How to Build Intimacy with God (Even When It Feels Like Obscurity)

Struggling with overthinking, procrastination, or analysis paralysis? In this episode of Prescription for Purpose, we explore how to retrain your brain to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Learn why your mind treats uncertainty as unsafe, how insecurity fuels perfectionism, and the biblical + brain-based steps to break free. With Scriptures like Ecclesiastes 11:4 and Romans 12:2, you’ll discover how to stop waiting for perfect conditions and start moving forward in faith today.ResourcesDownload the Spiritual Well AppJoin The Society, our discipleship communityTake the FREE Spiritual Wellness Check-InOur Sponsors:* Check out Mr. Pen and use my code PURPOSE10 for a great deal: https://mrpen.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/prescription-for-purpose/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Do you feel like comparison is draining your energy and stealing your confidence? We’ve all heard the saying “comparison is the thief of joy,” but that’s not what the Bible says. Jesus promised in John 16:22 that no one can take your joy. What comparison actually steals is your agency—your God-given ability to move in alignment with what He’s entrusted to you.In this episode, Dr. Sharla is breaking down Paul’s blueprint from Galatians 6:4–5 and showing you how to overcome comparison by shifting your focus, your confidence, and your capacity back to where they belong.What You’ll Take AwayWhy comparison robs your agency, not your joyHow to shift from accumulation to authenticityHow to stop “borrowing” confidence from other people’s livesWhat it really means to carry your own God-given portionHow psychology confirms what Scripture already told us about comparisonScriptures MentionedGalatians 6:4–5 • John 16:22 • Matthew 7:24–25 • John 10:10ResourcesDownload the Spiritual Well App (major update rolling out this week!)Join The Society, our discipleship communityTake the FREE Spiritual Wellness Check-InOur Sponsors:* Check out Mr. Pen and use my code PURPOSE10 for a great deal: https://mrpen.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/prescription-for-purpose/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Do you ever feel unseen in your walk with God? Like you’re showing up, serving, and praying, but the fruit just isn’t there yet? That’s because intimacy with God often feels like obscurity — and in this episode, I’ll show you why that hidden season is actually preparation, not punishment.We’ll unpack the equation Intimacy + Integrity = Impact, the four stages of intimacy (Belief → Hope → Faith → Trust), and why Paul’s life and the book of Romans give us a blueprint for sustainable spiritual growth.You’ll see how God used the hidden years of Moses, David, Joseph, Jesus, and Paul to build trust, character, and resilience — and how He’s doing the same in you.What You’ll Take AwayHow to recognize if you’re in belief, hope, faith, or trustWhy God develops your roots in private before revealing your fruit in publicThe difference between solitude with God and isolation from HimHow to stop chasing impact and start cultivating intimacyResourcesTake the FREE Spiritual Wellness Check-InJoin the The Society: Our Discipleship CommunitySubscribe to the YouTube ChannelOur Sponsors:* Check out Mr. Pen and use my code PURPOSE10 for a great deal: https://mrpen.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/prescription-for-purpose/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

You know what to do—pray, study, rest, set boundaries—but staying consistent still feels impossible. In this episode, Dr. Sharla unpacks Romans 7 alongside neuroscience to explain the real reason your follow-through keeps falling apart—and why it’s not laziness, lack of discipline, or a character flaw.You’ll learn:How Romans 7 names the struggle between knowing and doingWhy your brain defaults to safety, comfort zones, and old patternsSeven principles of inconsistency that sabotage new habitsPractical strategies to start working with your brain, not against itBy the end, you’ll understand the science and Scripture behind inconsistency—so you can stop shaming yourself and start building sustainable, Spirit-led habits.ResourcesTake the FREE Spiritual Wellness Check-InJoin the The Society: Our Discipleship CommunitySubscribe to the YouTube ChannelOur Sponsors:* Check out Mr. Pen and use my code PURPOSE10 for a great deal: https://mrpen.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/prescription-for-purpose/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

You’re praying, serving, and doing all the “right” things—but deep down, you’re still waiting for God to prove His love through external validation. The relationship, the career move, the glow-up, the house—all as receipts that your suffering wasn’t in vain.This week’s Accountability Session is about breaking that cycle of disappointment and learning to trust God’s process without demanding proof. Dr. Sharla shares a birthday-week reflection on how God has been teaching her contentment, pace, and identity apart from external rewards—and why that shift is key to building a life that doesn’t exhaust you.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why external validation will always leave you disappointedHow to recognize entitlement disguised as prayer requestsWhat Jesus’ baptism teaches us about true identity validationHow to trust God’s process even when the outcome doesn’t match your expectationsA practical planning framework (Eisenhower Matrix + CPR check-in) to set priorities that protect your peace and purposeBy the end of this session, you’ll walk away with clarity on how to release the need for public proof, build your week with sustainable pace, and root your worth in Christ alone.ResourcesHow Are You Sis? Check-In With Our Accountability InboxJoin The Society: Our Discipleship CommunitySubscribe to the YouTube ChannelOur Sponsors:* Check out Mr. Pen and use my code PURPOSE10 for a great deal: https://mrpen.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/prescription-for-purpose/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We’re continuing our How to Build a Life That Doesn’t Exhaust You series—and this week is all about how agency works when God calls you to live inside your scope.In Haggai 2, God’s people struggled to stay motivated when the temple they were rebuilding looked smaller and less impressive than Solomon’s. The same thing happens to us: we pray for sustainability, God answers, but the quieter, simpler life He gives feels “too small” to be right. That’s when grandiosity sneaks in—pushing us to overreach, overcommit, and undo the very peace we asked for.In this episode, you’ll learn:How to recognize when your expectations are outside your God-given scopeWhy smaller can actually be more sustainable and Spirit-filledHow perfectionism, performance anxiety, and self-idealization sabotage agencyHow to measure success in presence, purpose, and peace instead of perfectionPractical ways to stay in alignment with God’s grace so you can keep living the life you’re building📖 Scriptures: Haggai 2, 2 Peter 1:3, John 15:4–5If you’ve been tempted to “make it bigger” just to feel like you’re making progress, this conversation will help you protect your capacity, honor your agency, and build a life you can actually sustain.ResourcesTake the FREE Spiritual Wellness Check-InJoin the The Society: Our Discipleship CommunitySubscribe to the YouTube ChannelGet The NLT Study BibleOur Sponsors:* Check out Mr. Pen and use my code PURPOSE10 for a great deal: https://mrpen.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/prescription-for-purpose/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

You’re planning your week, checking boxes, doing all the “right” things—but still feeling overloaded, overbooked, and on the edge of burnout.That’s why we’re meeting here for our Weekly Accountability Session. Every Sunday night, we’ll pause together to invite God into our plans, get honest about our capacity, and build a week that protects both peace and purpose.This week, Dr. Sharla shares a real-life Joy Comes in the Morning moment that proves God’s goodness can break through even in seasons of loss, stretching, and uncertainty—and how noticing those moments can shift the way you pace your life. By the end of our time together, you’ll walk away with a Christ-centered plan to strategically implement the pace God has for your life—so you can step into the week focused, fueled, and in rhythm with Him.ResourcesHow Are You Sis? Check-In With Our Accountability InboxJoin the The Society: Our Discipleship CommunitySubscribe to the YouTube ChannelOur Sponsors:* Check out Mr. Pen and use my code PURPOSE10 for a great deal: https://mrpen.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/prescription-for-purpose/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

You’re doing what you’re “supposed” to do—praying, showing up, serving, working hard—but the results still don’t match the effort. The exhaustion is growing, the resentment is creeping in, and deep down, you’re starting to wonder: Did I miss God?In this episode, Dr. Sharla breaks down how survival mode and functional disobedience disguise themselves as faithfulness—and why God uses fruitlessness as a form of mercy, not punishment.You’ll learn:Why your lack of fruit might be a divine signal, not failureHow to spot when you're building what you can manage vs. what God assignedWhat Scripture teaches about sustainability, obedience, and divine delayFour pillars of sustainable living that realign your peace, pace, and prioritiesWhy spiritual burnout is often a misalignment issue, not a motivation oneIf you’re tired of wondering why obedience still feels overwhelming, this is your confirmation: God is inviting you to recalibrate, not perform.ResourcesTake the FREE Spiritual Wellness Check-InJoin the The Society: Our Discipleship CommunitySubscribe to the YouTube ChannelGet The NLT Study BibleOur Sponsors:* Check out Mr. Pen and use my code PURPOSE10 for a great deal: https://mrpen.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/prescription-for-purpose/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

If you’re constantly exhausted—even while trying to “do all the right things”—you’re not alone. In this episode of Prescription for Purpose, Dr. Sharla exposes the spiritual danger of emotional illiteracy and how it keeps high-functioning, faith-driven women stuck in cycles of overcommitment, disconnection, and silent resentment.You’ll learn why emotional avoidance isn’t spiritual maturity, why “fine” isn’t a feeling, and how mislabeling your emotions can cause you to misinterpret God’s voice. This teaching breaks down the link between emotional suppression and spiritual exhaustion—and shows you how reclaiming emotional awareness is the first step to operating in Spirit-led agency, discernment, and authority.Dr. Sharla walks through biblical models like David, Jeremiah, and Jesus to show that emotional literacy isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom. If you’ve been performing faith while neglecting your soul, this conversation will challenge, convict, and equip you to build a life that flows from alignment, not anxiety.ResourcesDownload The SpiritualWell AppWatch The SpiritualWell App OrientationCheck Out The Feelings WheelSubscribe to the YouTube ChannelGet The NLT Study BibleTake the FREE Spiritual Wellness Check-InJoin the The Society: Our Discipleship CommunityOur Sponsors:* Check out Mr. Pen and use my code PURPOSE10 for a great deal: https://mrpen.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/prescription-for-purpose/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Not all burnout is from doing too much. Sometimes it’s from doing the wrong thing for too long—even if it looked holy. Even if you called it obedience.In this episode of Prescription for Purpose, we expose one of the most overlooked causes of Christian burnout: spiritual misalignment. You’ll learn why high-functioning women of faith often mistake misaligned obedience for purpose—and how that confusion leads to exhaustion, resentment, and quiet disconnection from God.We explore:How spiritual fatigue shows up in your body, emotions, and calendarWhy being consistent doesn’t always mean you’re being calledWhat it really means when you’ve lost motivation—but haven’t lost your faithHow to recognize when your purpose has been hijacked by pressureThe difference between God’s assignment and your assumptionThis isn’t a time management fix or a self-care tip. It’s a spiritual reset for women who love God but are tired of carrying things He never told them to pick up.If you’ve ever said, “I’m being obedient, so why do I feel like this?” — this episode is your answer.SponsorCheck out Mr. Pen and use my code PURPOSE10 for a great deal: https://mrpen.comResourcesTake the FREE Spiritual Wellness Check-InJoin the The Society: Our Discipleship CommunitySubscribe to the YouTube ChannelGet The NLT Study BibleOur Sponsors:* Check out Mr. Pen and use my code PURPOSE10 for a great deal: https://mrpen.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/prescription-for-purpose/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy