How do you find joy in the middle of heartbreak—and is it really possible to praise God through it?

In this episode, Nicole Townson shares her journey from knowing about God to walking in a personal relationship with Him. After moving from Japan to Ohio during a season of loss, Nicole experienced both heartbreak and renewal as God led her family into a deeper faith.

Nicole now lives with a joy and peace that only God can give and shares how God is present in both the hallelujahs and the heartbreak.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NASB)

Psalm 30:5 (NASB)

Philippians 4:7 (NASB)

James 1:2–4 (NASB)

Romans 8:28 (NASB)

Read the Gospel of John (NASB)

If you have never made the choice to accept Jesus' offer—a gift, not by works—to be restored to a relationship with God, now is the time.

Read more here: What is the Message of the Gospel

All listeners are encouraged to engage in a local church community. Listeners in Northern Virginia are welcomed at Burke Community Church.

Follow the show: @faithconversationspodcast

Sign up for updates: jessicacabrera.org/sign-up

If you would like to connect with Kristen, CLICK HERE and she will send you a welcome email with a link to take her free assessment and you’ll get access to a 10% discount on her new book “When Strength Isn’t Enough”.

What happens when shame keeps you from drawing near to God—and how do you find your way back?

In this episode of the Faith Conversations Podcast, Jessica Cabrera interviews Kristen Stockton, who shares her journey from striving and self-reliance to experiencing God’s restoring grace and love.

After facing emotional, financial, and relational challenges, Kristen realized shame had been keeping her distant from God. Through Scripture, community, and a renewed understanding of God’s grace, she discovered she didn’t need to earn His love—she already had it.

Now, Kristen helps lead women toward restoration, encouraging them to draw near to God to restore, rebuild, and rise.

Related Bible Verses (NASB)

Romans 8:1 (NASB)

Psalm 34:18 (NASB)

Ephesians 2:8–10 (NASB)

Hebrews 4:16 (NASB)

Romans 8:28 (NASB)

Colossians 2:7 (NASB)

Read the Gospel of John (NASB)

If you have never made the choice to accept Jesus' offer—a gift, not by works—to be restored to a relationship with God, now is the time.

Read more here: What is the Message of the Gospel

All listeners are encouraged to engage in a local church community. Listeners in Northern Virginia are welcomed at Burke Community Church.

Follow the show: @faithconversationspodcast

Sign up for updates: jessicacabrera.org/sign-up

In this episode of the Faith Conversations Podcast, Jessica Cabrera interviews Katie Simpson, who shares her journey of surrender, loss, and discovering her identity in Christ.

Although Katie grew up knowing about Jesus, she spent years searching for fulfillment apart from a fully surrendered faith. Through friendships, a powerful moment of obedience, and seasons of miscarriage and transition, she learned to trust God even when life didn’t go as planned.

Her story is a reminder that our identity is not found in our roles or circumstances, but in who we are as children of God—and that we can rest in His goodness, even when we don’t have everything figured out.

Ephesians 2:10 (NASB)

Daniel 3:17 (NASB)

Galatians 2:20 (NASB)

Romans 8:28 (NASB)

Matthew 11:28-30 (NASB)

Read the Gospel of John (NASB)

If you have never made the choice to accept Jesus' offer—a gift, not by works—to be restored to a relationship with God, now is the time.

Read more here: What is the Message of the Gospel

All listeners are encouraged to engage in a local church community. Listeners in Northern Virginia are welcomed at Burke Community Church.

Follow the show: @faithconversationspodcast

Sign up for updates: jessicacabrera.org/sign-up

In this episode of the Faith Conversations Podcast, Jessica Cabrera interviews Beth Flecker, who shares her powerful story of faith, surrender, and discovering God’s sovereignty through life’s highs and lows.

Raised in a Christian home, Beth had an early understanding of faith but believed she needed to fix her life before fully committing to Jesus. At the age of 12, she learned that salvation is not about perfection, but about accepting Christ as Savior.

Through college and early adulthood, Beth’s faith remained present but not fully surrendered. Looking back, she now sees how God was guiding her every step of the way, leading her through prayer, decisions, and seasons of growth.

During a difficult season of infertility, Beth came face to face with the reality that she was not in control. In surrender, she discovered that God is enough—and in His perfect timing, He blessed her family with twins.

Even in deep loss, including the passing of her sister, Beth experienced God’s presence and was drawn into deeper faith through Bible Study Fellowship. Through every season, she has come to understand that God is faithful, His timing is perfect, and He is always at work.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that if we seek God, we will find Him—and that He is always near, always present, and always faithful.

Romans 8:38–39 (NASB)

Romans 8:28 (NASB)

Jeremiah 29:13 (NASB)

Psalm 139 (NASB)

Matthew 7:7 (NASB)

Read the Gospel of John (NASB)

If you have never made the choice to accept Jesus' offer—a gift, not by works—to be restored to a relationship with God, now is the time.

Read more here: Message of the Gospel

All listeners are encouraged to engage in a local church. Listeners in Northern Virginia are welcomed at Burke Community Church.

Follow: @faithconversationspodcast

Sign up: Engage Faith Updates

What happens when faith feels more like doing the right things than truly knowing God?

In this episode of the Faith Conversations Podcast, Jessica Cabrera talks with Tia Nelson about growing up with faith, questioning whether religious activity was enough, and eventually discovering a deeper relationship with Jesus.

Raised in small-town South Carolina, Tia was introduced to faith early through conversations with her grandfather and chose to be baptized at six years old. But as she grew older, she began to wrestle with whether faith was meant to be more than following rules and staying busy with the right activities.

Her search for deeper understanding led her to Scripture, Christian authors like John Piper, and Christian involvement at Clemson University. A turning point came during six months in Australia, where she encountered a bold example of authentic faith that helped her see faith not as performance, but as relationship.

Later, while living in Washington, D.C., personal trauma and distance from Christian community left her questioning her identity and place in church. Yet even there, God was still pursuing her.

Through the love of a small group community, Tia experienced healing, repentance, and freedom through understanding her identity in Christ. Her story is a reminder that faith is not about perfection or performance—it is about knowing and trusting a God who continues to pursue us.

Ephesians 2:8–9 (NASB)

Romans 8:1 (NASB)

Psalm 34:18 (NASB)

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)

Read the Gospel of John

If you have never made the choice to accept Jesus’ offer—a gift, not by works—to be restored to the original design for your life, which is a relationship with God (on earth and in heaven after physical death), now is the time.

There is an article in Jessica’s Engage Faith column that will help you understand who He is, who you are, what choice you have, and what happens when you make the decision.

Read the message of God’s good news for mankind and find a sample prayer you can pray today.

All listeners are encouraged to engage in a local church community to learn more about Jesus, the Bible, and to experience God through community. Listeners from the Northern Virginia area are welcomed at Burke Community Church, and anyone seeking an online church service can find one there as well.

We are not designed to be alone—we’re designed for a community of faith.

Follow the show on Instagram @faithconversationspodcast and sign up for Jessica’s Engage Faith communications here for updates and inspiration.

In this episode of the Faith Conversations Podcast, Whitney Howell shares the deeply personal story of how God restored and revived her faith. Through seasons of searching, uncertainty, and spiritual questions, Whitney experienced what she describes as the 'resurrection' of her faith—a renewed relationship with God that transformed the direction of her life.

Looking back, Whitney can see how God was patiently pursuing her even when she didn’t recognize it at the time. Through people, circumstances, and moments of reflection, the Lord was guiding her heart and drawing her back into a relationship with Him.

Her story is a powerful reminder that God never stops pursuing us. Even when faith feels distant, uncertain, or lost, He is still working—calling us back to Himself with grace, love, and patience.

Whitney’s journey offers encouragement to anyone who feels spiritually dry, discouraged, or unsure where they stand with God. The resurrection of faith is possible, and God is always ready to welcome us home.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)

Luke 15:20 (NASB)

Ephesians 2:4–5 (NASB)

Romans 8:38–39 (NASB)

Acts 17:27 (NIV)

Read the Gospel of John

If you have never made the choice to accept Jesus’ offer—a gift, not by works—to be restored to the original design for your life, which is a relationship with God (on earth and in heaven after physical death), now is the time.

There is an article in Jessica’s Engage Faith column that will help you understand who He is, who you are, what choice you have, and what happens when you make the decision.

Read the message of God’s good news for mankind and find a sample prayer you can pray today.

All listeners are encouraged to engage in a local church community to learn more about Jesus, the Bible, and to experience God through community. Listeners from the Northern Virginia area are welcomed at Burke Community Church, and anyone seeking an online church service can find one there as well.

We are not designed to be alone—we’re designed for a community of faith.

Follow the show on Instagram @faithconversationspodcast and sign up for Jessica’s Engage Faith communications here for updates and inspiration.

In this episode of Faith Conversations, host Jessica Cabrera interviews Deborah White about growing up without a Christian foundation, wrestling with performance-based faith, and discovering the life-changing truth that God’s love cannot be earned.

After losing her father at age ten, Deborah struggled with grief and identity. Though she attended church and repeatedly rededicated her life, she believed she had to perform to earn Christ’s love. It took years for her to truly understand that Jesus could not love her any more than He already did.

During a difficult season in her marriage, a pastor reminded her that even if her marriage fell apart, God would never abandon her. Through community and faith, God restored her marriage and deepened her trust in Him.

In the summer of 2021, while interviewing vulnerable children, Deborah cried out to God for Him to act. God responded by calling her to be the answer. This led her to advocate for children on Capitol Hill and witness miracles that reminded her we serve a limitless God.

Deborah’s story encourages listeners not to give up — because God redeems pain and shows His power through our weakness.

Read the Gospel of John

If you have never made the choice to accept Jesus’ offer—a gift, not by works—to be restored to the original design for your life, which is a relationship with God (on earth and in heaven after physical death), now is the time.

There is an article in Jessica’s Engage Faith column that will help you understand who He is, who you are, what choice you have, and what happens when you make the decision.

Read the message of God’s good news for mankind and find a sample prayer you can pray today.

All listeners are encouraged to engage in a local church community to learn more about Jesus, the Bible, and to experience God through community. Listeners from the Northern Virginia area are welcomed at Burke Community Church, and anyone seeking an online church service can find one there as well.

We are not designed to be alone—we’re designed for a community of faith.

Follow the show on Instagram @faithconversationspodcast and sign up for Jessica’s Engage Faith communications here for updates and inspiration.

In this episode of the Faith Conversations Podcast, Jessica Cabrera interviews Dana Hutson about discovering the deeply personal love of God. Raised attending church only on Christmas and Easter, Dana later encountered Christ through a Bible study that freed her from the guilt and shame of her past. But her story doesn’t stop there. Through Scripture coming alive on a beach, unexpected confirmation through Proverbs, and courageous obedience in leaving her job without a clear next step, Dana experienced a God who actively pursues His children and meets them exactly where they are. This episode highlights God’s intimate love, His desire to walk with us personally, and the invitation to be brave enough to notice how He is pursuing you.

Read the Gospel of John

If you have never made the choice to accept Jesus’ offer—a gift, not by works—to be restored to the original design for your life, which is a relationship with God (on earth and in heaven after physical death), now is the time.

There is an article in Jessica’s Engage Faith column that will help you understand who He is, who you are, what choice you have, and what happens when you make the decision.

Read the message of God’s good news for mankind and find a sample prayer you can pray today.

All listeners are encouraged to engage in a local church community to learn more about Jesus, the Bible, and to experience God through community. Listeners from the Northern Virginia area are welcomed at Burke Community Church, and anyone seeking an online church service can find one there as well.

We are not designed to be alone—we’re designed for a community of faith.

Follow the show on Instagram @faithconversationspodcast and sign up for Jessica’s Engage Faith communications here for updates and inspiration.

What do you do when God speaks—but what He asks feels uncomfortable, vulnerable, or even frightening?

In this honest and deeply personal solo episode, Jessica Cabrera builds on last week’s conversation about how God communicates and turns the focus to a more challenging question: How do we respond to God’s voice?

Drawing from Acts 8 and 9, Jessica reflects on the dramatic conversion of the Apostle Paul and the courageous obedience of Ananias. When God asked Ananias to go to Saul—a man known for persecuting Christians—it didn’t make sense. It was risky. It was scary. But Ananias obeyed.

Jessica shares her own journey of resistance and surrender. From hesitating to host the podcast, to stepping into public-facing ministry, to speaking in her hometown and branding the ministry with her name—each step required trust and courage. Each step required responding faithfully when God prompted her forward.

This episode explores what it means to trust God when obedience feels costly, and why responding to Him with faith writes a better story than anything we could create on our own.

Acts 8:3 (NASB)

Acts 9:1–19 (NASB)

Proverbs 3:5–6 (NASB)

Isaiah 6:8 (NASB)

James 1:22 (NASB)

Read the Gospel of John

If you have never made the choice to accept Jesus’ offer—a gift, not by works—to be restored to the original design for your life, which is a relationship with God (on earth and in heaven after physical death), now is the time.

There is an article in Jessica’s Engage Faith column that will help you understand who He is, who you are, what choice you have, and what happens when you make the decision.

Read the message of God’s good news for mankind and find a sample prayer you can pray today.

All listeners are encouraged to engage in a local church community to learn more about Jesus, the Bible, and to experience God through community. Listeners from the Northern Virginia area are welcomed at Burke Community Church, and anyone seeking an online church service can find one there as well.

We are not designed to be alone—we’re designed for a community of faith.

Follow the show on Instagram @faithconversationspodcast and sign up for Jessica’s Engage Faith communications here for updates and inspiration.

Is God speaking to us today? And if so—how does God communicate?

In this solo episode of Faith Conversations, Jessica Cabrera explores a powerful truth: God is expressive. He is not silent, distant, or detached. He communicates clearly, personally, and purposefully.

From the Trinity to creation, from Scripture to Jesus Christ, from the Holy Spirit to the Church—God has made Himself known in unmistakable ways. If you’ve ever wondered how to hear from God or questioned whether He is speaking at all, this episode offers biblical clarity and encouragement.

This episode explores six distinct ways God communicates:
• Through His identity as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
• Through creation and humanity made in His image
• Through the written Word of God
• Through Jesus Christ—the Word made flesh
• Through the Holy Spirit working in believers
• Through the Church as the living body of Christ

God reveals Himself so that we may truly know Him. If the living God has something to say—don’t you want to hear it?

John 1:1–3 (NASB)

John 1:14 (NASB)

John 1:18 (NASB)

Psalm 19:1 (NASB)

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NASB)

1 Corinthians 12:12 (NASB)

Jeremiah 29:13 (NASB)

Read the Gospel of John

If you have never made the choice to accept Jesus’ offer—a gift, not by works—to be restored to the original design for your life, which is a relationship with God (on earth and in heaven after physical death), now is the time.

There is an article in Jessica’s Engage Faith column that will help you understand who He is, who you are, what choice you have, and what happens when you make the decision.

Read the message of God’s good news for mankind and find a sample prayer you can pray today.

All listeners are encouraged to engage in a local church community to learn more about Jesus, the Bible, and to experience God through community. Listeners from the Northern Virginia area are welcomed at Burke Community Church, and anyone seeking an online church service can find one there as well.

We are not designed to be alone—we’re designed for a community of faith.

Follow the show on Instagram @faithconversationspodcast and sign up for Jessica’s Engage Faith communications here for updates and inspiration.