In episode 11 of People Around Me, titled “One Step at a Time,” Bubba sits down with Maira Carrillo.
From a small town in Texas to running her own law firm, Maira Carrillo’s story is one marked by grit, grace, and a remarkable ability to look fear in the eye and push forward anyway.
As the oldest of three daughters and the first in her family to graduate high school, pursue a college degree, and eventually earn a law degree, Maira faced fear at every stage of her journey. Fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of not being “enough”—yet she made the decision to move through it, not away from it.
“Fear is often seen as the enemy, but it can also be our fuel,” Maira shared during an interview in her law office. From Angelina College, to Stephen F. Austin University, to Baylor Law School—each transition came with its own challenges. But Maira trusted that God was placing the right people and opportunities in her path at just the right time.
When the opportunity arose to take ownership of the law firm where she worked—not long after getting married—fear knocked on the door again. But this time, she and her husband Derek prayed, planned, and took the leap together.
And just when they got settled? A new chapter began: motherhood. Clients knew her voice from phone calls, but probably didn’t know she was rocking baby Lucas in her arms while making legal decisions. For Maira, faith and family weren’t obstacles to her career—they were catalysts.
“How grateful am I to be overwhelmed by the things I once prayed for?”
Her message to young women, mothers, dreamers, professionals, and anyone battling their own fears:
Just. Get. Through. It.
You’re stronger than you think. The fear you feel isn’t a dead end—it’s an invitation. An opportunity to build endurance, character, and faith. A chance to step into a blessing you prayed for.
So don’t fear the next step. Chase the lion—and watch what God does next.
People Around Me Transcript
Hello, everybody. It’s Bubba here with another edition of The People Around Me. I am joined by a very lovely and talented young lady, Maira Carrillo, and we’re in her law office. Maira, thank you so much for taking this opportunity to kind of share some of the things that you have fought through and worked through.
Starting out as just a junior college student and now a mother, a wife, a business owner, and an attorney. I think there’s one word that identifies all of those different facets. It’s a little word but extremely powerful: fear. I think we all experience that on different levels and in different opportunities.
So, what I’d like to do is just kind of give a little history. You’re from the big city of Diboll—go Lumberjacks!
Oh yeah.
That’s it. And you’re the oldest of three girls.
Three daughters. My poor dad.
Bless his heart. Oh, he’s a super good dude.
He was great to put up with all of us.
So, I grew up in Diboll and graduated from Diboll High School. I guess—do you want me to go through the educational background?
Yeah, just briefly. You were the first one in your family to pursue a college education. I think that’s important because there was some fear there.
Absolutely. And a lot of times, people think of fear in a negative way, but it doesn’t have to be. It can be something that fuels you and helps you push forward and persevere. I’d like to say that’s part of my story. I am the oldest of three, the first in my family to graduate high school—something that many people take for granted nowadays. The first to pursue higher education, and the first to pursue a postgraduate degree, too.
It’s definitely been a journey, that’s for sure. But I’m happy to say it’s all been worthwhile. And I’m even more proud to say that I think I have allowed that to be a driving force for my two younger sisters, who have also taken the same path. I would say that I’m more proud of how my accomplishments have driven my sisters than anything else. And we’ve all made our parents very proud.
Yes, a very smart family. You said something about fear—it’s not a bad thing. You can be afraid of insects or dogs, or sometimes fear of failure. People might see you now and think it was easy for you—successful law firm, married, a little boy, degrees from Angelina College, Stephen F. Austin, and Baylor Law. But you didn’t have anyone in your family to guide you. How did you navigate all of that? Especially in law school—you mentioned 27 months of crying. How did you use fear to keep yourself from being suffocated by it?
Well, first of all—prayer. Lots and lots of prayer. And I know my mother’s prayers were behind me too. She’s a devout Christian woman, and I know she’s done nothing but want the absolute best for her children.
I have no other way to describe it except one step at a time. I had to handle each step as I approached it. Everything was new to me—from applying to schools to registering for classes, finding financial aid, figuring out how to pay for everything. But at every point, there were people who helped me. I know that was God. From Angelina College to SFA to Baylor, I’ve had people placed in my life for a reason.
Isn’t that just like God? So much of what we worry about never even happens. We want to know everything in black and white, but God sees the path ahead—even if we can’t. And I think a lot of people feel like they’ll be alone, or there’s no way to get through fear successfully.
Unfortunately, people might look at you now and think it’s easy for you not to be fearful. But your success came from facing fear. I really believe success is not the absence of fear but the decision to confront it. And God is so loving. I think He sends us small doses of fear to prepare us for the big ones, so when we face a huge, bold fear, we’re ready.
During times of uncertainty is when our faith is forged—when our character is built and our endurance is strengthened. There had to be days when you felt like giving up.
Oh, yeah. Many of those. And it’s okay. I think it’s okay to say, “I can’t do this right now.” But then, pray, take a breath, and start again.
The fear of graduating high school, going to Angelina College, then to SFA, then Baylor—these all came with different kinds of fears—but the same framework. And then when you had the chance to take over the firm—wow. That had to be terrifying. Financial obligations, employees, the business. You and your husband must have really prayed about that. How did you decide to move forward?
There was certainly a lot of fear. Derek and I had been married just a few months when the opportunity came up. We prayed and looked at all the numbers. We had to. And we believe we made the right decision. It hasn’t been easy, and people don’t always see the sacrifice behind the scenes. But God’s been so good to us.
That was the first step. The next was how to start a family with everything else going on.
Right.
And God was good again. We had Lucas. I was blessed to have him here in the office with me in those early months. He’d be in his little bouncer or in my arms during client calls or Zoom meetings. I know a lot of women don’t have that—being a mother and still being able to pursue their professional goals. You think you have to choose between the two.
Wow.
But if I had been in corporate America, I don’t think I would have had that same privilege—to have my baby with me at work.
So, if you’re a young woman out there studying, dating, working, and then maybe starting a family—each phase comes with new fears and challenges. And kids, they don’t care if you’re on a Zoom call. They want what they want, when they want it. But you made a way. What would you say to encourage young women going through all of that?
Just get through it. Really. You just get through it. There’s no such thing as maternity leave when you’re self-employed. I knew there would be sleepless nights and days where I had court early the next morning. But you get through it. We’re a lot stronger than we think. And everyone can give you advice, but you find what works for you, and you get through it.
I imagine taking over the firm wasn’t even on your radar. Then suddenly—boom—a huge opportunity.
That’s right. It wasn’t expected at all. But God has a way of bringing things to us at just the right time—even if it feels too soon to us. We think we have it all planned out, and God says, “I like your plan, but I’ve got something better.”
Fear is something I see so much in ministry. People say they don’t have anything to offer, or they’re afraid of being inadequate. They’re scared of their past. I read a book called Chase the Lion by Mark Batterson, and I want to share this quote:
“At the end of our lives, our greatest regret will be the God-ordained opportunities we left on the table, the God-given passions we didn’t pursue, and the God-sized dreams we didn’t go after because we let fear dictate our decisions.”
Had you stayed in the safe job, you wouldn’t be doing what you’re doing now. You wouldn’t be mentoring other young women, serving your community, or setting an example for your sisters.
Absolutely. Life is challenging. We have a choice—fight or flee. Fleeing seems like the easy way out, but everything I have today is because I chose to fight through the fear.
And it’s sad to see people not fight for what’s possible for their lives. I’ve done it too—said “I’m not doing that,” just out of fear or lack of faith. But God has our best interest in mind. He says, “Fear not.”
Any last words of encouragement?
Someone told me recently—and I might not get this exactly right—but, “How grateful am I to be overwhelmed by the things I once prayed for?”
That’s powerful.
It’s not easy day-to-day. But everything I prayed for, I’m now living.
That’s fantastic. I challenge each of you watching to look at it that way. Don’t see a challenge—see an opportunity. If you look for excuses, you’ll find them. If you look for opportunity, you’ll find that too.
Maira, thank you so much for sharing this. And I have to confess something. I’ve known Maira for several years—and she’s actually my daughter-in-law. She’s married to my son Derek. And I set them up—I take full credit! She is also the mother of my fourth grandchild, Mr. Lucas Chance—Pawpaw’s good boy. I’m blessed.
Fear not. Push through. Chase the lion.
Thanks for tuning in. And always remember, God is more interested in doing something in you than through you.