The holidays can bring joy – but also remind us of old family patterns that still hurt. In this episode, Dustin and Haley talk about what family dysfunction means … and what it doesn’t mean.

Through stories of biblical families marked by dysfunction, we see how God still works through imperfect people and messy relationships. Together, we explore “unspoken rules” that often define family systems and share reflection questions to help you make sense of your past, deal with present tensions, and build new habits for the future.

If you’re feeling pressure heading into the holidays, this conversation will help you take a deep breath and find hope in the middle of family chaos.

Subscribe to the podcast and tune in each week as Haley and Dustin share with you what the Bible says about real-life issues with compassion, warmth, and wit.

So you have every reason for hope, for every challenge in life. Because hope means everything.

Hope Talks is a podcast of the ministry of Hope for the Heart.

Listen in to learn more 

(03:17) Holiday Devotional Reflections 

(05:29) Navigating Family Expectations During the Holidays 

(10:07) Understanding Dysfunction in Family Relationships 

(17:30) Navigating Family Boundaries During the Holidays

(26:17) Staying Safe in Family Conflicts 

(33:04) Generational Faith in Biblical Lineage

(42:59) Setting Boundaries in Family Relationships

(54:58) Reorienting With Grace and Perspective

Hope for the Heart resources

Order our newest resource, The Care and Counsel Handbook, providing biblical guidance  100 real-life issues: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/care-and-counsel-handbook

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopefortheheart  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopefortheheart 

Want to talk with June Hunt on Hope in the Night about a difficult life issue? Schedule a time here: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/talk-with-june-hope-in-the-night

God’s plan for you: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/gods-plan-for-you/

Give to the ministry of Hope for the Heart: https://raisedonors.com/hopefortheheart/givehope?sc=HTPDON 

Marcus Warner, president of Deeper Walk International, returns for a special episode recorded at our 2025 Hope Together Conference.

When anxiety and ministry burnout hit, Marcus couldn’t understand why … until God revealed unhealed wounds from his past. In this honest and insightful conversation, Marcus shares how unresolved trauma had shaped his life and how Jesus led him into healing and restoration.

Marcus also unpacks the impact of unhealed wounds, the role of prayer in recovery, and his simple four-step R.E.A.L. prayer model that helps people invite God into their pain and find lasting freedom.

If you’ve ever wondered why old hurts still affect your life, this episode will help you take a step toward healing and a deeper walk with God.

Subscribe to the podcast and tune in each week as Haley and Dustin share with you what the Bible says about real-life issues with compassion, warmth, and wit.

So you have every reason for hope, for every challenge in life.  Because hope means everything.

Hope Talks is a podcast of the ministry of Hope for the Heart.

Listen in to learn more  :

Marcus Warner / Deeper Walk Resources 

Learn more about Deeper Walk International, Marcus Warner’s ministry, podcast, and books – www.deeperwalk.com  

Get the book, Understanding the Wounded Heart – https://deeperwalk.com/product/understanding-the-wounded-heart-book/ 

Hope for the Heart resources :

Order our newest resource, The Care and Counsel Handbook, providing biblical guidance on 100 real-life issues: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/care-and-counsel-handbook

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopefortheheart  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopefortheheart 

Want to talk with June Hunt on Hope in the Night about a difficult life issue? Schedule a time here: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/talk-with-june-hope-in-the-night

God’s plan for you: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/gods-plan-for-you/

Nona Jones knows what it’s like to live with the pain of rejection and abuse … from people who should have offered love. But she’s also learned that rejection doesn’t have to define you. It can refine you.

In this conversation, Nona shares her hope story of how the love of Christ began healing the wounds of rejection and showing her that God’s acceptance is greater than any person’s approval. Drawing from her new book The Gift of Rejection, she helps us reframe our pain as preparation for our purpose.

 If you’ve ever felt unwanted, overlooked, or unworthy, this episode will help you discover that rejection isn’t the end of your story — it may just be the beginning of your purpose.

Subscribe to the podcast and tune in each week as Haley and Dustin share with you what the Bible says about real-life issues with compassion, warmth, and wit.

So you have every reason for hope, for every challenge in life. Because hope means everything.

Hope Talks is a podcast of the ministry of Hope for the Heart.

Listen in to learn more :

(09:06) Healing Through Compassionate Community Relationships

(20:42) Recognizing Rejection-Fueled Ambition

(26:22) Finding Purpose in Rejection 

(30:14) Jesus' Rejection and Acceptance in Life

(34:17) Overcoming Rejection and Embracing Opportunity 

(37:27) Permission to Feel Pain of Rejection 

(42:59) Understanding and Embracing Emotions 

(45:32) Encouragement for Healing From Rejection

Resources 

Learn more about Nona Jones – https://www.nonajones.com/ 

Get Nona’s book, The Gift of Rejection – https://www.nonajones.com/gift-of-rejection 

Listen to Nona’s podcast, The Nona Jones Show – https://www.nonajones.com/podcast  

Hope for the Heart resources :

Order our newest resource, The Care and Counsel Handbook, providing biblical guidance on 100 real-life issues: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/care-and-counsel-handbook

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopefortheheart  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopefortheheart 

Want to talk with June Hunt on Hope in the Night about a complicated life issue? Schedule a time here: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/talk-with-june-hope-in-the-night

God’s plan for you: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/gods-plan-for-you/ 

What makes a great leader … and what causes even good ones to stumble?

Dr. Eric Scalise, president of Hope for the Heart, joins us again on Hope Talks. Drawing on decades of leadership experience across ministry, academia, and organizational life, Dr. Scalise shares key insights into the heart of healthy and unhealthy leadership. Together, we explore three common challenges every leader faces: insecurity, isolation, and lack of accountability.

Dr. Scalise shares that the key to overcoming these challenges is finding your identity in Christ and surrounding yourself with truth-tellers—people who will both encourage and confront you in love.

Drawing from Matthew 23 and the “seven woes” of Jesus, we also uncover some biblical principles for leading with humility and authenticity. Whether you lead a team, a family, or just want to help others grow, this episode will help you lead from a place of security and grace.

Subscribe to the podcast and tune in each week as Haley and Dustin share with you what the Bible says about real-life issues with compassion, warmth, and wit.

So you have every reason for hope, for every challenge in life. Because hope means

everything.

Hope Talks is a podcast of the ministry of Hope for the Heart.

Listen in to learn more :

(01:51) Leadership Insights From Experienced Practitioner 

(17:23) The Role of Priests and Prophets 

(20:37) Accountability Partners and Insecurity 

(27:36) Constant Communication With the Lord 

(34:22) Leadership Qualities of George Washington 

(51:50) Importance of Accountability in Leadership 

(55:45) Appreciation for Leadership Conversation

Hope for the Heart resources

Order our newest resource, The Care and Counsel Handbook, providing biblical guidance  100 real-life issues: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/care-and-counsel-handbook

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopefortheheart  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopefortheheart 

Want to talk with June Hunt on Hope in the Night about a difficult life issue? Schedule a time here: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/talk-with-june-hope-in-the-night

God’s plan for you: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/gods-plan-for-you/

Give to the ministry of Hope for the Heart: https://raisedonors.com/hopefortheheart/givehope?sc=HTPDON 

----------------------------

Bible verses mentioned in this episode

1 Kings 4:5 - “Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan was priest and the king’s friend.”

Matthew 23:23–28 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may also become clean.  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you too, outwardly appear righteous to people, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

John 13:3-5 – “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments and, taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”

In this episode, Dr. Michael Guillen – former Harvard physics instructor and Emmy award–winning ABC News science editor – shares his remarkable journey from atheism to faith in Christ. 

Drawing from his book Believing Is Seeing, Dr. Guillen shares his hope story of walking through infertility with his wife, encountering God in the midst of exhaustion, and being led to adoption. We also talk about his shift from being a “scientific monk” to a passionate follower of Jesus and explore ten powerful ways science affirms the truths of Scripture. 

This conversation is both deeply personal and intellectually compelling—one you won’t want to miss.

Subscribe to the podcast and tune in each week as Haley and Dustin share with you what the Bible says about real-life issues with compassion, warmth, and wit.

So you have every reason for hope, for every challenge in life. Because hope means

everything.

Hope Talks is a podcast of the ministry of Hope for the Heart.

Listen in to learn more 

(04:41) Trusting God 

(08:14) Supernatural Encounter That Changed Everything 

(12:00) Believing in Trust and Surrender 

(22:20) The Transformation of St. Paul 

(26:06) Transformation From Atheist to Christian 

(39:23) Transformative Personal Journey to Christianity 

(43:46) Discovery of the Truman Show Bubble 

(50:57) Christianity and Science in Modern Age 

(01:01:56) Believing Is Seeing Book and Movie 

(01:10:04) Science and Christianity in Harmony

Dr. Michael Guillen Resources 

Learn more about Dr. Guillen – https://michaelguillen.com/ 

Subscribe to Dr. Guillen’s Substack, More Thank Meets Than IQ – https://www.morethanmeetstheiq.com/ 

Get his book, Believing Is Seeing: A Physicist Explains How Science Shattered His Atheism and Revealed the Necessity of Faith – https://tinyurl.com/bdcwf2ya 

Listen to Dr. Guillen’s podcast, Science + God w/Dr. G – https://michaelguillen.com/podcast/ 

Hope for the Heart resources

Order our newest resource, The Care and Counsel Handbook, providing biblical guidance on 100 real-life issues: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/care-and-counsel-handbook

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopefortheheart  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopefortheheart 

Want to talk with June Hunt on Hope in the Night about a difficult life issue? Schedule a time here: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/talk-with-june-hope-in-the-night

God’s plan for you: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/gods-plan-for-you/

In this episode, we sit down with Justin Earley — business lawyer, speaker, podcaster, and author of numerous books on habits and spiritual disciplines. 

Justin shares his journey of walking through a season of anxiety and burnout and how God used it to reshape his view of life and faith. We dive into his new book, The Body Teaches the Soul: Ten Essential Habits to Form a Healthy and Holy Life, exploring common misconceptions about the body and spirit, biblical truths about embodiment, and practical habits that nurture physical, mental, and spiritual health. 

This conversation is full of both deep theological insights and simple, everyday practices that can help you live a more grounded and grace-filled life.

Subscribe to the podcast and tune in each week as Haley and Dustin share with you what the Bible says about real-life issues with compassion, warmth, and wit.

So you have every reason for hope, for every challenge in life. Because hope means everything.

Hope Talks is a podcast of the ministry of Hope for the Heart.

Listen in to learn more :

(00:00) Body and Spirit Interactions 

(07:22) Disconnect in American Christian Habits 

(10:51) Importance of the Body Reflections 

(22:29) Healing and Redemption of Bodies 

(27:24) Restoring Mental Health and Spiritual Rhythms

(33:42) The Power of Kneeling Prayer 

(37:23) The Power of Worship and Movement 

(42:05) Family Rhythms and Habits With Kids

Justin Earley Resources 

Learn more about Justin Earley – https://www.justinwhitmelearley.com/

Get his latest book, The Body Teaches the Soul – https://tinyurl.com/32ywu7xc 

Hope for the Heart resources :

Order our newest resource, The Care and Counsel Handbook, providing biblical guidance  100 real-life issues: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/care-and-counsel-handbook

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopefortheheart  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopefortheheart 

Want to talk with June Hunt on Hope in the Night about a difficult life issue? Schedule a time here: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/talk-with-june-hope-in-the-night

God’s plan for you: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/gods-plan-for-you/

Give to the ministry of Hope for the Heart: https://raisedonors.com/hopefortheheart/givehope?sc=HTPDON 

The world tells us to fight aging, hide it, or fear it … but God’s Word offers a better way. In this episode, Haley and Dustin talk about aging well: what the Bible says about growing older, the blessings and challenges of aging, and the markers of true maturity. 

They also share some practical questions to think through as you consider your next season of life, and discuss the truth of Isaiah 46:4, “I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.”

Subscribe to the podcast and tune in each week as Haley and Dustin share with you what the Bible says about real-life issues with compassion, warmth, and wit.

So you have every reason for hope, for every challenge in life. Because hope means everything.

Hope Talks is a podcast of the ministry of Hope for the Heart.

Listen in to learn more 

(03:57) Navigating Aging Through Expectations and Scripture (90 Seconds)

(17:56) God's View on Aging (90 Seconds)

(25:23) Perspective Shift Through Age and Faith (89 Seconds)

(30:17) Trusting God With Life's Journey (84 Seconds)

(37:21) Remembering Grandma Loretta (70 Seconds)

(49:02) Aging Well Tips and Scriptures

Hope for the Heart resources

Order our newest resource, The Care and Counsel Handbook, providing biblical guidance  100 real-life issues: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/care-and-counsel-handbook

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopefortheheart  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopefortheheart 

Want to talk with June Hunt on Hope in the Night about a difficult life issue? Schedule a time here: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/talk-with-june-hope-in-the-night

God’s plan for you: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/gods-plan-for-you/

Give to the ministry of Hope for the Heart: https://raisedonors.com/hopefortheheart/givehope?sc=HTPDON 

----------------------------

Bible verses mentioned in this episode

Isaiah 46:4, “I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.”

Psalm 39:4-5 --“LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.”

Proverbs 16:31 -- “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.”

Proverbs 20:29 -- “The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.”

In this episode, Haley and Dustin are joined by Shayne and Sheila Pitcock, a husband-and-wife Christian life coaching team and founders of Journey 2 Unity, a coaching practice specializing in individual and marital growth. Their story is one of pain, perseverance, and ultimately, God’s healing restoration.

Sheila shares how she came to know the Lord after growing up in a rules-based, legalistic environment. Shayne tells how he found hope in Christ after years of loneliness and the heavy burden of shame he carried from childhood. Both walked into marriage with deep wounds from their past, and those struggles led to conflict, pain, and three separations. And yet, God was not finished. 

Through surrender, healing, and holding fast to God’s promises, the Pitcocks found healing and restoration both personally and in their marriage. Today, they help other couples discover that no marriage is too far gone for God to restore.

If you or someone you know is struggling in their marriage, this conversation serves as an encouraging reminder of God’s power to redeem.

Subscribe to the podcast and tune in each week as Haley and Dustin share with you what the Bible says about real-life issues with compassion, warmth, and wit.

So you have every reason for hope, for every challenge in life. Because hope means

everything.

Hope Talks is a podcast of the ministry of Hope for the Heart.

Listen in to learn more 

(02:37) Discovering Hope in Christ

(15:06) Divine Revelation at the Bar 

(19:33) Impact of Past Trauma on Marriage 

(23:14) Navigating Life Change in Community 

(31:23) Healing and Reconciliation in Marriage

(37:07) Shifting Perspective Through Prayer 

(41:05) Understanding Boundaries in Relationships

(48:47) The Power of Forgiveness 

(52:44) Coaching From a Christian Perspective 

(59:46) Customized Approach in Relationship Counseling

Connect with Shayne & Sheila Pitcock

Learn more about Shayne & Sheila and their coaching: https://www.journey2unity.com 

Hope for the Heart resources :

Learn more and sign up for our fall Hope Together conference: https://hopetogether.com/ 

Order our newest resource, The Care and Counsel Handbook, providing biblical guidance  100 real-life issues: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/care-and-counsel-handbook

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopefortheheart  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopefortheheart 

Want to talk with June Hunt on Hope in the Night about a difficult life issue? Schedule a time here: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/talk-with-june-hope-in-the-night

God’s plan for you: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/gods-plan-for-you/

Give to the ministry of Hope for the Heart: https://raisedonors.com/hopefortheheart/givehope?sc=HTPDON 

----------------------------

Bible verses mentioned in this episode

Matthew 3:17: And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

In this episode, Haley and Dustin sit down with Pastor Ryan Walling of Bayshore Baptist Church in La Porte, Texas. Ryan shares how he came to know the Lord as a child and sensed God’s call into ministry, but much of our conversation centers around a deeply personal journey—walking through infertility, adoption, and parenting.

Ryan and his wife, Jessica, wrestled with years of infertility before deciding to adopt—not just one child, but four siblings from Ethiopia. Shortly after finalizing the adoption, Jessica became pregnant. And then pregnant again. In just 15 months, the Wallings went from zero children to six!

Ryan reflects on the joys and challenges of parenting, the whirlwind of raising six kids, and God’s faithfulness along the way.

Whether you’ve walked through infertility, considered adoption, or just need encouragement about God’s faithfulness, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that God adopts us into His family and delights in us with fatherly joy.

Subscribe to the podcast and tune in each week as Haley and Dustin share with you what the Bible says about real-life issues with compassion, warmth, and wit.

So you have every reason for hope, for every challenge in life. Because hope means everything.

Hope Talks is a podcast of the ministry of Hope for the Heart.

Listen in to learn more : 

(03:48) - Faith Journey and Ministry Calling

(11:09) - Journey to Ministry and Adoption

(16:14) - Miraculous Journey to Family Expansion

(27:44) - Challenges and Joys of Adoption

(32:46) - Journey of Family Expansion and Faith

(38:20) - Trust in God's Sovereignty and Faithfulness

(49:25) - Power of Faith and Gratitude

Learn more about Ryan Walling, His Family & Ministry

Watch messages and learn about Bayshore Baptist Church – https://www.bayshorebaptist.church/ 

Watch Eyasu’s story, A remarkable journey of a young man's path from an Ethiopian orphanage to Texas A&M glory with ABC13 – https://abc13.com/post/esyau-walling-tells-abc13-upbringing-ethiopian-orphanage-adoption-how-helped-shaped-path/16332666/ 

Hope for the Heart resources

Learn more and sign up for our fall Hope Together conference: https://hopetogether.com/ 

Order our newest resource, The Care and Counsel Handbook, providing biblical guidance  100 real-life issues: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/care-and-counsel-handbook

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopefortheheart  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopefortheheart 

Want to talk with June Hunt on Hope in the Night about a difficult life issue? Schedule a time here: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/talk-with-june-hope-in-the-night

God’s plan for you: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/gods-plan-for-you/

Give to the ministry of Hope for the Heart: https://raisedonors.com/hopefortheheart/givehope?sc=HTPDON 

----------------------------

Bible verses mentioned in this episode

Ephesians 1:4-5 (NLT): “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.”

Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

“Do not worry” (Matthew 6:25).

Worry is so familiar that we often treat it as inevitable – yet Jesus gives us a direct command not to. His words aren’t a cold prohibition but a gracious invitation to trust the Father’s love and care for us.

In this episode, Haley and Dustin dive into Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6 to unpack the difference between worry and healthy concern. Along the way, they share biblical insights for finding peace in anxious times and introduce four types of “worry-ers” to help you recognize patterns in your own life.

Whatever burdens you’re carrying today, may this conversation help you find peace and strengthen your trust in the Lord.

Subscribe to the podcast and tune in each week as Haley and Dustin share with you what the Bible says about real-life issues with compassion, warmth, and wit.

So you have every reason for hope, for every challenge in life. Because hope means everything.

Hope Talks is a podcast of the ministry of Hope for the Heart.

Listen in to learn more 

(00:00) Navigating Worry

(05:51) Overcoming Worry With Faith

(13:20) Navigating Worry Through God's Care

(26:09) Finding Hope in Worst-Case Scenarios

(39:06) Embracing Healthy Concern and Trusting God

(48:49) Embracing God's Faithfulness Over Worry

(54:09) Trusting in God Through Prayer

Hope for the Heart resources.

Learn more and sign up for our fall Hope Together conference: https://hopetogether.com/ 

Order our newest resource, The Care and Counsel Handbook, providing biblical guidance  100 real-life issues: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/care-and-counsel-handbook

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopefortheheart  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopefortheheart 

Want to talk with June Hunt on Hope in the Night about a difficult life issue? Schedule a time here: https://resource.hopefortheheart.org/talk-with-june-hope-in-the-night

God’s plan for you: https://www.hopefortheheart.org/gods-plan-for-you/

Give to the ministry of Hope for the Heart: https://raisedonors.com/hopefortheheart/givehope?sc=HTPDON 

----------------------------

Bible verses mentioned in this episode

Matthew 6:25-34 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”