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What happens when faith feels more like doing the right things than truly knowing God?
In this episode of the Faith Conversations Podcast, Jessica Cabrera talks with Tia Nelson about growing up with faith, questioning whether religious activity was enough, and eventually discovering a deeper relationship with Jesus.
Raised in small-town South Carolina, Tia was introduced to faith early through conversations with her grandfather and chose to be baptized at six years old. But as she grew older, she began to wrestle with whether faith was meant to be more than following rules and staying busy with the right activities.
Her search for deeper understanding led her to Scripture, Christian authors like John Piper, and Christian involvement at Clemson University. A turning point came during six months in Australia, where she encountered a bold example of authentic faith that helped her see faith not as performance, but as relationship.
Later, while living in Washington, D.C., personal trauma and distance from Christian community left her questioning her identity and place in church. Yet even there, God was still pursuing her.
Through the love of a small group community, Tia experienced healing, repentance, and freedom through understanding her identity in Christ. Her story is a reminder that faith is not about perfection or performance—it is about knowing and trusting a God who continues to pursue us.
Read the Gospel of John
If you have never made the choice to accept Jesus’ offer—a gift, not by works—to be restored to the original design for your life, which is a relationship with God (on earth and in heaven after physical death), now is the time.
There is an article in Jessica’s Engage Faith column that will help you understand who He is, who you are, what choice you have, and what happens when you make the decision.
Read the message of God’s good news for mankind and find a sample prayer you can pray today.
All listeners are encouraged to engage in a local church community to learn more about Jesus, the Bible, and to experience God through community. Listeners from the Northern Virginia area are welcomed at Burke Community Church, and anyone seeking an online church service can find one there as well.
We are not designed to be alone—we’re designed for a community of faith.
Follow the show on Instagram @faithconversationspodcast and sign up for Jessica’s Engage Faith communications here for updates and inspiration.
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