Fr. Josh Johnson: Leading When Everything is Falling Apart
Meet Fr. Josh:
Fr. Josh Johnson is a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, a dynamic speaker, and the host of Ascension’s Ask Fr. Josh podcast. Ordained in 2014, he’s known for his bold, relatable preaching and passion for helping people encounter Jesus through the sacraments and everyday life. Through books, videos, and talks around the world, Fr. Josh brings the Catholic faith to life with clarity, joy, and heart.
What you’ll be blessed with in this episode:
Embracing Imperfection in Ministry: Father Josh reminds listeners that even the original Apostles were "messy" and made mistakes; therefore, we must be patient with the imperfections of those we work with in community.
The Power of "Offering Up" Suffering: He shares profound stories of how individuals in their dying moments or through chronic pain can offer their suffering for others, leading to "supernatural fruit" and spiritual breakthroughs.
Prayer as an Active Relationship: Emphasizing that prayer is about relationship rather than a chore, he highlights the necessity of listening—specifically through Scripture—rather than just speaking.
Discernment Through Peace: For busy professionals and parents, Father Josh suggests evaluating schedules based on peace versus chaos; if an activity (like extra sports) causes division and anxiety, it may not be God's will for that season.
Radical Vulnerability: He identifies a lack of vulnerability as a major hurdle to spiritual growth and advocates for bringing struggles into the light within a trusted community.
The "Mother Teresa" Strategy: Following the example of Mother Teresa, Father Josh argues that when life becomes more demanding and overwhelming, the correct response is to increase prayer time rather than decrease it.