Can I tell you something? From the moment Marchette and I started talking, I felt that hand-to-heart honesty that makes a conversation matter. She laughed about being fiercely competitive with board games, but the real game she wins at is choosing obedience when the scoreboard shows no visible reward. In this episode we sat in that hard place together - the place where God whispers a yes but your heart is full of questions.
I remember the scene she described - a quiet afternoon at the library, a book about the fear of God, and the story of Esther landing right on her lap. Esther 4:14 came alive for her in a fresh way - the reality that God's positioning sometimes asks us to step where there is risk and no obvious personal gain. That concrete image helped her move from paralysis to a humble yes, even when doubts and fear of rejection loomed large.
You see, we also talked about the cleansing of the temple (Luke 19:45-46) and how Jesus kept his mission even while people rejected him. Marchette shared how lying awake at night, wrestling with feelings of rejection, she found comfort in the fact that Jesus understood those emotions yet stayed focused. That didn’t cancel her feelings. Instead she learned to bring them to the Lord and not let them be the decision maker.
Here's the thing I keep coming back to: faith isn't the absence of feeling. Faith is the decision to follow God when feelings press hard to the contrary. In our conversation we named how emotions can become a kind of idol if left unchecked. We also named the beautiful flip side - emotions offered to God can become fuel for obedience and compassion rather than barriers.
From our chat, you’ll get practical, simple ways to put that perspective into practice in everyday life. These are the sorts of steps I wish someone had handed me in a tidy list when I was learning to say yes sooner. I offer them here the way Marchette lived them out.
Friends, this episode is tender and real. We talk about fear of rejection, the temptation to trust what we see instead of what God has said, and how to keep showing up even when obedience looks like stepping into the unknown. I share questions I asked aloud, and Marchette shares honest moments where she almost quit but chose to trust instead.
If you find yourself stuck between fear and a calling, this conversation will encourage you to bring your feelings to God, remember his promises, and obey the next thing he asks. You're not alone in that middle place, and God sees the honesty of your heart. We'd love for you to listen, share this episode with a friend who needs the encouragement, and leave feedback so we can keep bringing conversations that help faith meet real life.
