Perspectives Into Practice | Walk with God

Have you ever known God was leading you somewhere, but had absolutely no idea how you were going to get there?

I call it the “yes, but not quite” season. You’ve said yes to God. You know He’s stirring something. You can sense that there’s something ahead, but you’re still living in the middle where the details haven’t come together yet.

I first talked about this back in Season 1, Episode 31, where I shared more of my own experience walking through a “yes, but not quite” season. If this conversation feels familiar to where you are right now, I’d encourage you to go back and listen to that episode too.

In this episode of Perspectives Into Practice, I sit down with my new friend Carolyn Jones to talk about what it looks like to actually live in that space, trusting God without trying to force the next step.

Carolyn is currently working in two very different worlds, serving as the executive director of a Christian nonprofit while also working in customer service at a car dealership. On paper, those pieces might not seem to fit together. But as Carolyn shares story after story of the people God has placed in front of her, we see that there is purpose in where God has us right now, even when we know it isn’t where we’ll stay forever.

We talk about recognizing the people God has actually called us to pour into instead of believing every need is ours to meet. Carolyn shares how simply being faithful in her workplace has opened doors to conversations about Jesus, Scripture, church, and faith with people who may never have walked into a traditional ministry setting.

We also talk about the other side of the “not quite,” when God begins giving us glimpses of what might be next.

For Carolyn, that came through an unexpected opportunity to attend the National Religious Broadcasters Convention, where God opened doors she couldn’t have orchestrated herself. It became a beautiful reminder that when something is truly from God, we don’t have to manipulate circumstances to make it happen.

And maybe that’s the hardest part.

Sometimes faithfulness looks like moving forward. Sometimes it looks like staying exactly where God has placed us while keeping our hands open and trusting Him with what comes next.

If you’re in a season where you know God has called you to something, but you don’t know when or how it’s going to happen, I pray this conversation reminds you that waiting isn’t wasted time. God is still working, connecting pieces, preparing people, opening doors, and using you right where you are.

What it means to be in a “yes, but not quite” season

Trusting God when you don’t know what’s next

Being faithful where God has placed you today

Recognizing your everyday mission field

Following the Holy Spirit instead of trying to meet every need

Sharing your faith naturally through relationships

Why waiting on God is active, not passive

Resisting the temptation to manipulate circumstances

Recognizing God’s provision and confirmation

Trusting God with the small things

Why faithfulness today prepares us for what’s next

Letting God connect the pieces we can’t see yet

One of my favorite reminders from this conversation comes from Zechariah 4, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit.” Carolyn reminds us not to despise the small things because we don’t always know which small act of obedience will become an important link in something much bigger God is building.

Friend, you don’t have to force what God has already planned. If He’s calling you, He will lead you. If He’s leading you, He will confirm it. And if He confirms it, He will provide for it. Your job is to stay close to Him, remain faithful where you are, and keep walking with open hands.

If you want to hear more about walking through a “yes, but not quite” season, be sure to go back and listen to Season 1, Episode 31.

You can learn more about Carolyn at https://www.inezhjonesintl.com/.

If God has been writing a story in your life, I’d love to hear it. Visit PerspectivesIntoPractice.com to learn more about becoming a guest on the podcast.

And if these are the kinds of conversations you’ve been craving, I’d love to invite you into The Story Haven. It’s our free online community for Christian women who want a place to have real conversations about what God is doing in their lives right now, grow in Scripture, encourage one another, and learn together how to actually live out our faith in everyday life. You can join us at TheStoryHaven.net.

If this episode encouraged you, follow the podcast and share it with a friend who might be living in her own “yes, but not quite” season right now.

Surrender sounds simple... until God asks us to live it.
How do we let go of our carefully made plans? How do we trust God's timing when it doesn't match our own? And what does it look like to choose surrender every single day instead of just once?

In this episode of Perspectives Into Practice, I sit down with my new friend, Briana Bass, for an honest conversation about what God taught her through burnout, unexpected life changes, and learning to trust Him one step at a time.

When Briana found herself exhausted, overwhelmed, and holding tightly to a future she thought was already planned, God gently began asking her to release her own expectations and trust His better plan. What followed was a season of moving, changing jobs, finding a new church community, and discovering that God's timing is always worth waiting for.

Together, we talk about why surrender isn't about giving something up as much as it is about making room for what God wants to give us. We discuss the fear of the unknown, learning to hear God's voice in everyday decisions, praying honestly through uncertainty, and why waiting is often one of God's greatest tools for growing our faith.

Briana also shares an incredible story of how God asked her to wait before pursuing a seminary program, only for Him to reveal His perfect timing years later through an unexpected full scholarship. It's a beautiful reminder that when God says "wait," He's never withholding His best from us. He's preparing us for it.

If you've been wrestling with unanswered prayers, uncertain decisions, burnout, or wondering whether you can truly trust God's timing, I pray this conversation encourages you to loosen your grip, open your hands, and discover the peace that comes from surrendering your plans to the One who sees the whole picture.

Friend, if you've been trying to figure everything out on your own, I hope this conversation reminds you that you don't have to carry the weight of your future by yourself. God is faithful. His plans are better than ours, His timing is perfect, and every surrendered step draws us closer to Him.

If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs this reminder today.

If God has been writing a story in your life, I'd love to hear it. Visit PerspectivesIntoPractice.com to learn more about becoming a guest on the podcast.

And if you're looking for a place to keep growing in your faith after the episode ends, I'd love to invite you to join us inside The Story Haven. It's a free online community where women encourage one another, share stories of God's faithfulness, study Scripture together, pray for one another, and learn what it looks like to put our faith into practice in everyday life. We'd love to welcome you. Learn more at TheStoryHaven.net.

What do you do when God doesn't answer your prayers the way you expected? How do you keep trusting Him when healing is slow, life changes overnight, and every day feels like another step into the unknown?

In this episode of Perspectives Into Practice, I sit down with my new friend Stephanie for a powerful conversation about trusting God through delayed healing, unexpected suffering, and learning to surrender one day at a time.

After surviving an aggressive battle with breast cancer years earlier, Stephanie experienced another life-altering medical crisis when her heart suddenly stopped during a routine doctor's appointment. Following nearly an hour of CPR, weeks in intensive care, multiple surgeries, and months of rehabilitation, she found herself learning to walk, breathe, speak, and live differently than before.

But this conversation isn't just about physical healing.

It's about what God teaches us when healing is slow.

Together, we talk about why delayed healing doesn't mean God is absent, how surrender often begins where our strength ends, and why our worth can never be measured by productivity or performance. Stephanie vulnerably shares how God has been teaching her to stop striving, embrace stillness, celebrate small victories, and trust His character even when life unfolds differently than she hoped.

If you're walking through chronic illness, recovering from trauma, waiting on God to answer a prayer, or simply feeling discouraged by a season that seems to last longer than expected, this episode will remind you that God is just as present in the process as He is in the miracle.

Friend, if you've been asking God why healing feels slow, I hope this conversation reminds you that His silence is not His absence. Even when progress feels small, He is faithfully working beneath the surface. Healing often happens little by little, and God wastes nothing when we choose to trust Him one surrendered step at a time.

If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs hope today.

Do you have a story in your own life weighing heavy on your heart to share? If so, I'd love to hear it. Visit PerspectivesIntoPractice.com to learn more about becoming a guest on the podcast.

And if you're looking for a place to keep growing in your faith beyond the podcast, I'd love to invite you to join us inside The Story Haven. It's a free online community where women gather to encourage one another, share what God is doing in their lives, pray together, dive deeper into Scripture, and continue putting our faith into practice every day. You can learn more and join us at TheStoryHaven.net. We'd love to welcome you!

What do you do when life changes in ways you never expected? When grief, loss, health challenges, and major life transitions all seem to happen at once, it's easy to wonder where God is and whether His goodness is still present.

In this episode of Perspectives Into Practice, I sit down with my friend Angela for a deeply encouraging conversation about trusting God through seasons of grief, uncertainty, and change. After losing both of her parents within fifteen months, watching her oldest child move across the world, facing health challenges, and entering a new season of empty nesting, Angela shares how God has faithfully met her in the middle of it all.

Together, we talk about what it looks like to honestly lament before God while still holding onto hope. We discuss Psalm 23, Lamentations 3, the beauty of remembering God's faithfulness, and why His goodness and mercy continue to pursue us even when we can't see them.

Angela also shares a powerful and deeply personal story from her father's final days, one that forever changed her understanding of God's presence, mercy, and eternal hope. It's a beautiful reminder that God never leaves us alone in our suffering. Learn morea bout what God is doing in her at www.rethinkingmythinking.com.

If you're walking through grief, navigating a difficult transition, caring for aging parents, becoming an empty nester, or simply wondering where God is in your current season, I pray this conversation reminds you that His presence is often His greatest gift.

In this episode, we discuss:

Friend, if life feels overwhelming right now, I hope this conversation reminds you that God is still pursuing you with goodness and mercy. Even when you can't see Him working, He is faithful. Keep bringing your heart to Him, keep remembering His character, and trust that He is writing a story far bigger than what you can see today.

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs hope today.

If God has been writing a story in your life, I'd love to hear it. Visit PerspectivesIntoPractice.com to learn more about being a guest on the podcast.

What do you do when life doesn't make sense? When you're waiting for answers, carrying grief, or wondering why God seems to be taking so long?

In this episode of Perspectives Into Practice, I sit down with my new friend, Hadassah, for a deeply encouraging conversation about trusting God when we don't understand His timing. Through her journey of losing her husband, walking through grief, battling anxiety, and learning to surrender control, she shares how God has faithfully taught her that peace isn't found in having all the answers, but in knowing the One who holds them.

Together, we talk about God's perfect timing, learning to trust His character instead of our circumstances, and why surrender is something we practice moment by moment. Hadassah reminds us that healing is rarely a straight line, that God's presence is enough even in our hardest seasons, and that we don't have to understand everything in order to trust Him.

We also discuss practical ways to stay grounded in seasons of uncertainty through Scripture, prayer, journaling, and choosing to remain connected to God throughout the day. Whether you're grieving, struggling with anxiety, waiting on unanswered prayers, or simply wondering what God is doing in your life, I pray this conversation reminds you that He is working in every detail, even when you can't yet see the whole picture.

In this episode, we discuss:
- Trusting God's timing instead of our own
- Finding peace during grief and loss
- Surrendering control to God
- Overcoming anxiety through prayer and Scripture
- Learning to trust God without having all the answers
- Healing after the loss of a spouse
- God's faithfulness in every season
- The importance of daily rhythms of prayer, Bible study, and journaling
- Finding hope while waiting on God
- Living with continual surrender and abiding in Christ

If this conversation encouraged you, I'd love to invite you to be a guest on Perspectives Into Practice. Every woman has a story of what God is teaching her right now, and I'd be honored to help you share yours. You can learn more at PerspectivesIntoPractice.com.

What if the question God is asking you isn't, "How are you doing?" but "Do you want to be well?"

In this episode of Perspectives Into Practice, my friend Desiree joins me for another honest conversation about physical health, spiritual health, and the quiet ways God invites us into deeper obedience. As she shares her journey through perimenopause, hearing challenges, and learning to care for her body differently, we discover that God's invitation to wholeness reaches far beyond our physical health.

Together, we explore the story of the man at the Pool of Bethesda and Jesus' powerful question, "Do you want to be made well?" We talk about what it means to move beyond simply surviving, how compromise can slowly become a lifestyle, and why obedience often begins with small, daily decisions that shape the direction of our lives.

We also discuss surrendering habits that no longer serve us, learning to recognize what belongs in a previous season, and trusting that God never asks us to release something without leading us toward something better. Whether you're wrestling with your physical health, spiritual growth, anxiety, people-pleasing, or simply feeling stuck, I pray this conversation encourages you to seek God's wisdom and trust His gentle invitation toward true wholeness.

In this episode, we discuss:
- What Jesus meant when He asked, "Do you want to be made well?"
- Physical health, spiritual health, and biblical stewardship
- Obedience over comfort
- Breaking free from survival mode
- Letting go of compromise and unhealthy habits
- Navigating perimenopause with faith
- Renewing your mind through Scripture
- Walking in peace instead of striving
- Recognizing when God is leading you into a new season
- Trusting God's process even when change feels difficult

If this conversation encouraged you, I'd love to invite you to be a guest on Perspectives Into Practice. Every woman has a story of what God is teaching her right now, and I'd be honored to help you share yours. Learn more at PerspectivesIntoPractice.com.

There are seasons of life that don't fit neatly into one emotion. Sometimes we're celebrating while we're grieving. We're excited about what's ahead while quietly mourning what we're leaving behind.

In this episode of Perspectives Into Practice, I sit down with my new friend, Andrea, to talk about what it looks like to navigate those beautifully complicated seasons with faith instead of fear.

Andrea shares what life has looked like as her daughter prepares to graduate from high school, and the tension of holding joy, sadness, anticipation, and overwhelm all at the same time. Together, we explore the emotional weight of motherhood, learning to release our children into God's hands, and trusting Him with the future when everything feels like it's changing.

We also talk about the mental load so many women carry, practical ways to move from anxiety to prayer, and how simple daily rhythms like writing things down, spending time in God's Word, and staying present can help us walk through full seasons with peace instead of pressure. If you've ever felt stretched by the responsibilities of life, overwhelmed by everything on your plate, or uncertain about what comes next, I hope this conversation reminds you that you were never meant to carry it all alone.

You'll hear encouragement about trusting God one day at a time, finding peace in the middle of transition, and remembering that God is faithfully growing us through every season, even the ones that feel bittersweet.

In this episode, we discuss:
- Navigating life transitions with faith instead of overwhelm
- Trusting God as our children grow and become independent
- Holding joy and grief at the same time
- Turning anxiety into prayer
- Practical ways to stay present instead of worrying about tomorrow
- Finding peace through Scripture and prayer
- The mental load of motherhood and learning to surrender it to God
-Embracing new seasons with hope and expectation

If this conversation encouraged you, I'd love to invite you to be a guest on Perspectives Into Practice. Every woman has a story of what God is teaching her right now, and I'd be honored to help you share yours. You can learn more at PerspectivesIntoPractice.com.

Have you ever felt like you were doing all the right things in your faith, reading your Bible, attending church, completing devotionals, and praying, but still felt like something was missing?

In this episode of Perspectives Into Practice, I sit down with friend, Jody for an honest conversation about what happens when God reveals that faith is about more than checking spiritual boxes. Together, we explore the difference between performing faith and truly abiding in Christ.

Jody shares how retirement created space for her to recognize that although she was faithfully participating in Bible studies, devotionals, and prayer, she had unknowingly settled into a passive faith. Through a season of reflection, God began showing her that He wasn't asking for more activities. He was asking for more of her heart.

We also talk about surrender, control, prayer, grief, and the ongoing process of spiritual refinement. Jody vulnerably shares how losing her daughter in 2018 deepened her faith and how God continues to use both her pain and her healing to draw her closer to Him. This conversation is a beautiful reminder that our stories are never finished and that God continues shaping us in every season of life.

If you've ever struggled with striving, perfectionism, spiritual performance, or wondering why your faith feels stuck despite doing all the "right" things, this episode will encourage you to slow down, listen for God's voice, and pursue a deeper relationship with Him.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Moving from a checklist faith to an authentic relationship with God
• The difference between spiritual activity and spiritual intimacy
• Learning to surrender control and trust God's leading
• How prayer deepens our connection with God
• Walking through grief while holding onto faith
• God's ongoing work of refining and transforming us
• Finding purpose in every season of life
• Why your story isn't over yet

Friend, if you've been feeling spiritually dry, exhausted from striving, or longing for something deeper in your walk with God, I pray this conversation reminds you that God doesn't want your performance. He wants your heart.

If this episode encourages you, please share it with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe so you don't miss future conversations.

And if God is teaching you something in your own life right now, I'd love to hear your story. Visit PerspectivesIntoPractice.com to learn more about being a guest on the podcast.

Looking for a place to rest, reflect, and reconnect with God? I'd also love to invite you to join us for the upcoming Wholeness in the Wilderness Retreat, a peaceful weekend designed to help women encounter God in the middle of life's wilderness seasons.

In this episode of Perspectives Into Practice, I sit down with my friend Heather for an honest conversation about what it looks like to trust God in the middle of life's uncertain seasons. Heather shares her journey of stepping away from a 25-year career, launching something new, navigating the transition of a child leaving for college, and walking through the recent loss of her father.

Together, we talk about the tension between faith and doubt, learning to surrender control, and trusting God one step at a time when the future feels unclear. Heather shares powerful stories of God's faithfulness, the simple rhythms that help her stay grounded, and the reminders God has given her along the way that He is still present, still working, and still leading.

If you've ever felt stuck in the messy middle, waiting for direction, grieving a loss, or wondering how to trust God when you can't see the whole path ahead, this conversation will encourage your heart. You'll be reminded that God rarely gives us the entire roadmap. Instead, He invites us to walk with Him one faithful step at a time.

Key topics from this episode include:
• Trusting God during major life transitions
• Letting go of control and surrendering the outcome
• Navigating grief with faith and hope
• Recognizing God's presence in everyday moments
• Building practical rhythms that strengthen your faith
• Finding peace in seasons of uncertainty

If this episode encouraged you, I'd love to invite you to share your story on the podcast. Some of the most powerful conversations come from ordinary women experiencing God's faithfulness in everyday life.

And if you're longing for rest, renewal, and deeper connection with God, join me for the Wholeness in the Wilderness Retreat. Learn more about the retreat and how to become a guest on the podcast at PerspectivesIntoPractice.com.

Have you ever found yourself praying for a breakthrough, only to realize God was inviting you to ask a different question?

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Heather for an honest conversation about comfort, peace, obedience, and the deeper work God wants to do in our hearts. What started as a struggle with health goals and consistency became a powerful lesson about hidden patterns, striving, and the subtle ways comfort can keep us from experiencing the freedom God has for us.

Heather shares how God revealed an unexpected idol in her life, why she had been asking the wrong questions, and how everything began to change when she stopped focusing on the surface problem and started inviting God into the deeper issue. Together, we explore the difference between comfort and peace, why recurring struggles often point to something beneath the surface, and how repentance and forgiveness can lead to lasting freedom.

We also talk about anxiety, fear, trusting God's process, and learning to recognize the cycles that keep showing up in our lives. Heather's vulnerability and practical wisdom offer encouragement for anyone who feels stuck, frustrated, weary, or unsure why they keep facing the same battles.

If you've ever wondered why some prayers seem unanswered, why growth feels harder than it should, or how to move from striving into genuine peace, this conversation will encourage you to slow down, ask God deeper questions, and trust that He is always leading you toward freedom.

As Heather reminds us, peace isn't always comfort. Sometimes the very thing God is using to grow us is the thing we're tempted to avoid.

I'd love to hear what stood out to you from this conversation.

And if God is teaching you something in your own life right now, I'd love to invite you to be a guest on the podcast and share your story. Sometimes the lesson you're learning is exactly what someone else needs to hear.

Also, registration is still open for the Wholeness in the Wilderness Retreat, happening June 25-28 near the Oregon coast and California Redwoods. If you're feeling weary, stretched thin, spiritually dry, or simply longing for intentional time with God, I'd love to have you join us. Learn more at PerspectivesIntoPractice.com and click Retreat.

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