Skip to content How’d I Miss That? Seeing God in the Everyday Moments with Cynthia Yanof Mar 5 · 1 hr ...more
How’d I Miss That? Seeing God in the Everyday Moments with Cynthia Yanof
March 5, 2026 · 1 hr
Discover how faith in God can sustain you in life's challenges, transforming desperation into hope.
Series Hope Talks Podcast Videos March 5, 2026 · 1 hr · Hope Talks Podcast Videos
Discover how faith in God can sustain you in life's challenges, transforming desperation into hope. ...more Show the full description Show less Discover how faith in God can sustain you in life's challenges, transforming desperation into hope.
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Hope for the Heart is a worldwide biblical counseling, coaching, and caregiving ministry founded by June Hunt in 1986. We’re passionate about helping people
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Hope in the Everyday: From Head Knowledge to Heart Reliance 0:00 I've done everything I know, Lord, and it's about to end really poorly. And if you don't show up, this this isn't going to end well. And you know what? Who showed up? And that's the thing. Like, when you step into0:12 the place, I I hate to say desperation and that it's always gonna be that dramatic. It won't. But when you when you are relying on the Lord to sustain you, that guy metaphorically shows up.0:23 Welcome to Hope Talks. We're your hosts. I'm Haley Scully along with Dustin Anderson, and we wanna give you every reason for hope for every challenge in life because hope means everything.0:41 Dustin, we are already laughing today with this episode. We have got a guest. It's guest day.0:48 Mhmm.0:49 We've got a new book launch. We've got a lot to talk about. So tell Hope Talks who is with us today.0:54 We have Cynthia Yanoff with us today, and I made sure to say the name correctly, hopefully. But I'm excited for this. I'm just gonna read her bio from our website because I think it's so well worded, and it kinda gives1:04 you a glimpse into her humor and her heart. So I'm gonna read this. Cynthia Yanoff is a wife, mother, podcaster, blogger, everyday girl who's ridiculously committed to not taking herself too seriously. Yeah. I love that.1:16 Cynthia aspires to help make the world a place where authenticity and laughter reign supreme, and perfection is rightfully booted to the back seat. She She hosts the popular mez or it's not mesmerized, it's Mesmerized1:28 podcast and a couple more podcast, Sidetrack with Heather McFadyen that we've had on the podcast, as well as Feeding the Mouth That Bites You. And then the new book that we've already kind of teased is, How1:39 Did I Miss That? Gas Pump Confessions, Drive Thru Obsessions, and Figuring Out What Really Matters. So I'm hoping to get into that today. But, also, the author of Life is Messy, God is Good,1:52 and so much more going on with 3 kids, is it, as well? And could you tell us the ages of them? Because it's quite the Well1:59 and welcome. That is the a long bio. It was awesome.2:03 That's a long talk. I was really excited to meet her. Like, I heard that. I was like, wow. She sounds interesting. And then I was like, oh, yeah. Thanks for having me. It's great to be here with you guys. And, yes, I do2:11 have 3 kiddos. And so my oldest just graduated, from college. My middle just started college, and then my youngest, brace yourself, is in third grade. And so my go to joke is that, like, women can appreciate this. I'm2:23 the only mom you know that's doing, like, math facts and menopause all at once. Like, that's where we are, and that's not, like, God's best for anybody, but yet, here I am. So There it is.2:32 Math facts and menopause. Man, I am at the place where I blame the perimenopause on everything.2:38 Everything. And,2:39 like, for the next 5 to 10 years, because I don't know what the range is, I will take 0 responsibility for any of my failures.2:45 I will rage on you, and then I will say, I'm sorry. It's biological Yeah. And we shall move on.2:50 And let's hug. I'll come and hug. We'll make up. Yeah.2:53 And then we're gonna go on and2:53 then we're gonna2:54 confess the sin, and then we shall carry on.2:57 Well, I'm not gonna comment on that.3:00 That's alright.3:00 I'm glad you're here, and we actually met, through our vice president and our, producer of the show, Christina. And you've spoken at our staff devotional time. Mhmm. And so we're just blessed by that. So3:12 already had a connection and just looking forward to hearing your hope story today, but then also kinda getting into your book. And what I love about it and just what I've what I've loved about listening to you and kind3:22 of reading some of your material is just you have a way of taking kind of just the everyday silly and absurd moments of life and making kind of important meaningful spiritual3:34 lessons out of them and seeing God in just the the mundane and the everyday details. And so I love them.3:40 Thank you.3:41 So we are excited to jump into that, but that's 1 of the things that we like to do on Hope Talks because we talk a lot about the concept of hope Mhmm. And how do we make hope real for people. So, Dustin3:53 and I have had opportunity to share our stories at different times. What is a time where you understood kind of more what it means to put your hope in Jesus? So, some of our guests will say that's our moment of4:04 salvation. They got it, they hit the ground running. Sometimes it's a difficult time in their life, but when did that kind of become real to you? And so what would your hope story be that you would share with us today?4:15 Yeah. I thought a lot about this. I got to see the question before I walked in the room, which was nice. And I thought a lot about this because I'm a girl who grew up in church, and I've known faith my whole life,4:24 basically. And so I was trying to think back of those moments, like, when did it become real? When did I realize, like, I am nothing without my faith, without the Lord? And and I started thinking out this story someone4:35 told me recently that this it's a man I know, and he travels a lot to Egypt. And he said when he's there sometimes, you'll see men that have this really big callus on the forehead, and it's from praying. And so they4:46 spend so much time with their head down on the ground that it rubs a big callus on them. And so their status in having that callus, said no 1 ever, but that is the truth. There's status in that. But some people want that4:57 callus, and so they will actually just rub their head on the ground in order to get the callus, and they look like they have this deep devotion that they actually don't. And I was thinking back how my life growing up in5:08 faith has kind of been that in some respects that I've heard the word of God my whole life, but actually been devoted in doing the things. Like, James says, like, being a doer of God's word, not just a5:19 listener. I've been a lot of listener. Like, I've had a lot of that in my life, and I found that I've wanted that deep devotion. I've wanted those things I see that other people have, and I'm just like, well, I guess God5:30 uses them differently, or, man, they just have it easier or I have all these reasons. And I've found in my own life that I've wanted the peace without the prayer. You know, I've wanted the stage without the time on my5:40 knees, you know, the platform without the dedication to what the Lord's calling me to. And I've wanted the status of a callus without putting in that deep work. Wow. And I would just say this. I think there comes times5:52 in life, especially, you get a little bit older, you have kids, there seems to be more on the line financially and otherwise, where you have to reconcile that. Like, you know, is this just the God of the big moments? Is6:02 this the God, like, that saved me, thank goodness, from all eternity and hell and has brought me to eternal life? Absolutely. But how am I gonna live those in between moments? Yeah. And so I think for me, it's been this6:13 process over the last however many years of realizing, like, that's where the hope is. Right? Like, yes, we have eternal life, but the hope is in the fact that he's in every detail with us and that we can turn to him and6:24 he cares about that. He knows the number of hair on my head. He cares about the things every day that are going on in my family, the things of my faith, the things outside of my faith, the ludicrous, the silly. Like,6:35 he's in all of that, and that's, I think, a story of hope.6:38 Yeah. I love that because it's not just a transaction of when I'm hurting and, you know, we're a counseling ministry. We talk a lot about hard times and difficult times and depression and6:50 grief and anxiety. So but he's not just, like, over there so that we can run to him in that. It's a re a relationship every day. So I really like the fact how7:02 you shared that it is like a daily hope.7:04 Mhmm.7:04 Like, this is how we do life with Jesus. That's fantastic.7:08 Yeah. I love that. And and and getting to that point of realizing that you can hear a lot and you can be involved in your faith walk, academically, but at the end of the day, like, what does that look like practically?7:18 And I think that's my hope. Like, when I get to speak at different things and podcasts and write books, it's just like, okay. Like, listen. I've had a lot of head knowledge and but what does it actually look like to walk7:27 it out?7:28 Yeah. I love that. I think sometimes we pray about stuff. I know this this is in my past, Cynthia. This is not anything current or recent. But we pray about7:39 something,7:41 and7:41 then we go and try to figure it out. Mhmm. You know, I kind of have a tendency to rush into, like, okay. I prayed about it, but now here's what I'm gonna go do this, this, and this instead of kind7:53 of that still time to hear from him. And not, like, that he's gonna part, you know, the red river for me, you know, but, like, but just being still a little bit8:04 and waiting for his leading in that. And sometimes I'll struggle with that, and I'm like, I'm supposed to be faithful. I'm supposed to be doing this and I'm supposed to but I don't kind of wait on Him. So those everyday8:15 moments of just hoping in Him that He is with us and for us and loves us, that's a huge shift that I think a lot of people actually kind of in the tangible ways struggle with that. Yeah.8:27 Because we're so busy thinking God helps those who helps them who help themselves or, you know, now we've gotta go figure this out and fix it. So8:35 Yeah. And that's kind of what you opened with in the book, and I think that's where 1 of the subtitles that what was it? Gas pump confession. So could you kinda share that story? Because I think that captures a good8:45 moment where it's just an everyday moment, but it kind of made you kinda realize, like, a deeper spiritual truth of what God was doing in that moment.8:54 Right. Right. Well, I was asked to speak at an event in Houston, and it was 1 of the larger events at the time that I'd been asked to be a keynote speaker. And so I prepared as ready. And a lot of times when I travel and9:06 speak, my friends will go with me, and I used to think it's because they thought I was a great speaker. Turns out that's not it at all. They think I'm terrible at travel logistics. And so I was like, well, I will show9:14 you. I can get to Houston by myself, and we live in Dallas. And so it's just a couple hours. And so I was driving along, and I stopped at Buc ee's. And I feel like we should have a moment of silence for Buc ee's.9:22 Thank you.9:23 Okay. Thanks. And because I mean, really, if you're gonna have, like, a a Buc ee's, like, onesie you can wear and candy bacon, like, I'm here for that. That's what I'm about. And so I stopped for gas, and this woman came9:35 up to me with her young child and said, can we get some food? We're hungry. I was like, I don't have any money. And, legitimately, I never have a dime on me cash wise. And she's like, well, I was wondering if you could9:45 go inside and get us some food. And so I was like, oh, yeah. Okay. So I'm going in there, and I'm having the normal thoughts we're all gonna have. I'm like, are they trying to get me separated from my car so they can rob9:54 me? Are they going to take my kidney? I mean, I'm going through all the9:57 things, like real thing.9:58 I mean, I I've read about it on the Internet. It has to be true. And so I'm in there, and I'm, like, grabbing food, and I'm thinking, oh, we gotta hurry up. We gotta hurry up. And so I get back to my car, and I give them10:07 the food, and they thank me. And they move along, and I'm like, alright. So gotta go. So I kinda take off. And if you can picture Buc ee's, there's a lot of people and a lot of gas pumps. Mhmm. And I was a few gas pumps10:18 up when I heard the loud crash and realized at that point that I actually had not removed the nozzle from my car. And so I ripped it completely out from the pub. Do not feel bad for me. This is10:30 stupidity at its finest. And so at that moment, I'm like, oh my gosh. Like, it's the moment of truth. Am I going to like, how do you handle that? It's like when you fall on the playground as a kid. You either cry and10:40 wail or you jump up and you act like nothing happened. Alright. And so it was a nothing happened moment from10:44 a scout. Is like a big, there's a lot of10:48 A lot of people watching. Yeah. Yeah. This is Not10:50 a small gas station.10:51 Not a small gas station. So I just put it in the park, and, no, it doesn't spew gas everywhere. It's like an o ring, and it just pulls out thing. And I just walk it back. You know, it's like a walk of shame, and I act11:01 like nothing happened. And I just put it back in the thing, and I'm like, alrighty. I left, and I was like, oh, I better if anyone speaks to this to my friends, like, it's over. Right? But I thought about this, and I was11:12 thinking later on and kind of praying about just that whole event. And I realized that in my life at that moment, the most important thing to me was the platform, was that platform moment. And I feel like the Lord was11:22 saying, yeah, I care about the pump moments too.11:25 Yeah.11:25 And I think we all have these, like, platform moments. You may not be going on a stage and someone's handing you a mic, but you have platform moments. These moments where your child gets married, or maybe you're getting11:34 married, or you're gonna retire, or the 4 0 1 k vest, or whatever these big platform moments are. And I'm not saying the Lord can't be in the platform moments, but I also think he's in the pump moments. And it is so easy11:45 to overlook those everyday moments that seem small, seem insignificant when we're chasing after the big things. And so my hope is is this is a whole book full of reminders that these little11:57 things make a big difference.11:58 Yeah. What led you to say, I'm gonna put this in a book because people need to hear that?12:04 Nobody needed to hear that. Let's be clear. We probably needed to hide that somewhere, but but at the end of the day I12:10 mean, the concept of it. I love that story.12:12 Right. Yes. I think the concept is this. I have found just in my life that if you can make someone laugh, if you can be real and relatable and and make fun of yourself that people can hear truth. I'm out12:24 then.12:24 I'm out then.12:25 You're out. Right. Okay. Good. Good to know. My my my theory's wrong. But if you can make people laugh, you can speak truth over them. And so I want you to laugh, but I want you to I don't it didn't matter to me if it's12:35 my expense. And and so that was kind of as I was writing the book, I'm like, lord, where are those places where he would say, like, don't let the fact that it was off script and it wasn't pretty and you had a bad12:44 attitude. Like, if the lord can't be in that and use that, then, like, that's 2 thirds of my life. And so yeah. That's my hope. Yeah.12:50 It reminds me of a story in seminary. We had, like, a preaching class. And I don't know if it happened at DTS or if it's just this kind of, like, almost like a folktale almost, but I think it's a real story where,13:02 the students had were supposed to preach on the good Samaritan.13:06 Mhmm.13:06 The teacher of the class actually, before the class, like, dressed up really disheveled, big overcoat, held up a sign to make him look kind of homeless and sat outside the building where the class where13:18 they were going to preach on the good Samaritan. Wow. And the students who were going to preach just walked right by him and asked for help. And so he was kinda making this point of, like, don't miss the things in front13:30 of you, especially, like, you're literally about to, like, preach on this topic,13:33 but13:34 you're missing kind of what God's doing in front of you. Right.13:37 And13:38 so it was, like, a really interesting Powerful. Yeah. It's a really interesting, like and it was a inspiring moment. By.13:43 Yeah. I probably would have walked by.13:45 Yeah.13:45 I mean, honestly and that's kinda, like, the point made there. Right? Like, what does it take for us to slow down and and look at things the way Jesus would look at them? And that's not to say he's not in the preaching13:55 moments or the pulpit moments or the retirement moments or the marriage, but he's also very, very in the small moments that we tend to overlook.14:02 Yeah. Yeah.14:03 And then on the complete other side of things, we were joking about Seinfeld before this. I saw this clip of him where he was talking about the importance of he's talking about parenting. He was talking about the14:14 importance of having garbage time with your kids because we always think, like, quality time is what we need. He's like, actually, the garbage time when you're just, like, in the kitchen having cereal together, that's14:23 actually where a lot of, like, meaningful conversation and thing happens. So it's like that idea of, like, don't miss those kind of everyday small moments in parenting or at work when someone pops in your office where14:35 there might be something more going on there or, like, that what you did for that woman and her child was probably really made their day. But for you, it's just this, like, small kind of, you know,14:46 allowing yourself to be interrupted.14:48 Small inconvenience, honestly. And and, yeah, and that's a good point with the parenting. I think I've found as someone who's parented, you know, grown kids now, basically, and then a little 1, you get to do it again. I14:57 I think that what's most urgent, what feels most urgent and pressing at any given moment almost never is. And that's the that's the hard thing about parenting is you spend so much of it feeling like this is the15:09 most important, getting in the right college and having the right friend group and getting on the right select team. And and all those things that feel urgent aren't actually the urgent things because we have to pivot15:19 those things from the things that feel urgent to that which is eternal. And that's a hard that's a hard little dichotomy to to run.Show more In this video 0:00 Hope in the Everyday: From Head Knowledge to Heart Reliance15:25 Redefining Success: Scout Team Wins and Cultural Pressures28:33 Basement Work and the Call to Foster Care41:18 Adopted Identity and God's Unique CallingComments No comments yet. 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