The Ashley Hepperly Podcast

Part 4 Hearing God's Voice: The 5 Ways God Speaks to You

You already know God speaks. This one is about how He speaks to you specifically, and what to do when it feels like He has gone quiet. In the final part of the series we break down five ways the Holy Spirit speaks: seeing, hearing, knowing, feeling, and what I call God winks. I share the night I asked God how He was going to fix my life and watched Him rearrange the letters H-O-W into W-H-O. The woman in the wheelchair I almost drove past in college. The "L2" I heard in a small church in Rocky Top and had no idea what it meant. The Rihanna song I sang in a service in Knoxville that turned out to be a man's song for going home to Jesus. We also talk honestly about seasons of hiddenness. The honeymoon stage with Jesus is real and I love it, but the depth comes in the meaty trials, when you are leaning in close to hear a whisper instead of riding a high. If you have been asking what you did wrong because the feeling left, this part is for you. Your homework is at the end, and it is simple. Get a journal, talk to Him like He is your best friend, and ask what season the two of you are in. This is part four, the final part of the free How to Hear God's Voice series. IN THIS EPISODE (0:00) Five ways God speaks, and why this one is practical (1:00) Seasons in relationship, and the honeymoon stage with Jesus (3:00) Youth group highs and what forms you instead (5:00) The season every friend left and I moved to Nashville (6:30) "Seasons of manifestation and seasons of hiddenness" (7:40) One: seeing (8:20) H-O-W becomes W-H-O (10:40) Two: hearing (11:50) The woman in the wheelchair (15:10) Three: knowing (15:30) "L2" in a small church in Rocky Top (16:40) Words of knowledge as warnings and boundaries (17:50) The Rihanna song and the man going home (19:20) Don't use God like an ATM (20:20) Four: feeling (20:40) Shifting the atmosphere of a dollar store (22:30) Five: God winks (23:50) Rainbows, Elijah, and the still small voice (24:20) Your homework (24:50) What about false prophets? (25:40) A prayer over you SCRIPTURE AND REFERENCES John 10:27, 1 Corinthians 12 (words of knowledge and wisdom), 2 Corinthians 3:17, 2 Corinthians 12 (caught up to the third heaven), 1 Kings 19 (the still small voice), Genesis 9 (the rainbow), Mark 8:36, and a line from Charles Spurgeon If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who needs it and leave a rating or review. It helps more people find the show. START ROOTED UNIVERSITY How to Hear God's Voice is the intro course inside Rooted University, our online discipleship ministry school for young people. Everything in this series, plus the teaching that comes after it.https://ashleyhepperly.com/rooted-university GET THE FIELD NOTES LETTER Free every Friday. A devotion, a story from the journey, and the new episode in your inbox. https://ashleyhepperly.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE https://youtube.com/@ashleyhepperly COME SAY HI ON INSTAGRAM https://instagram.com/ashley.hepperly

Part 3 Hearing God's Voice: Let Jesus Teach You

Have you ever wanted Jesus to teach you Himself? Not through a pastor, not through a podcast, but directly. That is what part three of How to Hear God's Voice is all about. If you are a believer, you already have a direct line to the Father. You do not have to live off somebody else's leftovers. In this episode I share the six months God told me to quit my clients and just sit with Him, the day the Holy Spirit interrupted me while I was chopping cucumbers and told me to live like Big Mario, and the server in Pigeon Forge who wept at the table when God gave me a word for her. We also get really practical. How to tell your own thoughts apart from the voice of the Holy Spirit. How to journal and actually listen instead of filling the silence. How to step inside the scriptures with the Holy Spirit instead of just checking a verse off your list. And what to do when your nervous system will not slow down long enough to hear anything, because that does not disqualify you. This is part three of a free four part series on hearing God's voice. IN THIS EPISODE (0:00) Jesus wants to teach you Himself (0:50) Stop living off somebody else's leftovers (1:30) Israel said "Moses, you go up the mountain" (2:10) What 20 young adults told me was missing (3:20) Pedestal culture and codependent Christianity (4:30) You do not need someone else to pray for you (5:40) What is your adventure with Jesus? (6:20) The six months God told me to quit (7:20) "Holy Spirit, interrupt me" (8:20) God is just looking for a yes (9:00) Chopping cucumbers and Big Mario (11:00) Walls down with Jesus, walls down with people (12:10) The server in Pigeon Forge (13:40) Was that me or God? (15:20) The banker who can feel a counterfeit bill (15:50) Journaling and listening without editing (16:40) Monologue or dialogue (17:50) Stepping inside the scriptures with the Holy Spirit (19:50) Communion at the foot of the cross (21:30) When your nervous system will not quiet down (22:40) "God, we have a possibility" (24:00) Inside jokes with Jesus (25:10) A prayer over you SCRIPTURE AND REFERENCES Exodus 19 and 20, Luke 14 (the parable of the great banquet), 1 Samuel 17, Psalm 23, Isaiah 53:5, Mark 14 If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who needs it and leave a rating or review. It genuinely helps other people find the show. Get the Field Notes letter, free every Friday. A devotion, a story from the journey, and the new episode in your inbox. https://ashleyhepperly.com Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ashleyhepperly Come say hi on Instagram: https://instagram.com/ashley.hepperly More on Rooted University, the online discipleship school for young people: https://ashleyhepperly.com/rooted-university

How to Hear God's Voice Part 2: He's Way More Creative than You Think

Part 2 of How to Hear God's Voice. Last week we talked about God's character, because that's the bedrock for everything He says. This week we're talking about His creativity. He spoke the world into existence, and He is still that creative about how He speaks to you. Sometimes it's a lullaby. Sometimes it's a drive-thru at Sonic. Sometimes it's a movie you've seen a hundred times. We get into the éclair story, what happened at Sonic, how to invite Jesus into whatever you're already doing, and how to read the Word with your imagination. Your practice this week: God, show yourself to me outside of the box. If this one helped you, share it with someone and follow the show so you don't miss part 3. Get my free weekly Field Notes letter at ashleyhepperly.com Rooted University, my online discipleship school for young people: ashleyhepperly.com/rooted-university

How To Hear God's Voice Part 1: You're on the Wrong Station

God never stopped talking. Most of us are just tuned to the wrong station. In part one of this four part series, recorded live at a coffee shop in the mountains of East Tennessee, I'm teaching you how to tune into the frequency heaven is already speaking on. We get into failure mode versus abiding mode, why gratitude changes what you can hear, and the three shifts that set you up to hear God's voice: knowing His nature, talking to yourself the way the Father talks to you, and refusing to keep conversations going with your old dead self. This series is month one of Rooted University, and I'm giving it away free. New parts drop every Tuesday. Get my weekly Field Notes letter: https://ashleyhepperly.com/ Learn more about Rooted University: https://ashleyhepperly.com/rooted-university

The Inner Thought Life of a 22-Year-Old Church Kid

Hey fam, this week I wanna talk to the early 20-somethings (and the 20-somethings at heart) who grew up in church. I asked a lot of my social media followers what the hardest thing is with their relationship with God, and almost all of them said, “I want to get closer, but I don’t know how. It’s gotta be me. Something is wrong with me.” So, in this episode, we break that down. Like we know Veggie Tales and John 3:16, but how do we actually get closer to God without blaming ourselves and striving? You’ll find answers inside. If you’d like to receive weekly encouragement from me about my adventures with God and how you can have them too, you can sign up for my Field Notes letter at ashleyhepperly.com If you’re looking for something even deeper and want to know what’s next for your life and want higher education spiritually but don’t want to go to seminary (and you want the actual relationship part), I’m opening a tuition-based online ministry school called Rooted University in a couple of weeks, and we’re looking for the first ten founding members. If you feel the Holy Spirit pulling at your heart and want to check it out, you can at https://ashleyhepperly.com/rooted-university. If this encouraged you, share it with a friend, like and subscribe, and let’s set the world on fire for Jesus.

Was that God or Me?!

Was That God or Me?! You had a thought. Was that Him, or was that you? Jesus said His sheep hear His voice (John 10:27), so this is meant to be normal. In this episode: the litmus test for telling the difference (peace vs confusion, does it line up with His word, does it sound harsh), why practice matters more than getting it right every time, and two simple ways to start this week. Also: the full "Bob story" of him getting radically healed, and one of the first things I ever clearly heard God say to me. Weekly letter, Rooted Field Notes: ashleyhepperly.com Rooted University: Email ashley@ashleyhepperly.com

Watching Cartoons with God

Hey fam! This week is about inviting God into everything, instead of just parts that look spiritual. Work, walks, problems, and yep, cartoons. I tell a couple stories inside, and the first is about the Lord speaking to keep a kid from getting hurt by a bear, because He really is that present and specific. The second one is smaller and honestly just as important: sitting down to watch Cinderella and realizing Jesus was enjoying it right there with me. Maybe you can relate, but a lot of us learned about God in circles where the rules came before the relationship, and we walked away assuming He tolerates us ay more that He actually likes us. But the truth is, you can have a relationship with Him that feels safe, instead of performing or bracing for disappointment. This is the truest and most sacred friendship you've ever known, and your heart has been longing for it. If this encouraged you, send it to somebody who needs it, and subscribe so you can catch next week's! Want to keep going deeper? Come get my weekly letter at ashleyhepperly.com. Every week I send a devotion, a story from the journey, and the new episode. It's also where you'll hear first about Rooted University, our online discipleship school for growing deeply in God.

Partnering with God when Anxiety Hits

Why do we deal with anxiety even though we're Christians? I dive deep with my friend Bailey McCoy, a senior at Milligan University, who shares her heart and journey with anxiety as a believer in Jesus. Her insight to overcome with Christ might surprise you:) If you love Jesus and you're 18-30 years old, we'd love for you to be join our family. Each week, I drop you a fresh field note on drawing closer to Jesus, along with virtual and in-person events and updates. You can subscribe at ashleyhepperly.com If this podcast ministered to you, like and subscribe, share with someone, and leave us a review to help spread Jesus' kindness more! I love you guys:)

Moving from Insecure to Secure with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit

We recorded one of our Rooted nights, and I'm giving you the whole thing...just the conversation as it happened. We talked about connecting with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit securely, and how to renew your mind to go deeper with God. It's wild and raw, and I hope you enjoy it. Rooted Collective disiples 18-30 year olds in person and online. If you're in that stretch of life, and you're trying to actually follow Jesus and not talk about it, this is the kind of room we're creating. Every Friday I send out Rooted Field Notes, a free weekly note, keeping you in the loop and discipling you in Christ. Link's below: https://ashleyhepperly.com

"If You Only Knew What I Had for You" -Jesus

Hi, I'm Ashley! Welcome to the podcast. I film here in East TN, so come on up to my front porch in the mountains and let's talk about Jesus. In this episode, I talk about the power of difficulty and how every trial has hope. If we truly knew what Jesus had for us at the end of the trial, we would be filled with hope, and it'd be worth it. If you like hanging out, you can join my weekly letter to receive what I call "Rooted Field Notes", a devotional and story about my exploration of God's heart as we find deeper relationship with Jesus. ashleyhepperly.com

What Keeps You Feeling Spiritually Stuck in your Walk with Jesus

• Transcript

Wild Kingdom Living

Wild Kingdom Living: Rooted Collective podcast Can God really do the impossible and unthinkable?? What does it mean to overflow with Jesus into the world around you and operate in the power of the Spirit? In this episode of Rooted, we dive into what it looks like to live fully anointed, carry the fruit of the Spirit, and release the presence of God in the wildest and riskiest places. We unpack: -How the anointing lives in you -Stories of seeing God do the impossible -Wheelchairs, being high on Jesus, and other fun convos that glorify Jesus The episode is full of raw stories, kingdom truth, and the power of the Holy Spirit. If you were encouraged by this episode, help us disciple more people for Jesus by liking, subscribing, and sharing. If you'd like to be part of our family, check out https://wearerootedcollective.com.

How Worship Improves your Mental Health

Worship isn’t just for Sunday mornings. It’s one of the most powerful tools we’ve been given- for healing, for freedom, and for real connection with God. In this episode, Ashley shares how worship impacts your mental health, brings breakthrough, and helps you live from the presence of God within you. You'll hear: - The real purpose of worship (it’s not what you think) - A wild story of healing during worship - How worship literally shifts your brain and body - 7 Hebrew words for praise + how to practice them Whether you're in a hard season or just hungry for more, this one is for you. Let’s learn to carry heaven here. 👉 Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@wearerootedcollective⁩ (https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCgioeIVdyEfkXQPv5seem4Q) Listen to the Podcast: On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4ldu2y5 On Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4hWr5iq On Amazon: https://shorturl.at/CarCA Listen to Returning: On Spotify: https://shorturl.at/OewuB On Apple Music: https://shorturl.at/JdiBW On Amazon Music: https://shorturl.at/lDoAZ Find Returning/ Rooted Collective Merch: https://shorturl.at/FEHxJ Join our Email Fam! https://wearerootedcollective.com/contact Support Rooted Collective: https://wearerootedcollective.com/give Follow us on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearerootedcollective/ Youtube: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573585613558 Want to get involved with our discipleship school? Visit https://wearerootedcollective.com.

"Why is Forgiveness Better for You than the Other Person?"

“Why is Forgiveness Better for You than the Other Person?” NEW EPISODE — Why is Forgiveness Better for YOU than the Other Person? Let’s be real — forgiveness isn’t easy. It’s messy. It’s layered. And sometimes… it feels impossible. In this raw and honest convo, we unpack the real reason forgiveness is actually better for YOU — not just the other person. We talk about the tension of process + freedom, why forgiveness isn’t a feeling, and how boundaries and healing can go hand-in-hand. You don’t have to forget. You don’t have to ignore what happened. But there is a better way — and it’s full of freedom. We dive into: -What forgiveness really is (and what it’s NOT) -How to set boundaries without bitterness -Why you don’t need to “feel” it to start -What it means to forgive yourself -How looking at Jesus’ sacrifice changes everything If you’ve been hurt by church, people, or even yourself… this one’s for you. Let God meet you where you are. Let us know in the comments — What’s been the hardest part of forgiveness for you? -Subscribe for more raw convos about Jesus, healing, and being rooted in love! #forgiveness #rootedpodcast #genzfaith #jesusheals #churchhurt #christianpodcast

Striving vs. Surrender: What's the Will of God for my Life?!

So many of us are carrying the weight of needing to "get it right." The right path. The right calling. The right decision. But what if the will of God isn’t a tightrope? What if it’s a wide-open field with a good Shepherd leading the way? In this raw conversation, we talk about the difference between striving and surrender. We share real stories of heartbreak, redirection, and peace that only came when we let go. We talk about what it means to follow the Holy Spirit as the umpire of peace, and how God’s will becomes visible when we live in love. If you’re in a season of waiting, wrestling, or wondering what’s next—this is for you. Listen in for: • How to follow peace, not pressure • Hearing God without fear of missing it • Releasing perfection and trusting His timing • How community, worship, and prayer help us discern together • Why love—not performance—is what reveals Jesus Rooted Collective is a discipleship community built on worship, presence, and transformation. We gather weekly in East Tennessee and online—come sit with us. 👉 Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@wearerootedcollective⁩ (https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCgioeIVdyEfkXQPv5seem4Q) Listen to the Podcast: On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4ldu2y5 On Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4hWr5iq On Amazon: https://shorturl.at/CarCA Listen to Returning: On Spotify: https://shorturl.at/OewuB On Apple Music: https://shorturl.at/JdiBW On Amazon Music: https://shorturl.at/lDoAZ Find Returning/ Rooted Collective Merch: https://shorturl.at/FEHxJ Join our Email Fam! https://wearerootedcollective.com/contact Support Rooted Collective: https://wearerootedcollective.com/give Follow us on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearerootedcollective/ Youtube: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573585613558 Want to get involved with our discipleship school? Visit https://wearerootedcollective.com.

Overcoming Rejection

Rooted Collective Podcast | Episode: Overcoming Rejection “You are special — and you are safe to be loved.” Rejection hits deep — whether it came from bullying, abandonment, unmet expectations, or even subtle wounds from family. In this raw episode, we talk through how rejection shapes our responses: pushing people away, self-sabotaging, getting too close, or assuming the worst in others. What if vulnerability isn’t a weakness, but the pathway to healing? We talk about: -The symptoms of a rejection-wounded heart -The fear of being loved deeply -How to carry trust instead of constant skepticism -What it means to be accepted by the Father -And how Jesus bore rejection on the cross so we could belong fully, forever. This is for the ones who’ve felt like too much or not enough. The ones who long to be seen, held, and still struggle to believe they’re safe to be loved. You are not alone. ⸻ 🔔 Subscribe for more rooted, real conversations about healing, identity, and Jesus. -Also available on YouTube! @wearerootedcollective Let us know in the comments: what part of rejection has been hardest for you to overcome? Stay in touch and be a part of our family at https://wearerootedcollective.com. Also, if you enjoyed this, please rate our podcast or share with a friend to share Jesus more! #RootedPodcast #OvercomingRejection #ChristianPodcast #HealingInJesus #IdentityInChrist

"Where Are You in the Waiting, God?"

Why does God make us wait? And where is He in the silence? In this raw and rooted episode, we dive into the heart of waiting on God—the wrestle, the ache, and the hidden beauty. We explore: -Why God delays the promise -How waiting shapes us for becoming -The shift from rescue to partnership -A personal story from my engagement journey -A rooted story of growth in hiddenness -What waiting reveals about God’s faithfulness, even in sickness -And why pain in the waiting isn’t punishment—but preparation If you’re feeling weary, forgotten, or frustrated in the pause, this is for you. Let’s remember together: those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. ⸻ 🔔 Subscribe for more raw, Jesus-centered conversations on becoming, identity, and abiding deeply with God. Want to be involved with our Rooted Collective family? Visit https://wearerootedcollective.com We can't wait to connect with you! 📖 Scripture: Isaiah 40:31 | Galatians 6:9 | Psalm 27:14 #WaitingOnGod #RootedPodcast #FaithInThePause #ChristianPodcast #GodsTiming #Isaiah4031

Breaking Performance

Rooted Collective: Walking Deeply with Jesus Podcast | Episode: Breaking Performance “You don’t have to earn love — you already have it.” In this episode, we’re breaking down the heavy cycle of performance — that pressure to prove yourself to be accepted, to do more in order to feel worthy. Whether it’s through religion, identity, or striving for perfection, so many of us are stuck trying to reach a bar we were never meant to climb. But what if God’s love isn’t something to perform for? We unpack: -What performance really is — and how it sneaks into faith -The trap of doing things “for” God instead of being with Him -How our identity can get tangled in titles, roles, or image -The stories of Matthew 19 and Zacchaeus — and how Jesus disrupted performance culture -The truth that breaks the lie: you’re already chosen, already known. You were never meant to earn what Jesus freely gave. Want to go deeper? We include specific Scriptures to help you break free from striving and rest in the truth of who you are. 🔔 Subscribe for more episodes rooted in healing, identity, and walking deeply with Jesus, and if you liked this episode, be sure to rate it so we can minister the Gospel more:) Be a part of our family and learn more at wearerootedcollective.com! We love you! #RootedPodcast #BreakingPerformance #ChristianPodcast #IdentityInChrist #FaithNotStriving

How to Have a Healed Heart

In this episode, Ashley from Rooted Collective opens up about what it truly means to have a whole, healed heart—and how Jesus gently walks with us through the process. Through raw, personal stories (including one powerful moment singing Rihanna during worship ) and tender insights into grief, trauma, and surrender, Ashley shares how heart healing isn’t just a spiritual buzzword—it’s the deep work of letting go of lies, shame, and fear, and learning to live fully loved. We talk about: • Listening to the Holy Spirit when it doesn't make sense • How grief and healing can happen in unexpected moments • Why receiving Jesus’ love is sometimes harder than giving Him your life • The power of surrender and giving Jesus your yes • Letting go of control and inviting Him into the deepest places • How trauma and autopilot thinking affect our heart • Why living fully alive means feeling the full range of emotion Whether you're feeling stuck, numb, or just know there’s more freedom available—this episode is a safe, encouraging space to explore what healing with Jesus really looks like.

How to Handle Sin??

How to Handle Sin in the Church?? | Rooted Collective Podcast Hey fam, let's talk about it— the topic of sin in the church. In this raw and honest episode, we ask big questions: -Should church leaders sit down if they sin? -How do we respond with grace and uphold integrity? -What does love-driven restoration actually look like? Have you been hurt in the church or seen things handled in a way that didn't seem right or like the heart of God? We're about to go all in and explore all of it, and we pray it restores your heart as you listen. We dive deep into Scripture — from 1 Timothy 3:2–7 to the story in 1 Corinthians 5 — and explore perspectives that may surprise you. Whether you’ve been hurt by church, wrestled with legalism, or just want to know how we walk out holiness with compassion, this conversation is for you. Want to go deeper? If you'd like to be part of our community with Rooted Collective, you can! Visit https://wearerootedcollective.com to learn more and get involved. Aaaaand, Rooted Collective's first worship single “Returning” is out now! Listen wherever you stream music and experience the heart behind the movement. 🫶🏽 Check out "Returning" merch that just dropped. It's low-key fire and supports something real. We've noticed it's perfect for repping a conversation about returning to our first love, Jesus. https://wearerootedcollective.com/rooted-store Let's be a church rooted in love, not fear--truth, not shame--and Jesus, always. We love you! Your Rooted Fam