Conversations with Ava Byler

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ava Byler

Hi Ava, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
The Isaiah VI Podcast was created to encourage others in their faith by sharing what God has done in my life. My faith was made a prominent part of my life throughout my entire upbringing, and I developed a deep understanding of the gospel at a young age. However, I began to rebel against what I knew about Jesus as I entered high school. Deep struggles with mental health, friendships, and insecurities ruled my life. While knowing the truth, that Jesus is the only way to find peace and joy amid my circumstances, I sought everything other than him to fill the void that I felt in my heart. This led to a development of sinful habits that took my life captive and my struggles only grew deeper and wider. I lost sight of what it meant to have a relationship with Jesus. I began to believe that I was defined by my sin struggles and that I was “too far gone” for His love and grace.
Thankfully, that could not have been further from the truth. As I hit rock bottom, I realized that Jesus was the only way out. I realized that he loved me despite me running from him, and he was waiting for me with grace. The truth that Jesus is the only thing that could make me feel whole began to take root in my life. He picked me up and loved me as the sinner that I was. Experiencing his radical love and grace changed everything about the way I lived. Where I once struggled with my mental health he gave me joy and peace that does not waiver with my circumstances. Where I once felt alone the Lord gave me true friendships and mentors that I consider some of my greatest blessings. Where insecurities once ruled my life I was given a sense of value and purpose. Through this, the chains of my sinful habits were broken and I found freedom in Christ.
I realized that if Jesus could change my life so radically then he would do it for other people too. I wanted God to use me and my story to lead others to experience him in the same way that I did. I dug into scripture to find a biblical example of what it looks like to be used by God. I ran across the passage in Isaiah chapter six that talks about God calling Isaiah to do work as a prophet. This example by Isaiah showed me what it looks like to come to the Lord in humility and surrender my life to his mission. I took steps to wrestle with God as he taught me how to carry myself based on that biblical example. I was led to create a platform that gives me the ability to share Jesus’ love with anybody. Today, The Isaiah VI Podcast exists as an invitation to grow with a community of believers who seek to know Jesus and be used by Him. Through this podcast, I share scripture-based lessons that God has taught me throughout my life as I seek to build personal relationships with those who listen. To put it simply, I talk about Jesus, because that is all that I ever want to do. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I was just 18 years old when I started The Isaiah VI Podcast. The first episode was launched after months of prayer and planning, but I can honestly admit that I had a lot to learn. I was teaching myself how to record, edit, and upload episodes all while graduating from high school. Re-branding, re-recording, and re-editing happened more times than I could count. I learned a lot about technical management through this project, but my most valuable lessons have been taught to me through writing the content of each episode. I was raised on the truth that the most important thing about you is your concept of God. So, creating theologically sound episodes is the main priority. As a college student, I must seek out theological education outside of my other responsibilities. This can be a difficult task to take on despite my confidence that I would not do it any other way. Learning how to put together a sound message that accurately portrays the meaning of scripture was not easy. However, the Lord has used this experience to teach me about His strength. I have learned that an attempt to create an episode by my own strength will always fail. I have learned how to seek wisdom from him to fully and accurately portray what he wants me to share. To others, it may look like I have walked through each step of this process on my own, but I believe that couldn’t be further from the truth. The Lord has guided me through every single step, and I will continue to fully rely on Him as this platform continues to grow. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
The Isaiah VI Podcast primarily functions as a podcast on a variety of listening platforms. The goal of each episode is to encourage listeners to live out and share their faith. This is accomplished by walking through biblical lessons that the Lord has taught me throughout my life. I share what God is revealing in scripture, how that applies to my life, and encourage listeners to seek out how that applies to their individual lives. The opportunity to talk about Jesus online is a blessing, but as the host, the podcast exists with a deeper personal initiative. The Isaiah VI Podcasts publicizes my faith which invites women and young girls into my life that I can lead. These personal connections are what drive what I do. Aside from a relationship with Jesus, I consider meaningful relationships with others to be the most valuable part of life on earth. I believe that my purpose is to lead others in faith, and I am most proud of how The Isaiah VI Podcast has allowed me to do that in a greater capacity. I believe that this is what sets me apart from others who host podcasts with similar content. I do not rush to push out episodes just for the sake of numbers. I do not desire fame or any public attention that may come with being an online figure. To me, the podcast is simply a launching point to something much more meaningful.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Sound theology is a primary objective in the production of each episode. The Bible is God’s revelation of himself, so there is an accurate way to interpret what each verse means. Studying scripture can be challenging, but many resources exist to help. The Bible Doctrine by Wayne Grudem is a primary resource for me as it breaks down the answer to any theological question I may have. While unpacking a passage of scripture, details such as cultural context and biblical parallels are not to be missed. Using bible commentaries can be crucial to deepening your understanding of these ideas. I often refer to authors such as William Barclay and Oliver Greene for their expertise. This degree of research is beneficial for both content creation and growth in my faith. To follow Jesus is to be in love with him. To fall in love with Jesus you must understand who He is. Knowing Jesus and having a relationship with him goes beyond mere knowledge of biblical topics. Seeking to live out what I learn is where I see the most growth in my relationship with Him. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/theisaiahvipodcast
• Instagram: @theisaiahvipodcast