Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith

Join us in celebrating 5 Million Downloads of the Jesus Calling Podcast!  Knowing that we have God on our side enables us to find the courage to overcome any fear. Lauren Akins—philanthropist, author, mom, and wife to country music superstar Thomas Rhett—longed to find her purpose. When she turned to God for help, He opened doors that led to a life of service and loving the ones in front of her, expanding her life to reach more than she ever hoped for. Now as a mom to three little girls, Lauren reflects back on her life, thankful for the many types of love she’s experienced, and recognizes “God-winks” woven into the fabric of who she is. Guinness World Record-holding tightrope walker Nik Wallenda comes from seven generations of performers. Through all the daring feats and dazzling challenges that he’s faced in his lifetime, he’s always kept his eye on the One who could get him through. But when one terrifying moment happened right in front of his eyes—when his family members fell off the wire—he faced a fear that almost crippled his career. After coming to terms with that fear and realizing God still needed to use him to inspire others, Nik found the courage to get back on the wire, and show the world the power of God.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Life in His Presence Bear Grylls and Rhonda Vincent   Upcoming Guests One Tree Hill star Jana Kramer NFL player Mike Caussin   Lauren Akins Live in Love book by Lauren Akins Thomas Rhett University of Tennessee Suzanne Mayernick Love One International www.laurenakins.com   Nik Wallenda Facing Fear book by Nik Wallenda Guinness World record setting “King of the High Wire” Funambulist SeaWorld San Diego Niagara Falls Discovery Channel PTSD   Interview Quotes: “It felt like I was just kind of tagging along wherever Thomas Rhett went. I love being his cheerleader and supporting him, and I love watching him do what he loves. But I felt like I had more of a purpose.” - Lauren Akins “I can see, looking back, where the Lord has shut doors and open doors, and I tried to have the motto of, ‘Where He opens the door, I'll walk through it, regardless of what I can see on the other side.’” - Lauren Akins “There were times where I felt like I just couldn't pray another prayer, or when I felt the weakest in those moments, that is where I could just feel Jesus was carrying me on the backs of my friends spiritually and on His back.” - Lauren Akins “Loving one at a time and doing what you can right just for the one, and then moving on to another one, and then another one—that's how Jesus works. Those are His hands and feet.” - Lauren Akins “The Lord puts people in front of us to love.” - Lauren Akins “That is the most important thing, inviting Him into your world so that you're able to see the world through His eyes and you're able to love the way that He loves.” - Lauren Akins “To think that we still can't grasp just quite how much He loves and how good His love is something that is so hard for my mind to try to wrap around.” - Lauren Akins “My great-grandfather said it best: ‘Life is on the wire, and everything else is just waiting.’"  - Nik Wallenda  “I know for a fact that God has opened doors for me to get to where I am in order to bring glory to His name” - Nik Wallenda “What I didn't realize was that was a seed of fear, of negativity, of doubt, implanted in my head right after that accident happened, and I just wouldn’t acknowledge it.” - Nik Wallenda “I think that's what so many people do as they continue to water that seed of doubt, seed of negativity, that seed of I'm not good enough and I'm not smart enough and I will not make it through this, I'm not healthy enough, and people continue to water them. I think that's what holds people back from their greatness and often holds people back from their calling.” - Nik Wallenda “I would much rather go to heaven knowing that I was bold in who I was and what I believed in, that some people were upset and offended by that, then offend those people and they not ever get the knowledge of who God really isn't and how much you really love them.” - Nik Wallenda “I think we have such an amazing, gracious God. And He acknowledges that even to those who don't believe in Him, His Word still applies. His Word cannot return void.” - Nik Wallenda  “As my relationship with God has grown more and more, it took those valleys in order for me to get to those peaks.” - Nik Wallenda ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________    Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Sometimes before we know it, darkness can wrap itself around our hearts and minds. But when we feel ourselves lost and without hope, God is always there to lead us toward a new way of living, where we can find forgiveness for others—and ourselves. Beth Nimmo is the mother of Rachel Joy Scott, the first victim of the 1999 Columbine High School shooting. Beth didn’t know she’d ever see light again after the loss of her precious daughter, but God used Rachel’s strong faith and spirit of joy to guide Beth to help troubled teens. TJ Stevens was one such teen—after an abusive childhood and several suicide attempts, TJ walked into his Virginia high school with a gun, filled with a darkness driving him to do things he’d have never thought possible. But when TJ was on his knees in desperation, he felt God moving him toward a different outcome. As TJ says, “It’s never too late to turn around and do the right thing.” Beth and TJ’s paths crossed along parallel lines, and together, they share how God has met them in their lowest points, and how pain doesn’t have to be a life sentence.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Thomas Rhett Lauren Akins National Suicide Prevention line   I Am Second   Beth Nimmo Rachel Joy Scott Columbine School shootings in 1999   TJ Stevens   Interview Quotes: “What we give focus to, we give strength to--I gave focus to nothing but darkness, and darkness filled me to a point where there was an abyss of nowhere to turn.” - TJ Stevens “When the heart isn't changed, even if you have modified behavior and there's a certain amount of control there, eventually what's in the heart will manifest itself on the surface.” - Beth Nimmo “It's never too late to turn around and do the right thing.” - TJ Stevens “One of the things that we have a responsibility for to the next generation coming up is; we have to show them what you're in right now doesn't have to be your life sentence and it doesn't have to define the rest of your life.” - Beth Nimmo ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________    Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Fear and anxiety often worm their way into our lives, and it is easy to give into them. But we have a mighty God on our side, who replaces fear with a beautiful peace that reminds us everything will turn out exactly the way He intends it. Country music artist Sara Evans knew as a young girl that she was “Born to Fly,” because God had called her to a music career. And as Sara looks back on defining moments of her career and her journeys with family and faith, she can trace the moments when fear would try to take over but God gave her the resilience to push through. Growing up in Los Angeles with a passion for helping others, actor and singer Caitlin Crosby learned early on that real beauty and character are found in our flaws. As she prayed for God to show her how to give to others, Caitlin met a talented couple who helped turn her heart for helping into a real-life mission: a jewelry-for-good business called The Giving Keys, which helps people transition out of homelessness. Caitlin believes that embracing the things that scare us can help us uncover our purpose. And as she shares in her new book You are the Key, she’s seen that paying forward a word of encouragement, whether you sleep in a mansion or a cardboard box, can go a long way in helping others—and ourselves—keep reaching for faith and courage. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling Bible study Jesus Calling, from July 27th interview with heroic Southwest Airlines pilot Tammie Jo Shults and Vietnam POW Carlyle “Smitty” Harris TJ Stevens  Beth Nimmo Rachel Scott   Sara Evans Vocalist of the Year by the Academy of Country Music ABC’s Dancing with the Stars Gideon's Bible Grand Ole Opry Born to Fly memoir   Caitlin Crosby The Giving Keys You are the Key book LoveYourFlawz Lifehouse Flawz album Invisible Children documentary   Interview Quotes: “We just have so many people to love and so many people to take care of. That is such a blessing.” - Sara Evans, on her blended family “I really, really, really believe in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and I believe that God understands our hearts and He knows where we are.” - Sara Evans “God is the potter and I'm the clay, so I just need to trust Him every day, and really just have no fear.” - Sara Evans “There's nothing more comforting than having a relationship with Jesus.” - Sara Evans “The whole premise [of The Giving Keys] is you get a word that you need in your life, you embrace it, you own it, but then you're supposed to pass it on to somebody you feel needs it more than you.” - Caitlin Crosby “Our model [at The Giving Keys] is the more products we sell, the more jobs we can create, and the more people we can try and get off the streets.” - Caitlin Crosby “Everyone needs help. Everyone needs love. Everyone needs strength.” - Caitlin Crosby “The things that they feel kind of secretive or shameful about, those are the things that really can bring your purpose alive and bring it to another level.” - Caitlin Crosby ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________    Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

With each new day, God is blessing us with another chance—a chance to say yes to the things we might’ve said no to before, and a chance to embrace the people we love. Lori Allen, star of the TLC reality show Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta and owner of Bridals by Lori, is adamant that the best days of her life are still ahead of her. From conquering challenges to keep her store open, to battling breast cancer and being the best working mom and grandma she can be, Lori has consistently said yes to savoring every moment, and grounding her life in her faith. Country music artist Raleigh Keegan was given a poignant second chance—a chance at life itself—when his mom gave birth to him while she was in prison, and then allowing him to be adopted into a loving family. Now, Raleigh seeks to demonstrate the love of God daily, thanking Him for the life he was given then, and the one he has now—which included eventually meeting and thanking his birth mom, too.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling website Life in His Presence: A Jesus Calling Guided Journal Jesus Calling book Jesus Calling Podcast episode with author and activist Cyntoia Brown-Long and designer Liz Marie Galvan Sara Evans Lori Allen TLC reality show Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta  Bridals by Lori Say Yes to What's Next book COVID-19 Raleigh Keegan Boy Scouts Eagle Scout Psalms Romans 8:1 University of Cincinnati   Interview Quotes: “I've always had my faith, and I've always had a very strong will and conviction that I would succeed.” - Lori Allen “What for women after age forty-five motivates us? We are very smart women that have a lot of life ahead of us . . . I plan to savor every last crumb, and I want to motivate other women to do the same.“ - Lori Allen “I think that God wants us to live ‘till our very last day with meaning and hope.” - Lori Allen “Life's never easy, but with your attitude and showing your faith and your fortitude, you can make it a wonderful life.” - Lori Allen “I don't think the fact that I was adopted and came from a really hard start ever made me question God's love for me, that specific thing, because I always viewed it as, I had a chance.” - Raleigh Keegan “On my worst day and on my best day, because of what Jesus did for me, I'm viewed the same. That just changed me.” - Raleigh Keegan “My life's mission is just to be a Christian in whatever I'm doing.” - Raleigh Keegan ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________    Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

It’s a great privilege to make an impact on others by leading a life worth emulating—and having mentors in our lives who once gave us the same gift. Motivational speaker Trent Shelton grew up in a family of faith who supported his dreams of becoming a professional athlete. After Trent worked his way to the NFL, he realized he was sacrificing his future by chasing temporary fulfillment. When he hit rock bottom, Trent decided to make God the rock of his life, and after his son Tristan was born, Trent worked hard to become a father his son would be proud of. And now, as he shares in his new book Straight Up, Trent tries every day to become the best version of himself so that he can impact his family and show them how to live well. Author Peggy Rowe—mom to Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs—was raised by loving parents who sacrificed time, money, and energy so Peggy could explore who she wanted to be. Now, Peggy seeks to impact others the way her parents inspired her through writing and sharing stories with millions of readers.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling book Jesus Calling Podcast episode ft. The Bachelorette’s Luke Pell and pastor Jack Deere Lori Allen, founder of the shop Bridals by Lori TLC reality show Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta   Trent Shelton Straight Up Rehab Time Saints player Gene Atkins Bengals player Geno Atkins imposter syndrome Peggy Rowe Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs Dirty Jobs The Discovery Channel "About My Mother" by Peggy Rowe 'About Your Father" by Peggy Rowe The Baltimore Sun Misty of Chincoteague Interview Quotes: “What I realized, once I hit rock bottom, was I never really built a solid relationship with God for myself.” - Trent Shelton “Oftentimes I feel like we place blame on God for situations we put ourselves in.” - Trent Shelton “If my son follows my footsteps, where is my life leading him? What's the path that I've created? What's the mindset? What's the faith? And I wasn't happy with the answers that I told myself.” - Trent Shelton “My prayers used to be asking God for things, and now my prayers are, ‘God, what do you need from me?’ And that has brought more clarity in my life.” - Trent Shelton “I feel like God leaves a void in each and every one of us that can only be filled by Him. And until He fills that void, you will never feel that overwhelming internal peace in your life.” - Trent Shelton “The most important work that you ever will do is the work that you do on yourself.” - Trent Shelton “Maybe that light that comes from my life, because I did the work on myself, could be the light that they need to light up their dark world or their dark times.” - Trent Shelton “We can't change the world if we don't change our households. We can't change our households if we don't change the way we think, if we don't renew our mind, if we don't renew our heart. And so it all starts with you. So, be the reflection of the change that you wish to see.” - Trent Shelton “I think probably the greatest gift my mother gave me was an ability to treat people the way that I would like to be treated.” - Peggy Rowe “[Mike Rowe] unfailingly respected and continues to respect the people that he worked with, the people that get up every day and do those less-than-desirable jobs. He treats those people and has treated them with the same respect that he would like to be treated.” - Peggy Rowe, on her son, Dirty Jobs host Mike Rowe “I think that we human beings need constant reminders that we are not alone.” - Peggy Rowe ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

God puts people in our lives for a reason: to teach us, to inspire us, to allow us to be a blessing to them. There are no accidental encounters, only ones that shape us into who we were created to be. Victoria Damone grew up in a family of entertainment royalty, as the daughter of ‘50s crooner Vic Damone and actress Judy Rawlins. But show business wasn’t always kind to Victoria and her sisters, and they had to learn to survive by relying on each other through their parents’ absence and their mother’s struggle with addiction. As she grew older, Victoria forged her own path by working for a faith-based organization, OneShare Health, as a way to combine her love of people and God. Catherine Wood has always kept faith at the heart of her life, but that faith has been tested through the financial ups and downs she’s faced throughout her investing career. After Cathie tried to navigate the financial peculiarities leading up to the 2008 economic crash, a member of her church introduced her to Jesus Calling, which Cathie’s read every day since. In 2014, Cathie founded her own company called ARK Invest, to find and fund transformative technologies that could change lives and make the world a better place.    Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling App Jesus Calling on YouTube Interview with country music artist Josh Turner and NASCAR driver Michael McDowell Apple Podcasts Stitcher Jesus Calling Facebook Jesus Calling Instagram Victoria Damone Vic Damone actress Judy Rawlins OneShare Health   Catherine Wood ARK Invest Art Laffer Jennison Associates Reuters and Telerate Ark of the Covenant   Upcoming guest: Trent Shelton   Interview Quotes: “I know that God was watching over me in my younger years.” - Victoria Damone “Even though we all fail miserably, we can aspire to do the best we can. But I think that's when God walks in.” - Victoria Damone “I love what I do, but I also love the thought that we're part of something that can really help people emotionally with their health care needs, but also that we can help other organizations and we can make a difference.” - Victoria Damone, on working at OneShare Health “When I think of Jesus, I think of Him sitting at the table and ministering and teaching people that were perhaps the unsavory characters, the people that were abandoned. And yet those are the individuals that need the most love and understanding.” - Victoria Damone “I never felt that God was leaving me or deserting me. I felt like I had to hold on a little tighter.” -Catherine Wood “I would kneel down and say, ‘Okay, God, You're in control. Even if this company fails, I know I've done the right thing. This is a walk of faith for me. Your will be done.’” - Catherine Wood  “I believe that in starting ARK Invest, I was fulfilling His will for me here on Earth and that if I had not done it, that I would have died an unhappy woman not having not fulfilled my promise here.” - Catherine Wood   ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________    Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Our stories are a combination of pain and beauty, of grief and love, of despair and wonder. In the moments when pain and isolation threaten to engulf us, God is there to lift us up and, as our guest Mattie Jackson Selecman says, sprinkle “tidbits of joy” along our darkest paths. Growing up, Mattie watched her dad, country music superstar Alan Jackson, sing songs that connected with people across the country, and she knew she was born to tell stories just like him. But Mattie never could’ve imagined one of the stories she’d tell would be a tragic story of her own: losing her newlywed husband Ben in an accident. With God’s help, and with her Jesus Calling devotional by her side, Mattie began to put the pieces of her life back together and found healing in the very ministry that she co-founded to heal others, NaSHEville. Music journalist Deborah Evans Price passionately chased her dream to tell stories behind some of country and Christian music’s biggest stars, becoming a full-time journalist at Billboard Magazine. But Deborah learned firsthand that just because part of your dream works out doesn’t mean your whole life will fall into place. As Deborah tackled an unexpected cancer diagnosis, she learned there’s true joy in allowing others to come alongside us and care for us when we’re at our lowest.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Calling Peace for Everyday Life video series Jesus Calling Magazine [FREE!] Jesus Calling Podcast Episode with Dawn Barton: Joy: God’s Antidote to Pain Mattie Jackson Selecman Alan Jackson UT [University of Tennessee] NaSHEville Human trafficking   Deborah Evans Price Billboard Magazine Billboard.com First for Women Magazine Redbook  Woman's World  Sounds Like Nashville LSU [Louisiana State University]   Victoria Damone 1950’s Big Band crooner Vic Damone   Interview Quotes: “Jesus is the only hope, not because He's the only thing left to turn to, but because He's the only thing that will bring light in the dark.” - Mattie Jackson Selecman “You kind of take [faith] for granted until you have real reason to buckle down and understand and evaluate, Why is this my faith, and why is this not just what I've been told and taught?” - Mattie Jackson Selecman “Don't feel like it's your job to plan out every step of your life—go live it. And what happens to you will be the story that you'll end up telling.” - Mattie Jackson Selecman “He walked the way Jesus walked. He saw people for who they were, and not for what they did, or for something that he expected or wanted from them.” - Mattie Jackson Selecman, on her husband Ben “On paper, we did all the things we were supposed to do, you know, to “get the miracle.” But we didn't. And part of understanding and processing and finding joy amidst the pain doesn't come from having that question answered.” - Mattie Jackson Selecman “Wherever you are in your faith, He'll find you.” - Mattie Jackson Selecman “God will bring tidbits of joy. That's what I've learned above all else. And I tell people, pain and joy are not mutually exclusive. They can dance in the same scene together.” - Mattie Jackson Selecman “God's put me here to help tell people stories. That's a privilege.” - Deborah Evans Price “It’s hard to be vulnerable and let people see when you're when you're hurting.” - Deborah Evans Price “I just wake up every day thinking, You just don't know what God’s going to bring in your life or what exciting door He’s gonna be opening. Every day is a new adventure.” - Deborah Evans Price ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PrbuwH Video Playlist: https://bit.ly/2PsmEkJ What’s Good? Playlist: https://bit.ly/3i7VUlZ ________________________    Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We all value connection: to our loved ones, to the world around us, to the principles that matter to us. And our most important connection is with God, which can feel so powerful through our praise. Worship leader Matt Redman shares how music became his escape from the darkness he endured in his youth—his father’s suicide early in his life, then abuse in his teen years. But when Matt was introduced to Steven Curtis Chapman’s music in college, he found a path that would draw him near to God through living in a state of constant wonder. Singer/songwriter Mark Schultz was struggling to make it big in the Nashville music scene when he met a youth pastor who would change his life. After working with kids and singing songs from the heart, Mark landed a record deal, and today, he’s built a beautiful life by putting praise for Jesus above everything. Plus, after being adopted in his childhood, Mark finally understood the heavenly meaning of that word when he adopted his own little one.   Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Calling Prayer Call Jesus Calling Kids/Childrens Jesus Calling Podcast Episode with Steven Curtis Chapman: "A Father's Love Is Special"    Matt Redman BibleGateway.com Psalms 10,000 Reasons song Let There Be Wonder album If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, there’s help. Please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.   Mark Schultz  Remember Me Mission Kansas State University Ryman Auditorium Grand Ole Opry   Mattie Jackson Selecman   Interview Quotes: “I needed to talk to God. I needed to cry out to God. Music seemed like a really powerful way to do that.” - Matt Redman “I loved that we weren't just singing about Him, but we were singing to Him.” - Matt Redman “One of the challenges of trying to portray God through music is to do with trying to paint the biggest picture of Him that you can.” - Matt Redman “He's the lion and the lamb, He is the God who thunders and whispers. He's a God who terrifies, and yet He befriends. He's the one who knelt down, washed the feet of His disciples, even though He's the one whose footstool is the earth.” - Matt Redman “There's something special about hearing a father's words speak over you, that they believe in you, and cast a vision for you, and I think there's something about that that you kind of grow into that as your story unfolds.” - Mark Schultz “That would be one of those moments that I look back on that I feel like it was a dad's vision and a belief in me, just following that.” - Mark Schultz, on a dream fulfilled to play at Ryman Auditorium “God doesn't want something from us—He wants something for us.” - Mark Schultz   ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0  Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O  ________________________    Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We have a tendency to see black and white in our stories. We believe we’re doing the right things because we don’t seem to be encountering many problems. We think we’re loving others well because we don’t see any evidence that says otherwise. But the truth is that no matter how hard we try, we will face hard problems and tough situations. We will face division and anger. But God will equip us with the tools we need to navigate life with profound faith and great love. Pastor and author Scott Sauls asks us to think about what our world would be like if we approached others with compassion and gentleness like Jesus, to try and heal a hurting world. Advocates Jay and Katherine Wolf faced the unimaginable when Katherine, a twenty-six-year-old mother of a six-month-old son, suffered a brain stem stroke that turned their world upside down. Now a full-time caregiver, Jay shares how God brought them closer to Him through each other, and how sometimes healing and despair go hand in hand.  Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling devotional Jesus Calling: What’s Good? (YouTube video series)Jesus Calling Podcast Episode - The Broken Road to Joy: Ann Voskamp & Emily Stroud  Gary Sinise Foundation Scott Sauls A Gentle Answer: Our Secret Weapon in an Age of Us Against Them book Christ Presbyterian Church (Nashville, Tennessee)  BibleGateway.com (Luke 7) Fred Rogers (Jesus Calling podcast interview with wife Joanne Rogers) Jay and Katherine Wolf Suffer Strong: How to Survive Anything by Redefining Everything Samford University (Birmingham, AL) Pepperdine Caruso School of Law Bel Air Presbyterian Church (Los Angeles, CA) CaringBridge BibleGateway.com (Isaiah 45:3) Matt Redman   Interview Quotes:   “What could it look like for followers of Christ, especially, to give ourselves to a gentleness movement or a kindness movement in a climate where kindness is so scarce?” - Scott Sauls “Cynicism and negativity are very contagious, but so are love and kindness.” - Scott Sauls “Every single square inch of the universe—people, places, and things—belongs to God, is created by God, and is entrusted to our care.” - Scott Sauls “Everybody's job is an opportunity to serve God in the same way that a pastor's job is an opportunity to serve God.” - Scott Sauls “Christians have that resource to be more difficult to offend, because Christ chose not to be offended by us. He chose instead to love us and to forgive us and to draw us into His family and adopt us.” - Scott Sauls   “Looking back on your story, it's important and it's profound to see some things you didn't see in the moment because it was up close, and to see how God was putting those pieces together.” - Jay Wolf “The idea that God had spared her life was the beginning of hope for me.” - Jay Wolf ”We thought [Katherine’s being on life support] was really just a sign and a little sort of glimmer that God was saying, ‘I'm still here. I haven't abandoned you, even if I'm silent.’” - Jay Wolf “I think we want to say it's one or the other, ‘Oh, you're in this healing mode,’ or, ‘You're in this despairing mode.’ Sometimes they're right in the same place together.” - Jay Wolf “‘You get to put into practice everything you believe, and I'm going to supernaturally supply you. My divine power will give you everything that you need to do this. And it is going to be hard. It's going to be good’.” - Katherine Wolf speaking how she believes God rallied her husband Jay “We knew the presence of God would sustain, and His power would make a way for us to move forward.” - Katherine Wolf   ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0  Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O  ________________________    Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Dreaming, planning, preparing for the future—it’s in our nature to map out where we’d like our lives to go. But in the midst of our dreaming, it’s important to take a step back and ask God, “What do You want for my life?” Because He might have a different—and better—answer for us. When Christian music artist Jaci Velasquez was pregnant with her son Zealand, she knew he’d have a ministry of his own one day. But when Jaci discovered Zealand had autism, she wondered how he’d ever spread God’s love if he couldn’t communicate. Over time, Jaci learned to shift her perspective from “Why me?” to “Why not me?” and she began to see how God can use anyone or anything for good. Worship pastor Andy Harrison was raised in a Christian home, but never really felt connected to God. After attending a youth camp and a Planetshakers conference, Andy was struck by how passionate the people around him were, and he wanted to discover this Jesus that had everyone so shaken up. Today Andy’s a mentor to youth and shows them how to be strong in faith while growing up, and how, even when we don’t know where to turn, we can find everything we need in Jesus. Links, Products and Resources Mentioned: Sarah Young Jesus Calling Podcast Jesus Calling books Jesus Calling devotional Gary Sinise Foundation Jaci Velasquez When God Rescripts Your Life: Seeing Value, Beauty, and Purpose When Life is Interrupted book IEP—Individualized Educational Program Autism Spectrum Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorder - pervasive developmental delay   Andy Harrison Jesus Over Everything album Jesus Over Everything: Notes for the Next Generation of Planetshakers book Planetshakers Youth Ministry Planetshakers Music Planetshakers Conference BibleGateway.com (Psalms 139 & Matthew 6:33)   Jay and Katherine Wolf   Interview Quotes: “I stopped asking the question, ‘Why me?’ And I started asking the most important question, which was ‘Why not me?’” - Jaci Velasquez “Sometimes what He wants for our lives and what He wants for our families looks different than what we had pictured.” - Jaci Velasquez “We have to continuously dive into what God is trying to show us.” - Jaci Velasquez “He forgives you sooner than you forgive yourself. So why do we continue putting ourselves on the cross? “ - Jaci Velasquez “Listen for His interpretation. Our dreams and God's calling are not always the same thing.” - Jaci Velasquez “[Growing up] I knew a lot of things about God, but I didn't know Him for myself.“ - Andy Harrison “I'm really passionate about seeing young people encounter Jesus, because that was the season in my life where I came to know Him, and I want to see other young people come to know Him, too.” - Andy Harrison “Everything that we need is found in Jesus.” - Andy Harrison   ________________________ Enjoy these videos on Jesus Calling YouTube channel: Audio podcast: https://bit.ly/2uCnNM0  Original Series video podcast: https://bit.ly/2WzFY0O  ________________________    Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Jesus Calling Website Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.