Unpolished but Called is a raw, honest Christian podcast for believers who love Jesus but don't have it all together. Hosted by author Kathrin Shaffer. Each episode explores faith in real life - the doubts, the obedience, the quiet growth, and the grace that meets us there. No hype. No perfection. Just truth, Scripture, and hope for the everyday walk. Books, resources and other information can be found https://linktr.ee/unpolishedbutcalled (https://linktr.ee/unpolishedbutcalled)
We all appreciate encouragement. It's nice to have someone in our corner, supporting us, reassuring us, and telling us we're doing well. But what happens when being supportive becomes more important than being truthful?
Sometimes the words that make us feel good aren't necessarily the words that help us grow.
In this episode of Unpolished but Called, we're exploring the difference between genuine biblical encouragement and simply telling people what they want to hear. Can we be supportive without agreeing with everything? Can honesty and kindness exist in the same conversation? And how do we recognize when our encouragement is actually helping someone?
Because building someone up and making them feel better aren't always the same thing.
Scripture referenced: 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Proverbs 29:5; Proverbs 18:13; Ephesians 4:15; Romans 12:15; Jeremiah 17:9–10; Proverbs 27:6; Colossians 1:28; Philippians 1:3–6; Proverbs 15:31–32; 1 Thessalonians 5:14.
🎧 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@kathrinshaffer
📚 Books, Bible studies, courses & more: kathrinshaffer.com
🔗 Find me everywhere: linktr.ee/kathrinshaffer
19 Oct 2026
S2 E186: When the People You Love Don't Follow Jesus With You
What happens when the people you love most don't share the most important part of your life?
You want them to know Jesus. You want them to experience the same grace, hope, and relationship with Christ that you've come to know. But sometimes, no matter how much you love someone, their journey looks very different from yours.
And navigating that difference isn't always easy.
In this episode of Unpolished but Called, we're talking about loving the people closest to us when faith isn't something we share. How do we remain faithful to Christ while navigating relationships with people who don't believe what we believe? And where does our responsibility begin and end?
Because loving someone and wanting them to know Jesus can sometimes leave us carrying more than we realize.
Scripture referenced: Matthew 10:34–36; Romans 12:18; 2 Timothy 2:24–25; John 16:8; 1 Corinthians 7:12–13; 1 Peter 3:1–2; Proverbs 22:6; 1 Timothy 2:1; 1 Peter 3:15; 1 Corinthians 3:6–7; Colossians 4:5–6.
🎧 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@kathrinshaffer
📚 Books, Bible studies, courses & more: kathrinshaffer.com
🔗 Find me everywhere: linktr.ee/kathrinshaffer
16 Oct 2026
S2 E185: Are You Reading the Bible—or Looking for What You Want to Find?
It's surprisingly easy to open the Bible already knowing what answer we hope to find.
A verse here. A sermon there. A teacher who agrees with us. Before long, we can have a pretty convincing case—but did we actually discover what Scripture says?
In this episode of Unpolished but Called, we're talking about how we approach God's Word when our own opinions, traditions, experiences, and preferred answers are already in the room. Because sometimes the hardest part of studying Scripture isn't finding an answer.
It's being willing to discover that the answer might not be ours.
Scripture referenced: 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 4:3–4; Acts 17:10–11; Proverbs 18:17; James 1:22; Proverbs 12:15; Mark 7:8; Philippians 4:11–13; Jeremiah 17:9; 1 Peter 3:15; John 17:17.
🎧 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@kathrinshaffer
📚 Books, Bible studies, courses & more: kathrinshaffer.com
🔗 Find me everywhere: linktr.ee/kathrinshaffer
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