Christ With Coffee On Ice - three years later... let's talk 🤍

Episode Date: September 29, 2026

SURPRISE !!! In honor of it being THREE years of CWCOI, we decided to dedicate an episode to celebrate our birthday !!! We are truly so grateful for these last years and for all of your support. In this bonus birthday episode, our host, Ally Yost responds to audio messages submitted by you with questions you'd like answered. We talk through unanswered prayers, waiting seasons, speaking in tongues, and more. We are so hopeful for this next year of CWCOI and all glory be to God. "For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won't be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious." 1 Corinthians 14:2 _____________________________________________ ☆ PRE-ORDER 'LOVE THAT LASTS' HERE: https://allyyost.com/en-usd/pages/book ☆ OUR NEW MERCH IS LIVE! SHOP AT: https://allyyost.com ☆ MY BIBLE (code 'ALLYYOST' at checkout) ➤ https://hosannarevival.com/collections/beautiful-bibles/products/nlt-notetaking-bible-belfast-theme ☆ TUMBLER LINK ➤ https://allyyost.com/products/cwcoi-glass-tumbler-white _____________________________________________ Connect further with us ! TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@christwithcoffeeonice  Instagram ➤ https://instagram.com/christwithcoffeeonice  _____________________________________________ Connect further with Ally ! TikTok (2M) ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@ally_yost  Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/ally_yost/  ShopMy ➤ https://shopmy.us/allyyost  Pinterest ➤ https://www.pinterest.com/ally_yost1/_created/

Hello, everybody. Welcome to another episode of Christ with coffee and ice. Surprise. I'm your host, Alyos. It is my joy and honor to be here with you guys today. And I didn't give any kind of heads up that an episode was uploading today. So if you caught this, hey, surprise. If you got a notification, it's not a glitch, it's not a mistake. Today is a Tuesday, but more importantly, today is September 29th.

and what that means, and if you're physically watching, maybe you're already getting an idea, okay? You're already getting the vibe. No, it's not my birthday. My birthday's in May. It is the podcast's birthday. Today is when Christ with Coffee on Ice turns three years old, which is insanity to me, absolute insanity. And I just wanted to hang out with you guys. I could not think of a better way to celebrate CWCOI's third birthday than to hang out with you guys. And so obviously we're hanging out right now. But another idea that I had was I had gotten on socials and I asked you guys to submit some voice memos and some questions that you would love to hopefully, potentially, have featured on the episode. And then we talk about it. If it were up to me and I had all

the time in the world and we all had all the time in the world, I would get through every single one. Like I already was kind of, I kind of cheated and I started listening to a few. And of course, I start weeping because I'm just like obsessed with you guys and I love you and I just constantly feel the love of God for you. Like Jesus is so, oh, Jesus is so obsessed with you guys like each and every individually. Obsessed, obsessed, obsessed, he loves you, he adores you. He would give his life for you. He actually did. He'd do it again.

Like, obsessed with all of you. And so I think that's actually what comes over me is like when I get to hear your guys's voices and I'm like there are human beings on the other end of this. I can't I can't handle it I will explode and it's probably it's not even me actually it's probably literally just Jesus that I'm feeling who explodes for each and every one of you every day he's obsessed with you he loves you so much and so I did kind of cheat and I started listening to some well I say that because I really I do want to listen to these like live on the podcast and we just talk about it and it's like really raw and organic and just like natural that way and I started listening to a few of them and I'm just, I'm so obsessed with you guys.

I am truly so proud of you. Some of these questions are so good. And so I'm really excited to jump into it, but there are like 200 of them, which is such a bummer. Because I really would read every single one, but I don't think we have the time. I think we would be here for five hours. So I don't know how many we're going to get through. I don't even know how long this episode's going to be. I did tell my editor, Katie.

I was like, Katie, you know, like I was thinking about doing this bonus episode for the week, which is crazy because that means we're essentially coming out with three episodes in one week. which is nuts. But this one is just like a fun bonus. Like it's like really low key. It's just going to be like a fun hang for the birthday. Maybe it's only 20, 30 minutes long. Guys, we're, no, I don't know about that.

I don't know if this is going to be 20 or 30 minutes long. It's probably going to be a little bit longer than that. But whatever. Let's just do it. Let's just flow. Let's just see where the Lord takes us. I have no idea how many we're going to get through. But I would like to get through as many as physically possible.

because yeah, I just think it'd be cool if you were able to hear your question answered. So I hope I can do that for you today. If you're physically watching, yes, we have all sorts of balloons. We've balloons everywhere. And I realized actually, I didn't care for aesthetics, okay? I could have gone like super aesthetic and like neutral with the balloons and whatever. And I was like, no. I honestly, I didn't think about it.

but it really is giving three-year-old's birthday party. Like, we have yellow and red balloons, rainbow-colored balloon that says happy birthday on it, and we have a cow. We have a cow balloon here. And you know what? There is no significance to cows for me. I just saw this, and I was like,

that's the cutest thing ever. You're coming home with me. You're coming on the podcast. And so this is our friend. He's really cute and perfect. Literally, I don't know why. I just saw him, and I was like, yeah. that makes sense. And I thought not only would it be special to obviously like talk about your guys's

questions and chit chat and hang out, but I thought that it would actually be really special for all of us to take a moment to reflect on all of our lives individually over the last three years and how much God has truly done in our lives. I think a lot of times we can get swept away in the ways that maybe our life is lacking right now. And we're we're not as quick to taking a second to slow down and reflect on all that the Lord has done. So I also really hope that this little bonus birthday episode is an invitation for us to truly reflect from a heart posture of gratitude and Thanksgiving towards the Lord because I really think that it's when we remember all the ways that he has delivered us and he has

gotten us through dark times that we, you know, at the time maybe didn't think there was any way out. Like it's in those moments of remembering that does boost our faith in the now. And it encourages us and reminds us that the God that we needed so desperately then, and he came through for us. And it could even just be in the sense of like, oh wow, he like literally didn't let me die. He didn't let me drown. Um, there may still be things that we're waiting on, but I'm not even just talking about the things that he can do for us. I'm even just talking about his faithfulness, his companionship, his, he's fathering, you know, the way that he parents us and he never leaves our side, even in the midst of things still feeling confusing, you know, or things feeling

unanswered. But even in the ways that he probably has answered prayers and the ways that we could be actively living in a prayer that we once had and just thanking him for that, you know, so I'm hopeful for that today. And I, uh, I, I, did bring a cake. I brought a cake for all of us to enjoy. I know you guys aren't like physically with me, but just, we're all just going to pretend that we are together in this room right now enjoying this cake. But I baked a cake all by myself and I absolutely covered it. I missed a spot. That looks kind of bald, right, thinner. Okay, we'll turn it around. I covered it in sprinkles. Look at how fun. There's all sorts of little star sprinkles. It's very whimsy and

girly. Oh wow. Oh wow. Guys, that was a sprinkle I just ate. I didn't realize how hard they were. Oh my gosh. Sorry if that's like not fun to listen to. Now I'm actually going to light each candle and together I want us to practice some just reflection and gratitude with a Lord. So with each candle, we're all going to do something together, all right? With this first candle, I want all of us to reflect and think of where we were at three years ago at this very time and think about where you were at in your life and something that you genuinely didn't think that you were going to make it out of. And I think that in this moment, as we remember that, we just ask the Holy Spirit to remind us of his goodness and his faithfulness.

What are you living in today that that version of you three years ago was praying for? Now, with our second candle here, we are going to look at our life today. Think of one thing in your life that you never want to lose sight of or like lose your gratitude for. What is that very thing? that could be your family. It could be friendships that the Lord is brought into your life. Maybe it's your health. Maybe it's healing.

Maybe that it's you simply have made it this far in your life. Okay? But something that you don't want to become so familiar to that you stop thanking God for it. And our last candle. The future. What is something in your life that you could place in God's hands? something that's very uncertain, something that might be super scary, okay, but something about your future that you don't have clarity on that you could fully surrender and practice complete trust in

God for. Like, what is something, if you were to blow out a candle right now on your birthday cake, what is something that you would wish for? But instead of wishing for it, how could we pray to God about that thing? What are you asking God for in this next year of your life? And are you willing to trust him even if his answer is different than you hoped? Like, do you fully trust him with the way that he delivers this very thing? And so wherever you are, okay, if you've thought of your three things, you don't have to say it out loud, you could just hold it before the Lord. But I say, let's just take a couple seconds and we're going to blow out these candles together, okay?

Jesus, thank you for everything that you have done. in our lives that we have noticed, but everything that maybe you've done that has gone unnoticed. Lord, we recognize that there are so many things that you are doing for us, and there's probably a lot more than we ever will actually know. And so, God, we thank you for the things that we've noticed and seen, but even the things that go unseen. Lord, I thank you that you are faithful. God, that you come through for us, and you protect us, and you love us, and you truly value and hang on to every word that we pray to you, God. Lord, we thank you that this is not about what we can do for you or what you can do for us, but it's truly just about having a genuine relationship with the one

who has created us. And so, Lord, we thank you as we have the opportunity to reflect on your faithfulness in our lives, God. Thank you for all the ways that you have carried us through times that felt really, really heavy. So many tears that we've cried that maybe other people have not even seen, but you've collected every tear, God, and that you've heard every cry. And so, Lord, we just thank you, above all else, just for your comfort, your faithfulness in the way that you don't abandon or forsake us, that you never would actually turn your cheek from us, that you come running to us when we call out to you and we need you. And so, Lord, we thank you that you are everlasting and that you do not change on your character or who you say you are. And so, Lord, we honor you

today, God, we thank you for everything that you have done on this podcast. And within all of us, Lord, thank you for the family that we have here, Lord. Thank you for the body of Christ. And so we just honored you. We praise you. We love you. These candles are about to burn out. We love you, Jesus. Amen. Okay, amen. Hopefully I don't make my freaking fire alarm go off. I didn't think of that. Okay, I'm going to do a little taste test of our cake here. Sprinkles are definitely super, super crunchy. But the cake is so, I honestly crushed it. It's very moist. Wow, that is so good. Guys, thanks for being here. Truly. I think one of my favorite ways to really reflect on like where I've been and what the Lord has done in my life is going back to old journals. And so I don't know if you

guys are big journal or, like, writers, but I'm really not. I don't know. I like go through seasons where I'm really good about it and then I'll go like I think it's been almost a year since I've actually actively journaled and wrote to the Lord but I found this old journal of mine this was the first journal that I got to start writing down my thoughts and my prayers to the Lord and so the earliest one that I have is April 29th of 2023. This is my first journal ever. But I want to read one that's closer to this time of year, but three years ago. I'd really love to just share it with you guys. Hi God. Today was such an amazing day. Although I missed my dentist appointment and had to reschedule. Today was another day filled with your reassurance and excitement from you, Lord.

I had such an amazing day. Thank you so much for your. your blessings, God. Thank you for giving me reassurance and confidence and peace. I will continue to spread your word and talk about all the wonderful things you do for all of us every day. I love that I'm finally sharing my love for you with the world. I don't know why I was always ashamed of it, afraid people would judge me. But even you say in the Bible, do not seek validation from other humans, but from you only. I don't care what people think. I'm not embarrassed to know you, God. You are the reason I'm alive and have all the blessings that I have. So why not acknowledge that?

I love you, God. Thank you for everything lately. I can't even believe it. All the encouragement and love in the comments section of my social media has been incredible. I love seeing your name everywhere. The biggest lesson I've learned from you this week is that no matter my sin or what I've done, mistakes I've made, you will never be disappointed in me or leave me. Even after I sin, you still bless me. I can feel your embrace and grace.

I'm so undeserving, but Lord, I promise to never go a day without recognizing your love and forgiveness. I adore you. I'm obsessed with knowing you. I thank you for the plans you have for me and the blessings you have in store for me before it even happens. You are so good, I wrote in all capitals and underlined. I pray to continue to know you more and more every day. I'm hungry for you and can't live without you. forever in your glorious name Jesus amen that was 2023 Allie and I like I giggle and I smile as I read that

because I just sense my innocence and like all the ways that I still had so much to learn like I do believe that the ways that obviously I felt about Jesus was real but it's so funny how like confident and sure I was about about knowing Jesus and knowing his grace but then like I experienced just in the last you know few weeks of my life right now where I feel like I've actually forgotten that and I don't know if I've ever actually like truly understood like it just everything that has to do with Jesus can just go so much deeper like there is no aha moment of it's like even the simplest parts of the gospel is so complex where like in the place that I'm at right now in my journey is like I'm experiencing a whole other layer of what it means to actually accept his grace

and his love and his forgiveness. And so yeah, I just love this alley. I love how bold she is. I love how confident she is. And yeah, anyway, I just think it's really cool. So I encourage you guys to remind yourself of where you've come from and how far. you've come and I think it's really sweet to reflect on past versions of ourself. All right, so now let's get into your guys's voice notes. I'm so excited for this. I'm just going to like do one of these. Close my eyes and just click on one because I don't know how else I'm going to pick. All right. Let's do this one. Oh, this is only three seconds long. Hi, Allie. Love your podcast.

Thanks, Michaela. That wasn't a question, but I still love her. Okay, let's do Nicole. My question for you is how to navigate unanswered prayer and hold on to hope that God will work in an area of my life that I have yet to see him work in. There's so many areas in my life where God has been so faithful, but there's been an area of my life that I have felt a lack of him in. and I know that doesn't mean he's not in it, but it just really, really feels that way. And so how to navigate that faithfully and with hope when it's been a lot of years of exhaustion and disappointment. So yeah, if you have any advice, that would be great.

And thank you for all that you do. Oh, Nicole sounds so sweet. I really like her. Wow, what a great question. Yeah, I think, you know, it's easier said than done. I think that the cliche thing that we hear a lot in Christian culture and just the church in general is that when we don't see God move in a certain area of our life is to just, you know, remember of his faithfulness and his goodness. And it's like you can believe all of those things and still feel the grief of not getting the breakthrough that you've been praying for, you know? And I think that something that I have learned to, the tension that I've learned to accept is that I do believe that there is still faithfulness in God and believing the qualities that he has while also grieving the very thing that he hasn't allowed yet.

Like I think that is actually still being faithful to God. And I think even as we look in the Bible, you know, there's examples of people. who I think, you know, did that so well. I mean, we even look at the book of Job and all of what Job had to go through. And he went through suffering and pain. And there were things that he prayed and called out to the Lord about. And even as we think about Abraham, you know, and his wife, Sarah, and how they earnestly, earnestly prayed to the Lord for a child.

And it wasn't until they were in their late 90s. I think they were literally in their 90s when they had Isaac. And I think the truth is, is like, there just is going to be that tension and that grief of being like, God, I believe in you and I love you and I'm not leaving you and I'm not going to stop praying to you, but like, I am hurting and I am questioning your character, you know, like, I believe, but help my unbelief. I think another thing that's really important, and I don't know if anyone relates to this, but I would. will just admit that there have been times where I have fallen into the trap of believing that if I don't have 100% full faith in God that he's going to come through in an area of my life every single day that he won't do it. Like it's actually based only on my faith and how much faith I have that the thing actually comes. And here's the thing. Like you could be earnestly praying

about a specific area in your life or a specific thing and you're like, Jesus, I need relief. I need you to come through. Please come through for me. And, you know, you've been praying and you've had so much faith. And then all of a sudden you hit this point where you're like, you know what? I don't know how much faith I have anymore. You know, like I don't know how much faith I have right now. I'm exhausted, God. I've had so much faith and I've prayed and it hasn't come.

And I just, I don't think that if we're going to believe that God is a loving father, that he's going to look at those moments where we don't have as much faith that maybe we did when we first started praying about the thing that he'll go, see, sorry, you lost your, your faith kind of dimmed. I don't know if you're ready for that thing anymore because you don't have the same faith

that you did when you first started praying about this thing. And so it looks like that's delayed it now, another year and a half, yeah, sorry. Or, you know what? I don't know, I'm kind of, I'm starting to second guess whether I actually want to deliver it to you or not. Like, I just, I think that our faith is really important. But I don't think that it is just on whether we have like 100% faith every single day that something happens.

I think there are things that I have seen God come through for in my life that I had really, really big faith for. And then there were times where I didn't. And then there were times where I honestly was like, I'm just going to stop praying about this thing. Where I forgot about it, you know? And then God still in his faithfulness because of the prayers that I prayed, regardless on like how I was. it's probably like this through the process, right? Where I had really big faith for it. And then I felt really encouraged.

And then I felt like I had really, really amped up. And I felt like I had all this energy to pray for it. And then other seasons where I was like, I don't have it anymore, God. But I think even in the times where we are exhausted over having hope and faith in an area of our lives, I don't think that God is ever going to look at us and say, yeah, sorry, I don't know. You got to do better than that. Like, I think he actually would invite us into rest and say, hey, let me comfort you. Let me hold you.

Why don't you just rest in my lap? I know you're exhausted. Thank you for all the faith. Thank you for all the prayers. Do you trust me that I'm moving in this area of your life? Why don't you come rest? And so I don't know if I actually answered the question. But I think ultimately what I'm getting to is I think faithfulness in God in the areas of our lives that we are hoping for breakthrough and movement is not always about how we can be perfect sons and daughters in the midst of waiting and having hope for it. You know, like I think that it is just going to be. kind of a roller coaster where there are times where you have big faith and other times where you feel exhausted and that's okay. I think that there's a release in that of like letting yourself be exhausted, you know, and admitting to the Lord of when you're like, okay, I don't know how much I have in me to pray for this anymore, God. And so I think at least right now, I just need your comfort because I feel exhausted, you know, and I don't understand your ways. I surrender that, you know, like I don't

understand why you haven't come through in this area of my life, but I just need you, you know, like I just, I need your comfort, I need your peace, I need your spirit, and I need to rest in you. And so I think one thing I'd encourage you in is just, what is your definition of faithfulness? You know, like, is your definition of faithfulness having 100% faith in God? Or are you extending enough grace to yourself and saying, yeah, actually, some days I don't know if I have a lot of faith. and that's okay. I think that's the journey. That's the process, you know, um, putting ourselves under any kind of microscope or, uh, putting pressure on ourselves that we're supposed to demonstrate this like crazy, big, bold faith every day about something I think would eventually crush us because it's just not,

we're humans, you know? Like, I don't think it's in our human nature that we can even do that. Obviously, I mean, that's why we need the strength of the Lord, you know? And this is another thing that I think I'm kind of guilty into when I'm waiting for a specific breakthrough in an area of my life from God is I think the other thing that ends up exhausting me is not even having the hope and the faith for it. But I think sometimes it's also like trying to predict, you know? And in a way, through those acts of prayer and having hope and faith, I actually end up kind of like hyper fixating and obsessing over that thing. And so I'm like looking for signs, you know, I'm looking for confirmation or I'm like, constantly praying for those things. And I'm not saying that God can't move that way. You know,

like he can absolutely confirm things and reassure us and, you know, comfort us through those things. But it's, it's in moments where I become so obsessed with that, where I like constantly need God to like acknowledge that area of my life for me to feel like he's moving, that that also becomes exhausting. And so there's also another level of surrender where it's like just going to the feet of God and being like, all right, God, I'm just going to let you surprise me with this. You know, like, I'm going to continue to have hope for it and I'm going to continue to pray about it. But I'm not going to like obsess and pray over this thing every single day. Unless you feel led by the spirit to do so, great. But I think the true root to this is like, what is the motivator? Like, are you praying

and interceding for this thing every day because you really feel the Holy Spirit is saying you got to intercede and pray for this thing right now every day? Or is it actually coming from a place of of like you fear that God won't come through if you don't make sure that you're praying and like constantly pursuing it in prayer. Does that make sense? Like does the motivator of which you are praying for this thing? Is it actually coming from fear that he won't do it? Or that if you don't work hard enough in prayer that he won't do it.

Because now we've completely flipped the gospel upside down and we're believing a gospel that is not actually true because we've now put it on ourselves and in our works, it's on us that God will come through for us. And that's not true. So there's, yeah, there's another part of it where it's like we actually have to be like, okay, God, I trust you, and I'm going to let you surprise me. Okay, moving on to our next question. This is from Paisley.

I love that name. Hi, Ali. Okay, my question is, what is the best way or practical steps on, what to do in the waiting season and how to actively wait. I'm definitely in a season of waiting, and I feel like all that I want to do is sit around and let the Lord do it and just, like, get there and, like, wait for a dapp in. But I know that there's so much more fruit that can come out of this season.

And so, yeah, what is some active steps that I could take to actively wait in this season that the Lord has me in? I love that. Oh, Paisley. Yeah, so I get this. I get this feeling of like, and I love this. I feel like this flows really well into, I mean, from our last question that we had, but what do you do in a season where you're waiting? And, you know, you may even have faith that the Lord is going to move, but you're so eager about it, maybe a little anxious, that you're like, okay, I'm just going to sit here and I'm just going to wait until God does it. Like, I can't. move, I can't do anything, I'm just going to wait. And at least what I'm understanding from what

Paisley is saying is how can she make her time in her waiting season productive or, you know, so she's not just sitting around and waiting for God to move, but she's actually like enjoying her life and living it to the fullest and even being obedient in that time of waiting for God to deliver this thing, you know? I think the first thing, I'm just going to tell you, what I would do if I were you, okay? I would ask God, Lord, how do you want me to have fun? How do you want me to enjoy you and enjoy life as I'm waiting for this thing? Because I think the biggest opportunity that we could have in a season of waiting where we're anticipating God delivering something in our lives is recognizing that the gift that we already have is him. And like that can sound

so cliche, but I just, it's true. Like, there's nothing that God could give us that's greater than him. And so I think in the midst of a season where you're just, you're, you're kind of feeling like you're like at standstill, you know, like you're standing still, you're waiting. You're like, you don't know how to move. You're kind of just like anxiously sitting at the edge of your bed. And you're like, okay, well, I'm just, I'm just going to wait here until God delivers. but I think like we're actually missing out on the fun and the joy and yeah I would just ask him God what do you how do you want me to have fun with you right now I think it's that simple I think that you walking in obedience in this time is doing just that is like what are some ways God

that I could experience you in a way that is like so joyful and so fun and so fulfilling and so much so that I get so swept up in that that I like actually kind of forget sometimes about the thing I'm waiting for. And you know, and here's the thing. I think in a perfect world it'd be great for all of us to just like conveniently forget that we're like waiting for something and then it comes

and we're like, ah, God thanks. Like there will still be times in your waiting where you will feel, again, what we were just saying, the grief, you know? And that is all so okay and so normal. And God expects that and he's not intimidated by that he's not disappointed in that but i think as those feelings come like bring them to the lord and sit in it with jesus but then like yeah just asking him how you can also kind of you know after you've acknowledged those feelings and you felt it and whatever it's like how okay god now how can i

just have fun and having fun with jesus can look like so many things i mean obviously it can look like being in community um it can look like volunteering at your church it can look like doing things just one-on-one with Jesus. Like you're going out and getting ice cream with him or going out of your way to love a stranger, you know, to give. There's like so many ways to have fun with Jesus. An example of something that I did last weekend was I didn't have any plans. Everyone in my life was busy or traveling and I live alone. And so I think a lot of times I can feel kind of lonely or like I really I'm just so excited for the day that I get to live with my husband. You know, like obviously I'm not married yet, but that day I have faith for. And there have been plenty of times where I've been like,

all right, God, I'm done. Like I'm so over this. Like I just don't want to live alone anymore. You know, like I'm excited about the day that I can just like have my best friend with me all the time and have my husband and even my family and like I'm never just like in a house by myself. And I realized that um there is going to be a version of me one day that is going to be so content and so happy being a mom and a wife. Like don't get me. I know it. I know I'm never going to wish that away. But I do believe that there's going to be aspects about this season of my life that I'm going to be like, dang, I wish that I didn't wish that like waiting kind of in between of like still being single, but like not yet married in a relationship but like not engaged or married yet like i just know that there's going to be a

version of me in the future that had i just sat around and just like waited and did nothing about it like just basically waited for this waiting season to just be over then i had actually like appreciated a lot of the beauty that's in it because that's the other thing is i believe there is so much beauty even in a season where you're waiting for something And so if we are solely defining that season of our life as a waiting season and not also so many other things that it is, you know, like this is also a season where sure, yeah, I'm waiting for things, but also like there's things God is growing me in and there's things that I actually actively get to do because I live alone. And so I took my dog Gracie and we went driving down PCH and I parked my car at the beach. and I watched the sunset. I got to sit up on my roof and she sat in the passenger seat. And I brought a book and some snacks and I watched the sunset and I sat with Jesus and I prayed and I listened to worship music.

And it was just the best evening. And I did it alone. And it was beautiful. And I just know that there's going to be times where I look back at that. And I'm going to be like, Jesus, thank you so much for the times that I actually got to just have quality intimate one-on-one time with you with no distractions. You know, like no babies running around and like no interruptions. Like I just got to go. and do that with him. And so I think another key to this too is like not just labeling or defining the very moment that you're in right now as a moment of something that you're lacking or waiting for. Like recognizing the things that you actually do have right now and being like, all right, Jesus, I want to have fun with you though. Because I know that there's fruit and there's beauty in what you have for me in this moment. And it's not just a waiting season. You know,

it's also blank. And so ask him that. Be like, Lord, how can we have fun? Like, what else is the season? Like, how would you actually define the season, God? What are some words that you would put on this, you know, area of my life? Because obviously you have me walking through it for a reason, and there's got to be gifts and Easter eggs in it, you know? So anyway, I hope that was helpful. I hope that I answered that question, but that's what I would do. Hey, Al. I'm McKenzie. I'm from North Carolina. I'm a big fan. of Christ with coffee on ice, by the way, I'm excited for your new book to come out. I have a question.

So if you are in an abusive relationship and now you're in a healthy one, why do you still feel stuck? Or why do you still feel like the healthy person is going to be come like your ex? because I was in an abusive relationship for nine months. I'm out, praise the Lord. And now I'm in a very healthy relationship with a godly guy. And he's a love of my life and best friend. And I just wanted to know that.

So thank you, Allie. Okay, I love McKenzie so much. I literally could cry. Oh my gosh, she's so sweet. Oh my gosh, what a great question. And I actually think that the answer is so simple. And it's a couple of things. And I can really deeply relate to this.

I just think that when you have experienced relationships that are really challenging and really hard. And in McKenzie's case, abusive, it's hard when your nervous system and your body has been wired in a way to protect itself or to brace itself or to expect the worst. And so I think the first thing to acknowledge is to really give yourself grace. You know, if you, if McKenzie or if you are somebody who relates to McKenzie, I think that the first thing you could really do is extend so much grace to yourself and your body, like your mind, you know, and your nervous system. And there's a book that I actually, I've only started reading it. I can't even really like testify that it's all that life changing,

but I know it is because so many people have suggested it. I think it's called the body keeps the score or something like that. And it's all about the like the actual like science and biology and the neuroscience of how our literal body that carries our soul stores trauma and like also kind of gets equipped to learning patterns and things that happen to us and then like learns how to kind of brace itself for that and expects it. And so I think there is a reality. to this that like you don't need to be so hard on yourself that you are like so far gone or so broken that you can't get to a place of health with this partner or like that you feel so

frustrated with yourself that you can't just assume the best in this person I think it's so much deeper than that and I think the truth is is like it's just going to take time and healing especially with the Holy Spirit and if you have resources like therapy those things really do help with rewiring those neural pathways, you know, in your mind. And I've been obsessed with just learning even more about this kind of stuff because I'm kind of in my own, like, healing journey when it comes to that kind of stuff and like relational things that I think are still embedded in me that I'm learning to unlearn. But there are some simple truths that you can remember right now is one, give yourself grace. And also like it doesn't sound like it was

that long ago that you were in this relationship, McKenzie. So give yourself grace, give your body grace, give your mind grace. She truly is just doing her best to try to keep you alive, right? And she's just bracing herself for things that she's experienced before. And so it's going to take time for your body to learn that it's actually safe. The second thing that you need to remember is that the Lord is here for you to comfort you and reassure you and remind you of the truth. Okay. And so he will heal you. He will deliver you. He will continue to show you in your nervous system why you actually are safe and you can trust him and you can trust this man who apparently is the love of your life and your best friend i love that and thirdly i think you need to trust the jesus that is in him

okay so just trust the holy spirit and trust that if anybody is in christ they are going to have the same grace for you that jesus has for you and so um yeah like i think everything that you're feeling is so normal and i think um the truth is is like healing is a process and it's not going to be an overnight thing but what I can promise you is that Jesus is so faithful. And I think a lot of times we'd love to heal a lot quicker than it takes sometimes, but just really trusting him in the process, you know, that there is a version of you on the other end of all of this that feels safe. And I'm really happy for you and I'm really excited about your new relationship

and I am so glad that you have found a man of God who you love and adore. I am Brazilian, so my English is not that good. But I would like to know if I really have to spoken tongues to have the Holy Spirit with me. Because I don't spoken tongues yet. But I would like to overflow in the spirit and the places I go. But how? I love this question, Maria. Okay, everybody, are we not obsessed with Mary?

Maria. I love her. Okay. First off, thank you so much for your question. And I think it's such a good one. And no. It actually says in scripture, let me find it because there's something that comes to my mind. Paul talks to the church about the gifts of the spirit. And the truth is, is there might be parts of the body that like preaches this. I don't know. Are there people who say this? That like the sure indicator that you have been filled with the Holy Spirit is when you receive the gift of tongues. and that is not true. The gift of tongues is just one particular gift from the Holy Spirit. There are so many gifts that we can get from the Spirit of God. And the truth is, is like, not everyone speaks in tongues, and that's okay. But specifically in 1st Corinthians 14, 2, Paul says, for one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men, but to God. He adds that the person

is speaking mysteries in the spirit. And so a lot of Christians understand that the gift of tongues is like having a prayer worship dimension, not merely the miraculous ability to speak another earthly language. When you pray to God in the earthly language that you speak, you are praying with your mind, you know. But I think that when we are praying in tongues, that is our literal spirit connecting and praying directly to God. If we go to 1st Corinthians chapter 12 verse 27 this chapter talks about the spiritual gifts okay um and it says one body with many parts and so this is paul speaking to the fact that there are just different body parts um and different parts of the body of christ and so verse 27 it starts off by saying all of you together are christ's body

and each of you is a part of it here are some of the parts god has appointed for the church first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages. Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages. Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not.

So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. So I think what Paul is actually saying in these verses is he's showing us all the different parts of the body of Christ and how each one plays a very specific but important role. And just because one person is an apostle or one person is a teacher or one person is a prophet or one person can speak in tongues, but another person is actually capable of interpreting and translating tongues. Like, if an apostle can't do that and a teacher can't be an apostle, like, is that wrong? And Paul is saying, no, like, we need every part of the body.

And so if there are certain people who have the gift of tongues, but then there's other people who have the gift of being a teacher or a leader, like, we need everybody. And there's no shame in the fact that, like, you don't have what maybe another person has. And so if you don't have the gift of tongues, Paul is actually showing us here that not everybody is going to have the gift of tongues, that we are to earnestly want the gifts of the spirit, right? So again, like, we should absolutely be praying for, you know, the gifts that come with the Holy Spirit. but also just like accepting the gifts that God gives us and how he wants to use us in those gifts. And then Paul goes on to say in chapter 14, let love be your highest goal, but you should also desire the special abilities the spirit gives, especially the ability of prophecy.

For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won't be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the spirit, but it will all be mysterious. but one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church. And so what Paul is also saying here is like, yeah, tongues are awesome, you know, like as we should all earnestly desire, like all the gifts of the spirit, that's a great one to have.

But if there's any gift to really desire is not tongues, because the truth is, like, no one knows what you're saying and tongues really is to build and edify the the very person who's speaking it versus prophecy like the gift of being able to speak over people's lives and prophesy over them we should want that more because that actually builds up the church like that builds up the body in a whole and so obviously if paul is acknowledging that there are parts of the body who carry the spirit of god that do not speak tongues then i think it's clear to us that that is not the defining factor and the end-all be-all of whether you've actually been baptized in the Holy Spirit or not or whether you carry the Holy Spirit. That is not the only indicator.

Hi, Ali, it's Eva from Aaron. And I was wondering what your advice would be for struggling in a season where you are in a slump with God. How would you get out of that? I also just wanted to say that you're such an inspiration. I love your videos. Bye. Oh, she's cute. Bye. Okay.

Yes, I love this question. And I think that it's very relatable. I think a lot of us can relate to the fact that there are slumps that come with following Jesus. And I think that the first thing that's really important to recognize, is that like slumps will come y'all the slumps are going to come um you're just not going to feel super on fire for jesus every single day of your life um i pray that it is 99% of your life i do and i pray that actually more times than not we wake up and we are just on fire obsessed but there are seasons that feel a little slumpy and so the first thing i i really want to do is just validate that

that is such a normal part of the experience you know and i don't even know if it necessarily means that you've done anything wrong. I think that the truth is, is like, whenever I've kind of gotten into weird slumpy seasons with God, or I've felt maybe a little numb or not super excited, to be honest, to like get into his presence, typically, if I'm being so honest with myself, is there might be expectations that I've put on myself that God didn't ask for me to do. I think that sometimes we can get in a slum. I think that sometimes we can get in a with God if we have allowed ourselves to kind of get into this place of maybe religion where we are doing things out of habit that are good habits. But for whatever reason, somewhere along the way,

we've like, it's become more of a routine and less of like an actual friendship, you know, like the intimacy has kind of faded in a way. I think that my first prayer, as I get into moments of slump with God is being really honest and raw about how it's been feeling, you know, and just be like, all right, Lord, I'm sitting at your feet and I'm going to admit, like, I feel really slumpy for whatever reason. I feel like I'm in a really weird rut. I feel kind of like numb and a little bored. And I don't feel you a lot.

I'm feeling uninspired, you know. I'm not feeling touched by you. And for me at least, like the biggest thing for me that causes that kind of disconnect with God is performance. Is somewhere along the way I have come into agreement with the fact that like I need to just like perform and show up and box check and do all the right things for Jesus. And I like forgot that he's just my friend and that God wants to hang out with me, you know? and it doesn't actually have to be this like wildly formal thing every time I sit down with him, you know? And so I think there could be a similar prayer in this. Well, I think there is probably a moment of repentance, you know, of being like, hmm, God, I'm really sorry for kind of losing sight that way.

I'm sorry for feeling like I actually had to perform for you. I don't know where that came from, but will you reveal it to me, you know? I think that there could be a similar prayer to God in this too, where it's like, Lord, how can I have fun with you right now? You know, maybe there has been a part of you that has seen God less of a friend and more as a master and somebody to, you know, simply just obey and do all the right things and have a routine and spend the time with him and pray. And I just think that if we get lost in that kind of sauce, we lose the vibrancy and the color and the like magic of being in a relationship with God.

But yeah, I mean, the truth is, though, is there just, there are going to be times where things feel a little dull with him. And that's okay. I think that the biggest culprit, though, for any dullness that has entered our relationship with Jesus is we have somehow lost sight of the childlikeness of being in a relationship with him. And so that would be my encouragement to you is like really asking the Lord to search your heart and say and ask yourself and ask him and be like God where have I lost sight of the simplicity

and just like the joy of being your friend you know or being your daughter being your son and I've been a Christian for many years I'm Molly and I've recently come to faith we're best friends and I was wondering if you had any advice for how we can support each other to grow in faith even though we are at sort of different levels levels and stages of our faith yeah thank you bye bye i love ella and molly oh my gosh they're cute i want to hang out with them um also like i just like didn't prepare myself for the fact that there's like a bunch of accents like everyone has different accents obviously but i like forget that there's people all over the stinking world It's so fun.

No, I don't forget that there's people all over the world. I forget that there's people who listen to this podcast all over the world. Okay. Ella and Molly, first off, thank you guys so much for taking the time to submit your voice note. And I think it is so amazing and so fun that you guys, like, how cute is that they're like, yeah, Allie, we just like want to support each other better. Honestly, you guys, I think that the best way to support each other in your faith and your walks with Christ is just like both telling each other about what you're learning. And encouraging each other towards Jesus every day. What does that look like? That looks like encouraging each other towards holiness, like being more like Christ. I think that no matter where you're at in your

walk with Jesus, whether you just started your walk with Christ a few months ago or you're somebody who's been faithfully walking with him for your entire life, I think that like having a humble, and again, this is where like the childlikeness comes into play, but like having the type of humility and recognizing that no matter where we're at, we all have wisdom to share. And we, we're We all have things that we are actively being ministered to by Jesus. And so even if you are the friend in this situation who's been walking with Jesus for like four months versus somebody else that you, you know, might know who's been walking with Jesus for years, don't ever doubt that the wisdom and the things that Jesus has you walking through right now isn't valuable even to people who are, quote, further along than you. And I like want to put that in quotes too because I don't know if our journeys with the Lord can be measured by time. like at least our growth you know um i think it's hard to put him in a box like that i think it's

actually impossible i don't think god was ever meant to be put in a box of our you know human understanding of like oh yeah and after five years it's like that's just not how it works you know i think that there are totally situations where people have been you know walking with jesus for maybe only a few months or a year and has because of their you know this goes back to that child likeness but because of the child likeness and the humility that they care they were actually able to absorb and learn so much from Jesus, so much more than maybe somebody who's been walking with him for five years, but they just like refuse to have sight in certain ways. So they refuse to surrender certain things. So they just refuse to have the kind of humility

that we need to have to be disciples of Christ. And so girls, I think the best way to support each other is to just continue to point each other to Jesus, you know, like continue to pray for each other. And I think the best thing, too, is like going to each other and being like, like, oh my gosh, what are you learning from Jesus right now? Okay, well, this is what I'm learning. And just, like, continue to talk about Jesus with each other. And I think another way, too, is having grace for each other, forgiving each other, and being honest with one another in love. I think that's another way to really support each other, not even just in, you know, your journeys with Jesus, but also just in general. I think that you can't love somebody well without also being honest with them. But yeah, I think just

keeping humility at the center of your friendship, obviously keeping Christ at the center of it, and experiencing Jesus together. But you guys are really cute and I love you a lot and I wish you truly all the best. Hi, Allie. Love you so much, first off. My question is, how are you intentional about praying without ceasing and like how do you view that? My take to just start that combo is it makes me think of like abiding in Christ staying connected to the true vine that is Jesus and that that's where like true fruit comes from. But also like so much easier said than done in your day to day consistently praying and being

in fellowship with him. So how are you intentional about that? How do you view it? And how can we all be a little bit more intentional? So thank you. I love that you're doing this, by the way. Love you. Bye.

That was Presley. That's so sweet. I really love that a lot. And here's the thing. I think that it does come down to like our definition of what you believe being in constant fellowship with Jesus looks like. And I think that obviously the Bible makes it very clear of what it means to be connected to the vine, you know, and to be connected to Jesus.

I think that that is absolutely through prayer and fellowship and spending time with him and being in the Word. those are all very biblical and necessary parts of being in fellowship with Jesus. But yeah, I think that there have been versions of me and I, you know, I'm never perfect at this. I kind of like I'm in and out of this sometimes where if I'm not careful, I do slip into performance and feeling as if like the only way that I actually am in fellowship and I'm connected to the vine or I'm connected to Jesus is if I am sitting crisscross applesauce in the same spot in my living room and I have my Bible in front of me every single time but it's also open and then I make sure that I have

my communion and then I make sure that I'm starting every prayer with gratitude first because God deserves to be recognized by his gratitude first and then I talk about all the things it's like there's um I don't know if anyone else relates to this but I just think that there is such a temptation to like fall back into that religious mentality where now we are actually losing sight of the whole point, which is just to be in fellowship with Jesus. And so what does that mean? Like, what is your definition of being in fellowship with Jesus look like? And for me, sometimes it's that. And I don't know if that's right, you know, like I think sometimes it can look like that. but I think sometimes it looks like crying in my car, you know, and like looking at him, but like not having any words to say.

And even in moments like that, like that is being in fellowship with God. And that is me acknowledging him in my days, you know? And that is also like a form of prayer, you know, like in those moments where I'm crying out to the Lord or I'm actually physically crying, like my heart is crying out to him and I'm looking at him and I'm like, I don't have any words to say, but like, I'm acknowledging him, you know, in my heart and in my soul. And I think, like, that is fellowship with Jesus. Like, that is staying connected to the vine. I think staying connected to the vine with Jesus and earnestly praying and, like, just, just staying steadfast with him is continuing to acknowledge him where we can. And I don't think it has to be in an obsessive way.

I don't think it has to be in a way where you're like, okay, well, I got to make sure I acknowledge him at least every morning, midday, at night, before I go to bed. Like, I just think we got to look at Jesus like he is a friend, you know? And to stay connected to a friend, does that mean that you are obsessively being like, well, I better call them every morning, every night, every minute? And here's the thing. If that is what you guys do, great. There are days where I am talking to Jesus all day long, okay? Your girl, it's connected to the vine.

But then there's other days where I acknowledge him in the morning and then I kind of get swept away with work. And then I go, oh, Jesus, hi. Yeah, wow, it's been a few hours. Sorry. Or maybe it's been the whole day. But that doesn't mean that you're not connected to him. Okay. Maybe we do like one or two more questions.

I'm literally not ready. I'm not ready to stop hanging out with you guys. But maybe we'll do like one or two more questions. My freaking hat won't stay. Okay. Okay. What should I do when I can't physically bring myself to spend time with Jesus? Like, I know the war against flesh and the story.

the spirit, right? But I don't know. It's either a distraction that comes up or something else. And I really do want to spend time with him. It's just I don't know how to bring myself to do that. Totally. That might be one of the most relatable things. Um, thank you so much for asking that question. And I think it is so relatable. Guys, there are actually, yes, sorry, I hate to admit this, but I think that there actually are more times than not that like when I go to spend time with Jesus, I want to, but like I do feel a resistance almost every time. Like it could be like I really want to. And then like our friend just said here, a distraction comes up. And then all of a sudden, you know, an email comes up and it feels so urgent and somebody needs my attention, right? Or like the

emails come flooding in because everybody's awake now and everybody needs me. And so, I'll be like, okay, well, I'll just, I'll get all of this out of the way, and then I can focus on Jesus. And then another thing pops up. And I'm like, okay, well, I got to do this now. Or like, you know, my doorbell rings. And then I have to put away groceries. And the next thing, you know, it's 2 p.m. 4 p.m. And I still haven't spent time with Jesus. And I just think, like, the only advice I have is you have to just push yourself. Like you, you actually, like, I don't know if I have an answer other than in the times where I, I have, and I'll recognize it in the moment sometimes where I'll be like, that's convenient

that that thing just came up or, wow, it's really convenient that all of a sudden I just do not even want to sit with Jesus, even though I do, but I don't. You know, and there is like this war that happens, like, within our spirit and our flesh where like our flesh just doesn't want to sometimes, but our spirit obviously needs Jesus, you know, and it's all our spirit wants. And so I think, like I don't have any advice for you other than you got to push you got to push you got to fight you have to you have to the only way to strengthen that muscle of like resisting your flesh is by continuing to tell it no you know and so I'm not going to say that I'm perfect at it but like I have I've noticed that the more that I resist that initial feeling of not wanting to sit still with him and making like making

myself forcing myself to be still with him 10 out of 10 times I am. so grateful that I did it. And I don't know if that feeling will like ever go away, you know. And so I just think that that's something that we have to learn to be disciplined in. I think that is when like our spiritual discipline really comes into play. Right. And like the only way to exercise that muscle is to like really force ourselves to do something that we don't want to do. I mean, it's it's just like working anything out. You know, if you have experienced doing a sport or working out at the gym, like you do not want to do that rep. You know, you don't, you don't want to go to the gym or like you're on rep number five and you're like nope this burns this sucks i don't want to do

any more of this you know but it's like you actually have to build the mental strength and the spiritual strength by continuing to resist your flesh and say no i'm going to just i got to push through this feeling right now so literally drag yourself out of whatever position you're in and make yourself sit with jesus and you know what's probably going to happen you're going to sit there for the first 10 15 20 30 minutes okay sometimes it takes forever you're going to sit there for the first few minutes and you're going to be like, nothing's happening. You're going to get antsy. You're like, I'm bored.

I just dragged myself out of this place. Now I'm sitting here and you're like, you're kind of trying to force the situation because now you're sitting there and you're like, okay, well, I'm here now. So something miraculous has to happen. Okay, God, I'm ready to feel you now. I'm ready to encounter you now. And so this is just an area of spiritual discipline that has to be had. And like, we just, we have to just push ourselves to get.

get there. And I'm speaking from experience like once I've pushed myself and then I even sit through that first initial like feeling of being uncomfortable and kind of antsy and like wanting to do other things and my mind wandering or whatever is like I just I sit through that and I say and I just stay committed to sitting there until I feel like my mind has calmed down and my body has calmed down. And I'm like and I think the most helpful thing for me in those moments is listening to worship music. I think that's the quickest way that I can kind of like get rid of all of the antsy. and like the resistance of my flesh and focus on Jesus is through playing worship music. But yeah, it's a hard feeling.

And I want to tell you that you're not alone in that. Like I think a lot of us feel that. And I think that's a real part of the journey. And yeah, you just got to push. Yeah, just like drag yourself out of that place and make yourself sit and be with him. Because your soul will appreciate it. And 10 out of 10 times after I get out on my quiet time with Jesus after not one, wanting to go into it in the first place, I'm so grateful that I did it. And I immediately feel refreshed.

All right. This is going to be our last question of this episode. Guys, this is the longest episode we've ever done, I think. The fact that I started this episode by being like, yeah, I don't even know how long it's going to be like, Katie, it's only going to be 20, 30 minutes. I've been recording for almost two hours right now. That's insane to me. Okay, ready? Last one. Grand finale. Hey, Ali. It's Lily, and I love that you're doing the voice movie thing. And my question for you today is, what do you believe about free will versus predestination? I grew up in a Christian school and I was taught one way or the other, but I always believe that there could be both.

Or that's just my interpretation, but I would love to know what your interpretation is if, like, how can human beings have true free will if God is all knowing and has predestined history? history. It's kind of one of those things where we don't fully understand or can't comprehend the power of God, but I would just love to know your thoughts on that. Wow. Oh, I love that question, Lily. Thank you so much for asking. Whatever I have to say right now about this, I think that I am going to speak from just like my own understanding, but I do think that this would be such a cool thing to even extend out to y'all. Like, if anyone else has any extra, you know, thoughts on this, interpretations, theology when it comes to this, I do think that the truth is, is like, God is so vast and it is really hard to understand how he makes things happen.

And honestly, like, how his sovereignty works. Like, I think that, you know, there are parts of his sovereignty that we have an understanding of, but then there's a lot of it that, like, I simply am just like, he's too, I can't wrap my mind around him and how he makes things happen, you know? And I love this question of like free will versus, you know, the things that are predestined or the ways that God is already, you know, know, established that will happen in history. Even examples in the Bible, can I take this hat off, guys? Okay. We're at the end of it, so I feel like it's okay, but I needed to take that party hat off.

Okay. It makes me think of people in the Bible who were so clearly anointed and chosen and used by God. And because of their free will, you know, their lives went in a direction that I don't believe God had planned for their life. I think the reason why their lives went in that direction was because of the free will and the choices that they had to make. And I think somebody who comes to my mind, if we're going to talk about, you know, somebody who was highly favored and anointed by God and then unfortunately their life took a turn in a way that, you know, I don't believe God had originally intended when he created this person is King Saul. Because the truth is, it's like Saul was highly favored and chosen by God. Samuel actually told Saul, this is in 1 Samuel 106, that the Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you and you will be changed into a different person.

And so what's striking about Saul is that God really did choose him. Like God really empowered him and used him. And the Spirit of God really came upon him. And so I think it's very clear that Saul wasn't merely something. who was just claiming to have God's calling on his life. Like he genuinely did. God had actually appointed him king and equipped him for that calling. But what unfortunately happens is that Saul gradually began choosing, you know, fear of people. Like he really started to value the way that, you know, people saw him or thought of him. He became prideful, impatient. And he then started to prioritize,

like partial obedience to the Lord over like complete obedience right and so we see the change of Saul's heart and I I just look at that and I'm like there's no way that like God created Saul and was like because of the plan that I have for humanity and you know the way that I've predestined history I'm going to bring Saul into the world and I'm going to highly favor him and then all of a sudden his heart is going to change and he's going to turn from me like God knows all of that like he's all knowing but I don't think that those are his intentions I don't think those were ever in his intentions with Saul's life I think that is when free will comes into play like the only reason that Saul's heart changed in that way is because of the choices that Saul was making and so I think

the truth here is obviously we can make choices in our free will that grieves God but ultimately like he in his sovereignty he will have his way and so i think that whatever choices humanity makes whatever choices that we make they will never outweigh or defeat god's plan and so i guess that that's just where my stance is with all of that is like again i think it's god is so vast that it's really hard to understand how a lot of that works but yeah i don't i don't know if i necessarily believe that God like has predestined every single moment of my life. I think he's all knowing. And I think he knows every choice that I'm going to make in my life. And he knows exactly where I'm going to be one day. But yeah, I do believe that there is like a hand in hand with our free will and his sovereignty.

And he somehow, as God, it makes it all work. Anyway, guys, I got to go. This was the longest episode ever, but thank you so much for hanging out with me. Thank you for being here. Happy third birthday, everybody. Happy third birthday, Christ with coffee and ice. Um, but I'll see you guys tomorrow. I'll see you tomorrow and then I will see you on Friday too. Um, thank you to everybody who took the time out of their days to submit these voice notes. There were so many that we weren't able to get to, which I'm really sad about, but just know that I am grateful for you, regardless of whether we were actually able to get to it today or not. And before we go, guys, can we do something really cool today? Can we show somebody how cool Jesus is? Can we walk more like him, talk more like him, be more

like Christ today? I love y'all. I'm really, really proud of you and I will see you very soon. Okay, bye.