Pain has a way of exposing what we believe about God. Lynn joins us to trace the arc from head knowledge to heart transformation, and he does it by telling the hardest story he knows: losing his son on a Colorado 14er and facing the five wounds—deceit and denial, fear, anger, sadness, and shame—that followed. Instead of burying that story, he chose to invest it. What we hide in the dark can be used against us; what we bring into the light, God can use.

We explore why the heart sits at the center of spiritual life, and Lynn shares how a familiar parable reframed his grief as a trust from God to steward, not a secret to hide. That shift unlocked a ministry of presence where the goal is not to fix people but to sit with them, ask better questions, and gently ask, “What is Christ saying to you right now?” Freedom looks like honest language, a safe community, and the courage to name what hurts without fear of judgment.

We also unpack the quiet crisis many churches face: a lobby culture that discourages honest conversations that lead to healing. From mountain memories to Isaiah 61’s promise to bind up the brokenhearted, this conversation charts a practical path for anyone stuck in shame, grief, or numbness. If you’re tired of performance religion and hungry for a faith that can hold real life, you’ll find hope, language, and next steps here.

If this story stirred something, share it with a friend, subscribe for more honest conversations, and leave a review telling us what you’re bringing into the light next.

Ever feel like your spiritual life is a performance review you can’t pass? We pull back the curtain on why religion—understood as striving to reach God through our own effort—wears people out, breeds competition, and stifles honest questions. Instead of piling on more rules, we trace a simpler, stronger thread: the gospel’s invitation to follow Jesus, find rest, and experience transformation from the inside out.

If you’re tired of the spiritual treadmill and longing for an authentic experience of faith, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs relief from striving, and leave a review telling us which reason resonated most. Then come tell us your story at religionsucks.co.

What if you did everything “right” and still ended up with heartbreak you can’t pray away? We sit down with author and leader Joanna Meyer to talk about the gap between faith and reality—where singleness stretches for decades, infertility closes cherished doors, and a pastor’s family breaks apart. Joanna doesn’t offer quick fixes. She invites us to strip faith to the studs, set down performance, and meet a Savior who knows suffering from the inside.

Across this conversation, we unlearn the myth that a faithful life always trends upward. Joanna shows how American ideals of constant progress can distort discipleship, making us equate God’s favor with outcomes. Instead, we turn to the older, deeper path of lament—naming what is broken, turning toward God, and choosing hope even when circumstances don’t shift.

If this conversation met you in a hard place, share it with a friend who needs company in the tension. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: where are you learning to lament and still hope?