The Burden of Belief

Ep. 9 Don't Hurt Yourself

In this episode of The Burden of Belief we move from individual testimony into the deeper reality of what it means to be the Body of Christ. Building on the last episode's question, "Can I Get a Witness?", this episode confronts a hard truth: the enemy is not just fighting individuals - he's fighting unity! Through scripture, personal testimony and the real-world story of Kansas, we see a pattern that stretches from Genesis to today - what affects one of us ultimately affects all of us. At the heart of this episode is 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, where the Apostle Paul writes that the church is one body with many members, and that if one member suffers, all suffer together. This is not just a metaphor; it is a divine blueprint for how God designed us to be interconnected, interdependent and accountable to one another. This episode explores why the church is called the Body and what that really means in practice; how disunity becomes a weapon that turns us against ourselves; the spiritual and real-world consequences of ignoring injustice; and why unity is not optional - it is essential for survival. And then it lands on this simple, piercing command: “Don't hurt yourself." Because when we neglect the suffering of others, when we allow systems and policies that harm the vulnerable to continue, we are not just hurting them, we are hurting ourselves.

Ep. 8 Can I Get A Witness?

What does it mean to carry a testimony - not as a personal story, but as a public declaration? Episode 8 of The Burden of Belief, "Can I Get A Witness?", challenges believers to turn personal testimony into public action amid oppression and forgotten covenants. I explore the original meaning of the word "martyr" in the Book of Revelation and a cosmic courtroom where the truth of God is being testified to the world. Jesus wasn't killed because He was weak, He was killed because He was a threat to power that had forgotten its purpose. He touched the untouchable, fed the hungry, welcomed the rejected, healed the sick, and flipped tables! Every miracle was an indictment and when He was killed darkness unwittingly participates in the very thing it sought to silence - the expansion of God's Kingdom, the Gospel, the Good News! I draw a direct line from Stephen, Peter, Paul and John to my own experience speaking truth to power and being targeted for it. My testimony. But this episode doesn't stop at testimony, it searches for proof. Drawing from James 2 and Matthew 25, I deliver a prophetic charge: Your vote is the proof. If your faith has ever demanded receipts - this one's for you. Subscribe. Share. VOTE.

Ep. 7 The Eternal Covenant

In this episode of The Burden of Belief, I explore the name of God revealed in Exodus 3 - YHWH, "I AM" - and what it means for those living under the New Covenant today. Tracing God's self-revelation from Moses at the burning bush to Jesus' "I AM" statements in the Gospel of John, this episode reveals how God's eternal name is inseparable from His covenant character: a God who sees oppression, hears the cries of His people, and acts to deliver them. Through Scripture, theology, and prophetic insight, I am unpacking how God's covenants are not separate contracts but progressive revelations of the same redemptive promise - culminating in Christ and the Eternal Covenant sealed in His blood. This episode also confronts a sobering truth: when people forget who God is, they forget what He cares about. Forgetting the covenant looks like ignoring injustice, dismissing suffering, and treating grace as permission to remain unchanged rather than a call to transformation. This is a call to remember: The God who said "I AM" still is. The God who made covenant still keeps it. And the God who heard Israel's cries is still speaking. If you are carrying a prophetic burden, wrestling with obedience, or sensing God calling His people back into alignment - this episode is for you!! Follow @sheenahoyerward Subscribe & share this with someone who's walking through their own burden of belief.

Ep. 6 The Theology of Weakness

What if weakness isn't a failure of faith - but the very place where God releases His power? In Episode 6 of The Burden of Belief, I explore the The Theology of Weakness - the biblical framework that reveals how God works not through dominance, certainty, or control, but through surrender, vulnerability, and dependence on Him. Drawing from the Garden of Gethsemane, the writings of the Apostle Paul, and deeply personal testimony, this episode examines why God so often meets His people at the end of themselves. From moments of public humiliation and spiritual exhaustion to encounters with God's unmistakable presence, this episode reframes weakness as holy ground. I share how God strengthened Jesus not by removing the cup, but by giving Him the strength to drink it - and how that same power, dynamis, is released when human strength runs out. This episode is an invitation to reconsider how we understand power, leadership, faith, and calling - especially when obedience is costly and outcomes remain unseen. If you've ever felt exposed, overwhelmed, misunderstood, or powerless while still trying to remain faithful - this episode is for you! Because God's power is not proven in our strength. It is perfected in our weakness. Follow @sheenahoyerward Subscribe & share this with someone who's walking through their own burden of belief.

Ep. 5 Between Two Verses

What happens when obedience to God costs you everything—your career, your reputation, your sense of safety—and the outcome still isn’t clear?   In Episode 5 of The Burden of Belief, I explore what it means to live Between Two Verses—the space where God has spoken, but fulfillment hasn’t arrived. Drawing from scripture, public policy, and deeply personal testimony, this episode weaves together faith, justice, leadership and survival.  I reflect on childhood loss, poverty, violence, shame, and resilience—and how God met me in the in-between. This episode challenges simplistic narratives about personal responsibility, wealth and compassion, and calls leaders to see people—not just numbers—when making decisions that shape lives.  If you’ve ever felt unseen, misunderstood, or crushed by systems that were supposed to protect you—this episode is for you.  Because God still speaks.  And He meets us in between.  Follow me @sheenahoyerward Subscribe & share this with someone who is walking through their own burden of belief.