Living Faith in the Everyday: A Conversation with Kent Austell
Faith is not only shaped in major life moments. It is also formed in ordinary decisions, quiet obedience, and daily dependence on God. In this Living My Faith with James Fenimore feature, Kent Austell, CEO and Founder of Resilient Growth, shares how his faith informs his leadership, work, family life, and view of resilience.
Resilient Growth equips individuals, leaders, and organizations with science-backed frameworks, practical tools, and actionable strategies to build resilience—the capacity to endure adversity, navigate uncertainty, and grow stronger over time. For Kent, that work is deeply connected to a life of faith, where growth is not simply about performance but about communion with God, stewardship, and becoming more faithful over time.
Faith, Resilience, and the Priority of Communion with God
When asked what encouragement or scripture has been especially meaningful in this season, Kent pointed to Psalm 27:4:
“One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after…”
For Kent, this passage has served as a reminder that above everything else, communion with God is the utmost priority. That perspective gives shape to how he approaches decisions, relationships, leadership, and endurance through challenging seasons.
In a world that often measures success by activity, achievement, and momentum, Kent’s reflection brings the focus back to spiritual foundation. The Christian life is not sustained by constant striving. It is sustained by abiding in the Lord and allowing that relationship to guide the rest of life.
A Faith Journey Shaped by Mission and Adversity
Kent shared that from 2018 to 2025, he and his family lived in Ethiopia as missionaries. That season included both professional and personal adversity. Yet it also became a defining part of his faith journey.
He described that time as a period in which the Lord began chipping away at his heart, drawing him closer to His plans, and helping him find purpose through deeper connection with Him.
This kind of growth often comes through surrender. Seasons of adversity can reveal what we rely on, what we value, and where we need to be reshaped. For Kent, that missionary experience became a place where faith was not theoretical. It was lived, tested, and deepened.
How Faith Shapes Leadership at Work
Kent’s approach to leadership is rooted in the belief that leaders are called to model rhythms of life that reflect Christ’s sufficiency. He emphasized the importance of dependence on the Lord and faithful stewardship.
In practice, that means leadership is not only about strategies, goals, or outcomes. It is also about the posture of the leader. Kent sees the people he serves with through the lens of discipleship in the workplace. His desire is to help the people around him become better than before.
Godly Rhythms Matter
Leadership can easily drift toward urgency, pressure, and constant productivity. Kent’s perspective offers a different model: one shaped by Godly rhythms. These rhythms demonstrate that Christ is sufficient, that dependence on the Lord is necessary, and that people are entrusted to leaders as part of their stewardship.
For leaders, this is a powerful reminder. The way we work, rest, communicate, decide, and serve all communicate something about what we believe.
Workplace Discipleship Through Daily Actions
Kent’s view of workplace discipleship is practical. It is not limited to formal teaching or structured programs. It is reflected in how leaders develop others, encourage growth, model integrity, and help people move forward.
Faith at work becomes visible through patience, humility, consistency, and the desire to see others flourish.
Practical Advice for Growing Spiritually
For anyone struggling to live out their faith or looking to grow spiritually, Kent offers three key reminders.
1. Communion with the Lord Comes First
Kent emphasizes that communion with the Lord is the basis for every other decision. Before strategy, ambition, or activity, there is relationship with God.
This is a helpful corrective for anyone feeling spiritually scattered or overwhelmed. Growth begins with returning to the Lord, seeking Him, and allowing that communion to shape the rest of life.
2. The Christian Life Is Found in Mundane Decisions
Faith is often lived out in the ordinary. The Christian life is shaped by daily choices: how we speak, how we respond, how we serve, how we handle stress, and how we treat those closest to us.
For readers, this is both challenging and encouraging. Spiritual growth does not require waiting for a dramatic moment. It can begin today in the next faithful decision.
3. The Christian Life Is a Marathon
Kent also reminds believers that the Christian life is a lifelong journey. It is a marathon, not a sprint. Along the way, people will stumble, grow, learn, and need grace.
That is why self-compassion and graciousness matter. Spiritual maturity includes the humility to recognize weakness while continuing to walk with God faithfully.
What Resilience Looks Like Through a Faith Lens
Resilience is often understood as the ability to keep going through difficulty. Through Kent’s perspective, resilience is not simply about personal toughness. It is about being rooted deeply enough in God to endure adversity, navigate uncertainty, and grow stronger over time.
This aligns closely with the work of Resilient Growth, which focuses on equipping individuals, leaders, and organizations with practical tools and actionable strategies for resilience. When faith and resilience meet, growth becomes more than survival. It becomes formation.
For individuals, this may mean learning to face hardship without losing hope. For leaders, it may mean creating environments where people can grow through uncertainty. For organizations, it may mean building the capacity to adapt while staying grounded in what matters most.
Faith in Daily Life: A Reader Takeaway
Kent Austell’s story offers a practical invitation: do not underestimate the spiritual significance of daily life.
Faith is lived in the workplace. It is lived in the home. It is lived in the way leaders care for people. It is lived in seasons of adversity, in quiet obedience, and in the repeated choice to seek God first.
If you are looking to grow spiritually, consider these simple questions:
- Are my daily rhythms helping me depend on the Lord?
- Do my ordinary decisions reflect the faith I profess?
- Am I allowing adversity to draw me closer to God rather than away from Him?
- Where can I extend grace to myself while continuing to grow?
- How can I help the people around me become better than before?
Conclusion: A Life Rooted in Communion with God
Kent Austell’s reflections on Living My Faith with James Fenimore point to a central truth: lasting resilience begins with the Lord. Communion with God shapes the way we lead, work, endure hardship, and make daily decisions.
Through his missionary experience in Ethiopia, his leadership at Resilient Growth, and his commitment to helping others grow stronger over time, Kent offers a grounded example of faith lived with purpose.
To learn more about Living My Faith, visit https://livingmyfaith.com/. To explore Resilient Growth, visit https://resilientgrowth.beehiiv.com/.
