Deep down, we all cling to control—often the final, most insidious addiction. In this wrap-up episode of our Dealing With Your Addictions series, John Tinnin, MDiv, MFT interviews therapist and recovering alcoholic Sharon Hersh, LPC about her decades-long battle with alcohol, her journey into counseling, and the painful parallels she’s walked with her adult children. Sharon names the shame, secrecy, and stubborn self-reliance that fuel every addiction—whether it’s substances, scrolling, spending, or even religious performance. John and Sharon unpack why relapse doesn’t mean failure, why white-knuckling never works, and why true recovery isn’t just sobriety—it’s a whole-life change that only the indwelling work of Jesus can do.  They explore the three non-negotiable daily practices that lead to freedom (seek God, ruthless honesty, and consistent recovery work), the surprising gifts hidden inside addiction and why surrender to Christ is the only way to conquer “the last addiction” - our lifelong impulse to save ourselves. The final takeaway from this series is that freedom from addiction isn’t earned by perfection–it’s received one surrendered day at a time. Book recommendation: The Last Addiction by Sharon Hersh We hope you have enjoyed this series on addiction! Stay tuned for a NEW SERIES starting January 14th called How to Handle Life where we will tackle the most common issues we see in our counseling practice: panic attacks, unanswered prayers, stress, painful relationships, forgiveness, singleness, narcissism and much more!  Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds

Happy New Year! This episode with guest Jules Lundberg, PLPC was our most downloaded episode of 2025, so we don't want you to miss this incredible story of how God's power can enable you to rewrite the script of your life. Have you ever experienced a “complete and total loss” only to have it be flipped into a “complete and total life transformation”?  In this powerful episode of our “Surviving and Thriving After Trauma” series, Lynn Roush, LPC interviews her colleague and friend, Jules Lundberg, (trauma-informed PLPC & PhD student) who shares the compelling story of her journey as a trauma survivor and how she has worked hard to heal, thrive, and help others flip the script of their trauma. Together, Lynn and Jules provide listeners with practical steps for rewriting the shameful narrative that emerges from childhood trauma and how to begin breaking generational patterns of sin and dysfunction. Jules' story of resilience includes severe childhood abuse, domestic violence, divorce, infant loss, fostering and adoption. Lynn and Jules discuss: The challenges of naming dysfunction in your family The fear of being disconnected from love and belonging How to recognize and discern leaving an abusive relationship  How healing happens through relationships with safe people Understanding dissociation as a common response to childhood trauma 5 ways to flip the script on your childhood trauma If you are wanting to rewrite the narrative of your life, this episode will offer insight, hope and practical steps to help you change your internal dialogue and experience the transformation that occurs when you receive God’s invitation to be transformed by his love and truth. We want you to have hope that you can survive and thrive after trauma and embrace your identity as a beloved child of God. Bible Verse Highlight: Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” If you are in an abusive relationship and need support you can call the domestic abuse hotline: 1-800.799.SAFE (7233), or visit their website https://www.thehotline.org/ If you live in Columbia, Missouri, you can contact True North to receive education, counseling, and shelter from an abusive partner.  Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @WithYouInTheWeeds Facebook: WithYouInTheWeeds Website: WithYouInTheWeeds.com Are you a fan of WYITW? If so, please share this resource with a friend! Leave a review and a 5-star rating. Thanks for being here!

What is Christmas really about? Is Jesus like the “elf on a shelf” toy that we play with once a year? Or is he like Santa, punishing those who are naughty and rewarding those who are nice? It’s easy to get caught up in cultural traditions and forget that the true meaning of Christmas is that God became flesh to dwell among us. Jesus entered into a world of darkness and declared: “I am the light of the world”. Who could make such a claim, and live a life of perfection to back it up? And what does that mean for you today? John and Shay explain the gospel message that God wants to be WITH YOU, and moves towards you in your sinfulness, darkness and brokenness. God took on flesh in the person of Jesus in order to identify with you in your suffering and to forgive your sins. Emmanuel means “God with us”, a comforting declaration that you are not alone in this world, you have a friend in Jesus. If you are looking for hope this Christmas season, this episode will comfort, encourage and awaken your heart to the beauty and wonder of what it means that Jesus is WITH YOU in the weeds of life. The WYITW team wishes you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!

Is God still with you when the pain doesn’t go away? This episode dives deep into the invisible torment that chronic pain brings. Dr. David Hockman (a former surgeon who now lives with chronic pain himself) and Pastor Shay Roush unpack what chronic pain actually is, why it’s far more than “just physical,” and how it rewires your brain, drains your energy, strains relationships, and can shake your faith to the core.  The conversation walks you through the biology of tolerance and withdrawal, the red flags of addiction, the proper (and improper) use of pain medication, and a long list of practical, whole-person strategies that can help you live with pain instead of being owned by it. At the heart of this episode is a life-changing truth: God’s strength is made perfect in weakness, not in the absence of suffering.  Your chronic pain does not mean God has abandoned you; pain may remain, but it never gets the last word. Someday you will be united with Jesus and your present sufferings will be but a “light and momentary affliction” when you receive your pain-free resurrected body. Our prayer is that this hope sustains, guides and comforts you even when the pain doesn’t go away. Book resource: Change Your Brain, Change Your Pain by Dr. Daniel Amen Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds

What if the things you normalize, celebrate, or even depend on can quietly take over your life just as powerfully as any substance? In this thought-provoking episode of our ongoing series, Dealing with Your Addictions, John and Shay tackle the topic of behaviors like gambling, shopping, and workaholism and how they can evolve into powerful addictions that mirror the neurological patterns of substance abuse. You’ll hear about: How everyday habits can become life-altering compulsions Why dopamine is at the center of every addiction story What Scripture says about being mastered by anything other than Jesus Examining root causes to find true freedom and healing After listening to this episode, you’ll understand that freedom from process addiction is possible no matter where you find yourself on the recovery journey. Book recommendation: Healing What’s Within by Chuck DeGroat Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds

If your cravings aren’t satisfied by food, then your struggle might not be about eating at all. But it can be difficult to figure out what’s behind your longings. In this episode of our ongoing series, Dealing with Your Addictions, we tackle a topic that you may struggle with quietly: your complicated relationship with food. Lynn Roush, LPC sits down with counselor Kelsey Crandall, PLPC from The Current, a Columbia, MO-based clinic specializing in helping clients heal from disordered eating. You’ll hear about these key ideas: The ways that food issues are tied to emotional, relational, and spiritual pain Why someone struggling with disordered eating can look “normal” from the outside How shame and silence may keep you stuck The 5 C’s that explain why “food is more than food” Therapeutic and faith-based interventions that pave the way for healing You’ll want to listen in as Kelsey brings a warm, grounded perspective on what’s really going on beneath the surface of eating disorders—and why you may feel stuck in patterns you can’t simply “willpower” your way out of. This conversation is full of insight that will help you reflect on the role food plays in your life and how to deal with this inner struggle with hope and support. Further Resources: Sick Enough by Jennifer Gaudiani The Current Clinic in Columbia, MO Bamboo Nutrition Clinic in Columbia, MO Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds

Does your phone put you to bed at night and wake you up in the morning? How often do you actually touch and hold your phone each day? Could you be addicted? Your phone isn’t just a tool anymore—it’s a slot machine in your pocket, custom-built to hijack your brain’s reward system. And for the first generation of true digital natives (today’s teens and twenty-somethings), the consequences are hitting harder and earlier than any of us “digital immigrants” ever imagined. In this episode, Austin Conner, MDiv, PLPC has a broad ranging interview with Luke Simon, newly hired co-director of Crossing Student Ministry, a published author, and an extremely wise and insightful GenZ-er.  Luke gets brutally honest about his double life—real-life Luke who felt anxious and insecure, versus “Luke3Simon” online who was always crushing it—and how deleting social media, going full airplane-mode, and even leaving his phone in the car became his personal rehab. He also explains why the phone isn’t the real problem—it’s the escape hatch from a painful, boring, or broken reality. Austin and Luke discuss the nature of the digital landscape, what apps and dynamics contribute to phone addiction and specific advice to parents about how to help themselves and their kids navigate the ever changing digital terrain. After listening to this episode we hope that you will look up from the dim glow in the palm of your hand and engage the real world in all its colorful beauty. Further Resources The Anxious Generation anxiousgeneration.co The Shallows Qustodio Parental Control Software Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds  X: withyou_weeds

What do you do when the person you love most is trapped in addiction—and you realize you’re powerless to change them?  This conversation is going to share the raw truth about addiction and codependency that many Christians are not able to say out loud. The crazy-cycle is real in a home or a marriage where there is addiction. And learning to love someone who is addicted will take grace and wisdom that can only come from God. After living in the crazy-cycle for years, things started to make sense after Yvonne’s husband revealed his addiction to pornography and drugs. But even after the truth came out, nothing would ever be the same again. As her husband entered a recovery process, Yvonne began her journey of uncovering her need to please and take care of others, and her drive to live a life of performance and perfection.  She needed to change just as much as her husband needed to change. Listen as Lynn Roush, LPC and Yvonne Bernard pull back the curtain on 5 pervasive myths Christians believe about addiction, the needed boundaries that will save your sanity, and the one truth that can offer you lasting peace. If you’ve ever felt stuck on the crazy-cycle of loving an addict, this hope-filled conversation is for you. Download our free resource: 5 Steps to Setting Healthy Boundaries  ‘It Will Never Happen to Me!’ Children of Alcoholics: As Youngsters - Adolescents - Adults by Claudia Black Beyond Boundaries: Learning to Trust Again in Relationships by Dr. John Townsend Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds

You’ve identified the problem, but what do you do now?  How can you break free from the grasp of pornography? In this insightful episode, John and Austin start with what NOT to do. You’ll hear about the things that seem helpful, but ultimately won’t produce lasting change. Then you’ll come to understand 4 Core Beliefs that may be keeping you stuck, and 5 Habits you can practice to begin and continue the process of breaking free from porn.  When you listen, you’ll learn practical and faithful steps to take that will create and cultivate hope instead of the familiar experience of feeling stuck, ashamed, and broken.  Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds

Unfortunately it is all too common for those who struggle with pornography to have some sort of sexual abuse in their past. But why? Does the abuse cause the addiction, or is there simply a correlation? The jury is still out on this question.  Although everyone’s story is different, pastor and counselor Austin Conner, MDiv, PLPC helps connect the dots on why and how those with sexual abuse in their background might be more susceptible to pornography.  When you understand more about what abuse does to a person’s view of themselves, their sexuality, and the world around them, you will grow in your empathy and understanding for those who are stuck in an addictive cycle with pornography. Finally, an important resource for those with sexual abuse in their background is the book On The Threshold of Hope: Opening the Door for Healing for Survivors of Sexual Abuse by Diane Langberg.

This is a battle that the enemy of your soul loves to keep in the dark. But we’d like to bring it out into the light—and provide hope for anyone who is caught in the trap of porn addiction. In this episode of our ongoing series, Dealing with Your Addictions, John and Austin unpack the reasons why so many people get hooked—and how understanding the roots of it can be the first step toward freedom. The gravitational pull of pornography is impossible to ignore for both men and women. No one just wakes up addicted to pornography. Instead, there is a story to be told about how you got there and why you stay there.  Listen as John and Austin discuss how porn can become all-consuming as well as the growing accessibility and depravity of online sexual content. You’ll also learn 5 reasons why you may find yourself addicted to porn, including:  Modeling of early caregivers Influence of peers Isolation and secrecy The rapidly evolving digital landscape Your personal neurobiology John and Austin also provide some specific strategies you can apply right now to reshape your heart and mind around this topic. When you understand the factors around porn addiction, you’ll be in a better place to figure out how to take steps that will lead to freedom—which you’ll hear more about in next Wednesday’s episode. Also, look for a BONUS EPISODE coming out this Friday covering the topic of: “The Connection Between Abuse and Porn Addiction”. This will shed further light on the factors that may influence you, your self-perception and your vulnerability to addictive cycles. Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds

Are you ready to get “in the weeds” about weed? In today’s society, marijuana use is legalized and normalized, so is there any reason not to use it? In this episode of our ongoing series, Dealing with Your Addictions, Austin, John, and Shay sit down for a straightforward conversation about the effects of marijuana and how Christians can make wise decisions in a culture where marijuana use is increasingly common. We used to be able to say using Marijuana was off the table because it was illegal. But today, that’s no longer a good enough reason to say no, thanks to more and more states legalizing it. So, should we use it or not? A good place to start is to understand more about the nature of marijuana and how it impacts the brain and the body. Once you know more about that, you’re in a better place to get spiritual and biblical insights and perspectives. This is exactly what we offer you in this episode. After you listen, you’ll have a TON of great info, have a wise biblical perspective, and get specific questions to ask yourself and others about marijuana usage. Links to other resources: Cannabis and The Christian - Todd Mile The Effects of Cannabis (Marijuana) on the Brain & Body - Huberman Lab Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds

What if the unspoken rules of your childhood are still shaping your adult life? In this episode of With You in the Weeds, hosts Lynn and Shay Roush share a deeply personal conversation in their Dealing With Your Addictions series. Shay opens up about his upbringing in an alcoholic family, revealing how it impacted his trust, emotions, and relationships.  Here are the sobering statistics: 1 in 6 U.S. children live with an alcoholic parent (1 in 4 with substance abuse); alcoholism drives nearly 50% of divorces; it causes 12,000 annual drunk-driving deaths and 232 million missed workdays; and heavy use shortens life by 2–24 years.  Shay’s story highlights that behind every statistic, there is a person and family deeply impacted by alcohol. In addition to lost jobs, DWI’s, and stints in rehab facilities, Shay’s dad created financial fears that ultimately led to his parent’s divorce. Despite periods of sobriety, Shay’s father eventually died from alcohol, leaving Shay with a legacy of alcoholism that he didn’t want to repeat.  This episode unpacks the 5 spoken rules of alcoholic families that perpetuate the cycle: Don’t Trust Don’t Talk Don’t Feel Play a Role Deny the Impact As a child grows up in this environment, these rules foster Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOAs) leading to fear of abandonment, difficulty trusting others, people-pleasing, emotional numbness, perfectionism, and addiction tendencies. Shay’s journey demonstrates how God’s transformative power helped him learn healthier patterns of relating, and break the cycle of addiction in his family, allowing him to be emotionally present for his family despite early temptations. We believe that future generations can be impacted when you name and break the unspoken rules of your alcoholic family and allow God to heal the broken parts of your heart. We recommend the book It Will Never Happen to Me by Claudia Black, for further explanation on the rules of an alcoholic family.  Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds

Is alcohol hindering your relationship with God or loved ones?  As part of our Managing Your Addictions series, John Tinnin and Shay Roush welcome Aric Bremer, mid-Missouri radio personality and co-host of the podcast Blended, Blessed and Always a Mess. Aric’s path to sobriety emerged while coping with grief and loneliness, and was shaped by a desire for deeper and healthier relationships with his family and God. Aric recounts his 25-year struggle with alcohol, which intensified after the tragic loss of his bonus daughter, Hallie, in 2022. Drinking to numb grief strained his relationships, but naming his struggle (“if you can name it, you can tame it”) led to sobriety 13 months ago. His choice was driven by a commitment to his wife Angie, their kids, and his faith, along with a growing awareness of how much he had to lose if he didn’t make a change. No longer having alcohol as a way to cope with negative feelings, Aric found that taking walks was an effective way to manage cravings and build community with other men. Going alcohol-free has improved his sleep, sharpened his spiritual focus and allows him to be more present with his children in a way he never was before. Although you may not be ready to go alcohol-free, you will be encouraged to reflect on alcohol’s role in your life and consider: am I ready to be on a path of health and healing? Read Aric's blog at Miles For Him or check out our episode Relationship Red Flags, where Lynn Roush interviews Aric's wife, Angie Phillips, to discuss the warning signs of an unhealthy relationship.  Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds

Has anyone ever asked you about your drinking? Have you ever tried to cut back on alcohol?  Drinking is a culturally accepted way to relax, unwind, celebrate or manage stress. And no one intentionally decides to have a drinking problem. It’s usually a slow drift—one drink here, a few more there—and before you know it, alcohol might be playing a bigger role in your life than you intended. But how can you know if it’s a problem? In this enlightening episode of our ongoing series, Dealing with Your Addictions, John and Austin talk about the very common issue of drinking alcohol and how to figure out if it’s a problem in your life. You’ll hear about: How drinking affects your brain and body A biblical view of alcohol Questions you can ask yourself about drinking Paying attention without feeling shame The goal of this episode isn’t to heap guilt on anyone or to say you can’t ever enjoy a glass of wine or a beer. Instead, it’s about understanding what alcohol really does to your brain and body so you can be honest with yourself about your relationship with alcohol. This powerful conversation could be a game changer for you or someone you love! What Alcohol Does to Your Brain, Body and Health - from the Huberman Lab on YouTube Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds

Have you ever tried to stop a destructive habit, only to find yourself even more tightly bound than before? In this perceptive episode of our ongoing series, Dealing with Your Addictions, Austin sits down with David Koch, a licensed professional counselor, certified sex therapist, and director of program operations at Crossroads Counseling Centers in St. Louis, Missouri. David teaches on addictions and brings both professional expertise and personal vulnerability to the conversation. Together, Austin and David explore the realities of addiction—what it is, how it develops, the role that contributing factors play, and why recovery is such a complex and often painful journey. As you listen, you will get a behind-the-scenes look at: What’s going on in someone’s life before an addiction starts The chemical ways that addiction affects the brain  How someone can recover from an addiction Shattering myths about addiction Whether you’re personally wrestling with addiction, walking alongside someone who is, or simply wanting to better understand this issue, you’ll appreciate the honesty, hope, and practical insight this episode has to offer. It turns out that struggling with addiction doesn’t make you a failure—it just means the healing part of your story hasn’t been written yet.  Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds

Why does addiction feel like an unstoppable river, sweeping you or someone you love further downstream? As part of our “Dealing With Your Addictions” series, hosts Austin Conner and John Tinnin explore the streams that fuel addiction by combining their years of ministry and counseling experience to help you navigate the invisible forces at work in your life.  They identify 5 streams that contribute to the addictive cycle: Genetics Upbringing/attachment Choice Cultural influences Cosmic/spiritual forces Then they explain how shame is a hidden undercurrent that runs beneath this powerful river and intensifies the struggle with feelings of unworthiness and isolation. Addiction drowns out God’s love and presence, but there are important takeaways from this conversation that you can put into practice:  First, map your personal "rivers"—assess which streams in your life contribute to your struggle and journal their influence.  Second, embrace your agency, however small, and ask yourself, “Am I ready to change?” Third, seek connection over isolation. No matter how hard you try, you can’t do it alone. Finally, rest in Scripture’s promises—Romans 8:1 (there is no condemnation for those in Christ), 1 John 2:1 (Jesus is your advocate), and Matthew 11:28 (Jesus offers rest for those who are exhausted by the struggle)—and pray for God’s strength, knowing he’s already there with you in the weeds. Our hope and prayer is that when you listen to this episode, you will leave with a desire to show others (and yourself) compassion, a greater sense of humility given the complexity of addiction, and tangible reminders of hope that health and healing are possible.  Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!

Why do you keep chasing the very thing that chains you down? The dopamine rush from drinking, shopping, binge eating or mindless scrolling is fleeting and leaves you feeling emptier than before. But, you feel helpless to make a different choice. The title of this episode captures the heart of the human dilemma for every person - not just someone caught in the throes of addiction. We all have an idea of what we’re supposed to do, and sometimes we actually do it. But then other times we all get in our own way and don’t deliver. In fact, we often do the exact opposite of what we know we should do. Hosts Austin Conner and Shay Roush kick off the second episode of our "Dealing with Your Addictions" series by peering through a biblical lens at the age-old struggle of why we do what we don’t want to do. Drawing from Romans 1, they frame addiction not just as a clinical trap but as desires with deeper roots—a misguided quest for fulfillment apart from God, where good gifts like money or sex twist into controlling idols that promise salvation but deliver bondage. As you listen, you’ll come to understand the spectrum of addictions, from "little a" habits like hiding shopping sprees to "capital A" devastators like raging alcoholism or destructive drug use, all rooted in unhealed hurts and the illusion of a "warm hug" from temporary relief. Yet this conversation offers a profound hope: No matter your past or number of relapses, in Christ you're washed, sanctified, and justified—God's love remains steadfast, unshaken by our harmful habits.  When you take the first step of radical honesty and bring your hidden struggles into the light, you’ll learn that God’s love is greater than your addiction and doesn’t change your identity in Christ as a beloved child of God. Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!

Do you ever feel like you want to escape from reality? Do you find yourself repeating habits that cause more problems than they solve? We think that addiction is a universal struggle that is also a surprising gift that can lead you closer to God. We are kicking off a new series called "Dealing with Your Addictions" because we want to empower you to face yourself honestly by helping you understand the complex world of addiction. Listen as hosts Lynn Roush and John Tinnin introduce the six A's of addiction so you can gain insight into the reasons behind your deepest struggles. We emphasize that addiction is not an unforgivable sin but can actually be a gift that, when explored, reveals the heart’s deepest needs for God’s love and healing. The 6 A’s you need to know are: Avoidance: Using substances or behaviors to escape painful emotions or realities, like shame, emptiness, loneliness or guilt.  Affect Regulation: Seeking quick fixes (e.g., alcohol, social media) to manage intense emotions instead of processing them.  Attachment: Unmet needs for being seen, soothed, safe, and secure drive reliance on substances or processes as pseudo-comfort.  Abuse: Escalating use to harmful levels, chasing diminishing rewards due to the brain’s rewiring.  Adverse Consequences: Negative impacts on relationships, health, work or finances from escalating conflict and stress.  Addict Brain: Defense mechanisms (rationalization, denial) and neurological changes (e.g., dopamine craving that brings temporary satisfaction) perpetuate addiction. We invite you to get curious through this series as we explore a biblical perspective on addiction, and dive into specific addictions such as alcohol, marijuana, sex and porn, food, shopping, gambling, religion and the many other ways we seek comfort through substances or behaviors.  Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!

Do you believe God loves you but struggle to feel it? Or do you wrestle with the need to control everything while believing God is in charge? If you’re stuck in the gap between what you believe and what you experience, this episode is for you! We are excited to share this interview because we know it will speak to the common dynamics that show up in our relationships and spiritual journey. Host Austin Conner invites pastor and author Steve Cuss to share about his book The Expectation Gap, offering strategies to help you bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be.   Most of us experience a disconnect between our faith and daily life, which is what inspired Steve to address relational patterns that fuel addiction and spiritual stagnation. Using the Systems Theory, Steve identifies the relational dynamics of: Reactivity, Assumptions, Stuck Patterns and Attempted Solutions as a map for understanding how and why we get discouraged in our faith and disconnect from others.  This conversation also highlights the false needs of Control, Perfection, Knowing the Answer, Being There for Others and Seeking Approval, and how they drive anxiety and block God’s comforting presence. You will learn how to cultivate micro-habits that replace chaos and striving with awareness and stillness.  If you want to learn more or find Steve’s Life-Giving List, visit stevecusswords.com or read Steve’s book The Expectation Gap.  Connect with us & Subscribe to our weekly newsletter! Website: withyouintheweeds.com Instagram: @withyouintheweeds Facebook: @withyouintheweeds            X: withyou_weeds If you love listening to WYITW, would you please leave us a 5 star rating and a review? Your feedback helps us reach more people!