Noticing God in the Gift of Longing with A.J. Swoboda

Our hearts decay in the wake of desire overwhelm, consumerism trains us to be ever-craving, and we are often incapacitated to trust God for the richness he can supply. Amid our allergy to waiting, how do we steward our desires well?

In this episode, host Jay Y. Kim converses with former pastor, Dr. A.J. Swoboda (Ph.D., Birmingham). Swoboda is an associate professor of Bible and Theology at Bushnell University and leader of the Doctor of Ministry Program on Spiritual Formation and Soul Care at Friends University. He is also a podcast host and author of several books, including The Gift of Thorns, After Doubt, and the award-winning Subversive Sabbath.

Kim and Swoboda invite us to take an honest inventory of our often competing desires, especially those we feel unwilling to wait for. Reflecting on the biblical narrative, they uncover God’s loving design of waiting as a uniquely human experience—one that makes space to combat self-sufficiency and instead engage in curious reflection with God. By beginning with confession and dependence on the sovereignty of the Holy Spirit, we can find a “Sabbath for our desires” at the cross.

While the devil tempts us to short-circuit our longing by indulging our impulses, God teaches us to temper our desires with healthy pause, humility, and prayerful consideration.

Tune in to learn how God desires to cultivate spiritual depth in your life through the good gift of waiting.

This episode highlights the following themes:
✅ The concept of life as a "gymnasium of desires" and its biblical roots
✅ The impact of instant gratification and the gift of waiting
✅ Surrendering desires to God for true rest and freedom

Links from this episode:
✅ Read more about A.J. Swoboda and his work (https://ajswoboda.com/)
✅ Check out A.J Swoboda’s book, The Gift of Thorns (https://thegiftofthorns.com/)
✅ Read the