Show Notes

Most high performers don't recognize burnout until their body forces them to stop — and for Dr. Jessica Houston, that recognition took years of overextending herself to outrun a childhood shaped by poverty and survival mode. In this episode, Dr. Jessica joins Roslyn to talk about healing from a condemning image of God, learning to trust him instead of perform for him, and building the self-awareness it takes to set real boundaries. If you've ever felt like rest is something you have to earn, this conversation is for you.

Scripture Referenced

• 2 Corinthians 9 (NLT) — Roslyn references this passage on being a "cheerful giver," noting that giving (or saying yes) reluctantly or out of obligation reflects a heart posture God doesn't want for us. She ties this to the idea that even our yes should come from a cheerful, willing place rather than fear of disappointing others.

Links & Resources Mentioned

• Dr. Jessica Houston's website: drjessicahuston.com
• Book: Give Your All Without Losing Yourself: The High Performance Guide to Sustainable Success — Dr. Jessica's newly released book, available on Amazon or wherever books are sold. Includes a full chapter titled "Value Your Yes."
• Book: Women's Secrets: It's Time to Stop Suffering in Silence — Dr. Jessica's first book, written as part of her own healing process.

Episode Summary

Dr. Jessica Houston is a keynote speaker and self-leadership strategist based in Atlanta. In this conversation, she shares the layered story behind her work: a physically abusive relationship in college, years of infertility met with two unexpected pregnancies (including one after being told she had only a 5% chance of conceiving naturally), and a childhood marked by poverty, homelessness, and domestic conflict that she didn't fully recognize as trauma until she became a school social worker.

Growing up in survival mode. Dr. Jessica didn't realize her family had experienced homelessness until she was an adult working in trauma training — she had assumed "homeless" only meant someone living on the street, not a family staying with relatives after an eviction. She discusses how this conditioning followed her into adulthood: even after achieving financial stability, she found herself anxious over small expenses and unable to expect good things to happen to her, because she'd been conditioned for lack and stress rather than blessing.

A condemning view of God. Dr. Jessica also opens up about growing up in a strict, "condemning" church environment where she believed God was primarily watching for her mistakes — right down to feeling guilty for listening to secular music or saying a curse word. She describes spending roughly a decade rebuilding her relationship with God on her own terms, praying specifically that he would reveal who he actually is to her, rather than relying on what she'd been taught about him. She's candid that in the process of healing from religious condemnation, she noticed herself becoming judgmental of others in the same way — a pattern she had to confront in herself.

Writing as obedience. Her first book, Women's Secrets, began as an act of obedience rather than a business plan — she describes God waking her up at 3 and 4 a.m. prompting her to be honest about her struggles. The book became the foundation for her speaking career and eventually her business, though she's candid that it took years of learning the "CEO side" of things — niching down, building an audience, and understanding that a book alone doesn't build a business.

High performing and burnout. The conversation moves into the heart of Dr. Jessica's newest book: why high performers overextend themselves. She names two core drivers — the desire to win, and the fact that overgiving is socially rewarded while overworking rarely draws criticism. She unpacks the internal dialogue behind it ("If I don't do this, who will? I don't want to let them down") and the early warning signs people miss: chronic exhaustion that isn't fixed by sleep, irritability with loved ones, forgetfulness, restlessness in bed, and working through exhaustion rather than resting.

The spiritual cost of burnout. Dr. Jessica speaks directly to what unmanaged burnout does to a person's relationship with God — he gets pushed to the back burner, only approached when something is needed, rather than being a daily priority. Her personal practice for combating this is giving to herself first, meaning she spends time with God before the rest of the household wakes up, before she's pulled into meeting everyone else's needs.

Understanding capacity. She defines capacity as the amount of pressure or responsibility a person can carry without becoming overwhelmed, stressed, or burned out — and argues most people don't know their own capacity because they're afraid of disappointing others or being seen as selfish.

The three questions before saying yes. From the "Value Your Yes" chapter of her new book, Dr. Jessica shares the three questions she asks herself before agreeing to anything:

1. Do I actually want to do it?
2. Do I have time to do it?
3. Will taking this on push me into overwhelm?

Roslyn connects this practice to the biblical concept of giving cheerfully rather than reluctantly (2 Corinthians 9), noting that the pause between being asked and answering is where the real work — and the real heart-posture check — happens.

Boundaries as self-protection. Dr. Jessica describes using a personal filtering system before taking anything on: Does this align with my values? Does it move me toward what I actually want, or am I just doing it to be liked? She frames boundaries not as guarding herself from other people, but as "guarding me from me" — protecting herself from her own instinct to overgive.

Who the book is for. Dr. Jessica closes by describing Give Your All Without Losing Yourself as a book for the person everyone calls on — the go-to friend, family member, or leader who is quietly running on empty while still showing up for everyone else. Her central message: self-leadership means being honest with yourself about who you are and what you need, rather than waiting for someone else to give you permission to rest.

Follow Roslyn:

Youtube: Click Here

Instagram: Click Here

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Shame of Exposure: What Adam, Eve, and Paul Teach Us About Hiding from God

Shame doesn't always look like guilt — sometimes it looks like silence, distraction, or simply not tracking the thing you don't want to see. In this episode, Roslyn unpacks the spiritual roots of shame starting in the Garden of Eden, traces how it quietly shapes our relationships, and gets vulnerable about her own weight loss journey and the moment she realized why she'd stopped tracking her food. Drawing from Genesis 3 and 2 Corinthians 12, this episode reframes exposure — to God, to ourselves, and to others — as the doorway to intimacy, not the danger we've made it out to be.

Timestamps

00:00 — Welcome back + episode intro

01:15 — Why this episode: a listener request for a deep dive on shame

02:10 — Episode roadmap: the Garden, relationships, a personal story, Paul on weakness, and practical tools

02:55 — The thesis: we were never meant to hide from God

04:00 — Reading Genesis 3:7-11 (NLT) — Adam and Eve hide from God

05:30 — God's first question wasn't condemnation, it was "Where are you?"

06:45 — The spiritual architecture of shame: why exposure starts to feel like a threat

08:00 — How shame shows up in relationships: self-protection, deflection, busyness, control

09:30 — Substitutes we reach for instead of being known (food, scrolling, achievement, numbing)

11:00 — Personal story: Roslyn's weight loss journey and why she stopped tracking her food

14:45 — The connection between tracking, budgeting, therapy avoidance, and addiction — why we hide what we don't want to face

17:00 — God never designed us to hide from Him — even Jesus modeled vulnerability in Gethsemane

19:00 — Naming the tension: exposure is uncomfortable and can feel anxiety-provoking

20:15 — Reading 2 Corinthians 12:5-10 (NLT) — Paul's thorn and "my power works best in weakness"

24:00 — Weakness as the entry point to faith, not the opposite of it

26:00 — How Roslyn applies this to her own self-sabotage doing the podcast

28:00 — Three practical tools to begin exposing yourself to God

31:00 — Closing thought: Adam and Eve's blame cycle (a preview of a possible part two)

32:00 — Land the message: exposure isn't danger, concealment is — this is about identity, not performance

33:00 — Outro + how to connect with Roslyn

(Note: timestamps are estimated proportionally from the transcript — adjust once you have final edited runtime.)

Scriptures Referenced

Genesis 3:7-11 (NLT)

At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden, so they hid from the LORD among the trees. Then the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" He replied, "I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked." "Who told you that you were naked?" the LORD God asked. "Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?"

2 Corinthians 12:5-10 (NLT)

Such a person could boast about that experience, but I don't want to boast about myself, except about my weaknesses... Even if I did boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be telling the truth. But I won't do it, because I don't want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message... So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged God to take it away. Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Three Practical Tools for Exposure

1. Name it before God, not around Him — Journal prompt: "God, here's what I've been hiding, even from myself. This is what's actually true."
2. Identify one substitute you reach for instead of exposure — Journal prompt: "What do I turn to when I don't want to feel exposed? What am I protecting myself from feeling?"
3. Choose one tangible act of exposure this week — Journal prompt: "What's one uncomfortable, specific thing I can expose this week — to God, to myself, or to someone safe?"

Connect with Roslyn

📱 Instagram: @roslynrene

🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube: Click Here

💬 Send a voice memo or DM — I read every message

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Episode Description:

We're closing out the Kindness of God series, and this one is the most practical episode of the three. In Episode 1 we talked about who God actually is toward us — kind, not shameful. In Episode 2 we looked at how Jesus modeled curiosity in his ministry. Now in Episode 3, Roslyn brings it all home with a practical framework for how you can apply that same kindness and curiosity to your own mental health journey. She introduces the KIND framework — four postures to move into when things feel heavy, stuck, or overwhelming — and closes with practical tips you can start using this week.

What's Covered in This Episode

Why we need a framework in the first place Most of us default to criticism, comparison, and condemnation when we're struggling. Our inner critic is loud — and for many of us, it sounds exactly like what we incorrectly believe God's voice sounds like toward us. The way we talk to ourselves in hard moments is often a mirror of the version of God we've been relating to. Kindness and curiosity aren't just theological concepts — they are practices that have to be learned and repeated. And the brain can actually build new pathways when we practice new patterns consistently.

The KIND Framework

K — Know What You're Actually Feeling Without Judging It The first step is simply naming it — not what you're supposed to feel, but what's actually happening inside you right now. Emotions are not good or bad. As the Holy Spirit once reminded Roslyn on a walk: "Emotions are just information." When you don't name what you feel, it drives you. When you name it, you can begin to work with it.

Scripture: James 1:5 NLT — "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking."

I — Inquire Instead of Indict Once you've named the feeling, the next step is to ask questions rather than make accusations against yourself. Indicting sounds like: "Why am I always like this? What is wrong with me?" Inquiring sounds like: "I wonder what this is connected to. What might God be trying to show me here?" The difference is not just tone — it's direction. Indictment closes things down. Inquiry opens them up. The Holy Spirit is your partner in this — you can ask him directly what something is connected to and trust that he will show you.

Scripture: John 16:13 NLT — "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth."

N — Normalize — You Are Not the Only One and Brokenness Is Part of the Journey Shame thrives in isolation. It tells you that you are uniquely broken and that no one else is struggling the way you are. Normalizing is not excusing — it's acknowledging that this is a human experience and you are not alone in it. Brokenness is not a disqualifier in the kingdom — it is actually the prerequisite. And healing was never designed to happen alone.

Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT — "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful." James 5:16 NLT — "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."

D — Depend — Your Weakness Is an Invitation for God's Strength Dependency is countercultural. The world tells you to be self-sufficient and figure it out — but carrying what was meant for God to carry is what steals your peace. In the kingdom, dependency is the posture that opens the door for God to move. And God's kindness is what makes dependency feel safe. If you believe he is kind, you can lean on him. If you believe he is disappointed in you, leaning feels like exposure.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NLT — "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me."

Practical Tips to Walk This Out

• Daily K check-in — Once a day ask yourself: what am I actually feeling right now? Name it out loud or write it down. Don't evaluate it yet — just name it. This builds emotional awareness over time.
• Keep a curiosity journal — When something hard comes up, write three inquiry questions instead of three criticisms. I wonder what this is connected to. I wonder what God wants to show me. I wonder what I actually need right now.
• Find your N — your safe person — Identify one person who is safe and seasoned in faith that you can be honest with without performing. Shame loses its power when it's spoken out loud in a safe space.
• Practice dependent prayer (the sincerity prayer) — Prayer that starts from honest need rather than polished presentation. Not "Lord I come before you grateful and blessed" when you're exhausted. But "God, I'm running on empty. I need you." That is the prayer dependency makes possible.
• Return to KIND when you feel stuck — It is not a one-time exercise. It is a direction to move in. When you notice yourself spiraling, come back to K — name what you're feeling — and start from there.

Scriptures Referenced

• James 1:5 NLT — "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking."
• John 16:13 NLT — "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth."
• 1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT — "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful."
• James 5:16 NLT — "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."
• 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NLT — "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me."

Searchable Keywords Christian mental health, faith and mental health, God and mental health podcast, how to stop being hard on yourself, shame and faith, kindness of God, curiosity and mental health, Christian therapy, mental health framework, healing and faith, inner critic Christian, trauma and faith, how to hear God's voice, emotional awareness Christian, dependent on God, mental health and shame, Christian wellness, Holy Spirit and healing, brokenness and faith, sanctification and mental health

Links Mentioned:

Instagram: Follow ME

W Method, Time with God Journal: Get Here

Youtube Channel: Subscribe Here

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Show Notes

Episode Summary

In episode two of the Kindness of God miniseries, we're going deeper — from God's character into the way Jesus actually engaged with people during his ministry. This episode explores curiosity as a spiritual and mental health practice, grounded in how Jesus consistently used questions rather than condemnation to invite people into truth. If you've ever found it easier to criticize yourself than to get genuinely curious about what's going on inside you, this episode is for you.

What We Cover

• Why Jesus being a question-asker throughout his ministry was intentional, not accidental — and what that means for how we approach ourselves and God
• The principle that when God presents a way to live, he always models it first — from wilderness seasons to temptation to curiosity itself
• A breakdown of three Gospel stories and what Jesus' questions were really doing:
• James and John (Mark 10:35–38) — childlike boldness, no shame, no performance, and what Jesus' response actually revealed about the cup he was about to drink
• The man at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5) — "Would you like to get well?" and why Jesus asked a question he already knew the answer to
• The woman at the well (John 4) — how Jesus led with questions that allowed her to uncover her own story rather than being exposed by him
• Why our default is almost never curiosity — it's criticism, judgment, and fear
• Why "don't question God" is not only unhelpful but unbiblical — and what the Psalms, John 15, and Romans say about our access to God as a friend
• How shame shuts down curiosity entirely — and what Adam and Eve in the garden show us about what happens when shame takes over
• The role of the Holy Spirit as an active, personal teacher — and how to start asking him direct questions (John 16:13, 1 John 2:27)
• A personal story about lamenting before God during a hard financial season — and what it looks like to be broken and honest before him
• How God's kindness (from episode one) is what makes curiosity feel safe in the first place

Reflection Practice for This Week

• Bring a question to the Holy Spirit instead of a statement. Try: "Holy Spirit, what are you trying to show me right now? What do I keep missing? Teach me who you are in this season." Then be still long enough to listen.
• When you notice self-criticism creeping in ("What is wrong with me?"), try reframing it: "I wonder what's going on here."
• Read John 4 — the full woman at the well story — and pay close attention to how Jesus leads the conversation. Notice what he asks, what he doesn't say, and how she uncovers her own story rather than being exposed.

Scriptures Referenced

• Mark 10:35–38
• John 4 (Woman at the Well)
• John 5 (Man at the Pool of Bethesda)
• John 15 (I no longer call you servants, I call you friends)
• John 16:13
• 1 John 2:27
• Hebrews (Boldly come before the throne of grace)

Connect with Roslyn

• Instagram: @RoslynRene
• Listening on Spotify? Drop a comment under the episode — Roslyn reads and responds every week.
• Listening on Apple Podcasts? Leave a review — it might even get featured on a future episode!

Missed Episode 1? Go back one episode to hear the foundation: God's character is not shame or disappointment — he is kind, and his kindness is what makes curiosity possible.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Episode Overview

This week on the God and Mental Health Podcast, Roslyn kicks off a brand new mini-series on the kindness of God — and she is not holding back. If you've ever come to God braced for correction, bracing for rejection, or feeling like he's somewhere in the distance shaking his head at you, this episode is for you. Roslyn gets into the actual character of God — backed by scripture — and begins dismantling the version of him that shame has built in our heads. This is the foundation for everything coming in this series, and it is rich.

What's Covered in This Episode

Why this series exists Roslyn has been wanting to talk about curiosity and kindness as tools for mental health, but realized she needed to start at the beginning first — with who God actually is toward us. Before we can practice curiosity and kindness with ourselves, we need to understand that it's modeled in God's own character. That's what this episode is all about.

Point 1 — God's Nature Is Not Shame. It Never Was.

The shame we feel toward God is something we project onto him — it is not something he projects onto us. His character is consistently described throughout Scripture as gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, and filled with unfailing love. Roslyn shares a personal moment where God spoke something to her heart: "Roslyn, I am obsessed with you" — and how becoming a parent helped her finally understand what that actually means.

Scriptures:

• Psalm 103:8 — "The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love."
• Psalm 86:15 — "But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness."
• Lamentations 3:22-23 — "The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning."

If his mercies are new every morning, he is not holding yesterday against you today. Shame says he is. His character says otherwise.

Point 2 — He Moves Toward Our Brokenness, Not Away From It

The world's pattern — and the enemy's lie — is that broken people get left behind. The kingdom pattern is the opposite. God runs toward what is broken. Roslyn unpacks the Prodigal Son story not just as a story about a son coming home, but about a father running while the son was still far off. She also shares a personal story about hiding a childhood scar on her knee — and what God showed her through it about how he sees ours.

Scriptures:

• Romans 5:8 — "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."
• Jeremiah 31:3 — "I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself."
• Zephaniah 3:17 — "For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."

God doesn't just tolerate you in your brokenness — he sings over you in it. That is not the posture of a God who is ashamed of you.

Point 3 — His Kindness Is What Actually Changes Us

Shame doesn't produce transformation — it produces hiding. Roslyn breaks down how it's actually God's kindness, not guilt or correction, that moves us toward repentance and genuine change. She uses the example of someone genuinely apologizing versus hiding something — and how the openness is what allows things to move forward. The same is true in our relationship with God.

Scriptures:

• Romans 2:4 — "Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?"
• 1 John 4:18 — "Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love."

Shame makes us hide. Kindness makes us come home.

Practical Tips

Name the version of God you've been relating to. Journal it out. What does the God in your head actually look like — is he disappointed, distant, watching you fail? Is he the God of Scripture or a version shaped by a parent, a painful experience, or a person who let you down? Getting that on paper is the first step to separating the lie from the truth.

Read Psalm 103 slowly this week. The entire chapter is a description of God's character toward us. Read it out loud if you can and let it begin replacing the wrong images.

Practice receiving, not just confessing. Many of us are good at coming to God with what we've done wrong. This week, try coming to him and just receiving — sit with a verse about his love for a few minutes without asking for anything or apologizing for anything. You may be surprised at what happens when you simply make space.

Notice when shame shows up in your prayer life. Do you brace yourself before you pray? Do you feel like you have to earn the right to ask? That's a signal. Name it directly — "God, I still feel like you're disappointed with me, even though I know that's not your character. Help me experience who you actually are."

Meditate on Zephaniah 3:17. He rejoices over you with singing. He takes delight in you with gladness. He calms your fears with his love. Sit with that image until it starts to feel more true than the shame does.

What's Next in This Series

Episode 2 — Jesus and Curiosity: How Jesus used curiosity as one of his primary tools in healing and discipleship, and what that means for how we can approach our own mental health journey.

Episode 3 — Curiosity and Kindness in Your Mental Health: Practical application of both — including the KIND acronym — for how to walk this out in your everyday life.

Connect with Roslyn Instagram: @RoslynRene Enjoying the podcast? Leave a review and rate it — Roslyn reads every comment and loves responding on Spotify. Know someone who needs to hear this? Share this episode with them.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Episode Synopsis:

In this episode of the God and Mental Health Podcast, Roslyn opens up an honest conversation about one of the most common struggles she sees in her therapy practice and hears from listeners — feeling disconnected from God. She unpacks what that disconnection actually looks and feels like, why it happens, and how God is always drawing us back to him. From shame and comparison to unrepentant sin and spiritual exhaustion, Roslyn names the real barriers to intimacy with God and offers practical, personalized ways to reestablish that connection — no matter what season you're in. This episode is full of scripture, personal stories, and the kind of honest faith talk that gives you language for what you've been feeling but couldn't quite say.

Key Points Covered:

What disconnection looks and feels like

• Confusion and double-mindedness
• Intrusive thoughts and mental noise
• Feeling far from God even when he hasn't moved
• Shame, underlying disappointment, and pain
• The pressure to perform and earn God's love
• Comparison on social media and measuring your relationship against others
• Unrepentant sin — whether we know it or are avoiding it

How God draws us close

• He uses longing, restlessness, and even pain as invitations
• He whispers more than he shouts
• The seeking itself is often God-initiated
• Discernment is one of the ways he makes his presence known

Why intimacy aids in healing, especially in trauma

• The secret place becomes a safe, regulated space for your nervous system
• Intimacy helps you discern what's the enemy, what's a wound, and what God is saying
• The Holy Spirit's role as Comforter is often overlooked — you can ask him to show you how he's comforting you in the season you're in

Practical Tips to Reestablish Connection

• Reset — take an intentional day off, a day of rest, or schedule dedicated quiet time
• Active quiet time — walk, be present, and listen rather than just asking
• Morning pages — three pages of unfiltered, stream-of-consciousness writing to clear your head
• Time with someone safe and seasoned in faith
• A good cry — give yourself permission to actually feel and emote
• Intentional time off — build a rhythm of rest into your schedule
• Soaking music — sit in it and let it do what it does
• Go back to what works — don't overcomplicate it, return to what connected you before

Scriptures Referenced:

On abiding and remaining: John 15:4-5 — "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me."

On drawing near: James 4:8 — "Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world."

On stillness: Psalm 46:10 — "Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world."

On rest and quietness: Isaiah 30:15 — "This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength."

On the secret place: Matthew 6:6 — "But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you."

On grace, not performance: Ephesians 2:8-9 — "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."

On God's love that cannot be earned or lost: Romans 8:38-39 — Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

On longing for God: Psalm 27:8 — "My heart says of you, 'Seek his face!' Your face, Lord, I will seek."

On dwelling in his shelter: Psalm 91:1 — He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

On lament and frustration with God: Psalm 13:1-2 — "O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart?"

Psalm 22:1 — "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help?"

On unrepentant sin creating distance: Isaiah 59:2 — "It's your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore."

Psalm 66:18 — "If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened."

On the way back: 1 John 1:9 — "But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness."

Connect with Roslyn: Instagram: @RoslynRene Leave a review or comment on Spotify — Roslyn reads and responds to them! If this episode helped you, share it with someone who needs language for what they've been feeling.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Episode Description

After months away, Roslyn is back with a brand-new framework that will shape the future of the God + Mental Health Podcast. In this episode, she unveils the 4-pillar framework she's been secretly developing—a simple yet profound map for understanding how mental health and faith intersect in your life.

Born from a quiet retreat in November 2025 where God led her to study Genesis and identity, this framework provides clear language for concepts that often feel overwhelming: trauma, the nervous system, your relationship with God, and your authority as a believer.

This isn't about staying stuck in your past—it's about understanding where you've been, addressing where you are now, and taking practical steps toward where God is calling you to go.

In This Episode, You'll Discover:

The 4-Pillar Framework:

1. Identity – Your DNA in God and why you're 100% His daughter (not just positionally, but actually). Discover what it means that God is obsessed with knowing and loving you.
2. Reclaiming Safety – How we adapt to our environments and why "undoing feels like dying." Learn what it means to find God safe again and why this might be the most challenging (and necessary) work you do.
3. Rest & Its Power – Why rest isn't just about taking a nap. Explore how God's presence is restful, why He modeled rest in creation, and how your nervous system desperately needs this foundational practice.
4. Authority – The delegated power God offers through Jesus. This isn't just about salvation—it's about reclaiming what's yours, including authority over the enemy and the power to transform how you think.

Plus:

• Why Roslyn is shifting from talking about "where you've been" to focusing on where you are and where you're going
• How this podcast will provide emotional literacy (like teaching a kindergartener to read, but for your feelings)
• The Mary and Martha principle and what rest really looks like in Western culture
• Why this podcast is a tool, not a replacement for therapy or your relationship with God

Key Quotes:

"I am 100% God's daughter in my identity. There is a crafted identity in Him—a blueprint of who we are and how He sees us."

"God is obsessed with loving me and knowing me."

"When we reclaim safety, we are reclaiming this aspect of us not adapting to what we've known."

"Undoing feels like dying."

"Rest allows us to understand that God's presence Himself is restful. It's powerful. It's full. It's heavy, but it's restful."

"Authority is the delegated power God offers us through His son Jesus."

"The past should hold information, but I also think we have to get curious about the past enough to where we can use that as not our current place, but our ability to say, I don't want to do this anymore and move forward."

"This podcast will never replace mental health counseling. Just because I'm a licensed therapist does not mean I'm your therapist."

"You are wanted and welcome in all that you do."

What to Expect Moving Forward:

This framework will become the foundation of every future episode. You'll hear Roslyn break down:

• The nervous system in simple terms
• Capacity and boundaries
• Stillness and pause
• Your authority as a believer
• Emotional literacy and language for complex feelings
• How to test everything against Scripture

Episodes will be:

• Unscripted and authentic – showing up as your sister in Christ
• Value-packed and concise – short enough to listen without feeling overwhelmed
• Posted when inspired – no rigid schedule, just real, timely content
• Focused on progression – past, present, AND future (not just dwelling on trauma)

Action Steps:

1. Take this framework back to the Father – Test everything Roslyn shares against Scripture
2. Get curious about your past – Use it as information, not your current identity
3. Ask yourself: Where have I been? Where am I now? Where am I going?
4. Share this episode with someone who might need to hear it

Connect with Roslyn:

📱 Instagram: @roslynrene

💬 DM Roslyn to let her know this was helpful

⭐ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or comment on Spotify

📤 Share in your stories if this resonated with you

Resources Mentioned:

• Genesis (study on identity)
• The story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42)
• Psalms (David's raw emotions with God)
• The concept of delegated authority through Jesus

Important Reminders:

✅ This podcast is a tool, like a devotional—not a replacement for the Bible or professional therapy

✅ If you need mental health support, please seek a licensed counselor

✅ Test everything against Scripture and wrestle with God through it

✅ You are wanted, welcomed, understood, and you belong—no matter where you've been

Keywords:

Faith and mental health, Christian mental health framework, identity in Christ, reclaiming safety, trauma healing, nervous system and faith, rest and spiritual health, delegated authority, emotional literacy, Christian therapy, mental health for believers, undoing trauma, God's presence, Christian counseling, faith-based healing

Next Steps: Subscribe so you don't miss the next episode where Roslyn dives deeper into these four pillars. This is just the beginning of something beautiful.

God + Mental Health Podcast with Roslyn Rene

Formerly Therapy as a Christian

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and everywhere you listen to podcasts

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

After a long pause, I’m back—unscripted, honest, and sharing from where I truly am.

In this episode, I open up about where I’ve been, why I stepped away from the podcast, and how faith and mental health have deeply reshaped my perspective in this season of life. This isn’t a polished or highly produced episode—it’s a real-time reflection on burnout, rest, integrity, and learning how to walk with God without pressure or performance.

I share how faith and mental health have influenced me across four areas of my life:

• As a therapist—what years of sitting with clients have taught me about belonging, safety, and being seen
• As a person—why mental health is a daily practice and how motherhood forced me to relearn rest
• As a friend—the emotional labor of friendships, boundaries, and walking with others through hard seasons
• As a daughter in Christ—what I’ve learned about imperfection, vulnerability, and allowing God to meet me in pain rather than trying to escape it

This episode marks the beginning of a gentler, more spacious season for the God and Mental Health Podcast. For now, episodes may be shorter, unscripted, and released as I have the capacity and creative energy to share—without pressure, performance, or pretending to have it all together.

If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear from you.

📩 Connect with me on Instagram:

👉 https://www.instagram.com/roslynrene

If you’re listening on Spotify, feel free to leave a comment or share what stood out to you. Your messages help me know what’s landing and what you’d like more of as this space continues to unfold.

Thanks for being here—and for allowing me to return as I am.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Introduction

Welcome to the God and Mental Health Podcast.

Introduction of the guest, Zanisha, also known as Z.

Brief overview of the episode's content.

Guest Introduction

Introduction of Zanisha as a best-selling author.

Discussion about her new book, "The Mental Gym."

Main Topics

Icebreaker question: What is God teaching you in this season?

Exploration of Zanisha's journey and resilience.

Insights into Zanisha's professional background as a makeup artist and beauty educator.

Personal Story

Zanisha shares her personal story of loss and resilience.

Discussion on navigating grief and motherhood.

Importance of community support and vulnerability.

Mental Health and Faith

How faith and mental health intersect in Zanisha's life.

Practical tips for maintaining mental health, including therapy and community support.

Discussion on spiritual bypassing and the importance of emotional presence.

Conclusion

Summary of key takeaways from the episode.

Encouragement for listeners to apply discussed practices in their own lives.

Information on where to find Zanisha's book, "The Mental Gym."

Follow Zii on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/makeupbyzii/

Grab Zii's Book, "The Mental Gym" HERE

Sponsors: Matter Brushes, SHOP HERE! Use code: THERAPY for 20% off!

Listener Takeaway: Reflect on your own mental health practices. Consider journaling about how you can integrate faith and mental health, as discussed in this episode. Try implementing one new practice this week that aligns with the tips provided by Zanisha.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Episode Summary: Welcome back to another episode of "The God and Mental Health Podcast!" This week, Roslyn dives into the essential topic of safety within relationships, specifically from a faith-based perspective. She explores the significance of fellowship in our spiritual journey, discusses the importance of identifying safe people in our lives, and provides practical steps to cultivate healthy and supportive relationships. This episode is part of a warm-up series designed to help listeners reconnect with the podcast and prepare for more structured, value-packed episodes in the coming months.

Key Points Discussed:

1. Introduction to the Warm-Up Series:

• Roslyn introduces the warm-up series, designed to help both her and the listeners get back into the groove of the podcast.
• Explanation of the podcast's new seasonal structure for future episodes.

1. Understanding Safety in Relationships:

• Exploration of what safety means in relationships, especially from a healed and healthy perspective.
• Discussion on the importance of safety within friendships and how it ties into our spiritual lives.

1. Fellowship as a Core Aspect of Faith:

• Emphasis on the role of fellowship in our faith, grounded in scripture.
• Explanation of the Greek meaning of "fellowship" and its significance in the early church.

1. Scriptural Foundations:

• Proverbs 27:17: "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
• Galatians 6:2: "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ."
• 2 Corinthians 13:14: "May the grace of the Lord Jesus and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all."

1. Practical Steps for Cultivating Safe Relationships:

• Encouragement for self-reflection on personal needs, values, and capacity for friendships.
• Guidance on identifying safe people and fostering supportive relationships.
• Discussion on effective communication and conflict resolution strategies.

1. Personal Reflection and Client Assignment:

• Roslyn shares an assignment often given to her clients: writing down what safety looks like in relationships and identifying safe people in their lives.
• Importance of understanding and processing pain, hurt, and forgiveness in relationships.

1. Fellowship with the Holy Spirit:

• Exploration of the spiritual aspect of fellowship, particularly with the Holy Spirit.
• How fellowship with God and others is intertwined in our journey of faith.

1. Final Thoughts:

• Encouragement to reflect on your relationships and how they align with your spiritual and personal growth.
• Preview of upcoming topics in the podcast series.

Sponsor: Sponsors via RedCircle

Resources Mentioned:

• Previous episodes on attachment styles, (Episodes: 162-164)
• How Attachment Impacts Our Mental Health and Faith:
• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Scriptures: Acts 2:42, Proverbs 27:17, Galatians 6:2, 2 Corinthians 13:14

Connect with Roslyn:

• Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roslynrene

Listener Challenge: This week, take some time to reflect on your relationships. Write down what safety looks like for you and identify the safe people in your life. Consider how you can cultivate and maintain these supportive connections.

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast! Your feedback helps us grow and reach more listeners who could benefit from these conversations. See you in the next episode!

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy