The Secret Place: For a Life in Bloom

Cherise Rochelle

In my journey of faith, I am finding that love, true, deep, and transformative, begins in the secret place with God. This podcast is an invitation to explore the questions that challenge me, questions about love, faith, trust, growth, and how to navigate everyday life as a believer. Through short, reflective episodes, I’ll share insights, scriptures, affirmations, manifestations, and everyday messages of encouragement and love, hoping to deepen my understanding of God and inspire others to do the same. Join me in getting to know God together, one question at a time. For a Life in Bloom cheriserochelle.substack.com

Episodes

  1. Apr 24

    Discernment, Forgiveness, Honour and Submission -- What Does Faith Say About Harmful Parents?

    Discernment is often spoken about as if it’s something instinctive. Something you either have or you don’t. But in reality, discernment is something we learn—often shaped by the environments we were raised in, the voices we were exposed to, and the experiences that formed us. In this conversation with Dr. Christin Joy Fort, Ph.D., M.A., we begin by exploring what discernment actually is. What does it mean to hear God’s voice clearly?And how do we distinguish that from our own thoughts, our upbringing, or the conditioning we’ve internalised over time? From there, we move into understanding emotions—not as something to suppress, but as signals. Indicators that something may need our attention, whether within us or within our relationships. But as the conversation develops, we begin to see where this becomes more complex. Particularly when we apply these ideas to real-life relationships—especially within the family. We discuss how concepts like forgiveness, honour, and submission are often misunderstood or misapplied, sometimes in ways that bypass wisdom and make discernment more difficult. And for many, this becomes most evident in the context of father-child relationships. How do you honour a parent who has hurt you?What does forgiveness actually look like when there are patterns of harm?And how do you navigate submission and respect without abandoning truth or boundaries? This conversation doesn’t offer simple answers. But it does offer something just as important—clarity. A way of thinking that allows your faith, your emotions, and your lived experiences to come into alignment, rather than conflict. If you’d like to get in touch with Dr. Fort you can also contact her @ christinfort@fuller.edu Beloved with Cherise Rochelle is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support this publication, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Beloved with Cherise Rochelle at cheriserochelle.substack.com/subscribe

  2. 04/25/2025

    Who or What Has Your Heart? | The Secret Place: For A Life in Bloom | Episode 6

    “What if I told you… your faith might not be in God at all?” That’s the question that rerouted today’s episode and reshaped my own understanding of trust. Originally, I planned to speak about faith in more familiar terms—how to grow in it, what the Bible says about doubt, and so on. But as I sat with Hebrews 11, particularly verses 13–16, something unsettling happened: I found myself disappointed. These heroes of faith died without receiving everything promised to them. That reaction revealed something in me—something I needed to confront. This post is an invitation to pause and reflect. Not with condemnation, but with clarity.We’re exploring: * How faith can sometimes look like trust in God when it’s actually trust in outcomes * Why your childhood wounds might be impacting your relationship with God * The signs that you’ve lost your eternal perspective * What it looks like to truly let God re-parent you * And how our fears, if left unchecked, can lead us to live more by sight than by Spirit It’s vulnerable. It’s raw. But it’s real.And I believe God meets us most deeply in that honest place. Because as Hebrews 12 reminds us:We fix our eyes on Jesus, not what is seen… but what is eternal. Let me know in the comments:What’s one area of your life where you’ve been challenged to trust God more deeply? And if you want more episodes or posts like this—especially the kind that wrestle with the real and not just the religious—hit that subscribe button. 💬 With love,Cherise Get full access to Beloved with Cherise Rochelle at cheriserochelle.substack.com/subscribe

About

In my journey of faith, I am finding that love, true, deep, and transformative, begins in the secret place with God. This podcast is an invitation to explore the questions that challenge me, questions about love, faith, trust, growth, and how to navigate everyday life as a believer. Through short, reflective episodes, I’ll share insights, scriptures, affirmations, manifestations, and everyday messages of encouragement and love, hoping to deepen my understanding of God and inspire others to do the same. Join me in getting to know God together, one question at a time. For a Life in Bloom cheriserochelle.substack.com