Cole Saul – Trusting God When You Can’t See the Next Step

Sometimes God works through the moments we least expect.

A chance meeting.
A closed door.
A difficult season.
Or an opportunity that seems to come out of nowhere.

In this encouraging conversation, John Martin sits down with artist and entrepreneur Cole Saul to share a story about faith, surrender, and learning to trust God’s plan even when it doesn’t make sense.

Cole’s journey began with a simple suggestion from his wife.

Although he had always been creative and enjoyed drawing, it was his wife who encouraged him to pick up a paintbrush and begin painting seriously. What started as a hobby quickly turned into something much bigger as his artwork began gaining recognition throughout the Emerald Coast and beyond.

But like many entrepreneurs and artists, Cole eventually found himself at a crossroads.

Despite years of hard work, there were moments when he questioned whether his passion could truly become a sustainable career. There were seasons of uncertainty, frustration, and wondering what God was doing behind the scenes.

Then one unexpected event changed everything.

After being invited to participate in an art festival, Cole entered with no major expectations. Although he didn’t sell any artwork during the event, something far more significant happened.

A simple introduction led to an opportunity he never could have planned on his own.

Within days, several of his original paintings were purchased by a collector who immediately recognized the value of his work. What seemed like a disappointing weekend suddenly became a defining moment that opened new doors and gave Cole confidence that God was directing his path.

But the greatest transformation wasn’t financial.

As Cole reflected on everything that had happened, he felt God drawing him into a deeper commitment of faith. Although he had always believed in Jesus, he realized God was calling him to take the next step publicly.

Soon after, Cole made the decision to be baptized in the Gulf of Mexico, publicly declaring his faith and fully surrendering his life to Christ.

Since then, he has seen God move in ways he never expected.

Whether through his artwork, opportunities to serve others, or even the ability to support causes close to his heart, Cole continues to see God's hand guiding every step of the journey.

One of the most powerful lessons he shares is learning to release control.

Instead of constantly trying to force outcomes, Cole has learned to trust God with the details and remain faithful to the opportunities placed in front of him.

He believes that many people miss God's blessings because they become consumed with worry, fear, or trying to control every outcome themselves.

This conversation is especially encouraging for:
Artists.
Entrepreneurs.
Business owners.
Young families.
And anyone facing uncertainty about the future.

Cole reminds listeners that:
God is still working even when you can’t see it.
Prayer changes perspective.
Faith requires trust.
And God often answers prayers in ways we never expected.

He encourages everyone to:
Spend daily time in God’s Word.
Stay connected to a Bible-believing church.
Build relationships with strong Christian community.
And trust God with the areas of life that feel uncertain.

You may not see the entire path today.
But God already knows where He is leading you.

What is one area of your life where God may be asking you to stop worrying and start trusting Him more fully?

Contact Cole Sauls:
granderhomeinspections@gmail.com

For more information contact us at
rtrdestiny@gmail.com

Transcript

Welcome And How They Met

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Well hey friends, it's John Martin. We're back on Road to Redemption. So excited to be here today with my friend Cole Saws. Thank you for helping me. How are you, good friend? Doing great. How are you? Doing good. Hey, I just saw you and your wife Taylor here at uh at the group.

SPEAKER_01 0:21

Yeah, you were out there, so we it looks empty today. It looks totally different. But yeah, nope. That was that was a fun event. That's always a good one. So um actually we're before we ended up meeting. So it's pretty cool. It is.

SPEAKER_00 0:33

I got got to meet you exactly one year ago. So yeah, pretty cool. You and Taylor there, and that that kind of embarked on a really cool story.

SPEAKER_01 0:44

Yeah, definitely one that uh I definitely didn't see coming for sure. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 0:50

Start off there, give us a little bit of just background on you, and then talk to us a little bit about your journey and how we met there.

From Drawing To Award Winning Paintings

SPEAKER_01 0:57

Yeah, yeah. So my background is is artwork. Um, well, I really about four years ago, um I started. My wife, she actually told me, like, I could always draw, put it that way. There they were starting there. I could always draw. Um, she said, You need to pick up a paintbrush. And my grandmother was an art teacher growing up, so you know, it was kind of one of those things like, well, I guess I could paint. Uh we'll we'll see. So I I did it and ended up actually winning the um the Emerald Coast Billfish Classic here in Sandestin. I won their art contest. Um, so I was like, well, I guess I can paint. So and after winning that, it just kind of snowballed from there. But it it kind of honestly, until last year, it it kind of came to a like three years, you know, it was was good, but then it kind of came to a halt um as far as you know figuring out what where to go, what I needed to do, um, as far as selling, you know, can I make this a career? Is it possible? Um, so I just kept painting,

The Art Event That Opened A Door

SPEAKER_01 2:04

kept painting. Well, I was reached out to by uh one of the ArxQuest girls. She was over the event at the time. She said, Your artwork is beautiful. You you've got to be a part of this event. I had no clue about the event at all, so she reached out to me. And um I was like, Yeah, I would love to. She's like, somebody actually canceled their booth, so we have one space open for you. I was like, Well, I'm I'll be there. So ended up um showing up to that, and you know, I didn't sell anything at the event, which I was kind of you know bummed about, but I ended up winning that Sunday. I won third place best in show, won a thousand dollars for best in shows or third place best in show. So that paid for me to be there and uh you know, put like 200 bucks in my pocket. I was like, well, that's not so bad. You know, I didn't sell anything. Well, what I didn't know is you know we had met you at the show. That had that was for it all really snowballed from there.

A Surprise Sale That Changed Everything

SPEAKER_01 3:05

Um so after meeting you, um you know, you said you had who Ken, Ken and Tammy was was your clients, and uh you know you said that they would love my artwork. Well, I think it was the show was Sunday ended Sunday, believe it was Monday, you called, I think maybe Tuesday I went over to Ken and Tammy's house.

SPEAKER_00 3:31

I I I never would have dreamed well they would have I want to interject with because what what happened was is Ken uh Ken and Tammy Adams, they're they're well Ken more he's an avid blue water fisherman, you know, loves big game fish and so as do you.

SPEAKER_01 3:48

Yeah, and that's where a lot of my you know artwork comes from is based off. I do a lot of fishing, so everything I do is based off blue water fishing or yeah, any any kind of marine life. So as where but that's my background, really, so where I got started.

SPEAKER_00 4:02

So Ken hit it told me, you know, hey, if you see any art, you know, for his house, you know, he was kind of looking. Um and and I saw it and I took some pictures of your art and sent it to Ken. And Ken called and said, Hey, you know, love to look at his art. Uh, you know, can to can we go to his place? I said, Well, he's over in Panama City, it's kind of far, you know, but I I called you and said, Hey, if you want to come over and meet Ken, it's a little far of a drive. I don't know if he'll buy anything.

SPEAKER_01 4:32

Yeah, but it was worth it for sure. Yeah, that so uh loaded my travel up trailer was already loaded because we were just left the show. So I had everything ready. I just had to hook up with the truck and go. So it was a no-brainer. I was like, Yeah, we'll we'll be there. Um, so when we showed up and we started pulling pulling all the paintings out of the trailer, never would have thought that well well at first it started with, yeah, we'll take that one, and then pulled another one out, yeah, we'll take that one too. And I'm just I'm just in the back of my mind, I'm like, what? This is because this has never happened before. I never would have dreamed this will happen. Pulled another one out, take that one too. By the time I'd got there was five or six pieces, I'd pulled out, take them off. Got up inside, helped them take everything. I said, Oh, I got one more in the truck. We'll take that one too. They didn't even see it. We we'll take it. Um yeah, and it was just one of those things we're like, is this really happening right now? And it it was it was hard to believe that I just you know couldn't wrap my mind around it at the time. Um, and we you know, we were there and we we had some pretty I would call them intimate conversations with Ken out on his balcony, and um, you know, he kind of told me a little bit about his journey. Um and so it was just it was it was cool to to be able to experience that and lead me to number one, believe that it was even possible to have a career doing this. Um and number two, it I've always been a believer. There there's there's nothing I grew up in church. Um my mother, she works at a church, she's you know heavy in in ministry. Um and I I mean I I pray every night about artwork, but it just to see it unfold the way it did was pretty crazy. Um you know and you know they I was kind of scared to tell them the price, to be honest with you, because I in the back of my mind I'm like, there is no way that they're gonna oh they're just gonna try to talk, they're gonna want 10, 15 grand off or something, you know, something like that. And I told them the price, and they were they all right, well, well, you know, well, that's no problem, don't be scared. I told them the price, and you know, we did, you know, handled that, and I was just like, wow, I can I can really do this. I there there's there's a reason why this is happening. I I didn't know what it was at the time. Um so I I stewed on it for I don't know, probably two weeks.

Why Success Led To Baptism

SPEAKER_01 7:11

I was like, there's something bigger is this isn't just happenstance. So I talked to my mom. I was like, Mama, there's a there's a reason why I've you know am here right now, and I think it's because I need to get baptized. So I I mean, like I said, I've always been a believer, I've always prayed about it. I've always there's nothing in me that wasn't a believer. I'd just never been baptized for some reason, and I don't know why. Um, but I told my mom, I was like, hey, I want to be baptized, but I want it to be in the Gulf of Mexico. So she's like, and I told her, I was like, let's um let's set it for this weekend. She said, Why wait? Let's just do it. That was, I think it may have been on like a Thursday. She said, let's do it someday. I'm like, okay, that's fine. Well, let's do it someday then. Um, so yeah, I mean, just that that singular interaction at the show, meeting you and then going to Ken's house, pretty much what it did led me to showing my faith publicly and getting baptized. It did, and you know, I I I didn't know why it happened the way it happened, but you know, I hope that one day I can, you know, maybe lead somebody else to be able to to do the same thing. You just gotta put your put your fa and I never really and now I'll I'll pray and things will happen. And it's it it's just it I guess after being baptized, like you start seeing stuff a little differently,

Prayer Giving Back And Ulcerative Colitis

SPEAKER_01 8:52

maybe. I don't know what it is, but I've I prayed the other day um for because I like to donate a lot of stuff too. Um I've I believe heavy in you know giving back, and it's you know, that's my way of giving back, you know, through artwork. Um I prayed the other day, I said uh something about you know, if there's a a a place that I can donate to to make a difference. The next day I had a girl reach out to me, and I have ulcerative colitis, it's a as an autoimmune disease. I got diagnosed with that before uh really I started uh artwork. Um and it's been a scrubble. I just don't let it really affect me. The girl that reached out to me to donate is over uh ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease benefit in Texas, like it's a big thing in Texas. And she said we'd we'd love your art. She had no idea I had ulcer colitis, but the day before I prayed to be able to donate something that would make a difference. So I'm gonna do that, you know, and make a difference. But it's just kind of crazy how everything, you know, it's more circle. So it was a it's pretty neat.

SPEAKER_00 10:06

Well, the thing

Trusting God With Family And Work

SPEAKER_00 10:07

the thing that really spoke to me a lot about y'all's story, and and I just think our audience needs to hear is um don't uh underestimate God. Yeah, you know, a lot of us are in situations, you know, in businesses, and and us me and your wife Taylor know in real estate, like you know, it's it's not always easy. You know, a lot of people saying, How can I meet these goals? How can I, you know, and if you put your trust in God, uh he he can come in ways that you could just never see. You know, like you went there thinking maybe this guy will buy one piece, which would be incredible. Yeah, you know, and he buys like you know, seven W the whole thing, yeah. Everything that I had at the time original was gone. Yeah. So, and that happens all the time, you know, all the time to people, but we just need to really trust in God and and open our our mindset, you know, to He can do all kinds of things, you know, not just with our finances, but you know, with our health, with all kinds of challenges, you know, is really putting our trust in Him. And uh, you know, and I know you and Taylor are you know, y'all are you're a young couple, you got a one child, so you're you're you're putting a lot to talk, you want to talk anymore just about how y'all are trusting the Lord and what the Lord's doing in your life and your family.

SPEAKER_01 11:39

Yeah, I mean it's just uh a daily thing that you know We pray every day. We pray with Barry every night before we put him to bed, and then we pray together every night, and I think that helps a lot. Like if you don't pray for what you want, then you I I guess you don't really see it different. So you have to you have to trust enough to pray, and then you know once you pray, then you can start seeing stuff unfold. So um, I mean really just with everything we do, we just I I've completely just given up as far as control goes. I just you know there there's times that I want to control a situation and then I gotta step back and say, okay, this is just not not what I need to be doing. I mean, what whether it's anything that I do, it's all right, well, you know, we just gotta dial it back, let God handle it. Um even with Taylor's business, there's times where we've been, I mean, we'd literally had our we were building our house, and if it wasn't for her making this eight million dollar transaction sale, we wouldn't have that house right now. And that wasn't because of our work, that was because of God. I mean, it is you know, it there's so many different things, even the small things. I can sit back to the you know, praying about me being able to donate something, you know. If it could help one person out, then that's all that matters. And I think that um I would be able to that's I think I'll do art full time because God wants me to, so I can help other people. And that's really what I pray every night is I don't do it for me, I pray for humbleness and to help other people. And that's my that's my and if I make money doing it, good. I mean, uh obviously I'd love to sit at home and paint every day. So I would love to be able to help other people, and you know, it's like I said, it's not about me, it's just about helping other people.

SPEAKER_00 13:34

Well, and if there's anyone out there listening to maybe they're an artist or small business owner, or who knows, but people are really going through a lot right now.

SPEAKER_01 13:45

Yeah, it's it's hard times for sure. It's it's yeah, I mean it's I've I feel like probably some of the hardest times, or I know the hardest times people's ever seen. And there's only one way to get through it, and that's prayer and being in your faith with Jesus Christ. And that's the that's just bar none, the the bottom of it. And I I try to tell whoever I can that. Um so yeah, if this helps one person, you just gotta pray, keep your faith, and just don't give up. That's the next thing, because I mean, you know, God's not gonna put nothing on you too much. You might think it's too much, but it's gonna circle back and help you where it needs to help you. You know, I got sick, I got really sick, and now, you know, I'm I'm getting healthier and maybe made me sick because you know, I needed to get healthy, you know what I mean. It it's just one of those, like, who knows, you know, but whatever it and me getting sick might help somebody else and down the road. So um, just keep your faith and keep pushing. That's the main thing. Don't don't complain. You know, there's no point in complaining, just pray.

SPEAKER_00 14:55

That's so good, Cole.

Daily Bible Church And Small Groups

SPEAKER_00 14:57

Wow. And on Road to Redemption, we always like to um mention our three key pillars. It's really so you first get into the word of God, get into the Bible. Every day, just you don't have to have one this big. You can, it's a big Bible, but you can get, you know, your Bible app on your phone. Um, but just get up, spend time in the morning with the Lord, read the Bible. That's how he's going to speak to you mostly is through the Bible, through the Word. So I just encourage you to spend, you know, at least 15, 20 minutes in the morning before everything gets going with God in his word, and just time meditating with him, listening to him, and then get into a a Christ-centered church, a Bible-believing church, and just go. You're never gonna find the first perfect church, but go and and then get involved, get into a small group. We really encourage you to get into a group of men or women or maybe married couples and do life with them, make yourself vulnerable, accountable, and you know, we we promise you your life will be transformed, and you will have hope and encouragement and joy, you know, in this fallen world. Um is there anything else you wanted to uh share to tell your heart before we didn't?

SPEAKER_01 16:23

Uh really just uh you know keep the faith. There's always gonna be obstacles, you know. Just uh don't ever give up and reach out to somebody and like you said, go to church. I mean, I guarantee you that pastor's gonna preach to you every Sunday. It don't matter, you know, each person's there, yeah, but he's talking to each each everybody's got a different thing going on in their life, and he's gonna speak to you, maybe not directly to you, but you know he's an in a roundabout way, you know, you can get some help by going to church for sure. Um and if you haven't been baptized, I encourage you to be baptized because I guarantee if you start praying every day, get baptized, you will uh you're gonna notice a difference for sure. Um just keeping faith. I mean anxiety is not fun to deal with, so you might as well not worry and just you know, you know, put your faith in Jesus and keep pushing. That's the only thing we can do.

SPEAKER_00 17:26

That's great,

Closing Prayer For Healing And Hope

SPEAKER_00 17:27

Cole. Well, before we go, I want to pray um for you and your family and the listeners. Um Father God, Lord, we love you so much. We thank you for Cole and his wife Taylor coming in today. And um, we just pray right now that um this uh disease or auto immune disease Cole's been dealing with. We we just believe that it is healed. Uh uh it is gone, and he will see just great health. Uh we know your uh uh plan is to heal, and we just uh pray healing, speak healing over uh Cole in Jesus' name and and his whole family, Taylor and their uh their child. Just uh divine blessings over this family. And we pray for all those listening. Father God, just we ask that you meet their needs, give them encouragement, let them see that you uh uh uh you can do God sized prayers that they have, things that they can't maybe see, maybe they don't think there's a way out. If they uh put their trust in you, you will come through and answer their prayers. In Jesus' name. Amen.

unknown 18:36

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 18:37

Wow, it's been great. Thank you. Absolutely. Thank you for coming on. Thank you for having me. It really helped people.