In this powerful episode of Stories of Hope, Forrest and his longtime friend David sit down to discuss the transformative power of saying "yes" to God. David shares a deeply personal account of a supernatural encounter on a mountainside that redefined his understanding of God as a father. This shift in perspective gave him the strength to obey a difficult calling: reconnecting with his estranged father after 23 years of absence.

Through David's testimony, we see how one act of obedience created a "ripple effect" of healing that touched his brothers, his mother, and ultimately his father in his final years. It is a beautiful reminder that God’s instructions are always for our good and that He is a Father who truly inclines His ear to His children.

Key Moments & Reflections

• The Voice on the Mountain: While working in the mountains, David experienced a profound moment where he felt God say, I’m proud of you son. This moment led David to respond with Thank you, Daddy, a word he had never used due to his childhood abandonment.
• Getting Your Father Facts Straight: Drawing from a concept by Pastor Travis Aicklen, David discusses the importance of knowing the truth about God’s character—that He is 100% faithful and always works for our good.
• The Call to Obedience: After 23 years of silence, David received news that his father was dying. Instead of leaning into resentment, David chose to follow God's prompt to go and love him and be the best son you can be.
• A Miracle of Restoration: David recounts the six-year journey of restoration that followed, including a miraculous fish fry where his once-estranged mother and father shared a meal together after decades of animosity.
• The Scriptural Foundation: David connects his experience to John 14:21, reflecting on how Jesus manifests Himself to those who love Him and keep His commandments.

Scripture Referenced: John 14:21

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Josie shares her journey from entering a discipleship school with a heart as hard as a rock—fueled by past injustice and anger—to a radical moment of surrender involving a bathroom floor, some spilled bleach, and a direct confrontation with God. Through the lens of her "Latina struggles" with facial hair and a providential trip to a Walmart clearance rack, Josie illustrates a profound truth: God makes important to Him what is important to you.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Price of a Soft Heart: Why Josie asked God to keep her heart soft "at all costs" and what happened when He actually took her up on it.
• Surrendering Your Rights: A powerful realization that we cannot truly follow God while clutching onto our "right" to be angry or possessive.
• The Walmart Miracle: How a one-dollar bleaching kit became a divine sign that the Creator of the universe cares about the smallest details of our lives—down to the hairs on our chin.
• Meeting True Love: Josie’s incredible testimony of going to the altar not out of conviction, but to prove God wrong, only to be met by a Voice that knew her secrets and loved her anyway.
• Walking on a Word: How hearing God’s voice gave Josie the courage to buy a one-way ticket to a third-world country with no money for a return flight.

Whether you are feeling hardened by life’s storms or wondering if God truly sees the "small" things you're struggling with, Josie’s story is a beautiful reminder that we serve a Master Communicator who is relentlessly pursuing us.

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 In this moving episode of Stories of Hope, we sit down with a guest who spent years trying to control her own narrative. From a Christian upbringing to a painful divorce after only 18 months, she opens up about the exhaustion of trying to be enough and the dangerous allure of leaving it all behind.

 She shares the pivotal moment of spiritual darkness that led to a desperate text message and a simple, three-sentence prayer that shifted her life from self-reliance to radical surrender. If you’ve ever felt tainted by your past or weary from trying to earn God’s favor, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that your security isn't found in your performance, but in whose you are.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear:

• The Weight of Expectations: How placing the burden of fulfillment on marriage led to a sense of being "ruined" after divorce.
• The Jesus Freak Re-examined: Navigating the shock of being told, "I don't think you know who Jesus is," despite a lifetime in the church.
• The Exhaustion of Control: The mental toll of constantly analyzing "what’s wrong with me" and trying to engineer a happy ending.
• The Turning Point: A dark night of the soul that was met with a powerful prayer of surrender: "Jesus, I love you. All I have is yours. Yours, I am. Yours, I want to be. Do with me as you will."
• Defining Hope: Why hope feels like security, relief, and the freedom to "laugh at the days to come."

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Don't miss a single story of transformation! Follow us for more content and daily encouragement:

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Do you have a God story of your own? We would love to hear how hope has moved in your life. Head to Spirit889.com/hope to share your journey with us.

 Geoff opens up about a year defined by the circle of life—starting with the profound grief of losing his 92-year-old father and ending with the immense joy of welcoming his first grandchild. He moves past the cliches to what it actually looks like to offer God your authentic self.

 Through the lens of the biblical story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, Geoff explores the idea that God doesn't speak to shadows or pretenses; He meets us in our real, messy, and honest emotions. Whether you are currently walking through a season of loss or a season of new beginnings, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that our Father is simply waiting for us to grieve in His direction.

Key Highlights

• The Shift of the Covering: Geoff describes the surreal moment of saying goodbye to a lifelong leader and realizing the mantle of responsibility has now passed to him.
• Authenticity vs. Clichés: A candid look at why phrases like God has a plan aren't always what a grieving heart needs, and why God desires our honest pain over a polished performance.
• The Heart Whisperer: Understanding the Holy Spirit as the Comforter who knows exactly how to tend to our wounds.
• Legacy and Promise: How the birth of a grandchild served as a divine reminder of God’s faithfulness and the continuity of His story.

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Don't miss a single story of transformation! Follow us for more content and daily encouragement:

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Do you have a God story of your own? We would love to hear how hope has moved in your life. Head to Spirit889.com/hope to share your journey with us.

 Chelsea shares the raw reality of her past, including her struggles with addiction, mental health, and the trauma of domestic violence. The turning point came in the wake of a tragic car accident that took the life of her partner and left her feeling spiritually and emotionally dead.

Inside the Episode

• The Lukewarm Trap: Chelsea describes the struggle of living with one foot in the church and one foot in the world, and how escapism led her away from God’s path.
• A Room Full of Boxes: At her lowest point, literally sitting on the floor of her room surrounded by the remnants of her life, Chelsea had a vivid, gentle, and encompassing encounter with God.
• The Choice of Surrender: How God met her in her mess and offered a choice: stay in the darkness or take His hand toward a path of light.
• Healed by Hesed: Chelsea explores the concept of Hesed (God's loyal love) and how it provided the prescription she needed for her soul sickness.
• 19 Months of Sobriety: A look at Chelsea’s life today—transformed by stability, a clear mind, and a supportive community at New Life Ministries and Celebrate Recovery.

A Message for the Soul Sick

If you are feeling stranded or overwhelmed by pain, Chelsea’s message is simple: Just say the name Jesus. There is no confession that will surprise Him, and no mess that He cannot turn into a message.

"Every number has a name, every name has a story, and every story matters to God." — Chelsea

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Don't miss a single story of transformation! Follow us for more content and daily encouragement:

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Do you have a God story of your own? We would love to hear how hope has moved in your life. Head to Spirit889.com/hope to share your journey with us.

 In This Episode, We Discuss:

• The Power of Small Gestures: Monica recalls a random encounter in a Fresno parking lot where a simple smile and a moment of empathy led to providing much-needed help and prayer for a man feeling "literally and figuratively stranded".
• Divine Connections in Blended Families: A profound story about a "word" received in a local coffee shop—"water is thicker than blood"—and how it perfectly mirrored a miraculous turnaround in connection with her adopted son.
• Boldness on Main Street: Monica describes a "sobering" moment of stepping out in faith to pray for a young couple on Main Street who had never heard of Jesus, proving that the mission field is right in our own backyard.
• Overcoming Fear and Rejection: A candid conversation on why we often "fearfully ignore" divine prompts and how to grow in confidence by leading with a humble, caring heart rather than a "polished" spiritual persona.

Join the Journey

We are on a mission to share 100 authentic God stories from across the Central Valley and beyond in 2026. Whether through documentaries, short films, or these candid conversations, we want to prove that you are never truly stranded.

Support the show

Connect With Us

Don't miss a single story of transformation! Follow us for more content and daily encouragement:

• Follow @MySpiritRadio
• On YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok

Share Your Story

Do you have a God story of your own? We would love to hear how hope has moved in your life. Head to Spirit889.com/hope to share your journey with us.