Christ With Coffee On Ice — Episode Summary

Podcast: Christ With Coffee on Ice
Host: Ally Yost
Episode: "Courage to Do the Scary Things"
Date: October 10, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode is an honest, deeply vulnerable reflection on how to find courage to do what God is calling you to—especially when those things feel intimidating or overwhelming. Host Ally Yost opens up about her own doubts, moments of discouragement, and her struggle to dream big with God. Drawing from scripture, personal stories, supportive advice from her community, and a practical step-by-step approach (with a little help from ChatGPT), Ally encourages listeners to act in faith rather than fear, lean on community, and listen for God's gentle voice amidst the noise.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Vulnerability as a Superpower

• Ally’s Openness: From the very start, Ally is emotional and authentic about doubting her own purpose and calling.

  "Ally, your vulnerability is your superpower." (00:33, recounting what she sensed from God)

• Desiring Understanding: Hopes listeners will “feel understood and seen and less alone in it.” (00:45)

2. Struggling With Doubt and Vision

• Ally expresses uncertainty about her purpose and what the future holds despite outward appearances.

  "What is my purpose? ... I feel such a lack of vision." (01:53)

• She admits to rarely making long-term plans, always defaulting to “I don’t know,” yet feeling called to help this generation know Jesus. (02:42)

3. Remembering God’s Past Faithfulness

• Despite current doubt, Ally recognizes God’s “insane” work in her life over recent years, and acknowledges the abundant favor she’s received. (04:05)
• She wants encouragement and vision, requesting prayer in those areas. (05:25)

4. Facing Scary Callings & Procrastination

• The central theme emerges: following God’s nudges into scary, unknown territory.

  "There could be some dreams that I am scared to do, and I've been scared to do and I've been procrastinating for a long time..." (06:32)

• Ally admits to wanting to learn alongside her listeners—she doesn’t have all the answers. (07:32)

5. A Step-by-Step Approach to Courage (via ChatGPT & Scriptural Wisdom)

a. Start in Prayer

• Ask God for confirmation, peace, courage, and clarity.

“If we feel God is nudging us to do something really scary, fear can definitely sound a lot louder than God can.” (08:47)

b. Recognize God's Gentle Voice vs. Loud Lies

• The enemy shouts lies; God speaks with a whisper.

“Fear and anything that could be going through our minds...is so much louder because it’s just straight up lies...” (09:55)

• Quote:

  “It takes a little bit more effort to push aside all those lies and focus on the small, still voice of God.” (11:00)

c. Remember Who Is With You

• Cites Joshua 1:9:

  “Be strong and courageous...the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

• Even in the hardest things, God walks—literally and spiritually—with us.

“It doesn't matter if it's the most mundane thing or the hardest season of your life...He’s with you in that.” (12:47)

d. Break It Down into Small Steps

• Overwhelm can paralyze; take just the next step with God.

“If I feel God is nudging me to do something really scary and big, it’s so much easier for me to see how massive it is and...I freeze.” (13:50)

• Advice: “Take the first faithful step instead of worrying about the entire journey at once.” (14:42)

e. Replace Fear with Truth

• Rebuke the lies; declare and repeat biblical truths aloud until your spirit believes them.

  "Fear often whispers lies like, ‘you're not enough, it won't work, you'll fail.’ But God speaks truth: ‘My power is made perfect in weakness.’" (16:22)

• Persistence in truth-telling is vital:

  “Say it over and over again until I have hit a place of revelation from the Spirit.” (17:17)

f. Seek Community Support

• Invite spiritual mentors, friends, or even strangers at church into your journey.

“You’re not a burden. You do have support—even if you don’t feel like you have close friends in the church yet...” (19:53)

• Encourages listeners to use online community (YouTube comments) to share and pray for each other. (23:42)

g. Act in Faith, Not Feelings

• Feelings matter, but obedience matters more—peace often arrives after, not before, you step out.

“Courage doesn't mean the fear just disappears. It means you choose obedience in spite of the fear. Often the peace comes after you move, not before.” (25:36)

• Ice Bath Analogy
  Ally recounts braving her first ice plunge to illustrate acting in courage while still afraid. (26:46–28:40)

6. Scriptural Encouragement

• Cites key verses:

  • Joshua 1:9 — “Be strong and courageous...the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
  • Psalm 56:3 — "When I am afraid, I put my trust in You."
  • Isaiah 41:10 — “Do not fear, for I am with you...I will uphold you.”
  • James 4:13-16 (paraphrased) — Life is a mist; tomorrow isn't promised; trust God's will over long-term plans.
  • Jeremiah 29:11 — God promises a hope and a future.

  “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes...only God holds [the future].” (32:58)

7. Balancing Today, Dreams, & Trust

• Ally points out the tension between not knowing the future—“who am I to say?”—and the biblical call to dream big with God, even if it's scary. (34:30)
• Encourages listeners not to wait for “a better time” to do what God calls them to do.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Vulnerability:

  "Your vulnerability is your superpower." — Ally (sharing what she heard from God, 00:33)

• On Divine Companionship:

  "God doesn’t just send us out into places ... He goes the extra mile to say, ‘No, I will physically also walk through the fire with you.’ What God does that?" (12:28)

• On the Lies of Fear:

  “If it's the loudest voice in your head, it’s most likely not from the Lord, because ... he has a very still, gentle, sweet voice.” (22:47)

• On Courage:

  "Courage can only exist if you're doing something that you’re literally petrified to do." (28:24)

• On Community:

  "You do have support ... Even if you don’t feel like you have close friends in the church yet, I believe you will." (19:51)

• On Trusting God Above Feelings:

  "Act in faith, not feelings. Courage doesn’t mean the fear just disappears. It means you choose obedience in spite of the fear.” (25:36)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Ally’s vulnerable opening; emotions and doubt | | 04:05 | Remembering God's faithfulness | | 06:32 | Introducing today’s core topic: doing the scary things | | 08:47 | Step 1: Start in prayer; distinguishing God’s voice from the enemy| | 12:04 | Step 2: “Remember who is with you”—God’s presence and Joshua 1:9 | | 13:50 | Step 3: Break big callings into small, actionable steps | | 16:22 | Step 4: Replace fear/lie with truth—perseverance in beliefs | | 19:53 | Step 5: Seek support and community, both online and in church | | 25:06 | Step 6: Act in faith, not feelings—courage in practice | | 26:46 | Ice bath anecdote: peace comes after the leap | | 31:47 | Shared prayer and favorite scripture encouragement | | 32:58 | Discussing James 4:13-16, not postponing purpose | | 34:30 | Wrestling with “dreaming big”—the healthy balance |

Final Encouragement & Call to Action

Ally rallies listeners to act on God’s nudges—no matter how daunting—emphasizing the importance of community, discerning God's gentle voice over the shouts of fear, and the urgency of not waiting for a perfect time. She invites everyone to encourage and support each other online and in person, and to “walk more like Jesus” in their day-to-day lives.

"We are really in this together, guys ... I just pray that the Lord strengthens all of us and he gives us the courage and the boldness to act on the things that we know he wants us to do." (31:41)

Summary: Why Listen?

This is a moving, relatable episode for anyone hesitating at the edge of a calling or wrestling with fear and self-doubt. Ally’s willingness to “learn alongside you” makes the episode a communal journey of courage, grounded in scripture, faith, and God’s promise to always go with us, even into the scariest places.