Fueled By Trial

What are you bringing into your marriage… that you haven’t even unpacked yet?

In this episode, we discuss “clearing the decks” which means exposing the expectations, habits, and hidden baggage we all carry from our past. From family dynamics and upbringing to unspoken fears and personal struggles, they talk through how these things quietly shape our relationships if left unaddressed.

Through honest conversation, we explore the importance of identifying triggers, communicating expectations, and surrendering it all to God so He can build the foundation your marriage truly needs.

Because marriage isn’t just a new chapter, it’s a brand new book. And what you don’t unpack now may show up later.

If it’s all God’s… why is it so hard to let go of our money?

In this episode, we unpack what it really means to trust God with our finances. From tithing to daily stewardship, we dive into the heart behind giving, not just how much, but how and why we give.

We discuss control, surrender, and the tension between trusting God and holding on tightly to it with a closed fist versus an open hand. Through personal experiences and biblical truth, this conversation challenges you to rethink your perspective on money and ask a deeper question:

Do you truly believe it’s all His?

What happens when the struggles we hide finally come into the light?

In this episode, Zion shares his personal struggle with pornography and how bringing it into the light through honesty with God, accountability, and vulnerability in marriage, and sharing it with others has been key to finding freedom. Jodie also shares her perspective and the role forgiveness, prayer, and support have played as they walk through this battle together.

This episode is a reminder that we’re not meant to fight our battles alone. Whatever the temptation may be, healing begins when we stop hiding and start sharing.

If you’re struggling with something in the dark, our encouragement is simple: tell someone and invite God into the fight.

What do you do when you’ve prayed… and nothing changes?

In this episode, we sit down with Ellie Livingston, and we unpack what it really looks like to live out Luke 11, not just asking once, but seeking, knocking, and trusting even when the door doesn’t open right away. We talk about seasons of anxiety, sleepless nights, surrendering control, and waiting over a year for answers that only God could orchestrate.

We wrestle with the tension between persistence and surrender as well as bold prayer without gripping for control. We share how obedience in small things, stewarding our bodies as temples, and trusting open doors reshaped our faith in the waiting.

Because sometimes the miracle isn’t just the door opening…
It’s who you become while you knock.

How do you know if it’s God speaking… or just your own thoughts?

In this episode, we dive into the practical side of discernment and what it actually looks like in real life, not always in dramatic, mountaintop moments, but in everyday moments. We unpack how the voice of God will never contradict the truth of Scripture, vulnerability is the key to Godly relationships, and prayer is necessary for hearing Him. Lastly, we must believe that He can and will speak to us.

This conversation isn’t about chasing signs or waiting for a loud answer. It’s about learning to listen, trusting God’s character, and choosing obedience in the small things.

If you’ve ever wrestled with overthinking, uncertainty, or wondering whether a thought was from God or from fear, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we explore further what it means to follow God when the path ahead isn’t clear. Building on past conversations about faith in uncertainty and radical trust, we discuss the difference between believing in God and actually obeying Him, especially when obedience feels like stepping into the fog.

We explore how obedience isn’t always just about big, life-altering decisions, but about faith in action through daily choices: reading the Word, praying consistently, listening to subtle nudges, and responding when God calls, even when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable. Using the story of Moses and reflections from Hebrews 11, we unpack how faith and obedience work together, and why delayed obedience can often cost us more than we realize.

This conversation also touches on anxiety, control, surrender, and the peace that comes when we stop trying to be the author of our own story and trust God with the direction. Whether you’re in a season of waiting, questioning what’s next, or learning how to be faithful in the small things, this episode is an encouragement to keep moving, trust God’s leading, and obey even when clarity hasn’t arrived yet.

In this episode, we’re joined by a special guest ~ Beth Conolly ~ who shares her powerful testimony of faith, dealing with anxiety & OCD, and the radical surrender of it all to Christ. From growing up in a Christian home to experiencing a life-changing encounter with God at a young age, we talk about what it looks like to trust God fully in the middle of anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and seasons of deep struggle.

This conversation explores how faith doesn’t remove anxiety overnight, but offers freedom, healing, and a new way to walk through it. We discuss taking thoughts captive, building habits rooted in God’s Word, and learning to trust Him when plans fall apart and life takes unexpected turns. Through travel delays, missed plans, and divine interruptions, we see how God often works most powerfully when we slow down and surrender control.

Whether you’re wrestling with anxiety, feeling overwhelmed by uncertainty, or learning how to walk faithfully in the everyday moments of life, this episode is an encouragement to trust God radically and believe that He is present, purposeful, and faithful in every season.

In this episode, we share our experience walking through pre-marriage counseling and why preparing for marriage matters so much more than planning a wedding day. We discuss the conversations that challenged us, the questions we didn’t know we needed to ask, and how inviting God into the process has shaped and is shaping the foundation of our relationship.

From communication and expectations to roles, trust, and dreaming about the future, this conversation highlights the importance of slowing down and being intentional before saying “I do.” We also share how working through The Story of Marriage (by John & Lisa Bevere) helped us have deeper discussions, learn from mentors, and build a shared vision rooted in faith.

Whether you’re engaged, dating, married, or simply thinking about what a Christ-centered marriage looks like, this episode is an encouragement to focus on the lifelong commitment, not just the ceremony.

In this episode, we talk openly about uncertainty and the seasons of life where the path forward isn’t clear. From leaving home to chase dreams, changing schools, finishing college athletics, navigating career questions, marriage, and waiting on God when answers don’t come quickly, we share pieces of our own journeys and what these moments have taught us.

This conversation isn’t about having everything figured out (believe us we don't have it all figured out!). It’s about learning to surrender control, trusting God in the waiting, and remembering that He has always been faithful even when the plan doesn’t look the way we expected.

If you’re in a season of asking “what’s next,” feeling anxious about the future, or struggling to let go and trust God fully, this episode is for you.

In this intro episode, we talk about what it looks like to bring Fueled By Trial back for Season 2 and why this new chapter feels different. We share how our lives have changed, why we wanted to return to the mic together, and the heart behind creating honest conversations about walking through trials with God.

This episode isn’t about telling every detail of our story just yet. It’s a look at where we’ve been, what we’ve learned, and what we hope this season becomes. We open up about marriage, faith, growth, and the real-life challenges that are shaping us in our current stage of life.

If you're here for something authentic, encouraging, and rooted in hope, this episode sets the tone for everything ahead. We’re grateful to be back and excited to walk through this new season with you.