Merely Dust

Session 8: Sanctification—God's Truth Concerning Vanity, Identity, and Uncertainty

In this episode, I lean into the stark reality of this walk with God: it really is a difficult road (and one with quite a few unexpected bends, might I add.) But whether it be hidden idols, delayed schedules, deceptive heart postures, or vain pursuits—God's grace and mercy truly do cover all. Every moment of wrestling and area of struggle is divinely accounted for with the Lord. And though we couldn't possibly see all of the things to come from our own limited vantage points, we can absolutely trust that God is the One who sees and knows all—and we can actively choose to walk in His light. He knows the precise location of our destination, as well as just what paths we will take to get there. Best of all, He knows who we truly are as we go. So, may we learn to lean into the loving presence of our matchless Sovereign God as we walk this difficult path, allowing the Light to lead us. May we cast off the fear of uncertainty, because uncertainty is the fertile soil where faith is grown. And may we let God alone declare the truth of who we are. As always, I pray this is fruitful for all who tune in. With love, A broken vessel for His glory 📖 Scripture Referenced: - Acts 5:1-11 - James 1:5 - Proverbs 1:7 - 1 John 1:5-10 📌 Resources Referenced: - Experiencing God Bible Study by Henry, Richard, and Mike Blackaby (Workbook) - Testament by Angel Studios (Television program) 🎧 Listen & Share: If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend or tag me on Instagram @merelydustpodcast to let me know what stood out.   🙏 Stay connected & grounded in grace. Thanks for being here. Never forget you're not alone in this journey.

Session 7: When Healing Meets Storytelling (A Convo with Trinity Martell)

In this episode, I sit down with author Trinity Martell to talk about her debut novel She Comes from Marai—a story born from healing, honesty, and faith. We discuss the heartbeat of this Spirit-driven tale, a story that chronicles the journey of two girls, Delisa and Kara, who are persistently at odds with one another and themselves. As these very different, yet ironically similar, estranged cousins fight for identity, redemption, and freedom, their story challenges us to embark on our own journey of discovery in finding out all that can happen when we begin to see God rightly and allow His love to reshape how we live, feel, and show up in the world. I invite you to join us as we reflect on what it means to walk with God in truth—whether it be learning how to participate in community healthily, wrestling with the reality of God’s love in action, or boldly bringing into the light what was once hidden by the shadows—and just how we can let His love beckon us into freedom, joy, and restoration for our souls. We pray this is fruitful for all who tune in. With love, Two broken vessels for His glory 📖 Scripture Referenced: - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 - Romans 8:37-38 - Ezekiel 36:26-27 ✨ About the Author: Trinity Martell (AKA my lovely sister) writes from a place of healing, transparency, and faith as she boldly captures the realities of the human experience, which is intricately imbedded into the fabric of God’s divine, loving, and sovereign being. Her upcoming debut novel, She Comes from Marai, tells a story of pain, freedom, and redemption—born from her own journey of walking through the dark to find the light that is Jesus Christ of Nazareth. If the themes of this book discussed today stirred something in you, please do keep up with Trinity and her writing journey by following her on Instagram @thetrinitymartell. Here you will be able to stay updated on Trinity’s debut novel release as well as all her future projects. You can also sign up for Trinity's Newsletter by visiting: https://www.trinitymartell.com [https://www.trinitymartell.com] Believe in this story and want to support my sister financially? Please consider checking out the Google forms link below to purchase an official She Comes from Marai t-shirt. This fundraiser is a collaborative effort with my mom (and her amazing crafting skills) to help my sister fund the release of her debut novel She Comes from Marai: https://forms.gle/4LBg4W1dH8X4tJnb8 [https://forms.gle/4LBg4W1dH8X4tJnb8] 🎧 Listen & Share: If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend or tag me on Instagram @merelydustpodcast to let me know what stood out. 🙏 Stay connected & grounded in grace. Thanks for being here. Never forget you're not alone in this journey.

Session 6: Into the Light (Mini Session)

In this heartfelt episode, I dive into the themes of spiritual blindness, the illusion of flawlessness, and what it truly means to live authentically in the light of God’s love. Let's unpack how the pressure to perform and appear “put together” can actually distance us from the all-sufficient grace of Jesus. I invite anyone listening to confront your own brokenness by relinquishing pride and embracing vulnerability before God; to step out of the dark, where shame and condemnation keep us hidden, oppressed, and controlled, and into the Light, where all of who we are is exposed and made known, allowing for who God truly created us to be to be put on full display. Yahweh is our primary source for real healing. And through this episode, I want to remind myself and my listeners that we can’t earn God’s love through perfection or performance; we simply receive it through surrender. I pray this is fruitful for all who tune in. With love, A broken vessel for His glory 📖 Scripture Referenced: - John 3:20-21 - John 3:19 - Ecclesiastes 1:18 🎧 Listen & Share: If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend or tag me on Instagram @merelydustpodcast to let me know what stood out.   🙏 Stay connected & grounded in grace. Thanks for being here. Never forget you're not alone in this journey.

Session 5: Turning Back Towards the One Who Runs

In this episode, I speak on my personal journey of surrender and the moment I turned from the world and took that first step back home to the Father. I share how, in obedience, I discarded physical items that had become spiritual strongholds—tangible representations of habits I was subconsciously unwilling to let go of. In that act of unfiltered submission, I came face to face with this truth: the only reason I remained in bondage was because I had refused to lay down the chains that Christ had already broken off me. The weight of sin and death had already been carried by Jesus—I just had to stop believing it was mine to bear. That simple (not easy, but simple) act of turning initiated a major shift in my walk with God. I began to understand that He is not repelled by the most wretched parts of me. He doesn't shrink back from my mess—He draws near to it. If that weren’t true, Jesus would never have walked this earth, taken on our sin, and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice. He came for the dirty, sick, and broken. I'm learning that God wants me to surrender even the ugliest parts of myself—to be honest about them, to let go of the grip I have on them because of shame. When I bring my darkness into the light, the Light begins to do what only He can: reveal, remove, refine, and restore. Deliverance, I’ve come to realize, is a process, not a one-time moment. Through constant confession, repentance, and obedience, transformation becomes possible. This episode is for anyone who feels stuck, still wondering if freedom is real. Let this be a reminder: the first step is hard, but it’s not impossible. And this is not a path we walk alone… because the Lord goes before us and with us every step of the way. So, take heart, beloved: though God's love and grace are mysteries we may never fully grasp, they are truths that perpetually rest on us. As always, I pray this is fruitful for all who tune in. With love, A broken vessel for His glory   📖 Scripture Referenced: - Joel 2:12-13 - 1 Samuel 15:22-23   📌 Deliverance Ministers Mentioned: - Deliver Us Ministries of Equip Canada with Darrell & Corrina Dyck Ministers – https://www.equipcanada.org/our-missionaries/biography/darrell-%26-corrina-dyck [https://www.equipcanada.org/our-missionaries/biography/darrell-%26-corrina-dyck]   🎧 Listen & Share: If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend or tag me on Instagram @merelydustpodcast to let me know what stood out.   🙏 Stay connected & grounded in grace. Thanks for being here. Never forget you're not alone in this journey.

Session 4: I Missed the Mark (Mini Session)

Alright y'all, let’s talk about grace, humility, and just how easy it is to miss the mark whilst meaning well. In yesterday’s episode, I shared a lot of truth. Today, however, I need to confess that my heart posture was off. The Lord is showing me that speaking the truth isn’t enough if it’s delivered from a place of pride and self-righteousness.  In this candid follow-up to yesterday’s episode, I open up about how God showed me my heart wasn’t aligned with His, even though my words were. This isn’t just a follow-up, though—it’s a moment of repentance, reflection, and grace. Because even when our words are right, our spirit still matters. I always want to be real about how much I need God’s grace. I don’t want to just “live rightly”—I want to live with a heart that reflects the Father’s. I want to live out loud, without negating humility and honesty. And honestly… I need Jesus every single day.  So, let this be a moment for all of us to pause, check in with our hearts, and ask: Am I more concerned about being and sounding right, or being and sounding like Christ? I pray this is fruitful for all who tune in. With love, A broken vessel for His glory 📖 Scripture Referenced: - Matthew 7:13-14 - Jeremiah 17:9 - Lamentations 3:22-24 - Deuteronomy 8:17-18 - Deuteronomy 9:4-6 🎧 Listen & Share: If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend or tag me on Instagram @merelydustpodcast to let me know what stood out.   🙏 Stay connected & grounded in grace. Thanks for being here. Never forget you're not alone in this journey.