As a podcaster, author, wife and mom, Tara Sun has learned a lot about reaching the end of herself. But even in the middle of her most desperate moments — including struggling with fibromyalgia — God has pulled her closer and taught her important biblical truths. Now, she’s sharing those truths with other women as she teaches them how to live out God’s Word. So join us as we talk about the battles that have made Tara stronger, how she prioritizes her relationship with God despite a busy schedule and what resources fuel her faith.

QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT

There’s much more to food than palate and preference. How does a go-to meal at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind the web bio?

I have always been a small-town, part-time farm girl. My city is a sleepy town with endless rolling hills of agriculture and wide-open expanses. It’s home, plain and simple. A place where truly everybody knows your name. A place where people are kind, humble, and simple. There’s a level of comfort here that I can’t quite find anywhere else. I have traveled near and far — across the state and even the globe — but I always ache to return.

To some, this quaint city may not seem like much. It may not scream “tourist attraction.” But if you dare to explore, you’ll find hidden gems all around. Breathtaking hikes to cascading waterfalls, lazy strolls through an expansive flower garden and even some of the best Thai food you'll ever have. Some of my favorite memories with my family and friends were born over steaming hot plates of rice, curry and pad thai. Especially during our growing-up years, my parents would take my brother and me to eat Thai food a few times a month. Family style was the name of the game. We would load up with six plates to share. Some of our favorites were pad thai, beef and broccoli, yellow curry and spicy basil. Spoons would fly, plates would fill and pure laughter and conversation would ensue.

Fellowship around Thai food became such a part of my family’s DNA that we became fast friends with the owners of the restaurant. It even got to the point where the owners knew our order without skipping a beat.

What that taught me, besides how often we really ate out, was the true meaning of home. You see, it’s not just the landmarks, the zip codes or even the physical house you live in. It’s the people. It’s the ones you would stay for. It’s the ones you would fight for. It’s the ones you would endure for. If we don’t have our people in our cities, where is home?

Kneading bread dough — Duncan Kidd; Unsplash

QUESTION #2: REVEAL

We’ve all got quirky proclivities and out-of-the-way interests. So what are yours? What so-called “nonspiritual” activities do you love and help you find spiritual renewal?

Ever since I became a mom, I have had a hard time finding activities that refresh and refuel my soul. (Can any other moms relate?) In the very beginning stages of motherhood, the mental load and physical toil that comes with mothering left me empty. A shell of a person. It was enough to get through the late-night feedings, sleep deprivation and postpartum recovery. Sadly, there was not very much time for any activities I loved or that helped me find spiritual renewal.

That was in the thick of it. In the grimy, messy middle. In the beginning, when all you had the energy and bandwidth to do was figure out this new parenting thing. But now that my son is almost a year old, the Lord has brought a few “non-spiritual” activities into focus for me. One, in particular, is cooking.

My mom has always been one of the best cooks I’ve ever known. She’s always inspired me with her extravagantly delicious meals, desserts and breads. She hosted well, decorated beautifully but simply, and created a cozy atmosphere for family and friends alike. Cooking has become a spiritual renewal of sorts for me. It’s one of the rare times when my mind and soul quiet down. It’s one of the rare times when I can relax my shoulders, breathe in the intoxicating aromas and create something that not only brings enjoyment but also serves my family.

Kneading bread dough, cooking dinners and baking cookies remind me to create from a place of love and service and not of legalistic obligation. These activities remind me why I do what I do: for God, for the enjoyment of him, and for the love of the ones he’s placed in my life. Creating can and should be worship. So as I inhale the sweet scents of simmering sauces and dinner on the barbecue, I exhale worship to God and rest in his truth.

QUESTION #3: CONFESS

Every superhero has a weakness. Every human, too. We’re just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re broken and in this thing together. So what’s your kryptonite and how do you hide it?

In my new book, “Surrender Your Story,” which came out on March 7, there’s a chapter all about the idol of self-sufficiency — how humanity has this desire to live and act as if we’re the ones in control. It’s not just a cultural problem. It’s a human problem. Now, it may sound fine and dandy on the surface.

You may be thinking, “Well, isn’t it good to be self-sufficient? Isn’t it good to be independent and responsible?”

Well, it’s one thing to be hard working and responsible and it’s another to live from the belief that we do not need anyone else — especially the lordship of God. And that, my friends, is my kryptonite. It always has been, but I’m determined not to let it continue.

Because life had always come relatively easy for me — sports, academics, friendships and so on — I hardly felt the need to rely on the Lord as deeply as I should have. Self-sufficiency drove me to work until I was burnt out and bitter. Self-sufficiency fueled my pride, and I began to believe that I was invincible. Self-sufficiency never allowed me to sabbath rest because it was all up to me.

That lasted until I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in my young teen years. God used this wrench thrown into my plans to remind me of this reality: “You were created to depend on me, not be independent apart from me. And that, my dear, is where you find true strength. In me.”

QUESTION #4: FIRE UP

Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your obsession? And why should it be ours?

If you told me 10 years ago that I would be using my words, both written and spoken, to build the kingdom of God and his people, I would’ve laughed. That was so not “part of the plan.” But isn’t that exactly how God works?

I had “the plan” mapped out from the beginning. I would get accepted into the college of my choice and graduate with a science degree. I would become a doctor. Then, I would meet a nice, Christian man and we would settle down and have kids — but only when it was conducive to my plan. I had created a strict blueprint for my life, and there was no way I was deviating. I had my hands on the steering wheel, and nothing was going to stop me.

But the Lord took me through a hard season to reveal something to me and bring me to a place where I finally admitted that, as much as I wished it to be true, I was not in control. He used a sudden and devastating diagnosis, heartache and pitfalls in my career path to show me that he didn’t want my control. He just wanted my surrender.

The world will tell us that manifestation and girl-bossing are “in.” That you should go after what you want and not stop until you achieve your dreams, plans and goals. That you don’t need anyone else to climb the ladder.

But Jesus’ kingdom economy has something to say about that. When the world says control and manifest, Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23, ESV).

Now, there’s nothing wrong with planning. But the error is holding on with clenched fists and white-knuckling onto our plans with a death grip, unwilling to trust God with the inevitable twists and turns of our story.

Some may say that surrendering is a loss. That if we give up control and trust someone else to direct our paths, then we are giving up. But the upside-down kingdom truth is that surrender is actually where we gain the most freedom. True trust in God is the missing piece in our lives that brings freedom from striving, soul rest and the purpose we’ve been searching for our entire lives.

“Surrender Your Story: Ditch the Myth of Control and Discover Freedom in God,” my debut book, is releasing on March 7, 2023, and I cannot wait for you to join me as we see just how beautiful the open-handed, surrendered life is.

QUESTION #5: BOOST

Cashiers, CEOs, contractors, or customer service reps, we all need grace flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it’s God when it happens?

Whenever new, bright, innovative ideas, words or strategies pop into my head, I tend to take all of the credit.

Every now and then, I forget who truly placed those thoughts, words and giftings within me — God, through my new flesh purchased for me on the cross, and the Holy Spirit, the one who walks with me every day.

Surrendering to God opens more doors than I could on my own. Reliance on his indwelling Spirit working in my life, and not reliance upon myself, breathes the most meaningful life into the work that I do.

My book is proof of that. Although I’ve always loved writing — filling countless notebooks and Word documents throughout my childhood — I felt intimidated by the weighty task of writing an actual book.

I remember staring blankly at the blinking cursor, afraid to type the first words of my first draft. I had an outline prepared, but I suddenly felt unprepared and unequipped. At that moment, the Lord prompted me to take a deep breath and pray. He reminded me that if he was the one to call me to this, then he would be the one to complete it, as Paul wrote in Philippians 1:6.

And didn’t he do it! Words began pouring out of my heart and through my fingers in a way that I can only attribute to the work of the Holy Spirit. In a record five months, I finished my first draft. And did I mention that I was eight months pregnant, too? The Lord took my meager offering of surrender, a willing and excited heart to write, and a swollen, pregnant belly and did something quite spectacular.

Remember: God can do so much more with our surrender, our trust and a heart that is ready and willing to follow his prompting.

QUESTION #6: inspire

Scripture and tradition beckon us into the rich and varied actions that open our hearts to the presence of God. So spill it, which spiritual practice is workin’ best for you right now?

I don’t know about you, but more often than not, my brain feels loud. It’s a daily fight to quiet my mind and silence the noise around me. And if I’m being completely honest, I often lose the fight. The pull toward social media is tempting. The ease of flipping on Netflix and watching a show is tempting. The itch to do “just one more thing” and refuse to be still is certainly tempting.

As I mentioned, I’ve managed to live like this. I’ve survived. But I never thrived. It wasn’t until I had my son and began figuring out what it looked like to be a working mom that I said, “Enough is enough.” The mental load of work and ministry is one thing, but then add on being a new mom, and you can likely imagine what happened. Days came and went and when the baby was finally put to sleep, a moment when I could finally rest in silence, I chose to stay busy. It was easier to push past the noise and stimulation instead of getting serious about stillness.

It’s taken hard and fast boundaries (which I’m still learning and giving grace for), but I’ve been prioritizing the spiritual practice of stillness and what it means to, in the stillness, know that God is God. Where God is the main character of the story. Where God isn’t just a background character or an afterthought but the hero who deserves my undivided attention. This looks like crawling into bed, shutting off my phone, putting my laptop and iPad in my office, and even closing my books in exchange for silence. It’s just me and God. It was uncomfortable at first, but now, I look forward to this time when we can inhale and exhale together. Where I have actually made space for myself to focus on the one Person that matters. Where I can pray without being interrupted or distracted.

That is what silence does for us. It quiets the distractions and false gods and gives us Jesus. Simply Jesus.

QUESTION #7: FOCUS

Our email subscribers get free ebooks featuring our favorite resources — lots of things that have truly impacted our faith lives. But you know about some really great stuff, too. What are three resources that have impacted you?

If this were a coffee date, we would absolutely spend a lot of time mulling over this question. One of my favorite books of all time is “Nothing to Prove” by Jennie Allen. I read this book on my iPad on a family vacation in Hawaii not too long ago. It was a trip meant to unplug and distance myself from work, and God knew this book was the perfect companion.

Jennie’s book gave me the permission slip from God’s Word that I didn’t even know I needed. From truths in the Word, she gave me the freedom to throw my hands up and say, “I have nothing to prove to myself or to the world because Jesus proved it on the cross!” Every word was a spiritual gut punch, reminding me that I don’t need to work for approval and that Jesus sees me now as his daughter, washed white as snow.

The second resource is the “Risen Motherhood” podcast, a weekly listen in the car, doing dishes or working out. Naively, I thought that I wouldn’t need these types of resources on motherhood until my child was older. But even in the infant phase, Mama, you need spiritual transformation, reassurance and teaching. The “Risen Motherhood” podcast graciously articulates how the gospel intersects our parenting in a refreshing way. Emily and Laura, the hosts of the show, are treasures.

The last resource I would share with you over coffee would be the “New Living Translation” of the Bible. I have been living out of my NLT journaling Bibles as of late. I’m a hard-core English Standard Version fan, but it’s been a joy to switch it up and sit with the Lord in the NLT. Don’t be afraid to switch up your Bible translations to get a deep, wide, and beautiful picture of God’s Word as a whole. And on the plus side, for those of us who love words, it’s an exciting, literary treat.

We all have things we cling to to survive (or thrive) in tough times. Name one resource you’ve found indispensable in this current season — and tell us what it’s done for you.

Although I’ve taken extensive hermeneutics and biblical studies classes, I’ve made a vow to myself to never believe I’ve learned it all. To aid me in that pursuit, I’ve been trying to replace a chunk of my “lazy, guilty pleasure” entertainment with videos from The Bible Project. Now, some may say that’s a yawn, especially when you’re trying to relax. But the beauty of The Bible Project’s videos is that they’re animated and designed in such aesthetically pleasing and entertaining ways.

There’s nothing wrong with some good ol‘ mindless entertainment at times, but it’s all too easy for me to slip into a spiral of comfort. My desire is to always be a student and apprentice of the Lord. The disciples — his apprentices, so to speak — spent so much time with the Savior. They hung on every word he said. They had their priorities straight. And I want to do the same.

QUESTION #8: dream

God is continually stirring new things in each of us. So give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?

One of the most uncomfortable tensions to live in is the “realized but not quite there yet.” It’s awkward and unpleasant to feel a stirring in the middle but not arrive at a beautiful conclusion. But as I’ve gotten to know the Lord more, he’s put me in more of those “realized but not quite there yet” moments, teaching me that they, too, can be full of purpose, wrestling and praying.

Three years ago, I started my own podcast, “Truth Talks with Tara,” because the Lord revealed to me a need for women to have vocal conversations about the hard questions in the Christian life. On the podcast, we talk about questions about Scripture, how to live out our faith and a reminder of how precious the body of Christ is through guest conversations.

Something the Lord has been stirring in my heart for the last few months has to do with speaking. Now, whether that’s on big stages, in small rooms, in my home with my family or merely continued through the podcast, I don’t know. But that’s where I am. And when I’m tempted to rush ahead of God and want something grand and “there already,” I remind myself that God creates value — I don’t. He determines who, what, where, when, why and how. I just need to be committed to daily faithfulness.

So what does this mean for the future? It means more books slated for the next few years, more conversations on the podcast, and more daily faithfulness. Inside my home, inside my office and inside my heart.

My heart is for amazing people like you and every other person reading this interview. My heart is for using my words — written and spoken — to stir something inside of you. A stirring that excites you to know God, love God, and live for God. Are you with me?

What’s the difference between being responsible and being self-sufficient? At first glance, maybe not much. But what matters to God is the heart behind our actions.

A heart that’s self-reliant strives to be enough in its own strength. It says, “Here’s what I need to be or accomplish to make God, myself, or other people happy.”

But a heart that actively makes and pursues plans while still relying on God says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV).

We weren’t designed to be enough on our own. To quote the message God spoke to Tara’s heart: “You were created to depend on me, not be independent apart from me. And that, my dear, is where you find true strength. In me.”

Tara Sun