In this deeply vulnerable and practical episode of Crazy Unbelievable Faith, Brian and Kersha Owen tackle one of the most common struggles believers face: How do I know if it's really God's voice or just my own thoughts? With raw honesty, Kersha shares the story of sitting in church when she heard "I want you to write me a book"—and her immediate response of looking around thinking, "Cool. For them." This isn't just a theological discussion; it's a masterclass in discerning divine prompting from personal fear, assumption, and misinterpretation.
The Owens get refreshingly real about the six-month delay between hearing God's call and mustering the courage to speak it out loud, the repeated nudges that wouldn't go away, and the confirmation that came through unexpected sources. From writing a book to launching a podcast to making major life decisions, Brian and Kersha walk listeners through their personal framework for testing whether something is truly from God. This episode is both a challenge to stop rationalizing away what God is asking and a practical guide for anyone who's ever wondered: Did I really just hear from Him?
🔥 What You'll Learn:
- Recognizing God's Voice: Discover how to distinguish between divine prompting and your own thoughts, fears, or assumptions—and why repeated nudges are often God's way of getting your attention.
- The Delay Between Hearing and Obeying: Understand why many believers hear God's call but take months (or years) to act on it, and how delayed obedience is still disobedience.
- When God's Assignments Feel Unreasonable: Learn why God's voice often feels unrealistic before it feels anointed, and how obedience usually comes before clarity and understanding.
- Seeking Confirmation: Explore the importance of asking for divine confirmation when you feel God is calling you to something, and how confirmation can come through unexpected people and circumstances.
- God's Thoughts Are Higher: Discover how Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us that God's ways transcend our logic, resources, and readiness—and why that's actually good news.
- Discernment Filters: Get practical tools for testing whether a prompting is from God: Does it align with Scripture? Does it reflect Jesus's character? Does it require faith or just comfort?
- The Difference Between Fear and Wisdom: Learn how to tell if you're dismissing God's voice because it scares you or because it truly contradicts Scripture—and why that distinction matters.
💬 Memorable Quotes:
- Kersha: "Have you ever felt God ask you to do something, and your first thought was: Did God really just ask me that, or am I making it up?"
- Kersha: "I heard: I want you to write me a book. And I literally looked around the room and was like, oh my gosh, someone's going to be an author. Cool. For them."
- Kersha: "It took me about six months to muster up the courage to even speak it out loud that God had asked me to write a book."
- Brian: "Delayed obedience is still disobedience."
- Kersha: "He wanted my obedience, and then He wanted us to walk the path so we could write about the things that He had us walk through."
- Brian: "If it's repeatedly coming back, share it with someone. There's a reason it keeps coming up."
- Kersha: "God often calls us beyond our logic and resources and readiness."
- Brian: "Obedience usually comes before clarity."
- Kersha: "Not every thought is divine, but God's voice carries a distinct tone."
- Kersha: "God's voice is consistent with His Word and His character."
- Kersha: "Are you dismissing God's voice because it scares you or because it truly contradicts Scripture?"
- Brian: "God reveals the next step, not the whole staircase."
- Kersha: "God calls ordinary people into extraordinary obedience."
- Kersha: "Faith grows when you move before you feel ready."
🛑 Reflect + Apply: Questions to Ask Yourself
- What is something you feel God has been nudging you to do, but you've been rationalizing it away?
- Have you been experiencing repeated thoughts or promptings about something? Could this be God trying to get your attention?
- Are you delaying obedience because you're waiting for perfect clarity, or are you willing to take the next step even without seeing the whole staircase?
- When you test a prompting against Scripture, does it align with God's Word and reflect Jesus's character of love, humility, and service?
- Are you dismissing what you're hearing because it scares you and stretches you beyond your comfort zone, or because it genuinely contradicts biblical truth?
- Do you have wise, faith-filled people in your life who you can share these promptings with to seek confirmation and accountability?
- Is there noise in your life—busyness, distractions, anxiety—that's making it harder to hear God's voice clearly? What needs to be quieted?
Scripture Focus:
This episode is anchored in these key biblical truths about hearing and obeying God's voice:
- Isaiah 55:8-9 - God's Thoughts Are Higher: A reminder that God's ways and thoughts transcend our human logic, and His assignments often feel unrealistic before they feel anointed.
- John 10:27 - My Sheep Hear My Voice: The promise that Jesus's sheep recognize and follow His voice—we are equipped to hear Him when we're walking in relationship with Him.
- Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust the Lord, Not Your Understanding: The call to trust God's wisdom above our own reasoning, especially when His direction doesn't make logical sense.
- James 1:5 - God Gives Wisdom Generously: The assurance that when we lack wisdom to discern God's voice, we can ask Him and He will give it freely.
- Hebrews 11:8 - Abraham Obeyed Even Without Knowing: The example of Abraham who went in obedience even though he didn't know where he was going—faith before full understanding.
- Luke 5:4-6 - Peter Casts the Nets Again: Peter's obedience to Jesus's seemingly illogical instruction led to a miraculous catch—sometimes obedience defies our expertise.
- Psalm 119:105 - God's Word Is a Lamp to Our Feet: God's guidance is like a lamp that lights the next step, not a floodlight that reveals the entire path ahead.
🙌 Join the Movement
If you've been sitting on something God has asked you to do, this episode is your wake-up call. Brian and Kersha invite you to stop rationalizing away the divine nudges and start stepping out in obedience—even before you have perfect clarity. God doesn't need you to understand the whole plan; He just needs your yes. Test it against Scripture, seek confirmation from wise counsel, and then move. Faith looks foolish in the beginning, but obedience always leads to breakthrough.
💻 Visit crazyunbelievablefaith.com to sign up for behind-the-scenes content, submit a prayer request, and stay updated on the exciting things coming in the Spring and Summer of 2026, including the upcoming book launch!
📩 Got questions or want to connect? Brian and Kersha would love to hear what God has been nudging you to do—and how you're learning to discern His voice.
🎧 Subscribe, rate, and share this episode to help someone else stop second-guessing God's call and start walking in obedience.
Crazy Unbelievable Faith: Because the life God calls you to isn't always easy, but it is always worth it.
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