Discerning God’s Voice in Your Calling with Chelsey DeMatteis| E69
Chelsey DeMatteis is a wife, mother, and woman on fire for Jesus. She is a devotional writer for Lifeway's Journey Women Magazine, Salem Media, and YouVersion. She hosts the Living with Less Podcast and is the author of More of Him, Less of Me: Living a Christ-centered Life in a Me-centered World and A Thrill of Hope. Chelsey resides in the midwest with her husband and their two children.
Connect with Chelsea:
Follow Chelsea on Instagram: @chelseydematteis
Listen to Chelsea’s Podcast: Living with Less
Learn more at ChelseyDeMatteis.com
What do you do when the calling is clear but the timing isn’t?
This week on The Trailblazer Talks, Courtney has a conversation with author and speaker Chelsey DeMatteis about discerning God’s voice through writing, motherhood, and ministry. From unexpected book deals to starting a worship gathering with no venue or budget, Chelsey shares how she’s learned to trust God’s whispers even when the outcome is unknown.
If you’re wrestling with clarity in your calling or wondering whether to persevere or pause, this conversation will help you tune in to God’s direction with faith and peace.
Links from this episode:
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Order Chelsey’s book and devotional here:
What you can learn in today’s episode:
How to recognize when God is asking you to wait, pause, or press on
Why “no” doesn’t always mean “never” in the kingdom of God
How Chelsey knew it was time to write Mercy in the Margin
The role of spiritual community in discerning next steps
What it looks like to walk out your calling when the path feels unclear
Episode Blog:
When Obedience Feels Costly: Saying Yes in Seasons of Uncertainty
Have you ever felt like obedience would be easier if you just knew how the story would end? Like maybe you could say yes if only the path felt clearer or the outcome more certain?
This week on The Trailblazer Talks, I had a deeply honest conversation with my friend Chelsey DeMatteis. Chelsey is a Christian author and speaker, mom of two, and the heart behind Hear Her Story, a worship gathering for women in Columbus, Ohio.
She shared the winding road of writing her books, walking through grief, and choosing to keep saying yes even when it felt risky. Her story reminds us that obedience doesn’t always come with clarity. But it always comes with God’s presence.
Obedience That Doesn’t Make Sense (Yet)
When Chelsey first pitched her devotional on motherhood, she was told no. Not because the idea wasn’t good but because it wasn’t the right time. Years later, the same publisher said yes to that same dream.
Sometimes what we call rejection is just a redirection. A not-yet. And in the waiting, God is forming something deeper in us - faith, character, and a clearer understanding of who the dream is actually for.
Chelsey says it best: “If I had published that book back then, I would’ve missed out on the compassion and wisdom God grew in me these past few years. I needed to walk through more first.”
Faith That’s Poured Out, Not Performed
One of the most powerful parts of our conversation was about what it means to be poured out for God, even when the outcome feels hidden. Chelsey’s words echoed something I’ve often felt as a creative: “To be poured out for the Lord is such a humble seat. It doesn’t matter if it’s on a stage or in secret. Obedience is the win.”
She shared about Hear Her Story, an event she felt led to host without knowing who would come or how it would be paid for. It stretched her faith. It tested her willingness. And yet, God met her in every single step.
How Do You Know When to Keep Going?
We talked honestly about burnout, resistance, and knowing the difference between stopping and simply resting. “Sometimes you do need to lay something down for a season,” Chelsey said. “But other times, you just need people around you to help carry the weight when you’re too tired to do it alone.”
Whether you’re in a season of releasing something or pressing forward, this episode is a reminder that God’s pace is always purposeful. He’s not in a rush. He’s after your heart.
Subscribe to the show wherever you listen! Connect with me on Instagram at @courthopejones.
