Jennifer Dukes Lee “On the morning when Jesus was crucified… we don’t like to think about Jesus on a cross and how painful that is. But it reminds me that Jesus gets our hard mornings, and some of the most sacred mornings in Scripture don’t start with joy, they start in the dark.” - Jennifer Dukes Lee “We have this idea that everything will be better in the morning. That doesn’t mean our problems are going to disappear, but it does mean that God could change something in us even if our circumstances don’t change.” - Jennifer Dukes Lee “It doesn’t matter what time I get up, or how much I can accomplish before 8:00 AM. What matters is that I can bring the hopefulness that God promises at the start of a new day and bring that into my life, beginning with the moment my feet hit the floor.” - Jennifer Dukes Lee ________________________ 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.
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S1 · E515
June 4 · 20 min
The Gift of a Second Chance: Annie Bosko & Danielle Kartes
This week, we’ll hear from Annie Bosko, a country artist whose career was gaining momentum when, in the middle of a live performance, her voice suddenly gave out. What followed was a vocal cord injury that required surgery and months of recovery where she couldn’t speak at all. Annie shares what that season of silence revealed, the people who stepped in to help her rebuild, and how she slowly returned to doing what she loves. Later, we’ll hear from chef and author Danielle Kartes. After her family lost everything when their restaurant closed, Danielle struggled to rebuild her life and marriage. Though she vowed never to cook again, she was drawn back to the kitchen. Her attempt to reconcile her deep faith with her practical, food-centric work asking, “How does hope relate to pot roast?” became the foundation for her company, Rustic Joyful Food. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Jordan Smith Upcoming interview: Tim Hawkins Annie Bosko MusiCares God Winks - Song by Annie Bosko California Cowgirl - Album by Annie Bosko Danielle Kartes Rustic Joyful Food. The Best Kids Cookbook: 60 Fun and Simple Recipes to Get Kids Cooking - Book by Danielle Kartes Interview Quotes: “That’s really when your faith is tested the most—when you don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, but you still have to believe that it’s there.” - Annie Bosko “I was forced—because I couldn’t talk, I couldn’t open my mouth and talk to anyone—to get really quiet, to quiet the outside noise, and forced to really dig deep into what I wanted to do next and what I was feeling called to do to next, which I think is really important because the world will pull you a thousand different ways if you don’t have the internal strength, fortitude, direction in here.” - Annie Bosko “I think when everything’s going really well, it’s easy to forget about consulting with God. But when nothing’s going for you, or when you feel like you’re at your wit’s end and you feel really down on all hope, I think that’s when people have to turn to faith the most.” - Annie Bosko “You have to be on the bigger spiritual plan, path, [or] course for your life that doesn’t look like anyone else’s. That’s really important to sort of tune out sometimes even like your own voices of fear, because I really believe that anytime you’re making decisions out of fear, that’s not in love.” - Annie Bosko “I can carry out God’s plan for me, [and] I think at the end of the day, it’s only you and God [that] know how far you can actually go.” - Annie Bosko “God is still good, and He can still use your story even if it’s broken. God still wants wonderful things from you.” - Danielle Kartes “When I stopped wanting Him to show up in the way that I thought I needed and allowed God to show up in the way that He needed for my life, everything changed as far as my peace and trusting His provision.” - Danielle Kartes “I think that you can strengthen your family bond and your bond with your children by allowing them into your day. I think that it’s really important to just involve your kids in what you’re doing.” - Danielle Kartes “The more time you spend with the Lord, the more time you make for Jesus, the better you feel, even if your life circumstances aren’t changing.” - Danielle Kartes “God didn’t promise us that it would be easy, but He did promise, “I’m going to be with you every step of the way.” - Danielle Kartes ________________________ 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.
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S1 · E514
May 28 · 34 min
Life’s Frailty and God’s Peace: Amy Grant and Andrew Osenga
This week, we’re honored to welcome back a dear friend of the show—the iconic artist, singer, and GRAMMY winner Amy Grant. Amy joins us to share her heart about her first album of original material in thirteen years, the deeply personal project titled “The Me That Remains.” In this moving interview, Amy opens up about the profound life events that inspired her new music—navigating the tender journey of aging and caring for her parents at the end of their lives, her ongoing recovery from a serious bike accident, and the enduring joy of creating music that she feels grateful to share with the world. Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Andrew Osenga, a Nashville-based musician, writer, and podcaster. Andrew spent years trapped in the tension between his private doubts and the crushing expectation of performing as a Christian artist. Growing up, image was everything, and he struggled under the pressure to appear “put-together”—even when he felt broken inside. It took devastating loss—including his home flooding, displacing his family, and his wife’s grueling cancer journey—for him to finally break free from performance-driven faith. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Diane Chew Upcoming interview: Annie Bosko Amy Grant The Me That Remains - Album by Amy Grant The Book of Forgiving - Book by Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu The 6th Of January (Yasgur's Farm) - Song by Amy Grant Andrew Osenga How to Remember: Forgotten Pathways to an Authentic Faith - Book by Andrew Osenga Caedmon’s Call Young Life Interview Quotes: “Don't ever be afraid to speak the truth of what is right now.” - Amy Grant “Life is happening to all of us all the time, and we have to be gentle with ourselves and gentle with each other.” - Amy Grant “I feel like the arts are good medicine for everybody.” - Amy Grant “We are all part of humanity and we all experience good, hard and unresolved unrest; how do we sit in it and find our way forward?” - Amy Grant “When [accidents or illnesses] come, you need people in your life to remind you what matters: you are loved by God, and if you’re still breathing, the adventure continues.” - Amy Grant “Jesus doesn’t want us to pretend. He wants us to be the people He created. He doesn’t love a fake image of me. He loves me.” - Andrew Osenga “There have been a number of experiences in my life that have helped redirect me towards a more quiet and grounded way of being with God, moving from performance towards presence.” - Andrew Osenga “The wonderful thing is Jesus doesn’t meet us in our perfection, He meets us in our suffering. Jesus is introduced to us in the Bible as a man of sorrows. And so, it’s not that we have to stay there all the time, knowing that is a part of our story. Being able to be honest about that allows us this freedom to be people of joy rather than having to sort of put on a happy face.” - Andrew Osenga “We can say that we can hold suffering and joy in both hands at the same time, and I think those are the people that we’re drawn to. And that’s when we can start to speak with an authentic voice. That takes time to learn how to do that, and that takes, honestly, walking through seasons of both suffering and joy to be able to learn how to do that.” - Andrew Osenga “We live in a culture that prizes things like novelty, speed, and constant reinvention. I think these practices like lament, confession, shared prayer, and silence can be a form of resistance, pushing back against this speed, the hectic life, against the doom scroll.” - Andrew Osenga ________________________ 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.
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May 26 · 8 min
[JESUS LISTENS MONTHLY SERIES] God, Help Us Hold Both Sorrow and Hope: Tanner Olson
Author and poet Tanner Olson joins us to share his family’s journey through unexplained infertility and the heartache it brought. Out of that season of grief came unexpected joy—the gift of adoption and the arrival of his son. Tanner reflects on the role of prayer in holding both sorrow and hope, and the childlike wonder he’s learning from his little boy. Guest’s Links YouTube: @tannerJolson Facebook: @writtentospeak Instagram: @writtentospeak Watch this interview on our YouTube channel! https://bit.ly/4p3cPZC ________________________ 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.
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S1 · E513
May 21 · 26 min
The Loneliness of Addiction: How We Can Show Up With Love ft. Caroline Beidler & Jonathan Tepper
This week, we’ll hear from Caroline Beidler, a speaker and recovery advocate who began using alcohol at just eleven years old to numb the pain of a deep sense of loneliness and not belonging. This led to years of addiction, but even after getting sober, Caroline found she was still wrestling with shame, unhealthy patterns, and wounds that hadn’t healed. Jonathan Tepper is a founder, author, and strategic thinker whose journey began as the son of missionaries in regions of deep cultural and economic contrast. From his upbringing in Spain by missionaries who sought to help those addicted to heroin, all the way to Taiwan and the high-stakes world of global finance, he has found himself on a search for truth and fairness. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Ryan Scheckler. Upcoming interview: Amy Grant Caroline Beidler When You Love Someone in Recovery, A Hopeful Guide to Understanding Addiction - Book by Caroline Beidler Jonathan Tepper Shooting Up: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Addiction - Book by Jonathan Tepper Mere Christianity - Book by C.S. Lewis Interview Quotes: “I had no name for who God was, but at the same time, I just remember knowing that He was there. I just feel like from even an early age, I was seeking that relationship, and I was seeking a connection with God.” - Caroline Beidler “It wasn’t until I started walking in longer-term recovery that I saw how me showing up as a sober, healthy, growing person impacted people in my life, in my family, who struggled with substance use—just my presence showed people there’s another way to live.” - Caroline Beidler “Recovery is a deep experience that we can go through, of not just physical healing and emotional healing, but spiritual healing and formation.” - Caroline Beidler “When our loved ones have hope for us, have hope that we will heal and find addiction recovery, we are more likely to. That is a powerful statement, and that is a powerful way that I think God reveals [that] hope isn’t just some feeling.” - Caroline Beidler “We know from the research and our own experience that the number one way to help people struggling with addiction is to connect them with people with a similar life experience.” - Caroline Beidler “Those two pieces—hope and belonging, hope and connection—are so important when we’re talking about how people can heal from addiction, not just themselves as individuals, but as families.” - Caroline Beidler Addiction kind of breeds and increases and gets stronger and more destructive in isolation. When we can shine some light on what’s going on, that’s where God can come in and that healing can happen.” - Caroline Beidler “The best thing that families can do when their loved one is struggling is lead with love and lead with compassion.” - Caroline Beidler “Addiction is a crisis of loneliness, and the way to address it isn’t just through treatment. It’s making sure our loved ones are connected in community.” - Caroline Beidler “One thing I’ve taken away is that you can be a miserable, greedy person and poor or you can be a miserable, greedy person and rich.” - Jonathan Tepper “You have to decide every day whether you want to be loving and compassionate. And it doesn’t really matter where you are to do that, as long as you’re doing your best with what you have.” - Jonathan Tepper “I don’t think heroism is one single great act of courage. I think it’s showing up day to day and trying to show love and compassion to others.” - Jonathan Tepper “My parents never planned on starting an international drug rehab center, they set out to show love and compassion to one addict at a time. And I think that taking one step at a time is a way that you can change the world, even if you don’t set out to do it.” - Jonathan Tepper ________________________ 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.
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S1 · E512
May 14 · 25 min
One Prayer Away From Disaster: Butch Wilmore & Brooke Envick
This week, we’re talking with astronaut Butch Wilmore who has spent 465 days off-planet, giving him a literally out-of-this-world perspective on God’s creation. From fighter jet pilot to Space Shuttle commander, Wilmore’s career was a testament to preparation and discipline. However, his faith was truly tested when a spacecraft Wilmore was manning began losing thrusters—and he was just a prayer away from spiraling toward potential disaster. Next up, we speak with Brooke Envick, a veteran dean in higher education, who recounts how achieving every professional milestone left her feeling empty. She discusses combining lessons from neuroscience with practices like gratitude and prayer, revealing how a sudden, debilitating health crisis forced her into a necessary stillness that ultimately paved the way for profound, lasting internal change. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Jesus Always Jesus Listens Past interview: Nikki DeLoach Upcoming interview: Caroline Beidler Jesus Calling for Moms Butch Wilmore Boeing Starliner Stuck in Space: An Astronaut's Hope Through the Unexpected - Book by Butch Wilmore Brooke Envick True Ascension: Unlocking Greatness Through Faith, Fortitude, and Foresight - Book by Brooke Envick Interview Quotes: “You can see the vibrancy, you can see life in the colors. Understanding and knowing that the atmosphere protects the planet and enables us to have the air to breathe that we need, and all of that, and it’s all supplied by our Lord and Savior, our God, the Creator of all things, that is a special thing to view from that vantage point.” - Butch Wilmore “In all types of strenuous situations that we come through in life—to where realizing the Lord’s in control, He is sovereign, working providentially for His Glory and our ultimate good, if we believe. And that is the mainstay of who I am, what I understand, what I know God’s Word to say. And again, even in those moments, it brings intense comfort and intense hope. There’s always, always, eternal hope, regardless of what takes place.” - Butch Wilmore “You’ve got to be completely committed, all in, and that commitment breeds the preparation that is required for whatever the tasks are that you’re undertaking, because the responsibility is great, sometimes greater in certain areas than others.” - Butch Wilmore “I have to come at whatever the task is with a complete mindset of being prepared, disciplined in that preparation, because that’s what it takes—and in those extremist situations, maintaining the focus that’s required to do the task, whatever that might be.” - Butch Wilmore “Anything that we have, everything that we are capable of doing, everything that we are tasked with doing, He’s given us the ability, and to Him be the glory.” - Butch Wilmore “Life is tough, and in every situation, everything in life, you have to want whatever it is that’s going forward. You have to want it, you’ve got to be committed, you’ve got to prepare, because the responsibility is great that God requires of us, in all aspects of our lives.” - Butch Wilmore “God was still shaping me in that moment and it taught me that real change doesn’t always come from moving faster or starting over. Sometimes it actually happens from stopping and listening and allowing God to align your inner life before sending you forward again.” - Brooke Envick “I found that scripture gave me a lot of insight into broader wisdom and lessons from the Bible, prayer gave me a connection and ongoing conversation with God, and meditation brought alignment to my life. It helped me slow down and focus my thoughts and become more intentional about how I was responding to life, instead of simply reacting to it.” - Brooke Envick “What we return to consistently is what begins to shape our thought patterns, emotional responses, and also our sense of peace. So when we connect with God daily, we reinforce those neural pathways associated with calm, trust, and meaning. Devotionals like Jesus Calling help us create space for that daily attunement and moments when we need to pause and listen and realign our thoughts with truth and with trust. What I’ve seen in my own life is that daily connection doesn’t remove challenges, but it changes how we move through them.” - Brooke Envick “Faith isn’t meant to be passive. God gives us direction, purpose, and trust, but He expects us to use the tools He gives us to make progress.” - Brooke Envick “Faith shapes the why, which is our meaning, our purpose, and our trust in God, and neuroscience reveals the how.” - Brooke Envick ________________________ 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.
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Showing 1–20 of 22 episodes