Beyond “Walking on Water”: Megan Fate Marshman's Story

Megan Fate Marshman's journey into vocational ministry began with a college shoplifting incident, which led to discovering her gift for public speaking. But when tragedy struck in Megan’s life, she learned that true strength comes not from giftedness or miraculous “walking on water” moments, but from reaching out to Jesus in moments of weakness.

Megan learned that faith isn't about pretending everything is fine, it's about honestly bringing our anxieties, grief, and disappointments to God and experiencing His love in the midst of them. Hear how Megan continues to walk by faith one day at a time on this episode of GPS: God. People. Stories. 

Connect with us through email at gps@billygraham.org or on Facebook at Billy Graham Radio.

If you’d like to know more about beginning a relationship with Jesus Christ, or deepening the faith you already have, visit FindPeacewithGod.net. 

If you’d like to pray with someone, call our Billy Graham 24/7 Prayer Line at 855-255-7729. 

Transcript

Megan Fate Marshman:  
[00:00:00] I remember talking about Peter and the walking on water scene. And when he was walking on water, you would think that when he’s walking on water that it would build faith. But what I knew is that he held out his hand. Save me. That’s when he got stronger is actually in his weakness not in his walking miracle. So, and that-that resonated so deeply. And I remember sharing it. And slowly watching my life just kind of sink and then find everything I needed. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:00:32] Megan Fate Marshman felt like her life was sinking into the depths of despair when her husband passed away unexpectedly. But in her darkest moments, she discovered that true strength comes from placing her trust and faith in Jesus Christ. Find out how Megan’s faith grew as she fixed her eyes on Jesus through life’s toughest circumstances. That’s the story you’re going to hear on this episode of GPS: God. People. Stories. An outreach of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. I’m Jim Kirkland. Death is a tragedy that forces us to face our own mortality. No one is going to live forever. Here’s Billy Graham. 

Billy Graham: 
[00:01:13] Death carries with it a certain dread. It is the great, mysterious monster with long, icy fingers that in the end makes all men quake in fear. Death may strike you down today. Tomorrow. Next week. Next month. We never know. The question today is this. Is there any hope? 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:01:30] Billy Graham will share more about what that hope is. However, if you’re seeking hope in your life right now, there is good news. And we are here to help. Visit our website FindPeacewithGod.net. And when you’re there, click on begin a relationship with Jesus. That’s FindPeacewithGod.net. And the fastest way to get there is the link in our show notes.  

Audio and Music Tag:
[00:01:54]

Jim Kirkland
[00:01:59] Megan Fate Marshman grew up in a Christian home in Long Beach, California. It was at a camp in middle school where Megan was challenged to make her faith personal. A speaker asked, “Is what you have your parent’s faith, or is it yours?”.

Megan Fate Marshman: 
[00:02:17] I realized in middle school, oh, it had quickly become my parents. And I wanted it to be mine. Or I thought I was almost a, um, grandchild. And I remember hearing a long time ago there’s no grandchildren in the family of God. There’s children of God. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:02:30] That was an invitation for Megan to make her faith in Jesus Christ personal. And her faith was strong through middle school and high school. But once in college, Megan found herself in trouble. 

Megan Fate Marshman: 
[00:02:43] This is the first time I had ever joined my friends as they were stealing. And so crazy because I remember being like that’s bad. And I kind of had grown up like this simple Christian kid who tried to do a lot of good. And honestly, didn’t see a ton of my sin. And then, joined them. And as I went from store to store, I didn’t do anything wrong. I just was witnessing something. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:03:04] After stealing from three stores, Megan’s friends encouraged her to go to the back of one of them. Then there, they threw some merchandise in her backpack and told her to walk out of the store. 

Megan Fate Marshman: 
[00:03:16] And the alarm sounds. And they ran, and I stood there caught. And couldn’t get a hold of my parents. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:03:24] Megan was in a small holding cell when she finally as able to get in touch with her parents. They came to pick her up. And their reaction was not what you’d expect. 

Megan Fate Marshman: 
[00:03:34] Grace responded through my mom who threw her arms open wide. And me saying I don’t deserve that. And my dad, poignantly saying, oh, my girl, when did you think that you did? And I said, ugh, I think the whole time. I think I, uh, it’s almost like God saved me from hell, but it’s my job, by myself, to be worthy of that gift. What I realized in that moment at college is that I had covered the shame with a lot of good obedience. And while that’s great, I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. It’s wonderful. The problem is only Jesus Christ can take away our shame. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:04:09] Even as Megan experienced God’s love and grace in a whole new way, she still had to face the consequences for her actions. 

Megan Fate Marshman: 
[00:04:18] When I got caught, I was over 18 which was significant because suddenly I would have to stand before a judge. And it wouldn’t just be about juvenile. It would be about me taking accountability for what I’d done and having consequences, because sin has consequences. And my parents knew my character. They had all these family friends write letters on my behalf to the court to say this is not who she is. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:04:45] Megan had no idea about the letters until she stood before the judge waiting to hear his decision. She was already suspended from school. And that meant being suspended from a few of the college basketball games in which she played. 

Megan Fate Marshman: 
[00:04:58]  That judge looked at me and goes I got a lot of letters. I’m like from who?  

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:05:04] The judge didn’t know who wrote those letters. But all those letters did lead him to make an unusual decision. 

Megan Fate Marshman: 
[00:05:10] He goes I’m going to do something I’ve never done before. Your consequence, I want you to write a 10 page paper on decision making and how you got to that decision. I want to understand it. I want you to do the background. I want you to understand. And then, what I want you to do as your court sentence is to speak publicly at all the local high schools about that paper content. I want students to learn from this. And I want you to be the one to influence them. So, how did this affect my life? It’s actually how I knew that I could speak. I didn’t know up to that point that in any way God had gifted me in this way until  my consequence. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:05:46] In a redemption story only Goc could write, God used Megan’s greatest failure to find one of her greatest strengths. After Megan graduated from college in 2006, she received an offer to serve at the same Christian camp that changed her life in middle school. It was another opportunity for her to use the gift of public speaking that God was developing in her. 

Megan Fate Marshman: 
[00:06:09] I remember sharing the gospel for the first time. My second summer up there in front of 1,000 high school students. And I remember the camp director hands me the mic. He’s like all right. Here we go. Share the gospel.  

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:06:20] Megan stood up and presented the gospel message for 50 minutes asking people if they wanted to give their lives to Jesus Christ. 

Megan Fate Marshman: 
[00:06:29] But I wasn’t clear. It just was a mess, but everyone’s excited. I sat down and felt so discouraged because I felt like, man, I think I screwed it up. Because I had watched this guy do it for years. I’d watched him do it as a student. And I just gave the most inspirational speech that wasn’t clear. But, man, it was motivational. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:06:47] Megan sat down next to the speaker she had heard for years. She was so discouraged, but he had no idea. 

Megan Fate Marshman: 
[00:06:56] And he leans over and goes isn’t that the best? I was like I think I messed up. And he goes, oh, let’s walk through the essentials. And you’ll do it again next week. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:07:04] His reaction had a profound impact on Megan. 

Megan Fate Marshman: 
[00:07:09] Someone going I don’t expect perfect, but let’s walk together. Let’s walk through the essentials of our faith.  

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:07:15] The camp leaders were so impressed they asked Megan to come back the following year. Not as a counselor but to lead a seminar. And at her very first seminar, she ran into a familiar face. 

Megan Fate Marshman: 
[00:07:27] I had gone to a Christian high school. And there was one speaker that always came to speak at my high school. And he was hilarious and yet like really intense with the truth. And I loved him. Everyone loved him. And the first seminar I ever gave, he was in the audience. And I’m like that guy’s in the audience. And he walks up to me afterward. And he goes, hey, um, let’s grab coffee. I’m like … oh.  

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:07:52] As Megan chatted with him, he asked her do you feel like you have an ability to help lead high school girls to feel something?  

Megan Fate Marshman: 
[00:08:01] He goes you have a gift. And that gift will either be all about you or it will be partnered with the Holy Spirit. And it will be really significant. You’ve got it. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:08:14] Megan believed he was right. She still believes that truth as she speaks today. And the man who helped her realize her calling to vocational ministry was Frances Chan, a well-known pastor, author, and speaker.    

Megan Fate Marshman: 
[00:08:28] It was after doing that seminar the speaking requests started coming for high school chapels. And those high schoolers became college students. So, doing college chapels. And started working at churches. And then, I worked at a publishing house. I worked for a Christian publishing house for a number of years writing curriculum. And I was discipled by another gal who taught me a philosophy of ministry that’s not just relying on passion or talent but relying on the Holy Spirit. Putting the Bible at the center. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:08:51] Through that opportunity and mentorship, Megan learned how to understand the Bible in its context. She also began working part-time for Rock Harbor, the church that housed the curriculum company. And around that time, God used the church life group to lead Megan to her future husband, Randy.  

Megan Fate Marshman: 
[00:09:10] And Randy attended with my sister, my parents, and some of my very closest friends. I wasn’t even in the group, but everyone was talking about this guy. And I showed up on the last week. And a big joke between him and I was always who asked who out first because I invited him to see my dad’s play. My dad’s an actor. It’s a fun fact most people probably wouldn’t know. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:09:31] Megan and Randy got  married about a year and a half later. And they now have two little boys.  

Megan Fate Marshman: 
[00:09:37] While we got married on 12/11/2010, 12/11/10. It took us so many years to live up to the union that we coveted in 12/11/10. We were already one, a union, but we still functioned early on as two single people trying to remember to ask each other before I made plans and to remember to change the toilet paper roll, and to not leave laundry on the ground when you shower. And all the things. And by the 10 year mark, I felt like we had tasted that whole to become one. That when he was excited, I was like excited. If he was sad, I couldn’t not be sad. If he was grieving, I was grieving. If he was hopeful, I was hopeful. Like we really had – we learned what to do with our differences to bring them together. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:10:21] But in the best season of their marriage, Megan’s whole life flipped upside down. In 2021, Randy died from a sudden heart attack in the middle of the night. 

Megan Fate Marshman: 
[00:10:32] I was with him. And it was hell; and it was trauma. And it was pain; and it was crazy. And it was grief. And it was shock. And it was everything. And I’m presently in the room that it happened. Life flipped. And I think whether you can relate to that on the loss of somebody or you can relate to that just on certain days you learn certain information, here’s my encouragement. Whether even me bringing this up is rising something in you, I even think about that moment. Like he saw the light for the first time. His faith became sight. And when you talk about trauma, or experience trauma, or you get a random phone call … your body sinks. I just don’t want to miss this moment even if sharing about his death. I think a lot of people have different reactions when you bring up stuff like this. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:11:11] The week before Randy passed away, he and Megan had a conversations about Philippians 1:21 which says to live is Christ and to die is gain. 

Megan Fate Marshman: 
[00:11:24] And I was saying to Randy, I said, I get to die is gain part, the live as Christ part. Oof. So, it means basically this to live is to become more like Christ, and to know Christ, and to be Christ, in Christ, and have Him in you. That’s life. To die is gain. I believe Randy experienced the gain. And everything I’m doing now is just how I’m living as Christ. I want to understand that. But I want also for people with whatever is rising up in them whether it’s grief within yourself or just a moment or phone call that changed your whole life, or a past trauma that’s coming up, or grief about a job loss or expectation that your life is not as you feel like it should be by now, or you have your being discipled by that little board game of Life that tells you the stop signs and the order in which you should get the house and all the things, I would just say this. Whatever is rising in you, don’t dim the light. Bring it to Him. Share it with others. It’s one of the greatest gifts is the light it exposes. If it brings up anxiety, give it to Him. Don’t try to pretend it’s not there … push it away with thinking that faith just trumps it or kicks it. No, no, no, no. Faith opens it in honesty. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:12:31] That’s something that God has taught Megan since Randy’s passing. But in the first few months after his death, she grieved heavily over the loss of his life and their marriage. Trying to process it all, she asked her friend a deep question. 

Megan Fate Marshman: 
[00:12:45] I said I get that two become one. Like I get it because I didn’t experience it, and then I did. And in grief, I asked her so like what happens when one losses one? Like the math of that, how does that work? 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:12:58] It took six months for Megan’s friend to give her an answer. 

Megan Fate Marshman: 
[00:13:04] She’s like, Megan, I think I have an idea on your math problem. And I knew exactly what she was talking about. She said, you know, I’ve watched the past six months. And it seems like half of you is in heaven. And it was like this, uh, because there’s this weird super power that you’d give back in an instant if you could. But if I can’t change the past, I’m going to walk forward and find the super power. And one of them would be this. That in grief, a loss specifically with someone in heaven, for me, half of me feeling at times like I’m in heaven. It’s you stop caring about the things that don’t matter. And you start caring more the things that do. So, podcasts to talk about who God is and how to genuinely walk with Him and follow Him, yes. Worry about things I can’t control. Living in complaint. Those are less tempting. I know what I am tempted by. Don’t worry, that’s-all of that stuff’s part of my confession. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:14:05] Megan centering her world on what’s most important for eternity includes being a loving mom for her two boys. 

Megan Fate Marshman: 
[00:14:12] It’s hard single parenting. If you know anyone, it is no joke. There’s no breaks. It’s very hard. And it’s my greatest ministry. And I love these two little boys with everything. And I would disappoint anyone if it meant taking care of them in the ways that they deserve because they got dealt pretty tough cards in their walking in faith. So, the aftermath is … my-my word today would be walking by faith just one day at a time. Because I think biblically that’s what He’s asked me to do. And it doesn’t mean it’s not hard.  

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:14:59] Walking by faith one day at a time. That is how Megan has been able to start speaking again after taking time off to mourn Randy.  

Megan Fate Marshman: 
[00:14:58] I knew that I wouldn’t stop like telling people the truth that I’d found, but I needed space to find it. I needed space for my boys to find it. And then, one of the first sermons I gave I remember talking about Peter and the walking on water scene. And one aspect I caught reading it in that unique season surprised me was that when he was walking on water you’d think that when he’s walking on water that it would build faith. Because he’s walking on water. You’d think that he’d start almost like with a little faith. Like is the water going to support me? And then as it does, then it would … then he'd like start stepping on it with confidence. Like it feels like it kind of goes backwards. Like he starts, then he sinks. That was surprising to me where I’m like … until I realized that he actually did get to strength because he was walking on the water. That’s kind of what I felt like I had been doing. I was like kind of just starting to sink. And it wasn’t about a lack of faith for me. For me. I don’t know Peter. I don’t know where he’s at in that moment. But what I knew is that he held out his hand. Save me. And now, my mind can’t help but go full circle to our entire conversation which is that’s when I’m my strongest. So, he did get to his strength when he reached out his hand. That’s when he got stronger is actually in his weakness not in his walking miracle. So, man, that-that resonated so deeply. And I remember sharing it and slowly watching my life just kind of sink. And then, find everything I needed not because I was doing all the things, but because I knew where to look. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:16:35] Today, Megan continues to speak about God’s truth as she shepherds women at her local church. She even still speaks at the Christian camp where she began her personal relationship with Christ as a middle schooler. And in 2024, her book was published. It’s titled Relaxed.

Torre Jarrett:
[00:16:53] I wrote a book in the aftermath of losing Randy. And I didn’t know this, but he’s in every chapter. Didn’t even plan on it. It just happened that way because it’s what I was thinking through as I was writing. And I also knew that I wanted to write not once I figured it out, but I wanted to write in the middle because I think that’s where I meet people. And when I turned it in, my pastor Bret Eldridge looked at me. He walked into my office and goes, Megan, you just turned in a book called Relaxed. Do you feel more relaxed? And I sat back and was like do I? No. And he laughed, and I laughed. He was like what do you mean? You wrote a book called Relaxed. We want to relax. What are you talking about? You know. I just said I know where to go when I’m not. And I know who I’m in when I am. That’s it. So, praise God. The whole time He’s used all things by His grace. 

Music tag:
[00:17:44] 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:1754] If you want to accept God’s grace and find strength in Him for every circumstance, start your faith journey right now. Visit us website FindPeacewithGod.net. When you’re there, click on begin a relationship with Jesus. That’s at FindPeacewithGod.net. You can also find this link in our show notes. In just a moment, you’ll hear Megan share more one of the most impactful lessons she learned while in ministry training. 

Audio tag:
[00:18:21] 

Billy Graham: 
[00:18:31] 
Death carries with it a certain dread. 

Announcer:
[00:18:34] Billy Graham … 

Billy Graham: 
[00:18:35] It is the great, mysterious monster with long, icy fingers that in the end makes all men quake in fear. Death may strike you down today. Tomorrow. Next week. Next month. We never know. The question today is this, is there any hope? The greatest news that mortal ear has ever heard was the news that Jesus Christ had risen from the dead as He had promised. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the greatest truth of the centuries. This is the greatest truth that your ears can ever hear. That Jesus Christ died, but He rose again. That you too will die, but you can rise again into newness of life. It is the Christ of Christianity that has risen from the dead. And because He lives, we that know Him shall live also. In the resurrection, Jesus Christ conquered sin, death, and the grave and is alive forever more. We’re worshipping a risen, living Savior who  had promised to give immortality to all those that believe on His name. No longer do men have to stumble in the fog and darkness of hopelessness. And now, all you have to do is to receive Him and believe on Him. And God says He will clothe you in His righteousness. And everyone of you can know the power of a resurrected Christ. Through disappointments, tragedies, and trials, the resurrected Christ will go with you. Through all the circumstances of life, you can reach up and touch the hand of a living Christ if you will put your trust in Him by faith. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:20:05] The good news of Jesus Christ is victory over sin and death. And you can know the peace and joy that comes with placing your trust in Jesus. Learn how at FindPeacewithGod.net. When you’re there, click where it says begin a relationship with Jesus. That’s at FindPeacewithGod.net. And the easiest way to get there is the link in our show notes. Our guest for this episode of GPS is Megan Fate Marshman who shares the hope of Jesus Christ with an energetic joy and sincerity. Before we wrap up, she has one more piece of wisdom to share. 

Megan Fate Marshman: 
[00:20:42] I would say the story of my life is receiving the love of God. I just, um, got my doctorate in ministry. And the reason I bring that up is not to say go me. It’s to say I found myself alongside all these fellow classmates who just want to help people know the love of God. And we’re sitting there. It’s a climax moment in a lecture where the professor is like do you really want to know how we change? Do you really want to know how to partner with the Holy Spirit and lives with other people? And all of us are like, yes. It’s this build. Like the class was building, building, building. We have our notes out. Everyone’s ready for the moment. What’s the secret? And here’s what it was. He really loves you knowing everything. And because of the identity He gifts you in being in His son. None of it, when you stand face to face, none of the sin will keep you away from Him. And the shame that gets exposed doesn’t have to be ignored in this life. It can be opened because all of our best attempts to cover it be it secrets, be it good behavior, be it positivity, be it compartmentalization, anything we do to cover that shame … it can be laid bare before the one to whom we must give an account. Not just on that day we stand before Him but every single day of our lives. We can look at it and go, ugh, I’m not as I should be. And You know me. And You give me a new identity. And that identity is in Christ which makes me wholly blameless. And when He does, you find all those fears and all those reasons you have tried to cover it on your own are actually satisfied in Him. You don’t belong because people don’t know your sin. You belong because you’re in Christ. You’re not accepted because you’ve been good. You are accepted because His goodness is in you. And it changes you from the inside out. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:22:33] We’re thankful to Megan Fate Marshman for joining us on this episode. Megan is a follower of Christ and a mom who stewards her gifts as a Bible teacher and women’s speaker. She also writes books and Bible studies. That means she is very busy. And we know you are too. And that’s all the more reason that we want to thank you for listening. We are grateful for you. Make sure you always have the latest episodes by hitting the subscribe button on your favorite podcast app or YouTube. In the middle of life, GPS is here for you in the  middle of the week every other Wednesday. I’m Jim Kirkland. And this is GPS: God. People. Stories. It’s an outreach of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Always good news. 

Music tag:
[00:23:18] 

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