Have you ever prayed, sought God sincerely, and heard… nothing?

Many followers of Jesus assume silence means something is wrong, that God is distant, disappointed, or unwilling to answer. But what if His silence isn't absence? What if it's an invitation?

Big Idea

God's silence doesn't always mean God isn't speaking. Sometimes His silence invites us to lean in, trust Him more deeply, and discover what He's doing beneath the surface.

Key Takeaways

• God's silence doesn't mean God's absence.
• Silence often invites us deeper into relationship.
• God sets the agenda in prayer.
• Don't confuse conviction with condemnation.
• More may be happening than you can see.
• Persistence matters.
• Trust God's answers, even when they're not what you hoped for.
• Keep your eyes on Jesus, not someone else's story.

A Few Thoughts from the Conversation

Prayer Is Relationship, Not a Transaction

We often approach prayer expecting immediate answers. But God is not a vending machine or a Magic 8-Ball. He's a Father.

Sometimes His silence causes us to lean in, pay attention, and discover that He wants to talk about something different than what we brought to the conversation.

Shame Is a Terrible Interpreter

When prayers go unanswered, many people immediately assume:

"God must be disappointed in me."

While conviction is real, condemnation is not.

If you belong to Jesus, your standing with God is secure. Don't let guilt, shame, or the accusations of the enemy define how you interpret God's silence.

There May Be More Happening Than You Can See

In Daniel 10, Daniel prayed for twenty-one days before receiving an answer.

When the angel finally arrived, he explained that Daniel's prayer had been heard from day one, but a spiritual battle had delayed the response.

We often have no idea what God is doing behind the scenes while we wait.

Keep Showing Up

Sometimes breakthrough comes quickly.

Sometimes it comes after months, or years, of persistent prayer.

Don't let delay convince you that God isn't working.

Keep praying. Keep trusting. Keep showing up.

Trust the Shepherd

Some prayers receive a "yes."

Others receive a "wait."

And some receive a "no."

Trusting God means believing He is good even when His answer isn't what we wanted.

The goal of prayer is not simply getting answers. The goal is walking with Jesus.

Final Encouragement

God hears every prayer.

Even when heaven seems silent.

Even when the answer is delayed.

Even when the answer is different than what you hoped.

Stay close to Jesus.

Keep praying.

Trust His heart.

The end of the story is good.

Song Recommendation

"Somebody Prayed" — Crowder
https://youtu.be/GVITQPGlI30?si=2hKxnkhnmam62Y51

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Resources & Contact Info

Email Raz & Jamie:
razwithhim@gmail.com

Their Church: Mariemont Church (Cincinnati, OH)
https://www.mariemontchurch.org

Jamie’s Website & Writing:
https://www.jamiemoore.org

Jamie’s Book, Friendship with God
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1736292609

What do you do when Jesus changes the plan?

In this episode, Jamie and Raz talk about the moments in leadership and life where you stop and realize: “I didn’t see that coming.”

Throughout Scripture, people who walked with God were constantly surprised by where He led them. Abram didn’t see coming the call to leave home, the birth of Isaac at 100 years old, or the command to place the child of promise on Mount Moriah. Moses didn’t see coming a burning bush encounter with Yahweh. The disciples regularly failed to understand what Jesus was doing right in front of them.

And Paul didn’t see coming that the Holy Spirit would forbid him from going into Asia Minor. Instead, through a dream of a Macedonian man calling for help, Jesus redirected him into Macedonia — leading to ministry in Philippi, Thessalonica, Athens, and Corinth.

Jamie and Raz also share a recent story from Mariemont Church and the new Kingdom Lab summer internship.

As they planned a group project for the interns, they assumed the focus would be youth ministry, young adults, or assimilation. But during the interview process, they realized that three of the four interns shared a deep passion for serving individuals and families impacted by special needs.

It wasn’t on their radar at all.

But instead of forcing their original plan, they sensed Jesus inviting them into something unexpected: exploring what it would look like for Mariemont Church to become more Christlike and more welcoming to special needs individuals and their families.

In this episode, Jamie and Raz discuss:
• Why following Jesus often disrupts our plans
• The danger of closed-handed leadership
• How discernment sometimes looks like paying attention
• Why some of the best ministry moments are the ones you never planned
• What it means to live and lead open-handed with Jesus

The episode ends with a challenge for leaders:

Can you identify moments over the last six months where you found yourself saying, “I didn’t see that coming”?

Because throughout Scripture, people who truly followed Jesus were surprised by where He led them. Maybe part of following Jesus is staying open when He changes the plan?

Subscribe to the "With Him" Podcast email list
Get new episodes, bonus content, and more:
https://mailchi.mp/mariemontchurch/sub-to-with-him-podcast

Explore past episodes and resources
https://www.mariemontchurch.org/with-him-podcast

Resources & Contact Info

Email Raz & Jamie:
razwithhim@gmail.com

Their church: Mariemont Church (Cincinnati, OH)
https://www.mariemontchurch.org

Jamie’s website & writing:
https://www.jamiemoore.org

Jamie’s book, Friendship with God
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1736292609

In this episode, Raz and Jamie share the heart behind The Kingdom Lab — a 12-week summer internship designed to help young adults become deeply rooted in the Father’s love, formed by the voice and ways of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and equipped to lead well in every area of life.

We talked about why this internship is so much more than leadership training or ministry experience. Our heart is to create an environment where young adults can truly learn to live with God — secure in their identity, growing in intimacy with Jesus, learning to hear and obey His voice, walking in the power of the Spirit, and developing the emotional and spiritual maturity needed for a lifetime of healthy Kingdom leadership.

The Kingdom Lab is built around four core values:

ROOTED — Grounded in the Father’s love and secure in identity.
FORMED — Shaped by the voice and ways of Jesus through intentional spiritual formation.
SENT — Empowered by the Spirit to bring the Kingdom wherever they go.
EQUIPPED — Developing real-world Kingdom leadership skills through hands-on experience in a healthy local church.

Interns will experience intentional discipleship, spiritual formation, mentoring from seasoned leaders, hands-on ministry experience, leadership development, and practical life skills that will serve them for years to come — whether in ministry, business, education, the arts, or everyday life with Jesus.

If you’re passionate about seeing the next generation become healthy, Spirit-filled Kingdom leaders, this conversation is for you.

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Subscribe to With Him Podcast

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Resources & Contact Info

Email Raz & Jamie:
razwithhim@gmail.com

Their church: Mariemont Church (Cincinnati, OH)
Mariemont Church

Jamie’s website & writing:
Jamie Moore Website

Jamie’s book, Friendship with God
Friendship with God on Amazon

Raz and Jamie sat down for an honest conversation about the painful reality of unhealthy church leadership—and the deeper heart issues that often fuel it. We discussed how easy it can be for leaders to build identity around ministry success, control, growth, productivity, or the opinions of people, rather than resting securely in who they already are in Christ. When leaders are not rooted in Jesus, ministry can slowly shift from serving people to managing systems, protecting platforms, or chasing outcomes.

We also explored the Kingdom way of leadership that Jesus models: dying to self, abiding in Him, and leading from a place of surrender rather than striving. Healthy Kingdom leadership is not ultimately about building bigger organizations, but about loving and serving people well. Jesus consistently measured leadership differently than the world does—not by power, status, or numbers, but through humility, servanthood, faithfulness, and love. We talked about how true productivity flows from abiding in Christ and focusing on what He is focused on: people, presence, and obedience to the Father.

If you are a leader, serve in ministry, or have been hurt by unhealthy leadership dynamics, we hope this conversation encourages you to slow down, reconnect with Jesus, and rediscover the freedom of leading with Him instead of carrying the weight alone.

Subscribe to the "With Him" Podcast email list

Get new episodes, bonus content, and more:
Subscribe to With Him Podcast

Explore past episodes and resources

With Him Podcast Archive

Resources & Contact Info

Email Raz & Jamie:
razwithhim@gmail.com

Their church: Mariemont Church (Cincinnati, OH)
Mariemont Church

Jamie’s website & writing:
Jamie Moore Website

Jamie’s book, Friendship with God
Friendship with God on Amazon

Raz and Jamie sat down again with Ann Thompson to talk about her new book, Faith at Work: A Practical Guide to Aligning Your Career with Who God Created You to Be. With nearly 30 years of experience in business, leadership, and coaching, Ann helps professionals discern God’s voice in their work, navigate seasons of transition, and discover how their career can align with the way God uniquely designed them.

In this conversation, we explored the reality that many people can be outwardly successful while quietly wondering if their work actually reflects their calling and gifting. Ann shares practical wisdom for recognizing career transitions, hearing God’s guidance in uncertain seasons, and taking faithful next steps without losing yourself in the process.

Whether you’re feeling restless in your current role, sensing God may be leading you into something new, or simply wanting to integrate your faith more deeply into your everyday work, this episode will encourage you to follow Jesus faithfully in your career decisions and trust that the Father is present in every transition.

Learn more about Ann and her coaching/workshops here:

Website:
anneileenthompson.com

Grab Ann’s new book, “Faith at Work” on Amazon:
Faith at Work on Amazon

Take Ann’s special 3-minute career transition quiz for With Him listeners:
Career Transition Quiz

Subscribe to the "With Him" Podcast email list

Get new episodes, bonus content, and more:
Subscribe to With Him Podcast

Explore past episodes and resources

With Him Podcast Archive

Resources & Contact Info

Email Raz & Jamie:
razwithhim@gmail.com

Their church: Mariemont Church (Cincinnati, OH)
Mariemont Church

Jamie’s website & writing:
Jamie Moore Website

Jamie’s book, Friendship with God
Friendship with God on Amazon

We sat down again with our friend John McCarthy for a rich and timely conversation about what God has been doing in his life in this season.

We explored the idea of “liminal space” — those in-between moments where one door has closed, but the next hasn’t fully opened. Instead of rushing through these uncomfortable seasons, John invites us to slow down and stay connected to Jesus right in the middle of the transition.

Anchored in First Thessalonians 5:16–24, John shares a simple but powerful tool to help believers remain grounded, discerning, and attentive to the voice of God during seasons of uncertainty.

We also dive into John’s work around his new resource, The RePurpose Promise: How to Find Purpose and Joy in Retirement, where he’s helping people in their 50s and beyond rethink retirement as “re-firement.” Rather than slowing down into comfort, this season can become one of renewed purpose — discovering what the Father has next.

One of the most powerful themes in this conversation is the idea of wisdom transfer — the opportunity for older generations to invest in and disciple the next generation. When seasoned believers step into their calling, it creates a ripple effect of purpose, mentorship, and Kingdom impact.

This episode is an invitation to trust God in the in-between, resist the urge to rush ahead, and walk with Jesus in every season.

Connect and Learn More from John:
https://purposepromise.org

https://agimanagement.com

Get the Book, The RePurpose Promise: How to Find Purpose and Joy in Retirement:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CH2B1Z9C

Subscribe to the “With Him” Podcast email list
Get new episodes, bonus content, and more:
https://mailchi.mp/mariemontchurch/sub-to-with-him-podcast

Explore past episodes and resources
https://www.mariemontchurch.org/with-him-podcast

Resources & Contact Info

Email Raz & Jamie:
razwithhim@gmail.com

Their church: Mariemont Church (Cincinnati, OH)
https://www.mariemontchurch.org

Jamie’s website & writing:
https://www.jamiemoore.org

Jamie’s book, Friendship with God:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1736292609

Every spring, thousands gather in Cincinnati for the unforgettable Flying Pig Marathon—and it’s not just local hype. In 2024, USA Today named it the best marathon in the U.S., highlighting both its scenic course and its one-of-a-kind, joy-filled, pig-focused spirit.

But for the last 15 years, Mariemont Church has shown up in a different way. Not inside a building… but out on the streets.

On the corner of Plainville and Murray, the church becomes the church—serving as the hands and feet of Jesus through what’s become known as “The Bacon Station.”

In this fun and joy-filled episode, Jamie and Raz talk about:
• Handing out bacon to thousands of runners
• A full-on celebration with a prayer tent, inflatables, live music, tattoos, and a selfie station
• Why the church doesn’t have to gather in a building—because we are the church
• What it looks like to bring the love, joy, and presence of Jesus into everyday spaces

And yes… this episode is as fun as it sounds—Raz is rocking a bacon bucket hat, and Jamie shows up in full “Trolls”-inspired hot pink hair to promote the Bacon Station.

But underneath the fun is something deeper:
Jesus was full of joy. He welcomed children.
He told stories that made people think—and laugh.
He turned water into wine at a wedding celebration.
He was acquainted with sorrow and grief… and yet for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross.
And through His Spirit, that same joy is available to us.

This episode is a reminder that:
• Joy is not superficial—it’s spiritual
• The presence of Jesus brings fullness of joy
• We can carry that joy into the world—even in the middle of pain, fatigue, or a 26.2 mile race

So whether you’re running, cheering, or just living your everyday life—this is an invitation to join Jesus in bringing joy, laughter, and love wherever you go.

Links & Resources
Learn more about the Flying Pig Marathon: https://flyingpigmarathon.com

Promo Video 1: https://youtu.be/8ckVaO9spX8

Subscribe to the "With Him" Podcast email list
Get new episodes, bonus content, and more:
https://mailchi.mp/mariemontchurch/sub-to-with-him-podcast

Explore past episodes and resources
https://www.mariemontchurch.org/with-him-podcast

Resources & Contact Info
Email Raz & Jamie: razwithhim@gmail.com

Their church: Mariemont Church (Cincinnati, OH)
https://www.mariemontchurch.org

Jamie’s website & writing:
https://www.jamiemoore.org

Jamie’s book, Friendship with God
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1736292609

In this episode, we sit down with NFL tight end Josiah Deguara to talk about his journey of faith—growing up as a preacher’s kid, walking away from the Lord, and encountering Him again in a powerful way during college.

Josiah shares what it was like playing football at the University of Cincinnati, where God began moving not just in his life, but among teammates and friends. What started as personal renewal turned into a small revival, including a student-athlete Bible study that impacted many.

He also opens up about being drafted by the Green Bay Packers, navigating injuries, and learning to trust God in the unexpected “detours” of life. Most recently with the Arizona Cardinals, Josiah reflects on what it looks like to follow Jesus in the uncertainty of free agency.

Now in the offseason, Josiah is training, staying ready, and trusting God as he waits for the next opportunity—while also embracing life as a husband and new dad. Based in Sacramento, he’s using this season to invest in others, speaking to high school students through Fellowship of Christian Athletes and pointing the next generation to Jesus.

It’s an honest, encouraging conversation about identity, surrender, and walking with Jesus through every season.

Watch Josiah in Action
https://youtu.be/9lFVCxHim9k?si=20rE79SuHWnT8DSM&t=28

Recommended Resource Mentioned
Detours by Tony Evans
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076HGCVLX

A powerful reminder that God is still at work—even when life doesn’t go according to plan.

Subscribe to the "With Him" Podcast email list
Get new episodes, bonus content, and more:
https://mailchi.mp/mariemontchurch/sub-to-with-him-podcast

Explore past episodes and resources
https://www.mariemontchurch.org/with-him-podcast

Resources & Contact Info
Email Raz & Jamie: razwithhim@gmail.com

Their church: Mariemont Church (Cincinnati, OH)
https://www.mariemontchurch.org

Jamie’s website & writing:
https://www.jamiemoore.org

Jamie’s book, Friendship with God
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1736292609