What does it look like to invite God into the very places you’d rather avoid—your grief, your trauma, your flashbacks, your church wounds?

In this honest, tender conversation, Elisha sits down with Cassandra Armstrong—US Navy veteran, doctoral student, and author of Growth and Grief and The Grit of Grace—to talk about how God meets us in the middle of our mess, not just our Sunday best.

Together, they explore:

• How Cassandra learned to bring her trauma and military experiences into God’s presence
• What “growth” can realistically look like in the middle of deep grief
• The stigma around therapy in the church & why getting help does not mean you have weak faith
• How suffering can shape spiritual gifts, compassion, and calling
• What it means to hold both faith and flashbacks without shame
• Gentle ways to begin healing in your body, nervous system, and relationship with God

If you’ve ever felt like your pain is “too much,” or worried that needing help makes you “less spiritual,” this episode is a safe space to exhale. You are not a burden, and you are not alone.

About Cassandra Armstrong:
Cassandra is a US Navy veteran, doctoral student, and the author of Growth and Grief and The Grit of Grace. Her work centers on helping people make meaning of their suffering, walk with God through loss, and discover the unexpected gifts that can emerge from grief.

📚 Connect with Cassandra & Her Work:

• Books: Growth and Grief & The Grit of Grace
• Website
• Rooted Podcast

Resources from Elisha:
If this conversation is stirring something in you and you’re wanting gentle, guided support in your own healing journey, Elisha has also authored books for people navigating trauma, anxiety, and depression from a Christian, trauma-informed lens.

📖 Explore Elisha’s Books & Resources:

• Mental Health Handbook
• Mindfulness Biblical Affirmations of Forgiveness and Grace: An Adult Coloring Journey to Peace and Restoration
• Restoring You Christian Counseling

🔔 Stay Connected:

• Subscribe or follow the podcast so you don’t miss future episodes on trauma, the nervous system, and Christian faith
• Share this episode with a friend who’s grieving or healing from church hurt
• Leave a rating or review if this conversation helped you—it really does help others find a safe space, too

You are allowed to bring all of who you are—your grief, your growth, and your questions—into the presence of a God who isn’t afraid of any of it. 💛

What happens when your deepest pain becomes your greatest platform? In this episode, we sit down with Pastor Emily, founder of Redeemed Ministries, to share her powerful testimony of moving from a place of hidden darkness into the light of true freedom.

📚 Get Pastor Emily’s books here: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/author/pastoremily

About This Episode:For years, Pastor Emily wore a mask. To the outside world, she was a "religious Christian," but behind closed doors, she was fighting a silent battle for her life, navigating deep mental struggles, trauma, and the exhaustion of trying to hold it all together.

This conversation isn't just about the diagnosis; it’s about the deliverance. Emily shares the raw reality of what it took to drop the religious performance and truly encounter Jesus. It is a story of how God stepped into the mess and turned a life of "survival" into a ministry of hope. If you have ever felt like your past disqualifies you from a purpose-filled future, this testimony is for you.

In this conversation, we explore:

• The Double Life: The exhaustion of hiding severe pain behind a "church face."
• Religion vs. Relationship: The pivotal moment she stopped following rules and started following Jesus.
• The Turning Point: How she found the strength to surrender her secrets and receive total healing.
• Pain to Platform: Her journey to becoming a voice for the voiceless and helping others find their own freedom.

About the Guest:Pastor Emily is a Certified Trauma-Informed Coach and the founder of Redeemed Ministries, an international cyber ministry dedicated to inner healing. She lives by the powerful motto: “Show me your pain, and I will show you your platform.”

Connect with Elisha's Space:

• Subscribe for more authentic conversations on healing and growth.

#Testimony #ChristianTestimony #InnerHealing #Redemption #FaithOverFear #ElishasSpace #SpiritualGrowth #GodsGrace

Does your body feel like an engine that’s been left running in a parked car? You’re exhausted, but you can’t shut down. Your heart races, your stomach turns, and you feel on edge—even when you’re safe.

You aren't broken, and you aren't "bad" at faith. You are just stuck in a biological protection mode.

In this episode of Elisha's Space, we decode the fight or flight response and explain why your Sympathetic Nervous System gets stuck in the "ON" position. We move past the shame of anxiety and get straight to the physiology, giving you practical tools to signal safety to your body immediately.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why "praying away" anxiety doesn't always work if you ignore your biology.
• The science behind why your body views stress like a bear chase.
• 3 Practical Tools you can use right now to calm your nervous system.

RESOURCES & SCRIPTURES MENTIONED:

• Psalm 46:10 - "Be still and know that I am God."
• 2 Corinthians 10:5 - Taking thoughts captive.

TAGS:#NervousSystemRegulation #FightOrFlight #ChristianCounseling #AnxietyRelief #TraumaRecovery #MentalHealthAwareness #ElishasSpace