Ep. 102: Motherhood Without Regret: Trusting God with Your Children

Ep. 111: You Get to Choose How You Wait with Katherine Catlett

What do you do when life doesn't unfold on the timeline you imagined? In this episode of Echos of Impact, Cherise is joined by Katherine Catlett — social media manager, strategist, writer, content creator, and soon-to-be author of her first devotional for young women. Katherine began journaling when she was just 12 years old as a way to process big emotions with God. More than 40 journals later, those pages have become part of the foundation for her writing and her calling. Katherine shares about heartbreak, singleness, comparison, dating anxiety, emotional healing, and learning to stay rooted in God's love through every season. Together, Cherise and Katherine talk about what it means to move through grief instead of rushing past it, how to separate rejection from your worth, and why waiting doesn't have to make you bitter. One of the biggest reminders from this conversation is this: you may not always get to choose the season you're in, but you do get to choose how you wait. In this episode, we talk about: * How Katherine's journaling began as a way to process emotions with God * What reading her old journals has taught her about perspective * Asking "God, what would you say to her?" as the heart behind her devotional * How heartbreak can either make you bitter or help you grow * Why grief has to be moved through, not ignored * Dating anxiety, anxious attachment, and finding security in God * Separating rejection from your identity and worth * The pressure of singleness and comparison culture * How social media can amplify the feeling of being "behind" * Choosing worship, healing, and growth in a waiting season * Katherine's journey toward writing her first devotional for young women Key Quotes: "You don't just grieve the person, you grieve the life that you thought you would have." "I wanted to grow and learn and become a better person, not a bitter one." "You get to choose how you wait." A few reminders from this conversation: Life will be messy, and that does not mean you are failing. Life will also be stunningly beautiful, and those moments are worth noticing. No matter what season you are in — messy, beautiful, lonely, uncertain, or full of waiting — God loves you deeply, faithfully, and forever. Connect with Katherine: Instagram: @klcatlett TikTok: @klcatlett28 Blog & website: https://www.katherinecatlett.com/ [https://www.katherinecatlett.com/] You can also sign up for Katherine's email newsletter through her website to follow along with her writing journey and updates on her upcoming devotional. Join the Conversation: Which season are you in right now — and what would it look like to wait well in it? Come share with us over on Instagram or in the Echos of Impact community. We'd love to hear what landed with you. Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echos_of_impact/ [https://www.instagram.com/echos_of_impact/] Echos of Impact Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/echosofimpact [https://www.facebook.com/groups/echosofimpact] Final Notes: If this episode met you where you are, follow Echos of Impact so you never miss a conversation, and leave a quick review — it genuinely helps more women find the show. Thank you for being here. Whether you are waiting for healing, clarity, love, purpose, or the next open door, this is your reminder that God is not absent in the waiting. He is steady, present, and deeply kind — and the waiting season can become a place of worship, growth, and intimacy with Him.

Ep. 110: Lessons and Blessings: When God Opens the Door, But It's Still Hard

What happens when God opens the door you've been praying for… but walking through it is still harder than you expected? In this episode of Echos of Impact, Cherise and Briana sit down for one of their monthly conversations — just the two of them — talking honestly about transition, closed doors, and the surprising weight that can come with answered prayers. Cherise shares what this season has really looked like for her family: selling their home, moving to a new city, buying land, and stepping into something that felt clearly led by God — and deeply stretching all at once. After years of burnout, disappointment, and doors that seemed to close at the last second, things started opening fast. But even in the blessing, there were still lessons. Surrendering control. Facing anxiety. Grieving what was good, even while stepping into something new. Briana shares her own story too — a season of closed doors, financial strain, and a house that came together in a way that could only be explained as God. Together they sit with a tension that doesn't get talked about enough: what do you do when the thing God led you into is still hard? This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered why something God clearly opened still feels heavy — and for anyone learning to trust that He is present in both the lessons and the blessings. In this episode, we talk about: * Why blessings from God can still feel heavy or hard * What closed doors teach us about trust and timing * How faith is tested when we can't control the outcome * The difference between comfort and calling * Grieving a good season, even when the next one is also good * The emotional weight of transition and major life change * Why a hard season doesn't mean God is absent * Staying anchored to God when life feels chaotic * Trusting that if God brought you there, He will provide Key reminder from this episode: Sometimes the door God opens isn't the easiest path — but it might be the one where He's asking you to trust Him more, grow deeper, and see His faithfulness in a brand new way. Join the Conversation: We'd love to hear from you. Have you ever walked through a season that felt like both a blessing and a lesson at the same time? Share it with us on Instagram or in our Facebook community — we want to hear your story. 📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echos_of_impact/ [https://www.instagram.com/echos_of_impact/] 👥 Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/echosofimpact [https://www.facebook.com/groups/echosofimpact] Enjoyed this episode? Follow Echos of Impact so you never miss a conversation, and if this one landed for you, we'd be so grateful if you left a review. It helps more women find the show — and that matters more than you know.

Ep. 109: From Survival to Assignment: Why God Says "Tell It": With Brenda Neal

Content Note: This episode includes discussion of a medical crisis, surgery, and a life-threatening health emergency, as well as a brief mention of youth suicide. Listener discretion is advised. What do you do when God brings you through something you never expected to survive? In this episode of Echos of Impact, Briana sits down with Brenda Neal to hear her powerful testimony of healing, obedience, and purpose. Brenda shares about a routine surgery that unexpectedly revealed cancer, an aneurysm that later ruptured, and the terrifying moment when she believed she was about to die. But in that moment, Brenda says the Holy Spirit met her and made it clear: it was not her time. Brenda is an ordinary woman who has experienced the extraordinary power of God. In the midst of life-threatening circumstances, God's power met her in a profound way and brought healing to her life. She is passionate about helping others get to know God, believe His Word, and learn how to position themselves to receive what He promises. Brenda is a faithful and dedicated leader within her church, supporting several ministries including youth, media, anniversary, and mothers' ministries. She is also an inspirational Christian speaker who shares with women about God's miracle-working power, and she facilitates a faith-based workshop for tween girls ages 8–13 called I'm Cute, which stands for chosen, unique, talented, and exquisite. This conversation is about more than surviving a medical crisis. It's about what happens after survival — when God gives you an assignment and asks you to step out from behind the scenes. Brenda shares how God gave her two simple words: "Tell it." And now, she is walking in obedience by sharing the goodness, glory, and healing power of God wherever He opens the door. What We Cover: * Brenda's near-death experience and unexpected medical journey * How a routine hysterectomy revealed cancer * The ruptured aneurysm that almost took Brenda's life * The moment Brenda says the Holy Spirit told her it was not her time to die * Why Brenda believes God gave her the assignment to "tell it" * How God can heal through doctors, treatment, prayer, and practical steps * The difference between faith and trust * Learning to hear God's voice through relationship with Him * Why obedience sometimes means stepping out from behind the scenes * Brenda's heart for encouraging tween girls through her I'm Cute workshop * Romans 8:28 and trusting that God can work all things together for good Key Quotes: "Living out my purpose is doing what God assigns me to do." "He told me what He'd have me to do, Brenda, two words: Tell it." "God heals in different ways. So don't be afraid of any way that He heals." "Bring you to the table, and that's good enough." Connect with Brenda Neal: Website: https://brendaneal.com/ [https://brendaneal.com/]Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brenda.neal.351 [https://www.facebook.com/brenda.neal.351]LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brenda-neal-pmp/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brenda-neal-pmp/] Join the Conversation: We'd love to hear what this episode stirred in you. Have you ever walked through something hard and later realized God was asking you to use your story to encourage someone else? Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echos_of_impact/ [https://www.instagram.com/echos_of_impact/] Join the Echos of Impact Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/echosofimpact [https://www.facebook.com/groups/echosofimpact] Final Notes: Thank you for listening to Echos of Impact. If this episode encouraged you, follow the podcast, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Your story matters, and sometimes the thing God brings you through becomes the very thing He asks you to tell. Note: this is a sensitive topic touching on near-death medical experiences and, briefly, youth suicide — if anyone listening is personally struggling with thoughts of self-harm, encourage them to reach out to a trusted person or a crisis line for support.

Ep. 108: Moving From Sorry to Safe: Facing What You've Broken with Kami Van Slyke

Some conversations stay with you long after they're over. This is one of them. In this episode, I sit down with my friend Kami Van Slyke — someone I've known for years, watched from afar, and deeply admire — for one of the most honest, tender conversations we've ever had on this show. Kami shares her story of walking through the aftermath of infidelity in her own marriage, and what it looked like to be brought into the light kicking and screaming — and then choosing, slowly and imperfectly, to stay there. Kami is a master's level social worker, a mom of five, and someone who has spent the last two and a half years doing the hard, non-passive work of reconciliation — in her marriage, her church, her community, and her own heart. She brings both her professional background and her deeply personal testimony to this conversation in a way that is raw, grounded, and full of grace. This episode isn't just for someone who has been caught in something. It's for anyone who has ever hidden a part of their story, wondered if they were too far gone, or struggled to understand how grace and truth can actually coexist. Kami doesn't give you easy answers — she gives you something better. She gives you honesty about what the road back actually looks like, and the reminder that nothing is too broken for God. What We Cover: * Kami's story of full disclosure and what it meant to be called out of hiding — not willingly * The difference between admission and true confession, and why it matters * What repentance actually looks like over time (hint: it's not a one-time conversation) * How her church navigated truth and grace together — consequences and care at the same time * The difference between being sorry and being safe — and why safe is the harder, deeper goal * What she's learned about the Holy Spirit's role in reconciliation between people * How she's stewarding her testimony without wearing it as either a flag or a scarlet letter * Encouragement for anyone carrying something hidden — and for anyone who has been hurt Key Quotes: "I don't want to just be sorry. I want to be safe." — Kami Van Slyke "We're not made normal. We're made new." — Kami Van Slyke Connect with Kami Van Slyke: Email: kamivanslyke@gmail.com Join the Conversation: Did something from this episode stop you? Share it with us on Instagram or bring it into our community — we'd love to hear what landed for you. 📲 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/echos_of_impact/ [https://www.instagram.com/echos_of_impact/] 💬 Echos of Impact Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/echosofimpact [https://www.facebook.com/groups/echosofimpact] A note before you go: If this episode found you in a tender place — whether you're the one holding a secret or the one carrying hurt someone else caused — you are not alone, and you are not too far gone. If you'd like to reach out to Kami directly, her contact is in the notes above. She's made herself available. If Echos of Impact has meant something to you, would you take a minute to follow the show and leave a review? It helps more women find conversations like this one. 🤍

Ep. 107: The Life God Builds While You're Busy Making Other Plans with Courtney Brackin

What if the season that feels like tumbling is actually part of God making something beautiful? Courtney Brackin spent years in full-time ministry — single, faithful, and sometimes wrestling with envy — and what she found on the other side of that long wait is a story that will make a lot of women feel a little less behind. Courtney is a speaker, author, and Bible teacher who has spent 27 years serving in full-time ministry across North Carolina, Washington D.C., Uganda, and now Southwest Florida. She's the founder of Sea Glass Mission, a women's ministry rooted in the belief that God is forming something beautiful in the tumble — just like sea glass, broken and cast off, shaped over time into something worth keeping. She's also a seminary student, a wife, and a stepmom to four. And she brings all of it into this conversation. This episode covers a lot of ground — spiritual formation, singleness, leadership, the daily practice of getting in the Word — but it all comes back to the same thing: stop striving, get rooted, and trust that God has already planned the work for you. That's not a cliché coming from Courtney. It's something she learned the hard way, over decades, and it shows. What We Cover: * Courtney's 27-year journey through ministry — from Young Life to Uganda to founding Sea Glass Mission * What it was really like to be single in ministry, watching everyone else's life move forward * The story behind Sea Glass Mission — and the two pieces of beach glass in Bali that confirmed everything * The RAMP Journal: Read, Apply, Meditate, Pray — a practical tool to help women slow down and actually get in the Word * Why anxiety is really a control problem, and what responding with faith actually looks like * What women bring to Courtney most: identity struggles, lack of fulfillment, and the quiet ache of feeling unseen * Hard lessons from nearly three decades in ministry — including learning you are not the savior * How to start a women's ministry when your church doesn't have one (and why the nudge you feel might be the whole point) * The rhythm of Sabbath, margin, and why you can't pour out what you don't have Key Quotes: "My purpose is to live out his DNA — me, Courtney's purpose. Not what he gave someone else." "All I have to do is give out his word. Say it, share it, speak it, teach it. It will grow fruit. It takes the pressure off." "People are waiting. People want to be invited." Connect with Courtney: Website: seaglassmission.org [http://seaglassmission.org] Instagram: @seaglassmission Books & Resources: Courtney Brackin on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/stores/Courtney-Brackin/author/B0CJVCKTZQ?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1779413140&sr=8-1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=88aac238-5369-4f23-a3da-0308eae74ef8] Join the Conversation: Something from this episode hit you — we'd love to know what it was. Come find us on Instagram or inside the Echos of Impact Community. 📷 instagram.com/echos_of_impact [https://www.instagram.com/echos_of_impact/] 💬 facebook.com/groups/echosofimpact [https://www.facebook.com/groups/echosofimpact] Final Notes: If this episode encouraged you, would you take a minute to follow the show and leave a review? It's one of the simplest ways to help other women find Echos of Impact — and it means more than you know. Thank you for being here. 🤍