In this episode of the Going Deeper podcast, I sit down with speaker Shelbi Shutt to talk about faith, suffering, and what real comfort looks like in a world obsessed with ease and leisure. Shelbi lives with muscular dystrophy, and her story has profoundly shaped the way she understands the good life, discipleship, and the presence of God. Her honesty pushes us to examine what we run to for comfort and whether those places actually bring life.

We talk about how suffering exposes the beliefs we carry beneath the surface. She shares how her diagnosis forced her to confront the “Jesus plus” gospel she didn’t realize she held, and how choosing to participate in the sufferings of Christ has formed her spiritual maturity. She reminds us that true comfort is found in the presence of God.

In a world filled with noise, discipling our attention becomes a real part of following Jesus. We explore how prayer reorients us, how lament and celebration can coexist, and how resurrection life isn’t just a future hope but a present reality that shapes our perspective today.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JustineCheri

Subscribe to The Digest: https://justinecheri.kit.com/ab6b561afa

Connect with Shelbi: https://solo.to/shelbishutt

Shelbi's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelbishutt/

Timestamps:

00:00 — Introduction
 04:19 — Shelbi’s Journey and Diagnosis
 07:17 — Faith and Suffering
 10:20 — The Good Life and the Jesus Plus Gospel
 16:27 — The Role of Suffering in Spiritual Growth
 19:16 — The Illusion of Worldly Comfort
 25:14 — Prayer and True Comfort
 28:20 — Paradise and the Hope of Restoration
 31:34 — Living in the Resurrection Life
 40:19 — Discipling Our Attention in a Distracted World
 42:16 — Longing for the Presence of the Lord
 44:55 — Lament and Celebration: Coexisting Realities
 48:31 — Finding Comfort in Daily Struggles
 52:43 — Current Projects and Future Aspirations

In this episode of the Going Deeper podcast, I sit down with my own acquisitions editor, Eddie Larow of Baker Books. We talk about what an acquisitions editor actually does, how he helps authors connect with the readers who need their message, and how my own unexpected journey into authorship was guided by God’s timing.

From there, we widen the conversation to the cultural landscape shaping Gen Z: their longing for home, the pull toward community, and the deep sense of spiritual homelessness many young adults feel in a secular age. We explore how modernity and mobility have created restlessness, why “nomadic modernity” captures so much of our cultural moment, and how the return to historic churches reveals a desire for structure, order, and rootedness.

We end with a call to localism—pursuing embodied, committed community right where we live.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JustineCheri

Subscribe to The Digest: https://justinecheri.kit.com/ab6b561afa

Eddie's Article "Gen Z Longs for Home": https://firstthings.com/gen-z-longs-for-home/ 

Eddie's Substack: https://substack.com/@eddielarow

Timestamps:

00:00 — Introduction
 02:05 — Understanding the Role of an Acquisitions Editor
 04:30 — The Journey to Authorship
 09:45 — Cultural Observations: Gen Z’s Longing for Home
 13:10 — The Impact of Modernity on Community and Belonging
 19:07 — Exploring Nomadic Modernity and Its Implications
 27:20 — Cultural Shifts and the Search for Authenticity
 31:21 — Nostalgia and the Desire to Return to Simplicity
 33:46 — The Skills Gap and Superficiality in Trad Aesthetics
 37:32 — Spiritual Homelessness and the Need for Community
 41:24 — The Search for Objective Truth in a Postmodern World
 47:04 — The Longing for Tradition and Authenticity in Faith
 52:51 — Ecumenical Unity and the Pursuit of Christ
 01:00:47 — Localism and the Call to Community Engagement

In this episode, I’m sharing why Advent has become such a meaningful season for me—one marked by anticipation, preparation, and a deliberate slowing down. I talk through some of the practices my family and I are leaning into this year, why I’m taking a step back from social media, and how intentional rhythms can make room for real peace and hope.

I also walk through a reading from Philippians and reflect on the themes of humility, contentment, and the true cost of following Jesus. My prayer is that this conversation helps you sink deeper into Scripture and cultivate a heart that’s attentive to Christ as we move toward Christmas.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JustineCheri

Subscribe to The Digest: https://justinecheri.kit.com/ab6b561afa

Submit a question: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdlDg0tCmIGqGkh9vpzf99V3x76AnMeuGZKlaC-umTajMKinA/viewform?usp=header

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction to Advent and Personal Reflection

06:12 – Embracing Advent: Intentional Practices

11:55 – Reading and Reflecting on Philippians

48:29 – Conclusion and Future Conversations

In this episode of Going Deeper, I talk with Sharon Hodde Miller about the growing problem of self-righteousness among Christians online, especially after Charlie Kirk's assassination. We unpack how the self-esteem movement has shaped how many believers think about identity and worth—and how it fosters the idea that we are called to self-discovery rather than self-denial. Sharon also shares biblical wisdom on modesty and humility in appearance, revealing that modesty may not be so much about covering up as about being intentional about dressing in a way that fosters compassion rather than comparison. 

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JustineCheri

Subscribe to The Digest: https://justinecheri.kit.com/ab6b561afa

Submit a question: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdlDg0tCmIGqGkh9vpzf99V3x76AnMeuGZKlaC-umTajMKinA/viewform?usp=header

Free of Me Book: https://sheworships.com/free-of-me/

Gazing at God Book: https://sheworships.com/gazing-at-god/

Follow Sharon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonhmiller/

In this episode of Going Deeper, I’m unpacking the idea of the “Wellness Gospel”—the subtle belief that health and self-optimization can save us. I share about my own journey with health and wellness, and how something good slowly became an identity that distanced me from Jesus. I talk about how easy it is to elevate health, balance, and self-care above obedience and surrender, and how the true gospel of Jesus calls us into something far more radical. Through Scripture, I contrast the Wellness Gospel with the real gospel—the one that invites us to lose our lives for Christ’s sake and trust Him completely.

I also answered a listener's question about feeling distant from God. I share how faith isn’t about chasing feelings but about knowing God and remembering His faithfulness, even when our emotions waver. My hope is that this episode helps you see the difference between caring for your body and worshiping it—and reminds you that real wellness begins with a soul anchored in Him.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JustineCheri

Subscribe to The Digest: https://justinecheri.kit.com/ab6b561afa

Submit a question: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdlDg0tCmIGqGkh9vpzf99V3x76AnMeuGZKlaC-umTajMKinA/viewform?usp=header

Chapters
00:00 — Today's Agenda
03:12 — My Wellness Story
12:45 — The Wellness Gospel
23:30 — A Biblical View of Health
32:18 — Radical Faith 
38:50 — Listener Question: Feeling Distant from God

Keywords
wellness gospel, health, faith, Jesus, radical verses, self-help, spirituality, holistic health, personal journey, listener question

In this episode of Going Deeper, we're talking about ChatGPT boundaries, Influencer culture, and the spiritual discipline of Bible reading—and why its so hard. My hope is that this episode encourages you to stay spiritually awake and intentional as we learn to follow Jesus faithfully in a world driven by technology.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JustineCheri

Subscribe to The Digest: https://justinecheri.kit.com/ab6b561afa

Submit a question: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdlDg0tCmIGqGkh9vpzf99V3x76AnMeuGZKlaC-umTajMKinA/viewform?usp=header

Timestamps:
00:00 — Introduction and Overview
02:19 — The Bible Bag and Prayer Practices
07:47 — Navigating AI and ChatGPT Boundaries
27:32 — The Rise of AI Influencers
36:07 — Understanding the Challenges of Bible Reading

In this episode, I’m joined by Griffin Gooch to talk about one of the most misunderstood topics in both culture and the church—happiness. Griffin is a theologian and writer who’s exploring what it really means to live a happy and holy life, and how our understanding of happiness has shifted throughout history.

We dig into the Beatitudes as Jesus’s surprising pathway to joy, how pleasure, meaning, and growth each play a role in true happiness, and why pursuing happiness for its own sake often leaves us emptier than before. Griffin also shares practical, gospel-shaped ways to navigate mental health struggles, practice gratitude, and find lasting fulfillment through community and service.

If you’ve ever wrestled with the tension between happiness and holiness, or wondered what Jesus actually meant by the “abundant life,” this conversation will challenge and encourage you in the best way.

Follow Griffin on Substack: https://griffingooch.substack.com/ 

Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JustineCheri

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://justinecheri.kit.com/ab6b561afa

Submit a question: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdlDg0tCmIGqGkh9vpzf99V3x76AnMeuGZKlaC-umTajMKinA/viewform?usp=header

Welcome back to Going Deeper! After a short break, I’m so excited to return with a brand-new season—and to finally share a few updates on what’s been happening behind the scenes, including my upcoming book on the “good life” and my new newsletter, The Digest. 

In today’s episode, we’re diving into several big conversations happening across Christian culture—from Forrest Frank’s decision not to attend the Dove Awards, to the online discourse surrounding Jackie Hill Perry and Christian Nationalism, and even the controversy surrounding Taylor Swift’s latest album. These cultural moments have raised numerous questions about personal convictions, Christian liberty, and what unity entails within the body of Christ.

We’ll talk about how to discern between sin and personal conviction, why sanctification looks different for every believer, and how to practice humility and grace when we disagree. At the heart of it all is this: how can we live in the world but not of it, and what does God say about how we should live as witnesses of Jesus? 

Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JustineCheri

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://justinecheri.kit.com/ab6b561afa

Submit a question: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdlDg0tCmIGqGkh9vpzf99V3x76AnMeuGZKlaC-umTajMKinA/viewform?usp=header

Timestamps:
00:00 — Welcome Back + Book Update
03:16 — Cultural Observations 
06:26 — Forrest Frank’s and the Dove Awards
12:18 — Jackie Hill Perry, Allie Stuckey, and Online Discourse
15:09 — Is listening to Taylor Swift a sin?
27:44 — Charitable Disagreeing
31:54 — Conformity to the World
36:11 — Friendship with the World 
44:13 — Loving the World 
50:11 — Being in the World but Not of It
54:14 — Answering Listener Question

In this episode of the Going Deeper podcast, I sit down with Jonathan Carl—an old pastor and friend—to talk through the aftermath of Charlie Kirk's assassination. We explore what this moment means for Christians trying to navigate the tricky intersection of faith and politics. We reflect on the nature of evil, the importance of holding fast to scripture, and the role of forgiveness—even in the midst of political conflict. This conversation highlights why it’s so important for Christians to engage thoughtfully and biblically in public discussions while staying rooted in the truth of the gospel.

More resources from Jonathan Carl: https://www.trustworthyword.com/ 

12 Rules of Political Engagement for Christians:
https://www.trustworthyword.com/rules-of-political-engagement

Next Steps When Your Nation Is Suffering—Be An Elihu!:
https://www.trustworthyword.com/next-steps-when-your-nation-is-suffering

How To Vote Biblically When Neither Candidate Looks Anything Like Jesus:
https://www.trustworthyword.com/how-to-vote-when-neither-candidate-looks-like-jesus 

How to Respond to the Most Common Arguments for Abortion:
https://www.trustworthyword.com/response-to-the-most-common-arguments-for-abortion

Timestamps: 
00:00 – Introduction and Background
01:25 – The Trump Tweet Incident
04:16 – Processing Tragedy: Charlie Kirk's Assassination
11:32 – The Gospel's Influence in Public Discourse
19:15 – Political Idolization and Its Subtlety
21:56 – Forgiveness and the Memorial Service
28:36 – Navigating Political and Biblical Issues
32:23 – Final Thoughts and Encouragement

In this episode, I’m exploring the complex world of cultural beauty standards and self-perception through a biblical lens. I address the tension we experience regarding personal choices about our appearance, what it means to bear God’s image, and how cultural expectations can shape—or sometimes distort—our self-perception. I’m also sharing a bit of my writing journey and what I’m learning about humility as I grow older in a world that is often obsessed with youth and perfection. I hope that this conversation will help us approach beauty with wisdom, discernment, and hearts anchored in truth and grace.

Subscribe to my NEW Newsletter: https://justinecheri.kit.com/ab6b561afa 

Read the Essay On Facelifts, Fillers, and Faith: https://www.justinecheri.com/articles/on-facelifts-fillers-and-faith

Chapters
00:00 Season Two Reflections and Future Plans
12:32 The Journey to Authorship
22:48 Beauty Standards and Cultural Reflections

Tags: Should Christians get Botox? Should Christians get fillers? What does the Bible say about Botox and beauty? Kris Jenner's Deep Plane Facelift