BEYOND THE TITLES: FINDING AUTHENTICITY IN THE VOICE OF GOD​

One of the most profound lessons I’ve learned in over 30 years of ministry is that God is always talking to the one who is listening. We often complicate the spiritual life, turning it into a series of boxes to check or titles to attain. We think hearing God requires a special frequency or a "super spiritual" status. But as I shared on a recent episode of the Her Desired Haven podcast with LaShaundra Barnes, the truth is far more accessible: God speaks to the heart that is simply willing to show up.

God is always talking to the one who is listening." 
​—Kristen Wambach

​The Box vs. The Call
"For years, I worked incredibly hard to fit into the "church box." I followed the rules, navigated the politics, led worship, and headed women’s ministries. I went to ministry school and learned how to function in spiritual gifts on cue. I thought those things were the goal.Then, Jesus asked me a question that stopped me in my tracks: "How are you different from the Kristen you were before you started all that?"
He reminded me that He had ordained me long before any institution did. While I honor the title of "Pastor"—it is a beautiful place of service and relationship—it isn't my identity. If you lose the degrees, the roles, and the societal accolades, who are you? You are a beloved child of God, gifted and called without rescindment. His presence, much like the Tabernacle in the wilderness, is often found "outside the camp"—beyond the walls of our rigid expectations.

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Hearing God: The Art of "Pretending"

When people ask how to hear God for the first time, I often give an answer that surprises them: Pretend.
If you feel distant, remember that you cannot go anywhere outside the love of God. Start a conversation as if He is right there next to you, because He is. Talk like you are walking with a girlfriend. Vent if you need to, but leave space to breathe. That "breath" is where the response lives.
God speaks through nature, through the kindness of a stranger in a grocery store, and through the quiet nudges of the Holy Spirit that "raise an eyebrow" when our attitude gets off-track. Hearing Him isn't about a mystical bolt of lightning; it’s about developing a relationship. I have over 20 years of journals filled with these "snippets" of conversation. By writing them down, I validate that I am listening, and He continues to speak.

• Identity Beyond Titles: Credentials are tools for service, but they are not the source of your value.
  
• Simple Communication: Hearing God is as natural as a conversation with a friend; it requires "breathing" space to listen.
  
• Healing is Timeless: No matter how old the wound or the disability, God is not limited by the years you’ve carried it.
  
• Authenticity over Polish: God uses our "unprepared" moments to demonstrate His strength.
  

Listen to Audio Version

The job of the person who holds the gift is to teach others the gift, not to have others require their attention for the gift."
​—Kristen Wambach

Healing in the Bread and Wine Aisle

Authority in the spirit isn't about platform; it’s about availability. I remember being in a large warehouse grocery store early one Sunday morning, my cart filled with Mexican Cokes for a church "homework" reward. I met a man named Don, a Vietnam veteran who had been deaf in one ear for 40 years due to a grenade injury.
Right there, between the bread and the wine, I asked to pray for him. We tested his hearing four times. By the fourth time, the 40-year-old injury was gone. He called me the next day to tell me he could hear the ticking of the second hand on his wall clock.
That is who Jesus is. There is no span of time—30, 40, or 50 years—that withholds Him from reaching out His hand. He has no problem testing Himself to prove His love for you.

Living Spiritually BRAVE

In my book, The UnFinished Book, I reversed the "F" on the cover. It’s a nod to my history with dyslexia—a condition Jesus healed when I was 30. It serves as a reminder that life can be difficult when things feel "turned around," but our stories are still valuable.
Being "Spiritually BRAVE" means showing up even when you aren't prepared. It’s sitting down for the "mics and cameras" of life even when the technology fails or you’re still in your workout clothes. Authenticity is more powerful than perfection. People don’t need your polish; they need your presence and your obedience.
Today, I encourage you to be curious about God. Ask Him good questions. Refuse to drink the "stagnant water" of yesterday’s worries and refill your glass with the refreshing, restorative reality of who He is today. He is listening. Are you?

SHOW TRANSCRIPT

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: HER DESIRED HAVEN PODCASTHost: LaShaundra Barnes
Guest: Kristen Wambach

[0:00] LaShaundra Barnes: There are days that you don't like them, but you choose to love them because love is a choice. Yeah, love is a choice. But again, God is always talking to the one who's listening.
[0:15] Kristen Wambach: And you know, if I get off-colored or an attitude within nanosecond, Holy Spirit will raise the eyebrows and say, "You okay with that? Are you willing to put up with the disaster that you just let out of your mouth?" You know, so it all comes back to me learning about me, learning how to develop me and develop in a relationship.
[0:46] LaShaundra Barnes: Welcome to Her Desire Haven Podcast, a community where we come together to discuss all things Jesus, family, life, and faith. I am your host, Landre. Thank you so much for tuning in today. In today's episode, we have another special guest. Today's guest is an ordained pastor, author, podcaster, and entrepreneur who helps others live spiritually brave. A wife of 40 years, and a mom to four sons, she's passionate about guiding people into deeper faith, spiritual clarity, and real authentic connection with God. In today's episode, she's going to share how to hear the voice of God and insights from her book entitled The Unfinished Book: Some of the Greater Things in Life Are Unseen. Please welcome Kristen Wambach to the show.
[1:27] Kristen Wambach: Hi, Landre. Good morning.
[1:30] LaShaundra Barnes: Good morning. Thank you so much for taking time out of your day.
[1:34] Kristen Wambach: Absolutely. Absolutely. I've been looking forward to our time together.
[1:42] LaShaundra Barnes: Yes. So, I really want to dive in. There's so much that we can talk about and I feel like you have so much knowledge. I did want to mention I saw a quote and I want to say it was on your website, I'm not sure, but you said that God always works through the individual who's listening.
[1:58] Kristen Wambach: Oh yes. One of my favorites. That's not just a quote. That's just a life lesson. Yes.
[2:05] LaShaundra Barnes: Amen. And so I kind of want to know for the person who maybe struggles to hear God, they're not quite there yet. How do they begin to take the steps to where they can hear God's voice for the first time—or like they've never heard him before?
[2:22] Kristen Wambach: You could pretend. People want to go, "What did she say?" Pretend. If you have a conversation, say like you and I here, Landre. So, at first, you know, maybe the mics didn't work or we couldn't hear, but you could have a whole conversation with me even though I'm assuming I can't hear it through my headphones. But the thing is that you know that you are saying something. So, sometimes when we imagine—when we feel distant from God—we're not distant from God. We can't go anywhere outside of the love of God. So, as you're learning a conversation with him, just talk and believe he's listening. And you will be surprised. It is that simple. Talk. Just talk like you and I are doing here. Like a couple girlfriends going on a walk. Just begin to talk. But also allow those times where you breathe because you don't talk the whole time unless you're venting. And sometimes you need to, but allow that breath and allow God that space to communicate back. We make it much more difficult than it is.
[3:37] LaShaundra Barnes: Yeah. And I think sometimes people need like reassurance. I need to know that he hears me. But you're saying, "Hey, just start talking."
[3:48] Kristen Wambach: He talks always. He always is there. He always has something to say. He always has a response. I many times will say, "Well, I don't think I'm hearing your response. Could you say that again?" And then I allow that place to wait. Just to wait. If you're going for a walk, you know, nature speaks and you can feel God through his creation. You can feel God by this lady at the grocery store who just goes, "Are you in a hurry? Would you like to go first?" And God speaks to us through everything.
[4:32] LaShaundra Barnes: What has being a pastor really taught you about yourself?
[4:37] Kristen Wambach: Myself worked really, really, really, really hard to get into what it's easy for me to say the church box. All the rules, all the politics. I worked really hard cuz I know, well, that's where I belong. I'm in leadership, led everything, did all the worship, led worship, did women's ministry, all these things. And I worked really hard, went to ministry school, could prophesy on cue, could lay hands on the sick with—we're getting some results here. You stand in the power of God. And then all of a sudden, one day I went, y'all, did that afford me anything? Did that get me anything? Did that get me what God put here? The ordained. And so, you know how Jesus always answers a question with a question. You can't get a straight thing out of him. What do you think about this? And so, he asked me, he goes, "Yeah, how are you different from the Kristen before you started all that? Before you started to get all of the associations, all the titles, all that stuff?" And then he asked me, he goes, "Didn't I ordain you before that? Hasn't he ordained each one of us to be who we are as a representative of him?" So, it took me quite a few years to get in the box. Then he kind of changed the picture when he opened up my spiritual eyes and then all of a sudden I realized, you know what, God's presence and his tent was always, always outside the kingdom. So, I'm honored with the title. It is a place of honor. I understand that.
[6:52] LaShaundra Barnes: I think it's important. Who does God say you are outside of all of those titles and things? Cuz if you lose all those things, who are you then? Are you still valuable? Are you still called? I think that's important to know that he loved you before you had all that stuff. It's the world that makes us think that we have to do all these things, but God, he loved us before it, right?
[7:26] Kristen Wambach: Yeah. He loved us. He gifted us. He never rescinded any of his gifts. No matter where I was in life, no matter if I was doing the right thing or the wrong thing—and I have plenty of stories that were not—I mean, he never took away his gifts. And that's what's so cool about him. He's just waiting for me to mature. But a lot of times, you know, like if I'm on an airplane or talking to somebody standing in line for a movie, "What do you do?" It's easier for me to say pastor. Cuz then they go, "Oh." And they'll either ask me a good question or walk away like, "All right, give this woman some space." It can be humorous.
[8:18] LaShaundra Barnes: That is hilarious. Okay, so you have four adult sons, right? And you've been married for 40 years, which is incredible. What has been the hardest lesson that you've had to learn as a mother and then the hardest lesson as a wife?
[8:34] Kristen Wambach: As a mom? A difficult lesson was when I realized I was broken. It wasn't hard to see I was broken, but it was hard for me to see that I was broken. And I learned that out of desperation when my boys were small and I just went, "Wow, I don't really like who I am." So there's that realization like something's got to change here. And since I'm the one doing the listening—your first comment—I said, "Okay, God, where do we begin?" So it was my children that gave me the strength to change. Now, a husband? Woo doggy. There are days that you don't like them, but you choose to love them because love is a choice. But again, God is always talking to the one who's listening and you know if I get off-colored or an attitude within nanoseconds, Holy Spirit will raise the eyebrows and say, "You okay with that? Are you willing to put up with the disaster that you just let out of your mouth?" So it all comes back to me learning about me. But to really pinpoint your question of what was the greatest lesson is to remove my expectations from him because those expectations look like me. They don't look like him.
[10:48] LaShaundra Barnes: That's going to help so many people because sometimes I feel like we might have those unrealistic expectations of others and then when they don't meet it, it can ruin the relationship. We get angry, we get frustrated. So, I think so many people are going to learn from the lessons that you've learned. Can you share a testimony that you feel like really solidified your faith in Jesus Christ?
[11:50] Kristen Wambach: Well, one comes to mind, it was so endearing. I was in WinCo, which is a large warehouse grocery store. And at that time, doing church, it was Sunday and I had shared, "Okay people, if you do your homework"—because I like to give people homework—"I'm going to give out those little Mexican Cokes." So, I got up early, went to the store, and in my grocery cart, all there is is these Mexican Cokes. And there was this guy, he must have been 65. He walks by me on a Sunday morning and he looks at me and goes, "Honey, if you're a Sunday school teacher, what are you giving your kids Coke for?" So that opened up the conversation. He kept saying, "Huh? Huh?" And I go, "Excuse me, sir. Are you hard of hearing?" He said, "Yes." He served in Vietnam and a grenade went off, took out all of the hearing in one ear and a majority of it in the other one. And I love Jesus, and I said, "Hey, may I pray for you right there in the middle of—here's the bread and the wine aisle, right? Can I pray for you here?" So he said, "Sure." So I prayed for him and then we tested him. We did that four times so he couldn't read my lips. And after four times, his hearing returned. A 40-year-old injury. Jesus just lifted up. He called me the next day. He said, "I can even hear the second hand on my wall."
[14:26] LaShaundra Barnes: Oh, wow.
[14:28] Kristen Wambach: So, a testimony that—see, a 40-year-old injury. Do any of us have something that's been bugging us for 30, 40 years that we've just been believing God for? That's who he is. There is never any span of time that would withhold him from reaching out his hand to you in the grocery store aisle between the bread and the wine. He has no problem with testing himself so that we can hear, so that we can see, so that we can be whole.
[15:10] LaShaundra Barnes: Wow, that's a beautiful testimony. Your book is called The Unfinished Book. What is one lesson that you hope the readers will learn?
[15:42] Kristen Wambach: That a mom with four sons or an Oregon farm girl who sat in an evangelical pew—that Jesus would think so highly of her that he would change the way she sees. And if he did it for me, he can do it for anyone else too. Everyone goes, "Oh, you're a gift. You're super spiritual." And I went, "No, this is for everybody." Everybody can develop their spiritual senses. And that's the job of the person who holds the gift. They're supposed to teach other people the gift, not have the other people require their attention for the gift. I'm supposed to teach you how. And in the designing of the cover, it says "The Unfinished Book" and I turned the 'F' around. The 'F' is reversed because I had dyslexia all through until I was about 30 and Jesus healed me. So I turned it around as an honor that I remember because it is really difficult to do life when letters and numbers are turned around.
[17:38] LaShaundra Barnes: Can you share any wisdom with our community about growing deeper in their relationship with God and developing their spiritual awareness?
[17:46] Kristen Wambach: Let's go back to your first questions: talking and hearing. Just believe in your conversation that he's listening. Even having the conversation is you activating your faith because to open your mouth and say something means that you're believing that it's going to be heard on the other side. That's how I learned how to hear God because I began to journal. I have 20 plus years of journals. Be curious about God. How many times did he ask Jeremiah, "What did you see?" Jeremiah repeated what he saw. And then God responded, "Yes, you've seen right." Well, he does the same thing. "Why do I feel this way all of a sudden?" And he'll tell you. Or "I feel like a cool breeze just came in." He'd go, "Yep, it did. I'm sending you refreshing."
[19:46] Kristen Wambach: I learned a little metaphorical tool the other day like a glass of water. Every day I have a choice. Am I going to drink the water from yesterday? There might be some not so good stuff in that water. So, it's just a matter of changing. Let's refill up. I'm going to drink something new today. It has no residue of yesterday.
[20:49] LaShaundra Barnes: So, what is the best way for our community to connect with you?
[20:55] Kristen Wambach: You can find me at kristenwambach.com. I have a free gift for your listeners on how to live spiritually brave. You can find my book, The Unfinished Book, at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I'm all over social media because that is what we do—God's called you and I to be an instrument, a mouthpiece.
[21:40] LaShaundra Barnes: Kristen, thank you so much for taking time out of your day. Did you have any last words of encouragement?
[21:49] Kristen Wambach: Actually, I'm going to put it back on your lap, Landra. When we did our little pre-interview, remember? I had a brand new computer that wouldn't hook up. I was on technical support for like three hours. I was still in my workout clothes. I had no makeup on. But I sat down with you and I was totally unprepared. My frequency and sound was off, but I knew that was really important to you. And so I'm going to ask you a question: why was it?
[22:50] LaShaundra Barnes: It's important to show up just as you are. Obedience is important. There have been days where I've not been prepared and I'm like, "God, can I please just cancel?" He's like, "No, just get on the call." Someone needs to hear it. Being authentic and genuine—people can relate to that. We don't have to be perfect. Sometimes you got to show up in sweatpants and a hoodie. The message is more important than how we look.
[24:04] Kristen Wambach: Sometimes the message isn't what comes out of our mouth. It's the actions that are behind it. You are so awesome.
[24:14] LaShaundra Barnes: Thank you so much for coming on the show. I really appreciate it.
[24:21] Kristen Wambach: Thank you for your invitation.
[24:26] LaShaundra Barnes: And thank you so much to our lovely community for tuning in. Please don't forget to subscribe.

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SUMMARY: THE ALTAR OF AVAILABILITY

True authority isn’t found in the "church box" of titles, politics, or religious performance; it is found in the quiet, consistent availability of a heart that listens. As a spiritual investigative journalist, I’ve discovered that the most profound moves of God—from the restoration of a 40-year hearing loss to the healing of a mind bound by dyslexia—happen when we step "outside the camp" and engage in simple, raw conversation with the Divine. Your identity is not a degree or a role; you were ordained by God before the world had a chance to label you. To live Spiritually BRAVE is to stop striving for perfection and start showing up in your "sweatpants moments," trusting that the message in your spirit is more important than the polish of your presentation.

Coaching Church Activations

1. The Identity Audit Set aside fifteen minutes this week to sit in silence. Ask Holy Spirit: "Who did You ordain me to be before I took on my current titles?" List your roles (parent, employee, leader) on one side of a paper, and on the other, list the attributes God speaks over your "naked" soul. Practice being the person on the right side of the page all day Monday.
2. The "Pretend" Protocol If you are struggling to hear God’s voice, act as if He is sitting in the passenger seat of your car or walking beside you on your morning commute. Speak out loud to Him about your frustrations, your hopes, and your "attitude moments." Leave two minutes of intentional silence for the "breath" of His response. Write down the first gentle thought that comes to mind—no matter how simple.
3. Grocery Store Authority The next time you are in a public space (the grocery store, a coffee shop, or a park), pray: "Lord, show me someone whose 'hearing'—spiritually or physically—needs to be restored." Look for the person who seems "turned around" or burdened. You don't need a pulpit; you only need to be an instrument. Offer a simple word of encouragement or a "30-second prayer" right where you are.
4. The Fresh Water Choice Identify one "stagnant" thought or disappointment from yesterday that you have been mentally "drinking" today. Physically pour out a glass of old water and refill it with fresh, cold water. As you drink, declare: "I refuse the residue of yesterday. I receive the refreshing, restorative wisdom God has for me this Monday morning."

Listen to the Episode

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Identity, Sonship & Healing

"Unlock the blueprint of your creation. Leveraging 20 years of transformation coaching, Kristen Wambach guides you into the discovery of your Spiritual DNA calling. This pillar is dedicated to anchoring your Identity in Christ and experiencing the miraculous restoration that occurs when your life aligns with Heaven’s original intent."

•   Walking in Faith: Harnessing the Power to Create (Broken to Beautiful Podcast)

•  Being Seen and Feeling Safe: Finding Your Identity in Christ (Faith Over Addiction)

•   Hearing God's Voice & A Testimony of Miraculous Healing (Her Desired Haven)

• Hearing God & Healing Generations (The Kim Sorrelle Show)

PRESS RELEASE
Spiritual Investigative Journalist Kristen Wambach Challenges Believers to Move "Beyond the Box" in Recent Global Broadcast
CORVALLIS, OR — As the landscape of modern faith shifts toward a craving for authenticity over religious performance, acclaimed author and spiritual investigative journalist Kristen Wambach is leading the charge. In a powerful guest appearance on the Her Desired Haven podcast with host LaShaundra Barnes, Wambach shared a provocative message on reclaiming spiritual identity and the simplicity of hearing the voice of God.
Drawing from over 30 years of ministry as an ordained pastor, Wambach addressed the "performance trap" that many believers face. "I worked really hard to fit into the church box—the rules, the politics, the leadership roles," Wambach shared. "Then Jesus asked me, ‘How are you different from the Kristen you were before you started all that?’ It was a reminder that our true ordination happens in the heart, long before the world hands us a title."

The episode highlights Wambach’s signature "Monday-morning" logic, offering outcome-focused tools for listeners to develop their spiritual senses. Key highlights from the broadcast include:

• The Power of Availability: Wambach recounts a stunning testimony of a Vietnam veteran receiving total restoration of a 40-year hearing loss during a chance encounter in a grocery store aisle.
• Spiritually BRAVE Living: Insights from her work, The UnFinished Book, revealing how overcoming dyslexia at age 30 fueled her mission to help others navigate life’s "unseen" greater things.
• The "Pretend" Protocol: A practical, accessible method for those struggling to hear God’s voice to begin an authentic, two-way conversation with the Divine.

"My mission is to bridge the gap between Heaven and earth," says Wambach. "Authenticity is more powerful than perfection. Whether I’m showing up to a recording in workout clothes or praying for a stranger in a warehouse store, the goal is always the same: providing a practical path for the reader’s heart to find its way home."
Kristen Wambach is an author, transformation coach, and host of the Interviewing Jesus Podcast. She remains a trusted global voice for those seeking to live with supernatural wisdom and "Spiritually BRAVE" authenticity.
For more information, to book Kristen Wambach for speaking engagements, or to access her free gift on living spiritually brave, visit KristenWambach.com.
About Kristen Wambach is a spiritual investigative journalist, ordained pastor, and author dedicated to simplifying supernatural experiences. With over three decades of experience, she empowers individuals to connect with their God-inspired calling through soul-stirring conversations and practical, heavenly wisdom.

#Media Contact:
Kristen Wambach
kristenwambach.com
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