Notes for Her Faith Authentic, Faith Based Conversations for Christian Business Women

This episode includes discussions of suicide, suicide loss, grief, and mental health struggles. Please take care while listening.

You Can Love Jesus and Still Need Therapy | Faith, Grief & Mental Health with Jarkeshia

Homegirl, we need to talk about mental health in the church.

Because somewhere along the way, we started acting like loving Jesus meant we couldn't struggle emotionally, experience depression, grieve deeply, or need a therapist.

And that's simply not true.

In this special World Mental Health Day episode of Notes for Her Faith, I'm joined by my girl Jarkeshia, founder of the CHOP Movement (Check On Your People), for an honest conversation about faith, mental health, grief, and the importance of having people in your corner.

Jarkeshia shares her personal journey through loss, including losing her father to suicide, becoming a widow, and how those experiences shaped her mission to encourage others to check on their people.

And y'all know we kept it real!

We also talk about our own experiences with therapy, learning when to ask for help, releasing the pressure to be the strong Black woman all the time, and why checking on somebody can mean more than you realize.

In this episode, we're talking about:

• Why faith and therapy can coexist
• Jarkeshia's testimony and the story behind the CHOP Movement
• Grief, suicide loss, and the importance of mental health awareness
• Checking on your people and practicing "Reverse CHOP" by asking for help yourself
• Recognizing when you may need additional support
• Finding a therapist who fits your needs
• Mental health resources, including employee assistance programs and sliding-scale therapy
• Creating safe spaces for women to be heard, supported, and encouraged

A little homework, homegirl:

Check on somebody this week. Not just the usual "How you doing?" Actually make room for an honest answer.

And if you're the one struggling, please don't be afraid to tell somebody you trust.

Connect with Jarkeshia

Founder of the CHOP Movement and Encouragement Sisterhood.

The ChOP Movement

Shop Merch

The Encouragement Sisterhood

Podcast ( ChOP)

Mental Health Resources

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (U.S.)
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): https://www.nami.org
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org
• Mental Health America: https://mhanational.org

And remember, homegirl, you can love Jesus, pray, trust God, and still need professional support.

Be kind to somebody today. And don't forget to be kind to yourself.

Love,

Whit

Notes for Her Faith

Q4 Pressure Is Real: What Are You Actually Supposed to Finish?

Q4 is here, and so is all the pressure to lock in, finish strong, and somehow accomplish everything you said you were going to do back in January.

But homegirl...everything cannot be the priority.

In this episode of Notes for Her Faith, we're slowing down long enough to ask a better question: What are you actually supposed to finish?

We're talking about the difference between productivity and stewardship, honoring the capacity you actually have, and why your October plan doesn't have to look like the one you made in January.

I also get into what it looks like to be multi-passionate without trying to pursue every good idea at the same time, how to recognize when the scope of your goal needs to change, and why imperfect action will get you further than waiting until everything is perfect.

In this episode, we're talking about:

• The pressure to “finish strong” in Q4
• Why everything can't be a priority
• Looking at what God actually gave you to steward
• Planning around your real capacity
• Adjusting the scope instead of abandoning the goal
• Choosing ONE thing to move forward before the year ends
• Why clarity, structure, and consistency matter more than motivation

Your question for this week:

What is ONE thing that still matters, that you have the capacity to move, and that you genuinely want to see further along before the year ends?

Define what finished looks like. Not perfect. Finished.

Ready to actually follow through?

If you already know what your thing is but can't seem to finish it, that's exactly why I created Follow-Through.

You don't need another idea or another goal. Bring the thing you already said you were going to do, and we'll create a realistic plan with the structure and accountability you need to move it forward.

Learn more about Follow-Through: Learn Here

And remember, homegirl: don't spend Q4 trying to finish everything. Finish what matters.

Text the word PODCAST to the number 708-708-9318 for questions and comments!

Have you ever said, “I need a VA,” when what you really meant was, “I need somebody to help me get this DONE”?

VA, OBM, Project Manager, strategist, consultant...there are a lot of titles floating around online. And if you're not clear on the problem you actually need solved, you can hire someone extremely talented who still isn't the right kind of support.

In this episode of Notes for Her Faith, I'm breaking down the difference between a Virtual Assistant (VA), Online Business Manager (OBM), and Project Manager so you can better understand what kind of support you actually need.

• What a VA typically handles and when task support makes sense
• How an OBM supports ongoing business operations, systems, and teams
• What a Project Manager actually does
• Why a defined project is different from ongoing operations
• How to identify the real bottleneck before hiring support
• When you may need PM structure and accountability without handing your entire project over

The goal isn't to decide which role is “better.” Each one solves a different problem, and the scope can vary depending on the person or business.

Start with the problem, not the title.

Before you hire somebody, get clear about the problem you actually need solved.

You might not need more hands. You might need someone who knows how to take a big goal, organize the moving pieces, and help you get that thing across the finish line.

If you're still doing the work but need a Project Manager to help you organize the project, identify your next steps, set deadlines, and hold you accountable, that's where Follow Through comes in.

You bring the project or goal you've been sitting on. I bring my Project Management expertise and help you put structure around the execution so we can actually get it DONE.

Learn more about Follow Through:

The Follow Through Service

Visit My Website:

www.workwithwhit.com

Have a question, comment, or something you want me to talk about on a future episode?

Text PODCAST to 708-708-9318.

And if you're enjoying Notes for Her Faith, leave a review on the platform you're listening on. It helps more women find the show.

Have you ever prayed about something, felt like God answered you, and then found yourself asking Him the same question again?

Maybe you don't need another sign, sermon, or confirmation. Maybe you already know what God told you to do, but moving on it feels uncomfortable.

In this episode of Notes for Her Faith, we're talking about the difference between genuinely waiting on God and delaying something He's already told you to do.

I'm also sharing what this has looked like in my own layover season, why fear doesn't automatically mean you're moving in the wrong direction, and what happens when it's finally time to turn revelation into execution.

• When “I'm still praying about it” may actually be fear
• Why obedience doesn't always feel comfortable
• What to do when God gives you the next step instead of the whole plan
• Why clarity sometimes comes while you're moving
• How revelation eventually has to become execution
• Turning a big goal into one clear, physical next step

Stop asking God to explain step ten when you haven't taken step one.

What's one physical action you already know you need to take?

Not “work on my business” or “find a new job.”

Make it specific. Send the email. Submit the application. Buy the domain. Write the first page.

Take the step you already know to take.

If you already know what you need to do but you're struggling to actually do it, Follow Through was created for you.

You bring the goal or project. I bring my Project Manager brain, structure, clear next steps, deadlines, and accountability to help you get it across the finish line.

Learn more about Follow Through:

https://justwhit.thrivecart.com/the-follow-through/

Got a question, comment, testimony, or something you want me to talk about on a future episode?

Text PODCAST to 708-708-9318.

And if this episode helped you, share it with another homegirl and leave a review so more women can find Notes for Her Faith.

What if the next thing God is asking you to do isn’t more?

After my sabbatical and getting laid off, my project manager brain immediately wanted to start solutioning. What’s the next job? What’s the next business move? What am I launching? What do I need to get done?

But I’ve been sitting with a different question:

Maybe this season isn’t about getting more done.

In this episode of Notes for Her Faith, we’re talking about what happens when productivity becomes part of your identity, why open space doesn’t always need to be filled, and the difference between resting with God and avoiding what He already told you to do.

I also share what this slower season has looked like for me personally, including learning to process my layoff instead of immediately rushing to replace what ended.

• When productivity becomes part of how we measure our worth
• Why movement and progress are not the same thing
• Giving yourself time to process an ending before rushing into something new
• Recognizing that every season isn’t a season of acceleration or harvest
• The difference between resting and avoiding
• When “I’m waiting on God” is really procrastination
• Asking God what actually deserves your attention right now
• How reflection, journaling, and time in the Word can help you move with intention

Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a season for everything. Sometimes God says move. Sometimes He says wait. Sometimes He redirects. And sometimes He tells us to rest.

The goal isn’t constant activity.

The goal is alignment.

Ask yourself:

What am I rushing because being still makes me uncomfortable?

Then ask God:

What actually deserves my attention in this season?

Sit with the answer before immediately adding something else to your to-do list.

If you’re in a slower season and learning how to trust God while you wait, process, or figure out what’s next, grab the Notes for Her Faith: 7-Day Trusting God Journal.

Use the prompts to get quiet, reflect on what you’re noticing, and write down what God may be showing you in this season.

Have a revelation from this episode or want to tell me what God showed you? Send me a text or email. I’d love to hear from you. Text the word "Podcast" to 708-708-9318 to leave a comment, review, or share your thoughts.

And if Notes for Her Faith has been helping you, follow the podcast and leave a review on the platform where you’re listening. Your review helps more Christian women find these conversations about faith and real life.

Next episode: Sometimes we think we’re waiting on God...and the whole time, He already told us what to do. We’re getting into that next.

I got laid off after six years at my last corporate job, but surprisingly, I don’t feel lost.

In this episode, I’m sharing what it looks like to trust God after a layoff when you don’t know what comes next. We’re talking about separating your identity from your job title, recognizing how God prepares you for a transition, and resisting the pressure to rush into your next opportunity.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why preparation doesn’t always look like preparation

• Separating your identity from your career

• Trusting God without knowing the full plan

• Balancing faith with practical action

• Why your employer is a resource, but God is your source

• Giving yourself permission to process before moving forward

YOUR FAITH NOTE:

You don’t need the whole plan to know you’re being led. Before you rush to replace what ended, ask God: What are You showing me? What have You been preparing me for? What should I carry forward, and what needs to stay behind?

If you’re navigating uncertainty or learning to trust God in a new season, download the 7-Day Trusting God Journal:

https://payhip.com/b/FGDso

HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT?

Have a question, comment, or topic you want me to discuss? Text the word PODCAST to 708-708-9318.

CONNECT WITH NOTES FOR HER FAITH:

Website: https://www.notesforherfaith.com/

Substack: https://notesforherfaith.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notesforherfaith/

Subscribe to Notes for Her Faith and leave a review wherever you’re listening.

What if the season you called “rest” was actually God preparing you for what was coming next?

In this first episode of Notes for Her Faith, Whitney shares what happened during her extended sabbatical, including the unexpected news that her position was being eliminated. What initially looked like a quiet season became a time of preparation, clarity, and deeper trust in God.

We’re talking honestly about the difference between resting because God told you to be still and staying comfortable when He has already told you to move. Whitney also shares why surrender cannot come with an invisible deadline, how constant noise can make it harder to recognize God’s voice, and what changed when she finally created uninterrupted space to listen.

In this episode:

• Why Whitney stepped away longer than she planned

• How rest prepared her for an unexpected layoff

• The difference between godly rest and avoiding your next move

• Letting go of how and when you think God should answer

• Why God may not be silent, even when you cannot hear Him

• Creating regular space with God before reaching burnout

Your Note for Her Faith:

When was the last time you intentionally disconnected long enough to hear God, not because everything was falling apart, but simply because you wanted to be with Him?

If you’re learning to trust God without knowing exactly what comes next, grab the 7-Day Trusting God Journal. It will help you slow down, reflect, and process what God may be showing you in this season.

Get the journal: Click Here

Connect with Notes for Her Faith on Substack: Subscriber Here

Subscribe to Notes for Her Faith, share this episode with a homegirl, and leave a review wherever you listen.

Got a question? Text the word PODCAST to 708-708-9318

Nothing Is Wrong With You. Something Is Wrong With Your System.

Have you ever built a system and three weeks later it was completely abandoned? Nothing is wrong with you. But something is wrong with the system. Today we are talking about why.

We are in Pillar 2 of the Operations Series. If you missed Pillar 1, go back and start there. The playlist is linked below.

In this episode we are getting into the root cause of why the systems you build keep falling apart. And it is not because you are lazy or undisciplined.

Here are the four reasons:

You built it in the wrong season. Most of us build systems when we are drowning, not when things are going well. That means the system is reactive and not built to last.

It lives in your head and not on paper. If you cannot write it down and hand it off, you do not have a system yet. You have an intention.

It was built for who you were not who you are becoming. You outgrow systems. That is not failure. That is growth. Give yourself permission to rebuild.

Ain't nobody checking. Accountability is not a weakness. It is infrastructure. Athletes have coaches. Executives have boards. You are not supposed to do this alone.

Think about the last system you tried to build. Which one of these four reasons is why it did not stick? That answer tells you exactly what to fix next.

Ready to stop going at it alone? The Follow Through is Whitney's accountability service where she checks in with you throughout the week on Voxer and helps you build a backend that actually holds.

The Follow Through: https://justwhit.thrivecart.com/the-follow-through/

Book Whitney directly: book.workwithwhit.com

Text the word PODCAST to (708) 708-9318. Your name stays private always.

• The Follow Through: www.workwithwhit.com
• The Operations Series Playlist: Click Here

How many things do you know you need to do in your business but have not done yet? Not because you do not know how. Just because you have not done it. That is a follow through problem. And today we are talking about it.

Hey homegirl. Before we get into it, your girl has some news. I took my PMP exam, which is the Project Management Professional certification, and I want you to hear me clearly. I passed. MBA, PMP, and something else is coming. I have been telling you this whole series that I run million dollar projects and I really am not lying about that. The PMP is the gold standard, the granddaddy of project management certifications, and it took me five years to get here. Started in 2021. Took the scenic route. But it is done and God was on my side the whole time.

And here is why it matters for today. Passing that PMP required me to follow through on myself in a very serious way. I started, I got delayed, I almost quit, but it still got done. So if you are struggling to finish what you started in your business or your personal life, you are exactly in the right place.

This is episode three of our operations series. If you have not listened to episodes one and two yet, go back and start there. We have covered operational chaos and crisis mode. Today we are closing out Pillar 1 by getting to the root of why the follow through feels so hard even when you already know what you need to do.

Your problem is probably not information. Most of us have enough of that. The courses, the free trainings, the saved Instagram posts, the podcasts, the templates. We have all of it. The gap is not knowing. The gap is doing. And that is a harder problem because you cannot consume your way out of it. You cannot buy another course and expect something to change.

Three reasons this keeps happening.

First, there is no one holding you to it. When you work for yourself nobody is checking on you. Nobody is asking why that thing you said you were going to do last week still is not done. Nobody is following up. And without that external accountability it is too easy to keep pushing it to tomorrow.

Second, the overwhelm is real. When your backend is already a mess and your week is already chaotic, starting something new feels impossible. So you wait for things to calm down. But homegirl, things do not calm down on their own. You have to build the calm.

Third, a lot of us are afraid to follow through because following through makes it real. Some of us are afraid of success. Some of us are afraid it will not work. Either way, it is also a faith problem. Proverbs 16:3 says commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established. Not your ideas. Not your intentions. Your work. Your actual execution. God establishes the work, not the to do list.

Follow through is not just about getting things done. It is about building trust within yourself. Every time you say you are going to do something and you do not, you chip away at your own confidence. You start to wonder if you are really cut out for this. You start to doubt the vision.

But every time you follow through, even on something small, you build evidence that you can do this. You build momentum. And that momentum is what carries you to the next level of what God said. Your backend is not just a business problem. It is a faith problem. Can you be trusted with this? Can you steward the vision He gave you all the way through to completion? That is what the follow through is really about.

What is one thing you have been putting off in your business that you actually know how to do? Not something complicated. Just one thing. Whatever comes to mind first, name it, write it down, and ask yourself what it could mean for you if you actually did it.

The Follow Through is my accountability service where I check in with you, keep you moving, and help you close the gap between where you are and where you are trying to go. We start with a kickoff call in your first month and then we stay connected on Voxer with real voice note support. No unnecessary Zoom calls eating your time. This is a three month commitment because real follow through takes time. If you want to keep going after three months, we can talk.

Sign up here: https://justwhit.thrivecart.com/the-follow-through/

Text the word PODCAST to (708) 708-9318. If you want to stay anonymous just say so and I will come up with a name for you. I may answer your question on a future episode.

Share this episode, leave a review, and make sure you check the show notes for all the relevant links.

Playlist to this Series

Hey homegirl. When's the last time you had a normal week in your business? One where nothing caught fire and you weren't scrambling at the last minute? If you can't remember, that's not a coincidence.

In this episode, Whitney breaks down why so many entrepreneurs are stuck living in constant crisis mode, and why it has nothing to do with being bad at business. It's a systems problem.

In this episode:

• Why crisis mode isn't a personality trait, it's a sign you don't have a central system holding your business together
• The hamster wheel of starting and stopping every single week and never feeling caught up
• Why your brain was never meant to be your filing cabinet, client tracker, and to do list all at once
• The real cost of operating in chaos: lost time, lost money, and lost peace
• How unclear priorities make you react to whatever is loudest instead of what actually matters
• A peek into how Whitney uses automation and AI with integrity to stay ahead in her business

Quick Update: Whitney's episodes are moving to every other week for the summer so she can soak up time with her kids. Don't worry, she's still showing up for you.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Catch up on the previous episode about operational chaos (link it here)
• Join The Follow Through, Whitney's signature accountability service: https://justwhit.thrivecart.com/the-follow-through/
• Text the word PODCAST to 708-708-9318 to ask a question, leave a review, or suggest a topic

Loved this episode? Share it with a homegirl who needs to hear it, and leave a review on your favorite podcast app. Whitney's reading every single one.