In this episode of Second Wind, Matheus Veiga unpacks one of the most challenging parts of following Jesus: living with the “thorn” God hasn’t removed.

Drawing from 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Matheus reflects on Paul’s plea for relief and God’s surprising answer — that His power is made perfect in weakness. Instead of removing the thorn, God used it to form Paul into a leader marked by humility, dependence, and surrendered strength.

Matheus invites us to consider our own wounds, limits, and weaknesses not as disqualifiers, but as places where God desires to meet us, shape us, and reveal His power in ways we could never manufacture on our own.

If you’ve been frustrated by an area of weakness or carrying something you wish God would fix, this episode will help you see your thorn differently — not as a punishment, but as a place where grace takes root.

In this episode of Second Wind, Terry Parkman returns to unpack what it means to truly hear the voice of God.

Drawing from 1 Samuel 3, Terry walks us through the story of the boy Samuel—learning to recognize God’s voice for the very first time. He reminds us that God is always speaking, but often we miss Him because we never stop long enough to listen.

Terry challenges leaders to quiet the noise, open Scripture, and lean in expectantly. Hearing God’s voice isn’t reserved for prophets or pastors—it’s available to anyone who makes space for Him.

If you’ve ever felt distant from God or unsure of how to discern His voice, this episode will help you slow down, listen differently, and rediscover the nearness of a God who still speaks.

In this episode of Second Wind, Steve Patta speaks to the seasons that feel silent—when nothing seems to move, grow, or change.

Drawing from Luke 2:52, Steve reminds us that even Jesus spent thirty years in obscurity for three years of public ministry. The majority of His life was quiet, unseen, and uncelebrated—but not wasted. God trusted Him with the silence before He trusted Him with the stage.

Steve shares how quiet seasons are not punishments, but preparation. They’re where God builds character, maturity, and depth—the kind of strength that can sustain what’s next.

If you’ve been feeling hidden, overlooked, or unsure if anything’s happening, this episode will remind you that being hidden isn’t the same as being forgotten. God does His best work in the quiet.

In this episode of Second Wind, Brandon Brown shares what to do when life doesn’t go the way you expected.

Disappointment can leave you questioning where God is and what He’s doing. But Psalm 34:18 reminds us that “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” God doesn’t avoid the ache; He meets us in it.

Brandon reflects on the road to Emmaus, where Jesus walked with two disappointed disciples who didn’t recognize Him at first. In the same way, God walks with us through our own unmet expectations, offering clarity in confusion and presence in pain.

If you’ve been waiting, hurting, or wondering how to move forward, this episode will help you stay honest, open, and faithful, knowing that disappointment doesn’t disqualify you. It’s often where God begins to rebuild what’s next.

In this episode of Second Wind, Dan Randall, from the UK and serving with Empowered21 and OneHope, brings a powerful reminder that faithfulness in the ordinary creates space for the extraordinary.

Drawing from Luke 5:1-11, Dan unpacks how Jesus stepped into Peter’s everyday work – the same boat, same nets, same routine – and turned a normal moment into a miracle. He challenges leaders to see purpose in the mundane, to keep sowing even when results seem invisible, and to recognize that God often moves most in what feels least significant.

Through reflections on going deeper with Jesus, partnering with others, and honoring the small moments, this episode invites you to trust that nothing done in faith is wasted.

Because in the Kingdom of God, the miraculous often starts with what’s right in front of you.

In this episode of Second Wind, Terry Parkman unpacks the quiet side of growth through the parable in Mark 4:26-29.

It’s easy to get frustrated when you can’t see the results of what you’ve been planting, the prayers, the work, the faithfulness that seems to go unnoticed. But Terry reminds us that just because you don’t see fruit every day doesn’t mean growth isn’t happening.

God is always working beneath the surface. Our job is to stay faithful in the planting and trust what we can’t yet see.

If you’ve been questioning the pace of your progress, this episode will help you slow down, realign your expectations, and remember that maturity takes time.

In this episode of Second Wind, Andy Kirk — Global Kids Ministry Ambassador with OneHope and Empowered21 — reminds us that God’s limits aren’t punishments; they’re protection.

Through a personal story of burnout and a powerful reflection on Psalm 46:10, Andy shares what it means to slow down, embrace stillness, and trust that God shapes us in the pause. He invites leaders to reject the pace of hustle culture and rediscover the grace of limits — the holy boundaries that help us flourish.

If you’ve been running on empty, this conversation will remind you that slowing down isn’t failure; it’s faith.

In this opening episode of Second Wind, Augustine Mendoza speaks to the leaders who are tired, stretched thin, and quietly wondering if they can keep going. With honesty and grace, he reminds us of Jesus’ invitation: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

This episode acknowledges the reality of worn-out leaders who feel like they can’t stop, while offering a prayer of release: “Lord, I release the weight I’ve been carrying.” It’s an invitation to pause, catch your breath, and remember that true rest is found in Him.

Second Wind is a short-form podcast for leaders who are doing the work and feeling the weight. Each weekly episode is 5 to 7 minutes of real encouragement, honest reflection, and guided prayer to help you reset and keep going.

Whether you're leading a ministry, building something meaningful, or just trying to stay faithful in a busy world, this podcast is for you.

Season 1 drops October 3rd with 12 weekly episodes from voices across the E21 NextGen movement.

You’re not alone in this. You just need a second wind.