In this special father-daughter episode of Crazy Unbelievable Faith, Brian Owen sits down with his teenage daughter Jacelyn for an unscripted, refreshingly honest conversation about dating, identity, and faith in today’s world. With Kersha away for this one, Brian steps into the driver’s seat as he and Jacelyn tackle one of the most relevant topics for young believers: why pursuing purpose must come before pursuing romance. This isn’t a lecture—it’s a real conversation between a dad and his daughter about what it looks like to trust God’s timing in relationships.
With humor, vulnerability, and a few playful jabs (Jacelyn doesn’t hold back on roasting Dad), Brian and Jacelyn explore why identity in Christ must come before intimacy, how the pressure of social media distorts modern dating, and why loneliness is a feeling—not a calling. From the “checklist” they’ve created together to Jacelyn’s own self-evaluation process for whether she’s ready to date, this episode is packed with practical wisdom, biblical truth, and the kind of raw family dialogue that proves faith doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be real. Whether you’re a teenager navigating relationships, a parent guiding your kids, or an adult re-evaluating your approach to love, this episode will challenge you to chase God first and trust Him to write your love story.
🔥 What You’ll Learn:
- Identity Before Intimacy: Understand why you don’t date to discover who you are—you date from knowing who you are in Christ. When people merge their identity into a relationship too early, they lose sight of who God is calling them to become.
- Purpose Over Preference: Learn why alignment matters more than attraction. The “triangle concept”—God at the top, husband and wife at the base—shows that the closer each person gets to God, the closer they get to each other.
- Holiness in the Process: Discover why how you date is as important as who you date. Is God at the center of your dating life, or is it driven by lust, loneliness, or social status?
- Loneliness Is a Feeling, Not a Calling: Explore how the fear of being alone drives people into unhealthy relationships—and why God’s promise is that you are never truly alone.
- The Power of the Checklist: Hear how Brian and Kersha challenged Jacelyn to create a list—not of surface-level wants like height and eye color, but of character traits rooted in faith that she’s also developing in herself.
- Setting Boundaries and Self-Evaluation: Learn how the Owen family has established dating guidelines rooted in both physical and spiritual maturity, and how Jacelyn’s own self-evaluation process has kept her grounded.
- Trusting God’s Timing: Understand why rushing into relationships short-circuits what God has planned—and why His “Forever Book” already has your love story written.
- The Social Media Trap: Hear Jacelyn’s perspective on how social media amplifies pressure, creates unrealistic expectations, and often leads couples to grow around an image rather than growing in faith.
💬 Memorable Quotes:
- Brian: “You don’t date to discover who you are. You date from knowing who you are in Christ.”
- Jacelyn: “Loneliness is a feeling, not a calling.” (referencing Psalm 68:6)
- Brian: “How you date is as important as who you date.”
- Brian: “Chemistry can start it, but a calling sustains it.”
- Jacelyn: “They didn’t want to grow into who God was calling them to be. They just grew into ‘I really just want this one person.’”
- Brian: “Don’t chase love and hope God blesses it. Chase God and trust Him to bless your love.”
- Jacelyn: “God’s Forever Book—He wrote your names together before the beginning of time.”
- Brian: “They fell in lust before they fell into love.”
- Jacelyn: “Is it out of the deepest part of my heart? Is it pure? Kind of like how Christ loves the church.”
- Brian: “People like the idea of something. They don’t like the actual work that goes into it.”
🛑 Reflect + Apply: Questions to Ask Yourself
- Am I seeking a relationship to fill a void or avoid loneliness—or am I dating from a place of wholeness and identity in Christ?
- Have I taken time to develop my own purpose, gifts, and calling before pursuing romance?
- What does my “checklist” look like? Am I focused on surface-level qualities, or am I building character traits in myself that I also want to see in a future partner?
- Is social media shaping my expectations about relationships in unhealthy ways? Am I chasing an image or chasing alignment?
- Am I willing to trust God’s timing—even when loneliness feels overwhelming and everyone around me seems to be in a relationship?
- Do I have a network of godly voices speaking into my life—friends, mentors, family—who can help me stay grounded as I navigate dating?
- When I pray about a potential relationship, am I truly listening for God’s direction—or am I trying to make my own plans work?
Scripture Focus:
This episode is grounded in practical application of these key biblical principles:
- You Are Complete in Him (Colossians 2:10): A reminder that wholeness and identity come from Christ—not from a romantic relationship. You don’t need someone else to make you complete.
- Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Psalm 139:14): God has intentionally and purposefully crafted who you are. Knowing this truth is the foundation for approaching relationships from a place of security, not insecurity.
- Do Not Be Unequally Yoked (2 Corinthians 6:14): The call to pursue alignment in relationships—spiritually, emotionally, and in purpose—rather than settling for attraction alone.
- The Lord’s Purpose Prevails (Proverbs 19:21): Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it’s God’s purpose that prevails. Trust His plan over your own timeline.
- God Sets the Lonely in Families (Psalm 68:6): Loneliness is a feeling, not a calling. God promises to place you in community and never leave you alone.
- Trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5–6): Trust God with all your heart in your relationships—don’t lean on your own understanding of timing or attraction.
- Delight in the Lord (Psalm 37:4): When you delight in the Lord, He gives you the desires of your heart—because your desires become aligned with His.
🙌 Join the Movement
If you’re a young person navigating the pressure of dating in today’s world—or a parent trying to guide your kids through it—this episode is your reminder that God’s plan is worth the wait. Brian and Jacelyn invite you to stop chasing love and start chasing God. Build your identity in Christ. Make your checklist. Set your boundaries. Trust the Author of your story, because He’s already written it in His Forever Book.
🔗 Resources & Voices Mentioned
Throughout the conversation, Brian and Jacelyn reference several voices and artists who are influencing young believers today. Check them out below:
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📩 Got questions or want to connect? Brian and Jacelyn would love to hear from you—especially teenagers who are navigating dating and faith. Reach out and share your story.
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