WHOA That's Good Podcast - My Trial Sentence Changed My Life | Sadie Robertson Huff | Megan Fate Marshman

Episode Date: February 16, 2026

Y’all are not ready for today’s conversation with Megan Fate Marshman—in the best way. Megan is a speaker, author, boy mom of two, and recently widowed—and her joy is the kind that stops yo...u in your tracks. She’s in awe of God—what He’s done, what He’s doing, and how He’s moving in her life, in Sadie’s life, and all around her. Her journey to becoming a speaker? You won’t see it coming. It’s powerful, unexpected, and the kind of story that leaves you in tears, whispering, “Only God.” Sadie also opens up about a recent insecurity she felt after walking off the stage at Passion 2026 — because even after the big, mountaintop moments, doubt can creep in. She shares how she worked through it within herself and with the Lord. Megan challenges us to rethink anxiety and insecurity in a way that’s both freeing and deeply convicting — and we’re still thinking about it. And wait ... what does Megan think heaven will actually be like? Also, why is truly listening to someone so rare and so hard in a world that’s constantly talking? This conversation is raw, deep, unexpectedly funny, and full of truth that will sit with you long after it ends. You’re not ready—but in the best way. This Episode is Sponsored By: https://gominno.com — Get your first month FREE when you use code WHOA at sign up. Take advantage of this web-only exclusive offer today! Get $35 off your first box of wild-caught, sustainable seafood—delivered right to your door. Go to: https://www.wildalaskan.com/WHOA. https://nutrafol.com — Get $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you use promo code WHOA at checkout! - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript
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Starting point is 00:00:07 What's up everybody? Welcome back to the World That's Good podcast. I hope you're having a great day. Per usual, it's about to get so much better. And I genuinely mean that because we have such a treat today. We have a guest in the house all the way from California. And she's probably no stranger to you. She probably ended up on your social media feed. She ended up on my social media feed. And I was so inspired and encouraged by her words. If you have yet to follow her, this is going to be your best follow. It's Megan Fate Martian. And we are so excited that one, you flew all the way here. Louisiana and that you're here to share your shirt. I found my camo jackets so I could fit right in. Let's go, girl. I know you showed up. When you showed with camo, I was like, she gets it. She gets it.
Starting point is 00:00:46 And I didn't expect you. I was like, okay, we can do virtual, whatever. But like, I prefer in person because we have such better conversations and get to know someone. And I'm so glad because even though, I think we're, what, 15 minutes late because we've been chatting and I'm like, I wish we could just like have more time because everything you're saying, I can relate so much and learn so much from you. And so it's just a blessing you're here. I'm grateful. Thank you. It's good to be here. Okay. So I got to ask you the question as everyone who comes on this podcast, and that is a bit of a deep one. But what is the best piece of advice that you have ever been given? Best piece of advice. And this is fun because based on our conversation earlier, someone once gave me a quote that has become the best advice, which is listening is not
Starting point is 00:01:32 waiting for your turn to talk. Sure. Listening is learning how to love somebody. It's kind of where it landed for me. And that's what was so captivating about you. I think you're someone that's been given microphones. You're someone that's been given influence. And yet you do a podcast where you love researching people and asking questions. And then when you truly listen, you become a great researcher, which I think probably is where all the success came from, at least in this podcast.
Starting point is 00:01:59 It's because you genuinely listen to somebody. And I think the reason it's the best advice is it's daily for me. It's, you know, suddenly someone says something to you, and I'm sure everyone can relate to this in their mind starts thinking while they're speaking like, ooh, I got something. Yeah. And then you're waiting for them to finish. And then maybe you get a second something. And you're like, what was the first something? What was the first?
Starting point is 00:02:21 And then you're not even listening. It's like when we meet people, we can't catch their name because we really weren't listening. And so what I've learned, and I would say, take this advice, live into it, is don't just. wait for your turn to talk. Truly listen. I remember even creating a little spiritual discipline of myself in college. Because I took this quote. I'm like, I want to do this.
Starting point is 00:02:45 And I would pause after someone would speak just to really listen. Like, where's this coming from? And then to ask good questions. But the problem was when I would pause, people would just keep talking. So prepare people. If you take this advice, people might keep talking. But you will truly learn how to love people. That's great.
Starting point is 00:03:02 That's so good. It is actually really, really good. Because someone said the other day something to me about a post I made this year. It was like in response to a controversial thing. And they said, that post was so good you made. They said, did you get a lot of pushback? And I thought about it. And I was like, no, I actually didn't get a lot of pushback.
Starting point is 00:03:20 But it was a controversial thing. So you would think, you know, you're throwing yourself out there. It might get controversial. And I said, but you know what was a good lesson to me in that? I was like, that was one of those posts that I immediately felt I wanted to respond to. But then I took days to think about it. And I thought about the verse, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. And I think a lot of times on social media, we do like the opposite of that.
Starting point is 00:03:43 We've got to get in fast. You got to talk about it while it's hot. You got to have whatever. And it's like, nope, that's not what the Bible says. Like, quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry. And as the days I was able to process, I was able to weed out any of that anger or bitterness or like the, you know, any of that flesh. And just go, no, this is just the response I want to have to bring unity, to bring. encouragement to bring a light to it. And so I love that advice. I'm learning from that advice
Starting point is 00:04:09 daily. Just because of this conversation, how important it is when you have to write like a difficult text or a difficult email and then you like sleep on it, you wake up in the morning. You're like, good gosh. I'm glad I didn't send that. Another piece of advice was when you do have to say something hard. Obviously, you want it to be grounded in love. Otherwise it's the symbol. We don't be that in people's lives. But this one's a little weird advice and we probably should talk more than just the advice, but it's your good go-toe question for people, is when you do have to say something, my best advice is to do the You Suck Sandwich, which is, people have heard this, right? The encouragement bread, encouragement bread and then to like, you suck part in the middle.
Starting point is 00:04:45 I've even, like, gone even deeper with it with what the different breads represent. So if you have to say something hard, write the thing, for sure. But then that front part has to be like, why is it you writing it to them? Like, why do you care enough to say this to them? And if you can't fill in that first paragraph, you're not the one meant to send it. Oh, that's good. And then the bottom bread, get ready. The bottom bread, didn't know this is where the podcast we go.
Starting point is 00:05:10 The bottom bread is a envisioned future in which you're with them and it's better in this lane. So like, and here's where I see us getting together. And again, if you're not planning on being on that journey with them, then you're not there. You're not the one to tell them. Oh, that is so great. You suck sandwich. You're welcome. You suck sandwich, but with good bread.
Starting point is 00:05:31 Like, we're not just putting some, you know. The bread matters. The bread matters. We had that. Bread matters. That is great. Well, you know what? To that point, though, this is why I don't like to have.
Starting point is 00:05:41 This is why listening does matter and you don't just ask questions and wait for your turn. And I told you this right before the interview started because you said, where do you want this to go? And I'm like, well, I have some things I love to talk about. But you're such a deep well. I don't want to limit you by saying we have to stay in this lane. Because if something comes up, we need to talk about. We'd hate to miss the sandwich. Maybe that's timely.
Starting point is 00:06:00 You know, you'd hate to miss. the good sandwich. And I do think that sometimes when people step into an interview or conversation, like you have an agenda. And sometimes when you have the agenda, you're running it and you're actually limiting it to what it can be. But this agenda is like for the Lord to speak to people. And so it's like, all right, it might not go the exact way we thought, but someone on the other side of this podcast is going, that's exactly what I need to hear. And you know, we might not have gotten there. So I love that. I do want to hear about your story because you are such an incredible person. When I Googled you today, it's amazing the questions people Google about you, you know?
Starting point is 00:06:38 It's kind of funny. You're like, oh, why do they want to know that about me? But it is so interesting. I feel like people are so intrigued by the person that you are and who you are. So give us a little bit of your backstory. Where did you come from? How did you fall in love with Jesus? Give us the story.
Starting point is 00:06:51 Oh, man. I grew up in Long Beach, California, which is where I still live today. 15 minutes from my parents, where I live today, didn't grow up 15 minutes from them. That would be a different story. So fell in love with Jesus. I remember I was about six years old, and I went to Awanhas. Owana. I had my, like, sparky vest, for those of you who did the Awana thing, and I just remember
Starting point is 00:07:17 them one day sharing, well, I remember them sharing two things. Like, of all of my children's ministry experience, and I grew up in the church, praise God. But the first one, I remember at some point sitting there, and they're like, you're special. And I remember thinking, this is weird. I'm like, wait, me or I guess we're all. Okay. And I remember that. But then I remember weeks later, they talked about like the love of Jesus and what he did in order to demonstrate his love and how we can be saved.
Starting point is 00:07:46 And I remember raising my hand to have a further conversation. And I love that the Lord matched me up with my neighbor to talk with on these little blue steps in my little church in Long Beach, California, and I remember giving my life to Jesus then, but spent the rest of my life uncovering what it means to give him my life. And I'd say even in the most probably the past five, ten years, understanding what it means to receive his. Wow. I think I had all the Christian cliches that are true, Jesus died on the cross for my sins. I knew that since I was a little girl. I never understood until, like I, even at, as you're saying, like, tell me your story. I'm like, oh, man, I can't help but just talk about
Starting point is 00:08:27 even just recently. I feel like the truth that God graced me with at the age of six, I'm still learning this morning before driving over here to you where I'm like, I have your life. Every single morning I want to remind myself of that. Not like making the decision at six, but remaking and reorienting my life around this truth. And here's one of them, the theological term. I went back to school and understood the theological term, which you can impress your friends, not the ones who watch this one, because I don't know where you got it, but is double imputation. Imputation is like accreditation. I missed this at age six. So my story is like, I got it then, and I get it more today. And I hope in 30 years we're still here talking about
Starting point is 00:09:10 how powerful and unbelievable the gospel is. Okay, so double imputation. The first imputation is Jesus died on the cross for my sins. We knew that since I was a little girl grip in the church. So that means my sin, the moment I believe on Jesus, my sin is placed on the cross of Christ, which means I'm forgiven. Wow, and there are seasons in my life where I needed to know that that's true about me, that I'm fully forgiven for all of it and for any listener listening in who just can't seem to get over the thing. All of it. Maybe it's time not just to know or believe that you're forgiven, but to experience it fresh.
Starting point is 00:09:43 She can't help but do that moment for you, listener, yes, you. That's great. I understood that part. But in my journey, my testimony is understanding that not only is that, imputation, my sin is imputed, accredited, placed on the cross of Christ. Here's what I missed. Is that the life of Christ is imputed back. I mean, even as you're hearing that sentence, you're like, what the world does that mean? It means this. My sin was placed on him, and the moment I believe on him, his life, his righteousness, his right standing before God
Starting point is 00:10:18 is placed on me. There's actually an exchange that happens. Wow. I have been understanding that more and more and more. And I remember even being like 21 years old and proclaiming from a stage, you are in Christ and had no clue what that meant, though it sounded great. Your identities in Christ, it's not what you do. And everyone's like, amen. What does that mean? It means this.
Starting point is 00:10:43 You are in him and he is in you. You are really not as alone as you feel. And the reason is so significant is if I tell you the story of my life, a massive moment happened five years ago and my husband went to heaven. So I think about that. You'd ask me my story man, such a significant part of it. And my life has taken a lot of turns even since then. But five years ago, double imputation was everything to me because I understood that I started thinking about heaven because in covenant relationship, Randy and I'd become one. So half of me is there. And so with that type of perspective on life and even imagining the moment we stand before God,
Starting point is 00:11:20 which is all over scripture, standing before the one to whom we must give an account of our whole life. Think about the gift of double imputation and the power of the gospel that you gave when you were 5, 6, 18, 25, and remember that anything that would keep you from life with him forever was placed on the cross. Wow. And your entrance isn't based on how good you've done either, not on how well you've been disciplined. It's based on the fact that you're in him. He's in you. It's beautiful.
Starting point is 00:11:57 Which means how beautiful is this for my daily living and why it's my testimony is I'm accepted already. Not when I do well, not when I perform well, not when I remember to get up earlier. And I'm in him, which means everything that is true of Christ is true of me. I am blameless, holy. I am saved, I am loved, I am chosen, I'm adopted, I'm the dwelling place in which God lives by a spirit. I am enough. Not on my own.
Starting point is 00:12:29 If you feel that like, am I enough on your own? No. Yeah, yeah. No. In Christ, more than enough. And then I'd say the rest of my testimony is trying to live up to what's already true with me. And that's where I spend my life wanting to be disqualified.
Starting point is 00:12:45 discipline, do all these things. But there's a lot of twist and turns in there. I know we've shared a little bit about it. It's so good. So good. Okay, if you're a parent trying to be intentional about what your kids are watching, but you're also just trying to get through the day, I totally get it. And that's why I am so grateful for Minnow. Minow makes it easy for families to experience faith together with content that's actually fun, engaging, and actually align with the values that you're trying to teach in your home. It's a kid streaming service that you can totally trust, which honestly, it feels rare these days. They have so many shows and devotionals that help spark curiosity for your kids about God and the Bible without feeling heavy or boring. From Laugh and Grow,
Starting point is 00:13:27 Bible to Young David, to God's greenhouse, veggie tales, and so much more. There is always something age-appropriate and meaningful for your kid to watch. What I love most is that Minow isn't just entertaining. It's actually supporting your kids' spiritual growth. And it's all ad-free, which is such a game changer. It's so important what we let our kids watch these days. I don't think screen time always has to be negative. I think it's what we're showing our kids when they're on the screens. I've actually seen screen time be incredibly positive in our home because we're showing them things that are actually impacting their faith.
Starting point is 00:13:58 So visit go meno.com to start your free trial today. Plus, you can use the code woe to get your first month free. This is a web-only exclusive offer. So make sure to sign up on the go-mino.com website with the code woe to get your first month free. I know you're going to love it as much as we do. to your first piece of advice on listening and this is something that you might not always do on a podcast because you're like, I want to hear the rest of it. And I encourage to listen to the rest of it because I'm sure we're about to have an incredible conversation. But some of you might need to
Starting point is 00:14:29 pause the podcast and take in what she just said because that was a lot to consider and to think about. And some of the times I'll be sitting on this podcast and I think to myself, this is going to change somebody's life. And the truth is that will change your life. If you dwell on that, about that, consider that, and understand what she just said, it will change your life. And so don't take a moment like that lightly. If you need to pause and get with the Lord and pray and just even just thank God, praise God. Take a moment of gratitude to say that what she just said is true. I encourage you to do that. It's so cool. You said that my daughter said something the other day I thought was so sweet and also profound. And I thought, I hope you really understand that,
Starting point is 00:15:13 you know, and always understand that to be true. She's four years old. But hey, Jesus always points to the little children. Always. And it's true. So she was like, Mommy, she wanted to watch a movie. So, Mommy, can I watch a movie? And I'm like, no, not tonight.
Starting point is 00:15:24 She's like, well, I wanted to watch the Jesus movie. And then you're like, oh, great. And then she's like, well, I want to watch a Jesus movie because Jesus is in my heart. And so since he's in my heart, that's what I want to watch. And I was like, girl, like, she preaches to me all the time, like not even meaning to. And I was like, that is incredible. And then last night she was saying to me, we were reading our little storybook Bible, which we just started. So for those listening, you're like, wow, you're a great mom. This is day two.
Starting point is 00:15:49 But we're making good decisions. And we're talking about stuff. And I asked her, I was like, how did you know that? Because she's answering this Bible question that was pretty big. And so how did you know that? She said, well, when I was watching the Jesus movie, it explained that. You let me watch today. I let her watch. And I was like, man, like, again, kind of what you're saying, like Jesus is in your heart. that is true, he's in there. And then the rest of that, those daily disciplines, those things are just feeding into that, what you already know is true. And I kind of just watched that in her little life in a really profound and sweet way. So it's very cool that you said that. I want to ask you right
Starting point is 00:16:24 off the back, because you mentioned that your husband passed away five years ago and that you went to school. And this is an interesting question that I'm asking you, but, okay, I've heard people who go to school for, like, ministry and then they come out, like, more cynical or, like, judgment and not passionate about Jesus. I've also seen people walk through and experience heavy grief in situations where you can't make sense of the, why would you do that, God?
Starting point is 00:16:49 Why, God? Why is this happening to me? And then they come out also, like, not believing. So you came out of like two things, deep school for ministry, something very tragic happening in your life, and you are so passionate about Jesus. Can you talk about that? One of my professors
Starting point is 00:17:08 will give a lot of the credit to is Dr. John Coe, he wrote many scholarly articles on that exact topic. He goes, why do people go to seminary and love God less? Why do people go to seminary and pray less? Why does it seem as their knowledge expands, their heart for Christ doesn't? And so he chose to run this program very differently to the point where instead of just doing traditional papers, he would do prayer projects. where your assignment, after you read an entire book, a theologically dense book, you'd have to go away and then for an hour pray about it. And then your entire paper is just a one page.
Starting point is 00:17:52 He's like, doesn't have to be long. Tell about the prayer experience. Talk about how you were mad. Talk about how you were distracted by whatever was going on in your heart. Talked about what this book brought up in you. Talk about what you're still thinking about. Talk about how you want to pray for an hour and three minutes in, you're not sure how you're going to get there. Tell me the truth, which aligned with, I would say,
Starting point is 00:18:12 the entire program, which was, we don't have to pretend with the Lord. In fact, I ended up writing a book based on so much of what I learned in this Institute of Spiritual Formation at Talbot School of Theology was, I wrote it based on Proverbs 3, 5, and 6, a very, very famous scripture. I'll begin saying it, and you will think, get ready, trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your, you can finish the sentence. And if you can't, lean not on your own understanding. in all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your path. A lot of people's life verses. I've come to realize that so many of those famous verses are famous because they're so good, but they lose in the same way that sometimes people can go through seminary and lose with all the
Starting point is 00:18:53 knowledge, with all the memorization of those passages, they can lose the depth or the openness of their own heart to receive them. That's true. So I wrote an entire book on this to trust in Lord with all your heart because I think this program and also probably where I was at, where if my husband's in heaven, and I think, think a lot differently, I would say one of my superpowers and anyone who's lost anyone, you have one, even though, again, we would give that superpower back if we could, of course, is this, you stop caring about the things that don't matter. And then you care a whole lot about the things
Starting point is 00:19:25 that do matter. I think that's what's interesting about death in general. It makes, like, weddings are lovely, but funerals are impactful. And that's why. And this program aligned with my heart being bursting wide open and also discovering I think I have the gift of faith, which if you would have told me that 15 years ago, I would have been bored. But I've learned that that's just this, I have faith, I don't lose hope. I mean, I literally watch like sports games and I believe my team can come back until the very last second and I also believe it about people that I have hope for people. I can't, I can't not. But I learned in this program and probably because of the season of grief where I just didn't care about the grade. I didn't care about impressing my professors. I didn't care about getting famous. I didn't care
Starting point is 00:20:06 about any of the stuff that honestly I did before. I cared about the Lord Jesus and knowing about heaven. I cared about trusting in the Lord with all of my heart, which I learned began in honesty, not in performance. And what I mean by that is, if you're sitting there and you want to pray more in the new year, here's the fun part. Tell the Lord that. God, I want to pray more. I think we sometimes skip over the really honest. It's so obvious, though, right? To trust. and Lord with all your heart is like, what's really in there? Yeah. Are you kind of bored in your quiet time and you don't want to be?
Starting point is 00:20:42 Tell them. Yeah, yeah. Are you mad at yourself because you can't keep a discipline longer than three days? Tell them, are you mad because you feel motivated at church? And then a week later, it hasn't stuck. Tell them, like, trust and Lord with all your heart. And that's what the program did for me. And I think the coupling of that with what I was going through, I just didn't care about anything.
Starting point is 00:21:03 of it didn't matter. I knew that I needed, I needed what was going on in my heart, which was exploding. It's very powerful. Had to go somewhere. And because of my foundation of faith, I knew where I needed to go. That's great. Okay, so I'm someone I love listening to like near death experience podcast and all that kind of stuff. I also read Imagine Heaven, which I love so much, John Burke. Me too. So incredible. Here we go. I want to hear about your thoughts about heaven because I've never had someone on the podcast talk about that. And from someone who's studied it a lot, I know there are people listening to this podcast right now
Starting point is 00:21:38 who have lost someone, and they've never studied it. And they're probably feeling so much fear and anxiety and grief and depression around this topic. But I want you to shed some light on just from your studies and listens. Like, what do you think about heaven? Yes, I would say first place for them to go before my words, and I like the intentional pause in the podcast, would be Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4.
Starting point is 00:22:01 four would be the two kind of like most vivid pictures that we have of people getting visions of heaven and scriptural so that's a good win again imagine heaven that one got me real good crazy uh so man where do i want to go with heaven uh first of all just letting people know here's just a smattering uh that there's someone seated on the throne and i love even bringing up the isaiah six and the revelation four because there's like i think it's like 700 years between these two passages, one's in the Old Testament, ones in the New Testament. And the reason that's really captivating to me is there's so many
Starting point is 00:22:35 similarities. And there's a few key differences, which I'll point out. Similarities being someone is seated on the throne, and it's the one who was, the one who is, and the one who is to Kim, and he's not planning on getting off of it anytime soon, and it doesn't have to be us. There's so many beautiful truths about it. But I know that if I'm speaking about heaven,
Starting point is 00:22:51 I'm not just talking to people that want facts. About heaven, they want to know, they want to not just hear about it, they want to understand. So I feel like I have to close my eyes to imagine what those two passages kind of highlight. And it's God on the throne. It's all the elders around laying down, anything that would like been given. They just want to lay it back down because of how glorious he is.
Starting point is 00:23:15 His robe fills the temple. There's smoke. There's a portion that talks about he's like controlling the lightning. There's peals of thunder. There's sea of glass. And then there's all these angels that are always going, and you've heard it. Holy, holy, holy, is Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come? I always picture them on there being like, one more time, like, hub of forever, and then they just keep on going.
Starting point is 00:23:36 And they're just singing, and it's this epic, and he's on the throne, and he's seated high above it all. And everything is shaking, and there's just, and he's just ruling and reigning. And then, again, the picture I always have is, and then there's us or the people we love that have approached that throne of grace. And I love that Hebrews passage that says, approach the throne of grace. So that heavenly picture, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence. That word wouldn't have been how I filled in the blank there.
Starting point is 00:24:12 I would approach it with, like, hesitancy. Yeah. You know, the stories I've heard about heaven. And mind you, I could talk a lot about all different parts of heaven, about everything being made new. I mean, I've literally written about all the things. things that are not going to be in heaven. I love that. There's so much we could talk about when it comes to heaven, but I want to get to the throne room because that's the part, that's the part
Starting point is 00:24:34 that captivates me so much because one day we'll stand before it. And I think that when it comes to that confidence, that double imputation we talked about earlier is everything because the reason we can approach it with confidence is not because we've done well. Yep, yep. It's just because we're in Christ. I believe in Jesus. I plead the blood of a substitute, and that will be more than enough on that day to be welcomed in. It's beautiful. And not just that, though. You said your daughter asked an interesting question. My son did three weeks ago. He, six-year-old, goes, mama, how can Jesus live in my hout and in heaven? Just these kids and their questions, pay attention to them.
Starting point is 00:25:17 And I loved getting to answer this one. It was just a beautiful moment where I laid back in bed with them and I was like, and I talked about heaven, and he has dreams about heaven. He was only, he had just turned two when his dad went to heaven. And God's given his boy dreams, and they're biblically accurate about gold and pearls. Like, it's wild what he has seen. Wow. I know, but he asked, and I said, buddy, take your hands. And I was like, class them together. Like, heaven and earth used to be like this. And because of sin. I talked about, like, bad choices. Like, there's been this separation. I was like, but one day Jesus is coming back. we're just talking about it.
Starting point is 00:25:53 I was like, but in the meantime, he hasn't come back yet. Jesus has not returned yet in that way. He came to us because we couldn't get to him. That was Christmas. But then he died for us to make relationship with us possible forever and ever and ever. And then he ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of God. And this gap, we almost feel that gap. Like that's what you're talking about.
Starting point is 00:26:16 How could, but he lives here, but he lives here, but why do we have to suffer? And he's like, yeah. And then in that instant, I'll never forget, sitting there with them. And my mind's like, wait, Jesus taught us to pray, right? What your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I was like, I talked about how God gives us his life. I think we've talked about in this podcast.
Starting point is 00:26:42 And so he can live in our heart, but he also ascended into heaven. Yes, it's both. But each time those things touches, and it was really beautiful, moment we're like, you know, things are more brilliant than you could come up with and you know it's God's credit. It's one of those. I was like, but it's every time we pray, buddy, and he's like, oh, and he's like, that's why we fold their hands. I was like, maybe. Like, I don't know. Maybe that is. Yes. Yes. I thought like, yes. Our longing for heaven, just like your daughter, her heart longs for what Jesus longs for because he's in her. But we look and we live in a world that's not as it
Starting point is 00:27:14 should be. Our choices, yes, other people's choices that have affected us, affected us, yes, brokenness of the world, cancer, all the things we're experiencing. The world is not as it should be. And yet he taught us to pray. And that's the way that those two things can touch. And it was such a beautiful visual, and I'll say not just for my six-year-old, but for me to be reminded, do you want to see the kingdom of heaven? Do you want to experience what it will be a place where there will be no pain, no suffering, where things will be made right, where people will be made right, where the best version of them will finally come to be, where we will experience full forgiveness, like everything we long for.
Starting point is 00:27:56 It happens, and I believe God wants to initiate that in us when we pray. It's beautiful. That's so good. Okay, so I'm from Louisiana, which means I grew up around really good seafood. It's why I'm a little picky and why I love wild Alaskan company. They deliver 100% wild-caught, never-farm seafood straight to your door. It's perfectly portioned, flavorful, and responsibly sourced from Alaska. It's frozen right off the boat to lock in quality and nutrients, and you can really taste
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Starting point is 00:29:36 It's so awesome. Honey's at me two nights ago. I was going to pray over her before bed. And she started, she goes, wait, Mom. She grabbed me. She said, will you ask God to take all the fear out of my heart? No. Yes, she did.
Starting point is 00:29:50 Yes, she did because she just watched a David movie. Shout out to all these movies. And it was like, David is like, I will not be afraid. So she's been like shouting that. And then she was like, oh, I need to pray about that. So she asked me to pray. And I was like, yes, I will pray. Like, it was so beautiful.
Starting point is 00:30:05 It was so beautiful. But you say some great things about anxiety about fear. And I love how you talk about it more as like an invitation to, talk to God, kind of what you said about when you just said that thing of like, tell God, you want to pray more, not just like, oh, I've got to pray more. Right. Like, let that be an invitation to talk to God. I'm someone that has like dealt with anxiety for so long.
Starting point is 00:30:30 I'm like, honey, I'm like, God, take the fear out of my heart. But recently I've been looking at it a little bit differently and how I pray because, one, I heard what you said about it. And two, I think it's second Corinthians where it talks about like, my grace is sufficient for you, my power has been perfect in your weakness. And Paul is saying that, like, he has this thorn in his side, and he's asked the Lord like three times to take it away. And then he realized, like, okay, this thorn is like an invitation for grace.
Starting point is 00:30:56 Like, this thorn is, like, going to stay so that I don't become conceited, so that constantly had dependency on God. And I was thinking about anxiety kind of being like a thorn for me because I had asked Lord more than three times to take it away. Like, this has been my whole life, I feel like. And every time before I speak some. where I get so anxious and all this stuff, but not even just that. It's the daily things. It's parenting. It's all of it, you know, that I feel that kind of come back. Now I don't live in
Starting point is 00:31:24 that. It's like, I'm no longer a slave to fear. I know having been given the spirit of fear. I know what the Lord has given me, but that still comes up that I have to constantly pray about, constantly like have God's grace in my life for. But I started thinking about it. It's like, okay, maybe that's not, because I used to think like, oh, that's from a lack of faith. Like I need more faith to like get rid of the anxiety. But now I'm like, okay, maybe that's just like an invitation for faith. Maybe that's there to keep me dependent on God and his grace and his strength in my life. So I'm processing that real time.
Starting point is 00:32:00 But I'd love to hear you talk about it. I wonder how people are landing as they're listening to you process because it's so relatable. I have two different lanes that my mind goes. One is something we can do. And that one just recently. psychotherapist told me you can't be anxious and grateful at the same time. Part of our brain. I was like, that's just interesting, right?
Starting point is 00:32:24 Philippians 4. Okay, so that's something we can do, like to proactively and I suppose reactively. Can I say real fast that you said Philippines 4? Because so many people out there and like the, you know, counselors and different people who aren't believers, but who are very wise and have a lot of schooling will say. that as if it's like this fresh discovery. But it's so cool that that is in Philippine's 4. Like that's actually in the Bible.
Starting point is 00:32:50 Let's actually take a second. I love it. This would be silly for us not to. And it's, it is, this one happens to be the most highly highlighted passage on all Kindle E readers. Really? Yeah, just seeing. Shout out.
Starting point is 00:33:01 Yeah. Let's see if it's maybe it's because it's not working for people. It's like keep reading it and you should. Where is it, Philippians 4? Do not be anxious about anything. Well, that's easy. I just won't. Thank you, Paul.
Starting point is 00:33:12 Thank you. Yeah, yeah. But in every situation. by prayer and petition with Thanksgiving. Present your request to God. I love that. So he just is very explicit. Present your request to God.
Starting point is 00:33:20 But here's the honesty. Present your request to God. God, you're doing it. And I love that you already are recognizing, like, guess what gift I get more of him? And then Romans 8 says it's by the spirit we even cry out of the Father. So even prayer was not your original idea.
Starting point is 00:33:33 Yeah. We give ourselves so much credit. That's true. Okay, so when it comes to anxiety, that was my first. The second one would be just aligned with you on the Holy Spirit. I think he works in really surprising ways.
Starting point is 00:33:41 Here's an example outside of it and then we'll get to anxiety. I think the Holy Spirit is in our insecurity. Yep. I literally had this thought this week for the first time. Yes. For the first time. Yes.
Starting point is 00:33:53 As I was reading that in Corinthia, I was like, hold on. Yes. You might be in this? Like, this is crazy. Imagine the Holy Spirit whispering, I won't let you be secure there. So if you walk into an event, you feel like you're underdressed and you feel like you don't fit the vibe,
Starting point is 00:34:13 You wish you, it's like the Holy Spirit going like, I'm not going to let you find security there. Thanks be to God. If you feel insecure, like you, like when we go on to speak on these stages and we feel insecure, what a gift to take us to our actual security. It's great. What a gift. Insecurity. What a gift.
Starting point is 00:34:37 Yes. To take us to our, and your true source of security. I love that our foundation is going to be. double imputation is to take you back to who you are because in Christ, you are secure. You are firmly planted. We have to come back to the word, just like Psalm 1, we have to, so that our roots can go deep next to the living water. And we can't, like, and like, yes, I forget who it is that says it, but that, like, science is finally catching up with what we've always known to be true. So I would say, so we start with insecurity, but let's get into anxiety.
Starting point is 00:35:13 what if the spirit is saying, tell me about it? And he, of course, is, right? I feel, and if, how beautiful if you could put it into sentences, which I'm sure you do. And I'd wonder, for the people that have known you and trust you, what are the prayerful sentences you actually say? Because if we can go at level deeper on the, we understand the feeling, what are we actually anxious about? Because if we could get real brutally honest, us in our world, we could look and go, God, as if that's you, it's not you, it's him. God, I am so worried about what they think about me. We don't want to admit that. It's easier and safer to go. I feel so ages. No, that's so real. God, I really want to be impressive.
Starting point is 00:35:54 So real. I really want to stand out in my friend group. That's so real. I really don't think, I really don't believe you're going to provide and it's all up to me to get the better job. And so it's all up to me because you're not in the plan. I believe that you're sovereign and you'll take me somewhere. But in this moment, I feel like it's all up to me. I would say anxiety parallels a lot with something called autonomy, which is one of the greatest, I believe, hindrances of faith. Oftentimes in scripture, they refer to it as the flesh or in the original language, Sarks. Usually when you hear flesh, it's in one or two contexts. Either it's
Starting point is 00:36:26 the physical body, Jesus put on flesh, or it's like that, and people use it. It's like Romans 8 again, it's the flesh versus the spirit. It's kind of this waging war, but we always thought, I always thought it was, The flesh equals sinful tendencies. Read it with that, yes, but where do those come from? Is the same temptation from Genesis 3 where the temptation is to do life without God as if it's all up to you? So the battle is not just against our sinful tendencies, though it is. And the enemy, of course, wants to rule and reign and lead us in that direction. But it's also, even in our Christian lives, there is a battle and temptation for.
Starting point is 00:37:07 us to feel the burden and weight of doing even our spiritual growth by ourselves. So you hear a great message on prayer and church. You say amen 15 times and then you make a decision, I'm going to pray more. And then you wake up early the next morning and you're so proud and then you forget by Tuesday. And where was God in that equation? I mean, hopefully, I mean, obviously he's on the other side of prayer, but like in that movement, and here's my encouragement. in anxiety, in anxiety, or whatever is this, take it to God and not yourself, which is why I have all the encouragement in the world and why I love that you get to be a spokesman and be honest to model for people.
Starting point is 00:37:55 Like, I'll tell you what I do. I go to God and not myself because when I go to myself, it becomes the downward spiral of even more and more and more and more and more. And I love that your daughter has the wisdom to, number one, be aware of her. fear and number two know who and it doesn't have to be her she doesn't have to quote just stop being fearful in the same way that you listener don't have to quote just stop being anxious or mammas just stop getting angry you that is autonomy at the core that is us trying to live out of the flesh and as you say our weakness can bring us somewhere else yeah not to ourselves yeah take it to god and wherever you're at, don't lose, don't end this podcast without taking wherever your heart is and bringing it to God
Starting point is 00:38:45 in honest, simple prayers. That's great. That is so good way to bring it all back together to this beautiful. If you're a mom, you know, the postpartum season can be so beautiful and also totally crazy. Your body's adjusting, your hormones are shifting and it can feel like everything needs extra care. And that's just one of the reasons that Nutraful is a part. of my routine in this season. For me, Nutrafol felt like just a really simple, proactive way to support
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Starting point is 00:40:32 and free shipping when you visit NutraFol.com and enter the promo code Woe. Again, that's Nutraful.com spelled N-U-T-R-A-F-O-L dot com with the promo code whoa. I'll give you a real-time example of this plan out because you said it'd be hopeful if you say what that looks like for you because it is a lot easier to say, oh, it's anxious, oh, as I was insecure and say, okay, this is a little bit how this plays out. So we just had passion conference.
Starting point is 00:41:02 And this is my seventh year doing passion conference. So you would think I would be a little bit more confident. it, but it never quite gets, like you still feel the weight. And part of that I never want to lose, I mean, I never want to lose that. The responsibility. I never want to lose that feeling of like nervousness, anxiousness in the sense of like dependency on God. I never actually want to look at a stage like that and be like, I got this. I think there would be some problems with that.
Starting point is 00:41:32 So there's some of that that's good. But then there's some of it that's really not good. And a couple nights before Passion, I was just like, super anxious, like feeling the weight of not just the good weight, but the bad weight, like stuff I shouldn't put on myself weight. And some of it was like anxiousness that doesn't really have to do with passion, but some of it was that this year we're doing a Q&A or a conversation, I guess, I should say that I was leading instead of a message. Well, if you're doing a message, although it's way more preparation, at least you know, this is what I'm going to say. A conversation,
Starting point is 00:42:07 you're like, I don't really know where this is going to go. So you don't have control in it because you're not sure exactly how it's going to pin out. Oh, so your mind gets to go anywhere. And then one of the things I felt really, really from the Lord leading this, that it needed to be a relatable conversation. I wanted it to sound the way that people will talk when they get home. I didn't want it to sound like, oh, here's all my sound bites and here's all the things that I've studied. Like I wanted it to be like, this is what I struggle with.
Starting point is 00:42:32 This is how I go through it. This is how I pray casual, which is beautiful and great. However, again, not impressive, like super vulnerable, no control and how this is going to go. And so I was feeling that because I didn't realize how much I felt secure and this is what I'm going to say. And the Lord gave it to me and it sounds really good. And you know what I mean? This is not. And so anyways, we do it.
Starting point is 00:42:58 And then like we get up there. We had the conversation. Now this is in front of 45,000 people in person and however many,000. are watching online. And I don't have social media right now on my phone because I need a, I need a mine renewal. So I don't have it. And then normally my family comes, but they couldn't come this time. And then normally my friends come, but they couldn't come this time. And so I get off stage and I don't go to social media because I don't have it. So I don't see anybody saying anything, oh, this is great. This is good. Woo, whatever. And then I don't have my family there to be
Starting point is 00:43:32 like, that was awesome. That was so good. You did so good. Whatever. And I did it's so good. And I did not realize how much I depended on that in the past to feel confirmation that I did something good for the Lord. And so then it was just me and God. And I'll be honest, I felt super insecure and super vulnerable. And my husband, so sweet. He is an incredible husband. But in this moment, he was just like, that was good. But like, I needed like feedback. I thought was good. Did that make sense? I was like, I'm like, let's play it out. And he was just, that was great. And I was like, okay, okay.
Starting point is 00:44:09 And so I'm like, and then finally we get back to the room and a hotel room. And I told Christian, I said, I feel so insecure right now. And I feel super vulnerable. And I kind of feel like I just embarrassed myself in front of 45,000 people. And he's like, what? He's like, why? I'm like, because I mean, I just opened up about like anxiety and I rambled more than I wanted to. I don't know that it really came together.
Starting point is 00:44:35 And I said, and I just really, really, really hope that was helpful for someone. I just hope that was helpful. And I hope I did what I was supposed to do. And then I had to, like, really pray through it and, like, let the Lord affirm in me that I did what he set out for me to do and open the door for me to do. But it was hard and it was messy. And the next day people were, like, you know, saying great things and good words. But it was, I was like, I'm glad. like that that's not doing it for me right now because that's encouraging, but like that's not
Starting point is 00:45:07 where I want to find my security. And I told Christian, I was like, I want to find this thing, God. I wish I didn't feel like this. I wish I was like I'm super confident, but I'm not. And so that was like, I feel like I'm still learning that. This is real time. Again, processing and learning that. But that's what it looks like, you know, and that's why that scripture is speaking to me. Thank you for being honest. Thank you for being honest. Because, how many people experience that sort of stuff. And they would just assume that you just, this is all easy. And that it almost feels like we would want to encourage you.
Starting point is 00:45:42 Like, you can do it. You got this. And that's the type of encouragement we give each other. You got this. And I kind of love that you and me don't. Because I feel like then we can relate and go, and what if we don't have to? Yeah. And I love that you shared on a moment of pain because whether or not you were able to give
Starting point is 00:46:02 that a solution there. I love that what you did, what you definitely did, I didn't listen to the talk, but when I do, you opened up someone's heart. And that is one of the greatest gifts that we can give to people is to open up the heart and thanks be to God. Like he's speaking truth all over at that, especially at that event, my goodness. But opening up the heart is sometimes a missing element in when we give the messages. Because it's like, here's what you need to know. But if the heart's not open, then it's, in fact, I'll tell you this, I'm convinced, and it's, I feel like it's changed in me in the past few years of teaching, I don't have to do so much. If God's really the one that can transform lives, then I just have to tell the truth. That's it. Yep, yep. And I think
Starting point is 00:46:46 you did that. Yeah. And I would say you definitely did that. No, it's true. I'm learning that right now. And even that night, Louie spoke, and he shared like a super vulnerable moment in his life. and it was so helpful to me. To see the power. And I go, whoa, like that was one of my favorite things Louis shared, and that was not impressive. Yes. That was probably very, very hard for him to share. It was very vulnerable.
Starting point is 00:47:12 And it was the most helpful thing to me because I was like, oh, you're human and you get it. And you have to pray through it too. And you need God's grace in your life. And it was like super, super helpful. So then I thought to myself, well, hopefully that moment was like, that moment was like, that I had was like that for someone else. And when you said about the insecurity thing, that's why I said, this is the first time I ever thought about that is because I just experienced that at passion. And I was reading those verses. And I'm like, okay, so that you won't become conceited,
Starting point is 00:47:40 so that you won't think you did it. So that's like, no, that's a good thing. Like, you need to lean into that. And I love what you're doing with your husband in that moment of, man, I think I want, and even, wow, I didn't realize I had found so much security in people's opinions of what I did. Like, that's a weird thing to say out loud. But it's true. Right? But it's true. And the whole, what our job is, I mean, I really am convinced that in this podcast, one of the most powerful things I probably could do would just be to tell the truth, which I have, but also say things, for instance, God loves you. And then here's something that I think you do very well, is pastor the conscience that people aren't conscious of. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's fun to say in a sentence. But like, so I could give a three-part message on the real, and say something really perfect. found about how loving he is and that would be great and you might even be impressed with how profound that was but i'm convinced that i'm and i'm trying trying trying to pull away sometimes all the stuff that i'm adding to it yeah just go god is love and then voice which you did in your interview i'm guessing
Starting point is 00:48:40 and then voice what people might be thinking for instance god is love i'm sure you have known that your entire life um but maybe you're i wonder when you hear that if you're thinking yeah yeah yeah but I don't feel it. Maybe you're thinking, yeah, you don't know what I've been choosing lately and I can't get over it. Or maybe you're thinking so, or maybe you're thinking, I want to know more. Maybe what's coming up in you is, if God is love, then why fill in the blank? And as I do that, now what's happening, the heart is open and then we can tell the truth again. He really loves you knowing all of you and everything that's coming up in us.
Starting point is 00:49:18 I think there's something to testimony. there's something that's why it's the blood of the lamb right and the word of our testimony because what does our testimony do suddenly it opens up our consciousness that we're not even conscious of we want the truth give me the truth that i can run or give me the quote that i can you know say and remember but it's the truth that sets free and i think it's not just the truth of god's word i think it's the truth of our lives it's great and so in our podcast in our sitting in our studio having a conversation uh about what god's done in our life the truth is we are just as dependent anybody else is struggling with the exact same type of things.
Starting point is 00:49:53 And I think the reason you and I are sitting on the couch today is not to tell you all that just quotable things we can give you, but to sit on the couch today and go, right? And I'm secure in Christ. And I need to be reminded again and again and again. And we need each other. So praise be to God for these environments. Praise be to God. Starting something new is exciting, but it can also be pretty scary.
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Starting point is 00:51:24 Again, that shopify.com slash woe. This is so good. This is so, so good. I love that you said. The more you preach and speak, the more like you're realizing the lust you kind of have to do, you just need to preach the truth. And I'm realizing that too as I go.
Starting point is 00:51:39 I spoke at something a while back, and it was like a conference on speaking, on like giving messages. and I felt like, who am I to be talking? I need to be learning. I need to be listening. I should not be the one on stage right now. However, by God's grace, he allowed me to do that.
Starting point is 00:51:56 And there was a part in me that was so excited to share with these pastors, like, show them, like, look at what I do to prepare for a sermon. Like, I promise I work hard. Like, I promise. Like, I'm not, I'm taking it, like, seriously. And I look back at that and I know, like, okay, that was a little bit insecurity. speaking, you know, because I wanted to be affirmed and like, you're doing hard work, you're doing a good job. But the Lord has humbled me in that a lot now with three kids and continuing to speak because I don't have time to do that. Like, I don't have time to prepare the way I used to prepare, anything like that.
Starting point is 00:52:31 And I realize, like, it's not in that. Like, it's not in that preparation, that work. Like, it's in the preparation of my heart, like, what God's doing in my heart. When I speak from the overflow of my heart and from the word and from the truth, and I keep going back to, like, when you read and Acts or even like what Stephen preached like they're just preaching like the whole Bible. They're like here's the word. And people are like, what do we do about it? Repent and be baptized. Like just going back to just know the word, share the word, preach the word, and your testimony and then share your testimony and how that is in your life. It's amazing. I keep I keep thinking about you asking where I want this podcast to go. I would have never said here.
Starting point is 00:53:08 I'm so glad. I was so glad we got here. We only have a few minutes left. I mean, 10. minutes or so, we can talk more. But I do want to give someone hope out there because when we listen to people like you were like, whoa, like she is so wise, she's got it together. This is so beautiful. Her revelation is so amazing. But you were a teenager once. You were a young person once. You were making some silly decisions once. I love your story about you with your friends and what happened. I want you to share that because that kind of led you stumbled into what you are doing now. And sometimes, I think people think, oh, well, you got here because you went to school for that and you're an incredible communicator. But actually, the way you stumbled upon this is kind of, it's kind of funny.
Starting point is 00:53:52 Yeah, when someone, yeah, when someone comes up and says, like, I want to become a speaker, how do I get there? I'll usually take them one of two lanes. So I'll give you both because I think they're, they matter. First lane, almost always my go-to is like serve the church. Yes, yes. Because hopefully, if you end up doing what I do, hopefully you're doing that exact same thing. It's great. And then you have a lot of, and then you have a lot of reps doing it when you don't have the pressure of performance or, you know, the pressures that we unconsciously feel. Really good. But also serve the church.
Starting point is 00:54:17 Go serve in children's ministry. Go serve in youth group and be a really great listener. You'll be able to speak to people's hearts because you'll know them. So that's usually where I go. If there's more time and I trust somebody a little bit more and why not trust your viewers? Come on, guys. Put on some maturity and let's go there. I'm going to take off my, no, I'm not keeping on.
Starting point is 00:54:38 So basically, if I feel like the Lord's in it and I'm going to go with it. sometimes I'll share this part, which is the backstory to me actually becoming a communicator. So I'm in college. And do you remember the whole like, hey, look at, I got these jeans for $14? Someone's like crazy because I got mine for 12. Like it just becomes a stupid thing about how you can get deals. Okay. One friend's like, I got mine free and we're all like, okay.
Starting point is 00:55:03 And she's like, because I got this. And she had one of those things that takes the things off the things in the store and the things. And there's just a moment. And what I didn't realize is I had some friends that. had started doing that. They would go to the stores, go into the dressing rooms, pull off the sensors, and then walk out. And, I mean, it was kind of just imagining the conversation because it was like, $13, $10 free. Yeah. Everybody's like, and I remember first draft, like, that's so wrong. Five, six months later, my friends go, you have to come. You're so crazy. And they kind of named me.
Starting point is 00:55:41 And I didn't realize the power of names at that time. Now I have. And I have. And I don't realize the power of names at that time. Now I have. I've been renamed even. I used to always get crazy. You're crazy. Oh, you're so crazy. You do it. But it was always like a positive spin on the word crazy.
Starting point is 00:55:50 But then sometimes I'm like, is it? And years later at a birthday, my brother-in-law looked at me and went, you're not just crazy or passionate, which feels like crazy on purpose. In the same way that, in the same way that observant is shy on purpose. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:56:03 Just you don't have to just label little kids shy. Like, they might be incredibly observant. Like, speak life into that. Anyways. I need the passionate word for my two-year-old. Got you. She's passionate. She's not crazy.
Starting point is 00:56:12 She's not crazy. But I was crazy. I was crazy too. Anyways, so I go with them and I'm like, I'm not going to steal. This is like obviously wrong. Like, you're good with people. Go talk to the people at the front. I do.
Starting point is 00:56:23 Somehow in my mind, I justified. And I'm sure people have done that right. You're a part of the wrong crap thing. But you're not like, you're not doing with, you know, you do that little comparison thing. And on the fourth store that day, they're like, come in to the dressing room. And I did. And they pull off the tags. They stuck it in my bag.
Starting point is 00:56:42 I look at even the way. tell it. It's like, how do they? I was totally complicit. And we walk out the store and the alarm sounds and they run and I have an asthma attack. Oh no. And like straight up. Yeah. Oh no. And freeze and can't breathe and they bring me to the back of the store. And this was a store that I think gets probably robbed a lot because they had Polaroids of everyone that had ever robbed. It was urban outfitters. And I'm like, this is like, this is like. like a thing. And I couldn't even get out. And I wanted to. Like, I'm like, the perfect Christian kid. Like, I didn't drink in ice. I had all these, like, and I, because of my, like, couldn't breathe
Starting point is 00:57:25 thing. I was like, this isn't me. Like, you got the wrong, you got the wrong kid. Like, yeah. And I, and I, but I couldn't speak it. Trying to utter it. I mean, it was so bad. The police, police come handcuffed me. I'm like, it all, and it happened like that. Like, like, it all, and it happened like that. Like, Life turns, like, it happens like that. And if you haven't gotten caught, like really caught yet, it is, so I get caught. And the police officer is trying to make a statement because I'm like trying to defend myself in a moment in which I'm absolutely guilty. He walks me through the front of the store, even though his car was in the back, just to give me a longer walk. I mean, it was like, and I vividly remember a mom turning her daughter, like, not to look at me.
Starting point is 00:58:10 Like, I have that visual. I'll never forget. I'm like, what in the wrong? this all happened. Obviously, I'm not lying. But it sucked. And they walk me around, get in the car, go to the thing. I tried to call my parents to bail me out.
Starting point is 00:58:25 I couldn't get a hold of them because they were on a bike ride. They didn't go on a bike ride for 10 years after that moment. Oh, my God. And so I literally sat in a jail cell, did the whole thing, the picture. I mean, everything. Oh, my gosh. Yeah. And then my parents eventually, they get a hold of my parents.
Starting point is 00:58:43 It's like four, six hours. Little do I know I'm in like a holding cell. I think I'm in like prison, you know. And I remember the knock on the door, your parents are here, and I walk out so ashamed. And I remember going like, oh my gosh, no, my parents see everything. And again, to this point, I kind of had been like the good kid. And I'm like, what just happened? My parents show up.
Starting point is 00:59:08 And I remember like looking up. And my sweet mom was like, and it was like, I'm looking, been like, I don't deserve that. I don't think I had words for. I was just like, I don't deserve that. And she hugs me. And then I spoke like, I don't deserve this. And my dad goes, oh, my girl, you never, like did.
Starting point is 00:59:32 And I go home and have a court date. And my parents have everyone that's ever known me ever write letters on my behalf to the court. just poor judge gets flooded to the point where when I finally stand there. It's beautiful. I'm like vulnerable and exposed and guilty, absolutely guilty. And he's like, so your court sentence, I got a lot of letters. Your court sentence is going to be to go speak publicly to every local high school on the topic of decision making. And I was like, what was that?
Starting point is 01:00:06 And I did. And I would say that's impactful for two different reasons. Number one, tangibly, I went and spoke, and actually they ended up, another one of my friends ended up joining me. And she spoke, and I would speak, and I was like, oh, my gosh, I'm good at that. Whoa, and I really care about it. Whoa, and I can really help people. And like, suddenly I'm doing something as a consequence and discovering, like, a gift that I
Starting point is 01:00:33 never knew existed. And then number two, the reason I think it was so fueled and so blessed is because I understood grace tangibly. I feel like it would be a beautiful way to end with everyone. I get emotional thinking about it. Is walking out my mom hugging, but also the word from my dad. Yes, the response. And I know that a lot of people's parents would not have this response.
Starting point is 01:00:58 I'm very well aware of the gift of how God used the grace. My parents, in that moment, who knows on a Wednesday if they would respond the same way, just happened to be how God ordained the entire thing was to walk out. guilty and receive loved. Not doing pretty well, receive love. Not comparing myself to the other girls receiving love. It's guilty, loved, guilty, loved. It's great.
Starting point is 01:01:24 And then out of that, discovering one of my greatest gifts, which I didn't even know was there. So how did I become a speaker? I got caught. I was guilty, loved at my worst, and then gifted to discover my best. Wow. Wow. Wow. Like that is the most powerful, wild, but points straight to the gospel, points straight to the message of Jesus. Like you think about, I mean, even like Joseph, like the whole story, like he was in prison or something that, you know, yes, he did tell him the dream, but that he should not have been burned into a pit for it. That was a little dramatic. Like the whole thing's kind of just crazy. And then he's in prison. And then lo and behold, what does Pharaoh need? A dreamer. Someone who can interpret a dream. So he gets out like, I mean, you just see God's hand in your life and what God did in your story throughout the whole Bible,
Starting point is 01:02:17 the character of who God is throughout the whole thing. And that's what's so amazing. When you start to follow God, you're going to see God, the same God you read about in your life. And that's one of the most amazing things ever. I was thinking about that recently when I'm, me and a bunch of friends, we're all believers talking about different things God's doing it. We're like, guys, it sounds like the Bible, you know? Like, I mean, thankfully not totally like the Bible. we live in a little bit more comfort than they did. I mean, they were going for it, you know, but it's God. It's the same God.
Starting point is 01:02:45 It's the same truth to who he's always been in our lives today. And so you watch, you start walking with God and you're going to be like, whoa, this sounds like this. It sounds like this. And it does because it's God. Thank you for sharing your story. Thank you for every place we went on this podcast. This is one you might have to listen to twice.
Starting point is 01:03:00 I'm going to listen to this when it comes out because I want to learn from it. And I just want to tell you to encourage you today, you know, I scroll and scroll listening to you, but that's not the only time I have. There have been topics I've looked up and then put your name behind it because I want to learn from your perspective and how you're teaching it and how you're diving in. And so thank you for being such a great teacher in our generation and such a great leader. And thank you for modeling, not just leadership, but curiosity and questions. And it's not a thing that's going to be celebrated often. Usually it's going to be the stuff you have to say. But I think something worthwhile for your listeners to understand is the reason I think you have
Starting point is 01:03:32 something to say is because you've been paying attention listening and asking questions. Very Jesus. Thank you, friend. This is so good.

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