Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith

The Gift of a Second Chance: Annie Bosko & Danielle Kartes

This week, we’ll hear from Annie Bosko, a country artist whose career was gaining momentum when, in the middle of a live performance, her voice suddenly gave out. What followed was a vocal cord injury that required surgery and months of recovery where she couldn’t speak at all. Annie shares what that season of silence revealed, the people who stepped in to help her rebuild, and how she slowly returned to doing what she loves.   Later, we’ll hear from chef and author Danielle Kartes. After her family lost everything when their restaurant closed, Danielle struggled to rebuild her life and marriage. Though she vowed never to cook again, she was drawn back to the kitchen. Her attempt to reconcile her deep faith with her practical, food-centric work asking, “How does hope relate to pot roast?” became the foundation for her company, Rustic Joyful Food.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast [https://www.jesuscalling.com/podcast/] Jesus Calling [https://www.jesuscalling.com/books/] Jesus Always [https://www.jesuscalling.com/books/jesus-always/] Jesus Listens [https://www.jesuscalling.com/books/jesus-listens/] Past interview: Jordan Smith [https://www.jesuscalling.com/podcast/singing-past-the-silence-jordan-smith-tyler-white/] Upcoming interview: Tim Hawkins [https://timhawkins.net/]   Annie Bosko [https://anniebosko.com/] MusiCares [https://musicares.org/] God Winks [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvMfTwmn_S8] - Song by Annie Bosko California Cowgirl [https://anniebosko.com/pages/music] - Album by Annie Bosko Danielle Kartes [https://www.instagram.com/rusticjoyfulfood/] Rustic Joyful Food [https://rusticjoyfulfood.com/].  The Best Kids Cookbook: 60 Fun and Simple Recipes to Get Kids Cooking [https://www.amazon.com/Best-Kids-Cookbook-Recipes-Cooking/dp/1400251109]- Book by Danielle Kartes   Interview Quotes: “That’s really when your faith is tested the most—when you don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, but you still have to believe that it’s there.” - Annie Bosko “I was forced—because I couldn’t talk, I couldn’t open my mouth and talk to anyone—to get really quiet, to quiet the outside noise, and forced to really dig deep into what I wanted to do next and what I was feeling called to do to next, which I think is really important because the world will pull you a thousand different ways if you don’t have the internal strength, fortitude, direction in here.” - Annie Bosko “I think when everything’s going really well, it’s easy to forget about consulting with God. But when nothing’s going for you, or when you feel like you’re at your wit’s end and you feel really down on all hope, I think that’s when people have to turn to faith the most.” - Annie Bosko “You have to be on the bigger spiritual plan, path, [or] course for your life that doesn’t look like anyone else’s. That’s really important to sort of tune out sometimes even like your own voices of fear, because I really believe that anytime you’re making decisions out of fear, that’s not in love.” - Annie Bosko “I can carry out God’s plan for me, [and] I think at the end of the day, it’s only you and God [that] know how far you can actually go.” - Annie Bosko   “God is still good, and He can still use your story even if it’s broken. God still wants wonderful things from you.”  - Danielle Kartes “When I stopped wanting Him to show up in the way that I thought I needed and allowed God to show up in the way that He needed for my life, everything changed as far as my peace and trusting His provision.” - Danielle Kartes “I think that you can strengthen your family bond and your bond with your children by allowing them into your day. I think that it’s really important to just involve your kids in what you’re doing.” - Danielle Kartes “The more time you spend with the Lord, the more time you make for Jesus, the better you feel, even if your life circumstances aren’t changing.” - Danielle Kartes “God didn’t promise us that it would be easy, but He did promise, “I’m going to be with you every step of the way.” - Danielle Kartes ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 [https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7]  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw [https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw]  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C [https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C]  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj [https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj]  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u [https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u]  What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj [https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj]  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY [https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY]  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jesuscalling/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/JesusCalling/] Twitter [https://twitter.com/Jesus_Calling] Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/Jesus_Calling/?eq=jesus%20calling&etslf=5858] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/Jesuscallingbook?sub_confirmation=1] Website [https://www.jesuscalling.com/] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@jesuscalling?lang=en]     Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

Life’s Frailty and God’s Peace: Amy Grant and Andrew Osenga

This week, we’re honored to welcome back a dear friend of the show—the iconic artist, singer, and GRAMMY winner Amy Grant. Amy joins us to share her heart about her first album of original material in thirteen years, the deeply personal project titled “The Me That Remains.” In this moving interview, Amy opens up about the profound life events that inspired her new music—navigating the tender journey of aging and caring for her parents at the end of their lives, her ongoing recovery from a serious bike accident, and the enduring joy of creating music that she feels grateful to share with the world.   Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Andrew Osenga, a Nashville-based musician, writer, and podcaster. Andrew spent years trapped in the tension between his private doubts and the crushing expectation of performing as a Christian artist. Growing up, image was everything, and he struggled under the pressure to appear “put-together”—even when he felt broken inside. It took devastating loss—including his home flooding, displacing his family, and his wife’s grueling cancer journey—for him to finally break free from performance-driven faith.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast [https://www.jesuscalling.com/podcast/] Jesus Calling [https://www.jesuscalling.com/books/] Jesus Always [https://www.jesuscalling.com/books/jesus-always/] Jesus Listens [https://www.jesuscalling.com/books/jesus-listens/] Past interview: Diane Chew [https://www.jesuscalling.com/podcast/harmony-and-hope-facing-lifes-best-and-worst-moments-with-josh-baldwin-and-diane-chew/] Upcoming interview: Annie Bosko [https://anniebosko.com/]   Amy Grant [https://www.amygrant.com/] The Me That Remains [https://30tgrs.ffm.to/themethatremains] - Album by Amy Grant The Book of Forgiving [https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-book-of-forgiving-desmond-tutumpho-tutu] - Book by Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu The 6th Of January (Yasgur's Farm) [https://youtu.be/jAl05lQm4nQ?si=1sGOSAv-eyY4gtou] - Song by Amy Grant   Andrew Osenga [http://www.andrewosenga.com] How to Remember: Forgotten Pathways to an Authentic Faith [https://www.moodypublishers.com/how-to-remember/] - Book by Andrew Osenga Caedmon’s Call [https://www.caedmonscall.com/] Young Life [https://www.younglife.org/]   Interview Quotes: “Don't ever be afraid to speak the truth of what is right now.” - Amy Grant   “Life is happening to all of us all the time, and we have to be gentle with ourselves and gentle with each other.” - Amy Grant    “I feel like the arts are good medicine for everybody.” - Amy Grant   “We are all part of humanity and we all experience good, hard and unresolved unrest; how do we sit in it and find our way forward?” - Amy Grant   “When [accidents or illnesses] come, you need people in your life to remind you what matters: you are loved by God, and if you’re still breathing, the adventure continues.” - Amy Grant   “Jesus doesn’t want us to pretend. He wants us to be the people He created. He doesn’t love a fake image of me. He loves me.” - Andrew Osenga   “There have been a number of experiences in my life that have helped redirect me towards a more quiet and grounded way of being with God, moving from performance towards presence.” - Andrew Osenga   “The wonderful thing is Jesus doesn’t meet us in our perfection, He meets us in our suffering. Jesus is introduced to us in the Bible as a man of sorrows. And so, it’s not that we have to stay there all the time, knowing that is a part of our story. Being able to be honest about that allows us this freedom to be people of joy rather than having to sort of put on a happy face.” - Andrew Osenga   “We can say that we can hold suffering and joy in both hands at the same time, and I think those are the people that we’re drawn to. And that’s when we can start to speak with an authentic voice. That takes time to learn how to do that, and that takes, honestly, walking through seasons of both suffering and joy to be able to learn how to do that.” - Andrew Osenga   “We live in a culture that prizes things like novelty, speed, and constant reinvention. I think these practices like lament, confession, shared prayer, and silence can be a form of resistance, pushing back against this speed, the hectic life, against the doom scroll.” - Andrew Osenga ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 [https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7]  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw [https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw]  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C [https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C]  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj [https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj]  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u [https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u]  What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj [https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj]  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY [https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY]  ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jesuscalling/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/JesusCalling/] Twitter [https://twitter.com/Jesus_Calling] Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/Jesus_Calling/?eq=jesus%20calling&etslf=5858] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/Jesuscallingbook?sub_confirmation=1] Website [https://www.jesuscalling.com/] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@jesuscalling?lang=en]     Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

[JESUS LISTENS MONTHLY SERIES] God, Help Us Hold Both Sorrow and Hope: Tanner Olson

Author and poet Tanner Olson joins us to share his family’s journey through unexplained infertility and the heartache it brought. Out of that season of grief came unexpected joy—the gift of adoption and the arrival of his son. Tanner reflects on the role of prayer in holding both sorrow and hope, and the childlike wonder he’s learning from his little boy.   Guest’s Links YouTube: @tannerJolson [https://www.youtube.com/@tannerJolson]Facebook: @writtentospeak [https://www.facebook.com/writtentospeak] Instagram: @writtentospeak [https://www.instagram.com/writtentospeak]   Watch this interview on our YouTube channel! https://bit.ly/4p3cPZC [https://bit.ly/4p3cPZC]    ________________________  Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jesuscalling/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/JesusCalling/] Twitter [https://twitter.com/Jesus_Calling] Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/Jesus_Calling/?eq=jesus%20calling&etslf=5858] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/Jesuscallingbook?sub_confirmation=1] Jesus Calling Website [https://www.jesuscalling.com/] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@jesuscalling?lang=en]   *Episode produced by Four Eyes Media* Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

The Loneliness of Addiction: How We Can Show Up With Love ft. Caroline Beidler & Jonathan Tepper

This week, we’ll hear from Caroline Beidler, a speaker and recovery advocate who began using alcohol at just eleven years old to numb the pain of a deep sense of loneliness and not belonging. This led to years of addiction, but even after getting sober, Caroline found she was still wrestling with shame, unhealthy patterns, and wounds that hadn’t healed.   Jonathan Tepper is a founder, author, and strategic thinker whose journey began as the son of missionaries in regions of deep cultural and economic contrast. From his upbringing in Spain by missionaries who sought to help those addicted to heroin, all the way to Taiwan and the high-stakes world of global finance, he has found himself on a search for truth and fairness. Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast [https://www.jesuscalling.com/podcast/] Jesus Calling [https://www.jesuscalling.com/books/] Jesus Always [https://www.jesuscalling.com/books/jesus-always/] Jesus Listens [https://www.jesuscalling.com/books/jesus-listens/] Past interview: Ryan Scheckler [https://www.jesuscalling.com/podcast/addiction-steals-god-heals-ryan-scheckler-and-henriet-schapelhouman/].   Upcoming interview: Amy Grant [https://www.amygrant.com/] Caroline Beidler [https://www.carolinebeidler.com/] When You Love Someone in Recovery, A Hopeful Guide to Understanding Addiction [https://whenyoulovesomeoneinrecovery.com/] - Book by  Caroline Beidler Jonathan Tepper [https://jonathan-tepper.com/] Shooting Up: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Addiction [https://jonathan-tepper.com/publications/] - Book by Jonathan Tepper Mere Christianity [https://www.amazon.com/Mere-Christianity-C-S-Lewis/dp/0060652926] - Book by C.S. Lewis   Interview Quotes: “I had no name for who God was, but at the same time, I just remember knowing that He was there. I just feel like from even an early age, I was seeking that relationship, and I was seeking a connection with God.” - Caroline Beidler    “It wasn’t until I started walking in longer-term recovery that I saw how me showing up as a sober, healthy, growing person impacted people in my life, in my family, who struggled with substance use—just my presence showed people there’s another way to live.” - Caroline Beidler    “Recovery is a deep experience that we can go through, of not just physical healing and emotional healing, but spiritual healing and formation.” - Caroline Beidler    “When our loved ones have hope for us, have hope that we will heal and find addiction recovery, we are more likely to. That is a powerful statement, and that is a powerful way that I think God reveals [that] hope isn’t just some feeling.” - Caroline Beidler  “We know from the research and our own experience that the number one way to help people struggling with addiction is to connect them with people with a similar life experience.” - Caroline Beidler  “Those two pieces—hope and belonging, hope and connection—are so important when we’re talking about how people can heal from addiction, not just themselves as individuals, but as families.” - Caroline Beidler  Addiction kind of breeds and increases and gets stronger and more destructive in isolation. When we can shine some light on what’s going on, that’s where God can come in and that healing can happen.” - Caroline Beidler  “The best thing that families can do when their loved one is struggling is lead with love and lead with compassion.” - Caroline Beidler  “Addiction is a crisis of loneliness, and the way to address it isn’t just through treatment. It’s making sure our loved ones are connected in community.” - Caroline Beidler    “One thing I’ve taken away is that you can be a miserable, greedy person and poor or you can be a miserable, greedy person and rich.” - Jonathan Tepper   “You have to decide every day whether you want to be loving and compassionate. And it doesn’t really matter where you are to do that, as long as you’re doing your best with what you have.” - Jonathan Tepper   “I don’t think heroism is one single great act of courage. I think it’s showing up day to day and trying to show love and compassion to others.” - Jonathan Tepper   “My parents never planned on starting an international drug rehab center, they set out to show love and compassion to one addict at a time. And I think that taking one step at a time is a way that you can change the world, even if you don’t set out to do it.” - Jonathan Tepper ________________________   Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 [https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7]  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw [https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw]  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C [https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C]  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj [https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj]  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u [https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u]  What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj [https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj]  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY [https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY]  ________________________    Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jesuscalling/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/JesusCalling/] Twitter [https://twitter.com/Jesus_Calling] Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/Jesus_Calling/?eq=jesus%20calling&etslf=5858] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/Jesuscallingbook?sub_confirmation=1] Website [https://www.jesuscalling.com/] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@jesuscalling?lang=en] Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

One Prayer Away From Disaster: Butch Wilmore & Brooke Envick

This week, we’re talking with astronaut Butch Wilmore [https://www.butchwilmore.com] who has spent 465 days off-planet, giving him a literally out-of-this-world perspective on God’s creation. From fighter jet pilot to Space Shuttle commander, Wilmore’s career was a testament to preparation and discipline. However, his faith was truly tested when a spacecraft Wilmore was manning began losing thrusters—and he was just a prayer away from spiraling toward potential disaster. Next up, we speak with Brooke Envick [https://www.unk.edu/academics/bt/brooke-envick.php], a veteran dean in higher education, who recounts how achieving every professional milestone left her feeling empty. She discusses combining lessons from neuroscience with practices like gratitude and prayer, revealing how a sudden, debilitating health crisis forced her into a necessary stillness that ultimately paved the way for profound, lasting internal change.   Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned: Jesus Calling Podcast [https://www.jesuscalling.com/podcast/] Jesus Calling [https://www.jesuscalling.com/books/] Jesus Always [https://www.jesuscalling.com/books/jesus-always/] Jesus Listens [https://www.jesuscalling.com/books/jesus-listens/] Past interview: Nikki DeLoach [https://www.jesuscalling.com/podcast/those-gut-feelings-could-be-god-nikki-deloach-and-pat-bradley/] Upcoming interview: Caroline Beidler [https://www.carolinebeidler.com/] Jesus Calling for Moms [https://www.jesuscalling.com/books/jesus-calling-for-moms/] Butch Wilmore [https://www.butchwilmore.com] Boeing Starliner [https://www.nasa.gov/mission/boeing-crewflighttest/] Stuck in Space: An Astronaut's Hope Through the Unexpected [https://www.amazon.com/Stuck-Space-Astronauts-Through-Unexpected/dp/1967496048] - Book by Butch Wilmore Brooke Envick [https://www.unk.edu/academics/bt/brooke-envick.php] True Ascension: Unlocking Greatness Through Faith, Fortitude, and Foresight [https://www.amazon.com/True-Ascension-Unlocking-Greatness-Fortitude/dp/B0FLT3MMLX] - Book by Brooke Envick   Interview Quotes: “You can see the vibrancy, you can see life in the colors. Understanding and knowing that the atmosphere protects the planet and enables us to have the air to breathe that we need, and all of that, and it’s all supplied by our Lord and Savior, our God, the Creator of all things, that is a special thing to view from that vantage point.” - Butch Wilmore   “In all types of strenuous situations that we come through in life—to where realizing the Lord’s in control, He is sovereign, working providentially for His Glory and our ultimate good, if we believe. And that is the mainstay of who I am, what I understand, what I know God’s Word to say. And again, even in those moments, it brings intense comfort and intense hope. There’s always, always, eternal hope, regardless of what takes place.” - Butch Wilmore   “You’ve got to be completely committed, all in, and that commitment breeds the preparation that is required for whatever the tasks are that you’re undertaking, because the responsibility is great, sometimes greater in certain areas than others.” - Butch Wilmore   “I have to come at whatever the task is with a complete mindset of being prepared, disciplined in that preparation, because that’s what it takes—and in those extremist situations, maintaining the focus that’s required to do the task, whatever that might be.” - Butch Wilmore   “Anything that we have, everything that we are capable of doing, everything that we are tasked with doing, He’s given us the ability, and to Him be the glory.” - Butch Wilmore   “Life is tough, and in every situation, everything in life, you have to want whatever it is that’s going forward. You have to want it, you’ve got to be committed, you’ve got to prepare, because the responsibility is great that God requires of us, in all aspects of our lives.” - Butch Wilmore   “God was still shaping me in that moment and it taught me that real change doesn’t always come from moving faster or starting over. Sometimes it actually happens from stopping and listening and allowing God to align your inner life before sending you forward again.” - Brooke Envick   “I found that scripture gave me a lot of insight into broader wisdom and lessons from the Bible, prayer gave me a connection and ongoing conversation with God, and meditation brought alignment to my life. It helped me slow down and focus my thoughts and become more intentional about how I was responding to life, instead of simply reacting to it.” - Brooke Envick   “What we return to consistently is what begins to shape our thought patterns, emotional responses, and also our sense of peace. So when we connect with God daily, we reinforce those neural pathways associated with calm, trust, and meaning. Devotionals like Jesus Calling help us create space for that daily attunement and moments when we need to pause and listen and realign our thoughts with truth and with trust. What I’ve seen in my own life is that daily connection doesn’t remove challenges, but it changes how we move through them.” - Brooke Envick   “Faith isn’t meant to be passive. God gives us direction, purpose, and trust, but He expects us to use the tools He gives us to make progress.” - Brooke Envick   “Faith shapes the why, which is our meaning, our purpose, and our trust in God, and neuroscience reveals the how.” - Brooke Envick ________________________ Enjoy watching these additional videos from Jesus Calling YouTube channel! Audio Episodes:     https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7 [https://bit.ly/3zvjbK7]  Bonus Podcasts:     https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw [https://bit.ly/3vfLlGw]  Jesus Listens: Stories of Prayer:  https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C [https://bit.ly/3Sd0a6C]  Peace for Everyday Life:     https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj [https://bit.ly/3zzwFoj]  Peace in Uncertain Times:     https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u [https://bit.ly/3cHfB6u]  What’s Good?     https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj [https://bit.ly/3vc2cKj]  Enneagram:     https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY [https://bit.ly/3hzRCCY]  ________________________    Connect with Jesus Calling Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jesuscalling/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/JesusCalling/] Twitter [https://twitter.com/Jesus_Calling] Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/Jesus_Calling/?eq=jesus%20calling&etslf=5858] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/Jesuscallingbook?sub_confirmation=1] Website [https://www.jesuscalling.com/] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@jesuscalling?lang=en] Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].