I Almost Lost It All
A conversation between Cody Friedrich, guest; and Devaughn Williamson, host.
Cody has an amazing journey that is sprinkled with honest reflection, real struggle, and his journey back to faith that emphasises how easy it is to drift away from your purpose, even with good intentions, and how God can lovingly steer you back when you let Him.
Cody recalls how he began his faith journey on fire for God with a trust that as he did everything else (like success, money, etc.) would fall into place. And that is exactly what began to happen! God was on his road to success. But somewhere along the way, he started to get distracted by comparison. He began to look at other people's success as a gauge to confirm to himself that he wasn’t moving fast enough. So Cody felt like he had to play catch up. That pressure led him to overwork, overthink, and ultimately burn out. He started questioning if he even deserved success anymore.
Cody opened up about how the business was a roller coaster that came with seasons of success followed by downturns that ultimately left him stressed, in debt, and questioning everything. He later admits to chasing money and hustling across multiple ventures, only to find himself exhausted, unproductive, and burdened by pride and comparison. For someone standing outside looking in, Cody was successful. But internally, he was crumbling.
After exhausting himself, Cody realized that one thing was consistently providing for him - tutoring. It wasn’t because it was flashy or the most profitable on paper, it was because it was what he was created to be! That is what God created him to do. Once he realized how far off he was, he quickly humbled himself and repented, and returned to what God had gifted him to do. That was the shift that changed his entire life.
During this time, Cody ended up getting let go from his teaching job! It felt like failure to Cody, but ultimately ended up being a blessing in disguise. It forced him to step into his tutoring business that God had called him to all along.
Cody shares how he had to learn the hard way that peace and provision only come when your plans are aligned with God’s plan and purpose. He shared that success isn’t about doing more, but doing what you were created to do. And by doing so, grace, favor, and success will automatically be on your path.
The trap of comparison is something Cody candidly spoke about. He highlighted how it took his focus away from God and onto others. This ended up turning celebrations into a competition. Since being freed from that divisive spirit, he’s learned to celebrate others without feeling he has to compete with them. In that moment, Cody realized that in God’s kingdom there is no competition, but a path on which everyone thrives. By embracing that, God started to restore everything that was lost to him.
Cody ended the podcast by encouraging the listeners to be patient, and trust God's timing. He encouraged others to not to try and force blessings before you’re ready for them because they will quickly turn into a burden. If you end up rushing it, you will ultimately end up hurting yourself.
Cody’s story is a powerful reminder that even when we get off track, God is faithful to restore, redirect, and bless us.
If Cody’s story inspired you, consider sharing it with someone who needs encouragement. And I encourage you to partner with Faith Ignite to help bring more stories of hope to the world. Together, we can spread messages of God's faithfulness to those who need it most.
Devaughn Williamson President, Faith Ignite Inc
