Initiated by GOD

Hardly Initiated Network
Hardly Initiated Network
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Spirituality
  • Updated Weekly

Initiated By God isn't a show. It's an assignment.Hosted by Jessica Laine MacDonald, Initiated By God is a faith-forward interview series for people who've heard God call them to something — and are trying to find the courage to say yes. After a life-altering accident and a miraculous recovery, Jessica surrendered her platform to God and stepped into a new season of obedience. This show is what came out of it.Each episode, Jessica sits down with pastors, leaders, entrepreneurs, and everyday believers for raw, unfiltered conversations about calling, spiritual warfare, healing, transition, and what it actually costs to obey God when nobody around you understands. No veneer of perfection. No church-flyer answers. Just real testimony from people who've been broken, rebuilt, and sent. If you're stepping into a new assignment, running from one, or sitting in a season you didn't choose — this show was initiated by God for you.New episodes weekly. Stay initiated.

  1. 3d ago

    She Felt Rejected by the Church—Then Built One on TikTok | Initiated by God

    Candice grew up in church. After becoming pregnant as a teenager, she felt the support she had known fall away. Years later, following a divorce and the end of a job, she sensed a call to move her prayer community onto TikTok. Seventeen people joined the first day. In this conversation with Jessica, Candice talks about church hurt, learning to hear God for herself, the fear of starting something unfamiliar, and why she believes digital ministry still needs real human connection. She also shares what it took to keep showing up after the first prayer session. What does it look like to make room for people who still love God but feel disconnected from church? Share your thoughts below. Subscribe to Initiated by God for more conversations about faith, purpose, and obedience. #InitiatedByGod #ChurchHurt #DigitalMinistry

  2. Sep 21

    From Homelessness to Hope: the speaker’s Journey to Purpose

    From a homeless teenager living out of his car to a PhD holder and founder of Love Beyond Walls, the speaker’s story is one of profound transformation and faith. In this episode, he shares the raw realities of trauma, poverty, and invisibility, and how mentorship, community, and unwavering belief in purpose reshaped his life. Discover how Dr. Lester’s journey challenges stereotypes about homelessness and reveals the power of empathy over sympathy. Hear about his bold choice to live on the streets to raise awareness and the deep lessons learned about human dignity and service. Takeaways include: - Purpose often emerges from the pain we endure. - Healing requires both personal responsibility and community support. - True empathy means seeing beyond circumstances to the inherent worth in everyone. - Faith can sustain us through the darkest seasons. - Service to others transforms both giver and receiver. How do you see purpose unfolding in your own life amid challenges? Share your thoughts below. Subscribe for more honest conversations on faith, healing, and human connection. Share this episode to inspire others. Watch our related episode on healing from trauma here: [RELATED VIDEO URL] ## Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Early Life Struggles 05:40 Mentorship and Spiritual Awakening 13:21 Living the Message: From Homelessness to Service 23:09 Empathy, Worthiness, and Community Impact 30:53 Personal Challenges and Redefining Worth 35:56 Purpose Through Persistence and Film Project #Purpose #FaithJourney #HomelessnessHost Jessica Laine-MacDonald: https://www.instagram.com/itsjessicalaine/ Renew The Mind Journal: https://www.hardlyinitiated.com/products/renew-the-mind-journal Fight The Flesh Bracelet: https://www.hardlyinitiated.com/products/fight-the-flesh-bracelet Hardly In Love Dating Cards: https://www.hardlyinitiated.com/products/dating-deck Apply for Teach The Game Thursdays: https://forms.gle/b3mxsAhMd6hx4AnN9

  3. Sep 14

    Darius Benders on Faith, Financial Pressure, and Starting Over

    The conversation doesn’t have to end when the video does. If Hardly Initiated has challenged your thinking, opened your mind, or made you feel understood, come be part of what’s next. We’re building the Hardly Initiated community, and we want you in it. Join the waitlist to be among the first to hear when we launch 👉 https://stayinitiated.com. Darius Benders had about $1,200 to his name and needed his mother’s help to pay his phone bill. Then he drove to Atlanta for a conference he could barely afford. Was that faith—or a risk he couldn’t afford to take? On Initiated by God, Jessica Laine MacDonald sits down with Darius for a conversation about the pressure of starting over, the relationships that changed his direction, and what happened after he gained access to money. An entrepreneur and credit and funding educator, Darius shares how a conference connection led to weekly accountability calls and, in his account, $167,000 in funding in 47 days. But Jessica keeps pressing beyond the numbers: access to money isn’t the same as wealth, and believing in a decision doesn’t automatically make it wise. In this episode, we explore: The embarrassment that pushed Darius to make a change. How follow-through turned a new connection into an ongoing relationship. What losing money in additional ventures taught him about focus. How distrust affected his ability to grow with other people. Why depending on God can remain a struggle after circumstances improve. When have you had to distinguish faith from pressure to make something happen? What helped you decide? Subscribe to Hardly Initiated for honest conversations about faith, relationships, and growth. Share this with someone navigating a difficult next step. Find Darius: @dariusbenders Chapters: 00:00 Broke and Embarrassed 00:15 Risky Drive to Atlanta 00:44 Funding Changed Everything 01:21 Meet the Host and Guest 02:36 Pandemic Season of Faith 04:04 Cell Phone Bill Breaking Point 06:05 Faith Versus Recklessness 08:51 Car Ride Mindset and Environment 10:24 Inside the Conference Room 11:15 Networking and Accountability 14:56 Credit as Leverage 17:10 From Funding to Cash Flow 20:25 Mistakes and Doubling Down 21:44 Going Viral for Traffic 23:25 Discipline to Keep Wealth 24:28 Consumer Mindset Traps 24:51 Strategic Debt vs Reckless 26:01 Trust in Partnerships 28:01 Trauma and Money Boundaries 30:48 What Success Reveals 33:05 Character Corrections 34:42 Does Money Buy Happiness 36:22 Staying Dependent on God 38:27 Discernment Over Deals 41:18 Identity Beyond Success 43:49 Faith Over Fear Action 48:23 Study Money and Credit 49:23 Where to Find Darius 49:40 Final Takeaways #HardlyInitiated #FaithAndFinance #DariusBendersHost Jessica Laine-MacDonald: https://www.instagram.com/itsjessicalaine/ Renew The Mind Journal: https://www.hardlyinitiated.com/products/renew-the-mind-journal Fight The Flesh Bracelet: https://www.hardlyinitiated.com/products/fight-the-flesh-bracelet Hardly In Love Dating Cards: https://www.hardlyinitiated.com/products/dating-deck Apply for Teach The Game Thursdays: https://forms.gle/b3mxsAhMd6hx4AnN9

  4. Sep 7

    Joy Hunt: The Red Flags I Ignored Before Losing Everything

    A successful marriage. Successful businesses. Luxury cars. A multimillion-dollar life. But behind what looked like success, Joy Hunt says she was losing access to her finances, overlooking warning signs and slowly losing herself. In this episode of Initiated by God, Jessica Laine MacDonald sits down with attorney, entrepreneur, mother and business owner Joy Hunt for an honest conversation about financial control, betrayal, divorce, faith and what happens when the life you worked so hard to protect begins falling apart. Joy explains why she says she “colored the red flags green,” how she found herself asking for grocery money while living in a home with a $10,000 mortgage, and why one of her hardest realizations was that although she knew how to protect businesses, she had failed to protect herself. They also unpack: • How financial abuse can hide behind the appearance of provision • The difference between enduring a difficult season and accepting disrespect • Why successful women sometimes protect the image of a relationship • What financial transparency should look like inside marriage • How Joy rebuilt her faith, identity and finances after losing everything If you have ever ignored something because leaving felt scarier than staying, this conversation is worth sitting with. What is one red flag people often explain away for too long? Chapters: 00:00 Attempted Murder Shock 01:15 Welcome to Initiated 02:28 Toxic Marriage Turning Point 03:39 Hard Reset Rebuild Joy 04:54 Attorney Without Protection 06:05 Losing It All Quietly 07:12 Financial Abuse Red Flags 09:08 Warning Signs Checklist 11:38 Identity Stripped Away 12:41 Reinventing the New Joy 13:17 God in the Storm 14:37 Silence and Stillness 15:11 Winning While Hurting 18:26 Endurance vs Obedience 20:00 Forgiveness and Boundaries 21:09 Ignoring Gods Signs 24:14 Protect Yourself Financially 26:43 Money Wealth Security 27:55 Stewarding God Vision 29:41 Losing It All Lesson 32:01 Faith Move Or Reckless 33:53 Purpose Over Millions 35:31 From Broke To Bank 36:45 Why Smart Women Stay 40:16 Advice For Starting Over 42:41 All In On Purpose 47:43 God Removes Reveal 50:10 Book Links Farewell #HardlyInitiated #Relationships #Faith

  5. Aug 31

    Mother Wounds, Boundaries & Marriage with Dr. Sarita Lyons

    Can you survive a wound and still unknowingly repeat it? Jessica Laine MacDonald sits down with psychotherapist, Bible teacher, and author Dr. Sarita Lyons to examine how childhood pain follows us into marriage, parenting, faith, and conflict. Dr. Lyons explains why we can become—or attract—the person who hurt us, how self-protection can sound like discernment, and why biblical honor does not require enabling abuse or pretending the past was healthy. She also distinguishes confession from genuine repentance and offers a practical standard for recognizing lasting change. The conversation includes Dr. Lyons’ personal journey away from Jesus, her dramatic return to faith, and the lessons behind her book Honor Thy Mother. This episode is for anyone ready to tell the truth about what happened without allowing it to determine what happens next.

  6. Aug 24

    He Turned Down a $37 Million Opportunity Here’s Why

    Would you turn down $37 million if accepting it meant walking away from your purpose? Live from Invest Fest, Jessica Lane McDonald joins Touré Roberts, Tim Timberlake, and Philip Anthony Mitchell for a powerful conversation about discerning opportunity, pursuing success, and remaining faithful to what God has called you to do. The panel examines why every open door is not necessarily a God-directed door, how ambition can distort discernment, and why convictions must be established before a major opportunity arrives. They also discuss stewardship, intimacy with God, identity beyond achievement, and the character required to sustain influence. In this episode, you’ll discover: • How to distinguish a good opportunity from a God opportunity • Why success can become a dangerous distraction • How peace, purpose, and convictions can guide major decisions • Why character matters more than talent • What it means to pursue prosperity without being possessed by it • How to trust God during seasons of waiting and sacrifice If you have ever wondered whether an opportunity is an answer to prayer or a distraction from your assignment, this conversation will help you evaluate what the opportunity may truly cost.

  7. Aug 17

    Dr. Bernice King on Carrying MLK’s Legacy, Hearing God and Choosing Life

    The world knows the King name. Very few understand the weight Dr. Bernice King had to carry behind it. Before she was old enough to choose her own path, Dr. King inherited one of the most significant legacies in American history. Behind that public responsibility was a private struggle with grief, anger, identity, faith, and the pressure of constantly being compared to her father. Then came a moment that changed everything. After struggling in law school, Dr. King reached such a painful place that she was prepared to end her life. In that moment, she heard God speak: “Put the knife down. People are going to miss you.” In this deeply personal episode of Initiated by God, Dr. Bernice King sits down with Jessica Lane McDonald to discuss: • When the King legacy became her God-given assignment• Resisting the pressure to become her father• The personal losses that made her afraid to experience joy• The moment God saved her life• Why it is okay to be angry with God while grieving• Fighting anger, ego, pride, and entitlement• Why nonviolence is “warrior work,” not passivity• The strategy and discipline behind lasting change• Why America’s crisis is deeper than politics• How to recognize God’s voice and spiritual direction• Her warning about artificial intelligence and our humanity This isn’t simply a conversation about preserving Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. It’s about the woman Dr. Bernice King had to become to carry her own assignment. Watch until the end, then answer this question in the comments: What has God been asking you to carry—even when you wanted to choose a different path? #BerniceKing #MLK #InitiatedByGod #Faith #Purpose

  8. Aug 11

    Success Isn’t Proof of Obedience: Is Your Wealth Connected to Your Assignment?

    I left the Invest Fest stage with one question I couldn’t shake: Does God promise financial abundance to every believer—or is provision connected to purpose, stewardship, and assignment? After a powerful conversation with Pastors Philip Anthony Mitchell, Touré Roberts, and Tim Timberlake about business acumen and biblical wisdom, I had to confront an uncomfortable truth: A business can be profitable and still be out of alignment.An opportunity can look perfect and still not be your assignment.An open door is not always God’s door. In this episode of Initiated by God, I share why I stepped outside my comfortable lane of teaching money, how criticism made me question this podcast, what disappearing from social media for six months taught me, and why obedience cannot depend on applause. We’re talking honestly about: • The difference between prosperity and accumulation• Why success isn’t always confirmation from God• How comparison can make you chase someone else’s assignment• When stewardship quietly becomes worship• Why some profitable opportunities require a “no”• Whether you could surrender the thing you spent years building I believe in ownership, investing, entrepreneurship, and building wealth—but I also believe we must ask a deeper question: “God, what did You actually assign me to build?” Watch until the end, then answer this in the comments: What have you been chasing that God may have never asked you to carry? Subscribe for more conversations about faith, purpose, obedience, wealth, and becoming who God called you to be. #FaithAndBusiness #ChristianEntrepreneur #InitiatedByGod

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Initiated By God isn't a show. It's an assignment.Hosted by Jessica Laine MacDonald, Initiated By God is a faith-forward interview series for people who've heard God call them to something — and are trying to find the courage to say yes. After a life-altering accident and a miraculous recovery, Jessica surrendered her platform to God and stepped into a new season of obedience. This show is what came out of it.Each episode, Jessica sits down with pastors, leaders, entrepreneurs, and everyday believers for raw, unfiltered conversations about calling, spiritual warfare, healing, transition, and what it actually costs to obey God when nobody around you understands. No veneer of perfection. No church-flyer answers. Just real testimony from people who've been broken, rebuilt, and sent. If you're stepping into a new assignment, running from one, or sitting in a season you didn't choose — this show was initiated by God for you.New episodes weekly. Stay initiated.

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