Therapy and Theology

In this bonus Q&A episode, Lysa TerKeurst, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Counselor Jim Cress respond to voice memos sent in by Therapy & Theology listeners.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How to accept the life you have today, instead of being stuck in ruminating over the past.
• What to do when life feels "stalled out" and you're waiting for God.
• Practical tools for co-parenting with an ex-partner and how to approach dating again post-divorce.

Links and Resources We'll Mention in This Episode:

• Get your copy of Surviving an Unwanted Divorce by Lysa TerKeurst, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Jim Cress.
• The Therapy & Theology podcast is brought to you by Proverbs 31 Ministries. Give today to partner with Proverbs 31 Ministries and help more women encounter the Truth of God's Word. 
• Have a question for Lysa, Jim, or Joel? Leave us a message, and it could be answered on one of our future podcast episodes! Start here.
• Be notified as soon as new Therapy & Theology episodes are available! Enter your email address here to subscribe and stay connected.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Go Deeper:

• Listen to "When Divorce Makes You Feel Like You Weren't Enough."
• Listen to "How To Be Brave When You Don't Feel Brave."
• Watch "Stop the Shame Scripts Holding You Back."

When life takes an unexpected turn — whether it’s going through a divorce or another unwanted circumstance — it can feel like survival mode is the only option. Our mental health begins to suffer, bringing increased anxiety, loneliness, and endless what-if questions. But there is hope — and this conversation with Lysa TerKeurst, Shae Hill, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Rebecca Maxwell will help you find it.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How the Bible and therapy actually complement each other, rather than compete with each other.
• Practical rhythms and activities for your mind that can help lead to peace.
• How to take the mystery out of anxiety by knowing exactly how to recognize it.

A special thank-you to our partner for this season: Convoy of Hope. For over 30 years, Convoy of Hope has helped vulnerable communities around the world — and empowering women and girls is a key part of that mission. Convoy of Hope partners with women so they can start their own businesses to better support themselves and their families. Because when women are empowered, entire communities are transformed. Visit convoy.org/p31 to help empower women and girls today.

Links and Resources We'll Mention in This Episode:

• Get your copy of Surviving an Unwanted Divorce by Lysa TerKeurst, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Jim Cress.
• Get your copy of Jesus & Your Mental Health by Rebecca Maxwell, and learn more about Rebecca's practice, Jacksonville Counseling Services, by visiting their website.
• Be notified as soon as new Therapy & Theology episodes are available! Enter your email address here to subscribe and stay connected.
• See Lysa in a city near you this fall on the Trust Again Tour. Bring a friend, and get your tickets here!
• The Therapy & Theology podcast is brought to you by Proverbs 31 Ministries. Proverbs 31 Ministries exists to help women encounter the Truth of God's Word in every season. Learn more here!
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Go Deeper:

• Listen to "When Divorce Makes You Feel Like You Weren't Enough" to hear a teaching on taking your thoughts captive.
• Listen to "How To Be Brave When You Don't Feel Brave."
• Watch "Stop the Shame Scripts Holding You Back."

The cure for grief isn’t time — it’s acceptance. Acceptance helps you process what has been lost, let go of what will never be, and discover new meaning and purpose moving forward.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The five stages of grief and why grief recovery is a continual loop — not a simple, linear process.
• How to stop romanticizing the past and use healthy reality checks to overcome nostalgia.
• Practical ways to reconcile good memories while healing after loss or moving on from a past relationship.
• How to take back your power by asking one life-changing question instead of obsessing over what you can’t control.

A special thank-you to our partner for this season: Convoy of Hope. For over 30 years, Convoy of Hope has helped vulnerable communities around the world — and empowering women and girls is a key part of that mission. Convoy of Hope partners with women so they can start their own businesses to better support themselves and their families. Because when women are empowered, entire communities are transformed. Visit convoy.org/p31 to help empower women and girls today.

Links and Resources We'll Mention in This Episode:

• Get your copy of Surviving an Unwanted Divorce by Lysa TerKeurst, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Jim Cress.
• Be notified as soon as new Therapy & Theology episodes are available! Enter your email address here to subscribe and stay connected.
• We want to hear from YOU! Take this survey to let us know how we can better serve you.
• See Lysa in a city near you this fall on the Trust Again Tour. Bring a friend, and get your tickets here!
• The Therapy & Theology podcast is brought to you by Proverbs 31 Ministries. Proverbs 31 Ministries exists to help women encounter the Truth of God's Word in every season. Learn more here!
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Go Deeper:

• Listen to "Moving Through the Impact of Trauma."
• Listen to "Mile Markers of Healing."
• Watch "You’ve Been Through So Much — Now Let God Use It."

Forgiveness often feels like an unfair gift we have to give to someone who hurt us the most. But what if it's actually God's prescription for the hurting human heart to heal?

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The dangers and costs of unforgiveness.
• How to maintain a soft heart heart when you're scared to get hurt again.
• The difference between forgiveness and reconciliation.
• What to do when you get triggered again.

A special thank-you to our partner for this season: Convoy of Hope. For over 30 years, Convoy of Hope has helped vulnerable communities around the world — and empowering women and girls is a key part of that mission. Convoy of Hope partners with women so they can start their own businesses to better support themselves and their families. Because when women are empowered, entire communities are transformed. Visit convoy.org/p31 to help empower women and girls today.

Links and Resources We'll Mention in This Episode:

• Get your copy of Surviving an Unwanted Divorce by Lysa TerKeurst, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Jim Cress.
• Be notified as soon as new Therapy & Theology episodes are available! Enter your email address here to subscribe and stay connected.
• Have a question for Lysa, Jim, or Joel? Leave us a message, and it could be answered on one of our future podcast episodes! Start here. 
• See Lysa in a city near you this fall on the Trust Again Tour. Bring a friend, and get your tickets here!
• The Therapy & Theology podcast is brought to you by Proverbs 31 Ministries. Proverbs 31 Ministries exists to help women encounter the Truth of God's Word in every season. Learn more here!
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Go Deeper:

• Listen to "The Daily Cure for a Heavy Heart."
• Listen to "Are There Some People We Shouldn’t Trust Again?"
• Watch "What if I Don't Feel Ready To Forgive?"

After a life-altering experience like an unwanted divorce, the dust may settle, but your mind keeps racing. Questions like Why wasn’t I enough?, What could I have done differently?, or How did I miss this? spiral on repeat. Without healing and healthy processing, these thoughts turn into faulty beliefs that make moving forward even harder.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Who is a trustworthy source of truth to speak into your life.
• What is a three-step process to take your thoughts captive based on 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.
• How to live in the identity God has given you, instead of the circumstances that have happened to you.

A special thank-you to our partner for this season: Convoy of Hope. For over 30 years, Convoy of Hope has helped vulnerable communities around the world — and empowering women and girls is a key part of that mission. Convoy of Hope partners with women so they can start their own businesses to better support themselves and their families. Because when women are empowered, entire communities are transformed. Visit convoy.org/p31 to help empower women and girls today.

Links and Resources We'll Mention in This Episode:

• Get your copy of Surviving an Unwanted Divorce by Lysa TerKeurst, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Jim Cress.
• Be notified as soon as new Therapy & Theology episodes are available! Enter your email address here to subscribe and stay connected.
• Have a question for Lysa, Jim, or Joel? Leave us a message, and it could be answered on one of our future podcast episodes! Start here. 
• See Lysa in a city near you this fall on the Trust Again Tour. Bring a friend, and get your tickets here!
• The Therapy & Theology podcast is brought to you by Proverbs 31 Ministries. Proverbs 31 Ministries exists to help women encounter the Truth of God's Word in every season. Learn more here!
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Go Deeper:

• Listen to "How To Be Brave When You Don't Feel Brave."
• Listen to "You Are Worthy of Being Chosen" With Jim Cress.
• Watch "Stop the Shame Scripts Holding You Back."

Divorce is so deeply complex, confusing, and gut-wrenching — especially when you are blindsided by betrayal and left facing a future you never asked for.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why Matthew 19 is often misunderstood and debated, and what Jesus actually meant.
• What the connection is between Old and New Testament teachings on marriage and divorce.
• How to keep refusing shame so you can walk toward deeper healing for your future.

A special thank-you to our partner for this season: Convoy of Hope. For over 30 years, Convoy of Hope has helped vulnerable communities around the world — and empowering women and girls is a key part of that mission. Convoy of Hope partners with women so they can start their own businesses to better support themselves and their families. Because when women are empowered, entire communities are transformed. Visit convoy.org/p31 to help empower women and girls today.

Links and Resources We'll Mention in This Episode:

• Get your copy of Surviving an Unwanted Divorce by Lysa TerKeurst, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Jim Cress.
• Be notified as soon as new Therapy & Theology episodes are available! Enter your email address here to subscribe and stay connected.
• Have a question for Lysa, Jim, or Joel? Leave us a message, and it could be answered on one of our future podcast episodes! Start here. 
• See Lysa in a city near you this fall on the Trust Again Tour. Bring a friend, and get your tickets here!
• The Therapy & Theology podcast is brought to you by Proverbs 31 Ministries. Proverbs 31 Ministries exists to help women encounter the Truth of God's Word in every season. Learn more here!
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Go Deeper:

• Listen to "Difficult vs. Destructive Relationships" With Leslie Vernick.
• Listen to "Is Every Red Flag a Big Deal?"
• Watch "How To Deal With Emotional Abuse."

Divorce is a deeply painful experience that often carries layers of shame and confusion, especially for Christians. While we don't want to glorify divorce in anyway, we also don't want people quietly suffering without a place to turn. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What it means to be an image bearer of God — whether you're married or single.
• Why passages of Scripture, like Malachi 2:16, are often misunderstood and how you can know what the original text actually means.
• How to refuse the shame-filled accusations the enemy throws at you.

A special thank-you to our partner for this season: Convoy of Hope. For over 30 years, Convoy of Hope has helped vulnerable communities around the world — and empowering women and girls is a key part of that mission. Convoy of Hope partners with women so they can start their own businesses to better support themselves and their families. Because when women are empowered, entire communities are transformed. Visit convoy.org/p31 to help empower women and girls today.

Links and Resources We'll Mention in This Episode:

• Get your copy of Surviving an Unwanted Divorce by Lysa TerKeurst, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Jim Cress.
• Be notified as soon as new Therapy & Theology episodes are available! Enter your email address here to subscribe and stay connected.
• Have a question for Lysa, Jim, or Joel? Leave us a message, and it could be answered on one of our future podcast episodes! Start here. 
• See Lysa in a city near you this fall on the Trust Again Tour. Bring a friend, and get your tickets here!
• The Therapy & Theology podcast is brought to you by Proverbs 31 Ministries. Proverbs 31 Ministries exists to help women encounter the Truth of God's Word in every season. Learn more here!
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Go Deeper:

• Listen to "How Can I Trust God When I Don’t Understand What He Allows?"
• Listen to "You Are Worthy of Being Chosen" With Jim Cress.
• Watch "Stop the Shame Scripts Holding You Back."

For years, Lysa TerKeurst has walked alongside women who never wanted their marriage to end yet find themselves navigating the grief, shame, and unanswered questions that divorce brings. Now, Lysa, alongside theologian Dr. Joel Muddamalle, Licensed Professional Counselor Jim Cress, and other special guests, offers listeners the emotional fortitude and biblical confidence they need to move forward. 

These episodes will especially help:

• Someone who has suffered or is currently suffering through an unwanted divorce.
• Friends, family members, Bible study leaders, pastors, and counselors who are walking with others through their own devastating season.
• Christians who have long been confused about what the Bible says about divorce.

Episode 1 releases on September 11, so make sure you're subscribed, and we'll see you then.

A special thank-you to our partner for this season: Convoy of Hope. For over 30 years, Convoy of Hope has helped vulnerable communities around the world — and empowering women and girls is a key part of that mission. Convoy of Hope partners with women so they can start their own businesses to better support themselves and their families. Because when women are empowered, entire communities are transformed. Visit convoy.org/p31 to help empower women and girls today.

Links and Resources We'll Mention This Season:

• Get your copy of Surviving an Unwanted Divorce by Lysa TerKeurst, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, and Jim Cress. 
• Be notified as soon as new Therapy & Theology episodes are available! Enter your email address here to subscribe and stay connected.
• Have a question for Lysa, Jim, or Joel? Leave us a message, and it could be answered on one of our future podcast episodes! Start here. 
• See Lysa in a city near you this fall on the Trust Again Tour. Bring a friend, and get your tickets here!
• The Therapy & Theology podcast is brought to you by Proverbs 31 Ministries. Proverbs 31 Ministries exists to help women encounter the Truth of God's Word in every season. Learn more here!

Go Deeper:

• Listen to "I’m Afraid I’m Being Betrayed."
• Listen to "How To Move On When Someone Walks Away."
• Watch "How Do I Talk About Divorce With My Kids?"

Whether you're parenting biological, foster, or adoptive children or navigating your own healing journey from when you were a child, this conversation is for you.

In this episode with Meredith Brock, Jim Cress, and Bethany Hall, you'll learn how to:

• Recognize your personal triggers and how they affect your parenting style.
• Understand the importance of healing past relational trauma.
• Identify signs of fear or shame responses in your children.
• Use practical ways to bring calm into your parenting.
• Balance structure and nurture with connected, grace-filled parenting.

Links we mentioned in this episode:

• Download "Is This Normal? 15 Red Flags You May Be Missing in Your Relationships" by Lysa TerKeurst here.
• Sign up for a $10 webinar on September 4 at 7: p.m. ET with the Chosen team to learn about attachment styles and foster better communication with your children — no matter their age. 
• Have a question for Lysa, Jim, or Joel? Leave us a message, and it could be answered on one of our future podcast episodes! Start here.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Go deeper: 

• Listen to "Red Flags We Shouldn’t Ignore in Relationships."
• Listen to "Here Is Your Permission To Set Boundaries" With Jim Cress.
• Watch "Difficult vs. Destructive Relationships."

It's one thing to recognize red flags in your relationships. It's another thing to know what to do after that.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Five spectrums to consider when determining how serious a red flag is.
• Guidelines for determining if a particular red flag is something that needs to be confronted or self-managed.
• How to grow in awareness of red flags without getting overwhelmed or scared to get close to others.

Links we mentioned in this episode:

• Download "Is This Normal? 15 Red Flags You May Be Missing in Your Relationships" by Lysa TerKeurst here.
• Sign up for a $10 webinar on September 4 at 7 p.m. ET with the Chosen team to learn about attachment styles and foster better communication with your children — no matter their age. 
• Have a question for Lysa, Jim, or Joel? Leave us a message, and it could be answered on one of our future podcast episodes! Start here.
• Click here to download a transcript of this episode.

Go deeper: 

• Listen to "Red Flags We Shouldn’t Ignore in Relationships."
• Listen to "Here Is Your Permission To Set Boundaries" With Jim Cress.
• Watch "Difficult vs. Destructive Relationships."