Episode # 43 // From Striving to Surrender: Learning to Embrace Grace

In this week’s episode, I’m sharing my heart about the journey I’ve been on this past year—learning to slow down, surrender, and trust God’s timing. It’s been a season of stepping back from striving, especially when it comes to social media and the pressure to “build a platform.” I’ve realized, as much as I’ve tried, it’s nearly impossible to truly keep a quiet heart before the Lord while being active on social media throughout each day. The world tells us to try harder, do more, and hustle. But God, in His kindness, keeps reminding me: “Not by might, nor by power, only by Your Spirit.”

As I’ve pulled back, my heart and mind are clearer. I’m more present with my family, my thoughts are less consumed by comparison, and I’ve seen the beauty of trusting God’s timing. 

I’m not walking away from sharing altogether, but I’m embracing a slower, more Spirit-led pace in my writing, podcasting, and online presence.

Join me as I talk about surrendering to the season I’m in and finding peace in God’s plan, even when it doesn’t align with what the world expects.



MEMORABLE QUOTES

I don’t want to be an influencer. I want to be a writer. I want to inspire others to know God more deeply.

It’s time to stop striving and trying to make things happen your way and rest in Me.

The Lord has been preparing my heart to slow down and go at the pace of grace for quite some time now.

Some things need to remain in the secret place with Jesus.

I am convinced that it is nearly impossible to truly keep a quiet heart before the Lord and cultivate a deep inner life with Him while being active on social media throughout each day—at least it is for me.

Without a consistent use of social media, my heart and mind are more clear. I can reason and work through things with the Lord.

I look back now and can see all the ways I was striving to make things happen, instead of trusting in the Lord to make things happen in His way and in His timing.

Surrender to the season you’re in.

The online space rewards the flashy, quick, and easy. At its heart, it is the antithesis of slow, meaningful, and intentional.

Over the past few years as I have worked toward these goals, I haven’t found the same satisfaction as when I am walking with the Lord in my everyday life.

My deepest desire in anything I do online or in real life is to point you to Jesus. Nothing else matters.



Jessica MathisenComment