Finding God

In this deeply healing and eye‑opening episode of the Finding God Podcast, Keana explores one of the most damaging yet common beliefs in Christianity: the idea that God’s love must be earned. Many believers carry silent pressure to “perform” spiritually to pray enough, serve enough, behave well enough, or be perfect enough to feel worthy of God’s love. 

But this belief doesn’t come from God. It comes from people, trauma, culture, and distorted teachings that confuse performance with worthiness. 

In this episode, Keana breaks down: 

• Why so many Christians feel like they must earn God’s love 
• How family systems, church culture, and trauma shape this belief 
• The psychological impact of conditional love 
• The spiritual damage caused by performance‑based religion 
• Biblical examples of people who struggled with performance and those who rested in God’s unconditional love 
• How to recognize when you’re performing for God instead of connecting with Him 
• Five healing practices to help you break free from spiritual striving 

This episode is a gentle invitation to breathe, rest, and remember that God’s love is not fragile, conditional, or dependent on your performance. You are loved because God is love not because you are perfect. 

🌱 Recap of Last Week’s Episode 

Last week, we talked about what to do when family is the source of religious trauma  a powerful and emotional conversation that resonated with so many listeners. We explored how spiritual abuse within families distorts our view of God, creates fear‑based faith, and leads to lifelong struggles with shame, anxiety, and performance‑based spirituality. 

If you missed that episode, you can listen to the full conversation by clicking the link in the show notes. 

💔 In This Episode, We Explore: 

Why We Believe God’s Love Is Performance‑Based 

• How childhood experiences shape our view of God 
• The role of trauma, fear, and conditional love 
• Insights from leading psychologists like Dr. Diane Langberg, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, and Carl Rogers 

How Performance‑Based Faith Harms Us 

• Spiritual anxiety and fear of disappointing God 
• Shame, perfectionism, and burnout 
• Emotional and physical consequences 
• How striving disconnects us from God 

Biblical Examples 

People who struggled with performance: 

• Saul 
• The Pharisees 
• The older brother in the Prodigal Son story 

People who rested in God’s love: 

• David 
• Mary of Bethany 
• The Prodigal Son 
• Abraham 

How to Tell If You’re Trying to Earn God’s Love 

• Signs of spiritual striving 
• Emotional indicators 
• The difference between performing for God vs. resting in God 

Five Healing Exercises 

1. The “Beloved” Breath Prayer 
2. Rewrite the Script 
3. The Grace Journal 
4. Scripture Reframing 
5. Rest as Worship 

💜 Key Scriptures Mentioned 

• Romans 8 
• Psalm 103 
• Isaiah 43 
• Ephesians 2 
• Luke 10 (Mary & Martha) 
• Luke 15 (Prodigal Son) 

🎧 Listen to Last Week’s Episode 

What to Do When Family Is the Source of Religious Trauma 

 👉 Link in the show notes 

🌱 Join the Free Restoring Faith After Abuse Community 

If you’re healing from spiritual trauma, religious abuse, or distorted views of God, you’re invited to join Keana’s free Skool community: Restoring Faith After Abuse — a safe, supportive space for rebuilding your faith in a healthy, life‑giving way. 

Join here: 

 https://www.skool.com/restoring-faith-after-abuse-4824/about?ref=afeaf0bc4df2485d81b2e43d18415929 

📬 Connect with Keana W. Mitchell 

Website: https://keanawmitchell.com 

 Facebook Page: Finding God 

 Facebook Group: Finding God Community 

 Instagram: @findinggod2 

 Listen on RedCircle: https://redcircle.com/shows/190efd66-2f1a-4c5f-861e-40ab89d4c41b 

 Email: [email protected] 

🌿 Episode Summary 

In this powerful and compassionate episode of the Finding God Podcast, Keana explores one of the most painful and often unspoken realities in faith communities: religious trauma that comes from within the family. 

Family is meant to be a place of love, safety, and spiritual nurturing but for many, it becomes the very place where faith is misused, weaponized, or distorted. This episode brings clarity, validation, and hope to anyone who has been shamed, silenced, or spiritually harmed by those closest to them. 

Keana blends psychology, scripture, and lived experience to help listeners understand why this happens, how it affects their relationship with God, and what healing can look like. Most importantly, she reminds listeners that God does not condone abuse, manipulation, or spiritual control  and His heart is always for healing, justice, and restoration. 

🌱 In This Episode, We Explore: 

💔 Why Family Can Be the Source of Religious Trauma 

• How rigid, legalistic, or fear‑based beliefs get passed down 
• Ways families misuse faith to control, shame, or silence 
• The psychological impact of spiritual manipulation 
• How distorted family teachings can warp your view of God 

📖 Biblical Examples of Family‑Based Religious Trauma 

• Joseph’s betrayal by his brothers 
• Hannah’s spiritual anguish under Peninnah’s cruelty 
• Jesus’ own family calling Him “out of His mind” 
• What these stories reveal about God’s heart toward the wounded 

✝️ How God Feels About Religious Trauma 

• Jesus confronting religious hypocrisy 
• God’s compassion for the brokenhearted 
• Why spiritual abuse is never God’s will 
• The difference between God’s character and human misuse of His name 

🚨 Abuse, Cover‑Ups & Weaponized Forgiveness 

• How families hide behind religion to silence victims 
• Why forced forgiveness is not biblical 
• The emotional and physical impact of unprocessed trauma 
• God’s call to justice, truth, and protection of the vulnerable 

🌸 Five Healing Practices for Survivors 

1. Sacred Journaling 
2. Music & Prayer Reset 
3. Boundary Mapping 
4. Scripture Reframing 
5. Safe Community Connection 

These practices help restore emotional clarity, rebuild trust in God, and create space for true healing. 

🛡️ Removing Yourself from Harm 

• Why stepping away from toxic family dynamics is biblical 
• Jesus’ own boundaries and withdrawals 
• How God provides spiritual family when biological family is unsafe 

💜 God’s Love for Survivors 

• God sees, validates, and draws near to the brokenhearted 
• Your story is not too heavy for Him 
• Healing is possible, and God walks with you through it 

🎵 Song of the Week 

“A Word” by Uniquely Chosen 

A reminder that God’s Word brings healing, hope, and restoration. 

💬 Key Scriptures Mentioned 

• Psalm 34:18 
• Matthew 11:28 
• Genesis 37 
• 1 Samuel 1 
• Mark 3:21 
• Matthew 23 
• Isaiah 61:1 
• Galatians 5:1 
• John 8:36 

📬 Contact Information for Keana W. Mitchell — Finding God Podcast 

🌐 Website 

Emory Rose 

https://keanawmitchell.com 

📘 Facebook Page 

Finding God 

https://www.facebook.com/FindingGod 

👥 Facebook Group 

Finding God Community 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/FindingGod 

📸 Instagram 

Keana W. Mitchell 

https://www.instagram.com/findinggod2 

🎧 Listen to Finding God on RedCircle 

https://redcircle.com/shows/190efd66-2f1a-4c5f-861e-40ab89d4c41b 

💛 Free Skool Community: Restoring Faith After Abuse 

https://www.skool.com/restoring-faith-after-abuse-4824/about?ref=afeaf0bc4df2485d81b2e43d18415929 

📧 Email 

[email protected] 

🎵 Music Feature — Unique-ly Chosen 

New Music Coming Soon!!! 

✨ Final Thoughts 

Ending the year strong doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine it means choosing healing, truth, and freedom. God does not ask you to endure harm in His name. He calls you to restoration, peace, and a deeper understanding of His love. 

✨ Episode Summary

In this special Christmas episode, Keana W. Mitchell invites listeners into a heartfelt reflection on the meaning of Christmas and the comforting truth of Emmanuel God with us. Whether listeners are surrounded by family, navigating a quiet holiday, or carrying mixed emotions into the season, this episode offers reassurance that God’s presence is constant, steady, and deeply personal.

Keana shares how Christmas reminds us that God steps into our humanity not when life is perfect, but right in the middle of our struggles, transitions, and questions. Through gentle encouragement and spiritual insight, she explores how the birth of Jesus reveals God’s desire to be near, to comfort, and to walk with us through every season.

💛 What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• A warm Christmas welcome for listeners tuning in on the holiday
• A personal reflection on how Christmas highlights God’s nearness
• A deeper look at the meaning of Emmanuel God with us
• Encouragement for those experiencing joy, grief, or a mix of both
• A reminder that God’s presence is not dependent on circumstances
• Hope for anyone feeling alone, overwhelmed, or spiritually distant

🕊️ Key Takeaways

• Christmas is more than celebration it’s a reminder of God’s presence.
• Emmanuel means God is with us in joy, in sorrow, and in uncertainty.
• You don’t have to have everything figured out for God to draw near.
• God meets you exactly where you are, not where you think you “should” be.
• His presence brings comfort, hope, and reassurance in every season.

📖 Scripture Focus

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel” which means ‘God with us.’

 Matthew 1:23 (NIV)

🎧 Why This Episode Matters

For many people, Christmas can be emotionally complex. This episode offers a gentle space to breathe, reflect, and reconnect with the truth that God is present not just in the celebration, but in the quiet, the lonely, and the uncertain moments too.

❤️ Final Encouragement

No matter what this Christmas looks like for you, God is with you. His presence is your peace, your strength, and your hope. Emmanuel is not just a name it’s a promise.

Connect with Keana W. Mitchell

Facebook:

Finding God | Facebook

Facebook Group:

Finding God | Facebook

Instagram:

Keana W. Mitchell (@findinggod2) • Instagram photos and videos

Listen to Finding God on RedCircle:

https://redcircle.com/shows/190efd66-2f1a-4c5f-861e-40ab89d4c41b

Website: Emory Rose (keanawmitchell.com)

Email Address: [email protected]

✨ Episode Summary

Are you serving God out of fear or out of love? This week, Relationship Coach Keana W. Mitchell invites you to explore one of the most important questions in your spiritual journey.

Too often, Christians obey God because they’re afraid of punishment, rejection, or failure. But God doesn’t want slaves He wants sons and daughters. In this episode, Keana breaks down the difference between fear-driven faith and love-led devotion, showing how intimacy with God transforms obedience into joy.

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• The difference between fear-based obedience and love-based devotion
• Why many Christians struggle with fear-driven faith
• Biblical examples of obedience rooted in love
• How trauma and religious experiences can distort our view of God
• 5 practical exercises to help you shift from fear to love
• How to recognize when you’re obeying out of fear and how to change course

📖 Key Quote

“Fear is a powerful motivator but it’s a terrible master.” Kay Wills Wyma, Just Do It

🛠️ Practical Takeaways

• You don’t have to earn God’s love you already have it.
• You are allowed to change your mind.
• You are allowed to choose intimacy over anxiety.
• Love says: I am already loved.

🎧 Listen & Reflect

Tune in to this week’s episode and begin transforming your relationship with God. Let this be the moment you move from fear into freedom, and from anxiety into intimacy.

📌 Subscribe to the podcast on RedCircle.

https://redcircle.com/shows/190efd66-2f1a-4c5f-861e-40ab89d4c41b

 Church hurt is real and it can leave deep emotional, spiritual, and relational wounds. In this episode of the Finding God Podcast, host Keana W. Mitchell explores what church hurt is, why it’s so damaging, and how to begin honest conversations with family members who may not understand.

You’ll learn:

• What “church hurt” means and how it impacts faith and mental health
• Why family members may dismiss or minimize your pain
• Practical strategies for starting conversations with loved ones
• Role‑play examples of supportive vs. dismissive responses
• Biblical models of honesty and grief (Hannah, David, Jesus)
• A prayer for peace and journaling prompts to process your emotions

This episode reminds us that talking about church hurt is not about tearing down faith it’s about building a healthier, more authentic relationship with God and with others.

📖 Scriptures Referenced:

• James 5:16
• Proverbs 4:23
• Psalm 147:3
• Psalm 34:18
• John 11

🙏 If this episode blessed you, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with a friend who may need encouragement.

✨ Connect with Keana:

Facebook:

Finding God | Facebook

Facebook Group:

Finding God | Facebook

Instagram:

Keana W. Mitchell (@findinggod2) • Instagram photos and videos

Listen to Finding God on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/022Zht5DjU1i3k7BAeHaTW?si=8c728b93da5d43c2

Link to Healing Exercises PDF: Why God isn't wanting to punish you

Link to Song Devotion on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5-I8EfhMCE8

In this powerful episode of the Finding God Podcast, host Keana W. Mitchell explores the emotional and spiritual impact of toxic church culture and how setting boundaries can be a sacred act of healing. Building on last week’s episode about fear-based theology and its effects on mental health, Keana dives into how exclusion, racism, spiritual abuse, and prosperity gospel distort the image of God and damage our relationship with the Divine.

Through Scripture, psychological insight, and trauma-informed reflection, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and practical tools for reclaiming your spiritual autonomy. Whether you’ve experienced religious trauma or are simply seeking a more authentic connection with God, this episode affirms that you are worthy of love, safety, and spiritual clarity.

📖 Topics Covered:

• What church culture is and how it becomes toxic
• The emotional and psychological toll of exclusion, racism, and spiritual abuse
• How toxic theology distorts our view of God
• What Scripture says about the true purpose of the church
• The importance of knowing God for yourself
• How to set boundaries that protect your peace and reflect your values

🧠 Key Scriptures:

• Acts 2:42–47 – The early church as a place of unity and generosity
• Galatians 3:28 – Spiritual equality in Christ
• Micah 6:8 – God’s call to justice, mercy, and humility
• Jeremiah 29:13 – Seeking God with your whole heart
• John 15:5 – Abiding in God as the source of life
• John 4:23 – Worshiping in spirit and truth

🛡️ Healing Takeaways:

• Boundaries are sacred and spiritually necessary
• You are allowed to walk away from harmful church environments
• God is not confined to a building God is with you in your healing
• You can seek and find God for yourself, outside of toxic systems

🎶 Featured Song:

“The Answer” by Uniquely Chosen A soul-stirring anthem for anyone searching for clarity, healing, and truth. This song reminds us that God is the answer and that stepping away from toxic church culture can be the first step toward spiritual restoration.

💬 Call to Action:

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who’s healing from religious trauma or questioning their spiritual path. Follow, rate, and review the podcast to help others find this safe and sacred space.

Episode Title: Relationship with God vs. Religion (Replay)

Podcast: Finding God Podcast

✨ Episode Summary

Due to technical difficulties, this week’s episode on setting boundaries with toxic church culture will be released next week. In the meantime, we’re revisiting a listener favorite: the difference between having a relationship with God vs. religion.

This episode dives into the heart of faith, reminding us that God desires connection, not just ritual. We’ll discuss how religion can sometimes become routine, while a relationship with God is about intimacy, trust, and daily presence.

💡 What You’ll Learn

• The difference between practicing religion and cultivating relationship.
• Why rituals without intimacy can leave faith feeling empty.
• How to strengthen your personal connection with God.

📲 Call to Action

• Subscribe to the Finding God Podcast for weekly episodes.
• Share this replay with someone who needs encouragement in their faith journey.
• Follow on Instagram @findinggod2 for updates and reflections.

🎧 Episode Summary:

In this powerful episode of the Finding God Podcast, host Keana W. Mitchell explores how fear-based theology belief systems rooted in shame, punishment, and conditional love can deeply impact your mental and emotional well-being. Building on last week’s episode, Relearning God’s Character, Keana unpacks the psychological toll of viewing God through a lens of fear and control, and offers a path toward healing through truth, grace, and spiritual safety.

You’ll learn how fear-based theology can lead to anxiety, religious OCD (scrupulosity), depression, and even PTSD-like symptoms. Through biblical examples, psychological research, and trauma-informed insight, Keana contrasts fear-driven faith with the liberating power of love-based theology.

This episode also includes therapeutic healing exercises rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and spiritual reflection to help you begin releasing fear and embracing the truth of God’s unconditional love.

🧠 Topics Covered:

• What fear-based theology is and how it shows up in everyday life
• Mental health disorders linked to fear-based religious beliefs
• Biblical examples of fear-based vs. faith-based theology
• CBT-inspired healing exercises for spiritual and emotional restoration
• How to reframe your view of God through love, not fear

✨ Healing Exercises Included:

• Thought Reframing with Scripture
• Safe Imagery Practice
• Affirmation Journaling
• Forgiveness Visualization

🎵 Featured Song:

“Have I Told You Lately” by Unique-ly Chosen A gentle, soul-soothing reminder of God’s love and presence. Listen now on the Finding God Podcast YouTube channel.

📲 Connect with Keana:

• Instagram: findinggod2
• Website: keanawmitchell.com
• YouTube: Finding God Podcast - YouTube
• Link to song on Sound Cloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/pfLl5mvMeOmiPKmESB

💬 Call to Action:

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who’s healing from spiritual trauma. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast, it helps others find this safe, nurturing space.

🎧 Episode Summary

This week, Keana W. Mitchell invites listeners into a powerful conversation about spiritual restoration and emotional clarity. Many of us were taught distorted versions of God’s character angry, distant, or conditional. These misrepresentations, whether through fear-based theology, religious trauma, or misused scripture, can deeply affect our mental health and spiritual intimacy.

In this episode, Keana explores how relearning God’s true nature kind, loving, and just can transform our emotional well-being and deepen our relationship with Him. Through biblical examples, psychological insights, and trauma-informed healing exercises, you’ll be guided back to the heart of a God who whispers grace, not fear.

🔁 Last Week’s Recap

Last week’s episode, “Healthy Giving vs. Financial Abuse in the Church,” unpacked how spiritual manipulation around money can distort our view of generosity and God’s provision. Keana explored the difference between peace-led giving and coercive tactics, laying the groundwork for this week’s deeper dive into God’s character.

📖 What You’ll Learn

• How distorted views of God affect mental health and spiritual connection
• Biblical stories where God revealed His true character
• How mercy and justice coexist in God’s love
• Clinical research on the emotional impact of misrepresenting God
• Five healing exercises to help you rediscover who God is to you
• How understanding God’s love can lead to emotional safety and spiritual intimacy

🛠️ Healing Exercises Included

Each practice is paired with a scripture for reflection:

1. God Image Journal – John 14:9
2. Scripture Meditation – Psalm 103:8
3. Prayer of Reintroduction – Jeremiah 24:7
4. Lyric Reflection – Zephaniah 3:17
5. Character Collage – Exodus 34:6

📥 Download the full healing guide in the show notes

🎶 Song of the Week

“God’s Love” by Unique-ly Chosen This song is a declaration of divine kindness, mercy, and justice. 🎥 Watch the lyric video in the show notes 📥 Healing guide available for download

🧠 Research Highlight

According to NeuroLaunch (2025), fear-based religious teachings can contribute to emotional dysregulation and obsessive behaviors. A study in the Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health found that secure attachment to a loving God correlates with lower anxiety and higher emotional resilience (Smith & Exline, 2023).

🔗 Resources & Links

• 🎶 Watch the lyric video for “God’s Love” by Unique-ly Chosen
• 📄 Download the Healing Exercises PDF:
• 📺 Subscribe to the Finding God Podcast on YouTube

💬 Connect with Keana

• Instagram: @findinggod2
• Website: www.keanawmitchell.com

✨ If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who’s ready to meet God again for who He truly is. Relearning His character isn’t rebellion, it’s restoration.

#FindingGodPodcast #GodIsKind #FaithHealing #SpiritualRestoration #TraumaInformedFaith #GodsLove #UniqueLyChosen #KeanaWMitchell

In this week’s episode of the Finding God Podcast, Keana W. Mitchell explores a topic that’s often overlooked in faith spaces: the difference between healthy giving and financial abuse. Prompted by recent controversy surrounding Bishop Marvin Winans and a viral moment involving public correction over a donation amount, Keana dives into the emotional, spiritual, and financial impact of coercive giving practices.

This episode offers biblical clarity, trauma-informed insight, and practical tools to help you discern when giving is spirit-led and when it’s being weaponized.

🔍 What You’ll Learn:

• The biblical roots of giving in both the Old and New Testaments
• How to recognize healthy giving vs. financial manipulation
• Real-life examples of spiritual coercion and financial boundary violations
• What Scripture says about generosity, stewardship, and spiritual integrity
• Signs of financial abuse in church settings
• How to heal and set financial boundaries without guilt or fear

📖 Scripture Highlights:

• 2 Corinthians 9:7 – “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart…”
• Proverbs 11:25 – “A generous person will prosper…”
• Matthew 23:14 – “You devour widows’ houses…”
• Micah 3:11 – “Her priests teach for a price…”

🧠 Expert Insight:

Dr. Diane Langberg, Christian psychologist and trauma expert, writes:

“Spiritual abuse often includes financial exploitation, leaving victims emotionally depleted, physically strained, and spiritually confused.”

Keana reflects on how financial abuse distorts your view of God, damages trust in community and erodes your sense of worth.

🧘‍♀️ 5 Healing Exercises to Reclaim Your Power:

1. Financial Truth Journal – Reflect on your giving history and motivations
2. Boundary Affirmation Practice – Rebuild your confidence in saying no
3. Scripture Reframing – Replace guilt with grace through God’s Word
4. Giving Reset Ritual – Pause giving to rediscover your “why”
5. Safe Stewardship Plan – Create a budget that honors both your faith and your needs

📥 Download the full healing guide in the show notes.

🎶 Song of the Week: “Hallelujah” by Unique-ly Chosen

This week’s featured song is a powerful declaration of spiritual freedom. “Hallelujah” invites listeners to release shame, reclaim their voice, and celebrate the God who sees the heart—not the wallet. It’s a healing anthem for anyone who’s ever felt pressured, overlooked, or spiritually manipulated.

🎥 Watch the lyric video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mYa2N81wR84

 📥 Download the healing exercises PDF in the show notes:

💬 Final Reflection

Giving is sacred but it should never come from fear, shame, or pressure. You are not your tithe. You are not your bank account. You are a child of God, and your worth is not for sale.

🎧 Click the link to listen to the podcast on Spotify!!!

https://open.spotify.com/show/022Zht5DjU1i3k7BAeHaTW?si=ffde46a60bc74bef