Jesus Calling Magazine - Winter 2023

Dear Reader,

This issue of The Jesus Calling Magazine contains inspiring stories of people who pushed past their comfort zones and, in the process, revealed the glory of God to others.

I’m reminded of how the devotional, Jesus Calling, grew out of my prayer journals. I’d been journaling for many years, but this was one-way communication: I did all the talking. So I decided to try “listening” to God during my morning quiet times. As I focused on Jesus and His Word, I asked the Holy Spirit to guide my thoughts. Then I wrote down the thoughts in my journal. This process of listening and writing helped me grow closer to Jesus.

Initially, I had no interest in sharing my writings with anyone. However, after several years of journaling this way—writing from the perspective of Jesus speaking to me—I encountered a life-changing question during a spiritual retreat: “What is Jesus calling you to right now?” Immediately I knew the answer: write for publication. I’d wanted to do this for years, but I needed a push to get started.

I decided to arrange my journal writings into daily readings for a devotional book. It took me more than three years to complete the manuscript. My dream was simply to get my manuscript published, but God had much more in mind. I continue to be amazed and grateful when I hear about the many ways God is using Jesus Calling to help people. I give Him the glory for all of this!

I hope the stories in this magazine will inspire you—perhaps even push you—to step out of your comfort zone and use your abilities to reveal God’s glory to others.

Bountiful blessings

Jesus Listens Note-Taking Edition

Jesus Calling for Easter

Jesus Calling for Moms

Jesus Calling for Kids

PHOTO BY JEREMY COWART

STANDING FIRM THROUGH LIFE’S ADVERSITIES

Dallas Mavericks

CEO Cynt Marshall Leads by Leaning on God

by Cynthia M. Stuckey

MANY KNOW CYNT

MARSHALL as a flourishing businesswoman and the CEO of the Dallas Mavericks. But perhaps fewer know how she’s weathered seasons of struggle and come out on the other side with a resilient spirit, and her rock-solid faith intact.

IMAGES COURTESY OF JERSEAN GOLATT, PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE, AND CYNT MARSHALL

Growing up in a family of eight in the Easter Hill public housing projects in San Francisco, Cynt’s early life was marked by the domestic violence her mother and siblings experienced at the hands of a father who was soon to be absent. But when Cynt reflects on her childhood, she gives more weight to her indomitable mother, who placed a Bible and a math book in her hands, with the encouragement to keep her head deeply in both. “I know she’s where my grit and optimism comes from. She said, ’It’s not where you live, it’s how you live,’” Cynt remembers. “And she taught me to focus on four words I still live by: dream, focus, pray, and act. She knew we could do big things and go big places if we just kept the Lord first. And today, I just rely on God. It’s as simple as that.”

Cynt’s leadership in matters of faith imitates her insight in business. She is someone who seeks to lead as a servant— especially when she can share words of hope. “When people are in need, whether it’s physical, mental, or emotional need, I ask them if it’s okay if I send them something. And Jesus Calling is the book that I send. I love this book. I have given this book to so many people. With faith in God and standing on His promises, you can truly thrive—not just get through it, but truly thrive through the unexpected. Because we have all been chosen to go through something.”

Looking back, Cynt remembers the day two dreams were realized: when she became the first Black female class president in high school, and later when she became one of the youngest executives at AT&T. Both were roles where she shone brightly because of her driving desire to help others. “I always saw myself as the person to help everybody and to provide resources and to be there for people.” Cynt often prayed that God would bless her so that she might bless many others; those heartfelt prayers were consistently answered as she continued to grow in a leadership style focused on listening to those she was called to lead.

This person-focused leadership has led to amazing strides and the transformation of more than one company, but the Dallas Mavericks stand alone in several areas. When Cynt shares

Cynt with Dallas Mavricks owner Mark Cuban

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I just rely on God. It’s as simple as that.

their success as a franchise, the numbers speak loudly. “We set the global standard for diversity and inclusion in the NBA,” she says. “We changed out most of our leadership team, and so we went from no women or people of color in permanent leadership positions to 50% women and 50% people of color. Our workplace promises every voice matters and everybody belongs. And so that’s what we established. And every day we try to just get better and better.”

a very valuable lesson—even with the skills that I have, the success that I’ve had—that it all came from Him, and He is in control. I’ve learned bad things do happen to good people. So we have to accept adversity, and never give up, and let the Lord guide us through it.”

The difficulties the executive has faced haven’t diminished her faith in an all-powerful God, but have instead strengthened it as only hardship can do. “There are times in our lives where He will let us know He is truly in charge,” she says. “And when He brings us through it, we can’t point to anybody else because there is no doubt that He brought us through it. He had a plan all along.”

Adapted for print from the Jesus Calling Podcast, where you can hear more of Cynt’s amazing personal story! Just put your phone in Camera mode, and hover over this code.

When talking about her team, Cynt Marshall shines with the joy of someone who considers herself blessed to lead. But professional successes aside, it is her deep faith in God that makes her a bright light in the darkness. She’s led out in front in countless areas of business and leadership. And even when those things often prove to be difficult, it is clear that Cynt chooses to place her faith in His promises alone.

Through many personal health concerns, including Stage III colon cancer, Cynt knows the value of leaning on God for strength. “I learned

Cynt’s book, You’ve Been Chosen: Thriving Through the Unexpected, is available at your favorite book retailer today.

Cynt speaking at a press conference for the Dallas Mavericks

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With faith in God and standing on His promises, you can truly thrive— not just get through it.

PROVIDING REFUGE IN A SPARE ROOM

Emily Chang on Creating Social Legacy

by Lauren Winfield

SOME PEOPLE SPEND THEIR DAYS thinking about the number of zeros in their retirement account. Others might be more preoccupied with the snacks they plan to serve at their Super Bowl party. Yet few of us ask ourselves, How do I want to leave the world better than I found it? And who are the people I want to impact?

One rainy night in upstate New York, Emily Chang—CEO of advertising powerhouse McCann Worldgroup China—had a profound experience that changed how she thought about her purpose. She said yes to the still, small voice inside of her that said perhaps it was more important to focus on people instead of just the bottom line. She hasn’t stopped saying yes since.

the United States from Asia. “My young parents didn’t really speak much English, and they were just surviving. They were trying to make a better life for their kids.”

As a young girl, Emily learned the importance of hard work from her parents, who immigrated to

Work ethic and success were at the forefront of Emily’s mind as she grew up with a “push forward, no matter what” mentality. As she stepped into her faith walk during college, Emily slowly began to see a different version of her life, one that allowed for less striving, where she could enjoy a grace she didn’t have to earn. “It’s a privilege to understand that we can thrive, that we can live in abundance and in joy,”

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When we put God at the center of our lives, everything changes.

she says. “When we put God at the center of our lives, everything changes.”

After a long day of work while she was still in college, Emily had an opportunity to see what would happen if she put God at the center. “I saw a person on the side of the road and it was a rainy night,” she remembers. “My vision was kind of blurry and my immediate reaction was to lock my door.”

Emily overrode the ingrained reaction and took a closer look. She saw a child huddled on the side of the curb in sleeting rain. “I sat there as the light turned green. All I kept thinking was, I have so much to do. All I want is some chicken soup. I should drive home. But I couldn’t get myself to step on the gas.”

needed a place to feel loved and restart their lives.

“I think every time you say yes, it strengthens your faith and your conviction,” she says. “So the next time you say yes, you do it a little less fearfully. And the time after that, you do it with anticipation.

The executive’s faith propels her to move beyond the comfort of her boundaries and think about how she can leave her community better than she found it, a concept she calls social legacy. “A legacy simply means you’re leaving something better than you found it. And isn’t that our calling? We should leave every person we meet better than we found them. More joyful, more at peace, feeling valued, recognized, respected. And social defines the space in which we want to have that impact.

Instead, she took the child to a diner down the road and as they were finishing up their meal, Emily realized she couldn’t leave the girl out on the street. She stayed at Emily’s apartment for what would end up being four months. And in the twenty-two years that followed, Emily housed seventeen children who

“You know, I don’t think we should ever glorify ourselves and talk about how great we are, because in all reality, there’s nothing great about me. It’s only when I put myself aside and let God do what He has to do that something great can happen. And now, when I have the opportunity to say yes, I cannot wait to see what God’s going to do with it.”

Adapted for print from the Jesus Calling Podcast. You can hear more of Emily’s story when you put your phone in Camera mode and hover over this code.

Emily’s book The Spare Room is available at your favorite book retailer.

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Every time you say yes, it strengthens your faith and your conviction.

Emily speaking at the TEDx Conference

CHRIS TOMLIN

by Laura Neutzling

CHRIS

TOMLIN KNEW from a very young age that he wanted to connect in meaningful ways by playing and singing music.

A self-proclaimed “sensitive guy” dating back to his childhood, Chris remembers a quiet moment as an eighth grader, when he found himself speaking a prayer that he wouldn’t fully understand until later: “You’re the Creator of all things. What am I supposed to say to You?” he began. “But God, whatever You want for the rest of my life, I’m available. And I will follow You.”

Growing up in the small Texas town of Grand Saline (home to the Morton Salt Mine, established by the famous table salt brand), Chris’s early years were filled with the common beats of a typical childhood— Little League, family dinners with his parents and two brothers, church every Sunday. Chris’s dad worked at a pharmacy, but also owned a little guitar shop. His love for classic country artists like Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, and Waylon Jennings wasn’t lost on Chris, who also loved the iconic country stylings of the genre’s biggest legends.

The shared love of music was a beautiful connection between father and son, but back then, Chris’s world still revolved around summer breaks and playing baseball. When he was about ten years old, Chris was sidelined with a case of mono and told by the family doctor that he couldn’t play baseball for an entire summer.

“My dad said, ’All right, you’ve got to do something since you’re in the house all day. I’m gonna teach you how to play guitar,’” Chris recalls. “So every morning he would mark the strings and the notes on the guitar and then go to work, and I would just sit and work on it. Then he’d get home, and we’d be like, ’What’s the next thing?’”

Before long, Chris was playing in school talent shows and at church. But his motivation wasn’t to perform for an audience who would just watch and listen. He found more joy when people sang right along with him.

“I had never heard the term ‘worship music’ before,” Chris remembers, “but I realized, Wow, I just want people singing.”

He put his hand to writing music and lyrics he thought others would sing with him, just as they did in his performances. The deliberate way

Chris was connecting to people with music—and ultimately leading them to connect with God through his songs—caught the attention of another touring musician at his church. When Chris was still in high school, a man named James called the young musician to see if he wanted to help during setup for one of James’s shows, and also sell tapes in a nearby Texas town where he would be appearing.

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Seeing how God put all the pieces together has been pretty amazing.

Chris agreed. And while he was getting the tapes ready to sell in the back, he heard a voice from the stage calling him up. Before he knew it, James had asked him to close the show with a song of his own. Suddenly in front of a big audience of people he really didn’t know, Chris managed to get through a song, but walked away thinking he was too nervous to have done very well and that would be the last of that.

Chris practicing guitar as a young boy

To his surprise, that appearance led to an invitation to perform at a week-long youth retreat and this time, knowing full well he still didn’t really know what he was doing, he came as prepared as he could. When the week ended, the leader of the event would confirm the feeling Chris had as a boy: that he would soon connect with people in a much bigger way.

“You have no idea how God is going to use your songs in the world,” the man said.

It was a defining moment in the life of the young songwriter, and he began in earnest to work on more songs and play in more churches where his music was starting to catch on. “God was just opening up doors in incredible ways,” says Chris. “It definitely wasn’t anything I could have planned or dreamed up. Seeing how God put all the pieces together has been pretty amazing.”

first nationally released solo project) and fostered a spiritual awakening in the United States and around the world.

In the years since, Tomlin has become one of the most decorated artists of the worship genre, with 28 GMA Dove Awards, a GRAMMY, and two RIAA certified platinum albums to his name. In 2016, he was named one of only four artists ever to receive the Sound Exchange Digital Radio Award for over 1 Billion digital radio streams, alongside Justin Timberlake, Pitbull, and Garth Brooks. TIME Magazine has declared Chris is likely the “most often sung artist in the world,” given that an estimated 20–30 million people sing his music each week in churches around the globe.

One of the pieces God put together was the moment the rising musician met the famed pastor Louie Giglio, who was then leading Bible studies that Chris, fresh from his college graduation at Texas A&M, attended. The two found they both had a desire to be available for what God had for them, and decided to join forces to connect people to God. When they founded Passion Conferences in 1997, the first conference drew thousands of college students and became so popular that over the next decade, they produced worship albums (including Chris’s

Clearly, Chris is connecting with all kinds of audiences, which has allowed him entry into other genres—like country music, once so beloved to him and his dad. As he talks about his 16th album, Chris Tomlin and Friends, Chris gives all the credit to God for bringing together some of the best voices in country like Thomas Rhett, Florida Georgia Line, and Brett Young, who wanted to sing along with him.

“Talk about full circle of my dad putting a guitar in my hand saying, ‘It’s country music or nothing!’” Chris says with a laugh. “And then here I am, making this music, when all I was trying to do was write songs of worship. To see how that’s influenced people is something I never would’ve dreamed.”

As people all over the world continue to sing Chris’s most resonant songs like “How Great Is Our God” or “Good Good Father,” Chris is still inspired to create music that brings people together to be in relationship with God. His 17th album, which released at the end of 2022, is another project designed to point people toward God, simply titled Always

“I love the word always,” Chris says. “When you think about how powerful that one word is, you

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To see how my music has influenced people is something I never would’ve dreamed.

Summer camp in Chris' college days, 1994

know there aren’t a lot of things in this world that are always most things fail. And the scripture says, “There is an eternal song and everlasting song, and that song is ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.’ That’s what it’s about for me. Even when we are faithless, God is not. And I love pointing people to that ‘always’ kind of God.”

Behind the Scenes

CHRIS TOMLIN HOSTS JESUS CALLING TV SHOW SEASON 3

Chris Tomlin recently joined the Jesus Calling Stories of Faith TV show as host of Season 3, airing on UPtv in March 2023. CHECK

Adapted for print from the Jesus Calling Podcast

Chris, his wife Lauren, and their daughters

Chris with production team and film crew

Becoming a Better Version of Yourself Every Day

Chris and Nik Nikic Prove that Small Steps Make a Big Difference

by Lauren Winfield

WHEN PARENTS LEARN they’re expecting a child, they begin to dream of who their children will be. Will they like to read, or play sports? Will they become a nurse, an astronaut, a CEO?

When Nik Nikic and his wife Patty welcomed their son Chris in 1999, they were shocked when doctors told them some unexpected news: their baby boy had Down syndrome.

“Embarrassingly, we didn’t know anybody with Down syndrome at the time, and we didn’t know much about it,” Nik admits. ”So our dream of seeing our son do amazing things dissipated.”

The messages of the world seemed to confirm their belief, telling them not to expect much from their child. Even so, Nik and Patty tried to give Chris a full life. They sent him to school, watching him grow up alongside his peers. But by the end of high school, Nik and Patty noticed that Chris was gaining weight and falling into more isolation. Nik’s fears, exacerbated by the stereotypes he’d heard about the futures of kids with Down’s, seemed to be becoming a reality. “We’d heard that after most individuals with Down syndrome finish high school, all of their friends and peers go on to college, careers, marriage, and kids,” Nik remembers, “and that was usually the end of the road for them.”

But Nik was determined he could help Chris by creating community for him—and he embarked on a plan to get him out of the house, start moving, and find new friends while they both got in shape.

The father-son fitness journey started at Lucky Lake Shore, an open

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Everybody, no matter what their means are, can achieve amazing things.

water swimming area near their home in the Orlando area. They started slowly, just walking the length of the swimming area. Chris slowly pushed himself to do a little more each day and, after a year and a half, he was completing fourteen-mile sprint triathlons.

One of those training days, Chris reached the far wall of the lake and wrote, “Chris, World Champion.” Nik wanted Chris to explain a little more. “I asked Chris why he wants to be a world champ, and he just said, ’I want to be a world champ.’” I said, “Well, buddy, one way you could be a world champ is if you do an Ironman, because no one with Down syndrome has ever done that.” He said, “Okay, let’s do it!”

From there, Nik and Chris formulated a plan. Nik helped him lay the foundation of a “1% mindset,” meaning all Chris needed to do to succeed was just get a little better every day. “That mindset changes everything,” Nik says. “It took a year and a half to build that mindset for Chris at first, but then it only took another year to go from fourteen miles to 140 miles, because then the compounding effect kicks in and momentum kicks in. You have a strong foundation, and then success becomes easier and easier, because you’re just adding a little bit more.”

Chris explains how he got 1% better every day. “I started with one push-up, sit-up, and squat, and then, I was at 200. And by February, I’ll be doing 500.”

“And how many do you do now?” his father asks.

Chis beams. “380!”

And in November 2020, Chris became the first person with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman, also landing him in the Guiness World Book of Records

It’s an achievement that’s not only changed Chris’s life, it’s changed his father’s entire perspective on what people are capable of. “Everybody, no matter what their means are, can achieve amazing things, whether it’s work, or education, or a better marriage, or whatever it is,” he declares. “It’s just about becoming a better version of yourself every day. We just ask every day that God gives us the understanding of

His will for our life, that He helps us to see it, and then helps us to have the strength to pursue it with joy and with happiness, and with all of our gifts that He’s given to us. Chris did it. So can you.”

Adapted for print from the Jesus Calling Podcast, where you can hear more of Chris and Nik’s inspiring story! Just put your phone in Camera mode and hover over this code to listen.

Chris and Nik’s book 1% Better is available at your favorite book retailer today.

FROM LEFT: Chris competes with his guide, November 2020

by Lauren Winfield

DOTS

“THERE’S A QUOTE THAT SAYS , ’Sometimes we can’t see the picture when we’re in the frame,’” says former NFL player turned motivational speaker Inky Johnson (leave it to a professional motivational speaker to find the perfect quote). “When I was ’in the frame’ for three years, it was hard to step outside and see the bigger picture. But when I did, I could see how God was guiding me all along.”

That “frame” the former college athlete is referring to? The moment he suffered a career-ending injury that would paralyze his right arm—but never, as he says, his work ethic, his dedication, or his heart.

Inquoris “Inky” Johnson grew up in inner-city Atlanta and, “at an early age,” he says, “I had this dream to make it to the NFL. I was coming up in a two-bedroom house with fourteen of us living there. My cousins and I slept on pallets. And I remember I’d get out of school, play tackle football in the street, and people saw pretty quick that, ’Man, that cat Ink, he’s got some talent.’”

It was that talent and tenacity that landed Inky a scholarship to play for the University of Tennessee, where he became a starter, broke school records, and decided to graduate in three years and reach the NFL.

Though he wasn’t looking for spiritual guidance, during Inky’s freshman year he was approached by James Mitchell, the UT football team’s chaplain. “He said, ’I want to disciple you, I want to help you grow. The same way you study your playbook, I want to help you grow in your relationship with Christ,’” Inky remembers. “I was like, ’Cool. Would you mind if I get some of my roommates so I can have a level of accountability?’ So we went through this discipleship with James Mitchell, and spiritually, it changed our lives.”

Little did Inky know, this spiritual foundation would help him move through one of the hardest periods of his life.

On September 9, 2006, during the fourth quarter of the Vols’ second game of the year, Inky went to make a routine tackle. “But something different happened,” he remembers. “When I made the tackle, it seemed as if every breath in my body left. I fell to the ground. I blacked out. I was like, I can’t move.”

Inky was rushed into emergency surgery, and

when he woke up, he learned he had ruptured an artery and torn the nerves in his right arm’s brachial plexus. In short, he’d lost use of the arm, and his career and dreams of football were over.

The first couple of years after his injury, robbed of the path he’d been charting since childhood, Inky struggled to find a way forward. But after a few years, he made a life-altering discovery: thanks to his discipleship journey with James, he was spiritually able to handle what had happened to him. And maybe, just maybe, God could use that closed door to the NFL to open a different one.

Nearly seventeen years after his injury, Inky is a husband, a father of two, an entrepreneur and author. He earned a Master’s in Sports Psychology from the University of Tennessee, and he’s one of the most sought-after speakers in the world; his client roster includes Fortune 500 corporations like Coca-Cola and Bank of America, along with college and professional sports teams like the New England Patriots and the Chicago Cubs. And no matter where Inky shares his story of persistence and ability to embrace change, his message is changing lives—just like a faith-filled chaplain changed his so many years before.

something you can’t understand, don’t try to understand it. Just survive it. Survive the adversity, survive the uncertainty. And then when you get to a place of peace, you can go back and connect the dots, and you’ll see where God was working all along.’”

To learn more about Inky Johnson, visit his website at inkyjohnson.com.

“When we go through things in life, I think the natural reaction is we want to understand it, like, Hey, God, why am I going through this? But some of the greatest forms of growth happen in uncertain moments. I often tell people, ’When you go through

Inky “Spills the Ink”

3 WAYS TO LEVEL UP YOUR LIFE TODAY

1. Get a Journal. For me, journaling helps me put things into perspective every single day. It helps me put on my armor and get the day started. And don’t forget: perspective drives performance.

2. Stop being driven by reward. Just work. And if you don’t get what you thought you were going to get, show up and still go to work. Along the way, what’s more important: what you acquire, or who you become?

3. Get you some authentic people around you.

Stop running around with cats who just want to take a picture for Instagram. Because if your marriage is on the rocks, you can’t call them. If your daughter’s in rehab, you can’t call them. Get some cats you can call when you’re going through something, so they can say, “I’ve got you and I’ll pray for you.”

Adapted for print from the Jesus Calling Podcast. Put your phone in Camera mode and hover this code to hear more of Inky’s story!

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Some of the greatest forms of growth happen in uncertain moments.

An exclusive excerpt from Sarah Young’s all-new, 365-day prayer devotional Jesus Listens

January 8

God, my Refuge,

Help me not to dwell on the past . I can learn from the past, but I don’t want it to be my focus. I know I cannot undo things that have already occurred, no matter how hard I try. So I come to You and pour out my heart —remembering that You are my refuge , worthy of my trust at all times .

One way I can build up my confi dence in You is to tell You frequently: “I trust You, Lord.” Speaking these affi rmations of trust brightens my day immensely—blowing away dark clouds of worry. You are always doing a new thing! So I’ll be on the lookout for all that You’re accomplishing in my life. Please open the eyes of my mind and heart so I can see the many opportunities You’ve placed along my path. And protect me from falling into such a routine way of living that I see only the same old things—missing the newness.

I’m learning that You can make a way where there appears to be no way. With You all things are possible!

In Your amazing Name, Jesus, Amen ISAIAH 43:18–19 NIV • PSALM 62:8 NIV • MATTHEW 19:26 NASB

EXCERPTED FROM JESUS LISTENS , COPYRIGHT 2021 BY SARAH YOUNG. USED BY PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Opening Doors for Greater Things

by Pastor Samuel Rodriguez New Season Church Sacramento, California

I’m a native of Pennsylvania in the Lehigh Valley, the old Rust Belt, and I was born in a working class neighborhood. My dad was a MAC truck worker, a UAW guy. My mom was a homemaker. I was raised in a faith-based community saturated with a strong work ethic.

My sophomore year of high school, I was enrolled in several honors courses. I had a meeting with my guidance counselor who looked at me and—in spite of the fact that I demonstrated a commitment to mathematics and science—explicitly stated, “Sam,

your kind of people proceed to the eleventh and twelfth grade for vocational training, which means you’re going to have to choose one of the following careers: auto mechanic or carpentry. Those are the two primary career paths for your kind of people.”

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With God nothing will be impossible.

(LUKE 1:37 NKJV)

I went back home and told my mom, who of course rebuked every single descriptor assigned to me by my guidance counselor. We had a choice: would we be perpetual victims, or would we flip the script and achieve things we hadn’t before in our family legacy?

We decided to proceed in a college preparatory journey, and it enabled us to accomplish what we're currently achieving for the grace of God, by the grace of God, and for His namesake.

Today I’m the lead pastor of New Season Church in Sacramento, the president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, a movie producer, and an author.

Luke 1:37 is the passage that guides me every single day: “With God nothing will be impossible” (NKJV). If we walk with humility and integrity, if we open doors for those who follow us to do greater things, if we understand these opportunities to expand the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth, if our commitment is to be light in the midst of darkness and not just whine about the darkness, these doors will continue to open. And here I am today, by the grace of God, with that corresponding assignment.

Adapted for print from the Jesus Calling Podcast. Put your phone in Camera mode and hover over this code to hear more of Pastor Sam’s story!

Pastor Sam’s book, Persevere with Power, is available now.

TURNING FAILURES INTO G LD

by Michael Scott Overholt

IT’S ONE OF NBA LEGEND Michael Jordan’s most famous pieces of wisdom: “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

His point? Success requires failure, because success is a learning process.

Learning has been and always will be difficult. Arguably, the most difficult part is the limiting belief that mistakes are “bad.” If we take the time to think of how easily we remember our biggest blunders, however, we will realize that what we learned from blunders sticks better than what we seemed to get “right” the first time. Mistakes are crucial to success.

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I’m on a journey that is controlled by something beyond myself.

Few people are more grateful for their mistakes than gold miner Todd Hoffman. Creator of the hit television series Gold Rush and later Hoffman

Family Gold on The Discovery Channel, Hoffman’s original hit show is entering its 13th season as it follows the placer gold mining efforts (think: mining stream beds in illustrations of yore) of families around Alaska and the Klondike region of Canada’s Yukon territory.

But life has not always felt so successful for Todd. He readily admits that, “I’m on a journey that is controlled by something beyond myself—I believe I’m walking hand-in-hand with God. And even though I make mistakes, all things work together for the good of those who love Jesus. I truly believe that.”

Take the year 2009, for example. It was a particularly difficult time in the Hoffman home. Marital struggles and

Discovery Channel’s Todd Hoffman from Gold Rush

depression prompted Todd to cry out to God for “a good idea,” one that was something new to believe in. That new idea came in the form of a gold mining reality television show that he pitched to The Discovery Channel. You could say that the rest is history.

It’s in the riverbed of Hoffman’s history, however, where the nuggets of Gold Rush’s success lie.

In the 1980’s, after an unsuccessful mining experience in Alaska left him broke, Hoffman began to refine his mining methods, searching for more time and cost efficiency as he learned from his mistakes.

Gold mining, apparently, is also a process of trial and error. The average amount of gold mined in a year between 2010 and 2021 was 2,980 metric tons, a value of $180 billion. Sounds like a lot, right? Yet the average annual pay for a gold miner is around $50,000. Weighed against the rising costs of equipment and fuel, operations are prone to going belly-up. The key is developing a knack, a different mining method the competition might not know about. And knacks are learned from failure.

Hoffman’s success-by-failure perspective has anecdotal and scientific support. Henry Roediger, Jr., an expert on memory and learning, observes that Thomas Edison called failure “the source of inspiration” because he “found 10,000 ways that don’t work.” Roediger also cites a French study in which students who were left to believe learning must be errorless consistently scored lower than those who were encouraged to embrace mistakes as a significant part of the process.

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f.

Hoffman’s early losses did nothing to deter him, and he knew he would try it again if he ever got the chance. When gold prices rose after the turn of the century and he needed that “new idea” to believe in, Hoffman approached his dad once more to say, “This is our one chance.”

From a personal development perspective, Hoffman’s philosophy amounts to a growth mindset where one identifies their values and believes they can learn what needs to be learned, provided they don’t give up. “You cannot give up.” Hoffman insists. “You have to keep striving, even when you feel like you’re less than or you have missed the mark. You’re not alone.”

It’s an encouraging perspective from a man who looks for gold in riverbeds, despite frigid temperatures, equipment failure, and the risks associated with prospecting. Because in time, he believes, he’ll hit pay dirt.

Adapted for print from the Jesus Calling Podcast. Put your phone in Camera mode and hover over this code to hear more of Todd’s story.

You have to keep striving, even when you feel like you’re less than or that you have missed the mark.

Todd’s new show Hoffman Family Gold is available now on The Discovery Channel.

Hunter, Jack, and Todd Hoffman

THE MORE Love YOU GIVE, THE MORE YOU GET BACK

Kristin Chenoweth’s Message to Kids and Their Families

➊ “Like a lot of y’all at the beginning of the pandemic, I was going 170 mph and suddenly went down to 0. And I thought, What am I going to do with myself? And then the question became, What am I going to do to show my love? Because we couldn’t touch, hug—all the things we do to show love.”

Kristin Chenoweth is no stranger to the spotlight. The Tony Award-winning actor has charmed audiences for decades in roles like Glinda in Broadway’s Wicked and the Apple TV series Schmigadoon! But as the COVID-19 pandemic set in, and Kristin couldn’t be with the friends and family she loves so dearly, she found herself thinking about ways she could show love that looked different than they ever had before. She shares how she captured her thoughts in her first-ever children's book called What Will I Do with My Love Today?

Love as much as you can every day, and you’ll see.

➌ “In our families, we might not always look the same or talk the same—my parents are engineers and they shouldn’t sing—ever, ever, ever. And I don’t do math. But the more love you put out, the more you get back. It’s a message we need now more than ever.”

➋ “I’m an adopted person. I rescued my dog Thunderpup, and when I was walking her one day during the pandemic, I realized we’re both rescues. We rescued each other.”

You can find Kristin’s children’s book What Will I Do With My Love Today? in stores now.

IMAGES COURTESY OF JOHN RUSSO AND GIAN DI STEFANO

No matter how life has brought us together, adoption means family, and family’s forever.

Making God a Part of Her World

The Little Mermaid’s Jodi Benson Finds Her Voice

by Abigail Nibblett

WHEN JODI

BENSON AUDITIONED for the role of Ariel in Disney’s 1989 animated

The Little Mermaid, she never dreamed she’d actually have a shot at landing the soonto-be-iconic character. But that audition turned out to be one of many times that God would show up in each season of Jodi’s life.

When she was about eight years old, the budding entertainer told her mom she wanted to sing, dance, and act for a living— even though she’d never seen a theater production outside of her hometown of Rockford, Illinois. Little did Jodi know her journey would take her to the highest levels of the craft, beginning with her studies at Millikin University. Jodi fondly remembers how her passion for musical theater ignited while she was in school, and as

she played lead after lead, she began to wonder, I feel like God has given me a certain skill set. Can I go down this path?

Jodi’s next step led her to Nashville, where she started working professionally at only eighteen years old. She was realizing by then that she was given these gifts for a reason, and she wanted to use them to the best of her ability—believing wholeheartedly that He would help her find a way to make a living in the notoriously difficult industry.

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God knew that if I could keep my eyes on Him on a daily basis, then I could trust Him.

Jodi and her now-husband moved first to New York so she could pursue becoming a Broadway performer, then to Los Angeles— despite not having a home or any idea of what their new life would look like. Jodi says even in their uncertainty, “God knew that if I could keep my eyes on Him on a daily basis, then I could trust Him.” And remembering all the times already in her young life when God had shown up before, she took the leap.

Then, in 1987, Jodi landed the role of a lifetime: the melodic, redheaded mermaid adored by fans the world over.

“It just so happened that God’s perfect plan was for me to become Ariel,” she says. “I learned and made a ton of

Jodi beside her commemorative Disney Legends plaque in Burbank, California

mistakes along the way, but as I look back on this journey of thirty-five plus years now, it is truly a ministry. It’s such an honor and such a blessing to have the opportunity to be the voice of Ariel, but also to meet so many amazing fans around the world that get to share their story of what Ariel means to them and how they grew up with this character.”

Throughout the years, as Jodi has become synonymous with Ariel, she prays every morning for ways she can be the salt and light in each interaction she has with her fans, using Jesus Calling to get into scripture each day as well (“The days when I don’t, it makes a difference!” she quips). Reflecting on her career—which has included voicing Barbie in the Toy Story franchise and becoming one of a few performers given the status as a Disney Legend—she’s verklempt. “If He showed me at seventeen or at twenty-one or at twenty-five things that were five

years in advance,” she says, “He knew I wouldn’t be able to handle it. That’s how gracious and loving and kind He is.”

As she’s entering her next stage, Jodi’s recognizing the beauty of trusting God in all of life’s uncertain moments, because it gives Him an opportunity to shine through us to reach others. “I’m becoming more and more comfortable with the fact that I do not have it all together, because then the focus gets shifted, especially with other people who are looking at me because of what I do for a living. I want to make sure the focus is on the One who lives and breathes and works through me.”

Adapted for print from the Jesus Calling Podcast, where you can hear Jodi share more about her incredible journey. Just put your phone in Camera mode, and hover over this code.

Jodi’s book Part of My World is available now at your favorite book retailer.

PAULA FARIS Finds Freedom in a Higher Purpose

by Cynthia Stuckey

IN A WORLD WHERE INFLUENCE and accolades are admired, Paula Faris has recently found freedom in a higher purpose—after enduring a season of change she never saw coming.

As an ABC News reporter in 2017, Paula was at the apex of her career. Always the incessant questionasker, her natural curiosity led to a coveted anchor position on Good Morning America Weekend and a cohost for The View, learning and sharing the stories of others. “There’s something unique that we each hold

in our own story,” Paula says, “and I want to help pull that out of other people.”

But it was Paula’s own story that soon took a sharp directional shift. At the height of a flourishing career, the broadcaster sensed God asking her to slow down. Her initial response was one of disbelief, a refusal to walk away from what she felt was her calling. But soon, Paula found her grip easing on the life she thought she knew. She found herself suffering a miscarriage, followed by an emergency surgery.

Next came a concussion, a major car accident, and several illnesses—all within seven months of each other. Devastated but yielded, Paula walked away from both GMA and The View only to feel that she had also left behind her identity.

“God allowed me to struggle, but He allowed me to discover what my true purpose was,” she says of that trying time. “I had to find out who I was outside of what I did. I liken it to when God asked Joshua to take down the city of Jericho, and He asked Joshua to circle the city seven times. I think so often we’re in this circling phase, where we know there’s something on the other side and we just want to take down the city. These holding patterns can be the most painful and the most monotonous times, but they produce the most growth. They’re painful, but the pain is going to produce a promise. The pain is going to produce a blessing. The pain is going to produce something that we could never have imagined.”

The days of uncertainty that drew Paula closer to Jesus greatly strengthened her relationship with Him. The desire to be in constant conversation with God is one of many blessings she has recently experienced, and it was through this sharpened spiritual eyesight that Paula began to have a vision for her next adventure.

A renewed mission to share a different vein of stories has led Paula to new spaces where she is able to use her vast journalistic experience to share conversations through a faith-based lens. She gushes gratefully for the opportunity to share hope with others. “I continue to trust God even when I feel like I’m circling. It’s proven to me that God exists not just in my heart, but in my mind. And because of that, I cannot separate myself from it. I know without a doubt that Jesus is real to me. And He can be real for you as well.”

Adapted for print from the Jesus Calling Podcast, where you can hear more of Paula's story. Just put your phone in Camera mode, and hover over this code.

Paula’s book Called Out is available at your favorite book retailer today. And follow her on social media to see the latest stories she’s sharing!

The Faris Family

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God allowed me to struggle, but He allowed me to discover what my true purpose was.

Try Your Hand at Journaling!

Take a quiet moment to think about what God might be showing you in your seasons of change. With pen in hand, answer the questions below.

1. Have you ever encountered a “fork in the road” moment, where you didn’t know which path to take? How did God show up for you in that season?

2. Have you ever experienced a season of struggle the way Paula did, or a “holding pattern” season she describes? What was the hardest part of living in that season? Did you experience the outcome you were hoping for?

3. Was there an unexpected blessing that came from your season of waiting, or your season of change?

MORE YOU ARE MORE THAN YOUR SCARS

America’s Got Talent finalist Kechi Okwuchi lives to tell a story she never asked for

At sixteen, Nigerian native Kechi Okwuchi was one of two survivors of a plane crash that claimed the lives of fifty-nine of her high school classmates and friends. Now 32, Kechi’s will to survive and her subsequent journey toward becoming a finalist on America’s Got Talent, as well as becoming an advocate for burn survivors and for victims of bullying, was driven by the desire to do something meaningful with her life. She told her story to The Jesus Calling Magazine.

THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED on December 10th, 2005. It was a routine flight students take at the end of every semester to get home. Everything was fine until about fifteen minutes left in the flight, when the pilot announced we would be landing soon. That’s when the turbulence started.

I was like, This is turbulence. It happens when you fly. It’s not a big deal. But then it started to get really, really bad. And it wasn’t until a lady screamed from the back of the plane . . . there was this scream, and that just caused chaos. Everyone just started screaming.

I remember sitting there, not screaming, just kind of staring in shock and thinking, This isn’t happening. Is this real?

I held my friend’s hand in the aisle seat next to mine, and her eyes were just wide and glassy. She was like, “What do we do?”

And I just remember speaking in this faraway voice that didn’t even sound like me: “I don’t know, maybe we should pray.”

Then just . . . blackness. Just nothing.

Five weeks passed. I opened my eyes, and I was in the hospital, waking up from a coma. I had sustained third-degree burns on over

sixty-five percent of my body. And I was one of two survivors.

Those early days of recovery were definitely the most difficult time of my life. It’s hell physically, trying to recover from burn injuries. I got to a point where something had to come from inside me to survive this thing. The more I was alive, the more I wanted to prove that I could stay alive, that I could do this. I could overcome this. “

Kechi’s Anti-Bullying Work

I got to another point when I realized the parents of my friends and classmates were praying for me. They saw hope in my life. I wanted to show them that I wasn’t going to take this life for granted. I was going to live this life well and make it mean something.

Fast forward to 2017. I’m in the US working on my MBA, and I got a phone call from America’s Got Talent.

One of my best friends had signed me up without saying anything to me. So when I got that call, I was like, God, look, I don’t know what You’re trying to do. I don’t know what this is going to amount to, but thank You for this experience.

I moved on to the next stage and the next, and ended up in the finals. I didn’t care about winning—I had so much gratitude that I made it that far, that now I had this platform where I could use my story and my voice to inspire people, and the world seemed like they were interested in hearing from me.

I believe we are all born with the capability to overcome whatever life throws at us.

Every scar isn’t as obvious as mine. But in your hard moments, I want you to glance down at your scars and remember the other hard moments you’ve overcome already, the ones that seemed like mountains at that time. And if you think about that, then you realize at different stages of your life, you had the amount of strength you needed to overcome what it was. And after you did, that strength doesn’t disappear—it stays there. It’s still with you. And so is God.

Adapted for print from the Jesus Calling Podcast. Put your phone in Camera mode and hover over this code to hear more of Kechi’s incredible story.

Being a bullying prevention advocate is something that has always been important to me. When we first moved to America, my little sister, who was six at the time, experienced incredible amounts of bullying at school. It was such a struggle, because she just wanted to feel like she belonged somewhere. She’s perfectly fine now, but that was a hard season.

So I work with Be Strong and the United Youth Foundation. We teach kids how to tackle bullying in whatever form they experience it. And we also educate kids who may not be going through bullying personally to be part of the solution. Because it’s not just about the person who’s been bullied—it’s also about the people who see it happening and don’t do anything about it. So that’s really what my focus is.

We are all born with the capability to overcome whatever life throws at us.

Actor Dean Cainʼs Most Heroic Role Yet:

FATHERHOOD

by Michael Scott Overholt

“JUST BE THERE.”

That’s the advice actor Dean Cain, best known for his role as Superman in the ’90s television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, gives to fellow parents. Be there. Be present. Be near.

There’s a scene from Lois & Clark that Cain may have taken his cue from. After the two have been dating for a while, Lois expresses concern that Clark’s Superman persona is changing him. How, after all, can someone live two lives and not have one role detract from the other? Clark’s response is iconic: “Superman is what I can do. Clark is who I am.” “

For Cain, a single parent, “being there” meant he’d let go of any project that kept him from playing an active role in his son Christopher’s life. Because his parenting values transcended career values, the actor admits he felt “very limited in the projects I could take, the roles I could play.” A television series after his son was born was simply out of the question because, as he says, “I would not risk not being with my son.”

But upholding this value wasn’t easy, even for Superman. There were bills to pay. “I was offered a series where I would have been one of the highest, if not the highest paid actor in television in the one-hour field. But I would’ve had to move to Vancouver.”

That dichotomy is exactly what Cain employed as a father in Hollywood: acting is what I can do; being a present father is who I am.

I would not risk not being with my son.

It would’ve been easy to rationalize spending a few months away on set to shore up the coffers. Wouldn’t he be doing this for his son? Isn’t that financial stability what he would’ve needed?

But Cain refused, choosing instead to believe God would provide for him if he took another path. And the fruits from this choice, choosing to stay present with his son, are most evident when Cain made the movie God’s Not Dead while his son was in high school. “The whole school went to watch it,” he remembers, “and the kids knew me because I was around, and I coached. I was always there.”

And that job in Vancouver? It would’ve turned into six years.

That sense of gratitude permeates the way that Dean reflects on his father’s presence in his life, and it’s with that same attitude of gratefulness that he aims to be present in his own son’s life.

“He’s my favorite human being in the world. He’s 21 years old, running around being a college kid, doing what you’re supposed to do. When I see him turning down the wrong way a little bit, I still have to give some dad advice and try to guide him back in. But I’m just thankful to see I’ve raised a wonderful kid and a very positive human being. I’m just so grateful.”

From Cain’s own life, there appear to be two sources that inspire his parenting. His adoptive father’s example is one.

Cain’s father, the respected director and writer Christopher Cain, played a pivotal role in his early years. When Cain’s mother Sharon Thomas, an actress, moved to Hollywood from Detroit, she met and married Christopher, who adopted four-year-old Dean and helped direct his life.

“If I didn’t have my dad, I would’ve made so many wrong turns,” the actor says. “He corrected my journey sometimes with a firm hand, sometimes with a harsh word, but I needed both. Over time, I realized where I would be without my dad: nowhere.”

The second source that inspires Cain’s parenting is his gratitude practice, spurred on by a faith that came to him later in life. “It wasn’t until my son was born when I was in my thirties that faith really hit home. I think being a parent changes you, because you’re no longer the most important thing. So every day, I wake up and think of five things to be thankful for. And I’ll thank God for those five things before I start any part of my day."

To learn more about Dean’s latest projects, follow him on social media.

Adapted for print from the Jesus Calling Podcast. Put your phone in Camera mode and hover over this code to hear more of Dean’s story.

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Over time, I realized where I would be without my dad: nowhere.

Dean with his son, Christopher in Los Angeles

Tovares and Safa Grey lead the ministry Godly Dating 101, where they help others discover they don’t have to get married to have worth, but if a romantic relationship is something they’re looking for, God has some advice on how to cultivate one with wholeness and contentment. They talked with The Jesus Calling Magazine team about their new book, also called Godly Dating 101.

JC Magazine: Congratulations on your new book! Can you tell us why you wrote it?

Tovares Grey: We’re trying to show people that God is concerned about the stability of your relationship. I started the Godly Dating 101 ministry almost ten years ago as a single man trying to learn how to date God’s way and help others on that journey as well.

Navigating the dating world as a Christian isn’t easy. Today, my wife Safa and I share a passion to help people find their worth in Jesus alone, and we’re blessed to help others using what we’ve learned in God’s Word and our own experience.

JCM: You two have been married about six years. How has your own dating story influenced your desire to reach others through Godly Dating 101?

TG: Even though we both grew up in church, we didn’t know how to have relationships, because so much of our lives were driven by culture, by what

society was doing. But when you look at scripture, you realize God has a better plan for dating and marriage. There’s so much truth in God’s Word around friendships, dating, and marriage, about boundaries and having purposeful relationships.

JCM: What would you tell someone who’s asking if the person they’re dating is “the one” God has for them?

TG: One thing I tell people is “don’t rush the relationship.” There are some people who desire a marriage because everyone else on your timeline is married. We’re so focused on what everyone else is doing that we’re not worried about, like, God, what do you want me to do right now?

Safa Grey: My advice would also be don’t put God in a box. I think a lot of times we have this idea of who we want to be with based on our own personal standards, not necessarily biblical standards. To be honest, I didn’t consider Tovares as someone I could marry for a few reasons: I said I’d never want to marry someone in the military. I never wanted to be with someone remotely younger than me, even if it was two days, and Tovares is a year younger than me. So I had all these ideas in this box that I’d built, and I had to put that aside and say, God, who do You have for me? At the end of the day, the person I’m supposed to marry should be someone I can grow with and someone that I can worship and glorify You with. So don’t limit God to your idea of who you think you should be with.

Tovares

Adapted for print from the Jesus Calling Podcast. Put your phone in Camera mode and hover over this code to hear more relationship advice from Tovares and Safa!

JCM: Being in the dating pool can feel so frustrating. Do you have any encouragement for someone who feels they may never meet the right person?

SG: There’s beauty in being single, and that needs to be addressed more. We want to let people know, especially in church, that you don’t have to rush the process.

AG: You have worth outside of any relationship. If you feel like you have to lose your identity in order to maintain a relationship, then that relationship is not from God. And as the church, we need to make sure we’re doing everything to bring out gifts in people, married or single. You haven’t “arrived” once you’re married. God sees something special in you now.

Tovares and Safa’s book, Godly Dating 101, is available at your favorite book retailer today.

Safa and

Grey on their Wedding Day

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You haven’t “arrived” once you’re married. God sees something special in you now.

SERVING GOD THROUGH THE WHAT-IFS

by Susie McEntire-Eaton, host of the Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer YouTube series

DO YOU EVER GET tired of hearing the way God works things together for His good? I sure don’t. Every time someone tells me a story like this, I consider it a privilege. That’s especially true of the two gentlemen I got to meet recently, when I was hosting one of my favorite gigs I get to do: the Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer YouTube series.

Walter Hooker and Andy Kopp are pastors at the Bellevue Christian Center in Bellevue, Nebraska. And fun fact, they’ve known each other for decades: years ago, Walter was on staff at the church when he met a new family at one of the services—and that included five-year-old Andy!

Year after year, Andy grew up while Walter continued to serve. Eventually, Andy decided he wanted to become a pastor himself. And he was fortunate

to get a job at Bellevue Christian working alongside Walter.

The lead pastor of the church left in 2019, and the board considered two men to fill the empty spot: Walter and Andy. When the board decided to give Andy the position, many in the congregation disagreed, but the two men stayed resolute that their mutual respect for each other would never, ever change.

And then . . . the pandemic hit.

Then Walter got COVID in December 2020, and his kidneys began to shut down. Soon it became clear that he would need a kidney transplant. And that’s when Bellevue Christian stepped in.

Several church members tested to see if they were a match, but there was someone who shared Walter’s O-positive blood type. In fact, the size and shape of his

kidney seemed to be perfect for Walter, too. That kidney belonged to Andy!

On August 4, 2022, the transplant surgery couldn’t have been smoother—Andy’s kidney was such a perfect match that Walter experienced zero complications.

Their story’s so moving, isn’t it? Go give it a watch on YouTube so you can hear all the miraculous ways God is weaving their story together, and check out our other conversations too. It’s nice to hear some good news now and again, isn’t it? And it’s always nice to see just how great our God is.

Put your phone in Camera mode, and hover over this code to hear Walter and Andy tell their miraculous story— and share it with a friend who’d enjoy it too!

Laura Story Kisses “Normal” Goodbye

by Laura Neutzling

CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN artist Laura Story readily admits that she’s terrible at being “normal.”

You wouldn’t think the writer of beloved worship songs like “Blessings” and “Indescribable” would be grappling over how to be normal. Her extraordinary career, which has netted her a GRAMMY and six Dove Awards, has been anything but average. But that’s not what this artist, wife, and mom is contemplating these days.

“I’m great at being a person of faith until whatever chapter of my story actually requires faith,” Laura says. “I’m great when I have the whole blueprint in front of me.”

When talking about the roots of her faith, Laura says she was “basically raised in the church,” and it’s where she also started to grow musically. But right after her freshman year of college, she went on a mission trip where God got ahold of her heart in a new way.

“I met so many believers who had next to nothing,“ Laura remembers, “but they had Jesus, and they were fine. I thought, Golly, that’s the gospel: the things of this world will come and go, but He’s enough to sustain me, whatever happens.” “

“In Scripture, I began to see that God often calls people to an unknown future. Sometimes His unprecedented work begins by calling us away from what is comfortable and familiar. And it just struck me: God, what if You’re allowing this unprecedented season for an unprecedented work that You’re wanting to do through me? And it really shaped how I began to respond to all of it.”

And that response has Laura leaning into this new season of saying “so long” to normal. And along the way, she’s realized a profound, perspective-shifting truth.

“God didn’t create us for normal. He didn’t create us for these manageable, self-sufficient lives. He created us for extraordinary lives that are completely and utterly dependent upon Him.”

Feeling strongly that she was supposed to reach people through her music, Laura joined a Christian band as a string bass player. For five years, she toured with Siler’s Bald, playing college campuses and youth camps. Eventually, she began to try her hand at writing and penned her first big worship song, “Blessings.”

Through the music and the traveling, the singing to so many people who were hungry for a blessing themselves, Laura began to peel back the covering of her life to find that she wasn’t normal, nor was her faith—and that was okay.

Adapted for print from the Jesus Calling Podcast.

Put your phone in Camera mode and hover over this code to hear more about Laura!

You can find Laura’s memoir So Long, Normal wherever you buy books. And check out Laura’s latest song “Hello Unknown” wherever you stream or buy music.

God didn’t create us for normal.

The Bachelorette’s Cam Ayala on Life After Amputation and Advocating for Others

by Abigail Nibblett

IN THE MIDDLE OF A HARD SEASON , we often can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, much less how God might be working through it all. Thirtythree-year-old Camron “Cam” Ayala found himself in that position last year when a condition he’d battled since childhood left him with an impossible choice: would he continue to face the piercing chronic pain that crippled his right leg, or allow doctors to amputate that leg above the knee?

Born and raised in Houston, Cam grew up with a dream to play in the NBA. But in sixth grade, Cam

was playing summer league basketball when he suffered excruciating back pain. After months of seeking answers and visiting over a dozen specialists, Cam was diagnosed with lymphedema, a condition that causes body tissue to swell when the body’s lymph fluid is unable to properly drain. A disease more common in the United States than AIDS, MS, and Parkinson’s combined, lymphedema largely remains a medical mystery, frustrating people stricken with the disease who require rigorous self-care to relieve pain they feel as they perform mundane daily functions.

But eleven-year-old Cam settled back into life

WHEN OUR LOSS BECOMES OUR GREATEST GAIN

after his diagnosis, accepting the difficulties of his condition while staying eager for the normal activities and rites of passage for a young adult. As the decades passed, Cam found himself ready to pursue a relationship and decided to apply for the 2019 season of The Bachelorette—and made it on the show. And although he was eliminated, he quickly found his appearance had a higher purpose. “I started becoming an ambassador for a nonprofit that helps lymphedema patients, and that’s really where I found my calling. Christ was leading me into this environment of helping patients who didn’t know how to help themselves. God has a way of showing His way if you open your heart and seek that light.”

However, when he still felt agonizing pain after the surgery, doctors eventually discovered the routine procedure wasn’t performed correctly and gave the thirty-three-year-old a heartbreaking choice: a knee revision that would include three more surgeries without the guarantee of a pain-free life, or an aboveknee amputation.

While it would be a major lifestyle adjustment, Cam knew the amputation could take away his chronic pain. He spent the next three months researching, talking to other people who had experienced an amputation, and finding encouragement in a men’s group at church. Eventually, he realized amputation was the way forward—but only if he made the journey with God. “I knew that reigniting my relationship with Jesus was going to be the only way I would make it through this surgery and through the rest of my life,” he admits.

As Cam tried to lead a normal life, he kept experiencing recurring infections in the bone of his right leg, and each infection required surgery. He endured the operation sixteen times in seven years before opting for a total knee replacement in 2021.

When Cam woke up from the amputation, he sat up to look at his missing limb for the first time and felt his body flood with anger and questions like, Why me? But with the support of his pastor, along with his family and friends—and a copy of Jesus Calling to lean on in moments of uncertainty—Cam felt his attitude begin to shift to overwhelming gratitude. “I’m a firm believer that God gives His toughest battles to His toughest warriors. With the loss of a limb is going to come a great gain in what Jesus is going to do with me, and ultimately for other people to bear witness to.”

Since the surgery, Cam’s continued his work as a patient advocate, and learned that it’s okay to grapple with your relationship with God. It’s okay to be angry and to be scared. But ultimately, your pain can be used for a purpose far greater than you’ve ever imagined. “I have an opportunity to use my journey to inspire another individual who’s going through a rough season. Turning everything over to Him has given me clarity, peace, and confidence as I’m navigating this new life of mine.”

You can follow Cam’s life and work on Instagram @camronayala.

parents

Adapted for print from an upcoming episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast.

“

God has a way of showing His way if you open your heart and seek that light.

Cam supported by his sister and

Grandma Home

GrandmaWalkingHome

(and Walking Children Through Grief & Loss)

Grief is a hard emotion to process at any age. But being introduced to grief for the first time can feel overwhelming. In her new picture book Walking Grandma Home, child psychologist and counselor Nancy Bo Flood equips parents and caregivers to help little ones process their big feelings in a healthy and loving way. Here, she shares how families can help children honor the memory of their loved ones.

We honor those we love who have died when we share their stories. So talk about a favorite memory. Begin together with “I remember when . . . ” followed by funny moments or special traditions.

Make a list of the person’s favorites: ice cream, doughnuts, a pet, a song, a baseball team. The child might enjoy creating a poem from this list.

Create a “memory book” together. Follow the child’s lead. Draw pictures. Add photographs. Invite the child to write (or dictate) a few sentences.

Children often don’t want to talk about death, but when they do, be ready to listen. You are giving your child the words and the permission to express their feelings. Throughout, be gentle with yourself, too. It’s not an easy task when you are also grieving.

A child might like a special keepsake that helps them feel close and connected to their loved one. When my grandmother died, my father gave me her favorite shawl.

Walking Grandma Home is available at your favorite book retailer today.

HOST A G a m e N i g h t !

When it’s chilly outside, there’s nothing like gathering your people for a cozy night in! Grab a board game and your favorite snacks—or try one of ours.

MAKE A SNACK TRAY EVERYONE WILL LOVE Play A Word Game!

On a piece of paper, write the letters of the alphabet, then cut them into small squares and put them in a bowl. Have someone draw a letter. Then, set a timer for two minutes and ask each player to write a response to each prompt on a sheet of paper.

When time’s up, each player reads their answers aloud. If no one at the table has that answer, the player gets a point; if an answer matches, those players get zero points for their answer. After everyone has read their answers, draw another letter and play another round (and play as many as you’d like!). Whoever has the highest score at the end of the game wins.

Author of So Much to Celebrate Katie Jacobs knows a thing or two about hosting a gathering with delicious food. Try her tips on creating the perfect snack tray (or charcuterie , if you’re feeling fancy):

I love giant platters of amazing cheeses with lots of goodies to go with them! There’s something for everyone, and the best part? Absolutely no cooking! Try gathering:

• Cured meats, such as salami and prosciutto

• Hard cheeses, such as aged Cheddar and Parmesan

• Soft cheeses, such as goat cheese and Brie

• Crusty bread slices and crackers

• Your favorite fruits, such as grapes and apples

• A ramekin of nuts

• Honey, or your favorite fruit jelly