Marriage, Mayhem & Mercy

The Wilderness Within (Part 2): Rewiring the Heart with Scripture, Beauty, and Practice

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Summary

In this continuation of “The Wilderness Within,” Tanja and Jess unpack the how of healing. They discuss the role of Scripture in renewing the mind, the importance of daily repetition, and how curiosity, beauty, and gratitude can help rewire trauma-based thinking. Jess introduces practices such as personalized Scripture reading, morning truth statements, and keeping an evidence journal to track God’s goodness.

The conversation ends with a message of hope—God is always doing a new thing, even in the wilderness.

In This Episode
  • Using Scripture to rewire the brain and ground the heart in truth
  • Why you don’t have to “clean yourself up” to come before God
  • How to personalize Scripture for prayer and healing
  • The power of repetition, emotion, and daily morning practices
  • What it means to keep an Evidence Journal of God’s faithfulness
  • “Beauty hunting” as a spiritual practice for trauma recovery
  • How practicing new responses rewires old habits
  • Finding hope when you can’t yet feel God’s presence

    • Practical Takeaways
    • Personalize God’s Word: Replace “you” with “me” or insert family names when praying Scripture to help it reach the heart.
    • Morning Moments: Right after waking, pray or read truth statements while your mind is most receptive.
    • Keep an Evidence Journal: Record moments of grace, answered prayers, and progress—proof of God’s goodness in daily life.

    • Beauty Hunt: Set aside time to notice beauty—a walk, a song, a sunset—as a way to retrain your mind toward awe instead of fear.
    • Practice the New: Healing takes repetition; small, consistent steps create lasting change.
      • Scripture Mentioned
      • Philippians 1:6 – “He who began a good work in you will complete it.”
      • Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
      • Isaiah 43:19 – “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

        • Resources:

        Discover more about Jess’s coaching and resources at her website transformingus.org.

        Follow on socials…

        YouTube: https://youtube.com/@transformingus?si=uyB15vIOZg-AOowK

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

        Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579352282196

         

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        About Our Guest

        Jess Vangsnes is an Enneagram and attachment relationship coach who helps individuals and couples uncover patterns rooted in trauma and rebuild secure, faith-centered relationships.
        Visit transformingus.org for free assessments and resources, including Seven Skills to Shift.

        Next Episode

        Up next on Marriage, Mayhem & Mercy, we’ll move from the wilderness to gratitude. Tanja sits down with Henry Nwaneri to talk about the story of the ten lepers—and the one who came back grateful. Together they explore how gratitude re-orients the heart toward God’s mercy, restores perspective, and brings healing to our relationships and faith journey.

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        Marriage, Mayhem & MercyBy Tanja Rouintree, Christian Family Coach