My book, Stand Steady, is out in the world today! To celebrate, we recorded a live episode of Fearless last week from the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina. There I was joined by listeners and friends, plus my close family friend, Preston Parrish, who asked me all about Stand Steady, many of the stories I write about in the book, and what this new chapter for our family could look like.

It was such an honor to have Preston there with me, and a fun challenge to get to be the interviewee here on what could be one of our last episodes of Fearless. During our discussion Preston asked me more about the heart behind Stand Steady, why I chose to write the book and why now, and we also discussed some of the main themes you’ll read about in the book, including unforgiveness, depression, obedience, addiction, and the simplicity of the Gospel.

Towards the end of our time together I invited all those gathered (and now you listening and watching!) to choose that simple Gospel—that best of all Good News—for themselves. Because in this world we are all but guaranteed pushback, trials, and bad days, but ultimately we can choose to stand steady on the hope we have in Christ and in our final destination of Heaven.

Lastly, I want to thank all of you for your support of this book and your support of Fearless over the years. It has meant the world to me, my family, and our team, and, no matter what the future holds, my prayer is that each of you who have been touched in some way by Fearless will continue to stand steady—stand fearlessly—on the foundation of Jesus Christ in a compromising culture.

Stand Steady is available everywhere, now! Order your copy: https://bookstore.billygraham.org/stand-steady.html?pk_vid=67ef3ffeb412b961178673680342e652.

Today’s episode of Fearless is a special one. This week President Donald Trump announced that he has asked me to serve as U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom. The nomination is a great honor and privilege and, if confirmed, a position I would take on as the calling from the Lord that it is.

This episode is mainly a closer look at what the role would entail, both here in the United States and around the world. Plus I also share the story behind getting a call about the position earlier this year and how my initial reaction was that although this ambassadorship would be an amazing opportunity, it was not the season of life to be taking on this kind of role. But as I’ve said many times on this podcast before, God calls us to live a fearless faith—to stand on the truth of His Word and promises—even when it’s uncomfortable, even when culture pushes back against us.

So if I could, I would ask this of you: will you pray for me and my family? Pray for wisdom. Pray for discernment. Pray for my marriage and our children. Pray for the confirmation process. But most of all, pray that, if confirmed, God would give me the courage, strength, and humility to steward this responsibility well. I’m so thankful for this Fearless community that’s come around my family and this mission for so many years. As always, keep chasing a fearless faith in this compromising culture.

Follow me on social media for updates at @cissiegrahamlynch

Preorder Stand Steady here: https://bookstore.billygraham.org/stand-steady.html?pk_vid=67ef3ffeb412b961178673680342e652.

I grew up with a lot of anger and resentment towards my dad. By the time I was in college, those feelings had turned into bitterness, defiance, and unforgiveness. That is until I went along on one of my dad, Franklin Graham’s, trips with Samaritan’s Purse. It was there in Kenya that I saw my dad living out all God had called him to, and it was there that I finally forgave him for being gone during a lot of my childhood.

Today on Fearless we’re talking about one of the 10 attributes I chose to write about in Stand Steady: the attribute of forgiveness. Your story probably looks different from mine, but we all harbor unforgiveness towards someone or about something that happened to us. Unforgiveness breeds bitterness and bitterness, if allowed to grow, can affect our relationships, our calling, and our heart, just like it did for me.

So today let’s ask ourselves: Who have I not forgiven? As part of today’s episode I’m also sharing some other vulnerable stories that I haven’t shared elsewhere, plus how I write in Stand Steady about American hero, Louis Zamperini, and what his incredible story of forgiveness in the face of the worst life has to offer can teach us about ourselves. Don’t live one more day in bondage to unforgiveness. Choose to forgive today, and walk forward into the life of freedom Jesus has in store.

Preorder Stand Steady here: https://bookstore.billygraham.org/stand-steady.html?pk_vid=67ef3ffeb412b961178673680342e652.