Focus on the Family with Jim Daly: Finding God’s Love in Marriage and Life (Part 2 of 2)
Release Date: February 5, 2025

In the second installment of the enlightening conversation on "Finding God’s Love in Marriage and Life," hosts Jim Daly and John Fuller delve deeper into the heartfelt journey of Christian musicians Rebecca St. James and her husband, Cubby Fink. This episode offers a profound exploration of faith, perseverance, and the transformative power of God’s love within the complexities of marriage and personal aspirations.

Revisiting the Journey: Overcoming Delays and Disappointments

The episode opens with Jim Daly acknowledging the emotional crossroads Rebecca faced in her early 30s. Living in Los Angeles and grappling with her unfulfilled dreams of marriage and motherhood, Rebecca candidly shares her vulnerability:

“I struggled to even breathe through that song sometimes because it was so vulnerable. What if this doesn't happen? What if there is no guy?”
— Rebecca St. James [00:12]

Jim Daly recalls the previous discussion, highlighting how Rebecca eventually fulfilled her dream of becoming a wife and mother, setting the stage for a deeper dive into their ongoing journey with Cubby present alongside her.

Commitment to Purity: Building a Foundation of Trust

John Fuller emphasizes the couple's dedication to living a life of purity, a commitment that is both challenging and rewarding. He reflects on their involvement with the True Love Waits movement, underscoring the importance of discipline and placing God first in relationships.

“It just takes discipline, and it really is putting God first before you say, ‘I do.’”
— John Fuller [02:25]

Rebecca expands on this by discussing the significance of practicing faithfulness prior to marriage, which fosters a deeper sense of trust and integrity between partners:

“When you jump into marriage together, you as a Christian couple, are jumping off this cliff of faith in God and each other.”
— Rebecca St. James [03:11]

Navigating the Winter Seasons: Trials and Tribulations

The conversation takes a poignant turn as Rebecca recounts the "winter season" of their lives—a period marked by infertility, miscarriage, and professional setbacks. These challenges tested their faith and resilience:

“I was dealing with infertility when we kind of launched into that winter season... I was just in great pain.”
— Rebecca St. James [09:21]

Cubby shares his own struggles during this time, particularly the profound silence he felt from God, which left him feeling isolated and unsure of his path:

“It was a silence that I had never experienced before because the Lord had been very vocal with me up until that point.”
— Cubby Fink [06:17]

Faith Amidst Silence: Choosing Trust Over Doubt

John Fuller invites Rebecca and Cubby to offer guidance to listeners enduring similar hardships. Rebecca emphasizes the importance of choosing to follow God even when His presence feels distant:

“Sometimes we just have to choose the right honoring thing. Even if our feelings are going, this hurts and this is sacrificial and this is hard.”
— Rebecca St. James [23:02]

Cubby adds that grounding oneself in scripture and remembering God’s goodness are crucial for maintaining faith during trying times:

“God's plans for us are for good, not for harm. He hates to see his children hurt.”
— Cubby Fink [15:55]

The Arrival of Spring: Renewal and Restoration

After enduring their winter season, the couple experiences a spiritual renewal that signifies the beginning of their "spring." Rebecca describes a transformative moment during a worship event in Alaska, where she felt the Holy Spirit profoundly:

“The Holy Spirit fell in just an extraordinary way in my heart... I left that stage a different person. I knew spring had come to my heart.”
— Rebecca St. James [18:34]

Cubby shares how this renewal broke the silence he had felt, reinvigorating his sense of purpose and passion:

“When that silence was broken, I really heard the word ‘running,’ which initially didn't make a lot of sense.”
— Cubby Fink [20:03]

Balancing Faith and Action: Moving Forward with Purpose

Jim Daly introduces a thought-provoking question about balancing passive waiting with active doing in one’s faith journey. Rebecca responds by challenging the contemporary notion that feelings should dictate actions, advocating instead for deliberate choices aligned with God’s will:

“Sometimes we just have to choose to serve our kids sacrificially. Even when it's hard. Sometimes we have to choose faith because we know it's the substance of things hoped for.”
— Rebecca St. James [22:39]

Encouragement and Hope for Listeners

Throughout the episode, Rebecca and Cubby offer profound encouragement to listeners facing their own winter seasons. They stress the importance of maintaining faith, seeking God’s guidance, and trusting in His timing and plans. Their story serves as a testament to the enduring power of faith and the promise of renewal.

Conclusion: Embracing God's Timing

As the episode wraps up, John Fuller and Jim Daly encourage listeners to engage with Rebecca and Cubby’s book, Lasting Faith, Music, Family and Being Found by True Love, for further inspiration. They also highlight the importance of supporting Focus on the Family’s mission through donations, which help continue providing valuable resources for Christian families.

“We recommend you get a copy of their book... It’s a good read and very encouraging about what it means to live by faith and trust God even when your circumstances don’t seem to be working out the way you planned them to go.”
— John Fuller [24:23]

Rebecca’s final thoughts underscore the essence of their journey:

“What's the matter?... Even if our feelings are going, this hurts and this is sacrificial and this is hard. Sometimes we just have to choose the right honoring thing.”
— Rebecca St. James [23:02]

Key Takeaways

• Faith in Adversity: True faith is tested and strengthened during difficult times. Trusting in God’s plan, even when immediate circumstances are challenging, is crucial.

• Commitment to Purity: Maintaining integrity and faithfulness before and during marriage lays a strong foundation for a lasting relationship.

• Spiritual Renewal: Moments of renewal and rekindled faith can transform perspectives and reignite purpose, leading to personal and relational growth.

• Active Faith: Balancing waiting on God with proactive steps aligned with His will ensures a dynamic and resilient faith journey.

This episode of "Focus on the Family with Jim Daly" serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring love and faithfulness of God in the lives of Christian families, encouraging listeners to persevere through their own seasons of trial with hope and trust.