The Power to Change: Becoming Who You’re Meant to Be
There’s something deeply vulnerable about talking openly—not just about where we want to go, but about who we are in the process of becoming.
In this episode of The Freq Show, Sam and Jaclyn Thurmond open up about what it really means to change—not surface-level habit shifts, but the kind of transformation that begins with your identity. Inspired by Craig Groeschel’s book The Power to Change, their conversation feels less like a podcast and more like a fireside moment between two people working out what it means to live on purpose.
At the heart of it all? A simple but life-altering truth: If you want to change what you do, you have to change how you see yourself. And even deeper than that—you have to see yourself the way God sees you.
Understanding the Power to Change
What if change isn’t just about effort, discipline, or sheer willpower? What if it starts with who you believe yourself to be?
That’s the question Sam raises as he shares a quote that stopped him in his tracks: “You do what you do because of what you think of you.” So many of us want to live differently, aim higher, do better—but the voice in our head says, “That’s not who I am.” And that belief quietly steers every decision.
In this episode, Sam and Jaclyn dig into this subtle but profound idea: that lasting transformation happens when you stop trying to fix the symptoms and begin to realign the source—your identity. And from their perspective, that identity isn’t something you build on your own. It’s something you remember when you reconnect with God.
Faith as the Frequency
This isn’t about trying harder or striving. It’s about surrendering. About tuning into a power greater than ourselves.
“If I’m trying to do it by myself,” Sam says, “I’m operating in my own strength. But if I align with God, I’m pursuing my calling through His power.”
Jaclyn expands the idea in her own beautiful way: maybe faith is the ultimate frequency tuner. When we surrender, we don’t become less of who we are—we become more of who we truly are. That’s when God starts planting dreams and goals in us—not as burdens to chase, but as invitations to grow.
And in those quiet, surrendered moments, we begin to hear His voice more clearly.
It’s a reminder many of us need: real change flows not just from effort—but from alignment.
What Alignment with God Looks Like (For Real)
Spiritual alignment isn’t always easy to grasp—especially when life feels busy, noisy, or chaotic. So what does it actually look like in real life?
According to Sam, it’s not complicated, but it does take intention. “You spend time with God. You make time for Him. You pray, read scripture, remove distractions, and add things that bring you closer.”
It’s just like building any relationship—you have to show up for it.
But Jaclyn gently pushes the conversation deeper. “Yes, making time for God is an action,” she says, “but what about the big goals? What about the steps to get there?”
Her point is simple but powerful: spirituality doesn’t replace action—it fuels it.
Sam shares how he’s learned to anchor his plans in prayer first, then move forward with intention. “I ask God, ‘Is this the right path? Is this the right time?’ And then I take the steps.” Over time, that rhythm—faith, then action—has become his foundation.
The Foundation Comes First
If Sam could go back in time, he says he would have started with God, instead of adding God in after the plans were made. Not because faith wasn’t present—but because he now sees how different the process is when faith is the foundation.
That shift in perspective changes everything. The goal is no longer just the external win—the house, the income, the business success. The goal becomes: Who am I becoming on the path to this? Am I growing? Am I staying close to God?
That becomes the true reward. And when that’s the focus, the rest can fall into place in its own time.
Need more ideas on building spiritual discipline that feels nurturing, not burdensome? Check out How To Start Healing From Anxiety: A Gentle Guide Rooted in Heart — it’s a compassionate take on aligning mind, body and faith.
Your Calling Is Not Just What You Do
One of the most powerful quotes from the book lands toward the end of the episode:
“Your calling is more about who you are becoming than what you are doing.”
That line offers so much peace—especially for those who feel like they haven’t figured out their “thing” yet. Maybe the purpose isn’t about getting the perfect job or building the perfect business. Maybe it’s about becoming the person God designed you to be. Maybe calling isn’t one big moment—it’s a hundred small choices that align with love, integrity, faith, and truth.
Jaclyn and Sam reflect on their differences here—how Jaclyn’s always had a strong sense of direction and Sam hasn’t always felt that clarity. But that’s what makes their partnership so grounding. Both experiences are valid. Both are part of the journey. Both require trust.
Redefining Success: Growth Over Grind
Jaclyn shares a tender story about redefining success during a postpartum season. She had just had a baby, started a new business, and made progress—but not as much as she’d hoped.
So instead of measuring herself by income or productivity, she asked a different set of questions:
“Am I proud of who I’ve become? How I’ve reacted? What I’ve learned?”
That shift—from performance to personal growth—was liberating. And it’s something both she and Sam carry into their work and family life today. Financial freedom and legacy-building matter, yes. But ultimately, it’s about becoming more aligned, more open-hearted, more Christ-like.
That’s real success.
Want inspiration on how small mindset shifts translate into big financial and personal alignment? You might resonate with “The Millionaire Next Door Mindset,” where we explore how everyday choices lead to lasting freedom.
Seeing Ourselves the Way God Sees Us
There’s a moment in the episode when Jaclyn pauses and offers a perspective that’s worth writing down:
“What if we viewed ourselves the way God sees us? A beloved child, deeply loved, with infinite potential?”
It’s a question that softens everything. When we let go of self-judgment, perfectionism, or shame—and instead receive God’s love as our truth—we step into change not with pressure, but with peace.
That kind of identity work doesn’t just shift how we think. It shifts what we’re capable of.
Trusting God. Trusting Yourself. Trusting the Process.
Faith is important. But so is trust.
And trust, as Jaclyn points out, goes both ways. “God can show up 100% of the time,” she says, “but if we’re still doubtful every time, we won’t go as far.”
It’s not enough to believe in God’s love—we also have to believe that we are worthy of it. And that we’re capable of rising to meet what He’s placed on our hearts.
Sam says it plainly: “I’m worthy because God says I’m worthy.”
That belief lifts the pressure. It frees us from needing to prove our worth and lets us focus on who we’re becoming along the way.
Life Happens For Us, Not To Us
One of the biggest shifts this couple has made is in how they view challenges. Rather than seeing setbacks as punishment, they now see them as part of the process.
“Life happens for us, not to us,” Jaclyn says. And when you believe that, every moment—even the hard ones—becomes a stepping stone to something bigger.
God doesn’t waste anything. And when you’re in relationship with Him, even your detours have purpose.
Hungry for more heart-centered reflections on living intentionally? Our post The Power of Planning for Peace — Financially and Otherwise dives into how simple routines and thoughtful boundaries create space for positive energy and higher vibrations.
Final Thought: A Gentle Invitation
Sam leaves everyone with a question worth sitting with:
Can you make space for God?
Just start there. In the quiet. In the mess. In the doubt. Make space, and see what changes.
Because when you start seeing yourself the way God does, when you root your actions in something bigger than you, when you focus more on who you’re becoming than what you’re achieving—everything shifts.
This is the power to change.
It’s not a formula. It’s a relationship.
It’s not perfection. It’s process.
And it starts now.
Live on purpose. Live on frequency.
Ien Araneta - editor of The Freq Show & The Beckon Times
