How Can God Help You Achieve Goals?
Jan 23, 2026Summary
You’ve set the goal, prayed about it, and started the work—but now it feels insurmountable. Maybe fear has set in, or progress is slower than you expected. In this episode of the Arise, Women of God podcast, host Tamara K. Anderson and advisory board members Wendi Christensen and Kari Anjewierden answer the critical question: How can God help you achieve goals that feel too big for you to handle?
We dive into the messy middle of pursuing a divine calling, sharing raw stories of overcoming the feeling of being "incapable." Tamara opens up about using Philippians 4:13 as a lifeline while raising two children on the autism spectrum, proving that God's strength often begins where ours ends. Kari shares the "Elephant Principle"—how to tackle massive tasks one bite at a time—and Wendi breaks down the powerful "Commit, Trust, Pass" framework from Psalm 37:5. Finally, we explore the surprising way God sends "destiny helpers" and mentors to get you across the finish line. By the end, you’ll understand why God prefers simple steps over giant leaps and how to lean on Christ's strength during the roller coaster ride of achieving your dreams.
Episode Takeaways
- The Lamp Principle: God rarely lights the entire path at once. As Kari shares, He works "line upon line," helping you eat the elephant one bite at a time. Your job is to take the next small step, not the giant leap.
- Commit, Trust, Pass: Based on Psalm 37:5, Wendi outlines a 3-step success formula: Commit your way to the Lord (stay focused on Him amidst distractions), Trust in Him (believe He has your back even when you mess up), and He will bring it to Pass (the outcome is His responsibility).
- The "Messy Middle" Roller Coaster: Achieving a goal is never a straight line; it’s a roller coaster of ups and downs. Trusting God means hanging on to Him "for dear life" during the twists and turns, knowing He controls the ride.
- Destiny Helpers: God often answers prayers not with a lightning bolt, but with a person. Tamara shares how God sent specific mentors for her book journey. You can specifically pray for God to bring the right people to your table to help you succeed.
Resources
Are you stuck in the "messy middle" of a goal and need clarity on your next step? Download our FREE Workbook: Clarifying My Calling. It’s designed to help you break down your God-sized dream into manageable, faith-filled steps. 👉 Download the Workbook Here: https://www.womenwarriorsoflight.com/offers/6c8GbbHE/checkout
Reflection Questions
- Is there a goal you’ve labeled as "impossible" simply because you are trying to eat the whole elephant at once? What is just one bite you can take today?
- Read Psalm 37:5. Which part of the "Commit, Trust, Pass" framework do you struggle with most? Committing the work, trusting God's timing, or believing He will bring it to pass?
- Who are the "destiny helpers" God has already placed in your life? Have you prayed specifically for the right mentors to appear?
- How does knowing that "feeling incapable is where God's strength begins" change your attitude toward your current weakness?
Transcript
Tamara K. Anderson
00:00:00.320 - 00:00:33.260
You've set the goal, you prayed about it, you've started to work. But now it feels insurmountable. That's a tough place to be in. Maybe fear has set in or it's taking a longer time than you expected.
How can God help you achieve goals that feel too big for you to handle?
Stay tuned because by the end of today's episode, you will know not only the lamp principle but and also why God often helps us through simple steps versus giant leaps.
Intro/Outro
00:00:34.220 - 00:00:44.100
Ordinary women, extraordinary faith When God calls, we say yes. The Arise Women of God Podcast hello.
Tamara K. Anderson
00:00:44.100 - 00:02:44.130
And welcome to the Arise Women of God Podcast. I'm your host, Tamara K. Anderson and joining me today are two amazing, wonderful women warriors Wendi Christensen and Kari Anjewierden.
In today's episode we are going to talk about how to lean on Christ's strength during the messy middle. You guys know what I'm talking about, right?
We're going to talk about the Commit Trust Pass framework, how to give yourself grace when the progress is slow, and the surprising way God brings destiny helpers into your life to help you reach the finish line. Let's kick it off with a powerful scripture that is a personal favorite of mine.
The mental battle in our brain, overcoming the fear and allowing God to come in and help us is probably, at least for me, one of my biggest hurdles. I think that's why when I was a young mom, I set the mantra of in Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Because I just had two sons that were diagnosed on the autism spectrum and this future Tamra that God was pulling me towards, first of all, wasn't the Tamara I wanted to become. But God knew that's who I needed to become.
And it was hard and it was overwhelming and I did not feel capable enough or strong enough to to move forward into becoming the mother of four children, but two of whom had special needs. That was just so overwhelming to me.
The feeling of being incapable is actually where God's strength begins. But how do we handle the day to day grind? That's where the rubber meets the road.
Carrie here shares the wisdom she passed on to her daughter and the about eating an elephant one bite at a time.
Kari Anjewierden
00:02:44.130 - 00:03:29.500
God talks about line upon line and precept upon precept. And I know I tend to want to go for the whole elephant at once and and God has to always pull me back and say no one day at a time.
And I, as I am now a grandma, my daughter sometimes will say, mom, how did you do it with six kids, she's got two. How? How did you do it? And I have to remind her, number one, with God. And number two, one day at a time. Just little, little bits at a time.
I don't have to eat all of it at the same time. I. I don't have to accomplish it all at once. I can do it at whatever pace is needed for me.
And God, I'm grateful, is willing to wait for me in that timeline.
Tamara K. Anderson
00:03:29.820 - 00:03:48.930
I know you all wish that achieving. A goal was like walking a straight.
Line, but it is not. It looks more like a roller coaster. Wouldn't you agree?
Here, Wendi breaks down the three step process from Psalms that helps you stay on the ride even when it feels a little shaky.
Wendi Christensen
00:03:49.250 - 00:05:52.950
Another scripture I love when is in Psalms 37, verse 5, and it says, commit thy way into the Lord, trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass. So I hear three key words that go along with that and strengthening the one that you shared, Tamara. The first thing is commit.
We need to commit that we're focused on him because it's really easy in the world that we live in today to easily get swayed by the things of the world, whether that's through social media, watching tv. It's easy to compare to other people. It's super easy to get swayed from God and His ways if we're not careful. So we have to always guard ourselves.
And that means a commitment to Him. Am I committed to the Lord? So we commit. And then the second thing he says is trust also in Him.
So if I'm going to trust somebody, it's easy to love people. It's not always easy to trust them. I always share that with couples when I'm working with them.
Trust takes so much more to truly trust in someone, to realize that if I mess up, they're not going to betray me, they're not going to put me down, they're not going to shame me, they're going to actually have my back.
So if I'm committed and I trust in him, then the third thing that he says that they say in Psalms there is he shall bring it to pass and then it will come, right? It will happen. The way we look at it is a straight line. Like it's linear.
It's this beautiful line of the goal and then getting there and achieving it. But ultimately it's a roller coaster.
Like it goes up and down and all around and winds and, you know, it's all over the place and it's, it's hanging on for dear life. And I think that's we're hanging on to him for dear life. Like you really are getting me through this ride, this crazy ride.
Yes, we are going to get to that end goal and you're going to achieve it. He will bring it to pass in whatever way that looks best for you and your life. It will come to pass.
Tamara K. Anderson
00:05:53.430 - 00:06:44.690
Sometimes God doesn't come as a miracle from heaven, but as a person on your doorstep. Let's talk about the mentors and helpers God often places in our path.
God often brings people into our lives to help us along the way. And I've seen that in mentors. Like when God asked me to write a book, he gave me the right mentor to help me walk through that the first time.
It was so hard and it was so scary. And there were several people who had to help me. Not only was it someone coaching me, it was somebody helping with the editing process.
It was somebody that was doing the interior of the book, the COVID I mean, you name it. There's so many people that end up helping with a book. You just, you can't do it by yourself.
And so God guides you to the people that you need to help you achieve the goal. And I'm thankful for that.
Kari Anjewierden
00:06:44.930 - 00:07:09.570
You can pray for that. Who do I need at my table? Who do I need to help me with this thing? And can you, can you bring them to me or can you take me to them?
Like, because God knows who those people are and we may not know exactly and sometimes it may come completely out of the blue and you're not expecting it. But be watching for those moments when God is placing people in your lives.
Tamara K. Anderson
00:07:10.250 - 00:08:06.780
All right ladies, we're wrapping it up now.
If you need some resources to help you on your God given journey, check out our Women warriors of Light website where we have some amazing free content. In our store. We have our Clarifying My Calling workbook.
We'll be for sure to drop the link for that in the show notes below as we conclude today's episode. Remember, God is your co creator. He wants you to succeed even more than you do you.
If you're struggling with what the right goal is for you right now, drop it in the comments below so we can support you and pray for you.
And if you're wondering if your goal is big enough or feels way too big for you to accomplish on your own, click this next video where we discuss what a God sized goal actually looks like and how he prepares you to achieve it. One step at a time. Till next time May you arise. Do it God's way, God Strong.
Intro/Outro
00:08:06.780 - 00:08:43.500
Thanks For tuning in to the Arise Women of God podcast, brought to you by Women warriors of Light.
If you're feeling unsure how to move forward in your calling, or just tired of doing it alone, visit womenwarriorsoflight.com you'll find resources, accountability, and a community of women who get it. Sometimes the calling feels bigger than you. That's when you need steady reminders of the powerful God who called you.
Subscribe now for weekly inspiration and the courage to keep going, because with him, nothing is impossible.
Tamara K. Anderson
00:08:44.140 - 00:08:45.420
And you're not the only one.
Intro/Outro
00:08:45.420 - 00:09:01.980
God is calling that friend on your heart right now. Share this episode with her. Your small act of obedience could be the breakthrough she's been praying for. Until next time.
Time May you arise, Walk God's way and stand. God strong.
