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Today we’re diving into Joren and Mia’s wild God story as they share how faith, hope, and discerning God’s voice shaped their journey to marriage. Plus honest truths about disappointment, surrender, and letting God write your personal love story!
Hiiii HOD family! We’re back with another episode, and this one is SO CLOSE to the heart of what we’re all about. We are diving into all things discerning God’s voice and navigating the complexities of dating when you feel like you’ve “heard from God”. This includes the wild, hope-filled, sometimes totally confusing process that comes with it. We’re so pumped to bring you this conversation featuring Joren and Mia, and let’s just say… It's a STORY! If you’ve ever found yourself wrestling with questions about “the one,” prophetic words, or what it looks like to wait on God without totally losing your mind, this episode is for you! Joren and Mia are almost a decade into marriage, and trust us, their journey from “waiting” to “wow, we’re really married!” is marked by the unmistakable fingerprints of God, but also a ton of raw, real talk about disappointment, timing, and surrender.
The conversation focused on the popular Christian belief that, “if it’s God, it’ll be easy.” And wow, was that myth dismantled! Even with profound clarity, their journey had its challenges. One concept discussed was that God’s involvement and confirmation in a love story doesn’t remove the reality of process, timing, or the need for trust and open hands. Dependency on God doesn’t end at the moment of breakthrough, it continues as you faithfully “walk it out” day by day 04:37.
A key theme that emerged was the difference between peace and comfort in relationships. The discussion explored how peace can be a marker for God’s presence, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the absence of hard things. Several points were raised, including the insight that sometimes what we think is anxiety about a relationship might actually be our own need for control or unresolved disappointment 10:11. It’s ok to ask God, “What would please you here?” and to let Him speak into the details instead of trying to figure everything out on your own. One of their big pieces of advice was to actually “leave it with God” instead of orchestrating everything yourself, even when it feels tempting to control your dating timeline or someone else’s journey. They shared examples from their own engagement and marriage, as well as how this posture of surrender matters WAY beyond the dating stage, even into parenting and daily life together 12:10.
The discussion explored prophetic words around marriage, praying for a future spouse, and the often-asked question: “Does God choose your spouse or do you?” They shared a powerful metaphor about a warehouse of one-of-kind furniture to illustrate God’s heart: all the options are good because He made them, but He’s also delighted to custom-create something if you ask! The bottom line: God’s kindness gives you freedom and guidance, and He LOVES being invited into your choices 26:16.
We talk about how to handle the ache of disappointment when what you “heard from God” doesn’t seem to materialize (or when someone else’s will is involved). The conversation dug deep into how to hold promises with open hands, trusting the promise-keeper more than the promise itself 39:14. Over and over, the invitation was to bring your questions, grief, and disappointments straight to God, knowing He can handle it and wants to heal the deepest places.
A lot of wisdom was dropped on discerning God’s voice versus your own desires. Several points were raised, including not judging by feelings alone but looking for true fruit: is the relationship marked by peace, gentleness, self-control, faithfulness, and love? 40:30. Also, beware of confusing your will with God’s or letting prophetic words become prescriptive and controlling. They identified the real danger in speaking your desires over someone else’s free will.
A key theme was the importance of telling your story so others can have hope, but not so they copy your formula. “Why would you want a counterfeit version, when God wants to write your own detailed, beautiful story?” Instead, pursue a relationship with God, not a step-by-step plan. If you feel stuck or cynical, dare to bring even your disappointment to God and let Him rewrite your narrative 58:38.
The heart of this episode? God is wildly interested in all the details of your life. He’s not distant, He wants to be invited in, whether you’re asking for big breakthroughs or just need help today. Whatever your relationship status, you are loved, seen, and not forgotten. So trust Him with your deepest desires…and don’t be afraid to hope again 01:03:55.
You are not alone in the wait.
You never have to do this alone.
And there is NO expiration date on God’s goodness or His dreams for your story.
Kait Tomlin is a best-selling author, speaker, popular relationship coach, and the founder of Heart of Dating. She helps thousands of men and women on their journeys through the conversations on the Heart of Dating Podcast, which launched in 2018.
Through her ministry, Kait’s mission is to empower both men and women to have the courage to own their story, walk in victory, thrive with purpose, and discover clarity and vision in their life and relationships. In her new book, Thank You for Rejecting Me: Transform Pain into Purpose and Learn to Fight for Yourself, Kait vulnerably shares how she grew through her deepest, darkest rejections and offers readers the tools to heal from the past, take back their power, and walk in strength, victory, and love into their future. Kait currently lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband JJ and their pups Lovey and Teddy. She loves sunshine, walks, Jesus, and lip syncing to Celine Dion.
JJ Tomlin is a missionary kid born in Belgium, originally from Tennessee, and currently residing in the OC. He currently works in Gaming/E-Commerce, enjoys watching his Tennessee Titans on Sundays with his Goldendoodle Teddy and loves working with Christian men to raise the bar in singleness and dating.

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