Have you ever found yourself in a season of waiting—praying, longing, and wondering what God is doing? Maybe you’ve asked, “Lord, when will things change?” or “Why haven’t You moved yet? If so, this week’s episode of The Love Offering Podcast is for you.
I’m joined by Jaime Jamgochian, Dove Award–nominated singer, songwriter, and author of Sacred Surrender: The Practice of Waiting Well with God. Jaime shares her powerful story of faith through illness, disappointment, and uncertainty—and how surrender, worship, and gratitude led her to deep peace and healing.
In our conversation, Jaime helps us see that waiting isn’t wasted when we’re waiting with God. She reminds us that:
💛 Surrendering to God leads to peace and joy
💛 Worship is a powerful weapon in the waiting
💛 Gratitude can shift our perspective and restore hope
💛 Trusting God’s timing builds our faith
💛 Community strengthens us when we feel alone
Jaime’s words are a beautiful reminder that love, faith, and surrender are intertwined. When we loosen our grip on control, God fills our hands with His presence, His timing, and His peace.
🎧 Listen to our full conversation on The Love Offering Podcast:
👉 https://www.lifeaudio.com/the-love-offering
As you listen, I pray you’ll find rest in knowing that God is working even in the waiting—and that He is worthy of your trust.
Much love,
Rachael
Summary
In this episode of the Love Offering Podcast, host Rachael Adams welcomes Jaime Jamgochian, a Dove Award-nominated singer and songwriter. They discuss Jamie’s journey of faith, the struggles of waiting, and the importance of surrendering to God’s will. Jamie shares her personal experiences with health challenges and how worship and gratitude helped her find hope during difficult times. The conversation emphasizes trusting God’s timing, the example of Jesus in surrender, and the significance of community and love in our lives.
Takeaways
Surrendering to God can lead to peace and joy.
Worship is a powerful weapon in times of waiting.
Gratitude can shift our perspective and bring hope.
Trusting God’s timing is essential for spiritual growth.
Jesus exemplified perfect surrender and obedience to God.
Community plays a vital role in supporting us through struggles.
We must actively seek to know God’s character through scripture.
Waiting well can deepen our relationship with God.
Our identity should be rooted in Christ, not in accolades.
Life is a journey of learning to trust and surrender to God.
Sound bites
“I will worship in the waiting.”
“Gratitude carries so much power.”
“What do you believe about God?”
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Love Offering Podcast
01:14 Meet Jaime Jamgochian: A Journey of Faith and Music
05:57 The Struggles of Waiting and Surrender
09:44 Finding Hope in Difficult Seasons
13:54 The Power of Worship and Gratitude
18:43 Trusting God’s Timetable
23:02 The Example of Jesus in Surrender
26:51 Understanding the Struggle with Surrender
34:25 The Essence of Love and Community
Transcript AI Generated:
Rachael Adams (00:01.43)
Welcome to the Love Offering Podcast. I’m your host, Rachel Adams, author of Everyday Prayers for Love: Learning to Love God, Others, and Even Yourself. Each week, we dive into meaningful conversations about how to live out the greatest commandment, loving God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. Whether through inspiring stories, practical tips, or biblical truths, I hope to encourage you to love boldly, live faithfully, and reflect God’s love in your everyday life.
Today, I’m excited to welcome Jaime Jamgochian to the show. Jamie is a Dove Award-nominated singer, songwriter, worship leader, and speaker whose music has inspired listeners for more than two decades. Through her personal journey of health struggles and seasons of waiting, she’s learned how to turn worry into worship and trust God’s timing rather than her own. In her new album and book project, Sacred Surrender, Jamie invites us to experience the practice of waiting well with God, joy and worship, intentional gratitude, and the peace that comes from releasing control to God. Well, hello, Jamie, and welcome to the Love Offering Podcast. I’m so happy to have you.
Jaime (01:19.896)
Hi Rachel, I’ve been looking forward to this. First of all, I love your accent. Texas? Love it.
Rachael Adams (01:25.068)
Kentucky. Yes. Southern, definitely Southern. So yeah, well, I’ve been looking forward to this because I have heard your voice for years. Now, getting to put a face to it and meet you in person, so to speak, is an honor. I’m excited about today’s conversation.
Jaime (01:45.4)
Thank you. Likewise, it’s gonna be a good one.
Rachael Adams (01:48.364)
So, before we dive into sacred center surrender, I would love for you just to introduce yourself to us. Tell us a little bit more about your life and ministry, and what life looks like for you right now.
Jaime (01:58.702)
Well, I live in Nashville, Tennessee. I am originally from Boston, Massachusetts, and a first-generation Christian. I remember being 21, studying jazz piano at Berkeley, playing in bars and on cruise lines, just living life. And it was through a classmate, a very bold, on-fire-for-Jesus classmate who led me to the Lord. And I was a senior in college, and my life was forever changed. She was so smart. She actually gave me a cassette tape, because I’m older than people think. And it had one song on it. And I’m sure you remember Rachel way back in the day, Shout to the Lord. Do you remember that?
Jaime (02:39.918)
And I remember it was the first time I had heard Christian music. It was the first time I had listened to the gospel in music. And it was the first time I could honestly say I experienced the presence of God. And just in my dorm room, hearing that worship, filling my room, filling my heart, something in me just knew, I was like, I think this is what I was created to do. It was just this strange, like God moment in my life. And fast forward, that classmate ended up leading me to the Lord. And very quickly, God asked me to surrender everything, all of my career highlights, dreams, all of it, and move to Seattle, Washington, of all places. Typically, as a musician, you go to LA, then to New York. If you’re in country music, you go to Nashville. I had no clue about the Christian music scene. So I ended up in Seattle, of all places, where I interned and attended a Bible school for two years at this wonderful church. I learned about the Lord, led in worship, thought this was it, and surrendered all my dreams. And God is so kind in His grace and in His ways. I signed my first Christian record deal when I was 25, which led me here to Nashville. And that has been the last 20-plus years of my life, ministry, loving the Lord, loving community, loving friends, and loving family. Now there are a lot of trials from that season that I know we’re going to dig into, but I have a full life here in Tennessee. And I’m grateful for the highs and the lows because that’s what shapes us and what truly makes us more like Jesus, not just the mountaintop seasons, but those valley seasons as well.
Rachael Adams (04:26.348)
I love so much about that, your testimony, your story, and what you just shared. And I’m excited to dive into more of it as we continue the conversation. But one of the things that struck me was that, and this is not a shameless plug at all, but I’ve written a devotional called “A Little Goes a Long Way and in it, there is a devotion about how a little song can go a long way, how God can use music. And it impacted my thinking about how you shared about your friend. All she really did was give you a cassette tape. And then that was the opening that really changed the trajectory of your life. Now there were a lot of other moments. It sounds like I know, but I love how simply we can share the gospel truth, encourage someone, and change their life with something so small. But she was obedient, and she had courage, and she obeyed God in that moment. And I’m so encouraged by that.
Jaime (05:22.643)
Yeah, she brought a Bible to class the following week. And I remember her saying, “My goodness, it’s the Bible.” Like, what do I do with it? Do I put it under my bed at night? She said, Why don’t you read the Psalms? Which was brilliant because she knew I was a songwriter. David’s the best songwriter of all time, lyric writer, and poet. So she really, you know, she was in tune with the Lord, and God used her in such a big way in my life, and then man, read in the Bible. I wanted to know.
Rachael Adams (05:51.641)
Hmm. Well, when you tell your story, it looks like, okay. She had this moment, and then everything else fell into place. So we know that’s not the truth. And because you’re writing a book about waiting, and waiting is such a universal struggle. And so you’ve lived that in some very profound ways. So tell us, what really inspired the sacred surrender, beyond just surrendering your life to the Lord?
Jaime (06:15.126)
Yeah, so like I said, I’m just living this whole life in ministry, traveling, touring, lots of women’s events, different Christian music tours, releasing records. And then the Lord asked me to kind of lay down that season, and I helped my pastors plant a beautiful church here in Nashville called the Belonging Co. as a part of the early team. There were like 10 of us in a basement, and it felt almost like a small group—a Bible study, a discipleship group—but it kept growing and growing. And we all knew this was gonna become a church one day. And I ended up going on staff there and serving in so many different areas. And it was during that time that I got really sick with something called Lyme disease, and it was late-stage neurological. So we are talking like a headache, something like you can’t imagine, not something a migraine medicine would touch. This was like over the top, marking a real low season and a true season of surrender because I had to give up everything. I gave up my beautiful home here, my job, and my passion for creating music to move back to Boston in my early 40s to be with my parents, which is a humbling experience. Still, it was during that season of really walking through a health crisis that the Lord began to speak to me about his plans for my life, encouraging me not to give up, and assuring me that he would work all things, not some things, but all things for our good. I can remember little songs would come to my mind, little lullabies I would write, and I did get on the other side of that through prayer, through his healing, through a great Lyme Center in New York. And that was when he asked me to do a whole new season of music, which shocked me. I kind of thought, okay, we’re now like church world, you know what I mean? Like still ministry. And God opened up and rerouted a whole new beautiful season, and I ended up signing a new record deal. And that’s where Sacred Surrender comes from.
When I got in the writing room with beautiful songwriters I’ve worked with over the past 20 years, the theme kept naturally emerging: to let go, to let God wait on the Lord, and to trust Him even when things seem backward. That season looked so backwards, but now I see how the Lord used it to fortify some things in my heart and ultimately move some things forward. So these songs, Rachel, they just poured out songs of surrender, songs of waiting, songs of trust. The album was birthed, the sacred surrender. You can check it out if you want on Spotify, iTunes, all that, YouTube, but not the book. That was never in my heart or my mind. That really was a God thing. And talk about when God speaks and we obey. Wow, does he breathe on something?
Rachael Adams (09:09.656)
Well, you know, we’re going to continue this conversation, but we’ll take a brief break to thank our sponsor. And when we come back, we’ll talk about how surrender leads to peace and how even our impatience can become gratitude.
Rachael Adams (09:32.515)
Welcome back. I am talking with Jamie Jamgochian, who discusses her new book, Sacred Surrender, which explores the practice of waiting well with God. So, you talked about your experience with Lyme disease right before our break and how that really, even in such a difficult time, God met you there. And so just imagine the woman listening right now when there’s something maybe in her life that she doesn’t understand, that she is like praying, God, why are you not answering this? Why have you not shown up? I don’t know what you’re doing. Talk to that woman today. How has your experience been? How would you help her go through what she is experiencing today?
Jaime (10:21.078)
My heart goes out to anyone like that. I remember what that was like, and I also remember the Lord turning one of the hardest seasons into one of the holiest, and that’s what I would encourage: allow the Lord to invite you through this hard place into one of the holiest seasons with him, where you get to know new facets of the Lord. You know, Jesus suffered for us. We don’t talk about this a lot in the Western Church, but Jesus suffered for us. When we go through a season of suffering, he’s inviting us into this space with him, where we get to know his heart. We get to know his character in a whole new way. I also believe these are the times where we really get a little more grit in our lives, and we really learn, Do I trust God? Because if I say I trust God, I trust him on the mountaintop, but I also trust him in the valley. And my encouragement would be that he’s still good even in the valley. My encouragement is that if it isn’t good yet, he’s not done yet. So, don’t give up; keep doing what you know to do, keep seeking him, and keep loving him. I have a phrase that literally got me through my lowest season: “I will worship in the waiting.” I found such peace, such comfort, such joy as I simply worshiped God. However, there are days I couldn’t even get out of bed, and that might have just been me whispering adoration to Him, you know. But worshiping Him in the waiting is a weapon. It’s a weapon in the enemy’s face to say, I still know and believe that my God is good. No matter what my circumstances look like. I’d also like to encourage you. We’re not waiting on the circumstances to change. We’re waiting on our creator. We’re waiting on the one who knows us better than we know ourselves. So posture your heart to wait on him, and then let him take care of that circumstance. Lastly, just pray that hope would flood your heart. Jesus is our living hope. It’s not in a thing, it’s not in an answered prayer, it’s not in a dream come true. Jesus is our living hope. So I pray that he would flood your heart today with fresh hope.
Rachael Adams (12:35.768)
Amen. You know, something that you talk about in your book is that you have to fight for hope, but you also have to fight for peace. And you had to do that during your illness. So what helped you to hold on to hope even when you were tempted to give up?
Jaime (12:50.178)
Yeah, I remember I finally had to get up and get out. I remember one day the Lord was like, You love sunsets. Get up, get out of bed, give me 10 minutes. And I got up, looked directly, felt directly, and walked outside. For 10 minutes, he didn’t let me grumble, complain, or even pray about all the things I didn’t understand. He just said, Praise me. And I just started thanking him. And gratitude carries so much power, and we don’t use it. Biblically speaking, and even in science, there are proven statistics that when we are grateful and rehearse gratitude, it affects our neural pathways. It changes our neural Pathways when you’re going through it. Rachel, you know, the last thing you want to do is praise God and be grateful, right? You want to grumble, you want to complain, and that was the beginning of a turnaround for me. I went from my 10-minute box to 15 to 20, and all I could do was think of things to thank God for on some days. It was Lord. Thank you that I woke up breathing today, Lord, thank you that I have the capacity to stand up today. Finding those things that you can be grateful for really does shift your attitude. And that’s where the peace comes. That’s where I found peace again. I wasn’t serving the capacity I was used to. I was simply obeying that still small voice and doing whatever he asked me. And that is where true peace comes from.
Rachael Adams (14:20.95)
You mentioned that gratitude was a lifeline for your season of waiting, but it makes sense to me that worship would also be a way for you during that time. So how can choosing to worship change the way we experience waiting?
Jaime (14:37.174)
Worship is so anti-our culture because worship gets our eyes off ourselves. And we are such a selfie, me, me, me generation, whether we’re on social media or not, we are self-focused and I think what worship does is it takes our eyes, our heart, our mind, our spirit off of ourself, off of our problems, off of our needs, desires and puts it back on the one who created us, the one who is worthy of our attention, our affection, our love, our adoration. So it’s this beautiful exchange of me, myself, and I, what I want onto God. Look at what you’ve done for me, you’ve saved me. You’ve given me a new life in Christ. You’ve changed me. If that’s all we ever get, this side of heaven, that’s more than enough. And sometimes we forget that. The gospel isn’t about coming to Jesus and getting everything you want, right? The gospel has come to Jesus. We die. Christ lives within us. And we are now on a mission for him to share the glory, share the goodness of God with everyone. And so worship is one of the greatest weapons we have.
Rachael Adams (15:51.617)
Yeah, no, me too. And something else you encourage us to do is to find practical ways to make even the hard times holy. You mentioned that. So what does that look like for you practically? And what does that look like for us in our everyday, ordinary lives?
Jaime (16:06.168)
Well, just shared my number one, my sunset walks. Can’t go without them. I still do them. I have a busy, busy schedule. I’m not in town as often as I’d like while touring. I’m on a lot of planes, trains, buses, and flights on stages with lots of lights, which is not very peaceful all the time—getting away to that natural light and just that time with the Lord. That’s what refuels me. Think finding what refuels you is critical. It might not be a sunset walk for you. It might be something totally different, but find that thing and practice it as you wait on God.
The other thing, of course, is I thought I had my Bible right here. The other thing, of course, is staying grounded in the Word of God. There is so much flying at us every day. And I think as believers we know this, but it’s so easy to get lazy or just think, “I’m gonna read my little devotional,” but are we really in the Word, studying the Bible, and knowing what it says? We are living in such crazy times right now. More than ever, as Christ followers, we’ve got to be in the Word and know excellent theology, or we’re going to get thrown and tossed like the wind in the waves. Worship, we talked about that. Have time in your life set apart for prayer.
I’m big on the power of community. I don’t think God ever wanted us to do this life alone. If you don’t have one, create a good community in your life. If you don’t have good friendships, be a good friend and start building them in your life. Even in the waiting, making a little effort brings so much joy and comfort. But it doesn’t have to be a lot. I always tell people, if you’ve got two or three really close people in your life, you are blessed, right? So creating a rich community is something we can all do. And it takes time to figure out who your people are, who your people aren’t, all that. But I’m big on community. And lastly, we live in such a rushed, rushed culture. Lastly, my tip would be to slow down, to be still.
Make time in your day to be bored. Be bored for 10 minutes. See what God does. We go from one thing to the next, to the next, to the next. Are we truly having time where we’re just still with the Lord, with our thoughts, not even doing anything? You know, I can remember one day I was so excited. I’m like, oh, I’m home early. I’m going to catch up on my Netflix show and do this and that and the other thing. And I just felt like the Lord said. Would you just do nothing? I’m like, do nothing? What does that even look like? How do we even do that in today’s culture? But there is something to slowing down and just allowing God to meet us in that still place.
Rachael Adams (19:03.156)
I love all of those practical tips, and that is something that we can all do. Still, it is a choice to surrender —perhaps our plans for God’s —which we will discuss in just a moment. We’re going to take another brief break, and when we come back, we will talk about surrendering to God’s timetable.
Rachael Adams (19:25.516)
Welcome back. I am talking with Jamie Jamgochian about her devotional and album, Sacred Surrender. And so in it you write and sing about trusting that God’s plan and timetable are already in place. How do we hold on to that truth even when God seems silent or slow to act?
Jaime (19:45.758)
Yes, that can be hard, can it? Especially when our plans don’t go our way. I love the scripture that says God’s thoughts are not our thoughts. His ways are not our ways. They’re higher than what the Bible says. So when I get a no or a rejection, I actually see that as the kindness and goodness of God because he’s at a different vantage point. He sees things as we don’t. He knows our hearts better than we do. He knows what we want that might have taken us entirely out. So I now see his plans, which look different than mine, as the goodness and kindness of God in my life —not as a failure, but as protection and God being God and calling the shots. In my life, there’s a chapter that talks about when God’s B was always, no, when God’s plan and A was my plan B. And he told me that one day. I was thinking certain things had to happen at a certain age in my life, and, you know, the typical American dream: you’re 25, you’re married, have two kids, a white picket fence, maybe a dog and a cat. And my life just didn’t look like that. And I felt like I was behind Lord? Have I missed it? And he began to show me exactly where I was, precisely where he needed me to be. And I think sometimes we have to break through some of those societal pressures or norms and just ask, Am I on God’s timetable? Lord, am I in step with you? And if he says move forward in something, move forward. If he says slow down, slow down. If he says Stand still, stand. But we only answer to one, and that’s to Jesus. So if you are tethered to him, listening to him daily, I wouldn’t so much worry about the timetable of your life because God will get you where you need to be when he wants you to be there. This earth life is a blank, right? If we’re blessed, we get maybe 100 years. I believe Earth is just setting us up for eternity, and we’ll have functions and purposes in heaven, you know? And so use this time wisely. Use the timetable God has you on wisely and don’t worry if you’re not where you’re where you feel like you should be, because if your heart is that close and you’re in step with the Lord, then you’re right where you’re supposed to be.
Rachael Adams (22:16.664)
It sounds like I’m hearing this and what you’re saying, but so often in my life when I’ve been waiting for something or praying for something specifically, I do notice in hindsight, it’s much easier to see, okay, God, now I understand what you were doing and what you have for me is so much better than what I originally wanted or was hoping for. Have you found that as well? It’s like in the midst, we don’t understand, but in hindsight, we do.
Jaime (22:39.79)
You just made me think of Forrest Frank’s song, You’re a Way Better. I love that song. It is so true. In the moment, we might not realize it, but years go by, and when you look back, you’re like, thank God I didn’t marry that guy, or thank God that relationship ended because what you had was so different and so much better. But we are human and it’s natural, right? We’re human, we’re flesh. We deal with things this side of heaven, but allow God to have his way. I just don’t think you ever fail if you allow God to have his way. Looking back, everything will make sense—even the hard things. Even tragedy, which we don’t want for anybody’s life, but we’re here for a hundred years. It’s like this is not home. And I think as believers, we have to remember this is not our home. So let’s just live to the fullest, do what he says. There’ll be no more tears, no more waiting in heaven, no more crises in heaven, no more health issues in heaven. And that brings a lot of comfort to my heart.
Rachael Adams (23:45.809)
I was just thinking as you were talking about originally my question was going to be like, is there a favorite waiter or somebody like somebody that surrendered well, biblically, but then as I was thinking about that and processing as you’re talking and thinking about how really we’re all just waiting for Jesus, his second coming, waiting for eternity with him, you know, like, and so surrendering our lives to him. But Jesus, that’s where I’m going with this. Jesus was just, what a beautiful example who perfectly embodied surrender, the sacred surrender. So does that evoke any thought in you?
Jaime (24:22.67)
Oh my gosh, that resonates so much, Rachel, because I have been thinking about that. I also love The Chosen. And so you’re right. Jesus is our best example of what it looked like to live a completely surrendered life. He was mocked. People didn’t get him, but he kept choosing to do God’s will. And that’s this whole book, Not My Will, Your Will Be Done.
Rachael Adams (24:28.875)
Yes, me too.
Jaime (24:49.522)
A sacred surrender is living open-handed, saying, Father, I want what you want above what I want. And that’s the life of Jesus all the way to the cross, where he literally was bruised and beaten and crushed for us and did it with gladness because he knew he was obeying the Father. Can you imagine if we really lived and walked in that way? I’m challenging myself today. That so goes against our flesh, but when we’re walking in the Spirit, you know, you have to crucify the flesh, and there are those moments where you’re like, I really want to do this or I really want to make this happen in my own strength, but God, I’m gonna wait. I’m gonna trust you. I’m gonna submit to you, I’m gonna humble myself, and that’s what Jesus did for every one of us, the most fantastic depiction of Love and the most excellent depiction of surrender.
Rachael Adams (25:44.461)
Yeah. Why do you think that we struggle so much with surrender? Do we want to be in control? Do we want to be God? We want to like, what is it in us that’s like, I can’t let go of this and let God. What do you think the root of that is?
Jaime (25:59.551)
I do. I think you just nailed it. I think as human beings, and God knew He created us this way, it’s a letting go of our will. It’s a letting go of wanting to hold on to things so tightly. Know, some might say, like in whatever churches you’re in, a spirit of control or letting go of that. But it’s also a trust issue for me because when I really think about it, there are areas in my life, Rachel, where it’s so easy to surrender and trust God. I have seen God’s provision in my life in crazy ways. I trust him. I don’t worry about provision at all. That area of my life is so surrendered. But then there are some other areas, especially when I went through the health crisis, where I could tell I was trying to figure it out, where to go, what to do, da da da, what if this is my new norm? And finally, the Lord was like, Will you even stop? Trying to be well, let me lead you in this. So it’s, you know, we all have areas, wounds, things from our past, things that we’re aware of, things that we’re not mindful of that shape us. So I think wherever we’re weak in, that tends to be where we’re going to try to control and be the leader of our life, so to speak, instead of saying, God, you got this, you have it, take it, I surrender it to you. But it’s part of our humanness and something we have to work on daily, ensuring we’re walking in the spirit with the Lord.
Rachael Adams (27:29.656)
It’s interesting. It hadn’t occurred to me until just now that it’s not just like, I can’t, sometimes it’s just compartmentalized. We will surrender one part of our lives, but not another. I originally was just thinking, oh, we just can’t surrender anything. But you’re right. It’s a lot, like my children, and it’s one of the hardest things I am struggling with. Like they’re both teenagers and continuing to lose control. Um, but I think going back to your original point about trust, we have to believe that God is a good father, that he has a heart for us, and that his plan is for our good and for his ultimate glory. That’s the real, the root issue. Do we trust the heart of the Father and his heart for us? Right.
Jaime (28:17.174)
Yeah, and that really comes down to having a chapter in the book about that. What do you believe about God? Like, really write it down. Like, do you believe he’s faithful? Do you think he’s good? Do you know? And what are the lies you might be believing? You know, maybe you feel like he’s held out on you. Perhaps you feel like he, you know, missed something. We talk about that in the book on how to truly get before the Lord, let go of those limiting or ungodly beliefs, and make sure you’re leaning into who He truly is. Once we really know who he is, we trust him a lot better. And we’re able to relinquish that control.
Rachael Adams (28:57.528)
Yeah, so what I’m hearing from you is maybe step one could be to get into your Bible and start learning about who God really is, and then who you’re trusting your life to, and what you need to surrender.
Jaime (29:15.269)
Absolutely, because if we don’t know who he is, how do we trust him, and how do we surrender to him? And if we’ve only seen, you know, some people have grown up in really tough family lives, if they’ve only seen their natural dad be mean and angry. Maybe they then put that on God, and they think God is mean and angry. It’s really learning who God is. And that can take a lifetime, right? That’s not like an overnight kind of thing. But I think the best place to do that is the word of God, because you’re going to get to see his goodness, his kindness, how he, yes, he does get angry at times, but look at what he gets angry at, you know, and that I think will help people to see Jesus for who he really is.
Rachael Adams (30:00.759)
Yeah. And this is an ongoing process, you know, until we meet him face to face. There will always be a challenge in our flesh to want to hold onto or cling to certain things. And that it’s so, is this something that we will get better at, or something that will continue to be tested in? What’s your, what’s your thoughts on that?
Jaime (30:22.156)
Rachel, I’m right there with you. I do not claim to be an expert. I am learning and waiting well with everyone. I mean, there are definitely areas in my life that I feel like, wow, God, we’ve really grown. We’ve conquered areas, right? We’re waiting well in some areas. There are some other areas where I’m kicking and screaming, and the Lord keeps reminding me, “Child, will you trust me?” Will you be still? Will you wait? See the bigger picture, not what you want right now in this moment. Do I have time for a quick story? Okay. Okay. I remember years ago, as a new believer, a new Christian artist moved to Nashville, the kind of dream is that you win a Dove Award, right? The Doves are like, it’s silly if you think about it, they’re like the Christian Grammy Awards, right? But in our genre, it’s
Rachael Adams (30:56.824)
I do. I’d love any story. It doesn’t even have to be quick.
Rachael Adams (31:15.252)
It’s not silly. There’s nothing silly about it.
Jaime (31:19.798)
It’s a night where you celebrate your peers. It’s a night where we come together and we honor one another. My very first Dove Award, I can remember just through God’s sovereignty, somebody had an extra ticket. My producer at the time had an extra ticket. I wouldn’t have been up for Dove. I was brand new. I was making my first album. And he’s like, Do you want to go? I’m like, of course I want to go. So he gives me this ticket. I’m so green. I don’t know anything. I show up in like jeans and a jacket, and I had no clue people wear like prom gowns, right? And I realized my ticket is in the second row, Rachel. I’m like right down next to my favorite Christian artist back in the day, Michael W. Smith, and Point of Grace. I’m dating myself here, right? Those artists, like the king and queen of Christian music, right? And I sat down, and I literally was like, God was with you. And the Lord said, One day your work will be honored here. Will you trust me? And I’m like, what? That can’t be you, Lord. No way, know, no way, no way, no way. And the guy right next to me, he got up, he was terrific. He was a gospel artist. He liked ministering a song, and then he won. He sat down. I was like, just fan girling. And here we are, almost 20 years later. I’d gone to Doves; I’d never been nominated. I had had number ones at Christian Radio. I went through my health season. I gave it all up. I had surrendered. And after my health season, I did a new album called All Things. It has a lot of songs for anyone battling chronic health issues, songs that helped me get through. And I will never forget, Rachel, I had a new music publisher. I was indie at the time, but I had a really great distributor called Day One Music. I’ll never forget it.
I’m home visiting family. This would have been like August of 2020 or 2021. Don’t quote me on it. And I get a call from my music publisher, and he’s like, Jamie, you better buy a dress. Your album has been nominated for Inspirational Album of the Year. It was just 2021. I just remember my jaw dropping. Rachel, I had given up that dream. I had surrendered it so much to the Lord that I didn’t even think it was ever gonna be possible. And I didn’t even really care if I was being honest with you anymore. It didn’t hold the power or place in my heart that it once did because I worked on my identity. I know who I am in Christ. I know who I am as a minister in music. Whether I get an accolade or not, whether I’m on Caleb or not, it doesn’t matter, right? So I said, Really? So you know, I go by the prettiest dressed I can, I walk the red carpet.
I did not win. My dear friend, Selah, won in that category, but this is the part I wanna share. I got into bed that night. It was such a fun day: walking the red carpet, the after party, just you and your peers. Finally, you feel like you’re being acknowledged, right? I put my head on the pillow. I ripped those fake eyelashes off —thank God, I did those. And I just felt that still small voice say, Do you feel any different? You finally got the death norm. And I remember thinking, no, Lord. And then he said, Do you think you feel any other if you want it? I remember thinking, no, not at all. And so sweetly, he led me to that scripture that I pray this speaks to someone today. Well done, good and faithful servant. Our role is to be steadfast in whatever God has called us to, whether that’s being the best stay at home mom, I long for that season, whether it’s being like me on the road 24 seven ministering to people, we stay faithful to God, loyal to the assignment that he’s put in front of us and we let him do the rest. We let go, surrender, and let him do the rest. And I’m so grateful for that lesson. Because had it happened earlier in my career, I would have really wanted it, and it probably would have been like, Ooh, I got a double award. Now, I couldn’t care less. As long as I’m obeying and being obedient to the Lord, everything will be fine. So I encourage someone, wherever you’re at, whatever you’re doing, stay faithful to Him.
Rachael Adams (35:51.737)
That is such a beautiful story, and it encourages me today. So thank you for sharing that with me personally. And so one of the questions I’ve been asking all of my guests this season, Is there a biblical concept of love that applies to this topic today?
Jaime (36:14.574)
One of those people. Homework movies, yes. Love, yes. Weddings, yes. I can’t wait to be a bride—a biblical concept. I think we’ve talked about it earlier, but I just think of Jesus. God is love. He is the author and creator of love. So whenever you’re feeling lonely or like you don’t have love in your life, we’ve got to go back to the fact that that is who God is. God is love. The scriptures say that. And I love that because no matter what season you’re in, single, dating, old, widowed, elderly, we can have our hearts so filled and abundant.
I tell people that I feel like I live the most abundant, flourishing life —not because I have everything I want and every dream has come true, far from it —but because of the abundance of Jesus’ love in my life. And that is something we have to steward every day, just like a natural relationship. We have to spend time together. We have to talk. We have to listen. Can’t just talk to God and not listen. I have to make sure I’m cultivating that fire. You know, in natural relationships, you can have the honeymoon season and then the fire can kind of die down a little, right? You’ve got to make sure you’re keeping that fire alive, even in our walks with the Lord, so that we don’t grow complacent, so that we don’t become lukewarm, that we keep on fire for our, what does the Bible say in Revelation, for our first love. So my encouragement would be if your heart feels a little empty today, a little lonely, a little discouraged, allow the Lord to love you back to life.
Rachael Adams (37:54.425)
That’s beautiful. That same verse in Revelation, I was thinking of it when you were talking, you know, I know all your good deeds, you know, you’ve not grown weary, but you’ve forsaken your first love, and let not that be said of us, right? Let’s stay faithful and love him as he has first loved us. So good. So tell us something you are loving right now.
Jaime (38:16.408)
Whew, I am in a busy season, Rachel. It’s like full-on something I am loving. I am part of a beautiful prayer group. My pastor asked, referring to Henry and Alex. Alex is the wife, and Henry is the man. She asked if we could have a small group that would pray for her and Henry once a week, covering the church and them. Our church has grown so fast. This little group, we didn’t all know each other. We knew of each other. We’re all part of the same church. I actually knew the one leading it very well. And we have become just, it’s like a sisterhood. They’re some of my best friends now. And we can look back. We’ve been doing this for three years now, and we can say Pastor Alex thought she needed us to pray for her, and we do, but what she didn’t realize is that we needed each other. And it’s become the most precious small group—connect group, whatever you want to call it—a prayer group, and I’m loving that. I’m seeing how, in this busy, full-on season, I’ve even needed them. I’ve needed their prayers. I’ve needed their friendships. I’ve needed their support. We just did a big album. I’m sorry, album book. We just did a big book launch party next week, and they were all there in the front row just cheering me on. And the gift of community, especially at my age, is something I don’t ever take for granted. And, that’s something I’m loving.
Rachael Adams (39:41.6)
You know, you mentioned the value of community, and it sounds like you have that, which is a blessing. And so I know I want to stay connected with you. I’m sure listeners will want to; they’ll be encouraged to listen to the album and purchase the book. So tell us how we can do all of that.
Jaime (39:58.04)
Well, this has been a joy, Rachel. If we lived closer, we’d be having coffee together. If people want to check out the book, it’s called Sacred Surrender, The Practice of Waiting Well with God. It’s wherever books are sold: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christian Book, you name it. It’s on Audible if you prefer to listen to a book. Grab a copy. You know what, I’ve been encouraging people. If you know someone going through a hard season of waiting, maybe they have a chronic illness or some kind of disease, would you gift this to them for Christmas? I just had a friend gift one to someone who’s battling a dreadful autoimmune disease, and she’s not a believer yet, but she’s been reading it, and I’m like, wow, wouldn’t it be so neat if she came to faith through this little book that God had me write. Musically, my music is wherever. I know people don’t buy CDs anymore. I still have them at my live events, but you can go to Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, iTunes, and Deezer. And then I love to connect with people. Instagram and Facebook are the two I’m on the most. I tried TikTok. It’s not TikTok-ing very well. So Instagram and Facebook.
Rachael Adams (41:06.43)
Me too. You’re not alone in that. Well, I’ll be sure to include all of those in my show notes, and then I’m going to start to add you to my playlist for sure. I can’t wait to keep you in my ear.
Jaime (41:15.948)
I think you will be blessed by the song with Selah called Artful.
Rachael Adams (41:22.136)
Okay, well, we’ll be sure to put that specifically in the show notes as well. But would you just pray for us as we close?
Jaime (41:30.958)
Absolutely. Lord, thank you to whoever has tuned in to listen to this discussion with Rachel. I love her gentle heart, her spirit. It’s just beautiful. Father, I pray for anyone who is in a waiting season. I pray for anyone who’s having a hard time surrendering to God. Would you help us all to truly see you for who you are? You are a good father; you’re kind, gracious, and patient with us. I pray, Father, that we would tether our hearts to the word of God in this season more than ever before. We would be women and men of God who know your word and stand for truth and truth alone. Father, I pray for those who are sick in body right now, and or in some kind of chronic pain, chronic illness. Father, even as I’m praying right now, would you touch their body? Would you bring your peace, your healing? We know that you are a healer, Lord. Would you bring healing to their bodies, to their cells right now? Father, I pray for those who are discouraged. The joy of the Lord, which truly is our strength, would become so real to that person. Flood them with your happiness in this moment. And for those who feel like they’re having a hard time surrendering. Would you whisper in their ears today that you’ve got them, that they’re on this journey with you, and that they’re right on time and right in step? I pray all this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Rachael Adams (43:03.473)
Amen. Thank you, Jamie. Thank you for helping us to surrender and to learn to wait well.
Jaime (43:08.908)
Yes, it’s a joy to be on your program. Thanks for having me.
Rachael Adams (43:14.562)
Thank you so much for listening to the Love Offering podcast. I hope today’s conversation encouraged and inspired you to love God, love others, and even love yourself a little more. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and leave a review. It helps others find the show and spreads the message of love even further. To connect with me, visit me on my website at rachelkadams.com. While you’re there, be sure to download the love offering calendar, a free resource filled with simple daily ways to love those around you. Don’t forget to pick up a copy of my book, Everyday Prayers for Love, and Jamie’s new book and album, Sacred Surrender: The Practice of Waiting Well with God. A special thank you to Life Audio for supporting this podcast and making it possible to find more great podcasts. Visit lifeaudio.com. Thanks again for joining us today. Until next time, let’s make our lives an offering of love.
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