Theology on Purpose

Faith doesn't always look like courage. Sometimes it looks like choosing, again and again, where to fix our gaze. In this solo episode of Theology on Purpose, I reflect on a moment of fear on a snowy hill, the wisdom of Scripture—from Hebrews to the crossing of the Red Sea—and what it means to look honestly at darkness without letting it determine our direction.
Get the free download: https://sarahkbutterfield.substack.com/

In this episode of Theology on Purpose, food scholar and theologian Kendall Vanderslice joins Sarah for a conversation about food as a site of spiritual formation. Kendall shares her journey into food and theology and explores what the practice of baking bread can teach us about faith. They reflect on how spiritual growth happens not through control or performance, but through learning to trust God with the work of transformation.
In this episode, we discuss:
What bread-making reveals about spiritual growth and trust

Why rest is not a reward, but an act of faith

How curiosity and joy shape a healthier life with God

Faith as embodied, sensory, and communal

Food, control, and fear-based cultural narratives (especially in the Trad Wife movement!)

The table as a place of healing, resistance, and connection

Connect with Kendall here: https://kendallvanderslice.com/
Get the show notes here: https://sarahkbutterfield.substack.com/s/podcast

Every day begins with a blank canvas, and every decision we make becomes a brushstroke. But what happens when life doesn't turn out the way we imagined, or when our plans are interrupted by limits, and the unexpected? In this solo episode, we explore how our daily choices shape our lives, how to honor our God-given limits and capacity, and how to trust God when we're not in control. Through a faith-filled lens, you'll be encouraged to live with intention, clarity, and surrender as you invite God into the bigger picture of your life.
Subscribe here to never miss an episode!

In this episode of Theology on Purpose, Sarah is joined by Kara Stout, author of An Untroubled Heart, for a meaningful conversation about faith, anxiety, grief, and God's sustaining peace.
In this episode, you'll hear about:
Kara's journey through infertility, adoption, and motherhood

Losing both parents to cancer and how grief shaped her faith

The difference between anxious thoughts and the Holy Spirit's leading

Why we shouldn't "spiritually bypass" our emotions

How daily rhythms of prayer and Scripture cultivate peace

When and why seeking professional counseling can be a faithful choice
For anyone navigating anxiety, loss, or spiritual dryness, this episode offers much-needed encouragement, everyday wisdom, and hope rooted in God's compassion.
Take the Connect with God Quiz here: https://connectwithgodquiz.com/
Get the show notes here: https://sarahkbutterfield.substack.com/s/podcast

Seasons of waiting don't need to feel like wasted time, but instead they can be part of our spiritual formation! In this solo episode, I reflect on a missed speaking opportunity, biblical stories of long seasons of waiting, and what our unmet desires reveal about our deeper longing for God. Tune in to discover how waiting can become an active spiritual practice that reshapes our faith, priorities, and trust in God's goodness.
Subscribe here to never miss an episode!