Footsteps to Heaven

In this episode of Footsteps to Heaven, Terry Modica talks with Marvin Wilmes, author of "Rising Beyond Hope," about discerning God’s will through life’s unexpected twists and turns.
Marvin shares how experiences of loss, caregiving, career changes, illness, and ministry shaped his journey. Together, he and Terry explore the importance of surrendering to God, recognizing His guidance in circumstances, and being open to the “little callings” God places before us every day.
Perhaps you’ve prayed for guidance but still feel uncertain. Maybe well-meaning people have given you advice that doesn’t seem to match what God is placing on your heart.
If you are trying to figure out what God wants you to do next, this conversation will encourage you to trust Jesus and keep your heart open to His direction.
Are you wondering?
How can I know what God’s will is for my life when I’m going through a difficult season?
How do I discern whether God is calling me to continue or let go of a ministry?
What should I do when illness or health problems interfere with what I believe God is calling me to do?
How can prayer and Scripture help me discern God’s will?
How do I know if an unexpected opportunity is something God is leading me toward?
What can I learn spiritually when God’s plan for my life takes an unexpected or winding path?
How do I surrender my plans to God when I’m afraid of what might happen next?
Watch this episode to discover how God may be guiding you right where you are.
KEY TAKEAWAY: Surrender your plans to God, trust Jesus, and stay open to the ways He guides you through circumstances, your heart, and opportunities to serve the people around you.

In this episode, Terry Modica and Sister Mary Catherine Blanding explore how God can speak to us through the desires, dreams, and experiences that have been part of our lives since childhood.
What dreams did you have when you were young?
Did you ever imagine a future that filled your heart with excitement? Perhaps you wanted to write, teach, serve others, raise a family, or follow a path you never fully understood. As we grow older, those dreams often become buried beneath fear, disappointment, rejection, or the opinions of others.
But what if some of those desires were placed in your heart by God? Perhaps it is time to take another look at the desires you once had—and ask God whether He is still calling you to follow them.
Discover:
How childhood desires can reveal clues about God’s calling
Why fear and doubt do not necessarily mean you're on the wrong path
How prayer, retreats, and spiritual direction can help with discernment
The importance of saying “yes” and acting on God’s invitations
What St. John Henry Newman can teach us about personal transformation and discovering our mission
How parents, especially mothers, influence the faith and vocations of their children

In this episode of the Footsteps to Heaven podcast, author Paul McDonald shares three remarkable personal stories of God's divine intervention. It happened when he was playing with the occult. It happened when his Catholic Faith got awakened. It happened again while searching for the right home.
If you know someone who is struggling with an important decision, please share this episode with them. It could be exactly the encouragement they need right now.
Paul's experiences will strengthen your trust in God for major decisions. His stories will help you recognize how God may be leading you right now.
Paul's three stories:
He searched for a house for a year and a half, praying about each possibility and learning to recognize the difference between his own desires, other people's opinions, and God's guidance. One house seemed perfect to everyone else—but Paul felt something was not right. Another opportunity fell through. Then, after a long search, he found the house that gave him a deep sense of peace. This story is a powerful reminder that discerning God's will is not always about finding immediate answers. Sometimes God teaches us through the search itself.
As a teenager, Paul went to Catholic Mass with his parents, but God seemed distant. Searching for something more, he became involved in the occult, exploring practices that included tarot cards, séances, and Edgar Cayce books. Find out how God intervened.
While in college, he got involved with Protestants who led him to make a commitment to Jesus. Find out how this powerful encounter with the Lord began a journey that eventually led him to make a deeper commitment to Christ within the Catholic Faith.

God's will is best discerned through humble trust, wise accompaniment, and perseverance through obstacles, not by relying on our emotions or trying to figure everything out alone, as Deacon Harbey Santiago points out in this episode.
Do obstacles make you wonder if God is advising you to quit the path you're trying to take? Think again! They are often opportunities to witness God's guidance.
Discernment requires prayer, the Sacraments (especially Reconciliation), and accompaniment rather than isolation. Whether you're discerning a vocation, facing a divorce, or dealing with a life-changing decision, God's will becomes clearer when we seek His grace instead of depending on our own understanding.
In this episode of Footsteps to Heaven, Terry Modica talks with Deacon Harbey Santiago. He has a remarkable testimony of God's faithfulness. Although he sensed a call to the diaconate at just 12 years old, he found himself navigating a divorce. By waiting on God's timing, he ultimately discovered a ministry helping divorced Catholics find healing and hope.
Deacon Harbey's story reminds us that God's plans are often fulfilled in ways we never expect.
Discover:
Why obstacles aren't always signs to turn back.
How God confirms His will through other people.
The importance of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and spiritual direction when facing life's toughest decisions.
How those who have experienced divorce can continue to walk closely with Christ and discover His healing love.
Excerpt from Deacon Harbey about divorce:
"When somebody comes to me and tells me, 'My spouse has asked me for a divorce,' the first question I would ask is, 'Do you have a spiritual director?' The second is, 'When was the last time you went to Reconciliation?'
Because in moments like that, we need as much grace as we can get. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation we receive God's grace, and if we make it a habit to go to the same confessor and ask for guidance, we're no longer walking this journey alone.
The worst thing you can try to do is go through a divorce alone, especially as a Catholic, because there's so much misinformation. People will tell you all kinds of things, including that divorce itself is a sin and you can no longer receive the sacraments. That's simply not true. Divorce is a traumatic event, but the fact that your spouse has chosen to leave does not make you a sinner—it makes you a victim. We cannot blame the victim.

Have you ever wondered, "How do I know if God is calling me?"
In this inspiring episode of Footsteps to Heaven, Terry Modica of Good News Ministries interviews Lauren Giordano, whose journey to the Catholic faith began in a most unexpected way.
Lauren didn't grow up practicing her faith. In fact, she didn't believe in God at all.
Then, through studying nature as an author and illustrator, she began to recognize the fingerprints of a Creator. A quiet longing followed. That longing led her to walk into a Catholic church for the very first time—and the deep peace she experienced there changed the direction of her life.
Today, Lauren shares how God continues to guide her as she discerns His will, reorders her priorities, and uses her gifts to serve His Kingdom.
In our conversation, you'll discover:
• How God often speaks through a holy longing and an unexpected sense of peace.
• Why your talents may be clues to God's unique plan for your life.
• How to discern God's voice amid the opinions and advice of others. • What it means to let God "reconstruct" your life around Him.
• How serving God can strengthen your entire family.
Whether you're searching for God's direction in a major decision or simply wanting to grow closer to Him, Lauren's story offers practical wisdom and hopeful encouragement.
Key Takeaway: Take time this week to prayerfully inventory the gifts God has given you, ask how they can be used for His glory, and pay attention to where He is leading you through lasting peace, spiritual fruit, and a deeper relationship with Him.

Have you ever wished God would simply show you His entire plan? Most of us spend a lot of time worrying about the future—wondering whether we're making the right decisions or if we're missing God's will. But what if discerning God's plan is much simpler than we think?
In this inspiring podcast episode, Terry Modica (founder of Good News Ministries of GNM.org) talks with Connor Curley. He is a hog farmer turned philosopher, National Guard member, husband, adoptive father, and author of "Remembering Freedom." Hear the surprising ways God led him through life's twists and turns. His story is a powerful reminder that God doesn't ask us to know what we're supposed to be doing in the future. He asks us to faithfully do what He's calling us to do today.
If you've ever wondered if it's God's will for you to adopt a child or become a foster parent, listen to Connor Curley's story that he shares in this episode.
You'll discover:
• How God uses our passions, talents, and circumstances to guide us.
• Why community plays an important role in discerning God's will.
• Why we shouldn't shy away from good things just because they're hard.
• How living in the present moment leads us into God's larger plan.
• Why today's "yes" to God is enough. As Connor shares, if you do what God wants you to do today—and keep doing that every day—God will bring you exactly where He wants you to be.

In this episode, Ken Ogorek reveals the 7 keys for discerning God's will. With these you can confidently take the next faithful step, trusting the Holy Spirit to guide and, if you make a mistake along the way, redirect you.
Ken Ogorek is Executive Director of the Secretariat for Evangelizing Catechesis in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Ken co-authored with Scott Hahn the 3-book set "Breaking the Bread", a beautiful, full-color, clothbound companion for the Sunday Mass. Make the most of Sunday Mass through reflections on Scripture, the Catechism, and short prayers. https://stpaulcenter.com/search?q=breaking%20the%20bread&type=store
Key Takeaway: The Catholic Church offers us 7 keys for discerning God's will for our lives. When we seek His will using these keys He faithfully leads us toward the purpose for which He created us. Ken Ogorek shares the life-changing realization that transformed his own discernment: Instead of asking God to bless his plans, he began asking what God's plans were for him.
In this conversation with Good News Ministries founder Terry Modica, you'll discover:
• Why God isn't hiding His will from you
• Practical ways God speaks
• Why you don't have to wait for perfect certainty
• How the Holy Spirit will gently direct you when you walk in faith
There are 7 keys to discerning God's plan for you:
1. Sacred Scripture
2. Sacred Tradition
3. Prayer
4. Silence
5. Sacraments
6. Other People
7. Life Events
If you're facing an important decision—or simply want to grow in hearing God's voice more clearly—this episode will give you practical guidance and renewed confidence.

Have you ever wondered if you're really following God's plan—or if you're simply following your own ideas? One of the biggest mistakes we make is trying to figure it all out by ourselves.
In this inspiring episode of Footsteps to Heaven, Terry Modica talks with Belinda Terro Mooney—author, Catholic life coach, speaker, and Secular Carmelite—about how God leads us into our unique calling and why we don't have to navigate that journey alone.
If you've been praying for direction, feeling overwhelmed, or wondering what God is asking of you next, this conversation will encourage and equip you. Watch this episode today and discover why God never intended you to discern His will alone.
Together, they discuss:
• How to recognize the fruits that confirm you're on the path God has prepared for you.
• Why peace—not perfection—is often the sign you're moving in the right direction.
• Practical ways to overcome fear, burnout, anxiety, and discouragement while discerning God's will.
• How healthy spiritual and lifestyle habits can make it easier to hear God's voice.
• Why taking one faithful step at a time is the key to fulfilling your God-given mission.
Belinda Terro Mooney also shares insights from her own journey of discernment and explains how coaches, spiritual directors, trusted friends, and other faithful companions can help us stay focused on God's purpose for our lives.
KEY TAKEAWAY: You don't have to discern God's will alone; He provides trusted people to help guide your journey.

If you're facing a difficult decision or wondering whether God is calling you to stay or move on, don't try to discern alone. Keep showing up in prayer, seek wise spiritual guidance, and trust the peace that Christ gives. God will reveal His will one step at a time.
Have you ever wondered whether God is asking you to stay where you are—or whether it's time to move on?
Maybe you're facing a difficult decision, feeling restless, or trying to discern what God wants for your future. How do you know when to persevere, and when to let go?
In this episode of Footsteps to Heaven, I sit down with author and speaker Kimberly Souba to talk about the often-overlooked grace of "staying" and how God leads us through seasons of uncertainty.
Together, we discuss:
• How to recognize God's voice in the midst of confusion
• The difference between worldly desires and God's peace • Knowing when God is saying "stay" and when He's saying "move on"
• The importance of spiritual direction and community
• Kimberly's inspiring journey of discernment and faith
One of the most encouraging insights from our conversation is this: Even when you don't know what to pray, keep showing up.
God knows your heart, and He will guide you one step at a time. If you're seeking clarity about God's will, this episode will encourage you and strengthen your trust in Him.
And if you know someone who is struggling with an important decision or feeling uncertain about the future, please share this episode with them. It could be exactly the encouragement they need right now.

Don't let fear or uncertainty keep you from God's plan. Pray, seek community, and take the next small step in faith—trusting God to open the doors He wants you to walk through and close the ones that aren't His will.
How do you know whether an opportunity is really God's will—or just your own idea? How do you know whether an opportunity is really God's will—or just your own idea? In this episode of Footsteps to Heaven, Terry chats with Philippe Monfiston about his journey of discernment as a husband, father of four, Catholic entrepreneur, and participant in the Tepeyac Leadership Initiative. The wisdom they share include how God guides us through prayer, community, and the small steps of faith that open the door to His plan.
You'll discover:
• How to recognize when God is calling you to something new
• Why fear of making a mistake can keep us spiritually stuck
• The importance of seeking wisdom from family and faith-filled community
• How God often confirms His will by opening and closing doors
• Why taking "baby steps" can lead to great things
 
If you've ever wondered, "Is this really God's will for me?", this conversation will encourage and inspire you.
Remember, you don't have to have everything figured out before taking the next step. God is faithful, and He knows the plans He has for you.
📘 Terry Modica’s workbook: Knowing God’s Will and Doing It Well https://knowinggodswillanddoingitwell.com
📚 Connect with Philippe Monfiston on LinkedIn at https://linkedin.com/in/philippemonfiston/