Coach of the Month: Marilyn Bright
Former School Administrator | Fast to Faith Coach | Wife & Mom | Daughter of the King
From Starting Over Every Monday to Finally Finding Freedom
For years, Marilyn thought the answer was losing weight.
She tried dieting, restricting, setting impossible goals and promising herself that this Monday would be different.
But underneath the constant pursuit of weight loss, something deeper was happening.
“I felt physically, emotionally and spiritually heavy. My joints ached. I rarely felt content or at peace, and sometimes I even wondered if God was pleased with me.”
Marilyn found herself fat-shaming her body, hiding in photos and sometimes avoiding social gatherings because she didn’t feel pretty enough to attend.
She was trying to change her body.
God was about to change the way she saw herself.
“I stopped trying to punish my body into submission and started learning who God says I am.”
The Missing Piece Wasn't Another Diet
Marilyn discovered Fast to Faith through the Mid-Life Reset Summit after hearing about it on Kerstin Lindquist’s podcast.
She entered thinking she needed help with her health.
What she discovered went much deeper.
Through the Fast to Faith 40-Day Program and eventually the Coaching Academy, Marilyn began to understand that lasting transformation wasn’t going to come from another set of restrictions.
She needed to understand and accept her identity in Christ.
“I learned that what I really needed was to know and accept my identity in Christ and to live and act in my God-given purpose.”
She began building a sustainable approach to eating, completed a three-day water fast, incorporated Lectio Divina and mindset work, and developed a deeper ability to listen for God’s voice.
And she found something she hadn’t expected:
A sisterhood of women encouraging her to become who God was calling her to be.
Why She Became a Coach:
One snowy Monday in New Jersey, Marilyn had the day off from her job as a school administrator.
That meant she could attend the Monday Faith Builder Call.
Dr. Tabatha couldn’t make the call that day, so Ashlee led it.
And Marilyn believes God used that change of plans to speak directly to her.
Ashlee shared her own story of leaving education administration to work with Dr. Tabatha — a story that felt remarkably similar to Marilyn’s.
At the time, Marilyn was working hard in school administration, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was out of alignment.
During the call, Ashlee led the women through an identity exercise: recognizing the negative things they believed about themselves, crossing them out and replacing them with what God says is true.
Then Ashlee said something Marilyn couldn’t forget:
“You have to dress for the part now for what you want to be in the future.”
Live today as the woman God is calling you to become.
Just days earlier, Marilyn’s coach, Melissa, had told her:
“I think you would make a great coach.”
Suddenly, the pieces began coming together.
“I have zero doubt that God used Ashlee that day to speak to me. After that call, I became obsessed with the idea of leaving my job and becoming a coach. I couldn’t shake it.”
Eventually, Marilyn did exactly that.
She retired from her highly stressful career and stepped into a new season of coaching and service.
Her Favorite Part of Coaching
One of Marilyn’s greatest joys as a coach is watching transformation happen in real time.
During one client’s 40-Day journey, Marilyn could see a change almost week by week.
She became calmer.
More optimistic.
She smiled more.
Even her face began to look different.
Another woman initially connected with Marilyn while considering the group program. After talking with her and beginning her journey, she decided to upgrade to the 40-Day program with one-on-one coaching.
She later sent Marilyn a message:
“I just wanted to say that I really appreciate having you on my journey with me. I feel like we click and I just feel really comfortable with you. I know our paths meeting is God’s work.”
The client began spending mornings on her front porch reading the Bible, completing her Fast to Faith lessons and journaling.
For Marilyn, this is why coaching matters.
It’s not simply about changing what a woman eats.
It’s about watching her change how she lives.
“You Will Be Equipped.”
If you’ve ever thought about coaching but immediately followed that thought with…
I’m not qualified.
I don’t know enough.
I don’t know if I could actually do this.
Marilyn understands.
Her advice?
“Please know that you will be equipped to do the work.”
She points first to God, who equips us for what He calls us to do.
Then there is the Coaching Academy itself — where women learn about nutrition, coaching, relationships, personal development and much more.
But perhaps most importantly, you don’t step into coaching alone.
“I love learning with a network of beautiful ladies who show such grace and compassion for one another. Becoming a Fast to Faith coach WILL bless every area of your life!”
Fun Facts
Her Morning Rhythm
Now that she’s retired, Marilyn treasures slower mornings.
She begins with prayer and the Bible, followed by exercise, meditation and positive affirmations that she intentionally speaks out loud.
Whenever possible, she takes it all outside into the morning sunlight.
Her Anchor Scriptures
Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
And Psalm 46:10:
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
Something You Might Not Know About Her
When Marilyn started kindergarten, she didn’t understand or speak English. She entered a classroom where she and her teacher couldn’t understand one another.
Years later, she would build a career in education and leadership — and today, she’s using her voice to encourage and coach other women.
Her Dream Biblical Conversation
Marilyn would sit down with the woman with the issue of blood.
She’d want to ask:
How desperate were you to reach Jesus?
What did you expect when you reached for Him?
What did it feel like to finally be seen?
To be healed?
And how did your life change afterward?
Perhaps those questions resonate so deeply because Marilyn knows something about discovering that the life on the other side of healing can look very different from the one you imagined.
Your Story May Be Just Beginning
Marilyn entered Fast to Faith looking for a way to finally feel better about herself.
Instead, she discovered who she was in Christ.
That transformation gave her the courage to leave a stressful career, step into coaching, serve women and trust God with what comes next.
Your next chapter may begin the same way hers did: with one simple yes.
Join Fast to Faith: Start your own transformational journey today!
Become a Coach: Make an impact, grow in faith, and help women step into their best selves!