Ever stood strong for everyone else while secretly questioning everything? In this soul-stirring episode, Dr. Jenny Carter—professor, researcher, and minister with over 20 years studying spiritual formation—shares her journey through spiritual struggle and how it shaped her understanding of authentic faith and leadership.

Dr. Carter vulnerably recounts a moment when her honest questions about faith were met with judgment: "I used to respect you, and now I'm not even sure you're a Christian." This painful interaction highlights the unspoken pressure leaders face to project certainty while privately wrestling with doubt. With remarkable candor, she explains how questioning isn't weakness but often a necessary bridge from "dependent faith" (adopting beliefs from authority figures) to "interdependent faith" (owning personal beliefs while maintaining healthy community).

The conversation offers profound insights for high-capacity leaders navigating spiritual struggles while guiding others. "If we repress what is real and keep soldiering on," Dr. Carter warns, "eventually it leaks out in ways damaging to ourselves and others." She unpacks how unprocessed spiritual questions manifest in leadership through burnout, unrealistic expectations, and the "shrapnel" of pain that wounds those around us.

Among the most liberating revelations: many spiritual struggles stem from expectations we place on ourselves that God never demanded. "Are you putting more expectations on yourself than God, the God of the universe, is placing on you?" Dr. Carter provides practical wisdom for the journey—examining expectations, looking for "glimmers" of God's goodness amid difficulty, and finding trusted confidants who can handle your authentic questions.

Whether you're questioning your faith while leading others or simply seeking a more honest spirituality, this conversation offers permission to be human and practical pathways through wilderness seasons. As Dr. Carter beautifully reminds us: suffering doesn't mean you're cursed—it means you're human. And it's often through these struggles that we experience God's character most profoundly.

Ready to find freedom in the questioning? Listen now and discover how spiritual struggle might actually strengthen your leadership rather than diminish it.

Mentioned During This Episode:

• Bible Verses:
  • Psalm 23
  • 2 Corinthians 3:4–6
  • 2 Corinthians 12:9
  • Psalm 27:13 (NASB)
• Strong Like Water by Aundi Kolber (especially Chapter 6 and the concept of “glimmers” from Deb Dana)
• Reaching for an Invisible God by Phillip Yancey

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What does it really take to walk away from corporate success and build a business aligned with your deepest purpose? The answer lies beyond spreadsheets and business plans, as our guest Denise Taylor reveals in this soul-stirring conversation about faith-fueled entrepreneurship.

Denise's journey from corporate leadership to purpose-driven business ownership provides a roadmap for women standing at similar crossroads. She candidly discusses the fears, doubts, and practical considerations that accompany such a significant professional pivot. Rather than offering sanitized success stories, she shares the messy, beautiful reality of building something meaningful from the ground up – and how faith became her cornerstone when uncertainty loomed large.

This episode delves into the powerful intersection of strategic business thinking and spiritual discernment. Denise illuminates how prayer and purpose can coexist with profit and planning, creating a holistic approach to entrepreneurship that honors both practical wisdom and divine guidance. For leaders contemplating their own business ventures, her insights offer both inspiration and practical direction for moving forward with confidence. Whether you're actively planning your exit strategy or simply feeling the first stirrings of entrepreneurial calling, this conversation provides the encouragement and clarity needed to take your next faithful step. Ready to discover how your professional expertise and spiritual journey might converge in entrepreneurship? Listen now and find the grace to lead in entirely new territory.

Mentioned During the Show:

• Corporate to Entrepreneurship Challenge: www.JoinTheChallenge.live
• Contact Denise: www.CallWithDenise.live

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Ever feel like all the hard work happening behind the scenes in your leadership goes completely unnoticed? You're showing up, making tough calls, and carrying burdens you can't fully share—yet nobody sees the tears, prayers, and silent battles that shape who you are as a leader.

The hidden work of leadership might be the most important work you do. Those late nights wrestling with decisions, protecting your team from anxiety during uncertain seasons, and maintaining faith when progress seems painfully slow—these unseen moments are where your leadership is truly forged. Drawing from personal experience navigating organizational transitions, layoffs, and losses, this episode pulls back the curtain on leadership's most challenging aspects that rarely get discussed in leadership books or conferences.

What feels like a hidden place is actually holy ground. Just as Jesus spent thirty years in preparation for three years of public ministry, your season of unseen faithfulness isn't wasted—it's essential preparation for what's next. Whether you're leading through workplace transition, ministry challenges, or family difficulties, you'll find practical wisdom for staying anchored in difficult seasons, reframing your perspective, and resisting isolation when leadership feels heaviest. Remember: God sees your hidden faithfulness, and it matters more than you know. Your tears, prayers, and integrity behind closed doors are building something significant, even when no one else notices.

Share this episode with another woman who leads and is carrying hidden burdens. Download the free journaling exercise here to process your own leadership journey, and subscribe to continue growing together as leaders who are graced to lead.

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