This is a subject we've never covered before — and one that isn't easy to talk about. As we've been training to become biblical counselors, we came across a topic we knew we couldn't skip: abuse in marriage and in the home. This conversation is deeply personal, because one of us grew up in a household that looked normal from the outside but carried real patterns of abuse and control underneath.

In this episode, we talk honestly about what abuse actually is — physical, verbal, emotional, financial, spiritual, coercive control, and gaslighting (including where that term actually comes from) — and draw a clear line between ordinary marital conflict and genuine abuse. From there, we open up about a personal story of growing up in that environment: the fear, the walking on eggshells, the way it shaped a child's sense of self and view of trust. We also talk honestly about where God was in the middle of it, and how a foundation of faith planted early can carry someone through even when they can't see Him working in the moment.

In this episode:

• What counts as abuse — physical, verbal, emotional, financial, spiritual, and coercive control
• Where the term "gaslighting" actually comes from
• The difference between marital conflict and abuse
• A personal story of growing up in an abusive home
• How childhood abuse shapes self-image, trust, and relationships later in life
• Wrestling with "where was God" — and finding He was closer than it felt

A note for listeners: this episode discusses abuse in detail, including personal experience. If this is a heavy topic for you, take care while listening.

If you would like prayer for your marriage or anything at all, email us at everydayidopod@gmail.com. We would love to pray for you and be an encouragement! You can also message us on Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠⁠everyday_i_do_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠.