In this episode of the Heart Set Above Podcast, Ellen Radcliff, LMFT, is joined by Chelsea Novak for part 2 of our Autism Awareness Month episodes.

How does your faith hold up when life doesn’t go the way you planned?

We move beyond diagnosis and daily life—and into the deeper, more personal question: Where is God in all of this?

As autism moms walking very different journeys, we share how raising children on the spectrum has challenged, stretched, and ultimately reshaped our faith.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Wrestling with God in seasons of grief and uncertainty

• How suffering has refined our understanding of faith

• Trusting God when the future feels unpredictable

• Letting go of control and embracing reality

This is not a polished or perfect conversation—it’s honest, vulnerable, and rooted in real-life experience.

💬 “This journey has forced me to see everything through new eyes.”

💬 “Grief doesn’t disappear—it changes, and so does your faith.”

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In this episode of the Heart Set Above Podcast, Ellen Radcliff, LMFT, is joined by Chelsea Novak for Autism Awareness Month. Join us for an unfiltered conversation between two moms navigating autism at very different stages.

One is newly diagnosed.

One is years into the journey.

Both are learning how to carry grief, fear, and deep love—at the same time.

Together, we talk about:

• The emotional impact of an autism diagnosis

• Grief, denial, fear—and what acceptance actually looks like

• The realities no one prepares you for (hypervigilance, burnout, safety concerns)

This episode is raw, vulnerable, and deeply human. Whether you're a parent, a caregiver, or someone who simply wants to understand autism better, this conversation offers a real glimpse into what life looks like behind the scenes.

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What do you do when you mess up — especially when you should know better?

In this episode of the Heart Set Above Podcast, therapists Ellen and Georgia have an honest conversation about mistakes, shame, and the process of repairing relationships with both God and others.

Even as therapists who teach emotional regulation and healthy communication, they still lose their tempers, say things they regret, and experience the same struggles everyone else does. Instead of pretending perfection, they share what actually helps when things go wrong.

Real faith isn’t about never failing — it’s about knowing how to return.

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#ChristianPodcast #FaithAndFamily #Neurodiversity #SpiritualGrowth #HeartSetAbove

In this episode of the Heart Set Above podcast, host Ellen Radcliff, LMFT, shares a personal update on her life, ministry, and the exciting (and challenging) shifts ahead in 2026.

As a former lesbian turned faith leader, therapist, and mom of two neurodiverse boys, Ellen opens up about navigating family transitions—including her youngest's autism diagnosis and her oldest's ADHD/OCD—while balancing her calling to help Christians engage tough topics like sexuality, gender, marriage, and spiritual growth.

Whether you're a parent facing similar challenges, seeking faith-based encouragement, or simply needing a reminder to set your heart on things above, this episode invites you into a space of grace and authenticity.

If this resonates, consider supporting Heart Set Above—a nonprofit helping Christians stay grounded in a messy world.

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#ChristianPodcast #FaithAndFamily #Neurodiversity #SpiritualGrowth #HeartSetAbove

In this episode of Heart Set Above, therapists Ellen and Georgia respond to a listener question many Christians quietly carry: How can I pursue closeness with God when parts of Scripture disturb me—and I can’t “resolve” the tension? Instead of offering a neat theological bow (we’re not theologians), we approach this from a relational and clinical lens—the same way we’d guide a therapy client navigating rupture, fear, and repair in a close relationship.

Together, we talk about:

• Why your emotional reaction to difficult passages can be a sign of spiritual health, not failure

• Shifting the goal from “getting the answer” to staying connected

• Getting “on the same side of the table” with God—externalizing the problem instead of making God the enemy

☕ Grab your coffee, take a breath, and join us in the stillness.

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Join host Ellen Radcliff on this week’s episode of the Heart Set Above Podcast as she unpacks a freeing truth many believers overlook: God invites us to serve Him—not because He needs us, but because He longs to be with us.

Through honest reflection and real-life examples from her counseling work, Ellen explores:
• Why we often feel overly responsible for God’s work
• How fear of letting people down distorts our view of service
• The difference between working for God and walking with Him

This episode encourages you to release the pressure, embrace partnership with God, and let your service draw you closer to Him—not further into exhaustion.

Whatever you do today, do it with God, not just for Him. And keep your heart set on things above.

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In this Heart Set Above episode, Georgia and Ellen pull back the curtain on what therapists actually learn—and why it matters for everyday relationships and Christian living. From trauma-training surprises (“we paid to learn how to be quiet!”) to Jesus’ non-anxious presence with Mary and Martha, they unpack how simply being with someone can be more healing than any quick fix.

You’ll hear real stories (joy and grief in parenting, the power of a shared sigh), practical tools you can try today, and a gentle invitation to surrender what we can’t carry to the One who can.

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In this episode of the Heart Set Above Podcast, host Ellen Radcliff, LMFT pauses the Nearness series to set clear expectations: drawing near to God doesn’t mean all of life’s problems vanish. Fear, grief, and anxiety still come—but God’s presence changes how we experience them.

Ellen shares stories from her own life, Scripture, and pastoral counseling to remind us that the antidote to fear is not the absence of fear—it’s the presence of God. His nearness anchors us, even in chaos, heartbreak, or uncertainty. Like a child comforted by a parent’s arms, God’s presence doesn’t always remove the pain, but it transforms how we walk through it.

✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why being near to God doesn’t erase problems, but anchors us in them

• What Isaiah 41:10 really means about fear and God’s presence

• How God’s nearness transforms grief, fear, and anxiety

Whether you’re carrying fear, walking through loss, or simply weary of life’s brokenness, this conversation will point you back to the one truth that steadies us: God is with us, always.

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In this episode of the Heart Set Above Podcast, host Ellen Radcliff, LMFT continues the Nearness series by exploring how we can move beyond simply making space in our lives to truly filling that space with God’s presence.

Drawing from Matthew 12:43–45, Ellen reminds us that empty space doesn’t stay empty for long—if we don’t fill it with God, it will be filled with fear, distraction, or anxiety. She shares two powerful visualization practices she uses personally and with clients to help release fear, surrender to God, and experience the reality of His love.

✨ In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why pruning space in your life is only the beginning of nearness to God

  
  

• The difference between distraction and true soul restoration

  
  

• A powerful visualization for surrendering fear and anxiety into God’s hands

  
  

• A second visualization of beholding Jesus’ gaze of unconditional love

  
  

• A simple exercise to sit in God’s presence without striving

  
  

These practices will help you slow down, breathe, and anchor yourself in the truth that God sees you, knows you, and loves you fully. Nearness to Him isn’t something you earn—it’s a gift freely given.

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In this episode of Heart Set Above, Ellen Radcliff, LMFT takes us into one of the deepest and most universal emotions: grief. Far from being just about death or tragedy, grief shows up in everyday disappointments, broken relationships, feelings of inadequacy, and the ache of living in a fallen world.

She Explores:

• Why unprocessed grief fuels anxiety

• A fresh way to picture grief as a shrinking “ball in a box” that never disappears but becomes less overwhelming over time

• The reality that the stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance) are fluid, not linear

Grief is not weakness—it is holy ground. When we bring our sorrow before God, we discover we are not alone in it. Scripture reminds us, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted.” That nearness transforms grief from isolation into connection, from despair into surrender, and from fear into trust.

🙏 If you’ve ever wondered how to navigate grief faithfully—or how God meets you in your sorrow—this episode offers hope, perspective, and a way forward.

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Connect with Ellen

https://heartsetabove.com/

https://linktr.ee/ellenradcliff

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Listen to the Podcast:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Ra0vlh...