I Tried to Earn God’s Favor…
🎙️ Podcast Recap – Episode 8
“Jesus Makes Life Better” featuring Pastor Randall Dockery
In Episode 8 of The Angela Adkins Podcast, Angela welcomes a very special guest—her home church pastor, Pastor Randall Dockery, who has faithfully shepherded St. Marys Church for 25 years. Together, they dive deep into the heart of Christian transformation, spiritual growth, and the life-changing power of Jesus Christ.
A Conversation About Transformation
Pastor Randy opens up with a powerful distinction:
➡️ Temptation is the enemy trying to bring out the worst in you.
➡️ Testing is God’s way of bringing out the best in you.
Throughout the episode, he shares how God used seasons of testing to strengthen his faith, reshape his thinking, and deepen his understanding of grace—transforming him from the inside out.
Pastor Randy’s Testimony
Raised in a strong Christian home, Pastor Randy accepted Christ at the age of eight, but it wasn’t until he was 19 at a summer camp that he fully surrendered and began pursuing a personal walk with God. Years later, in full-time ministry, he entered a difficult season where he struggled with performance-based faith, condemnation, and burnout.
God used that period to teach him the true meaning of grace—that salvation and God’s favor are not earned through effort, but freely given through Christ. This revelation changed his life and ministry forever.
Key Themes from the Conversation
1. Jesus Makes Life Better—and Makes Us Better for Life
Drawing from John 10:10, Angela and Pastor Randy explore how Jesus gives us not just eternal life, but abundant life right now—peace in chaos, joy in sorrow, strength in weakness, and purpose in the everyday moments.
2. Authority in Christ
Many believers live beneath their spiritual authority simply because they don’t understand it. Pastor Randy shares a powerful story from a mission trip where he learned the importance of taking authority over spiritual oppression in Jesus’ name.
3. Renewing the Mind
From Romans 12:1–2, they discuss how transformation begins by renewing our minds with the Word of God. The world constantly feeds negativity, fear, and confusion—but God calls us to think on things that are true, pure, and full of life.
4. Prayer as Daily Conversation
Angela and Pastor Randy emphasize prayer as simple, ongoing communication with God. Not ritual—relationship. Even in Lowe’s on the floor of an aisle, Pastor Randy shows that prayer is always accessible.
5. Enduring Dry Seasons
For those feeling far from God, stuck, or spiritually numb, Pastor Randy encourages listeners to keep believing, keep praying, and keep showing up. God’s testing leads to growth, fruitfulness, and renewed strength—just like Joseph, who went from the prison to the palace.
For Those Feeling Distant
Pastor Randy reminds listeners that God never leaves His children—even when we can’t feel Him. He encourages anyone struggling to trust God’s promises, stay rooted in His Word, and keep communicating with Him through every season.
He closes the episode with a heartfelt prayer for listeners desiring a deeper walk with Jesus or longing to invite Him into their lives for the first time.
🙌 Final Takeaway
Jesus doesn’t just change our circumstances—
He changes us.
And when we walk with Him daily, He truly makes life better.
