Like the Podcast? Go deeper with the book on Amazon: www.startingoverbook.com

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When you can’t picture a better future anymore, it’s easy to assume that what you see right now is all there is. Using the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, this episode looks at how disappointment can shrink our hope and make us feel like the future we expected is gone, even while God is already working in ways we can’t yet recognize. The answer isn’t to pretend everything is fine, but to keep walking with God, let Scripture correct the story fear is telling you, and trust that Jesus can be present and working even when you can’t see what comes next. Pasted markdown

Share this episode with someone who may need a reminder that they’re not alone. Let’s inspire hope and show that with God’s grace, even the most broken seasons can lead to a beautiful new beginning.

Do you want to know God and receive Jesus as Savior into your life for healing and salvation? Put your trust in God through Jesus Christ with a simple prayer of faith https://tinyurl.com/asalvationprayer

Like the Podcast? Go deeper with the book on Amazon- HERE

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When life keeps piling on problems, it can start to feel like God is against us, especially when prayers seem unanswered or circumstances get worse instead of better. This episode looks at James 1 and other biblical examples to show that hardship does not always mean God is opposing us. Sometimes He is strengthening our faith, correcting our direction, or working through circumstances we cannot yet understand. The answer is to bring those fears honestly to God, ask Him for wisdom, stay grounded in His Word, and trust His character even when we cannot see what He is doing. Pasted markdown

Share this episode with someone who may need a reminder that they’re not alone. Let’s inspire hope and show that with God’s grace, even the most broken seasons can lead to a beautiful new beginning.

Do you want to know God and receive Jesus as Savior into your life for healing and salvation? Put your trust in God through Jesus Christ with a simple prayer of faith https://tinyurl.com/asalvationprayer

Like the Podcast? Go deeper with the book on Amazon- HERE -

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This Episode: When God doesn’t remove the obstacle, it doesn’t necessarily mean He’s abandoned you. Using Joshua 17, this episode looks at how disappointment, fear, and unmet expectations can keep us focused on what we’ve lost instead of what God has already given us. Sometimes the obstacle in front of us is where God builds perseverance, courage, trust, and a stronger faith.

Share this episode with someone who may need a reminder that they’re not alone. Let’s inspire hope and show that with God’s grace, even the most broken seasons can lead to a beautiful new beginning.

Do you want to know God and receive Jesus as Savior into your life for healing and salvation? Put your trust in God through Jesus Christ with a simple prayer of faith https://tinyurl.com/asalvationprayer

Like the Podcast? Go deeper with the book on Amazon- HERE -

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When you’re starting over, it’s natural to focus on what you’ve lost. But eventually, another question comes up: What are you expecting your new life to actually be like?

In this episode, Tom and Paul talk about how hardship can quietly lower our expectations. After enough disappointment, we may stop thinking about building a meaningful life and start concentrating on building a safe one. But starting over can also give us an opportunity to rethink our priorities, relationships, work, habits, and especially our relationship with God.

If you’ve been knocked down a few times, taking another risk may not sound very appealing.

Tom and Paul share some of their own experiences with career changes, family decisions, moving, and plans that turned out very differently than expected. Looking back, some of those unexpected changes became opportunities they couldn’t see at the time.

The conversation challenges you to consider whether you’re being wisely cautious about your future or whether disappointment has caused you to think smaller than you need to.

Starting over doesn’t have to be only about surviving what happened to you.

There comes a point when you can begin looking beyond survival and asking how your life can make an impact again. That might mean helping someone, serving in your church or community, taking a career opportunity, learning something new, or simply becoming more willing to step outside your comfort zone.

And as Christians, our confidence isn’t supposed to come from believing everything will work out the way we want. Our confidence is in God, knowing that we can make plans while trusting Him with where those plans ultimately lead.

Pay attention to what you’re telling yourself about your future.

“I’m too old for that.”

“I tried that before.”

“I don’t want to be disappointed again.”

Those thoughts may feel reasonable, but they may also be fear talking. As the episode points out, you don’t have to say yes to every new opportunity, but you don’t want fear saying no to everything either.

Proverbs 16:9 reminds us that we can make plans while God directs our steps. So bring your expectations, fears, and plans to Him and leave room for your new life to look different from what you imagined.

You don’t know what the next six months or the next few years will look like. But you can ask God to make you wiser, stronger in your faith, and more useful to Him through whatever comes next.

Important Links:

If this podcast is encouraging you, you'll find a deeper roadmap in my book, Starting Over | Life 2.0 With God, where I walk through six biblical phases of turning your life around: Pray, Worship, Heal, Hope, Move Forward, and Trust.

www.startingoverbook.com

Share this episode with someone who may need a reminder that they’re not alone. Let’s inspire hope and show that with God’s grace, even the most broken seasons can lead to a beautiful new beginning.

Be on the weekly encouraging email list: tom-clairmont-4ebvan.subscribepage.io

Do you want to know God and receive Jesus as Savior into your life for healing and salvation?

Put your trust in God through Jesus Christ with a simple prayer of faith https://tinyurl.com/asalvationprayer

Like the Podcast? Go deeper with the book on Amazon- HERE -

Be on the weekly encouraging email list: tom-clairmont-4ebvan.subscribepage.io

There’s a difference between saying you believe in God and actually letting that belief affect the way you live.

In this episode, Tom and Paul talk about what changes when faith becomes more than going to church, praying when there’s a problem, or calling yourself a Christian. It starts showing up in your decisions, relationships, finances, habits, priorities, and what you do when God’s direction isn’t what you wanted.

They also discuss Christian maturity and how you gradually stop focusing so much on what everybody else is doing wrong and start asking, “God, what are You trying to change in me?”

Maybe you’ve been a Christian for years, but there are still areas where you make the decisions and ask God to come along afterward.

Maybe it’s money, a relationship, your time, or a habit you’ve gotten good at defending.

This episode isn’t about becoming a “better Christian” so God will love you more. It’s about honestly looking at your life and asking where God really has authority—and where you’re still holding on to control.

As your relationship with God grows, your perspective starts changing.

You don’t read the Bible to earn points with God. You want to know Him. You don’t pray simply because you’re supposed to. You recognize that you need Him.

And instead of always asking, “What can God do for me?”, you begin asking, “God, how can You use me?”

That’s the shift from obligation to relationship and from being self-focused to becoming increasingly God-focused.

James 2:17 tells us that faith without works is dead. Our works don’t save us—Christ saves us—but genuine faith eventually shows up in the way we live.

So pick one thing this week.

Give God the first part of your morning. Look honestly at your finances. Have the conversation you’ve been avoiding. Deal with the habit you know needs to change. Or pray before making that decision instead of asking God to bless it afterward.

As Tom writes in Starting Over: Life 2.0 With God, Chapter 9:

“Our job is to focus on today instead of worrying about the future. We need to consecrate ourselves to Him now and live in the present.”

Sometimes taking your faith seriously begins with one ordinary decision where you decide that God gets a say in this part of your life too.

Important Links:

If this podcast is encouraging you, you'll find a deeper roadmap in my book, Starting Over | Life 2.0 With God, where I walk through six biblical phases of turning your life around: Pray, Worship, Heal, Hope, Move Forward, and Trust.

www.startingoverbook.com

Share this episode with someone who may need a reminder that they’re not alone. Let’s inspire hope and show that with God’s grace, even the most broken seasons can lead to a beautiful new beginning.

Be on the weekly encouraging email list: tom-clairmont-4ebvan.subscribepage.io

Do you want to know God and receive Jesus as Savior into your life for healing and salvation?

Put your trust in God through Jesus Christ with a simple prayer of faith https://tinyurl.com/asalvationprayer

Like the Podcast? Go deeper with the book on Amazon- HERE

Episode Summary

We all avoid things. A hard conversation. Looking honestly at our finances. Dealing with a relationship problem. Admitting we need help. Sometimes we even avoid opportunities because we're afraid of failing, succeeding, or simply stepping outside what feels comfortable.

In this episode, Tom Clairmont and Paul Berard have a very practical conversation about why we do this and what avoidance can quietly cost us over time. They share personal examples of things they've avoided and talk about the fears that are often hiding underneath. They also look at the difference between something we need to repent of and something that's simply hard and needs to be faced. If there's something in your life you've been telling yourself you'll deal with "later," this episode might help you finally understand what's been holding you back and how trusting God can help you face it.

What You'll Hear

• Why avoidance can actually feel good at first
• How "I'll deal with it later" can turn into months or years
• Why admitting there's a problem means accepting responsibility
• The fear that can hide behind procrastination
• Why we avoid hard conversations in relationships
• Paul's surprising struggle with the fear of success
• How staying comfortable can keep us from growing
• The difference between avoiding sin and avoiding something that's simply hard
• What Jonah teaches us about running from what God wants us to face
• A practical way to identify and deal with something you've been avoiding

Why You Should Listen

Maybe there's something you already know you've been avoiding. You don't need anybody to tell you what it is because it probably came to mind while you were reading this. This episode isn't about making you feel guilty about it. It's about understanding why you've been putting it off, being honest about the fear underneath it, and figuring out how to face it with God's help.

Why This Episode Matters

I've learned that the things we avoid don't usually disappear. Sometimes they sit quietly in the background until we're forced to deal with them under much worse circumstances. Whether it's a relationship, money, personal growth, sin, or a decision you simply don't want to make, facing it now may save you from a lot more pain later. And sometimes the thing you've been trying so hard not to face is exactly where God wants to begin doing something different in your life.

Go Deeper

If this podcast is encouraging you, you'll find a deeper roadmap in my book, Starting Over | Life 2.0 With God, where I walk through six biblical phases of turning your life around: Pray, Worship, Heal, Hope, Move Forward, and Trust.

www.startingoverbook.com

Share this episode with someone who may need a reminder that they’re not alone. Let’s inspire hope and show that with God’s grace, even the most broken seasons can lead to a beautiful new beginning.

Be on the weekly encouraging email list: tom-clairmont-4ebvan.subscribepage.io

Do you want to know God and receive Jesus as Savior into your life for healing and salvation?

Put your trust in God through Jesus Christ with a simple prayer of faith https://tinyurl.com/asalvationprayer

Like the Podcast? Go deeper with the book on Amazon- HERE

Episode Summary

It's easy to believe our lives are shaped by the big moments. A divorce. Losing a job. Retirement. A financial setback. But when you look back, it's often the small decisions made day after day that quietly determine where life takes you.

In this episode, Tom Clairmont and Paul Berard explore how the everyday choices we make gradually become habits, habits become character, and character shapes our future. Through personal stories and practical biblical wisdom, they discuss why choosing comfort over growth, putting things off, or neglecting our relationship with God can slowly move us off course. More importantly, they explain how God can use small, faithful acts of obedience to change the direction of our lives over time. If you're trying to turn your life around, this conversation will encourage you to stop waiting for one big breakthrough and start allowing God to work through the ordinary decisions you're making today.

What You'll Hear

• Why small decisions often shape life's biggest outcomes
• How daily habits determine your future direction
• The danger of choosing comfort over growth
• Why consistency matters more than occasional effort
• Paul's story of one decision that changed his life
• Practical ways to strengthen your faith through daily choices
• How God works through ordinary obedience
• Why routines shape your character
• The long-term impact of wise decision-making
• One simple question to help guide your choices each day

Why You Should Listen

If you're trying to rebuild your life, it's easy to think you need one big breakthrough. This episode shows why lasting change usually begins with small, faithful decisions that God uses over time to reshape your future.

Why This Episode Matters

When life falls apart, it's natural to look for one big answer that will fix everything. But real change usually happens much more quietly. This episode reminds us that every small decision matters, and when we invite God into those everyday choices, He can gradually lead us toward a completely different future.

Go Deeper

If this podcast is encouraging you, you'll find a deeper roadmap in my book, Starting Over | Life 2.0 With God, where I walk through six biblical phases of turning your life around: Pray, Worship, Heal, Hope, Move Forward, and Trust.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNNG1XRB

Share this episode with someone who may need a reminder that they’re not alone. Let’s inspire hope and show that with God’s grace, even the most broken seasons can lead to a beautiful new beginning.

Be on the weekly encouraging email list: tom-clairmont-4ebvan.subscribepage.io

Do you want to know God and receive Jesus as Savior into your life for healing and salvation?

Put your trust in God through Jesus Christ with a simple prayer of faith https://tinyurl.com/asalvationprayer

Episode Summary

Life has a way of slowing down when we least expect it. Retirement, an empty house, unemployment, divorce, or simply a new season of life can leave us with something we haven't had in years: time. But instead of feeling peaceful, many of us discover that when life gets quiet, our minds get louder. Old regrets surface. Questions about the future creep in. We replay conversations, wonder if we've accomplished enough, and struggle to know what God wants us to do next.

In this episode, Tom Clairmont and Paul Berard talk about the difference between healthy solitude and unhealthy isolation, why so many of us are uncomfortable with silence, and how God often uses quiet seasons to heal, renew, and redirect our lives. They also share practical ideas for making the most of this season, from spending time in God's Word to rediscovering forgotten passions and learning to simply sit quietly in His presence. If life has slowed down and you're wondering what to do next, this conversation will encourage you to see this season as an opportunity instead of something to escape.

What You'll Hear

• Why quiet seasons often make us uncomfortable
• The difference between solitude and isolation
• How busyness can distract us from what's happening inside
• Why God often speaks during seasons of stillness
• Learning to listen instead of constantly staying busy
• Practical ways to use extra time wisely
• Why silence can become a season of healing
• How technology often keeps us from slowing down
• Rediscovering purpose through prayer and reflection
• Why quiet seasons can prepare you for what comes next

Why You Should Listen

If life has become quieter than you expected and you're not sure what to do with the extra time, this episode offers practical encouragement and a biblical perspective. You'll learn how to stop seeing quiet as something to fear and begin seeing it as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover what He may be preparing you for next.

Why This Episode Matters

Many people spend years asking God for relief from life's busyness, only to become uncomfortable when that quieter season finally arrives. This episode reminds us that silence isn't something to avoid. It can become one of the greatest opportunities we'll ever have to hear God's voice, grow spiritually, and prepare for whatever He has planned next.

Go Deeper

If this podcast is encouraging you, you'll find a deeper roadmap in my book, Starting Over | Life 2.0 With God, where I walk through six biblical phases of turning your life around: Pray, Worship, Heal, Hope, Move Forward, and Trust.

If this podcast is encouraging you, you'll find a deeper roadmap in my book Starting Over | Life 2.0 With God, where I walk through six biblical phases of turning your life around: Pray, Worship, Heal, Hope, Move Forward, and Trust.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNNG1XRB

Share this episode with someone who may need a reminder that they’re not alone. Let’s inspire hope and show that with God’s grace, even the most broken seasons can lead to a beautiful new beginning.

Be on the weekly encouraging email list: tom-clairmont-4ebvan.subscribepage.io

Do you want to know God and receive Jesus as Savior into your life for healing and salvation?

Put your trust in God through Jesus Christ with a simple prayer of faith https://tinyurl.com/asalvationprayer