We Thought Isaiah 58:11 Was Just a Pretty Hobby Lobby Sign… Until This 21-Day Fast Wrecked Us (And Made 150 People Laugh & Cry)
- 16 hours ago
- 6 min read
Hey familia!
Mili and I are still riding the high from last weekend at **Redemption Church** in Costa Mesa. It was our very first time sharing together in a church — and in English! About 150 people filled the room, many of them already dear friends from prayer groups, Westside taco nights, and everyday life here in Costa Mesa. They invited us to speak into their year-long theme, “Draw Near: A Year of Radical Presence,” and asked us to lean into the Beatitudes — especially “Blessed are the meek…” and “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…” (Matthew 5:5-6).
What started as a simple invitation turned into one of the most alive, honest mornings we’ve ever had. Here’s what actually happened.
Te contamos en español cómo lo vivimos
The Raw, Messy Reality of Our 21-Day Fast
We didn’t start with deep theology. We started with the real stuff — because that’s where God met us.
Mili has always been the radical one in our house. Years ago she began with a 10-day fast and I thought she had lost her mind. Then she went to 21 days. A couple years back she set her sights on 40 days, just like Jesus. By day 25 she was so weak I was genuinely scared — “Babe, you’re about to meet Jesus before the rest of us!” We had to stop her.
This year we did it together: 21 days of nothing but water.
The first three days were brutal — hunger, then hangry, then just plain angry. I fainted twice (once last year, and this time I actually dented the wall when I went down… but woke up with zero scratches — God’s sense of humor is real).
But the breakthroughs? Electric.
We spent hours in prayer. We read Scripture like never before. Mili’s inflammation in her hips completely disappeared — she slept like a baby for the first time in ages. When the pain came back after she ate again, God spoke so clearly: “This isn’t about 21 days once a year. I want you seeking Me every single day.”
That kind of hunger and thirst carried us straight into Isaiah 58.
Watch the full recorded Sunday service at Redemption OC
“Take the Time to Waste the Moment” — Why We Started Slow
Before we opened the Bible, I quoted a line from Kings of Leon:
“Take the time to waste the moment.”
(The rest of the song is not great theology, but that first line? Pure gold.)
So we did exactly that. We slowed way down. We greeted people, called out names, told quick stories of how God had connected us over the years — Molly who invited us, the Woods family, Morgan, Rachel, Brittany, Christy, Danny, Sergio, Diego… The room filled with warm laughter and nods. People felt seen. It wasn’t a performance; it was family catching up in God’s house.
That unhurried beginning set the tone for everything that followed.
The Podcast Vibe & The Laughter That Broke Every Wall
Once the connection was alive, we slipped into full podcast mode.
I’d share a little, then turn to Mili and say our classic line:
“Millie, what do you think?”
Every single time I teased, “Don’t worry, Mili’s gonna talk… right now!” the whole room would erupt. I said it like four times. People were dying laughing, leaning forward, waiting for her to jump in.
Seeing 150 faces light up in real time (compared to our usual 5-10 people watching online — hi Mom! 😂) was powerful. It confirmed something God’s been stirring in my heart: joy and humor are weapons. They break walls fast, create empathy in seconds, soften hearts — and then the Word of God can land deep without resistance.
The joy of the Lord really is our strength. We don’t have to let the enemy make us boring.
The “Pretty” Hobby Lobby Verse That Actually Wrecked Us
Then I read Isaiah 58 out loud.
Verse 11 — the one you see on all the Hobby Lobby wall art — is so beautiful:
“The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”
It’s the kind of verse people frame, hang over their couch, put on rustic wood signs and little crosses. It feels cozy and comforting.
But when you read the whole chapter… it hits different.
God starts by rebuking empty fasting — people who look spiritual on the outside (bowing heads, wearing sackcloth) but still exploit workers, fight with each other, and ignore the oppressed. He says, “Is this the fast I choose? No. The fast I choose is to loose the chains of injustice, feed the hungry, shelter the wanderer, clothe the naked, stop the malicious talk.”
Only then — when we live out mercy and justice — does the beautiful promise come.
That revelation during our fast changed everything for us. The “pretty” verse isn’t a standalone feel-good promise. It’s the reward for a life that actually hungers and thirsts for righteousness.
Mili’s Tears & The Testimony That Hit Every Heart
Right in the middle of that reading, God started speaking to Mili so strongly that tears began streaming down her face.
She shared how loving Jesus creates instant, deep connection across every divide — different languages, cultures, backgrounds. You meet another believer and it feels like you’ve known them your whole life.
Then she opened up her own story with so much tenderness:
She lost her mom when she was only 14. Her dad had already walked away when she was 8. She carried that grief and abandonment into her teenage years. When she came to the United States she didn’t speak a word of English and felt like an outsider in every possible way.
But God, in His kindness, gave her the gift of language and connection. Today she speaks with such warmth and clarity, and she sees every word as a miracle.
From there she moved into the freedom we have in Christ — no more condemnation. She told the story of that intense craving at a school event: everyone enjoying food and wine, the temptation hit so hard she ended up buying a bottle. But when she tasted it… it was terrible! God spoke to her the next day while walking the dog: “I forgive you. It’s a new day. Don’t stay stuck there.” He reminded her (and all of us) that He renews our minds daily and sets us free to help others step out of their own traps.
Several people in the room started crying with her. The Spirit was moving so tangibly.
The Q&A That Took It Even Deeper
Then came the Q&A — and it felt like the perfect continuation of the conversation.
People asked real, honest questions and we answered from the heart (with a few more laughs mixed in):
- What’s the real purpose of fasting?
It’s being led by the Holy Spirit and hungering for God more than food. Jesus said some things only come out with prayer and fasting — there’s real spiritual breakthrough there.
- Why are you so radical, Mili?
Life’s pain built a deep craving for Jesus. Fear holds a lot of us back, but she’s wired to go all-in. Still, always check with God and your health first.
- How can you be meek and bold at the same time?
It’s radical obedience — humble enough to submit fully to God, which can look extreme from the outside. Mili compared our flesh to Gollum and “my precious.” I recommended the book *A Theology of the Ordinary* — what feels radical is often just faithful presence in everyday life.
- How do our spiritual practices actually help our communities?
Anything that connects you to God (prayer, fasting, solitude in nature) eventually leads to practical love: knowing the gardener’s name, the restaurant cook’s story, praying for strangers, healing the sick, freeing the oppressed, sharing the good news.
What God Confirmed in Us That Day
We left that morning so full — grateful for Redemption’s genuine welcome, the incredible coffee from Buenas next door, and the deep sense of family.
More than anything, it felt like huge confirmation of our calling: to share the Good News with authenticity, joy, and radical presence — wherever God opens the door.
If this stirs something in you, here’s how to go deeper:
Now it’s your turn.
What part hit you the most — the laughter, the tears, the surprise in Isaiah 58, or one of the Q&A moments? Drop a comment below. Share your own stories, what brings you joy in faith, or topics you’d love us to explore next (more humor? Deeper on freedom from condemnation? Practical ways to love your community?).
And if you want to stay in the loop with new episodes, behind-the-scenes from the studio, and stories from the ministries we get to host, sign up for our newsletter at christianpodcast.com — no spam, just good stuff.
Let’s keep wasting moments together… in radical presence, real laughter, and the kind of hunger that actually changes the world.
Big hugs and blessings,
Beto & Mili
Costa Mesa, CA
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