Crazy Unbelievable Faith

🎙️ Episode Overview

Have you ever made a decision, convinced it was God leading you only to wonder later if it was just your own emotions talking? Brian and Kersha Owen get real about the messy, often confusing space between spiritual discernment and emotional impulse. From roller coaster moments building their house to learning to "ask all the questions" before reacting, this episode is a practical and honest look at how to tell the difference between God's voice and your feelings.

🔥 What You'll Learn

• Why emotions are powerful but not always spiritual — and why that distinction matters
• How Brian and Kersha use a two-week discernment process before making major decisions
• The difference between being a "thermostat" vs. a "thermometer" in your emotional life
• How God speaks differently to different people (audible impressions, feelings, visions, nature) — and why that's okay
• Three discernment filters every believer should ask before acting on a feeling
• Why spiritual maturity means leading your emotions rather than being led by them
• The role of community and wise counsel in confirming God's direction

💬 Memorable Quotes

"Emotions are powerful, but not always spiritual."

— Brian Owen

"Spiritual maturity means leading emotions, not being led by them."

— Kersha Owen

"Feelings are indicators, not decision makers. God's voice remains steady — emotions fluctuate."

— Kersha Owen

"Be the thermostat in the room, not the thermometer. We set the temperature."

— Kersha Owen

"If one day we hear yes and the next day we hear no — we know our emotions are in the way."

— Brian & Kersha Owen

"Emotions are God-given, not God-led by default."

— Brian Owen

🛑 Reflect + Apply

This week, try Brian and Kersha's discernment process:

• Pause before reacting — ask yourself: is this God or is this me?
• Pray over the decision for a full week. If the answer shifts day to day, your emotions are likely in the driver's seat.
• Seek wise, spiritually connected counsel in week two. Don't expect an immediate answer — just invite others to pray with you.
• Run it through the three filters: Is this biblical? Does it reflect Jesus's character? Will it produce spiritual fruit?

This week's prayer:

"Holy Spirit, lead me beyond my feelings and into Your presence."

📖 Key Scripture

Jeremiah 17:9 — "The heart is deceitful above all things..." A reminder that our feelings, however strong, aren't always a reliable compass. That's why discernment matters.

🙌 Join the Movement

If this episode stirred something in you, don't keep it to yourself — share it with someone who needs to hear it. That's how this community grows.

And if you're ready to go deeper — beyond weekly episodes — the Crazy Unbelievable Faith Inner Circle is coming. Founding members get:

• Monthly live gatherings with Brian & Kersha
• Direct message access to your hosts
• Exclusive content not available anywhere else
• Founding member recognition as the community launches

Follow us and stay connected:

Website: www.crazyunbelievablefaith.com

Instagram: @crazyunbelievablefaith

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In this high-energy and hilariously honest episode of Crazy Unbelievable Faith, Brian and Kersha Owen dive into the moments when God’s instructions feel less like a divine plan and more like a lapse in Sanity. We’ve all been there: sitting with a thought so big, so out of left field, or so inconvenient that our first instinct is to crawl back under the covers. Brian opens up about his "multi-window" brain and the trial of shoveling snow, while Kersha reflects on the daunting reality of writing books when you don't even identify as a writer.

The Owens get refreshingly real about the "Fear of Looking Foolish" and how the opinions of others can become a literal cage for our calling. From the absurdity of marching around Jericho to the modern-day "irrational" nudge to help a stranger, this episode explores why God’s assignments often feel unrealistic before they ever feel anointed. Whether you’re facing a "Year of Patience" or a task that feels miles beyond your resources, Brian and Kersha provide a roadmap for moving from "Am I crazy?" to "I am obedient."

🔥 What You'll Learn:

💬 Memorable Quotes:

🛑 Reflect + Apply: Questions to Ask Yourself

📖 Featured Resources:

Scripture Focus:

🙌 Join the Movement

Stop waiting for the assignment to make sense to your logic and start letting it make sense to your faith. Brian and Kersha challenge you to take one bold, "foolish" step this week. Remember that God provides the strength for the step you are currently taking. You don't need the whole map; you just need to trust the Guide.

💻 Visit crazyunbelievablefaith.com to sign up for our weekly emails and get exclusive updates on our Spring 2026 launches! 📩 Got a "crazy" faith story? Reach out and let us know how you're stepping out this week. 🎧 Love the show? Subscribe, rate, and share this episode with someone who needs the courage to look "foolish" for God.

Crazy Unbelievable Faith: Because the life God calls you to isn't always easy, but it is always worth it.

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In this deeply vulnerable and practical episode of Crazy Unbelievable Faith, Brian and Kersha Owen tackle one of the most common struggles believers face: How do I know if it's really God's voice or just my own thoughts? With raw honesty, Kersha shares the story of sitting in church when she heard "I want you to write me a book"—and her immediate response of looking around thinking, "Cool. For them." This isn't just a theological discussion; it's a masterclass in discerning divine prompting from personal fear, assumption, and misinterpretation.

The Owens get refreshingly real about the six-month delay between hearing God's call and mustering the courage to speak it out loud, the repeated nudges that wouldn't go away, and the confirmation that came through unexpected sources. From writing a book to launching a podcast to making major life decisions, Brian and Kersha walk listeners through their personal framework for testing whether something is truly from God. This episode is both a challenge to stop rationalizing away what God is asking and a practical guide for anyone who's ever wondered: Did I really just hear from Him?

🔥 What You'll Learn:

• Recognizing God's Voice: Discover how to distinguish between divine prompting and your own thoughts, fears, or assumptions—and why repeated nudges are often God's way of getting your attention.
• The Delay Between Hearing and Obeying: Understand why many believers hear God's call but take months (or years) to act on it, and how delayed obedience is still disobedience.
• When God's Assignments Feel Unreasonable: Learn why God's voice often feels unrealistic before it feels anointed, and how obedience usually comes before clarity and understanding.
• Seeking Confirmation: Explore the importance of asking for divine confirmation when you feel God is calling you to something, and how confirmation can come through unexpected people and circumstances.
• God's Thoughts Are Higher: Discover how Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us that God's ways transcend our logic, resources, and readiness—and why that's actually good news.
• Discernment Filters: Get practical tools for testing whether a prompting is from God: Does it align with Scripture? Does it reflect Jesus's character? Does it require faith or just comfort?
• The Difference Between Fear and Wisdom: Learn how to tell if you're dismissing God's voice because it scares you or because it truly contradicts Scripture—and why that distinction matters.

💬 Memorable Quotes:

• Kersha: "Have you ever felt God ask you to do something, and your first thought was: Did God really just ask me that, or am I making it up?"
• Kersha: "I heard: I want you to write me a book. And I literally looked around the room and was like, oh my gosh, someone's going to be an author. Cool. For them."
• Kersha: "It took me about six months to muster up the courage to even speak it out loud that God had asked me to write a book."
• Brian: "Delayed obedience is still disobedience."
• Kersha: "He wanted my obedience, and then He wanted us to walk the path so we could write about the things that He had us walk through."
• Brian: "If it's repeatedly coming back, share it with someone. There's a reason it keeps coming up."
• Kersha: "God often calls us beyond our logic and resources and readiness."
• Brian: "Obedience usually comes before clarity."
• Kersha: "Not every thought is divine, but God's voice carries a distinct tone."
• Kersha: "God's voice is consistent with His Word and His character."
• Kersha: "Are you dismissing God's voice because it scares you or because it truly contradicts Scripture?"
• Brian: "God reveals the next step, not the whole staircase."
• Kersha: "God calls ordinary people into extraordinary obedience."
• Kersha: "Faith grows when you move before you feel ready."

🛑 Reflect + Apply: Questions to Ask Yourself

1. What is something you feel God has been nudging you to do, but you've been rationalizing it away?
2. Have you been experiencing repeated thoughts or promptings about something? Could this be God trying to get your attention?
3. Are you delaying obedience because you're waiting for perfect clarity, or are you willing to take the next step even without seeing the whole staircase?
4. When you test a prompting against Scripture, does it align with God's Word and reflect Jesus's character of love, humility, and service?
5. Are you dismissing what you're hearing because it scares you and stretches you beyond your comfort zone, or because it genuinely contradicts biblical truth?
6. Do you have wise, faith-filled people in your life who you can share these promptings with to seek confirmation and accountability?
7. Is there noise in your life—busyness, distractions, anxiety—that's making it harder to hear God's voice clearly? What needs to be quieted?

Scripture Focus:

This episode is anchored in these key biblical truths about hearing and obeying God's voice:

• Isaiah 55:8-9 - God's Thoughts Are Higher: A reminder that God's ways and thoughts transcend our human logic, and His assignments often feel unrealistic before they feel anointed.
• John 10:27 - My Sheep Hear My Voice: The promise that Jesus's sheep recognize and follow His voice—we are equipped to hear Him when we're walking in relationship with Him.
• Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust the Lord, Not Your Understanding: The call to trust God's wisdom above our own reasoning, especially when His direction doesn't make logical sense.
• James 1:5 - God Gives Wisdom Generously: The assurance that when we lack wisdom to discern God's voice, we can ask Him and He will give it freely.
• Hebrews 11:8 - Abraham Obeyed Even Without Knowing: The example of Abraham who went in obedience even though he didn't know where he was going—faith before full understanding.
• Luke 5:4-6 - Peter Casts the Nets Again: Peter's obedience to Jesus's seemingly illogical instruction led to a miraculous catch—sometimes obedience defies our expertise.
• Psalm 119:105 - God's Word Is a Lamp to Our Feet: God's guidance is like a lamp that lights the next step, not a floodlight that reveals the entire path ahead.

🙌 Join the Movement

If you've been sitting on something God has asked you to do, this episode is your wake-up call. Brian and Kersha invite you to stop rationalizing away the divine nudges and start stepping out in obedience—even before you have perfect clarity. God doesn't need you to understand the whole plan; He just needs your yes. Test it against Scripture, seek confirmation from wise counsel, and then move. Faith looks foolish in the beginning, but obedience always leads to breakthrough.

💻 Visit crazyunbelievablefaith.com to sign up for behind-the-scenes content, submit a prayer request, and stay updated on the exciting things coming in the Spring and Summer of 2026, including the upcoming book launch!

📩 Got questions or want to connect? Brian and Kersha would love to hear what God has been nudging you to do—and how you're learning to discern His voice.

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and share this episode to help someone else stop second-guessing God's call and start walking in obedience.

Crazy Unbelievable Faith: Because the life God calls you to isn't always easy, but it is always worth it.

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In this special father-daughter episode of Crazy Unbelievable Faith, Brian Owen sits down with his teenage daughter Jacelyn for an unscripted, refreshingly honest conversation about dating, identity, and faith in today’s world. With Kersha away for this one, Brian steps into the driver’s seat as he and Jacelyn tackle one of the most relevant topics for young believers: why pursuing purpose must come before pursuing romance. This isn’t a lecture—it’s a real conversation between a dad and his daughter about what it looks like to trust God’s timing in relationships.

With humor, vulnerability, and a few playful jabs (Jacelyn doesn’t hold back on roasting Dad), Brian and Jacelyn explore why identity in Christ must come before intimacy, how the pressure of social media distorts modern dating, and why loneliness is a feeling—not a calling. From the “checklist” they’ve created together to Jacelyn’s own self-evaluation process for whether she’s ready to date, this episode is packed with practical wisdom, biblical truth, and the kind of raw family dialogue that proves faith doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be real. Whether you’re a teenager navigating relationships, a parent guiding your kids, or an adult re-evaluating your approach to love, this episode will challenge you to chase God first and trust Him to write your love story.

🔥 What You’ll Learn:

• Identity Before Intimacy: Understand why you don’t date to discover who you are—you date from knowing who you are in Christ. When people merge their identity into a relationship too early, they lose sight of who God is calling them to become.
• Purpose Over Preference: Learn why alignment matters more than attraction. The “triangle concept”—God at the top, husband and wife at the base—shows that the closer each person gets to God, the closer they get to each other.
• Holiness in the Process: Discover why how you date is as important as who you date. Is God at the center of your dating life, or is it driven by lust, loneliness, or social status?
• Loneliness Is a Feeling, Not a Calling: Explore how the fear of being alone drives people into unhealthy relationships—and why God’s promise is that you are never truly alone.
• The Power of the Checklist: Hear how Brian and Kersha challenged Jacelyn to create a list—not of surface-level wants like height and eye color, but of character traits rooted in faith that she’s also developing in herself.
• Setting Boundaries and Self-Evaluation: Learn how the Owen family has established dating guidelines rooted in both physical and spiritual maturity, and how Jacelyn’s own self-evaluation process has kept her grounded.
• Trusting God’s Timing: Understand why rushing into relationships short-circuits what God has planned—and why His “Forever Book” already has your love story written.
• The Social Media Trap: Hear Jacelyn’s perspective on how social media amplifies pressure, creates unrealistic expectations, and often leads couples to grow around an image rather than growing in faith.

💬 Memorable Quotes:

• Brian: “You don’t date to discover who you are. You date from knowing who you are in Christ.”
• Jacelyn: “Loneliness is a feeling, not a calling.” (referencing Psalm 68:6)
• Brian: “How you date is as important as who you date.”
• Brian: “Chemistry can start it, but a calling sustains it.”
• Jacelyn: “They didn’t want to grow into who God was calling them to be. They just grew into ‘I really just want this one person.’”
• Brian: “Don’t chase love and hope God blesses it. Chase God and trust Him to bless your love.”
• Jacelyn: “God’s Forever Book—He wrote your names together before the beginning of time.”
• Brian: “They fell in lust before they fell into love.”
• Jacelyn: “Is it out of the deepest part of my heart? Is it pure? Kind of like how Christ loves the church.”
• Brian: “People like the idea of something. They don’t like the actual work that goes into it.”

🛑 Reflect + Apply: Questions to Ask Yourself

1. Am I seeking a relationship to fill a void or avoid loneliness—or am I dating from a place of wholeness and identity in Christ?
2. Have I taken time to develop my own purpose, gifts, and calling before pursuing romance?
3. What does my “checklist” look like? Am I focused on surface-level qualities, or am I building character traits in myself that I also want to see in a future partner?
4. Is social media shaping my expectations about relationships in unhealthy ways? Am I chasing an image or chasing alignment?
5. Am I willing to trust God’s timing—even when loneliness feels overwhelming and everyone around me seems to be in a relationship?
6. Do I have a network of godly voices speaking into my life—friends, mentors, family—who can help me stay grounded as I navigate dating?
7. When I pray about a potential relationship, am I truly listening for God’s direction—or am I trying to make my own plans work?

Scripture Focus:

This episode is grounded in practical application of these key biblical principles:

• You Are Complete in Him (Colossians 2:10): A reminder that wholeness and identity come from Christ—not from a romantic relationship. You don’t need someone else to make you complete.
• Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Psalm 139:14): God has intentionally and purposefully crafted who you are. Knowing this truth is the foundation for approaching relationships from a place of security, not insecurity.
• Do Not Be Unequally Yoked (2 Corinthians 6:14): The call to pursue alignment in relationships—spiritually, emotionally, and in purpose—rather than settling for attraction alone.
• The Lord’s Purpose Prevails (Proverbs 19:21): Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it’s God’s purpose that prevails. Trust His plan over your own timeline.
• God Sets the Lonely in Families (Psalm 68:6): Loneliness is a feeling, not a calling. God promises to place you in community and never leave you alone.
• Trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5–6): Trust God with all your heart in your relationships—don’t lean on your own understanding of timing or attraction.
• Delight in the Lord (Psalm 37:4): When you delight in the Lord, He gives you the desires of your heart—because your desires become aligned with His.

🙌 Join the Movement

If you’re a young person navigating the pressure of dating in today’s world—or a parent trying to guide your kids through it—this episode is your reminder that God’s plan is worth the wait. Brian and Jacelyn invite you to stop chasing love and start chasing God. Build your identity in Christ. Make your checklist. Set your boundaries. Trust the Author of your story, because He’s already written it in His Forever Book.

🔗 Resources & Voices Mentioned
Throughout the conversation, Brian and Jacelyn reference several voices and artists who are influencing young believers today. Check them out below:

• Sadie Robertson Huff – Faith-based encouragement, identity, and purpose
  https://www.youtube.com/c/SadieRobertson
• Ally Schnacky – Gen Z faith conversations, confidence, and bold truth
  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCbDhjYocBWYPTqoUONCPRA
• JWLKRS Worship – Worship music focused on intimacy with God
  https://www.jwlkrs.com/
• Avery Anna – Music exploring faith, emotion, and authenticity
  https://www.averyannamusic.com/

💻 Visit crazyunbelievablefaith.com to sign up for behind-the...

In this timely and deeply practical episode of Crazy Unbelievable Faith, Brian and Kersha Owen tackle one of the most countercultural truths for believers: saying no is not a lack of faith—it's an act of faithfulness. As they kick off 2026, the Owens get refreshingly honest about the trap of overcommitment, the exhaustion of trying to be everywhere and do everything, and the freedom that comes from understanding biblical capacity. This isn't just another productivity conversation; it's a spiritual examination of what happens when we say yes to things God never asked us to do.

With their signature blend of vulnerability and practical wisdom, Brian and Kersha unpack the "big rocks" analogy, the importance of protecting your yes by learning to say no, and why burnout is not a fruit of the Spirit. From navigating the chaos of raising five kids to building a house while homeschooling, the Owens share real-life examples of how capacity grows—but only when we're honest about our limits. This episode is a permission slip to stop running on empty and start operating within the healthy boundaries that allow room for miracles, margin for the Holy Spirit, and the peace that comes from obedience rather than overextension.

🔥 What You'll Learn:

• Capacity vs. Overcommitment: Understand how saying no to certain things doesn't decrease your faith—it increases your effectiveness in the areas God has truly called you to.
• The Big Rocks Analogy: Learn how to prioritize the most important things first (your big rocks) and let the smaller commitments fill in around them, rather than spreading yourself thin across everything.
• Burnout Is Not a Fruit of the Spirit: Discover why exhaustion, anxiety, and constant busyness are warning signs that you've overcommitted—and how to course-correct before you crash.
• The Filter System for Decisions: Explore Brian and Kersha's hierarchy of priorities—God first, marriage second, immediate household third—and how this filter helps them say no to good things in favor of the best things.
• Leaving Margin for Miracles: Understand how saying yes to everything leaves no space for the Holy Spirit to work, move, or speak—and why margin is essential for witnessing God's power.
• Healthy Boundaries Reduce Anxiety: Learn how establishing clear boundaries and protecting your capacity can dramatically reduce stress and create space to breathe, rest, and hear from God.
• Capacity Grows Over Time: Hear Kersha's perspective on how capacity doesn't double overnight—it grows incrementally as you faithfully steward what God has given you in each season.

💬 Memorable Quotes:

• Kersha: "Saying no to certain things doesn't decrease our faith. It decreases our effectiveness."
• Brian: "Burnout is not a fruit of the Spirit."
• Kersha: "It's okay to say no to the bonfire at the neighbor's house because you're already tired and you have a big day tomorrow."
• Brian: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty." (Zechariah 4:6)
• Kersha: "If you're so exhausted at night that you can't pray, you need to be saying no more than yes."
• Brian: "Saying no to certain things is an act of faith."
• Kersha: "The countercultural idea is you say yes to everything, but the godly idea is yes to everything leaves us no margin for miracles."
• Brian: "Let your yes be yes and your no be no." (Matthew 5:37)
• Kersha: "What am I saying yes to that God never asked me for?"
• Brian: "My capacity grew immensely because I had to learn to say no and protect what mattered most."

🛑 Reflect + Apply: Questions to Ask Yourself

1. Are you overcommitted and overextended right now? What would it look like to honestly assess your current capacity?
2. What are your "big rocks"—the non-negotiable priorities that should be filling your container first before anything else gets added?
3. Are you experiencing burnout, exhaustion, or constant anxiety? If so, what commitments do you need to say no to in order to protect your peace?
4. Is saying no difficult for you because you're a people pleaser? What would it look like to value God's approval over others' expectations?
5. What are you saying yes to that God never actually asked you to do? How can you create space to discern His true calling from cultural pressure?
6. Are you leaving margin in your life for the Holy Spirit to speak, work, and move? Or is your schedule so packed that there's no room for miracles?
7. What healthy boundaries do you need to establish this year to protect your family, your faith, and your effectiveness in the areas God has called you to?

Scripture Focus:

This episode is grounded in practical application of these key biblical principles:

• Not by Might, but by My Spirit (Zechariah 4:6): A reminder that effectiveness and fruitfulness come from God's Spirit, not from our exhausting efforts or overcommitment.
• Let Your Yes Be Yes and Your No Be No (Matthew 5:37): The call to have clear, honest boundaries and to honor our commitments without overextending ourselves.
• The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23): A check on whether our daily lives are producing peace, joy, and kindness—or anxiety, exhaustion, and burnout.
• Stewardship and Faithfulness: The biblical principle that we are called to be faithful stewards of the time, energy, and capacity God has given us—not to waste it on things He never assigned.

🙌 Join the Movement

If you've been running on empty, overcommitted to things that drain rather than fill you, this episode is your permission slip to say no. Brian and Kersha invite you to step back, reassess your capacity, and prioritize the big rocks that God has placed in front of you. The world says yes to everything; God invites you to say yes to Him and no to the rest. Create margin for miracles, space for the Holy Spirit, and boundaries that protect the peace God has promised.

💻 Visit crazyunbelievablefaith.com to sign up for behind-the-scenes content, submit a prayer request, and stay updated on the exciting things coming in the Spring and Summer of 2026, including our upcoming book launch!

📩 Got questions or want to connect? Brian and Kersha would love to hear what you're saying no to this year in order to protect your yes.

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and share this episode to help someone else learn the freedom of biblical boundaries and the power of a well-protected yes.

Crazy Unbelievable Faith: Because the life God calls you to isn't always easy, but it is always worth it.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this fiery and faith-filled conclusion to their three-part series, Brian and Kersha Owen bring "God's Plan vs. The American Dream" to a powerful close. Recording once again from a remote destination, they tackle one of the most challenging questions believers face: How do we take faith steps when the math doesn't work? This isn't just theological theory—it's a real-world challenge to stop praying about what God has already told you to do and start obeying. The Owens get refreshingly honest about the "broke man mindset," the trap of praying instead of obeying, and the transformative question: What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?

This episode serves as both a mirror and a roadmap. Brian and Kersha expose the comfortable patterns that keep us stuck—the idolization of possessions we never use, the association with people who hold us back, and the fear of failure that our culture has wrongly taught us to avoid. But they don't leave listeners in conviction; they offer a way forward through intentional steps, healthy tension, and the courage to move before you see the outcome. With their signature blend of vulnerability and fire, the Owens challenge the community to ask: Do you want this year to be a repeat of last year, or are you ready for crazy, unbelievable faith?

🔥 What You'll Learn:

💬 Memorable Quotes:

🛑 Reflect + Apply: Questions to Ask Yourself

Scripture Focus:

This episode brings the series to a close with practical application of these key biblical truths:

🙌 Join the Movement

If you've been stuck in the cycle of praying instead of obeying, this episode is your wake-up call. Brian and Kersha invite you to stop waiting for the math to work and start trusting the God who specializes in impossible equations. The American Dream promises comfort and control, but God's plan offers something the world can't produce: a peace that guards your heart and a purpose that moves heaven.

💻 Visit crazyunbelievablefaith.com to sign up for behind-the-scenes content, submit a prayer request, and stay updated on the exciting things coming in the Spring and Summer of 2026, including our upcoming book launch!

📩 Got questions or want to connect? Brian and Kersha would love to hear how this series has impacted your walk and what you're committing to step out in faith on.

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and share this episode to help someone else move from safe faith to crazy, unbelievable faith.

🙏 Closing Prayer:

"Lord, give us faith that moves before it sees, courage that obeys before it understands, trust that steps out while the water is still in front of us. We don't want safe faith. We want crazy, unbelievable faith. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Crazy Unbelievable Faith: Because the life God calls you to isn't always easy, but it is always worth it.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this thought-provoking and deeply personal episode of Crazy Unbelievable Faith, Brian and Kersha Owen return for the second installment of their series exploring the friction between the "American Dream" and God’s ultimate design for our lives. Recording from a remote destination, they unpack the reality that while the world promises success through control and calculated outcomes, faith often requires the exact opposite: a total surrender of our blueprints in exchange for His guidance. This isn't just a discussion on theology; it’s a challenge to look at the "inputs" of our lives and ask if they are feeding our souls or hushing the fruit of the Spirit within us.

The conversation centers on the uncomfortable tension between wanting clarity and offering surrender. Brian and Kersha get honest about the "information constipation" that keeps us stagnant and the "rebellious tendency" to delay the very things God has called us to do. From the hard-earned wisdom of mentors to the lighthearted (yet pointed) analogies of perfectionism and "the right containers," this episode serves as a roadmap for anyone feeling stuck in the "99% surrender" trap. It is a powerful reminder that while obedience may look foolish to the world, it is the only path to a peace that guards the heart and a power that flows from the authority of Christ.

🔥 What You’ll Learn:

• Surrender vs. Clarity: Discover why faith feels risky when we prioritize having a clear map over having a surrendered heart to the One who knows the end from the beginning.
• The Cost of Delay: Understand the heavy weight of "delayed obedience" and how procrastinating on God’s call is, at its root, a form of disobedience.
• Redefining Success: Learn to distinguish between having an "amount of money" and having a "quality of life" by looking at the marriages and relationships of those ahead of you.
• The Trap of Partial Surrender: Explore why being 99% of the way there is still a failure to fully trust, and why "partial surrender" is actually a form of rebellion.
• Looking Up, Not Out: Shift your perspective from keeping up with "the Joneses" to finding your "True North" by looking heavenward instead of at material status symbols.
• God’s Strategic Foolishness: Unpack the biblical truth that God often uses things the world deems "foolish" to shame the wise and accomplish His greatest purposes.
• Equipping the Called: Gain encouragement from the reality that you don’t need to be perfectly equipped to start; God provides the tools and the paving as you take the first step.

💬 Memorable Quotes:

• Kersha: "Faith always feels risky because we want clarity and God just simply wants our surrender." 
• Brian: "Delayed obedience is still disobedience... it paralyzes people sometimes." 
• Kersha: "Partial surrender is still rebellion. It’s like going 99% of the way—it’s still failure." 
• Brian: "God cannot steer a parked car. Taking those obedience steps... they might seem infant, but you have to crawl before you walk." Kersha: "The humanly aspect is that we're guaranteed to be born, pay taxes, and die. But when God lays something on your heart, what He says is done." 
• Brian: "Just because somebody looks successful from the outside, they may be totally broken on the inside. They might be on their third marriage." 
• Brian: "They make fun of your journey, but then they relish in your fulfillment. Are you willing to do the work they did to get what they have?"

🛑 Reflect + Apply: Questions to Ask Yourself

1. Are you currently holding back your "yes" because you are waiting for clarity that God has already replaced with a call to surrender?
2. Is there a specific task or "house plan" God has put on your heart that you have been delaying? What would it look like to act on it today?
3. When you look at people 5 or 10 years ahead of you, are you looking at their bank accounts or the quality of their marriages and peace?
4. In what areas of your life are you "99% surrendered"? What is that final 1% that you are still trying to control?
5. Are your daily "inputs" (media, social circles, habits) pulling the fruits of the Spirit out of you or hushing them up?
6. How can you shift your focus this week from "looking out" at your neighbors to "looking up" toward your True North?

Scripture Focus:

This episode provides a practical application of several key biblical principles:

• Hearing the Shepherd (John 10:27): The reminder that Christ’s sheep hear His voice and follow without the need for endless debate or analysis.
• The Definition of Lordship (Luke 6:46): A challenge to the listeners: "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?"
• The Wisdom of the Foolish (1 Corinthians 1:27): How God uses the "foolish" things of the world—like unconventional career moves or simple obedience—to shame the wise.
• The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23): A check on whether our daily environment is cultivating kindness, joy, and humility.
• The Great Commission & Kingdom Building: The overarching call to build God’s kingdom here on earth while heading toward our final destination.

🙌 Join the Movement

If you’ve been chasing the American Dream only to find it leaving you empty, or if you’re struggling to take that first step of obedience, this episode is your invitation to let go. Brian and Kersha invite you to move past "information constipation" and into a purpose-driven faith that moves heaven. Stop waiting for the perfect "container" or the perfect plan—just start moving, because God can’t steer a car that’s stayed in park.

💻 Visit crazyunbelievablefaith.com to sign up for behind-the-scenes content, submit a prayer request, and stay updated on the exciting things coming in the Spring and Summer of 2026, including our upcoming book launch!

📩 Got questions or want to connect? Brian and Kersha would love to hear how this series is impacting your walk.

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and share this episode to help someone else trade their need for control for God's perfect peace.

Crazy Unbelievable Faith: Because the life God calls you to isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it.

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In this fiery and thought-provoking episode, Brian and Kersha Owen challenge listeners to examine whether they're truly following Jesus—or following Jesus plus the American Dream. What begins as a discussion about resolutions versus intentions quickly becomes a deep dive into the tension between cultural expectations and God's calling, asking the uncomfortable question: Are you chasing comfort or chasing God?

Between stories of buying boats they couldn't afford, the pressure to "keep up with the Joneses," and Brian's confession about building a house that never felt like home, this episode delivers both brutal honesty and biblical truth that Crazy Unbelievable Faith is known for. Brian and Kersha unpack the danger of seeking God's approval on our blueprints rather than surrendering to His plans, the difference between chasing God's calling versus chasing God Himself, and why real faith requires stepping into uncomfortable waters. They challenge listeners to evaluate whether they're storing up earthly treasures or heavenly ones, whether their eyes are fixed 20 feet ahead or fixed above, and whether they're willing to let God stretch them in the areas they're holding onto most tightly.

With powerful imagery of light defeating darkness and Peter stepping onto the water, Brian and Kersha remind us that God doesn't call us to comfort—He calls us to faith. This isn't just about rejecting materialism; it's about surrendering our timelines, our money, our comfort zones, and our carefully constructed plans to a God who sees the bigger picture. It's about being counter-cultural in a world that worships success, and choosing to follow Jesus even when it costs us everything we thought we wanted.

🔥 What You'll Learn

• Jesus vs. Jesus + The American Dream: The critical distinction between genuine faith and the comfortable Christianity that adds God's blessing to our own plans while keeping control of our comfort, money, and timeline.
• The Joneses Mindset: Why society's pressure to have the boat, the big house, and the picture-perfect life is a "monopoly mindset" that sets us up for stress, debt, and chasing things that ultimately don't satisfy.
• Uncomfortable Waters: Why God's calling will always push you into discomfort, and how the absence of being stretched or challenged might be a sign you're following your own plans rather than His will.
• Chasing God's Calling vs. Chasing God: Brian and Kersha's most profound question—are you hyper-focused on what God wants you to do, or are you longing to be closer to who God is? The distinction changes everything.
• Earthly Treasures vs. Heavenly Treasures: A fresh look at Matthew 6:19-21 and why placing our security in material things, career success, or societal approval leaves us vulnerable to loss and disappointment.
• Eyes Fixed Above, Not Ahead: The difference between looking 20 feet in front of you (keeping your gaze on outcomes and goals) versus looking up to God (keeping your gaze on Him and trusting His direction).
• God's Timeline, Not Yours: Why surrendering to God's timing is one of the hardest parts of faith, and how financial and material pressures can reveal what we're truly holding onto.
• Light Defeats Darkness: Brian's powerful illustration of how light shining from above can penetrate any darkness, while light reflecting up can only illuminate the ground—and why the direction of our focus matters.
• The Broader Picture: Why Christians can get so hyper-focused on one piece of God's calling that they miss the fullness of what He's inviting them into, and how stepping back reveals the bigger puzzle.
• What God Wants to Break Down: The uncomfortable truth that whatever you're clinging to most tightly is exactly what God wants to stretch you on—whether it's a house, a job, a relationship, or your sense of security.

💬 Memorable Quotes

Kersha: "Let's be real. Are we really following Jesus, or are we following Jesus plus the American dream?"

Brian: "Are we following Jesus plus the American dream? Is it this overlapping? Like I'll do God's will as long as we're staying comfortable?"

Kersha: "Society puts these things on us that you need the boat, you need the nice big house. It's a keeping up with the Joneses mindset. Who's Jones? I don't know. Who are they?"

Brian: "We have 13 plus years that's been fed to you to go to school, get good grades, get a good job, and you'll be comfortable. You'll be happy. But we know a lot of people—we have gone through unhappy seasons having walked that path."

Brian: "Am I chasing the material things or am I chasing the things that God has put in my life?"

Kersha: "Are we chasing earth or are we chasing heaven?"

Kersha: "If we're living for God, he's going to call us into uncomfortable waters. He's going to call us into doing uncomfortable things."

Kersha: "Are you doing things that aren't making you uncomfortable? And is it really God's will for you?"

Kersha: "Or is it: God, bless my plans. Approve of my blueprints. Don't touch my comfort. Don't touch my money. And don't touch my timeline."

Kersha: "If that's the way in which you're coasting through life, then you really are trying to say, I will follow Jesus plus the American dream, rather than I will follow Jesus."

Kersha: "I had my eyes fixed 20 feet in front of me rather than my eyes fixed above me."

Kersha: "I think that we have to determine, are we chasing God's calling or are we chasing God?"

Brian: "Are we just going to stay surface level in 2026? No. We're going there."

Brian: "Are we chasing God's call on my life? Or am I chasing God? Am I longing to be closer to him as a whole, or am I longing to be closer to him in this one little slice of his call?"

Kersha: "His calling is much broader than the thing that he's asking you to do."

Brian: "It's important for us as Christians to assess and reflect—what are we doing? Are we chasing the American dream? Are we chasing God's plan? Or are we chasing both?"

Kersha: "Make sure that your eyes aren't fixed in front of you. They're fixed above you."

Brian: "The light coming this way can only hit the ground and reflect up. The light shining down can cast into any form of darkness."

Kersha: "Light defeats darkness. As long as we're looking for it."

Kersha: "It's like we think, oh my gosh, this world is caving in. This challenge, this job, this scenario. I don't think I'm ever going to get out of it. People can get out of it. There is a way. It's just being focused on God, his path. But it's also allowing it to be in God's timeline."

Brian: "God will stretch you and whatever you're holding onto, he's going to try to break down to show you you're holding on to that."

Brian: "I remember the night that I first laid my head down, I—it didn't feel like my home. It felt like his. But that's okay."

Kersha: "Are you chasing the American dream? Are you chasing God's will? Or are you chasing both?"

Kersha: "Which is: God, I will take up my latte and I will follow you instead of take up my cross and follow you."

🛑 Reflect + Apply: Questions to Ask Yourself

• Are you following Jesus, or are you following Jesus plus the American Dream? What's the difference in your life?
• When was the last time God called you to do something that made you genuinely uncomfortable? Did you obey, or did you negotiate with Him to stay comfortable?
• What are you holding onto most tightly—your comfort, your money, your timeline, or your plans? Is God asking you to surrender it?
• Do you pray "God, bless my plans" or "God, I surrender to Your plans"? What does your prayer life reveal about who's really in control?
• Are you chasing God's calling (what He wants you to do) or chasing God ...

For today’s episode we are replaying some of our favorite guest moments from the show. 

💻 Visit https://crazyunbelievablefaith.com to sign up for behind-the-scenes content, submit a prayer request, and find links to other resources mentioned in today's show.

📩 Got questions or want to connect? Brian and Kersha would love to hear from you.

🎧 Subscribe, rate, and share this episode to help other people experience the same encouragement you just received.

Crazy Unbelievable Faith: Because the life God calls you to isn't always easy, but it is always worth it.

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In this raw and humorous year-end reflection, Brian and Kersha Owen hit pause on the holiday chaos to ask the question most people avoid: Are you part of the 2% who finish well, or the 98% who just finish? What begins as a slightly rushed Christmas Eve recording quickly becomes a rallying cry for intentionality, self-reflection, and choosing to stand out rather than blend in.

Between stories of parking in "the back 40" at Target, too much complimentary ice cream on vacation, and a hilarious on-the-fly moment where Brian admits Kersha's brain "doesn't process like his," this episode delivers both the wisdom and the authenticity Crazy Unbelievable Faith is known for. Brian and Kersha unpack the power of daily habits, the danger of self-judgment, and why most people wait until January 1st to start what they could begin today. They challenge listeners to pick 1-3 areas for growth, stop analyzing themselves to a tee, and remember that growth happens daily—but not in a day.

With Paul's words from 2 Timothy echoing through the conversation—"I have fought the good fight"—Brian and Kersha remind us that as long as there's air in our lungs, we should be growing, stretching, and refusing to coast through life. This isn't just about New Year's resolutions; it's about becoming the black sheep who stands out for God's kingdom rather than the white sheep who blends into mediocrity.

🔥 What You'll Learn

• The 2% vs. 98% Principle: Why only 2% of people truly finish well, and how you can join them by being intentional about your year-end reflection and New Year planning.
• Black Sheep or White Sheep? Brian's powerful reframe of what it means to "stand out" versus "blend in"—and why being the black sheep for God's kingdom is exactly where you want to be.
• Growth Happens Daily, But Not in a Day: The crucial mindset shift that transforms how you approach personal development, goal-setting, and lasting change.
• Stop Analyzing, Start Acting: Kersha's challenge to quit self-judging and instead focus on 1-3 specific areas where you want to see growth—and give yourself grace along the way.
• Failure Is Feedback: Why the Owens teach their children that failure means you're trying, and how reframing setbacks as learning opportunities changes everything.
• The Power of Relationships: Why 2026 should be the year you intentionally expand your network, ask "Who do you know that I should know?", and open doors for others.
• Fighting the Good Fight: Brian's conviction from 2 Timothy 4:7—"I have fought the good fight"—and why you should refuse to coast or become complacent as long as there's air in your lungs.
• What Is God Saying About Your Tomorrows? The importance of sifting through the noise to truly hear the Holy Spirit speak to you about your future and calling.

💬 Memorable Quotes

Brian: "Do you want to be the 2% or the 98%? Are you part of the 2% that really try to finish well?"

Kersha: "We had to park in the back 40 at Target. The holiday rush is REAL."

Brian: "I was making notes and she's like, 'This doesn't seem very authentic,' which is totally true."

Kersha: "He's still holding onto them. His grip..."

Kersha: "My brain doesn't process like yours."

Brian: "Wednesday, December 24th, 2025. Brian has a speechless moment."

Brian: "I definitely don't want to be the white sheep and blend in. I do want to be the black sheep and stand out."

Kersha: "Do you want to be vanilla and just coast through life? Or do you want to be the chocolate which stands out?"

Brian: "It was complimentary ice cream. There's also consequences to the complimentary ice cream. Weight gain."

Brian: "Why do people wait until January 1st to start their weight loss initiatives? I'll just start it when you start it."

Kersha: "Growth happens daily, but not in a day. It has to be intentional."

Brian: "It's like eating the elephant. I have to eat the whole elephant instead of it being one bite at a time."

Kersha: "I've never eaten an elephant."

Brian: "I have fought the good fight. I don't want to say that until the end of my life. There's still air in my lungs."

Kersha: "Stop analyzing yourself to a tee. Find a couple of areas that you want growth, then focus on those areas."

Kersha: "Don't look at missing the target as though you failed. Look at missing the target as though you won because there was growth along the way."

Brian: "Failure is good. It means you're trying."

Kersha: "Take the word 'can't' out. Matthew McConaughey grew up where his dad would get him in trouble for saying that word."

Brian: "What's his name? That guy? Oh my gosh. Texas. Matthew McConaughey. Welcome to my mind."

Brian: "That's the definition of insanity—doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

Brian: "Who is it that someone knows that you should know? The only way you can do that is by having a conversation—coffee, lunch, whatever."

Kersha: "What is God saying to you today about your tomorrows?"

🛑 Reflect + Apply: Questions to Ask Yourself

• Are you part of the 2% who finish well, or the 98% who just finish? What would it look like for you to finish this year strong?
• When was the last time you took intentional time to reflect on your wins, losses, and challenges from the past year?
• Do you want to be the white sheep who blends in, or the black sheep who stands out for God's kingdom? What does standing out look like for you in 2026?
• What are 1-3 specific areas where you want to see growth in the coming year? (Remember: don't try to dissect yourself to a tee!)
• Are you self-judging and staying planted in quicksand? What would it look like to give yourself grace and take the first step forward?
• What daily habits and routines do you need to establish to support your growth? Remember: growth happens daily, but not in a day.
• How do you currently view failure? Can you reframe it as feedback and a sign that you're trying?
• What relationships are causing you to stay in neutral or go in reverse? Who do you need to surround yourself with in 2026?
• Who is it that someone in your network knows that you should know? When will you have that coffee or lunch to ask?
• Are you waiting until January 1st to start something you could begin today? What's stopping you from taking action right now?
• When you set goals and miss the target, do you beat yourself up or recognize the growth along the way?
• What is God saying to you today about your tomorrows? Are you creating space to truly hear the Holy Spirit speak?

📖 Biblical Principles Focus

This episode centers on the biblical call to finish well, live intentionally, and refuse complacency as long as God gives us breath:

• Principle of Finishing Well (2 Timothy 4:7): "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." Paul's declaration becomes Brian's life motto—that we should be striving and growing until the very end. This isn't about perfection; it's about persistence, intentionality, and refusing to coast through life. As long as there's air in our lungs, we should be fighting the good fight.
• Principle of Intentional Reflection (Lamentations 3:40, Psalm 139:23-24): "Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord." "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts." The episode's call to year-end reflection echoes the biblical practice of self-examination—not for condemnation, but for growth and realignment with God's purposes.
• Principle of Daily Faithfulness (Luke 16:10, 1 Corinthians 15:58): "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much." Kersha's insi...