One Year Later—What God Has Taught Me Through Makin’ Macon (Podcast Season 2 Episode 13)
Have you ever looked back and realized God was working in ways you couldn’t see at the time?
That’s exactly how I feel as I sit down to write this post.
Three years ago, I took what felt like a very small step. At the time, I had no idea where it would lead. I wasn’t trying to build a platform, create a brand, or map out a long-term plan. I was simply trying to be obedient to what I felt God was asking me to do.
Today, Makin’ Macon is celebrating three years, and the podcast is celebrating its first birthday. As I look back over those years, I’m reminded of something God has taught me over and over again: He often does His greatest work through simple acts of faithfulness.
Looking back now, I’m grateful for every lesson, every challenge, every encouraging message, and every reminder that God is faithful even when we can’t see the whole picture.
Looking Back at Small Beginnings
One important verse during this season is Zechariah 4:10:
“For who hath despised the day of small things?”
I think most of us appreciate that verse in theory, but living it out can be much harder.
We live in a world that celebrates big numbers, rapid growth, and visible success. It’s easy to look at what someone else is doing and wonder if our own efforts matter. It’s easy to become discouraged when growth feels slow or when the work we’re doing seems unnoticed.
What I’ve learned over the last three years is that God often works differently than we expect.
Most of the time, obedience doesn’t feel dramatic. It doesn’t look like standing on a stage or making a major announcement. More often, it looks like taking the next step God has placed in front of us and trusting Him with the results.
For me, that looked like writing one blog post at a time. It looked like pressing publish when nobody was waiting for it. It looked like creating content that encouraged others while trusting God to place it in front of the people who needed it most. Later, it looked like starting a podcast even when I wasn’t sure what I was doing.
Over time, God has taught me something incredibly freeing: He rarely asks us to carry the entire ministry. He simply asks us to carry today’s assignment.
When I remember that, the pressure lifts. I don’t have to know the outcome. I don’t have to see the full plan. I simply have to be faithful with what He’s placed in my hands today.
Encouragement in Chaos Became More Than a Slogan
When I first chose the phrase Encouragement in Chaos, I knew it described what I wanted to share with others. What I didn’t realize was how often I would need that reminder myself.
Life doesn’t stop being messy simply because we’re trying to serve God.
There are still seasons of uncertainty. There are still busy days, unexpected changes, and moments when we wonder what God is doing. There are still times when the to-do list feels overwhelming and the path ahead seems unclear.
Yet through all of those seasons, God has remained faithful.
Somewhere along the way, I realized that Encouragement in Chaos wasn’t just something I was writing about. It became something I was living. God wasn’t asking me to encourage people from a place of having everything figured out. He was teaching me to encourage others while trusting Him in my own imperfect journey.
God isn’t waiting for our lives to become perfectly organized before He shows up. He meets us in the middle of the mess. He walks with us through the uncertainty. He remains faithful even when we can’t see what He’s doing behind the scenes.
That’s a lesson I continue to learn over and over again.
The People Behind the Screen Matter
One of the greatest blessings of this journey has been realizing there are real people on the other side of the screen.
When I first started writing, I didn’t know who would read the posts. I didn’t know who might stumble across an encouragement article, a podcast episode, or a social media post. I certainly didn’t know how many friendships and connections would be formed along the way.
Over the years, I’ve received comments, emails, messages, and conversations that reminded me God was using this ministry in ways I couldn’t see.
Every time someone takes a moment to leave a comment, send an email, or share that something encouraged them, it does something to my heart.
It’s hard to explain.
There is a warmth that comes from knowing God used something you shared to encourage another person. Not because it makes you feel successful or accomplished, but because it reminds you that you’re exactly where God wants you to be.
There have been moments when I questioned whether what I was doing mattered. There have been seasons when I wondered if anyone was reading, listening, or being encouraged at all. Then a message would arrive at exactly the right moment.
Sometimes it was a comment.
Sometimes it was an email.
Sometimes it was a simple note saying, “I needed this today.”
Those moments reminded me that obedience is never wasted. They reminded me that there are real people carrying real burdens, and that God often uses simple words of encouragement to help lighten the load.
What God Has Taught Me About Faithfulness
As I reflect on these past three years, there are a few lessons that stand out above the rest.
God often asks us to take the next step before revealing the entire path. If I had waited until I understood everything, I never would have started. If I had waited until I felt fully prepared, I would probably still be waiting today.
I’ve also learned that ministry happens in ordinary places. It isn’t confined to a church building or a platform. Some of the most meaningful opportunities to encourage others happen in everyday conversations, ordinary moments, and seasons that seem unremarkable at the time.
Perhaps most importantly, I’ve learned that God can use willing people who are still growing.
I certainly haven’t arrived. I’m still learning. I’m still growing. I’m still trusting God one step at a time. The beautiful thing is that God doesn’t require perfection before He can use us. He simply asks for obedience.
Looking back, I can also see how God has often used the very things I was tempted to quit.
There were moments when I questioned whether continuing was worth the effort. Moments when I felt discouraged or wondered if I was making any difference at all. Yet time and time again, God would send encouragement at exactly the right moment. He would use a message, a conversation, or a simple reminder to reassure me that faithfulness matters even when we can’t see the results.
Those experiences have taught me that God is always working, even when His work isn’t immediately visible.
Prefer to Listen?
🎙️ Listen to the full podcast episode here:
Season 2, Episode 13: One Year Later—What God Has Taught Me Through Makin’ Macon
Looking Ahead
As I look toward another year of blogging, podcasting, and encouraging others, my prayer remains the same prayer it was when Makin’ Macon began:
“Lord, let this reach the person who needs it.”
Whether you’ve been here from the beginning or you’ve just recently joined this community, thank you for being part of the journey. Thank you for reading, listening, commenting, and allowing me to encourage you along the way.
Most of all, thank you for reminding me that there are real people behind every view, every download, every message, and every interaction. Your encouragement has often encouraged me right back.
No matter what season you’re walking through today, I hope you’re reminded of this truth:
God has not left you.
He’s still working.
He’s still faithful.
And He’s still right there in the middle of the mess.
Keep Exploring Makin’ Macon
If you’re new here, I invite you to take a look around. Whether you’re looking for faith-filled encouragement, homemaking inspiration, essential oil blends, family-focused content, or simple recipes to share around the table, you’ll find a little bit of everything here at Makin’ Macon.
My heart has always been to offer encouragement in the middle of real life, and I pray something you find here points you closer to Jesus and reminds you that you’re not walking through life’s chaos alone.
💛 Be sure to explore the blog, listen to past podcast episodes, and join the Stay Rooted email community for weekly encouragement delivered straight to your inbox.
