How My Pentecostal Upbringing Helped and Hurt my Health with L. A. Sprague

How My Pentecostal Upbringing Helped and Hurt my Health with L. A. Sprague

Some church teachings feel like oxygen when you’re suffering and others quietly teach you to blame yourself for pain you never chose. We’re sharing a deeply personal story from my upbringing in Pentecostal and charismatic spaces, where the Holy Spirit felt close, worship was expressive, and healing was treated as something you could reach for with enough faith. That kind of Christianity can be full of wonder and hope, and we don’t want to dismiss what’s beautiful about it. We also need to name what happens when chronic illness enters the picture and the promised outcomes don’t arrive. We talk through how “name it and claim it” thinking and prosperity gospel assumptions can create spiritual shame for people with chronic illness, disability, and mental health struggles. We share an embarrassing culture shock moment at a Baptist school, then dig into a childhood “healing” story around food allergies and why I no longer interpret it as a clean miracle. As an adult living with POTS, major depressive disorder, and likely MCAS, I’m learning how fluctuating symptoms and complex diagnoses can complicate the testimonies we build and the certainty we cling to. We also wrestle with the hard, honest question: if God can heal, why doesn’t He heal everyone? I explain why I’m choosing acceptance without self-condemnation and staying open to prayer while refusing the lie that chronic illness is my fault. If you’ve ever felt pressured to perform joy, blamed for not being healed, or exhausted by spiritualized answers, you’re not alone. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and if the conversation resonates, leave a review so more chronically ill Christians can find this community. * https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast * https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support] Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support] *  Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.com * Contribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses: * https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast * Follow us: *  Facebook: Christians With Chronic Illnesses * TikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast *  Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty [https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExWm9hc2ZkSGNUdWFmS0kweAEeb73hej37RqQI2MzURTLiYrPI7HADaOZe_VuxnIagMBq-vilZ6N3r_kf7Aow_aem_rYIbI4HuaLFW_uUY5lH2hA]  * Visit our website * https://christianswithchronicillnesses.buzzsprout.com/2552643/about

Panic Attacks, Deconstruction, and Gluten-Free Donuts with Lexi Grey

A seizure in airport security, a college freshman year shaped by fear, and a long road through brain fog, pain flares, and panic attacks! We talk with Lexi about what it’s like to live as a Christian with chronic illness when your body feels unpredictable and your mind is exhausted from staying on alert. Her story holds the tension so many of us feel: trusting God while still needing real medical care, real coping skills, and real people who show up.  Lexi walks us through her health journey with epilepsy, fibromyalgia, chronic migraines, IgA deficiency, and Chiari malformation, including what seizures can look like, why prevention matters as an adult, and how life decisions like driving, work, and future plans get complicated fast. We also get practical about the messy process of finding the right medications, what happened when a misdiagnosis led to the wrong prescription, and why gene testing can be worth considering when side effects hit hard.  We go deep on mental health with honesty and care: anxiety, major depressive disorder, CPTSD, therapy over many years, EMDR, and the reality that antidepressants and anxiety meds can be life-giving but require support. Lexi shares a simple plan that can protect you during med changes: pick safe people from different parts of your life and ask them to check in, because you may not be able to reach out first. We also talk about chronic illness and faith, deconstruction and reconstruction, and the kind of joy that does not deny reality, plus Psalms that can become your borrowed words when you cannot find your own.  If you’ve been looking for a Christian chronic illness podcast that mixes faith with practical mental health and chronic pain support, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share it with a friend who’s struggling, and leave a review so more people can find this community. * https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast * https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support] Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support] *  Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.com * Contribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses: * https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast * Follow us: *  Facebook: Christians With Chronic Illnesses * TikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast *  Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty [https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExWm9hc2ZkSGNUdWFmS0kweAEeb73hej37RqQI2MzURTLiYrPI7HADaOZe_VuxnIagMBq-vilZ6N3r_kf7Aow_aem_rYIbI4HuaLFW_uUY5lH2hA]  * Visit our website * https://christianswithchronicillnesses.buzzsprout.com/2552643/about

In Sickness and in Health with L. A. Sprague (AND HER HUSBAND :D)

Chronic illness doesn’t just change your body, it rewrites your calendar, your energy, and the way you measure a “good day.” We sit down as a newlywed Christian couple and talk honestly about marriage with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) and chronic depression, including what it’s like to name those realities early in dating and why a supportive response matters more than perfect advice.  We get into the day-to-day stuff that rarely makes it into tidy marriage stories: learning to “listen to your body” when you can’t tell whether you need rest or movement, navigating flare-ups without turning them into shame, and dealing with the pressure to be productive to feel worthy. We also talk about what support actually looks like in a chronic illness relationship, from emotional steadiness to practical caregiving, and the tricky line between encouragement and accidental enablement.  Then we zoom out to the bigger picture: the idea that chronic illness can feel like a third spouse in the room, pulling focus away from the person you love. We share simple ways we keep seeing each other as whole people, not diagnoses, including shared hobbies, getting out of the house when we can, and making space for disagreement and faith questions without losing loyalty. If you’re navigating Christian marriage, caregiving, depression, POTS, or chronic illness support, this conversation is for you.  If this helped, please follow, rate, and subscribe, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. What’s one habit that helps you feel seen when health is hard? * https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast * https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support] Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support] *  Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.com * Contribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses: * https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast * Follow us: *  Facebook: Christians With Chronic Illnesses * TikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast *  Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty [https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExWm9hc2ZkSGNUdWFmS0kweAEeb73hej37RqQI2MzURTLiYrPI7HADaOZe_VuxnIagMBq-vilZ6N3r_kf7Aow_aem_rYIbI4HuaLFW_uUY5lH2hA]  * Visit our website * https://christianswithchronicillnesses.buzzsprout.com/2552643/about

Serving God Amidst Your Chronic Illness with Lindsey Rice

Pain that starts in childhood is hard enough. Being dismissed by doctors while you’re still trying to figure out who you are can shape your entire life. We sit down with Lindsay, a Chicago-based teacher and leader with Perspectives USA, to talk about what it’s like to follow Jesus while living with multiple chronic illnesses, including Hashimoto’s, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease, dysautonomia, POTS, and seizure symptoms that made daily life feel unpredictable. We get specific about what these diagnoses can look like in real life: years of “growing pains” that weren’t growing pains, Crohn’s symptoms that didn’t match the usual script, and neurological issues that are so hard to describe you can only say, “Everything feels weird.” Lindsay also shares the rare gift of being believed by the right doctors and how collaborative care can change everything, especially when your file is complicated and your symptoms cross multiple body systems. We also dig into chronic illness management in a way that’s honest and practical. Medication can be necessary and life-giving, but it’s rarely the only tool. We talk about diet changes like going gluten-free for inflammation, the value of physical therapy and counseling, the impact of sleep, and why patient advocacy matters so much for women navigating the U.S. healthcare system. Spiritually, we wrestle with identity, grief, and calling, holding to the truth that God doesn’t waste suffering or seasons, even when your original plans have to pivot. If you’ve ever wondered how to serve God with limitations, Lindsay offers a framework that brings hope: go, send, welcome, and mobilize. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more chronically ill Christians can find this community. * https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast * https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support] Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support] *  Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.com * Contribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses: * https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast * Follow us: *  Facebook: Christians With Chronic Illnesses * TikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast *  Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty [https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExWm9hc2ZkSGNUdWFmS0kweAEeb73hej37RqQI2MzURTLiYrPI7HADaOZe_VuxnIagMBq-vilZ6N3r_kf7Aow_aem_rYIbI4HuaLFW_uUY5lH2hA]  * Visit our website * https://christianswithchronicillnesses.buzzsprout.com/2552643/about

Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS): Deep Dive with L. A. Sprague

PCOS isn’t gone, but the name is changing for a reason. We’re talking about PMOS, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, and why this new label finally points to what so many people have felt for years: the problem is bigger than ovarian cysts. If you’ve ever tried to explain your symptoms and got blank stares, this deep dive is meant to give you language that makes sense. We walk through what “polyendocrine,” “metabolic,” and “ovarian” actually mean in everyday life, including how hormone dysregulation can ripple into energy, mood, weight changes, skin and hair changes, and fertility concerns. We keep it practical with a clear explanation of insulin resistance, why it can leave you fatigued and foggy, and why PMOS is often tied to cardiometabolic risk. We also talk about what’s commonly used for diagnosis: needing two of three key signs, plus tools like hormone blood tests and ultrasound. Because PMOS can feel heavy, we also name the mental health side honestly, including anxiety, depression, and the emotional toll of feeling dismissed. And we end with hope, community resources, and a faith-centered reminder from the story of the bleeding woman: you are not disgusting, you are not rejected, and you are not alone. If this helped you, share it with a friend, subscribe so you don’t miss the next deep dive, and leave a review so more chronic illness warriors can find us. Sources: * https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pcos/symptoms-causes/syc-20353439 [https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pcos/symptoms-causes/syc-20353439] * https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22002-androgens [https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22002-androgens] * https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/polyendocrine [https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/polyendocrine] * https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/endocrine-glands-and-their-hormones [https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/endocrine-glands-and-their-hormones] * https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21893-metabolism [https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21893-metabolism] * https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22999-ovaries [https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22999-ovaries] * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syndrome [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syndrome] * https://www.nyp.org/healthmatters/pcos-is-now-polyendocrine-metabolic-ovarian-syndrome-pmos-why-the-change * https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast * https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support] Purchase here: https://a.co/d/6dM3f89 Music for The Supernatural Case of an Accidental Time Traveler Ad: https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/sketch-book License code: FFWQZDUHONOHPA8O Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2552643/support] *  Share your story: CWCIPodcast@gmail.com * Contribute towards the production of Christians With Chronic Illnesses: * https://www.patreon.com/c/CWCIpodcast * Follow us: *  Facebook: Christians With Chronic Illnesses * TikTok, IG, X, Threads, Twitch, & YouTube: @CWCIPodcast *  Discord Support Group https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty [https://discord.gg/ZaWMkbGSty?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExWm9hc2ZkSGNUdWFmS0kweAEeb73hej37RqQI2MzURTLiYrPI7HADaOZe_VuxnIagMBq-vilZ6N3r_kf7Aow_aem_rYIbI4HuaLFW_uUY5lH2hA]  * Visit our website * https://christianswithchronicillnesses.buzzsprout.com/2552643/about