When most people think about where God is, they look to the sky or point to a mountaintop. God is ON HIGH, right?

But the reality of the incarnation flips that vision upside down.

Christ dwelt among us. God came to the lowest of places to meet us in our brokenness and heal our sin.

Did you know the spot where Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River is literally one of the lowest places on earth? That can't be an accident.

It reminds us that even when we are at our lowest point—a medical diagnosis, marital issues, problems with our children, job loss—God is right there alongside us. He doesn't want us to walk these trials alone.

Hear the words God spoke at Christ's baptism. They are meant for you, too:

“You are my beloved son… you are my beloved daughter… with whom I am well pleased.”

If you find yourself in a low place right now, take it to the Lord. He's already there next to you.

-----

Sign up for the Daily Anchor for free daily reflections from Chris Stefanick in your inbox: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk
-----

Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0

-----

Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage to the Holy Land: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/cs-holyland2026/

• (00:00:00) - The Low Places of the Holy Land
• (00:06:39) - The Words for When You're in the Lowest Spot

Have you ever noticed that when God shows up, he often does so in ways that are...completely ordinary?

Think about the Epiphany of the Lord that we are celebrating today. Angels fill the sky. A star bends the universe. Heaven breaks into earth. Kings come to pay homage.

And at the center of it all? A poor child. A nursing mother. A scene you could walk right past.

Fast forward two thousand years and God is still so often hiding His glory in plain sight, but we've lost the ability to contemplate and truly SEE him in the ordinariness of the world around us. God made Himself small—so ordinary that only the humble can see Him. And that’s exactly why so many of us miss Him.

We’ve trained ourselves to scroll past miracles. To numb ourselves when big questions stir in our souls. To distract instead of contemplate. And in doing that, we don’t just lose silence—we lose wonder.

As we enter the new year, let's cultivate a contemplative heart that recognizes Jesus in the bread and the wine...and in our spouse, family, friends, and coworkers. When you become humble enough to see God in the ordinary, life becomes a constant epiphany.

-----

Sign up for the Daily Anchor for free daily reflections from Chris Stefanick in your inbox: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk

-----

Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0

-----

Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage to the Holy Land: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/cs-holyland2026/

• (00:00:00) - The Secret to Christ's Birth
• (00:06:28) - The 7 Joys of Mary

Why do we keep confessing the same sins… making the same resolutions… and falling back into the same patterns?

In this practical and powerful episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with Fr. Peter Mussett, a priest who has heard thousands of confessions—and has lots of advice to share about human nature, change, and mercy.

In this conversation, we talk about real sins and real solutions so you can make real changes in your life.

Fr. Peter explains:

-Why most people don’t actually change
-The hidden link between unforgiveness, victimhood, and temptation
-Why willpower alone never works
-How habit stacking, conscience, and mercy work together
-Why God sometimes allows us to keep struggling
-And the one mindset shift that finally makes real change possible

If you’re frustrated with yourself, tired of starting over, and feel like you can't conquer your vices, I hope this interview will give you hope, clarity, and a true path forward.

Highlights:

0:00 Why real change is so hard

2:08 Why priests see what most people never notice

7:00 The beauty of Confession

16:58 The movie-scene insight that reveals how people change

19:18 Conscience: where God actually speaks

24:13 Why “deliver us from evil” is where change starts

27:27 The difference between passion-driven and reason-driven living

29:23 Habit stacking: a spiritual key to breaking bad habits

33:31 How unforgiveness fuels temptation

39:28 Why mercy—especially toward yourself—changes everything

57:33 “You are not your sin” (John Paul II’s powerful reminder)

1:07:36 A prayer for anyone frustrated with themselves

........

Sign up for The Daily Anchor to get Chris Stefanick's bite-sized reflections every morning: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk

........

Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic and get free access to the new Living Peace study series: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0

........

Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://www.reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages

• (00:00:00) - New Year's Resolutions with a Priest
• (00:00:43) - Chris Stefan
• (00:01:26) - Peter Musset on My Favorite Person In the World
• (00:01:53) - How to Change Your Life
• (00:07:20) - What is your favorite experience in confession?
• (00:08:01) - How Do People Change?
• (00:08:22) - Mission: Joy
• (00:09:45) - I Stole The Sacrament Of Confirmation
• (00:12:52) - I Had A Fake Confirmation Certificate
• (00:15:56) - What Have You Learned About Human Nature While Preaching?
• (00:21:34) - The Power of the Our Father
• (00:24:57) - God's 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit
• (00:28:44) - How to Make a Friend Feel Okay
• (00:29:11) - Atomic Habits: Habit Stacking
• (00:33:29) - Forgiveness and Temptation
• (00:35:35) - Culture: The Conflict of Values
• (00:38:56) - The Prison of Unreveal
• (00:42:53) - How to Stop Sinning
• (00:46:37) - How to Get Comfortable With Your Pain
• (00:49:14) - Wine and the Real World
• (00:53:33) - Setting Us Free From Trauma
• (00:55:18) - Reasons to Change Your Mind (Metanoia)
• (01:00:15) - Real Talk: Change the Mind
• (01:03:51) - A friend confesses his sins to one another
• (01:04:56) - The Reasons Why God Allows Personal Struggles
• (01:05:49) - The Gifts of Reading Souls
• (01:07:33) - Prayer for Repenting Sinner People