Here’s the scoop: I married a preacher (it was actually a get-rich-slow scheme) and the wild ride began! 
Even though marrying a minister automatically put me in the public eye, what really thrust me onto a larger “stage” was something completely unexpected. God asked me to publicly tell the truth about my big secret: although I had once been a fervent believer, I felt like I had lost my faith and didn’t know where to find it. My response to that request — the first yes after several years of saying no — changed my life in a big way, thrusting me onto an international platform as a speaker and writer.
Long, long ago and far, far away I was raised in a devotedly religious, wonderful loving family of seven girls and one boy. I grew up knowing all about religion but did not understand how to have a relationship with God on a personal level. When I was 18 God found a way to connect with me and I asked Jesus to forgive my sin (of trying to be my own god) and gave Him control of my life. Things changed! My family was stunned, my friends hit the road, and I found a new place to belong when I joined a tiny but rapidly growing church in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. My first pastor, Henry Blackaby, who went on to write Experiencing God, baptized me in 1974 and gave me a solid foundation on which to build my faith.
No one would have believed that 20 years later I would feel like I had lost my faith and be left wondering if this “God thing” was all a big joke. The sticky part is that I was still married to a man in ministry and he was now in a position of influence and greater exposure than ever before. No one but the two of us was aware of how far I had drifted into this wilderness of unbelief. Hoping for restoration, but not knowing how to accomplish it, we didn’t plan on sharing this journey with anyone but our closest family and friends. God had a different plan.
The full story of how God made Himself known to me once again is told in my book From Faking it to Finding Grace and part of that story was His request for me to step out and publicly reveal my decade-long wilderness experience. My assignment from God was, and is, to reach out to believers who drift into (or leap into!) spiritual dryness.
However, the story didn’t end there but continued as God helped me find a simpler, uncluttered faith. He took me back to the basics and I began to follow Him again, one yes at a time. When I’m not escaping to the playground with my grandkids, my mission is to give hope and help to believers who want to get moving again or keep moving forward with Christ.
CONTACT ME: If you’ve read this far consider yourself a friend. Email me at ccavcr@gmail.com and tell me how I can best help you to follow God one yes at a time. Or post a comment and tell other readers what’s working for you in your faith walk. The best “road trips” happen when there’s someone else along for the ride. Hop in.
Hope for the Rest of Us 
Found your blog in a round about way, the way I find so many of my good friends. I’ll check back in the future to see what you are up to.
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Hi Connie!!
Happy Birthday! you mentioned it at retreat last october and i put it in my phone. so this morning i was rushing around getting ready to drive my tractor, and my alarm goes off, thinking o great what have i forgot this time, i smile to see that hey, ya, that’s right it’s Connie’s birthday!!!
wow, rambling here, i will just end by saying that i LOVE this web site and LOVE the work you are doing. since i’ve hours in my head today in the tractor, you’ll be the top 3 requests i labor over to the LORD!!
God Bless your day and the rest of the year!
Helen
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I just discovered your blog thru your facebook comment. This is wonderful and such an encouragement to so many of us out there … whether we have been lost in the wilderness … or just need a fresh thought to get us back on track … or just a giggle fest in the middle of our day. I used to love to read your monthly articles in Home Life and now this will be an added treat. Keep on sharing your faith journey with us! And thank you for being so candid and real.
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Hi Connie
Just came home from listening to you this evening at the
Brockville Standard Church—Wednesday evening.
Can’t begin to tell you how much your story ment to me.
So glad to find your site.
**Glad to see that you have caught on to e-mailing**
one person at a time.
Having a good laugh is one of the best meds. going!
Look forward to hearing from you when you have a chance.
With Love
Paula
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Hi Connie! Thank you, thank you, thank you for your willingness to be transparent as you
walk your life journey with the Lord!
You encouraged me so at the Ca retreat where you “flew like an eagle” on the zip line. When you spoke I received a fresh sprinkling of God’s grace and love. Thank you for helping deliver it!
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Good morning Connie;
You are still my hero. You have inspired me so many times over the past few years, I cannot thank you enough.
May our God continue to increase your ministry as you faithfully follow Him, one yes at a time.
Looking for your new book.
Blessings and love,
Patti
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The hardest place to say YES is in the wilderness. I was there last year and I am just shaking out the last bits of sand out of my shoes. Saying yes is hard…when life is hard..but it’s the only way to get through it and not be bitter.
I can’t wait to read your book, I am sure it will be in the mail any day::))
Blessings on your YES walk!
Hugs..Heidi
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It was great seeing you and Gerry in VA this week. Thanks for sharing your heart with me and for letting me share mine with you. I needed that so much. You are a great friend!
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Hi Connie,
I saw you and heard your story, this morning, on 100 Huntley Street. All I can say is thank you. I’ve been praying for God to lead me to where He wants me to go, because I’ve felt adrift lately. Then I heard your words and it hit me, again, that all I have to do is say “Yes”, because God’s already leading me.
I live in Airdrie, Alberta with my husband and our 5 year old son, neither of whom enjoy attending church. I love my local church, but haven’t been in quite sometime, because I’m afraid of alienating them and many other fearful things. When you said fear is one of the biggest things that disconnect our faith that really hit home for me. I’m letting fear lead me, instead of the Lord.
Thank you for the reminder and for being the channel through whom God was able to answer my prayer.
Beth
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you’re speechless?
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🙂 I do tend to go on sometimes…it’s one of my many talents
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actually Beth, the reason i said “you’re speechless?” is because, at my end, all i could read was “I saw you and heard your story, this morning, on 100 Huntley Street. All I can say is”. And that’s all there was. So i wondered what that could possibly mean and thus I surmised…if all you can say is…nothing…then you must be speechless! But i guess it was a cyber glitch that was later fixed and the entire message came through after all.
I am sorry to hear of your spiritual drift but am very glad to hear that you are aware of God’s leading and are willing to say yes and to follow Him one yes at a time. It’s the ONLY way Beth.
big hugs,
Connie
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Dear Connie, I was so encouraged to hear much of your story! What a blessing you are and to many others. Gale. I am the one who loves your red sweater coat and wanted to take it home, but you didn’t offer!! lol
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Hi Connie!
I’m so glad I stumbled across your blog today via Lynn Dove’s blog. It’s great to see you again! I’ll always remember the day you marched into class, pushed a chair to the front, stood on it and announced that you had a big hole in your pantyhose. “I know it’s there. So you don’t have to come up to me all day and whisper in my ear – Miss Cavanaugh, did you know you have a hole in your pantyhose?” One of many great memories as my teacher. You look as beautiful and charismatic as ever!
Your A student (ha ha). Pam Mytroen (nee Godard)
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Hi Pam! What a delight to connect with a former student! Thank you for finding me and remembering me. I remember having dinner in your parents’ home one evening during my year in Assiniboia. They were gracious hosts and your dad a very interesting conversationalist. And you were the type of student ever teacher dreams about! Blessings to you and yours!
Connie
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Thanks Connie, it’s nice to reconnect with you too! Since I posted on here last, I’ve become a Grandma to a little line-backer. What a joy!
I really love reading your blog postings. Keep writing!
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Dear Connie, a short message, just to let you know that I nominated you for the Sunshine Blogger Award. See my post at http://destinationitaly.wordpress.com/
Blessings from Italy,
Milly
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Thanks for your message on Monday’s gala at ERBC in Edmonton. Hours later got a phone call..my dad passed away quietly into the Lord’s presence… just one yes at a time. Thanks again for your message, your authenticity… and love of the Lord. A blessed Christmas to you and your family..
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Dear Hilde — thank you for your sweet note and my condolences to you as you spend your first Christmas without your dad. How comforting to know where he is though. Have a blessed Christmas
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Connie, when Hamish was here recently, he read us your story about the lost sweater/cellphone and I wanted to find it on your site but don’t know how to find it. I want to forward it to several friends. Bonnie Saur, Irving, TX
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Hi Bonnie,
Here is the link
https://conniecavanaugh.wordpress.com/2016/10/26/adventures-with-my-iphone-the-rest-of-the-story/
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