Jennie Allen has spent her life helping people follow God, find purpose, and experience freedom in Christ. As a bestselling author, Bible teacher, and founder of IF:Gathering and Gather25, her influence has reached millions.

But beneath the surface there was a lie she didn't even know she believed. A lie about her identity, her worth, and what she had to prove. In this conversation, Jennie shares the moment God exposed that hidden belief, and how it had been shaping her thoughts, her confidence, and her calling.

You'll hear how negative thoughts- feeling not enough, striving for approval, questioning your purpose, can take root without you realizing it, and how recognizing them can lead to real freedom. If you've ever struggled with insecurity, comparison, or wondering if God could really use your life, this story will remind you that freedom is possible.

Show Notes:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennieallen/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenniesallen

Book: https://www.jennieallen.com/lies-book

Website: https://www.jennieallen.com/

THE LIES QUIZ: LINK

Share your Unfolding story: https://bit.ly/UnfoldingStories

"He showed me on that day that His goodness is running after my daughter."

Jill Tracey shares what happened as her daughter Alyssa was struggling with faith, and Jill was learning to let go of control. Through the song Goodness of God, God gave Jill a picture of hope she would carry for years. It was a reminder that even when she couldn't reach her daughter, God still could.

What happens inside someone who walks away from faith? For Jakob Happs, it wasn't sudden. Long before he stepped away, there were questions, doubts, and a growing sense that something wasn't working the way he thought it should. Over time, that tension led him further and further from God, and from the people who loved him most.

In this powerful and honest conversation, Jakob shares his story from the inside. The wrestling, the distance, the decisions that followed, and the unexpected moments that changed everything. Alongside his mom, Suzanne, this episode offers a rare, deeply personal look at both sides of a prodigal story. What it felt like to walk away, and what it meant to come home.

This episode explores what doubt and deconstruction can feel like from the inside, the tension between belief and questions, and how God continues to pursue even in the middle of distance. For anyone praying for a prodigal child, a loved one who has walked away from faith, or anyone wrestling with belief, this story offers both honesty and hope.

Show Notes:

Jakob Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whatshappsin.n?igsh=MXRtNjUwOG1hMDdkaQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Jakob Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Df1sbwviJ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Suzanne Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzanne.happs

Book: https://www.amazon.com/We-Who-Wrestle-God-Perceptions/dp/0593542533

YouTube Channels:

https://www.youtube.com/@bibleproject

https://www.youtube.com/@RuslanKD

https://www.youtube.com/@ExpeditionBible

Share your Unfolding story: https://bit.ly/UnfoldingStories

"The more I pushed, the more my body said no."

Stephanie shares how God used cancer, chronic illness, cardiac arrest, and a season of forced rest to redirect her life. Today, she helps others slow down, live with intention, and care for the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Recently, she wrote Faith and Health Devotional Bible Study Workbook.

What do you do when your child walks away from everything you've raised them to believe?

For Suzanne and Alan Happs, that question became deeply personal when their son told them, "I'm not exactly sure I believe any of that anymore." What followed was 13 and a half years of praying, waiting, questioning, and learning what it really means to trust God with someone you love.

In this episode, Suzanne and Alan share:

• What it felt like to watch their son deconstruct his faith

• The mistakes they made, and what they wish they had done differently

• How they learned to love without controlling or pushing

• What sustained their faith through years of heartbreak and uncertainty

• The moment everything began to change, and the powerful way God brought their son back

If you are praying for a prodigal child, a loved one who has walked away from faith, or someone who feels far from God, this story will meet you right where you are.

Next week, don't miss Part 2—Jake Happs shares his side of the story. What led him away from faith? And what ultimately drew him back to Jesus?

Show Notes:

Suzanne on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzanne.happs

Praying for Your Prodigal book: https://www.amazon.com/Praying-Your-Prodigal-Kyle-Idleman/dp/1434707717

Share about your Unfolding story here: https://bit.ly/UnfoldingStories

"Put on your helmet." Susan had a picture in her mind for her 22nd birthday: a new horse, a sunset ride, and a beautiful moment she would never forget. But right before it began, a voice interrupted her plans with a warning that would save her life.

BONUS: Hear Susan's daughter's short story on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

What if the way you see God, isn't actually true? Jon Acuff grew up in church, but for years his relationship with God felt more like pressure than connection, and that shaped everything. In this episode of The Unfolding, Jon shares how his faith became personal in the middle of real life- marriage, responsibility, and the pressure to figure things out. As God began to reshape the way Jon saw Him, it changed the way he saw himself, his fear, and his calling. Jon is a New York Times bestselling author known for books like Soundtracks and All It Takes Is a Goal. His newest book, Procrastination Proof, grows out of his own story- the years of knowing what he was called to do, but struggling to step into it. If you've ever felt stuck, unsure of your purpose, or like you're waiting until you feel ready, this conversation is for you.

Show Notes:

Website: https://jonacuff.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjonacuff

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonacuff

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/authorjonacuff

Procrastination Proof book: https://www.amazon.com/Procrastination-Proof-Never-Stuck-Again/dp/154090380X

Share a story idea for The Unfolding: https://bit.ly/UnfoldingStories

Alicia Barr was sitting at a women's conference, half listening to Annie F. Downs, when something happened that felt far too personal to ignore. Alicia had been living in secrecy and pain, and in that moment, God interrupted her life with mercy. In this Unfolding Short Story, she shares how that moment became the beginning of truth, healing, and freedom.

Alicia is the author of More Than a Secret.

What does it look like to trust God when your marriage has been devastated, and you don't know what comes next? Brad and Heidi Mitchell share their story of walking through infidelity, broken trust, and the long road toward healing. After Brad's affair, their marriage faced a season that felt overwhelming. But in the middle of that pain, God began to do a deeper work, one that neither of them could have imagined at the time. In this conversation, you'll hear how they navigated repentance, forgiveness, and rebuilding communication. Their story is a reminder that even when a marriage feels fragile or fractured, God is still present and still at work. Today, Brad and Heidi lead Build Your Marriage, where they help couples grow stronger in their relationships and faith. They're also the authors of Ruined to Recovery, written for couples walking through betrayal, and Build Your Marriage Through Prayer, a practical guide to strengthening your marriage through prayer.

Show Notes:

Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/buildyourmarriage/

Build Your Marriage Through Prayer book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734158883#

Ruined to Recovery book: https://www.amazon.com/Ruined-Recovery-Help-Affair-Discovered/dp/1734158824/

Website: https://buildyourmarriage.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buildyourmarriage

"I knew inside that God was doing something in me and I had to listen to that."

Justin Stuart had built something huge: a YouTube channel with millions of subscribers, billions of views, and a successful business with his closest friend. But even with all of that, he began to sense God stirring something new in his heart. In this episode, Justin shares what it looked like to walk away from a life that seemed successful by every measure and trust God with what came next.

Check out Justin Stuart's Blobs books here:

https://davidccook.org/authors/justin-stuart/

Faith Podcasts are made possible by your support. You can click here to give.

What happens when the very thing you believe you were created to do, is suddenly taken away? Bay Turner (America's Got Talent, Centricity Music) shares a story of identity, faith, and surrender. After building a life around his voice, Bay was told he might never sing again. In an instant, everything he thought defined him was gone. What followed was a journey through anger, doubt, and ultimately a deeper understanding of who he is in Christ, not because of what he does, but because of whose he is. Bay's debut EP Better Days is out now. This is a story for anyone who has ever questioned their purpose, struggled with identity, or wondered what God is doing in the middle of it all.

Show Notes:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bayturnermusic

Website: https://www.bayturner.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bayturnermusic/