Episode 51
51 | 3 Misconceptions About Discerning Your God-Given Purpose as a Catholic Mom
Are you a Catholic mom who feels a pull for something more — but isn’t sure how to discern your God-given purpose without getting it wrong?
In this episode, we’re talking about three common misconceptions that keep Catholic moms stuck when it comes to discernment and purpose — even when they’re praying, attending Mass, and trying to trust God’s plan.
You’ll begin to understand why prayer alone can leave you feeling stuck in discernment, how God actually guides us as we take faithful steps with Him, and why so much advice about purpose — even from Christians — sounds good but is incomplete.
If you’ve ever thought:
- “I’m just praying and waiting for God to tell me what to do.”
- “I want to trust God’s plan, but I don’t know how to move forward.”
- “I feel called to more, but I don’t know how to discern it.”
This episode will help you understand how discernment, prayer, and action work together, so you can stop waiting in uncertainty and begin moving forward with clarity and confidence.
This conversation is especially for Catholic moms who want their purpose to be rooted in Scripture, Catholic teaching, and a real relationship with God — not trends, pressure, or one-size-fits-all advice.
You’ll walk away with:
- A clearer understanding of what discernment actually is
- Peace around taking the next faithful step
- A simple reflection to help you begin moving forward with God
Whether you're folding laundry or sneaking in a quiet moment, grab those earbuds and let's dive.
I pray that this episode blesses and encourages you!
Michelle
✨ Next Steps:
- Join the Facebook community — Here
- Subscribe to the weekly The Inner Flame — Here
- Take "What is my God-Given purpose: Where to Begin?" quiz — Here
- Book a 1:1 Discernment Coaching Session — Here
✨ Email: hello@michellebrannam.com
✨ Website: https://MichelleBrannam.com
✨ Listen to Related Episodes:
- 04 | How to Start Discerning Your Unique Purpose when You Feel Lost
- 12 | Doubt & Confusion: When Doubt Creeps In
🕊️ Scripture Mentioned:
- James 2:17
Bible Translation Used: All Scripture is quoted from the Revised Standard Version – Second Catholic Edition (RSV-2CE), The Great Adventure Catholic Bible, © Ascension Press. Used with permission.
Transcript
So when you think about it, the chocolate chips alone, they don't make the cookie.
Speaker A:It's just one ingredient.
Speaker A:If you've ever felt this pull for something more, but you also felt unsure where to go next, you're not alone.
Speaker A:I see so many faithful Catholic moms who are just praying they're seeking and they still feel stuck.
Speaker A:And often it's not because they lack the faith.
Speaker A:It's because they don't know how to move forward in that discernment.
Speaker A:So today I want to talk about a few common misunderstandings that quietly keeps the women stuck.
Speaker A:Whether you're folding laundry, driving to work, or you're sneaking this in during a quiet moment, let's dive into today's episode.
Speaker A:If you're tired of feeling unsure about your purpose because you don't know how to hear God clearly and you want simple faith rooted steps to discern his will and move forward with confidence, you're in the right place.
Speaker A:I'm Michelle, a cradle Catholic mom of three and a discernment mentor for Catholic women.
Speaker A:I learned how to move from confusion and overthinking to hearing God's voice clearly and moving forward with confidence in his will.
Speaker A:If you're ready to grow closer to God, discover how God uniquely made you and experience mindset transformation.
Speaker A:Grab that laundry, pop in those earbuds and let's go.
Speaker A:I remember being afraid to take a step because I didn't want to get it wrong.
Speaker A:I wanted to follow God's will, not my own ideas.
Speaker A:And, and that fear of misreading him.
Speaker A:It kept me praying, waiting, but not moving.
Speaker A:And I kept asking myself, what if I choose the wrong thing?
Speaker A:What if I miss what he's actually asking of me?
Speaker A:And that fear can quietly keep you stuck even when your heart is just genuinely trying to follow God.
Speaker A:If you've been holding back because you don't want to make that wrong decision or misinterpret God's direction, you're not alone.
Speaker A:This is a very real place that many women find themselves in.
Speaker A:And that's why I offer discernment coaching.
Speaker A:Intercession will slow down.
Speaker A:We'll invite the Holy Spirit in and we'll begin discerning with peace instead of pressure.
Speaker A:And you don't have to guess.
Speaker A:You'll learn how to listen, reflect, and take a prayerful next step forward.
Speaker A:Go to michellebrandam.com coaching that is M I C H E L L E B R A n n a m.com coaching to book your session and the link will also be in the episode Description.
Speaker A:Let's move forward without fear, trusting God to guide each step.
Speaker A:Let's dive in.
Speaker A:There was a season when I deeply wanted to understand my God given purpose.
Speaker A:And I knew I didn't just want an answer.
Speaker A:I wanted one that was true and faithful to the Catholic Church.
Speaker A:So I searched, I read, I listened, and I prayed through everything that I was learning.
Speaker A:And honestly, that process was just frustrating.
Speaker A:There was just a lot of advice out there, even from Catholic and Christians, that just.
Speaker A:They didn't quite line up or they went in completely different directions.
Speaker A:And I didn't want to be misguided.
Speaker A:I wanted something rooted in truth that was backed up by wisdom and aligned with how God actually works.
Speaker A:And over time, I did find a way, one that was grounded in prayer and in research.
Speaker A:And as I began talking with other Catholic moms, that something became really clear.
Speaker A:So many women weren't stuck because they weren't being faithful.
Speaker A:They weren't stuck because they weren't praying or trying hard enough.
Speaker A:They were stuck because they didn't know what to do, or they had been given ideas about purpose that sounded good but weren't complete.
Speaker A:So a lot of what's out there sounds inspiring, even faithful, but it leaves out the key pieces.
Speaker A:And when you don't realize it, it can quietly keep you stuck.
Speaker A:And that leads me to one of the big misconceptions that I see.
Speaker A:The first one that I want to talk about today, this idea that all you need to do is pray and wait.
Speaker A:I hear this all the time.
Speaker A:I'm just praying and I'm waiting for God to tell me what to do.
Speaker A:And yes, prayer matters, but we don't discern without prayer.
Speaker A:But praying without action isn't discernment, it's a holding pattern.
Speaker A:So think about it like this.
Speaker A:You don't pray for a degree and then skip the assignments.
Speaker A:Let's say you wanted to go and have a business degree or you wanted to go and have a nursing degree.
Speaker A:You don't just pray for that degree and pray to God.
Speaker A:I want to be a nurse.
Speaker A:I want to have a business degree.
Speaker A:No, instead you pray and you show up, you do the work, you sign up, you take the course, and you do it step by step, one by one, and you do the assignments.
Speaker A:Scripture actually speaks to this very clearly in James 2:17.
Speaker A:It says, Faith by itself, if it does not have works, it's dead.
Speaker A:So we cannot have faith alone.
Speaker A:We have to do the work.
Speaker A:So that doesn't mean we force God.
Speaker A:It doesn't mean we earn his Will, it means faith is meant to move.
Speaker A:So we have to move.
Speaker A:And discernment.
Speaker A:And it's a partnership with God.
Speaker A:It's not waiting on the sidelines by praying and waiting and have him do all the work.
Speaker A:We have to do some work for him.
Speaker A:And now another big misconception I see is that the idea that whatever you love to do must automatically be your purpose.
Speaker A:Passion matters, but it's not the whole picture.
Speaker A:And I like to think of this as like baking chocolate chip cookies.
Speaker A:The chocolate chips are the fun part.
Speaker A:That's what everyone's excited about and everyone wants to put in the bowl, including my kids when I make the chocolate chip cookies, cookies, they want to dump that first thing in.
Speaker A:So when you think about it, the chocolate chips alone, they don't make the cookie.
Speaker A:It's just one ingredient.
Speaker A:So your passions are part of your God given purpose, but they don't define it.
Speaker A:God looks at the whole picture of who you are and not just what you enjoy doing.
Speaker A:That is like the chocolate chip analogy here.
Speaker A:We love the chocolate chips.
Speaker A:That's the favorite part.
Speaker A:That's why so many women, they get stuck when they only chase what feels exciting for or obvious.
Speaker A:So purpose is deeper than that and it unfolds with intention and not guessing.
Speaker A:There are steps that we must take with God.
Speaker A:And the third misconception is sometimes when we say I'm discerning, but what we actually mean is I don't want to make the wrong choice.
Speaker A:And I hear things like, I know God made me for more.
Speaker A:I'm just waiting to hear his voice.
Speaker A:But discernment doesn't require 100% certainty.
Speaker A:It requires faithful steps.
Speaker A:And staying stuck often feels holy.
Speaker A:But fear loves inactivity and God doesn't reveal our purpose.
Speaker A:So we can just sit on it and stay in that holding pattern of fear.
Speaker A:We have to take steps and we have to keep moving.
Speaker A:But I also want you to be very careful and not allow fear, doubt or confusion to take over.
Speaker A:Because that is one of Satan's tactics to keep us stuck and prevent us from moving forward towards who God created us to be.
Speaker A:I talk more about this in episode 12, doubt and confusion.
Speaker A:When doubt creeps in where we'll walk through how to stay rooted in your purpose when those thoughts show up.
Speaker A:So if this is really hitting home for you, I encourage you to check out that episode 12.
Speaker A:And if you've heard a misconception that speaks to you today, then I encourage you to grab a one to one discernment coaching session so I can help you move forward with simple faith based steps because you will be leaving that session further than you are today.
Speaker A:So to recap on today's conversation and help you anchor to Prayer is essential.
Speaker A:But prayer alone isn't discernment and discernment, it's a partnership with God, but not a passive wait.
Speaker A:And God guides us as we take faithful intentional steps with Him.
Speaker A:But we have to move.
Speaker A:Let us bring this to prayer.
Speaker A:In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Lord, thank you for the desires that you placed in our hearts.
Speaker A:If there are places where we've been waiting out of fear or confusion, gently reveal them to us.
Speaker A:Teach us how to walk with you, not rushing ahead and not standing still, but take it the next faithful step you're inviting us into.
Speaker A:We trust that you guide those who seek you.
Speaker A:We place our purpose in your hands.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Now let's take this from head to heart, knowing that truth is powerful, but that real change happens when we act one small step at a time.
Speaker A:So here's your simple action step for today.
Speaker A:Which misconception did you hear yourself in today?
Speaker A:Or maybe it was more than one.
Speaker A:Take two minutes and just write down why you think that belief has been holding you back and then come share a reflection with us inside the free Facebook community Finding youg Purpose, Discernment and Strategy for Catholic Moms.
Speaker A:And that link is also in the episode description as well.
Speaker A:You don't have to figure it all out.
Speaker A:Just take that step and remember, my beautiful sister in Christ, that God uniquely created you for a unique purpose.
Speaker A:You were made to do great things.
Speaker A:God is within you and you will not fail.
Speaker A:I look forward to continuing this journey with you.
Speaker A:I'll meet you next Tuesday for another conversation.
Speaker A:Until then, may God bless you and bring you peace.
Speaker A:I hope you enjoyed today's episode.
Speaker A:If you.
Speaker A:If so, take 30 seconds to share it with a friend who's feeling unsure about her purpose and wants simple, faith filled steps to discern God's will.
Speaker A:And if you've learned something today, please leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts.
Speaker A:It lights me up to know that this show is helping you.
Speaker A:Okay, time to tackle the laundry and unload the dishwasher.
Speaker A:Gotta go.
Speaker A:I'll see you next Tuesday for another conversation.
