When thinking about the common reasons why people seek counseling, we decided to tackle Facing Reality and Not Losing Faith, because the realities of life are painful or challenging and can cause us to lose heart.
There are several ways you may responsd to the agonizing and devastating realities of life. You may feel overwhelmed and choose to live in denial and avoidance. A deep sense of shame might make you feel unable or unwilling to share your hurts with others. Or, you may feel bitterness and resentment towards God and decide to keep Him at a distance.
While these responses are understandable, they keep you from the chance to deepen your faith, be vulnerable in community, and experience healing.
Listen in as the WYITW team – with some special guests – tackles some tough realities of life and how you can face them without losing your faith.
Facing Fear and Not Losing Faith: Listen or Read
What are you most afraid of? If you can honestly answer that question, then you are well on your way to facing your fears. How you handle fear will determine whether or not you stay stuck or keep growing. After you listen to this episode, you’ll be better equipped to not only determine what you are most afraid of and why, but you’ll know how to manage your fears and where to go for help.
Facing Suffering and Not Losing Faith: Listen or Read
When you’re suffering and in pain, hope is something you wish would arrive like a package on your doorstep. But that’s not actually how hope is formed. Listen in as John and Austin interview a special guest, Curt Thompson, MD, author of the book The Deepest Place: Suffering and the Formation of Hope. This conversation will change the way you’ve thought about hope, and give you encouragement to seek hope and healing through community.
Facing Betrayal and Not Losing Faith: Listen or Read
If you've experienced betrayal, then you know the pain and heartache that comes with it. Betrayal is a piercing wound that can cause you to never want to trust anyone again, even God. By naming the reality of this hurt, and using the Psalms as a guide, this conversation will give you the words you need to describe, explain, and understand the pain of betrayal.
Facing Church Hurt and Not Losing Faith: Listen or Read
Have the flaws and imperfections in the body of Christ become a stumbling block to your faith? In this special episode, Austin interviews author, pastor, and professor Trevin Wax, of the Reconstructing Faith podcast, to discuss the ways that being part of a church can be both a source of blessing and pain. For as many ways as fellowship with other believers can be life-giving, there is also an opportunity for hurt that can lead to distrust and rejection of the faith altogether.
Facing Chronic Illness and Not Losing Faith: Listen or Read
If you are experiencing chronic illness, is it still possible for you to persevere and live out God’s purpose for your life, even in the midst of suffering? In this episode, John, Shay, and Lynn look at a day in the life of a person facing a chronic illness, a day in the life of a caregiver, and ways to manage your situation with acceptance and faithfulness. We hope you discover that God’s grace is sufficient even when suffering from chronic pain.
Facing Politics and Not Losing Faith: Listen or Read
Does the current political climate make you want to bury your head in the sand? Whether you enjoy political debates or try to avoid politics altogether, we think you’ll appreciate this episode. John and Shay offer a biblical view of the role of government and provide guidance on how to love others even if you disagree on political issues. They also share how you can have hope, no matter which candidate wins the election.
Facing Addiction and Not Losing Faith: Listen or Read
In the last episode of this series, clinical therapist and author Michael John Cusick, director of Restoring the Soul ministry, explains that addiction is a form of false connection that serves as a substitute for intimacy. It promises comfort and significance to fill the hole in your heart, but it always falls short. Recovery involves creating a true and genuine connection with others where you can be known and loved for who you are.