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It's A Single Mom Thing
Welcome to “It's A Single Mom Thing,” the show for single moms by single moms, hosted by Sherry Chandler.
Being a solo momma and present parent is hard work, and losing focus is easy when you forget your faith. The good news is you are not alone. You were singled out this season, and together, we can work on what’s not working for you—finding Christ in the crisis! Whether you’re tuning in early in the morning or late at night, I’m here for you, momma.
This podcast is your go-to space for navigating life as a single mom with faith, fun, and a fresh perspective. We'll cover everything from mastering a single-mom success mindset and budgeting like a boss to prioritizing self-care and raising resilient kids. We’ll share time management hacks, parenting perspectives, co-parenting challenges, and how to find joy and laugh again. Together, we’ll move from surviving to thriving in every season of single motherhood.
Be encouraged. Get inspired. You can do this, momma.
Each Monday, join me for practical advice, relatable stories, and uplifting conversations as we walk this journey from solo momma to solo momma. I promise not to take too much of your time, and I’m so grateful you’re spending it with me.
It may be a single mom thing, but it doesn’t have to be the "single thing" that stops you!
It's A Single Mom Thing
Faith Over Force: Why Forcing It, Isn't Faithing It, Sis
Are you forcing your way through life—or faithing it forward? In this powerful episode of It’s a Single Mom Thing, host Sherry gets real about the difference between control and contentment, forcing and trusting, and why faith—not force—is the key to breakthrough.
With real-life examples from Abraham, Hannah, Mary, and Joseph, this episode unpacks what it means to let go of fear, embrace faith, and walk through the doors God opens—without kicking them down. If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to make things happen in your own strength, this episode will remind you that God doesn’t call you to force it—He invites you to faith it.
Whether you're wrestling with timing, control, or trusting God's plan for your kids and your future, this episode is your wake-up call to faith over force, sis. Your faith is planting seeds that go beyond your season—it's legacy work.
📖 Featuring Scripture encouragement, practical tools, and breath prayers
📞 Need prayer? Call 855-822-PRAY – we’re here for you, 24/7.
It's a Single Mom Thing, Not the Single Thing That Stops You!
Welcome to it's a Single Mom Thing, the show for single moms by single moms. This is Sherri, your host, and I am happy you are here today. Remember it's a single mom thing and not the single thing that stops you.
Speaker 2:Hey, hey, hey, hey. Welcome back to another episode of it's a Single Mom Thing, where we walk and talk real life, fierce faith and that unconditional, unbreakable, unapologetic love for our kids and even ourselves. I'm your host, sherri, and today we're going to have a little devotional talk. We're going to do it a little bit shorter than normal and we're going to talk about something that might just pinch a little but has the power, ooh girl, to free you big time. So I'm going to start our time off together with a little question. So let me ask you this have you ever tried to force something to work your way, your timeline, your outcome only to end up more frustrated and exhausted, Same? So today's episode, devotional thought I am calling it faith over force, why forcing it isn't faith in it, sis. So we're going to talk about what happens when we yes, you and me try to control the uncontrollable, what it really means to live by faith, and how trusting God isn't about giving up but giving it over, because sometimes listen, sometimes I have found the biggest leap of faith is letting go, forcing versus faithing. So let's start our time together here. So think about this what is the difference between forcing your way and faithing your way. Have you ever thought about that? And, to be honest with you, this is something the Lord has just put on my heart and this is something that I am thinking much about. So forcing, this is what I have found.
Speaker 2:Forcing is rooted in fear, whereas faithing it is rooted in trust. Forcing is like pushing and trying to pry a locked door open with your shoulder until your soul is bruised and your nails yeah, the ones you just got done they are all broken. And your nails yeah, the ones you just got done, they are all broken, whereas faithing faithing is waiting on the door. God, listen, god will open for you and then walking through it, even if you don't know what's on the other side. Now we this listen, includes me force things when we don't believe he'll come through. You know, I'm right. So maybe you forced, let's say, a relationship, how about a job, or a conversation, or even a decision, because you were tired of waiting. Maybe you texted when you should have prayed. Maybe you settled when you should have trusted. I get it, listen, we all do this, but I wonder sometimes, I just wonder how freeing, how freeing would it be if we didn't? You know, girl, just as I do. God is not slow, he is strategic, though If he hasn't opened the door, my guess is it's either not the right one or not the right time. You see, we need, I tend to wonder sometimes. I think we need to let the Lord be the locksmith to opening the doors of opportunity that he has prepared for us.
Speaker 2:Mic drop Control versus contentment. Okay, moving on. We're going to talk about control, and that word Sometimes I don't know about you. Do you find that it makes you clench your fists when you think of the word control? You see, control, it is slippery and it is sneaky. It wears disguises and it likes to masquerade around as perfectionism, people pleasing over planning and even over functioning, over-functioning. But what's really underneath that? It is hiding much like the bottom of an iceberg that is submerged way deep beneath the surface is fear. Well, fear of what? Fear of being hurt again, fear of being left? How about fear of not having enough? Or fear of failing again? And fear will always lie to you. It is deceitful, and that's why, in God's word, it says it several different ways Fear not, don't be afraid, or do not fear, over and over again in scripture, because, listen, fear distracts, it misleads and it disconnects us from faith. But when fear fades, something powerful rises in its place Contentment. And here's the thing about contentment that sometimes I think we get wrong. Contentment, it isn't passive, on the opposite, on thement. It isn't passive On the opposite, on the contrary, it is powerful. It is saying God, I trust you. With what I don't understand, I choose peace in the process. Philippians 4.11 says it this way from Brother Paul, I've learned to be content, whatever the circumstances. Ladies, that means even here, even in your now, even ooh, this is a good one even in your not yet. It's saying I don't know the way, but I know the one who does Contentment I have found, doesn't give up. It gives in to his plans and not your past hurts. So here we're going to move on to faith that echoes through generations.
Speaker 2:So let's talk about some big faith moves that didn't just impact the moment. They shifted generations and they came by the way of four faith warriors. Number one Abraham. He followed without knowing where, and because he followed, generations were blessed. His obedience became the origin story of God's covenant people. Number two Hannah Waited without knowing when, and through her prayers Samuel was born, a prophet who changed history. Number three Mary believed without knowing how, and she birthed the Messiah, forever changing the world, and Jesus changing our eternity. And number four, joseph, trusted without knowing why, without knowing why, and through betrayal, prison and pain, he rose to power to save his family and the nations. Can God say that same thing about us? You see, their faith didn't just change their lives, it changed the world and the world as we know it. They were, let's say, eternal pivots as we know it. They were, let's say, eternal pivots, faithful choices that echoed into the future.
Speaker 2:And believe it or not, sis, yours can too. You see, your faith isn't just for you, it's for your kids, for their kids, for someone watching you who needs to believe. It's possible. That whisper prayer, that hard choice, that decision to keep showing up, it matters Now listen. Your trust in God, even when you don't know the where, the when, the how and the why, is shaping tomorrow. It's healing family patterns. It's redirecting legacies, it's planting seeds that your great-grandchildren may one day harvest. So don't you dare underestimate your everyday faith. That quiet decision to pray, to stay, to walk away, to speak life instead of giving up, that's a faith move, sister, and someone else's future depends on it.
Speaker 2:The cost of forcing it. So let's get real here. There is a cost that we pay for when we try to force it. When we force things, what do we do? Well, we wear ourselves out. We damage relationships Been there. We actually delay blessings, like if you're dating someone who doesn't walk with God, just to escape the feeling of loneliness that man, that man, just might be standing in the way of God's real blessing.
Speaker 2:And let me go as far as to say something even bolder In God's relationship, he doesn't force you, he invites you. He gave you a choice to follow him, love him and trust him, unlike some of the relationships we allow to force us. So why are we out here forcing everything and then calling it faith? Ooh, that stings, doesn't it? But listen, if it drains you, if it shames you, if it stresses you to the point of burnout, it might not be God's will. You don't have to and I'm going to go hard in the paint here.
Speaker 2:Listen manipulate M-A-N. Manipulate what God has already written into your story. You might just need to get through a few more chapters. First, faith it forward. So let's flip this. What if you faith instead of force? What if you waited instead of worrying? What if you trusted instead of trying to control, you might stop repeating the same patterns. My guess is you might even break generational habits.
Speaker 2:So I'm going to give you a few practical tools to help you do that very thing. Number one I hope you got your journals out, because we got a journal prompt here and I want you to write at the top of your page what are you trying to force? Then I want you to cross that out, redact it, and then I want you to write God's got this. And you might have to do that several times. You might go through several pages.
Speaker 2:Then, number two, I want you to do something I call breath prayer and you're gonna say this simply, something like this, like I release this to you, god, and whisper it often. Did you know that's what praying without ceasing is? And then, three, anchor it with scripture, like Proverbs 3, 5 through 6. And then write it, pray it, speak it and do it again. Write it, pray it and speak it Over and over and over, because here's a hard truth that I got wrapped for you in some love. If you're trying to control everything, it's not God you're trusting, it's you. And sis, you weren't built for that weight. Give it to the one who can carry it. So, as I close, ask yourself today am I force in my way or faith in my way? Do I really want to be in control or do I want?
Speaker 1:the one who holds the universe to me.
Speaker 2:Because here's what I know God doesn't just know the way forward, he is the way. You don't have to shove your way through life, you can surrender and walk by faith. And the best part ooh, the best part is His way is always better and blessed. Let's stop forcing it and start faithing together. And if you're tired of carrying the weight alone, call our 24-7 prayer line at 855-822-PRAY. Sister, you don't have to walk this journey alone. So until next time, walk in truth, rest in grace and trust the one who's already gone before you.
Speaker 1:And remember it's a single mom thing and not the single thing that stops you. Thanks for listening to. It's a Single Mom Thing. I hope you enjoyed our time together. If you have more questions on how to have a relationship with Jesus or need prayer, visit us at wwwshepherdsvillagecom. Backslash prayer. For more information and resources, check out our show notes.
