Rooted for Growth

Sometimes we expect God to speak through big moments… signs, fireworks, or something that shakes the ground beneath us. But Scripture shows us something different. When Elijah was desperate for direction, God didn’t show up in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire. He spoke in a whisper.

In this episode, Troy shares what it really looks like to hear God in the quieter places of life. You’ll hear a personal story about a season when...

Life can throw a lot of dirt on us… grief, setbacks, pressure, unanswered questions. Sometimes it feels like we’re sinking deeper instead of climbing out. But what if resilience isn’t about being unshakeable… but about learning how to keep stepping forward, even when the ground feels unstable?

In today’s episode, we step into Week 5 of the Rooted for Growth devotional and explore what real resilience looks like from a biblical, emo...

Week 4 – Renewal

This Thanksgiving week, we’re talking about something every weary heart needs… renewal.

Not the dramatic kind. Not the “everything suddenly gets better” kind. But the quiet, steady, gentle renewal that God brings to tired places in our lives.

In this episode, Troy shares honestly about the early weeks after losing his wife… when prayers felt foggy, emotions felt muted, and renewal felt impossible. And yet, in the s...

There’s something sacred about reflection… not the kind that shames you for who you used to be, but the kind that helps you see how God was moving all along. In this week’s episode, we explore why looking back is actually a gift... especially when your past feels heavy, complicated, or hard to understand.

I share a moment with a mentor who once told me… “You’re looking at your past with today’s wisdom. Of course it doesn’t make sen...

🌿 Episode 25: The Weight We Choose to Carry — Week 2: Release Rooted for Growth Podcast • Devotional Companion Series

Some burdens are placed on us… but others, we choose to carry.

In Week 2 of the Rooted for Growth devotional journey, Troy Whitman explores what it means to release the guilt, shame, and expectations that keep us from walking freely with God. When we hold on to old wounds or mistakes, we chain ourselves to a weight...

🌿 Episode 24: The Weight We’re Not Meant to Carry — Week 1: Rest Rooted for Growth Podcast • Devotional Companion Series

We were never meant to carry it all.

In this first episode of the Rooted for Growth devotional companion series, we begin Week 1 — Rest. This week’s theme invites us to lay down the burdens we were never designed to bear and find peace in the presence of God.

I share personal reflections on what it means to trul...

There’s a unique kind of faith that grows in the waiting... the kind that trusts even when the answer hasn’t come yet. In this episode, Troy shares a heartfelt reflection on the seasons when life feels paused—when doors don’t open, prayers seem unanswered, and God feels quiet.

Through Scripture, personal stories, and honest encouragement, you’ll discover how waiting isn’t wasted when it’s rooted in God’s purpose. Sometimes the word...

When life feels uncertain, rhythm keeps you grounded. In this episode of Rooted for Growth, Troy talks about the power of steady spiritual rhythms—the daily practices that hold us together when everything else is shifting.

You’ll hear why consistency matters more than intensity, how to build rhythms that strengthen your faith, and how God’s timing often moves to a beat we can trust.

🌿 Listen in t...

Before new growth can take root, the soil of our lives has to be turned over. In this episode, Troy shares what it means to walk through a season of becoming—the in-between space where God shapes us, prunes us, and prepares us for what’s next.

Troy opens up about a personal moment of loss and faith, sharing how God used a simple classroom assignment on grief to remind him that the story wasn’t over. Together, we’ll explore how beco...

🎙 Rooted for Growth Episode 20: The Hope of Acceptance

This episode marks a deeply personal milestone — one year since Eryn’s passing. In The Hope of Acceptance, Troy opens up about what this first year of grief has taught him… how healing doesn’t mean forgetting, and how acceptance is less about letting go and more about holding on differently.

Through honest reflection, biblical truth, and gentle encouragement, Troy explores wha...

In Rooted for Growth Episode 19: How to Identify Depression – DSM-5 Symptoms Explained with Biblical Hope, Troy Whitman unpacks what depression really looks like, beyond just sadness. Learn how to recognize the key DSM-5 symptoms of major depression, hear biblical encouragement from the Psalms and other scriptures, and discover practical steps you can take to step out of the shadows. Whether you’re personally struggling or supporti...

Episode 18: The Weight of What Ifs

Bargaining is the stage of grief where our minds replay the what ifs… If only we had done this… what if things had been different… maybe then we wouldn’t be here. It’s a heavy place where our hearts try to make sense of loss by searching for answers and deals.

In this episode of Rooted for Growth, I share a raw personal story of crying out to God in the hospital, wrestling with questions that had ...

Episode 17: Turning Anger into Growth

Anger is one of the most misunderstood emotions. Too often it gets labeled as purely destructive… but what if anger could actually point us toward growth, healing, and even purpose?

In this episode of Rooted for Growth, Troy unpacks the role of anger in our lives—not as something to suppress or explode, but as an energy that can be transformed. From psychological insights to biblical wisdom, yo...

Episode 16: The Oil of Joy

Grief is one of life’s heaviest valleys… but God promises that sorrow is not the end of the story. In Isaiah 61:3, He offers “the oil of joy for mourning”—a reminder that even in seasons of loss, His presence brings comfort and hope.

In this episode of Rooted for Growth, I share how joy and grief can exist side by side, and why God’s joy is not the absence of pain but the assurance of His nearness. We’ll ...

What if the greatest growth in your life didn’t come from mountaintop breakthroughs… but from small, faithful steps?

In this episode of Rooted for Growth, Troy shares how his 5 Minute Prayer Routine was born out of grief and became a daily anchor that carried him through some of his hardest days. Drawing from Scripture, personal experience, and even insights from psychology, he unpacks why consistency matters more than perfection, ...

Episode 14: The Fire

Refinement doesn’t always feel good… but it is necessary. In this episode, Troy walks through the powerful story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and how God’s presence in the fire is a promise we can hold on to in our hardest seasons.

You’ll hear how trials can actually purify us, why faith matters most when life feels overwhelming, and how God uses the fire to form something greater within us. This epis...

Episode 13 – The Harvest 🎙️ Rooted for Growth Podcast

After the digging, planting, and pruning—comes the harvest. In this episode, Troy explores what it looks like when inward growth becomes outward impact. Living rooted in Christ produces visible fruit: integrity, purpose, and a life that blesses others.

Through stories, scripture, and reflection, we’ll unpack how to: 🌾 Live with Integrity even when no one’s watching 🌾 Lead wit...

Episode 12 – The Roots Deepen 🎙️ Rooted for Growth Podcast

Real strength isn’t always loud—it’s often hidden in the quiet, unseen places. In this episode, Troy reflects on the importance of building a solid foundation through daily spiritual practices like prayer, scripture meditation, and stillness. Inspired by The Missing Piece by Shel Silverstein, we explore the idea that the joy is not in “completing” ourselves by worldly stan...

Episode 11 – The Wind: Learning to Move When the Spirit Moves

God’s Spirit doesn’t always come with warning signs or a mapped-out plan—sometimes, it rushes in like the wind, stirring hearts and shifting direction. In this episode, Troy unpacks what it looks like to listen for God's voice, respond in obedience, and trust His guidance even when the path ahead is unclear.

Drawing from A.W. Tozer’s The Pursuit of God and key scriptures...