1 00:00:08,257 --> 00:00:09,457 Speaker 1: Life audio. 2 00:00:11,216 --> 00:00:13,537 Speaker 2: Walk through the season of Lent with an intentional focus 3 00:00:13,576 --> 00:00:16,337 Speaker 2: on your Savior and prepare for the joy and victory 4 00:00:16,377 --> 00:00:19,577 Speaker 2: of his resurrection. With Jesus Listens for Lent and Easter. 5 00:00:20,337 --> 00:00:24,257 Speaker 2: This book offers seasonally themed devotions from Sarah Young's New 6 00:00:24,337 --> 00:00:29,057 Speaker 2: York Times bestseller Jesus Listens. Inside you'll find prayers, reflections, 7 00:00:29,097 --> 00:00:33,016 Speaker 2: and Bible verses based on Jesus life and sacrifice, plus 8 00:00:33,297 --> 00:00:36,897 Speaker 2: stunning Spring and Easter illustrations, making this a holiday treasure 9 00:00:36,937 --> 00:00:39,976 Speaker 2: to cherish for years to come. Find Jesus Listens for 10 00:00:40,057 --> 00:00:42,257 Speaker 2: Lent at Easter Today at your favorite retailer. 11 00:00:44,897 --> 00:00:46,937 Speaker 1: The more I dove into my faith and I sat 12 00:00:46,976 --> 00:00:50,097 Speaker 1: with God and realized that we can't control what happens 13 00:00:50,137 --> 00:00:54,017 Speaker 1: in life right, but we can be open to the 14 00:00:54,057 --> 00:00:57,377 Speaker 1: experience of what God has in store for us. 15 00:00:58,697 --> 00:01:01,897 Speaker 2: Welcome to a special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast. 16 00:01:02,297 --> 00:01:05,257 Speaker 2: In this episode, we welcome actress and mental health advocate 17 00:01:05,537 --> 00:01:08,657 Speaker 2: Courtney Hope as she shares about her personal experiences with 18 00:01:08,737 --> 00:01:12,657 Speaker 2: OCD and anxiety. She also gives us an inside look 19 00:01:12,657 --> 00:01:16,177 Speaker 2: at her latest project, a four part Easter audio podcast 20 00:01:16,217 --> 00:01:18,937 Speaker 2: called The Christ, in which she explores the stories of 21 00:01:18,937 --> 00:01:22,417 Speaker 2: the Easter season, particularly of Jesus Mother Mary, and how 22 00:01:22,457 --> 00:01:25,137 Speaker 2: this exploration has led to a deeper understanding of her 23 00:01:25,177 --> 00:01:26,337 Speaker 2: own relationship with God. 24 00:01:27,497 --> 00:01:32,697 Speaker 1: My name is Courtney Hope and I'm an actor, writer, 25 00:01:33,057 --> 00:01:38,617 Speaker 1: mental health advocate. I do TV, film, voiceover, video game MOCAP, 26 00:01:39,297 --> 00:01:42,297 Speaker 1: and I am the vice president of an eating disorder 27 00:01:42,297 --> 00:01:48,137 Speaker 1: mental health foundation. I always wanted to tell stories ever 28 00:01:48,177 --> 00:01:50,457 Speaker 1: since I was young. I just love to entertain. I 29 00:01:50,537 --> 00:01:53,377 Speaker 1: like to make people laugh. I've been a follower of 30 00:01:53,777 --> 00:01:57,257 Speaker 1: Christ since I was young. My family were very spiritual 31 00:01:57,297 --> 00:02:00,257 Speaker 1: and religious, and I went to Catechism when I was younger, 32 00:02:00,297 --> 00:02:02,897 Speaker 1: and I learned the story of Jesus very young, and 33 00:02:03,217 --> 00:02:06,657 Speaker 1: I just have always been drawn to it. I really 34 00:02:06,697 --> 00:02:10,857 Speaker 1: wanted to be in acting, and my parents I begged 35 00:02:10,897 --> 00:02:14,057 Speaker 1: them to get me an agent and they did. I 36 00:02:14,217 --> 00:02:17,457 Speaker 1: always feel like I'm telling stories for other people. I 37 00:02:17,497 --> 00:02:20,137 Speaker 1: wanted them to feel less alone. So whatever story it is, 38 00:02:20,137 --> 00:02:24,217 Speaker 1: whether it's TV show, video game, movie, podcast, I always 39 00:02:24,297 --> 00:02:27,617 Speaker 1: sit in silence and kind of see whose hearts I'm 40 00:02:27,657 --> 00:02:30,217 Speaker 1: trying to speak to and how to best do that. 41 00:02:30,617 --> 00:02:32,497 Speaker 1: I love what I do. I've always seen myself as 42 00:02:32,537 --> 00:02:36,737 Speaker 1: a vessel for storytelling through God, and I know that 43 00:02:37,577 --> 00:02:41,297 Speaker 1: He has really brought forth a lot of the beautiful 44 00:02:41,297 --> 00:02:49,417 Speaker 1: blessings that I have in my life. I found out 45 00:02:49,457 --> 00:02:52,216 Speaker 1: I had OCD when I was young. I developed a 46 00:02:52,257 --> 00:02:54,216 Speaker 1: lot of superstitions, let's just put it that way, like 47 00:02:54,257 --> 00:02:56,457 Speaker 1: everything had to be in even numbers, and it was 48 00:02:56,497 --> 00:02:59,377 Speaker 1: really crippling as a kid, and I was very anxious 49 00:02:59,417 --> 00:03:02,537 Speaker 1: to do new things and try new things. I lost 50 00:03:02,577 --> 00:03:05,897 Speaker 1: my brother when I was twelve, and that I think 51 00:03:06,017 --> 00:03:08,617 Speaker 1: perpetuated even more of this, Like you know, it was 52 00:03:08,737 --> 00:03:10,537 Speaker 1: very sudden, right, And so then I had just had 53 00:03:10,577 --> 00:03:12,377 Speaker 1: this fear of like anything can happen at the drop 54 00:03:12,377 --> 00:03:16,337 Speaker 1: of a hat. And so just the more I dove 55 00:03:16,377 --> 00:03:18,977 Speaker 1: into my faith and I sat with God and realized, 56 00:03:19,097 --> 00:03:22,217 Speaker 1: we can't control what happens in life, right, but we 57 00:03:22,377 --> 00:03:26,737 Speaker 1: can be open to the experience of what God has 58 00:03:26,777 --> 00:03:33,097 Speaker 1: in store for us. And so through my years of schooling, 59 00:03:33,257 --> 00:03:36,777 Speaker 1: I started college at sixteen, and I've been very blessed 60 00:03:36,817 --> 00:03:40,377 Speaker 1: to do some pretty remarkable and unique things in life. 61 00:03:40,777 --> 00:03:43,537 Speaker 1: But with that came a lot of anxiety because I 62 00:03:43,537 --> 00:03:45,657 Speaker 1: couldn't really relate to a lot of people around me 63 00:03:45,777 --> 00:03:50,697 Speaker 1: that I was doing these things. But I always pushed 64 00:03:50,697 --> 00:03:53,137 Speaker 1: through it, and I would sit with God, and so 65 00:03:53,457 --> 00:03:55,897 Speaker 1: I had overcome a lot of anxieties. I've been very 66 00:03:55,897 --> 00:03:57,257 Speaker 1: fortunate to have a lot of people in my life 67 00:03:57,297 --> 00:04:00,417 Speaker 1: support me and be there to help me, but also 68 00:04:00,417 --> 00:04:01,897 Speaker 1: point me in the right direction of people that could 69 00:04:01,897 --> 00:04:09,577 Speaker 1: also help. I think sometimes there's an unrealistic image that 70 00:04:09,697 --> 00:04:12,057 Speaker 1: we try and maintain, men and women, and whether it's 71 00:04:12,217 --> 00:04:14,857 Speaker 1: mentally or physically, whatever it might be that you're trying 72 00:04:14,897 --> 00:04:17,017 Speaker 1: to obtain. I think a lot of times we forget 73 00:04:17,057 --> 00:04:21,416 Speaker 1: that we are created uniquely and uniquely in the image 74 00:04:21,457 --> 00:04:23,896 Speaker 1: of God, or unique from each other. And so for me, 75 00:04:24,097 --> 00:04:28,897 Speaker 1: what really helped me is trying to fizzle out that perfectionism, 76 00:04:28,976 --> 00:04:31,856 Speaker 1: to lean into what makes me unique and what makes 77 00:04:32,056 --> 00:04:35,256 Speaker 1: what maybe someone might see as flawed, because you know, 78 00:04:35,296 --> 00:04:38,497 Speaker 1: there are harsh natures in this world, but what does 79 00:04:38,537 --> 00:04:40,696 Speaker 1: that mean for me? And what does my journey look like? 80 00:04:41,257 --> 00:04:43,897 Speaker 1: And I think the more I leaned into that, the 81 00:04:43,936 --> 00:04:48,577 Speaker 1: more I became accepting of my body and my mind 82 00:04:48,777 --> 00:04:53,257 Speaker 1: and realize that our bodies are very smart, We're very 83 00:04:53,296 --> 00:04:57,257 Speaker 1: adaptable and malleable to circumstances. And I think sometimes if 84 00:04:57,257 --> 00:05:03,497 Speaker 1: we're trying to really overcome something with our own control, 85 00:05:03,777 --> 00:05:08,056 Speaker 1: we might try and overri what our body naturally wants 86 00:05:08,097 --> 00:05:09,856 Speaker 1: to do or what our mind naturally wants to do. 87 00:05:09,897 --> 00:05:11,897 Speaker 1: And I think that when that resistance comes in is 88 00:05:11,897 --> 00:05:14,256 Speaker 1: when the biggest suffering comes in. I feel like there's 89 00:05:14,257 --> 00:05:16,976 Speaker 1: always things in this world we're up against trying to 90 00:05:17,936 --> 00:05:21,856 Speaker 1: drown out our peace. But I truly believe that our 91 00:05:21,897 --> 00:05:24,697 Speaker 1: bodies are smarter than we allow them to be. So 92 00:05:25,017 --> 00:05:29,256 Speaker 1: if we just accept our vulnerabilities and allow ourselves to 93 00:05:29,296 --> 00:05:31,537 Speaker 1: sometimes yeah, it's okay to not be okay. That was 94 00:05:31,537 --> 00:05:34,496 Speaker 1: really hard for me to learn. I read one time, 95 00:05:34,856 --> 00:05:36,937 Speaker 1: and this has always stuck with me that the little 96 00:05:36,936 --> 00:05:40,816 Speaker 1: butterflies in your stomach or actually your body giving you applause, 97 00:05:40,897 --> 00:05:44,777 Speaker 1: cheering you on. And I love that reframe, so I 98 00:05:44,897 --> 00:05:47,656 Speaker 1: use that very often. God is a prince of piece, 99 00:05:47,816 --> 00:05:51,137 Speaker 1: not the god of fear. I just believe that everything 100 00:05:51,416 --> 00:05:53,376 Speaker 1: will work out and that I don't want to be 101 00:05:53,457 --> 00:05:56,217 Speaker 1: crippled by fear. The closer I am to God, the 102 00:05:56,257 --> 00:05:58,296 Speaker 1: calmer I find my heart is. 103 00:05:59,736 --> 00:06:05,816 Speaker 2: Stay tuned for more with Courtney Hope after a brief message. 104 00:06:05,976 --> 00:06:09,657 Speaker 2: These uncertain times bring anxiety and fear, but Jesus listens 105 00:06:09,697 --> 00:06:12,657 Speaker 2: prayers for every season gives you daily prayers of comfort 106 00:06:13,457 --> 00:06:17,736 Speaker 2: with seasonally inspired illustrations. This beautiful book includes prayers that 107 00:06:17,856 --> 00:06:21,057 Speaker 2: speak to your situation, whether it's a time of stress 108 00:06:21,176 --> 00:06:25,136 Speaker 2: or strength. Look for Jesus Listens prayers for every season 109 00:06:25,337 --> 00:06:27,856 Speaker 2: wherever you buy books. 110 00:06:33,416 --> 00:06:37,416 Speaker 1: The Christ Podcast is if four part audio epic of 111 00:06:37,577 --> 00:06:41,296 Speaker 1: Jesus's life and death and legacy and all the players 112 00:06:41,337 --> 00:06:46,497 Speaker 1: involved in it. And it's so powerful, it's so incredibly immersive. 113 00:06:47,056 --> 00:06:50,897 Speaker 1: It's definitely one of a kind in this spiritual realm. 114 00:06:50,976 --> 00:06:55,416 Speaker 1: I believe. Of Jesus' stories, it has been a God 115 00:06:55,496 --> 00:06:59,537 Speaker 1: gift that was an answer to a prayer of mine 116 00:06:59,777 --> 00:07:03,456 Speaker 1: of a rough moment in my life. I've had a 117 00:07:03,457 --> 00:07:05,177 Speaker 1: lot of things happen in my own personal life and 118 00:07:06,176 --> 00:07:08,457 Speaker 1: know on God's timing it will happen, and felt at 119 00:07:08,457 --> 00:07:11,016 Speaker 1: peace with that. But I very much so care for 120 00:07:11,057 --> 00:07:12,617 Speaker 1: the people in my life. And I had a moment 121 00:07:12,657 --> 00:07:15,577 Speaker 1: where someone around me was struggling and I was praying 122 00:07:16,217 --> 00:07:20,017 Speaker 1: just so powerfully for them and it just wasn't happening. 123 00:07:24,737 --> 00:07:26,897 Speaker 1: And I had one moment one night on my knees 124 00:07:27,097 --> 00:07:29,617 Speaker 1: just angry, you know, I was like, God, what is happening? 125 00:07:29,697 --> 00:07:31,537 Speaker 1: They want this? I want this for them, and you 126 00:07:31,577 --> 00:07:34,016 Speaker 1: know it's not happening, and I was angry. I was mad, 127 00:07:34,057 --> 00:07:39,057 Speaker 1: and I didn't understand why it wasn't happening. And three 128 00:07:39,097 --> 00:07:42,337 Speaker 1: days later I got the email that I was offered 129 00:07:42,377 --> 00:07:45,497 Speaker 1: the role of Mother Mary, and I was like wow. 130 00:07:45,657 --> 00:07:49,177 Speaker 1: And so through diving into her journey and her heart 131 00:07:49,217 --> 00:07:53,096 Speaker 1: and her story, I got my answer from God, which 132 00:07:53,177 --> 00:07:55,977 Speaker 1: is that everyone's got their own journey. And I love 133 00:07:55,977 --> 00:07:58,216 Speaker 1: how Jesus says, don't you know him about my father's business. 134 00:07:58,417 --> 00:08:01,217 Speaker 1: He's speaking to me in his own right, and Mother 135 00:08:01,257 --> 00:08:05,017 Speaker 1: Mary must trust that and trust in her heart, the suffering, 136 00:08:05,097 --> 00:08:07,097 Speaker 1: the try, if it's all worth it in the end, 137 00:08:07,217 --> 00:08:09,136 Speaker 1: and that there is a plan and a purpose and 138 00:08:09,217 --> 00:08:11,417 Speaker 1: his own journey. And so I think that's been the 139 00:08:11,417 --> 00:08:14,096 Speaker 1: greatest lesson of Mary in my own life. But then also, 140 00:08:14,497 --> 00:08:17,537 Speaker 1: like with the turning water into wine, she was in 141 00:08:17,617 --> 00:08:19,697 Speaker 1: support of Jesus. He was the one that said I'm 142 00:08:19,697 --> 00:08:22,656 Speaker 1: not ready and this was before your time, You've been ready. 143 00:08:22,737 --> 00:08:24,177 Speaker 1: It's really allowed me to take a step back and 144 00:08:24,217 --> 00:08:26,777 Speaker 1: look at who has supported me in my life also, 145 00:08:27,097 --> 00:08:30,377 Speaker 1: and the importance of having someone believe in you. Mary 146 00:08:30,497 --> 00:08:32,817 Speaker 1: is just wonderful. And I'm still diving into her heart 147 00:08:32,857 --> 00:08:34,777 Speaker 1: because we don't really talk about it very often, and 148 00:08:34,817 --> 00:08:37,057 Speaker 1: what it looks like is a mother going, this is 149 00:08:37,097 --> 00:08:39,577 Speaker 1: my kid, and these are his followers or his friends, 150 00:08:39,657 --> 00:08:41,257 Speaker 1: or these are the people supporting him. You know, she's 151 00:08:41,337 --> 00:08:44,497 Speaker 1: like stepping back and looking at that from that perspective. 152 00:08:47,097 --> 00:08:51,417 Speaker 1: I learned at a very young age that not everything lasts, 153 00:08:52,097 --> 00:08:58,257 Speaker 1: not everything is forever. And so what God and prayer 154 00:08:58,297 --> 00:09:01,657 Speaker 1: has really done for me is been able to appreciate 155 00:09:01,737 --> 00:09:05,617 Speaker 1: the moments of loneliness and stillness and solitude because I 156 00:09:05,457 --> 00:09:08,057 Speaker 1: know there's going to be a season that's loud and 157 00:09:08,137 --> 00:09:11,097 Speaker 1: I can't even hear my own thoughts, and so that 158 00:09:11,137 --> 00:09:14,697 Speaker 1: has really gotten me through every season. Prayer has brought 159 00:09:14,737 --> 00:09:17,977 Speaker 1: me through for sure, and definitely with loneliness. You know, 160 00:09:18,017 --> 00:09:20,657 Speaker 1: I'm very fortunate to have a very full life of 161 00:09:20,697 --> 00:09:24,217 Speaker 1: people that I love very dearly, and so I try 162 00:09:24,257 --> 00:09:27,457 Speaker 1: and live by that. I actually got my first Jesus 163 00:09:27,497 --> 00:09:30,337 Speaker 1: Calling book about twelve years ago, was next to my 164 00:09:30,417 --> 00:09:32,497 Speaker 1: bedside forever, and now I have a couple. I have 165 00:09:32,657 --> 00:09:37,017 Speaker 1: two actually on my bookshelf. I love daily devotionals and 166 00:09:37,097 --> 00:09:41,417 Speaker 1: little reminders of faith because the season's change and a 167 00:09:41,537 --> 00:09:46,097 Speaker 1: relationship with Jesus is just that it's a relationship. You 168 00:09:46,177 --> 00:09:48,256 Speaker 1: only see someone on Christmas, or you only see someone 169 00:09:48,297 --> 00:09:50,097 Speaker 1: on their birthday, and you don't talk with them, You 170 00:09:50,097 --> 00:09:51,657 Speaker 1: don't reach out to them, you don't sit with them 171 00:09:51,657 --> 00:09:55,017 Speaker 1: and talk with them and converse with them. I believe 172 00:09:55,057 --> 00:09:58,337 Speaker 1: it's the same with Jesus, not only just diving in 173 00:09:58,377 --> 00:10:01,737 Speaker 1: on Christmas or on Easter, but throughout your day to 174 00:10:01,817 --> 00:10:03,457 Speaker 1: day life, and not just in the hard times, but 175 00:10:03,497 --> 00:10:05,297 Speaker 1: in the grateful times too. You know, it's so easy 176 00:10:05,297 --> 00:10:07,897 Speaker 1: to to God when times are rough, but we forget 177 00:10:07,897 --> 00:10:11,097 Speaker 1: when times are great to give thanks and gratitude and praise. 178 00:10:13,457 --> 00:10:16,777 Speaker 1: I am reading a passage from Jesus Listens September twenty fifth. 179 00:10:17,897 --> 00:10:21,297 Speaker 1: Gentle Jesus. When I'm feeling weighted down by the things 180 00:10:21,337 --> 00:10:24,777 Speaker 1: I regret, it's as if I'm dragging my failures around 181 00:10:24,897 --> 00:10:28,537 Speaker 1: like heavy chains clamped to my ankles. At such times, 182 00:10:28,857 --> 00:10:32,217 Speaker 1: I feel it beneficial to picture You coming to my 183 00:10:32,297 --> 00:10:36,177 Speaker 1: rescue and cutting off those chains. You came to set 184 00:10:36,217 --> 00:10:39,137 Speaker 1: your followers free, and I want to walk in the 185 00:10:39,177 --> 00:10:43,217 Speaker 1: truth that I am free. Indeed, Lord, I rejoice that 186 00:10:43,297 --> 00:10:48,057 Speaker 1: you redeem my failures forgiving me and leading me along 187 00:10:48,137 --> 00:10:51,737 Speaker 1: paths of newness. As I talk with you about my 188 00:10:51,817 --> 00:10:55,817 Speaker 1: mistakes I need to learn from you. Please show me 189 00:10:55,897 --> 00:10:58,017 Speaker 1: the changes you want me to make and guide me 190 00:10:58,057 --> 00:11:02,657 Speaker 1: along the right paths in your redeeming name. Amen. 191 00:11:05,737 --> 00:11:08,297 Speaker 2: Thank you for listening to this special bonus episode. To 192 00:11:08,377 --> 00:11:10,297 Speaker 2: keep up with Courtney and her work with the Breaking 193 00:11:10,337 --> 00:11:13,577 Speaker 2: the Chains Foundation, follow her on social media or visit 194 00:11:13,857 --> 00:11:17,777 Speaker 2: Breakingthechainsfoundation dot org. You can find her latest work, The 195 00:11:17,857 --> 00:11:30,577 Speaker 2: Christ at The Christ podcast dot com. Thanks for listening 196 00:11:30,617 --> 00:11:33,417 Speaker 2: to the Jesus Calling Stories of Faith podcast on the 197 00:11:33,457 --> 00:11:36,977 Speaker 2: Live Audio Network. Every week, we'll bring you stories from 198 00:11:37,017 --> 00:11:39,977 Speaker 2: people who share their journeys of faith and how prayer 199 00:11:40,137 --> 00:11:44,057 Speaker 2: and a relationship with God transformed their lives. Be sure 200 00:11:44,057 --> 00:11:47,657 Speaker 2: to follow us on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or wherever you 201 00:11:47,737 --> 00:11:51,017 Speaker 2: listen to podcasts, and leave us a review so others 202 00:11:51,057 --> 00:11:54,657 Speaker 2: can be inspired weekly by these stories of faith. Finally, 203 00:11:54,977 --> 00:11:58,497 Speaker 2: you can find encouragement resources and more on the Jesus 204 00:11:58,497 --> 00:12:01,457 Speaker 2: Calling website at Jesus Calling dot com