47. When God Is More Focused on Your Character Than Your Calling with Desiree Taylor

50. What If Your Anxiety Isn't Loud? Learning to Trust God When You Feel the Need to Control Everything with Heather O'Brien

Have you ever felt anxious without realizing you were anxious? Sometimes anxiety doesn't look like panic attacks or racing thoughts. Sometimes it looks like overplanning, perfectionism, constantly staying busy, or feeling frustrated when life doesn't go according to plan. In this week's episode, I'm joined by Heather O'Brien for a conversation about what she calls silent anxiety—the subtle ways fear, control, and self-reliance can quietly shape our lives without us even noticing. Together, we talk about what it looks like to stop managing symptoms and begin inviting Jesus into the deeper places of healing. In this episode, we discuss: * What "silent anxiety" really is * Why our symptoms are often clues instead of the problem * How control can quietly replace trust * Learning to become flexible when God changes your plans * The connection between physical health, emotional health, and spiritual health * Renewing your mind through Scripture instead of fear * Practical ways to partner with the Holy Spirit in healing and transformation If you've ever wondered why you feel exhausted, overwhelmed, or like you're carrying more than God asked you to carry, I hope this conversation reminds you that Jesus isn't inviting you to try harder—He's inviting you to trust Him more. Heather O'Brien * Website: https://heatherobrien.net [https://heatherobrien.net] * Books & Resources: https://heatherobrien.net/books [https://heatherobrien.net/books] * Heal with God Podcast [https://heatherobrien.net/podcast] Connect with Reanna * Website: https://reannahoffmann.com * Instagram: @reanna.ivey.hoff [https://www.instagram.com/reanna.ivey.hoff/profilecard/] * Subscribe to the Not Just Waiting [https://reannahoffmann.substack.com/] newsletter on Substack Resources Mentioned:

49. How to Discern God's Yes: Waiting Well Without Saying Yes to Everything with Allison Byxbe

Sometimes the hardest part of following Jesus isn't knowing what to do. It's learning what to say yes to... and what to let go of. In this episode of Not Just Waiting, I'm joined by journaling instructor and author Allison Bixby for an honest conversation about becoming the woman God is forming you to be—even when your life doesn't look the way you expected. We talk about waiting seasons, people pleasing, God's timing, journaling, releasing expectations, and learning to trust God's whispers more than our own plans. If you've ever wondered... * Am I saying yes to God or just saying yes because I feel guilty? * How do I know what God is asking me to do? * Why does waiting feel so exhausting? * What if God is forming my character before advancing my calling? ...this conversation is for you. You'll leave encouraged to stop striving, listen for God's voice, and trust that His timing is always better than your own. In this episode we discuss: * How to recognize God's invitations * Saying no without carrying guilt * The difference between God's will and people's expectations * Waiting well without forcing your own timeline * Why journaling can deepen your relationship with Jesus * Learning to become before you arrive Connect with Allison Website: allisonbyxbe.com [http://allisonbyxbe.com] Book: Journaling as a Spiritual Practice [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0802441009?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_KJAZV96D63CDZS9NWXQA_1&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_KJAZV96D63CDZS9NWXQA_1&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_KJAZV96D63CDZS9NWXQA_1&bestFormat=true] Instagram: @allisonbyxbe [https://www.instagram.com/allisonbyxbe]

48. You Don't Have to Hustle Your Way Into God's Will with Melinda Grace

What if the life you're grieving isn't actually the life God was preparing you for? In this episode, I'm joined by professional organizer and author Melinda Grace for an honest conversation about waiting, surrender, motherhood, calling, and learning to embrace a slower pace. Melinda shares how God used seasons of burnout, anxiety, and unmet expectations to reshape not only her career but also her identity. What began as a dream of becoming an actress eventually became a passion for helping women create peaceful, grace-filled homes—and discovering that sometimes God's greatest gifts arrive disguised as detours. We also talk about: * Why God often develops our character before our calling * Letting go of timelines and expectations * How clutter can affect our peace * The importance of slowing down in a culture that celebrates hustle * Waiting well in a world of instant answers and AI * Creating space to hear God's voice again Whether you're waiting for healing, purpose, marriage, motherhood, clarity, or simply your next step, this conversation is a reminder that God isn't wasting your waiting. He's forming you. Connect with Melinda: Website: melindagrace.com [http://melindagrace.com] Book: Grace-Filled Organization & Audio Book  [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FR9J9QN8] Instagram: @melindagraceorganizing [https://www.instagram.com/melindagraceorganizing/] Freebie: Refresh Your Kitchen with My Top 10 Organizing Hacks for Kitchens  [https://melinda-grace-organizing.kit.com/7103328cf4] If this episode encouraged you, would you leave a review, share it with a friend, or send it to someone who's walking through an in-between season? You can also join me over on Substack for weekly encouragement and deeper reflections about following Jesus in the waiting.

47. When God Is More Focused on Your Character Than Your Calling with Desiree Taylor

Have you ever felt frustrated because it seems like God is taking longer than expected to move your life forward? In this episode of the Not Just Waiting Podcast, I'm joined by author, speaker, and mentor Desiree Taylor for a conversation about the seasons when God seems more focused on shaping our character than advancing our calling. Together, we talk about learning to live from being with Jesus instead of constantly doing for Him, releasing timelines and expectations, and discovering the beauty hidden in the middle of the process. Desiree shares honestly about an eight-year season of pruning, grief, caregiving, and growth—and how God used it to deepen her dependence on Him and prepare her for what's next. If you've ever wrestled with impatience, comparison, perfectionism, or the feeling that your life is moving slower than everyone else's, this conversation will remind you that God is still working—even when you can't see the fruit yet. In this episode, we discuss: • The difference between being with Jesus and simply doing things for Him• Releasing timelines, expectations, and the illusion of control• Finding purpose in long seasons of waiting and pruning• How perfectionism and people-pleasing keep us from living freely• Learning to enjoy the process instead of rushing to the outcome• Why every season of life is preparing us for eternity Connect with Desiree: Website: arenewedcreation.com [http://arenewedcreation.com] Book: Created to Relate: Living Beyond Religion [https://indiepubs.com/products/created-to-relate-9781956370447] Substack: A Renewed Creation [https://substack.com/@arenewedcreation?r=4lx2ew&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page] Free Resource: Download the Comparison Audit [https://reannaiveyhoffmann.myflodesk.com/comparisonaudit]—a simple worksheet to help you identify the timelines you've been measuring yourself against and refocus on God's timing. If this episode encouraged you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who needs hope in the waiting.

46. How God Forms Us Through Waiting, Trust, and Unexpected Detours with Cassandra Crawley Mayo

Have you ever wondered if God is doing more in your waiting than you can see? In this episode of the Not Just Waiting Podcast, I sit down with author, speaker, and coach Cassandra Crawley Mayo for a conversation about trust, purpose, and the ways God forms us through life's unexpected detours. Cassandra shares powerful stories from her own journey—from navigating career challenges as the first African American woman in leadership roles, to learning how to trust God with major decisions, to experiencing a moment with God that forever changed her faith. Together, we talk about what it means to release control, stop comparing ourselves to others, and become the women God created us to be. If you're in a season where you're asking, "God, what are You doing?" this conversation will encourage you to keep trusting Him—even when you can't yet see the outcome. In This Episode: * Why trust is often the lesson God keeps teaching us * Learning to wait for God's direction instead of forcing our own * A powerful story of God showing up in a moment of deep doubt * How comparison can keep us from becoming who we're meant to be * What it means to actively and passively wait on God * Finding purpose through hardship and unexpected seasons * Why your past doesn't have to define your future * How to rise beyond the limits you've placed on yourself Connect with Cassandra:📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cassandracrawleymayo 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassandra_crawleymayo/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassandracrawley/ ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cassandracrawleymayo 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cassandracrawleymayo  Resources Mentioned: Is Your Way In Your Way? by Cassandra Crawley Mayo [https://www.cassandracrawley.com/store]