A conversation between Cody Friedrich, guest; and Devaughn Williamson, host.

Cody's story is deeply relatable—it’s a powerful mix of real struggles, honest reflection, and a journey back to faith. At its heart, it's about 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 starting out on fire for God, eyes fixed on Him, and trusting that everything else (like money and success) would fall into place. And at first, it did. But somewhere along the way, he got distracted. Comparison started creeping in—looking at how others were thriving, feeling like he wasn’t moving fast enough, and thinking he had to rush to "catch up." That pressure led him to overwork, overthink, and ultimately burn out. He started questioning if he even deserved success anymore.

He opened up about the emotional rollercoaster of running a business—seasons of success followed by downturns that left him stressed, in debt, and questioning everything. He admitted to chasing money and hustling across multiple ventures, only to find himself exhausted, unproductive, and burdened by pride and comparison. From the outside, things looked great—but on the inside, it was crumbling.

But here’s the turning point: Cody realized that the only thing that ever really worked—the thing that consistently provided—was tutoring. Not because it was flashy or the most profitable on paper, but because it was his path. It was what God called him to. Once he humbled himself, got honest, and returned to what God had already gifted him to do, everything shifted. He got let go from his teaching job—a moment that felt like failure at first but turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It forced him to step into the tutoring business God had been calling him to all along

Cody had to learn (the hard way) that provision and peace come when you're aligned with God's purpose, not just chasing potential. He shared that success isn’t about doing *more*, but about doing the *right* thing—what God designed you for. And when you're on *that* path, there’s grace, favor, and sustainable success.

He also spoke candidly about the trap of comparison—how it took his focus off God and onto others, turning celebration into competition. Instead of measuring his success against someone else’s, he learned to celebrate others without feeling behind.

He realized that in God’s kingdom, there’s no competition—everyone can thrive in their own lane. And when he finally embraced that, God began restoring what had been lost.

Cody’s advice? Be patient. Trust God’s timing. Don’t try to force blessings before you’re ready. God’s not just preparing the blessing—He’s preparing you for it. And if you rush the process, you can end up hurting yourself with the very things you prayed for. Let your soul grow as your life grows, and let God lead the way.

It wasn’t always pretty, and it wasn’t without pain, but Cody’s story is a powerful reminder: even when we get off track, God is faithful to restore, redirect, and bless us—if we stay humble, stay honest, and keep walking with Him.

I Almost Lost It All

Dead for 4 Minutes. Alive by Grace - Part #2