What does perseverance actually look like when you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, or honestly just ready to quit?

In this episode, I sit down with my friend, Kaitlin Chappell Rogers, author of She Just Won’t Quit: Embracing the Practice of Everyday Perseverance, for an incredibly honest conversation about faith, freedom, mental health, burnout, motherhood, calling, and what it really means to keep going.

Kaitlin shares her journey from trying to be “good enough” for God to understanding that Jesus is our righteousness and freedom isn’t something we earn.

We also talk very openly about her battles with depression and anxiety, therapy, medication, asking for help, and why perseverance does not mean pulling yourself up by your bootstraps and handling everything alone.

Sometimes perseverance looks much smaller.

Getting out of bed.

Calling someone you trust.

Opening your Bible for five minutes.

Taking the next right step.

Kaitlin also reminds us that nobody is actually doing it all, no matter what social media makes it look like. God created us with limitations so we would depend on Him—and He gives us what we need for today.

You do not have to have a big, loud life to make an impact.

Stay where God has called you. Take the next step. And don’t quit.

Bio:

Kaitlin Chappell Rogers is a former broadcast news reporter and NASA social media specialist who now hosts “The Comeback Couch Podcast,” diving into the stories of those who have faced major setbacks and experienced comebacks. Kaitlin is a proud wife and mom to three little boys. She is on staff with Proverbs 31 Ministries as a social media coordinator and discusses her faith as a monthly guest on WAFF 48 News Tennessee Valley Living in a segment called "Candid with Kaitlin." She has contributed to “Her View from Home” and other digital outlets and is a dynamic speaker at women's events and conferences. She is passionate about seeing women live freely in the love of God.

Anchor Verses:

Revelation 12:11

Romans 8:28

Connect with Kaitlin:

Website: https://www.kaitlinchappellrogers.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/kaitlinchappellrogers/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/kaitlinchappellrogers

**If you are tired, burned out, comparing your life to someone else’s, or wondering if you have what it takes to keep going, this conversation is for you. And if this episode encourages you, please rate, review, and share it with someone who needs the reminder that they are not alone.**

***Anchored in His Promises Women’s Workshop — November 14, 2026

Join us for a powerful day of worship, encouragement, connection, and truth as we remind our hearts that God is faithful to every promise He makes. Anchored in His Promises is happening Saturday, November 14, from 9:00 AM–3:30 PM, featuring incredible speakers, practical teaching, and time to dig deeper into what it means to hold onto God’s promises no matter what season you are in.

Learn more and grab your ticket at Anchored in His Promises Women's Workshop

You guys, Wendy Speake is back!

Wendy first joined me way back on Episode 99 to talk about The 40-Day Feast, and almost 300 episodes later, we are sitting down again to talk about her newest book, A Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving: 30 Days of Rejoicing in God's Goodness.

And this conversation challenged me in the best way. How often do we come to God with our list?

God, help me.
God, fix this.
God, provide.
God, change this situation.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking God for what we need. But what might happen in our hearts if, for a season, we set down the asking and simply focused on who God is and why He is worthy of our praise?

Wendy and I talk about her “Ask Fast,” choosing praise when it doesn't come naturally, walking honestly through life, resisting the temptation to spiritually bypass our pain, and why authenticity matters in our relationship with God.

We also talk about gratitude in seasons of loss, the importance of community, and how Scripture can reorient our hearts when circumstances haven't changed.

One of my favorite reminders from this conversation?

If all you have is Jesus, anchor there.

Whether praise is overflowing today or it takes every bit of strength you have to offer it, God is still worthy.

Listen now to this episode of the Anchored by the Sword Podcast.

Bio:

Whether on the stage or on the page, Wendy Speake ministers to women’s hearts through storytelling and biblical life application. With a background in Hollywood as a trained actress, she couples the power of God’s Word with personal testimony. Known for the uncanny way she meets women in their most common struggles, from sugar-addiction and mommy-anger to deep soul-sadness, Wendy uses every opportunity to point readers to the transforming power of God’s Word and the faithful nearness of His Holy Spirit.

Wendy is the author of multiple books, including The 40-Day Sugar Fast, The 40-Day Social Media Fast, and The 40-Day Feast. She’s also coauthor of the popular parenting books, Triggers, Parenting Scripts, and Life Creative.

Though originally a California girl, Wendy now lives in the great state of Texas. When she isn’t ministering to others, Wendy enjoys gardening, taking walks in her neighborhood, and fixing meals for family and friends.

Anchor Verses:

Psalm 100

Psalm 119:11

Hebrews 13:15

Connect with Wendy:

Website: https://wendyspeake.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/wendy_speake

FB: https://www.facebook.com/WendyJSpeake/

**And if this conversation encourages you, please rate, review and share it with someone who needs this reminder today. Also, head to Wendy’s website to sign up for a special 30-Day group she is leading through the month of November to focus on giving God our Praise and Thanksgiving.**

***Anchored in His Promises Women’s Workshop — November 14, 2026

Join us for a powerful day of worship, encouragement, connection, and truth as we remind our hearts that God is faithful to every promise He makes. Anchored in His Promises is happening Saturday, November 14, from 9:00 AM–3:30 PM, featuring incredible speakers, practical teaching, and time to dig deeper into what it means to hold onto God’s promises no matter what season you are in.

Learn more and grab your ticket at Anchored in His Promises Women's Workshop

Have you ever reached the point where you realized, “God, I cannot do this in my own strength”?

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Stephanie Parker for a powerful conversation about surrender, grief, obedience and trusting God when life does not go the way we expected.

Stephanie shares how her faith became personal during a difficult season when she committed to spending an hour a day in God’s Word for a year with a simple prayer: “God, change me.” That decision transformed her life.

We talk about walking through the loss of a child, losing her dad, releasing control and learning that real freedom is not found in trying harder or carrying everything ourselves.

It is found in remembering that He is able, even when we are not.

Stephanie also shares how God opened unexpected doors in her life — from entrepreneurship and Shark Tank to acting in faith-based films including LifeMark and Disciples in the Moonlight.

If you are in a season of waiting, grief, surrender or wondering what God is doing with your story, this conversation will encourage you to keep trusting Him.

Bio:

Stephanie Parker is an actress, writer, producer, and lifelong storyteller with a heart for using film to entertain, connect, and point people toward something deeper.

Her acting credits include Disciples in the Moonlight, Lifemark, Divine Influencer, Shark Tank, among others. She has worked across film and television, with many of her projects living at the intersection of compelling storytelling and faith.

A devoted follower of Jesus, Stephanie is passionate about the place where faith, creativity, and real life collide. She believes some of the most powerful stories aren't the ones that tie everything up neatly, but the ones willing to wrestle honestly with disappointment, loss, relationships, doubt, healing, and the unexpected ways God meets us in the middle of them.

Stephanie's own journey has given her an even deeper appreciation for storytelling in recent years. Through seasons of significant personal change, she has continued pursuing acting and creating while learning what it looks like to trust God when the story doesn't unfold the way you expected.

Whether she's acting, writing, producing, or sitting around a table talking about Jesus, Stephanie hopes to tell honest stories that make people laugh, make them feel less alone, and remind them that God is still at work—even in the messy chapters.

Anchor Verse:

Ephesians 3:20

Connect with Stephanie:

Website: m.imdb.com/name/nm3292201

IG: https://www.instagram.com/stephparkeractress/

**And if this conversation encourages you, would you take a minute to rate, review and share the podcast? You never know who in your circle may need the reminder today that when they aren’t able—God still is.**

***Anchored in His Promises Women’s Workshop — November 14, 2026

Join us for a powerful day of worship, encouragement, connection, and truth as we remind our hearts that God is faithful to every promise He makes. Anchored in His Promises is happening Saturday, November 14, from 9:00 AM–3:30 PM, featuring incredible speakers, practical teaching, and time to dig deeper into what it means to hold onto God’s promises no matter what season you are in.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” — Hebrews 10:23 (ESV)

Learn more and grab your ticket at Anchored in His Promises Women's Workshop