Welcome to Living My Faith, a weekly show that celebrates everyday believers walking with Jesus not just on Sundays, but in every area of life. From relationships and parenting to health, habits, and home, our guests share how they keep their faith at the center of it all. Hosted in Jacksonville, Florida, and supported by Christ-centered partners, Living My Faith is a space where real life meets real faith. Today, our host, Daniel Poor, spoke with Kelly Green.
Kelly Green
Pastor and Author
Website Address: https://kellygreen232127.substack.com/
Short Company Description:
: Pastor Kelly E. Green is a Christian author, pastor, speaker, and Marine Corps veteran whose writing is rooted in real-life experience, unwavering faith, and the hope found in Jesus Christ. After facing a traumatic brain injury, skin cancer, ongoing medical challenges, and other deeply personal trials, Kelly wrote Scars Beyond the Surface: The Wounds People Never Saw to encourage those carrying hidden pain. His passion is to help people discover that even life’s deepest wounds can become places where God’s grace, healing, and purpose are revealed. Through his books, speaking ministry, and online writing, Kelly continues to inspire others to find hope beyond their scars.
Can you share a moment or experience that significantly deepened or shaped your faith journey?
One of the most significant seasons that shaped my faith began with a single phone call. In a relatively short period of time, I suffered a traumatic brain injury, underwent surgery for skin cancer, faced ongoing medical tests and procedures, and walked through the grief of losing my mother. There were moments when the weight of uncertainty felt overwhelming. During that season, God taught me that faith is not simply trusting Him after the storm has passed—it is learning to trust Him while the storm is still raging. I discovered that His presence was often most real in the waiting rooms, the quiet prayers, and the moments when I had no answers. Instead of removing every trial immediately, He met me in the middle of them, giving me peace, strength, and hope one day at a time.
Those experiences transformed not only my walk with Christ but also my ministry. They became the foundation for my book, Scars Beyond the Surface: The Wounds People Never Saw, where I share how God can redeem even our deepest wounds for His glory. Today, my greatest desire is to encourage others who are hurting by reminding them that they are never alone and that God is faithful, even in life’s most difficult seasons.
In what ways do you actively live out your faith in your daily life — at work, home, or in your community?
My faith is not something I reserve for Sunday mornings—it shapes how I strive to live every day. As a pastor, I seek to faithfully preach God’s Word, pray with people through life’s joys and struggles, and remind them that Christ is our source of hope. As an author and speaker, I write from my own experiences to encourage those carrying hidden wounds, pointing them to the healing and grace found in Jesus Christ.
At home, I strive to love and support my family, recognizing that faith is first demonstrated in the way we treat those closest to us. In my community, I look for opportunities to listen, encourage, serve, and share the love of Christ with people who may be hurting, discouraged, or searching for hope.
Some of the greatest lessons I’ve learned have come through my own seasons of suffering. Rather than allowing those experiences to weaken my faith, God has used them to deepen my dependence on Him and increase my compassion for others. My prayer each day is that my words, actions, and relationships would reflect Christ and point people to the hope that can only be found in Him.
What encouragement or scripture has been especially meaningful to you in this season, and why?
Isaiah 41:10 has become especially meaningful to me in this season: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Over the past year, I have faced a traumatic brain injury, skin cancer, ongoing medical tests, and the uncertainty that often accompanies difficult diagnoses. There have been moments when fear could have easily taken hold. Yet this verse has continually reminded me that God’s promise is not that life will be free from trials, but that He will never leave me to face them alone. Each phrase has spoken to my heart. When I was tempted to fear, God reminded me, “I am with you.” When I felt overwhelmed, He assured me, “I am your God.” When I lacked strength, He faithfully carried me. Looking back, I can see His hand sustaining me through every doctor’s appointment, every surgery, every unanswered question, and every prayer. This passage has strengthened my faith because it shifts my focus away from my circumstances and back to the unchanging character of God. It has become a daily reminder that my confidence is not in my ability to endure life’s challenges but in God’s faithfulness to uphold me through them.
What advice would you give to someone who’s struggling to live out their faith or looking to grow spiritually?
My advice would be this: don’t begin by trying to do more for God—begin by spending more time with God. Spiritual growth is not about striving harder; it is about drawing closer to Jesus. As you spend time in prayer, read His Word, and learn to listen for His voice, He will gradually transform your heart and your life.
I would also encourage anyone who is struggling not to mistake a difficult season for God’s absence. Some of the deepest growth in my own faith has come through seasons of pain, uncertainty, and waiting. Those experiences taught me that God often does His greatest work in us before He does His greatest work through us.
Finally, don’t try to walk your faith journey alone. Surround yourself with believers who will encourage you, pray with you, and point you back to Christ when life becomes difficult. God never intended us to carry our burdens by ourselves.
No matter where you are today, remember this: God is not looking for perfection—He is inviting you into a deeper relationship with Him. Take one step toward Him today, and you’ll discover that He has been walking beside you all along.
