Maybe escaping the Vocation Traps isn’t just about personal creative fulfillment or private spiritual formation. What if it’s about cultural responsibility?

Finding Freedom In Your True Calling

This conversation reframes calling as a way of life rooted in prayerful listening and faithful action—the quiet practices that form artists who can tell the truth, hold ambiguity, and create without fear. And in a moment when culture is shaping the imagination of the world faster than ever, this isn’t just personal freedom. It’s cultural responsibility.

Helpful Resources:

 * Download your FREE Vocation Trap Tracker: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Discover Your Artist Archetype → Take the Free Quiz at soulmakers.org [https://soulmakers.org/]
 * Download the Full Artist Archetypes Guide for deeper insight: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]

Connect & Share:

 * Subscribe to Be. Make. Do. for more in the Vocation Traps series
 * Share this episode with a friend or creative you know
 * Join the conversation on socials using #VocationTrapsPodcast
 * Join our brand new Instagram Broadcast Channel! [https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbZ-6xkw4LTudVvJ/]

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Finding Freedom In Your True Calling

“The anxiety around uncertainty is caused by the belief that we need certainty to act."

Episode 9: Certainty Not Required
Embracing Uncertainty, Setbacks, and Serendipity in the Creative Life

What if the need for certainty is actually the thing keeping you stuck?

In this episode of Be. Make. Do., Lisa and Dan explore how uncertainty, setbacks, and even mistakes can become powerful catalysts for creative and vocational freedom. Drawing from Scripture and lived experience, they look at how figures like Abraham, Sarah, and Ruth navigated the unknown—and what their stories teach us about faithful action without guarantees.

You’ll discover why certainty isn’t required to move forward, how action itself can become part of discernment, and how to recognize serendipity as an “expected unexpected” in the creative life.

Helpful Resources:

 * Download your FREE Vocation Trap Tracker: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Discover Your Artist Archetype → Take the Free Quiz at soulmakers.org [https://soulmakers.org/]
 * Download the Full Artist Archetypes Guide for deeper insight: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Read the article, Vocation's Unbroken Chain: Biblical Call Stories and the
   Experience of Vocation [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment] by Chris Keeton

Connect & Share:

 * Subscribe to Be. Make. Do. for more in the Vocation Traps series
 * Share this episode with a friend or creative you know
 * Join the conversation on socials using #VocationTrapsPodcast
 * Join our brand new Instagram Broadcast Channel! [https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbZ-6xkw4LTudVvJ/]

Certainty Not Required

“What feels like the wrong job or the wrong place may actually be your training ground.”

Beyond Ability: Welcome to the Training Ground

In the last episode of the Vocation Traps series, Lisa and Dan explored how our natural abilities are tools for vocation—not the same thing as our calling. In this follow-up conversation, they flip the coin and dive into the moments when our feelings of inadequacy threaten to shut us down. If you’ve ever wondered, “Did I miss it? Am I in the wrong place? Am I enough for what God’s asking of me?” this episode will help you see your current season not as a dead end, but as sacred preparation.

Helpful Resources:

 * Download your FREE Vocation Trap Tracker: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Discover Your Artist Archetype → Take the Free Quiz at soulmakers.org [https://soulmakers.org/]
 * Download the Full Artist Archetypes Guide for deeper insight: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Read the article, Vocation's Unbroken Chain: Biblical Call Stories and the [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment]
   Experience of Vocation [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment] by Chris Keeton
 * Becoming Moses [https://bibleproject.com/classroom/exodus-overview-carmen-imes/sessions/4]- Bible Project Classroom, Carmen Imes

Connect & Share:

 * Subscribe to Be. Make. Do. for more in the Vocation Traps series
 * Share this episode with a friend or creative you know
 * Join the conversation on socials using #VocationTrapsPodcast
 * Join our brand new Instagram Broadcast Channel! [https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbZ-6xkw4LTudVvJ/]

Be. Make. Do. is going LIVE! on February 10th! [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo-live]

Join us Tuesday, February 10th, at 3 pm EST for an exciting, interactive discussion with Dan and Lisa. They’ll be wrapping up The Vocation Traps series of the podcast, answering your questions, and hearing from you! Register Here! [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo-live]

Beyond Ability: Welcome to the Training Ground

“Ability is not vocation. Abilities are tools for vocation.”

Ability Is Not Vocation

What if ability is simply a tool—one that God shapes, deepens, stretches, and even redirects over a lifetime? If you’ve ever felt pressured to “stay in your lane,” doubted whether you’re on the right path, or confused your gift with your calling, this episode will help you breathe again. Discover a more spacious, wise-hearted way of understanding your vocation—one rooted in freedom, not fear.

Helpful Resources:

 * Download your FREE Vocation Trap Tracker: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Discover Your Artist Archetype → Take the Free Quiz at soulmakers.org [https://soulmakers.org/]
 * Download the Full Artist Archetypes Guide for deeper insight: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Read the article, Vocation's Unbroken Chain: Biblical Call Stories and the [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment]
   Experience of Vocation [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment] by Chris Keeton
   
   Connect & Share:
 * Subscribe to Be. Make. Do. for more in the Vocation Traps series
 * Share this episode with a friend or creative you know
 * Join the conversation on socials using #VocationTrapsPodcast
 * Join our brand new Instagram Broadcast Channel! [https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbZ-6xkw4LTudVvJ/]

Be. Make. Do. is going LIVE! on February 10th! [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo-live]

Join us Tuesday, February 10th, at 3 pm EST for an exciting, interactive discussion with Dan and Lisa. They’ll be wrapping up The Vocation Traps series of the podcast, answering your questions, and hearing from you! Register Here! [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo-live]

Up Next: Join us as we explore the flip side of the coin and bust free from feelings of inadequacy.

Ability Is Not Vocation

Episode Summary:

"You don’t have to monetize every gift. Creativity is something you steward, not something you have to prove.” -Steve Brock

In this special episode, host Lisa Smith talks with Steve Brock, the author of "Brand Something Beautiful: A Branding Workbook for Artists, Writers, and Other Creatives." Together, they discuss the intersection of faith and artistry, exploring what it really means to create as an act of grace. They also dive into the challenges of calling, the process of getting unstuck, and how to build a brand authentically.

This Episode's Resources:

 * Download your FREE Vocation Trap Tracker: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Discover Your Artist Archetype → Take the Free Quiz at soulmakers.org [https://soulmakers.org/]
 * Download the Full Artist Archetypes Guide for deeper insight: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Steve Brock's brand new book, Brand Something Beautiful [https://brandsomethingbeautiful.com/#tve-jump-18345797800]
 * Steve Brock's website: https://www.exploreyourworlds.com/ 

Connect & Share:

 * Connect with Steve Brock:
   stevebrock.substack.com [http://stevebrock.substack.com/]
   www.instagram.com/StephenWBrock [http://www.instagram.com/StephenWBrock]
   www.facebook.com/MeaningfulTrav [http://www.facebook.com/MeaningfulTrav]
   www.pinterest.com/ExploreYourWorlds [http://www.pinterest.com/ExploreYourWorlds]
 * Subscribe to Be. Make. Do. for more in the Vocation Traps series
 * Share this episode with a friend or creative you know
 * Join the conversation on socials using #VocationTrapsPodcast
 * Join our brand new Instagram Broadcast Channel! [https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbZ-6xkw4LTudVvJ/]

Up Next: Join us as we discuss setbacks and mistakes of the vocation traps.

Escaping The Vocation Traps with Steve Brock

"You don't need to know the whole map. You just need to take the next faithful step."

Episode Description:

Ever feel like your calling has to be epic to matter to God? The Chosen Trap seduces us with grand visions and spiritual pressure—but often leads to burnout or disillusionment. We’ll talk about how to discern between God’s quiet invitations and our own need to be “important” in the Kingdom.

In this episode of Be. Make. Do., hosts Lisa Smith and Dan ABH explore the trap of trying to control your calling, and how to find freedom in faithful, creative partnership with God. Through biblical reflection, personal insight, and powerful film examples, you’ll learn how to discern between divine invitation and performance anxiety.

Helpful Resources:

 * Download your FREE Vocation Trap Tracker: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Discover Your Artist Archetype → Take the Free Quiz at soulmakers.org [https://soulmakers.org/]
 * Download the Full Artist Archetypes Guide for deeper insight: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Read Samuel Wells' book, Improvisation: The Drama of Christian Ethics [https://www.amazon.com/Improvisation-Christian-Ethics-Samuel-Wells/dp/1587430711]
 * Read the article, Vocation's Unbroken Chain: Biblical Call Stories and the
   Experience of Vocation [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment] by Chris Keeton
 * Read the article, Understanding Vocation: Discerning and Responding to God's Call [http://dt.pepperdine.edu/projects/lilly/Understanding%20Vocation_%20Discerning%20and%20Responding%20to%20Gods%20Call.pdf] by Don Thompson

Connect & Share:

 * Subscribe to Be. Make. Do. for more in the Vocation Traps series
 * Share this episode with a friend or creative you know
 * Join the conversation on socials using #VocationTrapsPodcast
 * Join our brand new Instagram Broadcast Channel! [https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbZ-6xkw4LTudVvJ/]

Up Next: Join us for a conversation with author of Brand Something Beautiful, Steve Brock.

The Chosen Trap: When Doing Something Big for God Misses the Point

Episode Description:

"Worrying about the impact or the trying to control it is a waste of time, because you don't have control over it."

When your creative drive turns into a mission to help everyone else, you might be caught in the Hero Trap. This episode explores what happens when vocation becomes inflated with pressure and savior energy—and how to reclaim a grounded, joyful sense of calling that doesn’t depend on saving the world.

In this episode of Be. Make. Do., host Lisa Smith unpacks The Hero Trap—a mindset that weighs down artists with unrealistic expectations and spiritual burnout. You’ll learn how to shift from trying to do something epic for God to living out your vocation with steady, faithful creativity.

Up Next: Join us as we unpack our final Vocation Trap - the Chosen Trap!

Helpful Resources:

 * Download your FREE Vocation Trap Tracker: https://soul-makers.kit.com/traptracker [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Discover Your Artist Archetype → Take the Free Quiz at soulmakers.org [https://soulmakers.org/]
 * Download the Full Artist Archetypes Guide for deeper insight: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Read Samuel Wells' book, Improvisation: The Drama of Christian Ethics [https://www.amazon.com/Improvisation-Christian-Ethics-Samuel-Wells/dp/1587430711]
 * Read the article, Vocation's Unbroken Chain: Biblical Call Stories and the [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment]
   Experience of Vocation [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment] by Chris Keeton
 * Read the article, Understanding Vocation: Discerning and Responding to God's Call [http://dt.pepperdine.edu/projects/lilly/Understanding%20Vocation_%20Discerning%20and%20Responding%20to%20Gods%20Call.pdf] by Don Thompson

Connect & Share:

 * Subscribe to Be. Make. Do. for new episodes every week
 * Share this episode with fellow artists and creatives
 * Join the conversation online using #VocationTrapsPodcast
 * Join our brand new Instagram Broadcast Channel! [https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbZ-6xkw4LTudVvJ/]

The Hero Trap: Don't Get Stuck Trying to Save the World

Episode Overview:

“Our primary problem...is not that we lack self-worth. It’s that we lack awe.”

In this episode, Lisa and Dan unpack the Happiness Trap: the belief that your purpose is tied to feeling good or curating the perfect life. But true vocation often forms us in the slow, hidden work of faithfulness, not fleeting emotional highs. Tune in to escape the trap, rediscover joy, and move forward with a deeper sense of vocation.

Up Next:

The Hero Trap – Learn how to pursue your calling without trying to "save the world" or carry more than God has asked you to.

Helpful Resources:

 * Download your FREE Vocation Trap Tracker: https://soul-makers.kit.com/traptracker [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Discover Your Artist Archetype → Take the Free Quiz at soulmakers.org [https://soulmakers.org/]
 * Download the Full Artist Archetypes Guide for deeper insight: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Read Samuel Wells' book, Improvisation: The Drama of Christian Ethics [https://www.amazon.com/Improvisation-Christian-Ethics-Samuel-Wells/dp/1587430711]
 * Read the article, Vocation's Unbroken Chain: Biblical Call Stories and the [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment]
   Experience of Vocation [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment] by Chris Keeton
 * Read the article, Understanding Vocation: Discerning and Responding to God's Call [http://dt.pepperdine.edu/projects/lilly/Understanding%20Vocation_%20Discerning%20and%20Responding%20to%20Gods%20Call.pdf] by Don Thompson
 * Read the Blog Post by Jen Wilken, Trading Self-Worth for Awe and Wonder [https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/women-trade-self-worth-for-awe-and-wonder]

Connect & Share:

 * Subscribe to Be. Make. Do. to keep following the Vocation Traps series
 * Share this episode with a fellow artist or spiritual seeker
 * Join the conversation on social using #VocationTrapsPodcast
 * Join our brand new Instagram Broadcast Channel! [https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbZ-6xkw4LTudVvJ/]

The Happiness Trap: Mistaking Happiness for Purpose

Episode Overview:

"Those of us who find ourselves overly concerned with getting it right or being good, might find ourselves trapped in a net of other people's expectations and just getting tangled into a good old mess."

Do you ever feel like your worth depends on applause, success, or being “useful” to others? You might be stuck in the Security Trap—a subtle but powerful mindset that confuses validation with vocation. If you’ve ever felt guilty pursuing your creative work—or unsure if it “matters”—this episode will help you untangle your calling from the need to please.

Up Next:

The Happiness Trap – Discover why chasing good vibes and “living your best life” can sabotage your vocation—and how to find joy beyond the high points.

Resources for Artists:

 * Download your FREE Vocation Trap Tracker: https://soul-makers.kit.com/traptracker [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Discover Your Artist Archetype → Take the Free Quiz at soulmakers.org [https://soulmakers.org/]
 * Download the Full Artist Archetypes Guide for deeper insight: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Read Samuel Wells' book, Improvisation: The Drama of Christian Ethics [https://www.amazon.com/Improvisation-Christian-Ethics-Samuel-Wells/dp/1587430711]
 * Read the article, Vocation's Unbroken Chain: Biblical Call Stories and the [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment]
   Experience of Vocation [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment] by Chris Keeton
 * Read the article, Understanding Vocation: Discerning and Responding to God's Call [http://dt.pepperdine.edu/projects/lilly/Understanding%20Vocation_%20Discerning%20and%20Responding%20to%20Gods%20Call.pdf] by Don Thompson

Connect & Share:

 * Subscribe to Be. Make. Do. to follow the full Vocation Traps series
 * Share this episode with friends, mentors, or artists in your life
 * Tag us and join the conversation on socials using #VocationTrapsPodcast
 * Join our brand new Instagram Broadcast Channel! [https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbZ-6xkw4LTudVvJ/]

The Security Trap: Why External Validation Isn’t Your Calling

Episode Description:

"And in that framework of call, we're invited to ask different questions...instead of asking, what is God's will for my life? ...To move the focus to who is God? What does God love?"

Calling—that sacred sense of purpose—sounds inspiring... until it turns into a booby-trapped maze of pressure, performance, and perfectionism. Are you chasing your calling but feeling more stuck than ever? In this kickoff to our new series Escaping the Vocation Traps, we explore how fear, pressure, and the wrong questions can quietly derail your creative life. Subscribe and join us as we explore four common traps—and how to get unstuck, one faithful step at a time.

Welcome to The Vocation Traps, a Be. Make. Do podcast series for brave souls and creative hearts who are tired of tripping over the same old lies:
 💣 The Security Trap – where applause feels like purpose
 🌀 The Happiness Trap – where chasing good vibes leaves you empty
 🦸 The Hero Trap – where saving the world becomes your burden
 🔥 The Chosen Trap – where doing “big things for God” gets you burned out

Resources & Tools:

 * Download your FREE Vocation Trap Tracker: https://soul-makers.kit.com/traptracker [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Discover Your Artist Archetype → Take the Free Quiz at soulmakers.org [https://soulmakers.org/]
 * Download the Full Artist Archetypes Guide for deeper insight: www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo [https://www.soulmakers.org/bemakedo]
 * Read Samuel Wells' book, Improvisation: The Drama of Christian Ethics [https://www.amazon.com/Improvisation-Christian-Ethics-Samuel-Wells/dp/1587430711]
 * Read the article, Vocation's Unbroken Chain: Biblical Call Stories and the [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment]
   Experience of Vocation [https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=discernment] by Chris Keeton

Connect & Share:

 * Subscribe to the Be. Make. Do. Podcast for fresh episodes every week
 * Share this episode with fellow artists and creatives
 * Join the conversation on social media using #VocationTrapsPodcast
 * Join our brand new Instagram Broadcast Channel! [https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbZ-6xkw4LTudVvJ/]

Escaping the Vocation Traps: How Artists Lose Their Way—and How to Get It Back!

The Be. Make. Do. podcast inspires artists of faith by diving into the big - and sometimes controversial - questions that come with pursuing the artist’s calling. Artists are culture makers. But many Christians in the arts feel isolated and conflicted about their call. That’s why we’re starting this conversation - to help you find clarity and confidence. So, be encouraged. And become who you were created to be, make what you were created to make, and do what you were created to do.

Join host Lisa Smith as she poses questions, shares stories, and great conversation with artists, theologians, creatives and friends about the call of the artist in the world.

Subscribe and follow now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! [https://pod.link/1700320315]

Join the movement at https://soulmakers.org [https://soulmakers.org/]

Be. Make. Do.

Be.Make.Do. is a podcast inspiring artists of faith to pursue their calling as culture makers with spiritual wholeness and creative freedom.

Be. Make. Do.

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