Faith in the Fast Lane: Navigating Change in Music City

As Nashville buzzes with the excitement of CMA Fest and the summer heat sets in, Cheryl Lynn Blevins reflects on the rapid changes in our world—from technological advancements to the rhythms of daily life. Drawing inspiration from Proverbs 3:5-6, she shares personal stories and insights on trusting God's guidance amidst the hustle and bustle. Tune in for a heartfelt conversation that blends the spirit of Music City with timeless truths.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Hey y'all, it's Cheryl Lynn, and welcome back to Faith and Grit.

(00:04):
This is the place where we talk about real life, real faith, and how to hold on to what matters most, especially when the world feels like it's spinning faster than a record on a Saturday night.
So grab that coffee or sweet tea if that's your thing.
And let's settle in for a while, y'all.
It's Thursday, June 5th, and let me just say, Nashville is humming this week.

(00:28):
The sun's high in the sky, the temperature's sitting at a toasty 86 degrees, and the city is absolutely buzzing.
Why? Because CMA fest kicks off today and you can feel the excitement from Nissan Stadium all the way down to the neon lights on Broadway.
Music's in the air guitars, fiddles voices lifted up.

(00:49):
Makes me so grateful to call this place home.
In the middle of all that excitement, I've been thinking about how fast things change.
Seems like every time I open my phone, there's another headline about AI taken over the world, or energy prices going up like a rocket.
It's enough to make your head spin.
Just last week, I was sitting at my favorite coffee shop.

(01:10):
Y'all know the one with the mismatched mugs and the barista who always asks about my day, and I overheard a couple talking about ai.
They were worried, real worried.
One of them said, what if my job disappears? What if a machine does it better than me? And I'll be honest, that hit me right in the gut.
Even though I might not work in tech, I get it.

(01:31):
Change is scary.
But y'all, that's when I remember.
Proverbs 3, 5, 6, trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways.
Submit to him and he will make your path straight.
Ah, that verse grounds me every time because even when I don't have all the answers, even when I don't understand how AI or the economy works.

(01:56):
I can trust that God's got a plan.
Now, I might not be an expert on AI regulation or energy policy, but I do know a thing or two about what it means to be ready.
Y'all ever been stuck in Nashville traffic on a Thursday afternoon? Just the other day I was on I 24 trying to get to a meeting when I hit a standstill.
Cars for miles, folks honking engines, idling, tempers, flaring.

(02:21):
I'm sitting there foot on the brake, wondering if I'll make it before the sun goes down.
But then I saw it, an older man in a beat up Ford with a guitar in the backseat, and he was just singing away.
Windows down, elbow out the window, hair blowing in the wind.
I.
I couldn't help but laugh and it hit me sometimes.

(02:42):
Being ready isn't about having all the answers or beating the traffic.
It's about choosing joy in the moment you're in.
I've been reading a book called Rhythms of Renewal by Rebecca Lyons.
She talks about finding peace in the middle of a busy world, making space for rest, relationships, and purpose.
That's what I've been leaning into this week because y'all, the world's always gonna be changing.

(03:06):
Technology is gonna keep advancing energy.
Prices are gonna rise and fall, but God's love that's steady unchanging.
So here's what I'm leaning into this week, and I'd love for y'all to join me.
Let's be good stewards of our time, our energy, our hearts.
Let's be ready for the changes come in our way, but let's not let fear steal our joy.

(03:30):
Let's trust that even when we don't have all the answers, God's got a plan and he's walking right beside us because y'all, he's the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Thanks for hanging out with me today on Faith and Grit.
If this episode made you smile or gave you a little nudge to lean into trust, share it with a friend.

(03:50):
And remember, no matter what's happening in the world, God's voice is steady and true.
Until next time, keep the faith, keep the grit, and keep on shining Y'all.