Lifted to Hope Louise Sedgwick

Have you ever felt the sting of betrayal within your Christian community? Has a trusted leader let you down? You're not alone. The pain from such a deep wound can lead us to guard our hearts and avoid those who have hurt us. I know this because I’ve been there. The closeness of the relationship and the trust I placed in it made the betrayal all the more painful.
In this week's episode, we explore the deep hurts that can arise within our church communities and Christian ministries. Often inflicted by those we value most, these wounds can leave us feeling disillusioned and isolated. Whether caused by the immaturity of leaders, unmet expectations, or outright sin, these experiences are real and impactful.
In this episode you'll learn: 
The profound depth of our need for belonging How a guarded heart often masks underlying shame The impact of misapplying scripture in creating feelings of shame The importance of acknowledging and naming our relational hurts within the church The necessity of committing to difficult conversations

Grab your copy of Lifted From Shame
Order your eBook or print book on Amazon here.
Print and eBook are available now through the publisher here.

God's design for the church has always been to create a rich community where all believers can mature as they learn to connect with and serve God and each other. However, we know that Satan is relentless in his attempts to destroy the work of the church.
One of the Enemy's most effective strategies is spreading misguided theology that emphasizes performance over our universal need for grace. In this episode, I’ll share several signs that a community may be fostering shame and hiding rather than promoting honesty and growth.
In this episode, you'll learn: 
Specific scriptures that describe God’s design for the church’s design and purpose Why we have to anticipate the impact of our actions inducing shame in others Why grace is so essential to the Gospel Why being judgemental of others is a sign of how harshly we criticize ourselves Clear indicators that a church is spreading misguided theology  
Grab your copy of Lifted From Shame
Order your eBook or print book on Amazon here.
Print and eBook are available now through the publisher here.

Cheryl is back to share more of her healing journey through a divorce, which like many others involved several layers of grief. Cheryl is so gifted in the sharing of details of this process, which reveal God’s tender care and attention to her wounds. She will share how critical it was to find a safe space to share her pain. She will also talk about how she knew she was maturing through the grief and what she learned about herself, especially as she relates to God in her most fragile moments. 
If you’re on a similar journey or know someone walking through a divorce, I encourage you to listen to the way Cheryl points to the redemptive nature of God repeatedly throughout this conversation. 
In this episode you’ll learn:
Why we should continually release the temptation to find quick fixes to our grief The metaphor God used to show Cheryl what unforgiveness would do to her heart The power of gratitude in our healing journey Why Cheryl considers it a gift to be confronted with her limitations What the church can do more of to minister to those walking through divorce
Grab your copy of Lifted From Shame
Order your eBook or print book on Amazon here.
Print and eBook are available now through the publisher here.

When we are walking it out,  it is so difficult to trust that God would choose to bring good from the darkest moments of our pain. In this episode, I’ve invited my friend Cheryl to share her story of surviving divorce and all its rippling effects, including carrying the shame of her husband’s addiction leading to his arrest. 
While Cheryl would be the first to admit she didn’t always navigate this road of grief and healing with grace, she did remain humble and teachable. You’ll hear how God met her in every season of her journey, providing for many very specific physical and spiritual needs. Her willingness to share these details will fill you with hope. 
In this episode, you’ll learn: 
Why being able to separate from her husband was a gift of God’s grace.  Why Cheryl was thankful that she couldn’t run from a public criminal accusation What it looked like for Cheryl to own her mistakes as she healed The powerful examples of care and concern shown by her community Why Cheryl would encourage you to find a friend safe enough to express your anger with Links Mentioned: 
Waking the Dead:  The Secret to a Heart Fully Alive by John Eldredge
Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
Healing for Damaged Emotions  By David Seamands  

Many times when we face relational challenges, it gives us a chance to consider: how might I have contributed to this experience? In this second episode, Mark returns to share how he took time reflect on this question and own the ways his words and actions had led to part of the breakdown in trust in his marriage. He shares how he was able to grieve and heal within the context of a healthy faith community. 
Mark will also talk about how he navigates the messy side of divorce, including intentional co-parenting, navigating a single lifestyle in the church, dating again, and how he works through the insecurity and shame of divorce that inevitably pop up from time to time. 
In this episode, you’ll learn: 
How Mark and his ex-wife battled betrayal in one more than way Why not being rushed to heal was a powerful expression of grace About the miracle moment that God used to show Mark the depth of His forgiveness Why singles in the church are so regularly misunderstood Why we need to extend more compassion to divorced parents 

Divorce is a path no one ever plans to have to travel. Regardless of what circumstances lead a couple to divorce, the journey can come with plenty of grief and shame. In this episode, I’ve invited my friend Mark to share his experience of entering marriage and becoming a parent soon after.
When nurturing the marriage took a backseat to the ongoing demands of raising kids, feelings of loneliness and disconnection drove the decision-making for Mark and his ex-wife. The consequences of those choices were a heavy load to bear, but certainly not beyond what God could- and would redeem.
In this episode, you’ll learn
The desperate circumstances that prepped Mark’s heart to receive accept Christ The ways Mark's hindsight reveals how his loneliness fueled his longing for marriage How shame was used to try to change behavior at the church he attended The shame messages that Mark wrestled with most Why Mark was so desperate to escape his emotional pain  
Grab your copy of Lifted From Shame
Order your eBook or print book on Amazon here.
Print and eBook are available now through the publisher here.