Embracing the Journey: A Story of Faith, Trust, and New Beginnings

From Rodeo to Ministry: A Divine Shift in Purpose
Cassandra Picton's story began in the heart of Wisconsin, where she was raised on a ranch, deeply embedded in the Western culture. Growing up, she participated actively in rodeos and was blessed with the opportunity to spread the message of Christ through her community's love for horses and the great outdoors. Her roles included being the marketing director for Cinch RS and C and eventually looking to take over her family’s ranch. 
However, God had other plans. After much prayer and discernment, Cassandra and her husband felt the call to relocate to Missouri, where she now serves as the elementary ministry director at The Crossing Church. This role wasn’t part of her initial plan, but she has discovered that it is within this unexpected chapter that she truly thrives.

A Journey of Faith: The Shift from Inspiration to Presence
When Cassandra reflected on her spiritual journey, it was clear that her faith had evolved over the years. Growing up, she was inspired by scripture and believed in God, often sharing those beliefs through rodeo Bible camps and college studies. However, it was only within the last five years that she began to experience a deeper, more profound awareness of God’s presence in her life. This shift helped her realize that God is not just a distant figure watching over us but is instead intimately involved in our everyday lives.
Cassandra beautifully articulated this change, saying, "It’s not the man in the sky but the God who is so present in everything that we do." This transformation sparked a desire in her to dive deeper into His Word and the stories behind it, enriching her personal faith journey.

Trusting His Plan: The Beauty of Uncertainty
A theme that resonated throughout our conversation was trust. Cassandara emphasized how she was a natural planner but learned that life doesn’t always adhere to our meticulously devised outlines. It was through the challenges she faced—especially moving back to Wisconsin and then to Missouri—that she discovered the beauty of trusting God.
“His plans are way better than the ones that I would make anyway,” she expressed, highlighting how those moments of uncertainty ultimately became opportunities for growth.
Her husband played a crucial role in this journey as well. His strong relationship with God and his discernment helped guide their decisions, even when Cassandra felt hesitant or uncertain. Their story exemplifies the power of partnership in faith, as they leaned on each other and sought God’s direction together.

Finding God in Everyday Moments
Cassandra shared a touching story about a long-held dream of winning a rodeo saddle—a dream that had eluded her in her younger years. Recently, her husband was unexpectedly reunited with a saddle that represented that very dream. This experience filled her with gratitude, illustrating God’s ability to answer our prayers even in the most unexpected ways.
“God is so good,” she said, reflecting on this moment. “He cares about our silly teenage dreams and brings them back to us in a more beautiful way than we could have ever orchestrated.” This statement resonated with me as it reminded us all to remain open to the ways God is working in our lives, often beyond what we can see or understand.

Concluding Thoughts
As we wrapped up our heartfelt conversation, one of the key takeaways was the importance of shared stories in recognizing God’s work in our lives. By sharing testimonies, we become more aware of how God is actively pursuing each of us and how intimately He desires to be involved in our lives.
In her closing prayer, Cassandra sought to open our eyes to the goodness of God, a fitting reminder for all of us that even in our hardest moments, He is there, weaving a beautiful story—one of trust, faith, and love.
If you feel challenged by the transitions in your life, remember Cassandra’s journey. We are called to trust in God's plans, to lean on our loved ones, and to recognize His hand in every moment of our lives. 
Thank you for joining us on this episode of the Fearlessly Unshackled podcast. Be sure to subscribe, and until next time, keep seeking His presence in your life!

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