Crazy Love Podcast – Episode Summary

Title: From Silence to Strength | Francis Chan
Date: February 23, 2026
Host: Crazy Love Ministries
Guest: Francis Chan

Episode Overview

This episode of the Crazy Love Podcast features renowned author and pastor Francis Chan, who passionately discusses the spiritual discipline of waiting on the Lord and cultivating silence with God. Chan illuminates the urgent need for Christians today—especially amidst constant distraction and noise—to reclaim intimacy with God through extended times of quiet, prayer, and faith-filled expectation. Drawing from personal experiences, biblical insights, and poignant stories, Francis encourages listeners to slow down, confess, and receive from a gracious God.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Urgency of Meeting with God in Silence

• Opening Challenge: Francis directly asks the audience if they intentionally plan daily time alone with God, underlining how few actually do ([00:38]).
  • "How many of you plan on tomorrow morning waking up at least a half hour... just to be alone with God...? Okay, six of you. Cool. I think I picked the right topic then." – Francis Chan ([00:38])
• Chan shares his transformative journey of meeting with God since age 15—emphasizing that daily solitude is the "center of my life" and his "favorite time of the day" ([01:46], [01:51], [01:54]).

2. A Nun's Testimony & The Power of Extended Silence

• Francis recounts a visit with Sister Bethany of the Sisters of Life, who spends 4–5 hours in silent prayer each morning and even full days or 30-day retreats in silence ([02:25]-[03:26]).
  • "First, four or five hours in silence with God, and then every week at least one day in total silence... she had just spent 30 days in silence alone with God." – Francis Chan ([03:26])
• He marvels at her joy and vitality, challenging the perception that extended silence is strange.

3. The Desire to Hear God's Voice

• Chan asks listeners to reflect on the price they’d pay to hear God's audible voice ([04:00]-[05:00]):
  • "This is what we were created for. I mean, it's great to talk to each other, but can you imagine... you hear the voice of God and He speaks to you?" ([04:57])
• He describes the awe of personal encounters where "God spoke to me... communicated with me," making those mornings "the most exciting time of my life" ([05:39]).

4. Creation and Purpose: Fellowship with God

• Referencing Genesis, Francis explains humanity’s design—created in God's image for communication and oneness with Him, not merely for utility or tasks ([06:17]-[06:44]).
• He unpacks John 14, noting Jesus' promise that the Holy Spirit would dwell "with you and... in you" ([07:36]-[08:12]).
  • "This is why we’re created in the image of God: so that somehow our spirit could be one with the very Spirit of God." – Francis Chan ([08:56])

5. Mysteries of Spiritual Revelation and Love

• Francis delves into 1 Corinthians 2:9–10, illustrating how God reveals deep realities to believers by the Spirit—beyond what eye, ear, or mind can know ([11:27]-[13:29]).
  • He describes profound moments of closeness, safety, and love in God’s presence, when "nothing else matters" ([14:36]).
  • "Somehow the Spirit can put the love of God directly into your heart... If He wants to put a thought in you, He can do it mysteriously." ([15:58]-[16:04])

6. The Nature of God: Mercy, Grace, and Steadfast Love

• Explores God’s self-revelation to Moses in Exodus 34, emphasizing mercy, grace, justice, and steadfast love ([18:38]-[20:26]).
  • "God is merciful... That means you do something wrong, and He, like, wants to forgive you... That’s who I am." – Francis Chan ([19:24])
• Francis shares personal, relatable stories (e.g., about his generous friend Dukey Hong) to illustrate God’s gracious character ([21:09]-[22:29]).

7. Faith-Fueled Approach to Time with God

• Meeting with God isn’t about striving or some transactional effort; it’s about faith in the promises and work of Jesus ([24:38]-[25:25]).
• Through the Holy Spirit, God can change a person’s very nature—not just temporary behavioral modification but a transformation of desires ([25:25]-[27:03]).
  • "If you spray off a pig, he’s just going to run right back to the mud... Jesus... can change your nature." ([26:01]-[26:34])

8. The Problem of Busyness and the Discipline of Waiting

• Francis implores listeners to resist the current culture’s compulsive busyness and distraction ([27:14]-[29:33]).
  • "You’re growing up in a generation where you’re just so quick with everything... you're missing out on what life is all about, what you were made for." ([05:44])
• Waiting on the Lord brings renewal, but many are losing this ability, which Francis links to crises of anxiety and even suicide ([27:14]-[28:46]).
  • "The Bible says they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength… It’s those who can wait in silence before the Lord with anticipation... he’ll renew your strength." ([28:46])

9. Practical Steps: Detox from Distraction

• On a recent 54-hour travel week, Francis chose silence over distraction, letting God reveal areas where fear of missing out (FOMO) hinders intimacy with God ([31:41]-[33:06]).
  • "God was just showing me, you keep that up and you won’t hear my voice. What if I wanted to tell you how much I love you, but you have this fear of missing everything?" ([32:37])
• He introduces the idea of a "different FOMO"—the fear of missing God’s voice ([32:54]).
• Francis describes new phone boundaries: Only using his phone at odd hours to intentionally create space for silence and deeper listening ([33:43]-[34:11]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Value of Silence:

  "Some of you are listening to that, going, that is so weird. That is so strange to you. Like, to spend hours alone with God. But I want you to think about this for a second."
  —Francis Chan ([03:26])

• On Intimacy with God:

  "There are mornings where I walk out of a room and I’m going, what the heck just happened? I know that God spoke to me... This is, like, the most exciting time of my life."
  —Francis Chan ([05:44])

• On God’s Character:

  "I want you to know that I’m merciful... I want to forgive you so badly. That’s just who I am."
  —Francis Chan ([19:24])

• On Spiritual Transformation:

  "He (God) can change your nature. He can put a fear of God in your heart. He can put the love of God in your heart. And it’s a mystery."
  —Francis Chan ([27:03])

• On Spiritual FOMO:

  "What if I come to the end of my life and the enemy got me? I was just so busy, and God was saying, man, I had such plans for your life. She wouldn’t even just stop and listen."
  —Francis Chan ([33:18])

Important Timestamps

• 00:38 – Challenge: Who plans to meet with God in silence?
• 03:11 – Nun’s testimony of daily/weekly silence
• 04:57 – The value and mystery of hearing God’s voice
• 07:36 – John 14 & the indwelling Holy Spirit
• 11:27 – 1 Corinthians 2: Spiritual revelation beyond senses
• 14:36 – The indescribable joy of God’s presence
• 18:38 – God’s self-revelation to Moses (Exodus 34)
• 22:36 – Relating God’s character to real-life experiences
• 25:25 – True spiritual change vs. surface behavior
• 27:14 – Urgency to cultivate silence in a noisy culture
• 31:41 – Travel story & recognizing unhealthy FOMO
• 32:54 – A new fear: missing God’s voice
• 33:43 – Phone boundaries & practical steps for creating space

Conclusion – Encouragement and Prayer

• Francis prays listeners experience the grace, love, and presence of God, urging each person to intentionally confess, receive, and prioritize time alone with Him ([35:28]-[37:30]).
• He closes with an invitation for God to “do a miracle” and grant listeners the joy of truly knowing—and waiting for—their Creator.

This episode is a heartfelt call to reclaim the life-changing discipline of silence and waiting on God, promising strength, transformation, and a deeper experience of divine love for all who will pause, confess, and believe.