From Then to Now: Three Years of Grit, Grace, and the God Who Carried Me

Three years ago, I wasn’t ready.

Not polished. Not confident. Not healed.

But someone saw something in me that I couldn’t yet see in myself.

And because of that… everything changed.

This blog isn’t just a recap. It’s a reflection of what happens when God uses imperfect obedience to build something meaningful.

Because Grit & Grace was never really mine to begin with.

The Beginning: A Man Who Opened the Door

Before there was a podcast… there was a man who believed in one.

Charlie Smither

Tonya Bruton, Producer and Host of Grit and Grace Podcast with Truth Seeker Texas Radio Owner and Host Charlie Smither

Charlie wore many hats—family man, realtor, auctioneer, radio host—but more than anything, he was someone who showed up for people.

He gave me my start.

He didn’t wait for me to be ready. He didn’t require perfection. He simply believed there was something in me worth sharing.

And sometimes… that’s all it takes.

His legacy lives on in every episode, every conversation, every moment of courage it takes to hit “record.”

The Stories That Shaped Us

Over the last three years, this podcast has held stories that are raw, complicated, and deeply human.

Grief That Doesn’t Always Look Like Grief

Julia Rebboah shared something many people are afraid to say out loud—that sometimes healing means walking away.

Going no-contact with a parent. Choosing peace over chaos. Grieving someone who is still alive.

That kind of grief doesn’t come with casseroles or condolences. It comes quietly… and it stays longer than expected.

The Children We Forget to Watch

Jerry Woodbridge reminded us that grief doesn’t just belong to adults.

Children carry it too—sometimes through anger, confusion, or silence.

And if we’re not paying attention, we miss it.

Healing, she taught us, isn’t about fixing children. It’s about creating space for them to feel what they feel.

Moments We’ll Never Get Back

Bambi Lynn said something that stopped me in my tracks:

“Life is about living in moments that you’ll never get back.”

And isn’t that the truth?

Remembering Bambi Lynn: Healing Through Stories

We spend so much time waiting—waiting to heal, waiting to feel ready, waiting to become someone better—

that we forget we’re already living moments we will never get back.

From Broken to Purposeful

Joe Gallagher came on and shared a story that feels almost unbelievable—until you realize it’s not.

From a life in and out of prison…to building something meaningful out of something as simple as spaghetti sauce.

But it wasn’t really about the sauce.

It was about transformation.

It was about what happens when a life surrendered to God becomes a life committed to service.

He said something that stuck:

Gratitude leads to action. And action, rooted in faith, sustains recovery.

The Turning Point I Didn’t Expect

Some of the most important moments didn’t happen on a mic.

They happened in quiet places.

Like when I was at the ranch…feeling like a chronic relapser, wondering why I couldn’t “get it right.”

And what I realized—what God showed me—was this:

It wasn’t just about stopping something.

It was about stepping into something.

Purpose.

Service.

Step 12.

I had been waiting—waiting to be invited, waiting to be qualified, waiting to be “good enough.”

But obedience doesn’t work like that.

You don’t wait to be chosen. You choose to show up.

And that’s exactly what Charlie gave me the opportunity to do.

Redemption That Rewrites Everything

Luis Colon Jr. asked a question that defines so many of our turning points:

“Is this the end of my life… or just the beginning?”

For him, it was the beginning.

From gang life…to prison…to a powerful encounter with God that completely transformed his path.

His story is a reminder that your past doesn’t disqualify you.

Sometimes, it’s the very thing God uses to bring you closer to Him.

Truth That Changes Everything

Cameron Garner brought clarity to something many of us wrestle with:

“Truth has the ability to change our experience.”

“The process is not becoming something in Christ. The process is realizing what we already became.”

That right there?

That’s freedom.

It’s not about striving. It’s about understanding.

It’s about renewing your mind to what is already true.

The Battle We Don’t Always See

Spiritual warfare isn’t always loud.

Sometimes it looks like thoughts. Doubt. Lies that feel like truth.

And the fight?

It starts in the mind.

Taking those thoughts captive. Replacing them with truth. Standing on the Word when feelings don’t cooperate.

Because not every battle is visible—but every battle matters.

The Narrow Path Isn’t Popular

Chastity Dawn didn’t sugarcoat it.

There is no room for a watered-down gospel on the narrow path.

When you’re really walking with God, you’re hungry for truth—not comfort.

And that kind of hunger changes you.

Posture Before Power

Randy Goodwin emphasized something simple—but powerful:

Your posture matters.

Humility. Repentance. Recognizing your need for God.

Not as a one-time thing…but as a daily posture.

And Devera Allday echoed it beautifully through the idea of the exchanged life—

that this walk isn’t about trying harder…it’s about living from what Christ has already done.

And Through It All… Grace

If I had to sum up these three years in one word?

Grace.

Not the kind that excuses everything—but the kind that sustains you through anything.

There’s a scripture that has anchored me through it all:

“He gives more grace.”

And I’ve needed it.

Through personal struggles. Through growth. Through showing up when I didn’t feel ready.

And somehow… God kept blessing it.

A studio I never expected. A nomination for Podcast of the Year. Recognition I didn’t chase. A website and blog that didn’t exist before.

None of it came from striving.

It came from showing up… and letting Him lead.

What Comes Next: A New Season

As I look ahead, one thing is clear:

The next season is about love.

Learning how deeply God loves us. Learning how to love ourselves. Learning how to love others well.

Because love isn’t just a feeling—it’s a foundation.

And without it, everything else falls apart.

There’s a scripture that keeps echoing in my spirit:

“Behold, I am doing a new thing.”

And I believe that.

Not just for the podcast—but for every person reading this.

Final Thoughts

If these three years have taught me anything, it’s this:

You don’t have to be ready.

You just have to be willing.

Willing to show up. Willing to grow. Willing to trust that God can use even the most unfinished version of you.

Because He can.

And He will.

If this journey has impacted you in any way, I’d love for you to take a moment:

👉 Listen to an episode [https://youtu.be/frbdJY1umb8]

👉 Share it with someone👉 Leave a review👉 And don’t forget to vote for Grit & Grace Podcast for Podcast of the Year [www.prayzefactorawards.com/vote]

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