Rise and Shine

Trusting God When He Feels Distant | Psalm 22 & Jesus on the Cross

In this short episode of Rise and Shine, we read through Psalm 22 and reflect on what it means to trust God even in seasons when He feels distant. Psalm 22 begins with deep anguish and the words: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” These are the same words Jesus spoke on the cross. This Psalm is a powerful reminder that even in suffering, pain, confusion, and silence… we can still choose to trust God. Jesus Himself trusted the Father through the cross — through pain He fully understood and suffering we could never imagine. And because of that, we can hold onto hope even when we don’t fully understand what God is doing. If you’re walking through a hard season, feeling discouraged, or struggling to sense God’s presence, this episode is meant to encourage you to keep holding on. God is still faithful — even when we cannot see the full picture. 🔑 In This Episode, We Cover: * Reading through Psalm 22 * Trusting God when He feels distant * Jesus quoting Psalm 22 on the cross * Faith in seasons of suffering * Holding onto hope when emotions feel heavy * Remembering God’s faithfulness even in silence 📖 Main Scripture: Psalm 22 ❤️ The Heart of This Episode Faith is not pretending everything feels okay. Faith is continuing to trust God even when you don’t understand, even when emotions are heavy, and even when He feels far away. Jesus trusted through the cross. And we can trust Him too. ✨ Main Takeaway God’s silence is not His absence. Keep trusting. Keep holding on. He is still faithful. 📲 Follow for weekly Bible encouragement and devotionals: @theriseandshinepodcast @hayleejacob_ 🙏 Subscribe for Scripture-based encouragement and honest conversations about faith.

When You Feel Like Giving Up | God’s Strength in Discouragement

Have you ever felt so discouraged that you just want to give up? Like you’re not good enough for what God has called you to do… Like you keep failing… Or like you’re just too tired to keep going? In this episode of Rise and Shine, Haylee talks honestly about discouragement and how even strong believers experience moments of deep exhaustion and doubt. 🔑 In This Episode, We Cover: We look at the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 18–19—a prophet who had just experienced a powerful victory from God… and yet, shortly after, found himself afraid, discouraged, and ready to give up. This episode reminds us of something incredibly important: Discouragement doesn’t disqualify you. Even in Elijah’s fear, exhaustion, and negative thoughts, God didn’t abandon him— He met him, provided for him, and restored him. If you’ve been feeling weary, defeated, or questioning your calling, this episode will remind you that: * You are not alone * You are not failing * And God is not finished with you * Why discouragement often comes after spiritual victories * How the enemy uses fear and lies to make us want to quit * Why feeling tired doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong * The importance of rest and God’s provision * How God meets us in our lowest moments * Why we can trust God to refill what we don’t have * Learning to rely on God instead of our own strength📖 Key Scriptures:1 Kings 18–19 ❤️ The Heart of This Episode You can have a mountaintop moment… and still find yourself in a valley. But the same God who showed up in your victory will meet you in your exhaustion.God doesn’t walk away when you’re discouraged— He draws near. ✨ Main Takeaway Discouragement doesn’t mean you’re failing. It often means you’re human. But your strength was never meant to come from you— it comes from God. And He will refill you. 📲 Follow for weekly encouragement and Bible teaching: @theriseandshinepodcast @hayleejacob_ 🙏 Subscribe for real, honest conversations that help you keep going in your faith.

Serving Over Status | What Jesus Teaches About Greatness

In this episode of Rise and Shine, we talk about something that goes directly against the culture we live in — humility. The world tells us to climb higher, build more, and become greater. But Jesus teaches something completely different. He says: “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” Through passages like Mark 9, Matthew 18, and Mark 10, we see that the Kingdom of God doesn’t operate like the world. Greatness isn’t found in status, recognition, or accumulation — it’s found in humility, surrender, and service. Jesus Himself modeled this perfectly. He humbled Himself, served others, washed feet, and ultimately gave His life on the cross. This episode is a call to examine our hearts: * Are we chasing what looks valuable in the world… or what actually matters in eternity? * Are we trying to be first… or willing to be last? * Are we building our own name… or serving in a way that reflects Jesus? We also talk about the danger of trusting in earthly treasures and why Scripture calls us to seek something greater — treasures in Heaven. 🔑 In This Episode, We Cover: * What biblical humility really looks like * Why Jesus says the first will be last * How pride quietly shows up in our lives * Why worldly success can distract us from eternal purpose * The example Jesus set through serving and sacrifice * Why we shouldn’t place our trust in earthly treasures * What it means to live for eternal rewards instead of temporary gain * How to practically walk in humility and serve others 📖 Key Scriptures: Mark 9:33–37 Matthew 18:1–5 Mark 10:13–31 Psalm 84:10 ❤️ The Heart of This Episode Jesus didn’t call us to build our own kingdoms. He called us to lay them down. In a world obsessed with being first, seen, and successful— God calls His people to something deeper: Humility. Service. Surrender. Because what we gain here won’t last. But what we invest in eternity will. ✨ Main Takeaway If we chase the things of this world, we may gain status—but lose perspective. But when we choose humility, serve others, and seek God first, we gain something far greater: Eternal treasure. 📲 Follow for weekly Bible teaching and encouragement: @theriseandshinepodcast @hayleejacob_ 🙏 Subscribe for Scripture-based encouragement and practical ways to grow in your walk with Jesus.

Trusting God Isn’t One-Time—It’s Daily

In this episode of Rise and Shine, we continue last week’s conversation on worry by shifting our focus to the solution: daily trust in God. Letting go of worry isn’t a one-time decision. It’s a daily choice. Jesus calls us in Matthew 6:25–33 not just to stop worrying, but to seek first the Kingdom of God. That means learning to rely on Him—not just when life feels overwhelming, but every single day. Because the truth is, when we don’t intentionally seek Him... we slowly drift. We begin to rely on ourselves. We carry things we were never meant to carry. And before we know it, worry creeps back in. This episode is a reminder that God desires daily relationship, not occasional dependence. 🔑 In This Episode, We Cover: * Why trusting God is a daily decision, not a one-time moment * How self-reliance leads us back into worry * What it truly means to seek first the Kingdom * Why spiritual drifting happens when we stop pursuing God * The importance of renewing our minds daily * How God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness * Choosing dependence on God instead of independence from Him 📖 Key Scriptures: Matthew 6:25–33 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 2 Corinthians 12:7–10 Lamentations 3:19–33 ❤️ The Heart of This Episode God doesn’t just want to rescue you from worry. He wants a daily relationship with you. He invites you to come to Him again and again— to trust Him again and again— to rely on Him again and again. Not because He needs it… but because you do.✨ Main Takeaway Freedom from worry isn’t found in trying harder. It’s found in choosing to trust God daily. Seek Him. Rely on Him. Return to Him—every single day. 📲 Follow for weekly Bible teaching and encouragement: @theriseandshinepodcast @hayleejacob_ 🙏 Subscribe for practical, Scripture-based encouragement to grow in your walk with Jesus.

Let Go of Control & Find Peace | Trusting Jesus Over Worry

In this episode of Rise and Shine, we talk about something many believers quietly struggle with — control and worry. We try to manage outcomes. We strive for peace. We work so hard to feel secure… But what if in doing that, we’re missing what Jesus has already freely given? Scripture reminds us that through His death and resurrection, Jesus already secured our freedom, joy, and peace. When we strive to manufacture those things in our own strength, we’re not walking in faith — we’re carrying something we were never meant to carry. This episode is a call to release control, surrender worry, and trust Jesus fully. 🔑 In This Episode, We Cover: * Why trying to control everything leads to anxiety and exhaustion * How striving can pull us away from trusting Jesus * The difference between effort and surrender * Why worry reveals where we’re struggling to trust God * What it means to abide in Christ (not perform for Him) * Letting go of self-reliance and embracing dependence on God * How true peace comes from trusting, not controlling 📖 Key Scriptures: Philippians 3:1–11 1 Peter 5:6–7 John 15 Matthew 6:25–27 ❤️ The Heart of This Episode Jesus didn’t die so we could live exhausted, striving, and overwhelmed. He died so we could walk in freedom. When we hold tightly to control and worry, we’re often trying to earn or protect something that God has already given us through Christ. Surrender isn’t giving up. It’s trusting the One who already finished the work.✨ Main Takeaway You don’t have to strive for what Jesus already secured. Let go of control. Release the worry. Abide in Him — and trust that He is enough. 📲 Follow for weekly Bible teaching and encouragement: @theriseandshinepodcast @hayleejacob_ 🙏 Subscribe for Scripture-based encouragement and practical ways to grow in your relationship with Jesus.