Kickstart With Kayla

What do you do when your plan falls apart, an answer is delayed, or rejection makes you feel like you have already lost?

In this episode, Kayla explores a different way to respond to disappointment. It is not manifestation, blind optimism, or pretending that painful circumstances do not matter. It is learning to build your hope on something more dependable than a specific outcome.

After the dress she planned to wear never arrived, one comment from her mom completely changed how Kayla approached what happened next. That experience became a picture of how hope can change the way you enter an uncertain situation, even when it cannot change what has already happened.

Through passages from Hebrews, Zechariah, Romans, and 1 Corinthians, Kayla explains what Christian hope actually means, why Scripture describes hope as an anchor, and how faith in Jesus allows you to experience disappointment without becoming defeated by it.

You will also learn four practical questions to ask when life does not go your way so you can separate what actually happened from the hopeless conclusion you may have attached to it.

Whether your faith is strong, struggling, or something you are still trying to understand, this episode is an invitation to consider the possibility that one difficult chapter does not determine how your story ends.

What if one simple invitation could change the direction of someone’s life?

In Episode 65, Kayla sits down with her longtime friend Ryan Motondo to talk about the invitation that helped lead him to Jesus and the people God continued to place in his life afterward. From meeting through youth group and being baptized on the same day to navigating college, injury, ministry, and an unexpected change in direction, Ryan shares how God used ordinary people and ordinary moments to shape his faith.

They discuss why following Jesus cannot stay inside the walls of the church, how Christian community changes us, and what it looks like to share the gospel wherever God has placed you.

If you have ever wondered whether reaching out, inviting someone, or simply saying yes really matters, this conversation is a reminder that you may never fully see what God could start through one small act of faithfulness.

What if the opportunity in front of you looks like an answered prayer, but receiving it requires you to compromise?

In Matthew 4, Satan offers Jesus three shortcuts: a faster way to meet a real need, prove His identity, and receive power without enduring the process. Jesus rejects each one, showing us that a good desire does not justify a disobedient path.

In Episode 64, Kayla explores how temptation often appears when we are hungry, uncertain, or tired of waiting. She breaks down why we do not have to obey every feeling, force God to prove Himself, or compromise who we are becoming to reach what we want.

Following Jesus will not always make the road shorter, but it will transform what leads you, how you respond, and who you become along the way.

Before taking the faster route, ask yourself: What will this shortcut cost me?

What does it look like to have joy when life is not making you happy?

In Episode 63, Josh Stewart returns to the podcast to talk about the difference between temporary happiness and the lasting joy God offers us. Kayla and Josh discuss why joy is a choice, how God’s presence changes our outlook, and why Christians can still grieve, struggle, and experience difficult emotions without losing hope.

They also share practical ways to pursue joy through prayer, gratitude, time with God, and remembering how He has already worked in your life.

If you have been feeling discouraged, exhausted, or weighed down by your circumstances, this conversation is a reminder that biblical joy does not require you to pretend everything is okay. It comes from knowing that God is still good, present, and working even when life is hard.

What does it really mean to be justified and “really living”?

In Episode 62, Kayla explores how the blood of Jesus does more than secure our eternity. It changes how we live right now. Through Romans, the story of the Israelites leaving Egypt, Titus 2, and John 10:10, she explains the difference between justification and sanctification, why obedience is a response to God’s love rather than a way to earn it, and how grace actively teaches us to live differently.

God loves you enough to forgive you exactly where you are, but He also loves you too much to leave you there. His love doesn’t stop at changing your destination. He begins changing your direction.

If you’ve ever wondered what should change after salvation or what abundant life with Jesus actually looks like, this episode is for you.

What if the thing God gifted you to do has also become the place where you look for attention, approval, and identity?

In Episode 61, Kayla sits down with Isaiah “Zay” Ellison to talk about the difference between using your gifts for God and needing those gifts to feel seen. Zay shares how basketball, drumming, and the desire to be chosen became tied to the way he saw himself—and how one unexpected five-hour conversation during what was supposed to be a haircut challenged the way he was living his faith.

They talk about hiding your faith to fit in, saying yes to every opportunity until you burn out, feeling angry when someone else is chosen, and how easily worship can become more about your performance than God’s presence.

If you have ever felt overlooked, craved recognition, or wondered whether your gift has started to define you, this conversation asks an uncomfortable but important question:

If God never gave you another opportunity to use the thing you are known for, would you still love, worship, and serve Him?

Have you ever prayed for clarity, asked people you trust for advice, and somehow ended up even more confused?

In Episode 60, Kayla turns to five biblical stories that reveal what to do when life does not make sense. Through Jehoshaphat, Rehoboam, Habakkuk, Mary and Martha, and the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we see that faithful people can experience fear, conflicting advice, unexpected answers, painful delays, and incomplete understanding.

You’ll learn how to filter the voices around you, separate facts from fearful conclusions, bring your honest questions to God, worship before receiving an explanation, and take the next faithful step when you cannot see the entire plan.

If you keep asking, “God, what are You doing?” let this episode remind you: You may not understand what God is doing, but you can still know who He is.

“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” —2 Chronicles 20:12

Have you ever sung every word of a worship song without stopping to think about what you are actually declaring?

In Episode 59, Kayla sits down with Virgo Dykstra, her mentor from youth group and the former leader of the first podcast she co-hosted, to talk about worship, music, and the songs that have shaped their relationships with God.

They discuss why worship extends beyond what happens on Sunday morning, how the lyrics and music we consume can influence us, and why certain songs speak differently during different seasons of life. Kayla and Virgo also reflect on worship at church camp, the songs connected to meaningful moments in their faith, and the worship music they continue returning to years later.

They finish by attempting to choose their four favorite worship songs—with plenty of honorable mentions along the way.

Whether worship has ever felt uncomfortable, you are searching for new music, or you want to become more intentional about what you listen to, this conversation will encourage you to see worship as more than simply singing along.

When life feels overwhelming, it can be difficult to recognize that God is still present, working, and holding you through it.

In this casual Bible-study episode, Kayla walks through Isaiah 43 and reflects on God’s promises to call us by name, remain with us through deep waters, make a way through the wilderness, and free us from the shame of our past.

Kayla also shares what has changed in the five years since her baptism, how saying yes to Jesus transformed the direction of her life, and why your mistakes do not disqualify you from God’s love or purpose.

If you feel exhausted, forgotten, stuck, or weighed down by something you have done, this episode is a reminder that you are seen, precious to God, and never walking through the wilderness alone. The episode closes with a prayer for freedom, direction, and a deeper relationship with Jesus.

Have you ever wanted to talk about Jesus, but stayed quiet because you were afraid of making things uncomfortable?

In Episode 57, Kayla sits down with Andrew Steier of Always Going to discuss why sharing your faith doesn’t have to feel like a sales pitch or rehearsed presentation. They talk about listening well, asking genuine questions, recognizing natural opportunities, and allowing your relationship with Jesus to overflow into everyday conversations.

Andrew also shares why evangelism starts in the heart—not the mouth, how fear of rejection keeps us silent, and eight questions that help him stay focused on God’s mission.

If you love Jesus but freeze when it’s time to talk about Him, this episode will help you approach those conversations with greater confidence, authenticity, and care.

Learn more about Andrew’s free five-day course at OverflowEvangelism.com!