What does following Jesus actually look like when you're clinically depressed?

I stopped doing quiet time the "right way" (and how God met me in my ADHD struggles)

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2533401/open_sms] You start every January with a Bible reading plan. Three weeks later, you're drowning in Leviticus and beating yourself up for failing again. Sound familiar? If you've ever wondered what's wrong with your brain, why you can't stay consistent with spiritual practices, or if God is disappointed in you for struggling so much, this episode is for you. In this vulnerable conversation, I share my journey of getting diagnosed with ADHD this year and how it completely transformed my relationship with God. No more performing. No more forcing formulas that were never designed for how my brain works. Just freedom to meet God in ways that actually honor how He made me. In this episode, we talk about: * Why consistency in traditional spiritual disciplines feel impossible for ADHD brains * The shame and guilt cycle that keeps you stuck * How my ADHD diagnosis was actually an answered prayer * What it looks like to do quiet time differently every single day (and why that's okay) * Practical ways to connect with God when your brain craves novelty * How to let go of external expectations and lean into your intimate relationship with God * Why struggling doesn't mean something is wrong with you spiritually Whether you're officially diagnosed with ADHD or just deeply relate to these struggles, there's freedom waiting for you. Your brain isn't the problem. The expectations are. BITTERSWEET NEWS: This is our last episode with co-host Jasmine Barcia for this season as she enters a new season of calling 🥺 We're so grateful for the journey we've shared together ❤️ 🎙️ Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss future episodes. 🎁 Sign up for my FREE mini-course [https://withmelissachan.kit.com/1586896dc7] on how to process your emotions God's way - without shutting down or spiraling. 📞 Book a FREE discovery call [https://calendly.com/melissachancoaching/discoverycall?month=2025-12]to explore 1:1 coaching with me! 📧 Join my weekly newsletter [https://withmelissachan.kit.com/8f96bbb0f5]"Holy Unraveling" for Christian emotional healing encouragement in your inbox. ▶️ Follow me on Instagram @melchanity [https://www.instagram.com/melchanity?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==] and Youtube @melissachancoaching [https://www.youtube.com/@melissachancoaching] for more encouragement and resources.

Why trying harder for God keeps you stuck in shame and burnout

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2533401/open_sms] Have you ever felt like you're one missed prayer away from disappointing God completely? If you've spent days obsessing over whether an intrusive thought means you've lost your salvation, or if you confess the same sin repeatedly because you're terrified you didn't "mean it enough,” you might be struggling with religious scrupulosity. This form of OCD can come off as strong spiritual devotion, but underneath, you're drowning in fear, guilt, and the exhausting work of trying to earn a love that's already yours. In this episode, I'm sharing my own story of spiritual burnout when God called me to intercession from 2-3 AM every night until I physically crashed, and what I learned about the difference between conviction and condemnation. You'll discover why "trying harder" only reinforces the obsessive cycle, how to recognize if you're experiencing religious OCD, and the counterintuitive path to freedom: learning to rest in God's grace instead of performing for His approval. This is Christian emotional healing that honors both your faith and your mental health. If you're exhausted from walking on eggshells with God, this conversation will meet you with the warmth, truth, and Christian encouragement you've been desperate for. 👉 Ready to process your emotions God's way? Grab my FREE 3-day mini-course "From Triggered to Anchored" (link below) and discover how to move from fear to freedom in Christ. 🎙️ Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss future episodes. 🎁 Sign up for my FREE mini-course [https://withmelissachan.kit.com/1586896dc7] on how to process your emotions God's way - without shutting down or spiraling. 📞 Book a FREE discovery call [https://calendly.com/melissachancoaching/discoverycall?month=2025-12]to explore 1:1 coaching with me! 📧 Join my weekly newsletter [https://withmelissachan.kit.com/8f96bbb0f5]"Holy Unraveling" for Christian emotional healing encouragement in your inbox. ▶️ Follow me on Instagram @melchanity [https://www.instagram.com/melchanity?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==] and Youtube @melissachancoaching [https://www.youtube.com/@melissachancoaching] for more encouragement and resources.

Intrusive thoughts & religious OCD (scrupulosity): When doing all the right Christian things makes it worse

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2533401/open_sms] When the intrusive thoughts won't stop. When prayer becomes compulsion. When you're doing everything "right" and still drowning. This is one of those episodes where we go there... to the places most Christians are afraid to talk about. My co-host Jasmine shares her raw, unfiltered journey through intrusive thoughts so dark and perverse that she couldn't even be around children. Pedophilic imagery. Sexual thoughts. The kind of thoughts that made her question her salvation, her character, and whether God could possibly still love her. And here's the kicker... she was doing everything right. Praying. Fasting. Deliverance conferences. Scripture all over her walls. But the intrusive thoughts wouldn't stop. What we cover: * The difference between intrusive thoughts and sin (spoiler: they're not the same) * Religious scrupulosity: when spiritual disciplines and practices become compulsions that keep you trapped * Why your brain attaches intrusive thoughts to what you love most * The moment God asked Jasmine to stop striving and what happened next * How rest (not more effort) became the pathway to freedom * The dangerous assumption that your thoughts = your character This isn't about tips to think more positively or trying harder. This is about a God who's more interested in you understanding His love than in you performing your way to freedom. If you've ever felt tormented by your own mind, isolated in shame, or exhausted from doing all the "right Christian things" with no relief... this one's for you. Your intrusive thoughts are not who you are. They're not sin. And they don't disqualify you from God's nearness. Resources mentioned: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy for OCD If you're struggling with intrusive thoughts or OCD, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional who specializes in OCD treatment. You don't have to walk this alone. 🎙️ Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss future episodes. 🎁 Sign up for my FREE mini-course [https://withmelissachan.kit.com/1586896dc7] on how to process your emotions God's way - without shutting down or spiraling. 📞 Book a FREE discovery call [https://calendly.com/melissachancoaching/discoverycall?month=2025-12]to explore 1:1 coaching with me! 📧 Join my weekly newsletter [https://withmelissachan.kit.com/8f96bbb0f5]"Holy Unraveling" for Christian emotional healing encouragement in your inbox. ▶️ Follow me on Instagram @melchanity [https://www.instagram.com/melchanity?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==] and Youtube @melissachancoaching [https://www.youtube.com/@melissachancoaching] for more encouragement and resources.

What does following Jesus actually look like when you're clinically depressed?

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2533401/open_sms] What does following Jesus actually look like when you're clinically depressed? Not the "had a rough week" kind of down... the kind where getting out of bed feels impossible, joy feels foreign, and even praying feels like too much. In this raw and honest episode, I'm sharing my own battle with major depressive disorder, and what I've learned about faith when everything feels heavy. In this episode: * Why "just choose joy" isn't helpful (and what actually is) * What happened when I couldn't get out of bed for 3 days * How God's response shattered everything I believed about my worth * Why you can have faith AND depression at the same time * Practical tools that kept me tethered to Jesus in the darkest seasons The truth: Depression doesn't disqualify you from God's love. You're not failing at faith. You're human, and you're fighting a battle most people can't see. 🆘 Crisis Resources: If you're struggling with thoughts of suicide: Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) 💬 What's kept you connected to Jesus when it felt impossible? Share your story in the comments! 🎙️ Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss future episodes. 🎁 Sign up for my FREE mini-course [https://withmelissachan.kit.com/1586896dc7] on how to process your emotions God's way - without shutting down or spiraling. 📞 Book a FREE discovery call [https://calendly.com/melissachancoaching/discoverycall?month=2025-12]to explore 1:1 coaching with me! 📧 Join my weekly newsletter [https://withmelissachan.kit.com/8f96bbb0f5]"Holy Unraveling" for Christian emotional healing encouragement in your inbox. ▶️ Follow me on Instagram @melchanity [https://www.instagram.com/melchanity?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==] and Youtube @melissachancoaching [https://www.youtube.com/@melissachancoaching] for more encouragement and resources.

Why Rest Feels Like Failure (And the Lie That's Keeping You Stuck)

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2533401/open_sms] Why does rest feel so wrong when God designed it for our good? In this episode, I'm getting raw about my unhealthy relationship with rest and the breakdown that changed everything. If you've ever felt guilty for taking a break or exhausted from performing even your faith, this one's for you. In this episode, we talk about... The lies we believe: * "Rest is a luxury I can't afford" * "If I rest, everything will fall apart" * "I need to perform rest correctly" The pivotal moments: * Jasmine's shift from constant improvement to God's invitation to "dream, sit, and play" * My fast food parking lot meltdown when God said "you've passed the test" * Choosing resting over a Sunday service and finding God there Why rest doesn't work when we do all the "right" activities: * The heart shift vs. behavior change * Sitting with uncomfortable emotions (guilt, shame, fear) * How rest is where we actually get to know God Plus practical reflection questions to uncover what's blocking your rest. Key quotes: "My worth has nothing to do with what I can produce. Rest does not take away from work." "Rest and joy are tied together. You can't separate them." "Fun is not childish, fun is childlike. God wants us to have childlike faith." 🎙️ Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss future episodes. 🎁 Sign up for my FREE mini-course [https://withmelissachan.kit.com/1586896dc7] on how to process your emotions God's way - without shutting down or spiraling. 📞 Book a FREE discovery call [https://calendly.com/melissachancoaching/discoverycall?month=2025-12]to explore 1:1 coaching with me! 📧 Join my weekly newsletter [https://withmelissachan.kit.com/8f96bbb0f5]"Holy Unraveling" for Christian emotional healing encouragement in your inbox. ▶️ Follow me on Instagram @melchanity [https://www.instagram.com/melchanity?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==] and Youtube @melissachancoaching [https://www.youtube.com/@melissachancoaching] for more encouragement and resources.