S5 Episode #13- Brett Boner
THE ONE WITH BRETT BONER
This week on the show, I am excited to welcome Brett Boner to the show! Brett is a former professional golfer and a current financial advisor. In this episode, Brett gives hope to those who feel like God is distant or not hearing their prayers. Brett also shares about an accident that he had in 2021 and the radical ways that God showed up for him and used this situation to change his perspective on life and community. If you’re walking through a challenging season, then this is the perfect episode to remind you that with Christ you have nothing to fear; in Him you can do hard things!
MORE ABOUT BRETT
A native of Alabama, Brett graduated with a degree in Business Management from Auburn University where he was a four-year letterman on the golf team. Prior to his position at Carroll Financial, he played professional golf for nine years. Brett joined Wealth Enhancement Group in 2021 through the Carroll Financial acquisition. Brett works closely with his clients through the financial planning process, with close attention to a patient and long-term approach. For retirees, his focus is on replacing income they had grown accustomed to before retiring. For younger clients, Brett helps create a holistic plan for their goals including retirement, children’s education, debt aversion, estate and legacy planning. In 2016 Brett earned the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) designation because a big part of his business has been navigating clients through this tough transition. Brett and his wife Lindsay have lived in Charlotte since 2001 and have two children, Henry and Fran. They attend Hope Community Church and live in the Cotswold area.
LISTEN
READ
PRAYER
It is easy to feel like God doesn’t hear our prayers, or that we are just speaking into a void. Yet, even David– a man after God’s own heart– prayed constantly, “How long, Oh Lord, must we wait… how long will you hide your face? (paraphrased)
Even David has many times where he felt that God was silent and he cried out to God for some indication that God was still with David and still working on his behalf.
It’s easy to get discouraged when we’ve been praying for the same thing for months or years, but God always hears and He always is moving… even when we can’t see it. Your prayers are not in vain!
WHEN EVERYTHING CHANGED
In May 2021, Brett was struggling with why God had allowed some things to happen in the life of his pastor. Around the same time, he was struggling with the vitriol in the world and feeling like humans were beyond hope.
One day at lunch with his pastor, Brett said, “I’ve never really had anything bad happen in my life.” Later that day, as he was driving to pick up his son, Brett was in a terrible car accident when a massive tree limb landed directly on his car. Brett’s sunroof was open and the limb impaled Brett about 3 inches into the right side of his chest.
When Brett arrived at the hospital, the doctors said that he should have bled out in the car. There was no logical reason for how he survived, yet God still had a plan!
Brett had just said, “I hate humans.” Then, in the wake of the accident, Brett was blown away by all of the amazing humans that showed up and carried his family through this extremely difficult time. God showed Brett how he had been focused on the wrong people and the wrong things. Brett had been taking for granted all of the incredible people that were right in front of him in his own community.
For most of his life, Brett liked to live in fast-forward. Yet, after the accident he was forced to let God take the wheel, and it was the best thing that could have ever happened. God forced him to slow down, which allowed Brett to see all of the opportunities that he had been avoiding or neglecting before.
Brett said “yes” to leading a men’s group through his church. Every week God uses this group to remind Brett that He (God) will show up and provide exactly what is needed every single time.
It is incredible what God can do when we give Him our “yes”! He can take it further than we could ever imagine!
Major Takeaway: There is nothing to fear.. If God can save you when you’ve been impaled, He can save you from anything!
“It’s not over until it’s good.” - Hadley Eddings, The Collected Podcast
“This didn’t happen for your past, it happened for your future.” - Marcy Gregg, The Collected Podcast
THE CHARACTER OF GOD
“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
Brett used to believe that this meant that he could do all great things, or all things that would end up with a great ending for him. He would often apply this concept to a tough game of golf, or something of that nature. Yet, Brett realized that this verse means that we can do all things, even the bad things through Christ.
Brett is learning that there is no perfect road map, in fact it will be messy. But that is ok. You can still do the hard things and get through anything with Christ! He will never leave you in the valley, Christ is always leading you through.
Psalm 91:4
“He will cover you with his feathers; you will take refuge under his wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield.”
Brett’s wife clung to this verse as she walked through so many unknowns.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Don’t be afraid to say “yes” to the opportunities that God is putting in front of you.
If you feel distant from God, it is not God that has moved. It’s you. God will never leave you or forsake you; He is always waiting to welcome you back with open arms.
Stay connected to God and His Word.
THOUGHTS FROM JES
Psalm 37:4
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff,they comfort me.”
For you are with me.-- God promises to be with us. The promise is His Presence. We don’t have to fear because He is with us.
Even if we can’t feel Him or see Him, He is always there. The truth of the Bible tells us that Christ is near. If He feels distant, that is a lie from Satan. Take a moment to meditate on Psalm 129:7-12…
Psalm 139:7-12
“Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.”
WATCH
CONNECT WITH BRETT
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The Collected Podcast is produced by Jes Biondo and edited by Jacob Early. Cover art designed by Ben Biondo.