Catch Up on the Latest Episodes of The Jesse Wood Show

Discerning God's voice, reclaiming your identity, and staying faithful to your purpose.

Have you caught up on the latest episodes of The Jesse Wood Show? I recently sat down with Melanie Cox and Chad Wallen for two powerful conversations about identity, faith, spiritual warfare, and following God's direction through life's most challenging seasons.

From reclaiming your identity in Christ to learning how to navigate seasons of waiting, these conversations remind us that the way we build our lives matters. We aren't called to build from fear, striving, or uncertainty. We're called to build from a foundation of faith, trust, and knowing who God says we are.

If you've missed the latest episodes, here's what you need to know.

Episode 1: From the Trash Dump to the Table with Melanie Cox

What happens when a book written for just five people becomes an Amazon number one bestseller?

For Melanie Cox, it began in one of the most difficult seasons of her life. Facing depression, years of infertility, and the fear that she might not be there for her children, Melanie began writing down what she wanted them to know about their identity and their heavenly Father.

What started as a personal legacy for her five children became a message that reached far beyond her own family. Her book, You Have to Know, went on to become an Amazon number one bestseller and win three awards.

In this conversation, Melanie and I unpack what it means to know who God says you are, recognize the enemy's lies, and stand firm in faith when life gets difficult.

Key Takeaways From Melanie

• Your identity comes first. Before you build, lead, or pursue your purpose, you need to know who you are and whose you are.
• The refining fire has a purpose. Difficult seasons can deepen your roots, strengthen your faith, and prepare you for what lies ahead.
• Take your thoughts captive. Recognize thoughts that pull you away from God's truth and intentionally replace them with Scripture.
• Be intentional with your words. Choose to speak from a place of faith and trust in God's goodness, even when your circumstances are challenging.
• You were made for more than survival. Melanie challenges listeners to stop fighting over scraps when God is calling them to live with purpose.

One of the most powerful themes in this episode is the heart of our heavenly Father. God isn't distant or disconnected from our lives. He wants to lead us, guide us, and remind us who we are.

When your identity is rooted in Christ, your circumstances no longer have to determine how you see yourself.

Watch the episode: From the Trash Dump to the Table with Melanie Cox

Episode 2: Discerning the Voice with Chad Wallen

How do you know when God is telling you to move forward, when He's asking you to wait, and when a good opportunity might actually be distracting you from your purpose?

In this episode, I sit down with Chad Wallen, founder of Advanced Camp USA, to talk about hearing God's direction, navigating desert seasons, and remaining faithful to the assignment God has placed on your life.

Chad shares his journey from corporate America into full time ministry and his passion for serving young men who have grown up without a father in the home. He explains how he sensed God's call to make that ministry his full time focus and how unexpected provision helped his family take that step of faith.

But the journey hasn't always been easy.

Chad opens up about seasons of waiting, disappointment, and a particularly dark period when the pressures of ministry began to affect his identity. He wrestled with thoughts that told him he was failing as a father, that his ministry would fall apart, and that he had misunderstood God's purpose for his life.

Through that season, Chad learned the importance of recognizing the enemy's lies and returning to the truth of who God says he is.

Key Takeaways From Chad

• The desert is not wasted. Seasons of waiting can develop your character and help you appreciate the opportunities that come next.
• God's provision can show up unexpectedly. Chad shares how his wife's promotion helped cover the financial gap as he stepped into full time ministry.
• Learn to recognize the enemy's voice. Knowing God's character and truth helps you recognize thoughts that contradict what He says about you.
• Not every good idea is your assignment. Discernment means knowing when to move forward and when to wait for God's direction.
• Stay focused on the great thing. Good opportunities can distract you from the specific purpose God has called you to pursue.

Chad also shares how Advanced Camp USA is working to reach and mentor young men who need guidance, encouragement, and positive father figures in their lives.

His story is a reminder that following God doesn't mean having every answer in advance. Sometimes obedience looks like stepping out in faith. Other times, it means waiting patiently until the next door opens.

As Chad explains, the desert seasons make the moments of renewed direction and opportunity even more meaningful.

Watch the episode: Discerning the Voice: Desert Seasons, Audible Calls, and Staying the Course with Chad Wallen

Learn more about Chad's ministry at Advanced Camp USA.

What These Two Conversations Have in Common

Although Melanie and Chad have different stories, both point us back to the same foundation: identity.

When we know who God is and understand who He says we are, we can face challenges without allowing fear, disappointment, or uncertainty to define our lives.

Melanie reminds us to take our thoughts captive, speak with faith, and trust God through life's refining fires. Chad shows us what that looks like when we're waiting for direction, navigating ministry challenges, and learning to distinguish between our own ideas and God's assignment.

Both conversations challenge us to stop building from fear and start building from a place of trust.

Because the goal isn't simply to get through a difficult season. It's to become rooted in truth, grow in faith, and remain faithful to the purpose we've been given.

Don't Miss the Latest Episodes

If you haven't listened yet, now is the perfect time to catch up on the latest episodes of The Jesse Wood Show.

Whether you're navigating a refining season, searching for clarity about your calling, or needing a reminder of who God says you are, these conversations will encourage you to keep going and build with purpose.

Watch, listen, and put these lessons into practice in your own life. And if you're ready to build your life from identity instead of striving, grab my book.

Let's build together!