Louise Sedgwick public
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Making sense of God’s design for our lives and our day-to-day experience in a sinful world can be exhausting and lonely. Join me, Louise, Sedgwick, an author, minister, and survivor of childhood trauma each Tuesday as I share insights about my own healing journey as well as many other stories that will inspire you. Here you will discover the hope you’ve been craving. If you’re ready to experience true freedom from the past and finally connect with others and God, I’ve saved a seat for you.
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In this heartwarming episode, we reflect on the powerful truth from Jeremiah 32:17, "Nothing is too hard for God." This verse has been a source of strength and encouragement, teaching us that no situation is impossible for God. His presence transforms our challenges, offering us perseverance and comfort. This week, we are joined by Kelly Hall, an i…
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Have you ever felt trapped in a cycle of shame and hardship, wondering where God is in your struggles? In this week's episode, I open up about my own journey through seasons of intense pain and shame. I share how I often blamed myself and others for the trials I faced, believing I was unworthy of happiness. Shame skewed my interpretation of my expe…
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Not everyone is a pioneer, but we owe much to those who bravely went first. This is true for trailblazing the west, rocketing to the moon, and believing that God’s grace can free us from shame. This week, I’m thrilled to welcome back Delphine Fanfon from Cameroon. Delphine shares how her dislike of pretense led her to believe in God’s grace, freein…
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When poverty is the reality for everyone in a country, both believers and nonbelievers alike grapple with a deep sense of shame. Suffering becomes the norm, and only God can provide hope for freedom from this pervasive despair. In this week’s podcast episode, I am honored to welcome Delphine Fanfon, a dedicated minister living in Cameroon. In this …
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Shame distorts our perspective, often making us feel devalued by others' words and actions. Sometimes, the harm is real and there’s no misunderstanding—we’ve been disrespected. Whether perceived or real, shame impacts us deeply and needs healing. This week, I'm joined again by Sue Tell, a veteran leader in the Navigators’ Ministry. Sue shares her j…
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In this episode, I have a powerful conversation with Sue Tell, veteran leader with the Navigators, as we dive into the internal struggles we face within churches and Christian organizations. In this episode, Sue opens up about her battle with shame and comparison, and how these feelings impacted her ministry. Alongside her husband, Bill, Sue reache…
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When I launched my podcast in August 2022, I had no idea how profoundly God would use it to touch lives. I’ve been amazed by the generous souls who shared their time, hearts, and wisdom with us. This week marks our 100th episode! To celebrate, I’ve created a solo episode reflecting on lessons learned, highlighting proud moments, and sharing what’s …
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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…
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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 pe…
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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…
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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 th…
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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 griev…
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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 …
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In this second interview with Nicole Hunter, she helps us understand why the need for belonging drives so much of the decision-making that happens in the adolescent years. Instead of connecting students, social media has only magnified the feeling of being left out. More than that, it plays a significant role in increasing their vulnerability to an…
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As kids enter their teen years, we often recognize some dramatic shifts in preferences, priorities, communication, and decision-making skills to name a few. Without understanding the larger context of how the brain develops during these years, we risk reacting instead of responding as we relate to them. In this episode, I’ve invited Nicole Hunter t…
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The built-up shame of so many years of being teased and misunderstood by adults and peers in Cary’s life had taken quite a toll on his heart. Cary shares what greats lengths he was willing to go to try to escape the pain, which only left him feeling more hopeless. Cary will share how some very painful circumstances led him to encounter Jesus, his f…
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We are now much more familiar with how learning differences manifest as children develop. Yet there is a considerable amount of damage done when adults fail to get curious about why students struggle to succeed or engage in traditional methods of learning. Cary, my friend and guest today endured many years of being misunderstood as a child with und…
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So much of our childhood is spent in a school or educational setting. When we think back to these days, you may recall some of your best teachers and favorite ways to spend time with friends on the playground. Yet it is also a setting that is performance-focused, which naturally makes us vulnerable and produces feelings of shame. In this episode, I…
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In this second conversation with Brian Dario, he will share with us how he pursued reconciliation with his step-dad as an adult. The transforming power of both offering and receiving forgiveness in this relationship brought about so much redemption. He will also share how meeting his biological father produced far more questions than answers for Br…
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So many of the negative messages we receive in childhood are implied rather than spoken aloud. But when they are sent again and again, especially from people who were designated to guide and nurture us, we can easily feel overwhelmed by shame. In this episode, I am joined by my friend and pastor, Brian Dario. Brian will share how an absent biologic…
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In our first conversation with Jenny Scheid, we learned how shame can show up in how we think and feel about our bodies. As we dive deeper into this very pervasive challenge, Jenny will help us learn how to capture the lies that are fueling our shame and begin to practice honoring our bodies instead. We will touch on what might hinder our healing j…
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As broken people, sin impacts all parts of who we are created to be, and our physical bodies and how we see them is no exception. I’ve invited therapist, Jenny Scheid on the podcast to help us understand the ways grief can prevent us from believing how valuable our bodies are, regardless of how they "fall short" according to the world’s elusive sta…
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When you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror or in a group photo someone shared online, are you ever mentally snagged by critical thoughts? It’s yet another element of our lives where shame can call the shots. In this episode, I want to share with you some examples of how body shame can distort how we see ourselves, how we see others, and esp…
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Taking the time to understand that your patterns of relating are dysfunctional is the step that sets our healing journey in motion. It can be both freeing and overwhelming to realize there are different and more productive ways of relating to those in our family now or in our family of origin. But as Kaye and I talk about in this episode, there's a…
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Family systems are complex for so many reasons. We were designed with a need to belong in relationships where we can connect and express our needs and in turn, care for others, too. When this happens regularly, we have the chance to thrive in these relationships. This can lead to a lot of joy and fulfillment! But when any family member finds themse…
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Regardless of how you were raised, one thing is for certain; there are no perfect families. Even those with "minimal baggage" still manage to leave relational wounds. Because we are all fallen, we are sinners, and as a result, we are all impacted by shame. In this episode, I’ll share some common examples of what it looks like for family members to …
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Last week Christopher Keck shared why it’s helpful to get curious about our past to draw connections between our childhood and how we show up in our parenting today. If you’ve taken time to do that, it's easy to get overwhelmed and you may even be tempted to get stuck in shame. That’s why I wanted Christopher to come back and share how we can begin…
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Parenting can be an incredible privilege and joy to experience. It can also be one of the most emotionally demanding responsibilities you’ll ever take on. And if you are a parent, you know it’s usually a mix of both on any given day. In this episode, I’ve invited Christopher Keck, LPC, DBH, and President and CEO of Open Hearts Family Wellness to he…
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While not every one of us in this community is a parent, we have certainly all been impacted by the presence - or absence of our parents. When parents allow shame to drive their patterns of relating, they becomes self-focused and out of touch with the needs of their children. While it can feel uncomfortable to examine the negative traits of our own…
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This is just a quick holiday greeting to let you know I'm taking a break to refresh and be with family, as I hope you are too! You'll hear about some ways to work with me and what to expect as we continue our journey here on this podcast in 2024. I am so grateful and honored you've joined me! Many blessings to you and your family!…
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Even as much as Devry adored the opportunity to be a very safe and emotionally present father and husband, he quickly discovered how costly his need to be right was. In this episode, Devry is back to share how God revealed to him his need to stop controlling how he was perceived by those around him. He shares the miracles that happened when he was …
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Habitual or compulsive sins can make us feel so powerless at times. Yet when diving into the deeper story, we often find that the sin began in an attempt to get a legitimate need met. For my guest this week, that need was for both physical and emotional safety. Devry will share his complex relationship with an alcoholic father growing up and why he…
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Over many past episodes, we’ve explored what it looks like to use self-protective strategies to avoid facing our sin. But when we continue to mature in our journey with God, there usually comes a point in which we grow tired of how ineffective these methods are. We come face to face with the fact that these attempts to control our reality only brin…
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The teenage years of parenting can make you feel powerless at times. Emotions run high and the ways they connect are not as easy to identify as they may have been in the past. In this episode of the podcast, Sara Brown is back to share why we need to embrace our children’s behavior as communication. When we can get curious about the why behind the …
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In this episode, I am joined by a dear friend and gifted therapist, Sara Brown. As she has matured and grown in her understanding of God’s unconditional love for her, she has been able to process a traumatic childhood with a mother who struggled with mental illness. Sara has done the challenging work of separating the ways she was loved and provide…
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When someone gives you negative feedback, how do you typically respond? Or if a circumstance exposes your weakness, what do you do with the shame that rises up? When we are unwilling or not ready to face the truth of where we fall short, we often turn to forms of denial. In this episode, I’ll share examples of how we can try to outrun our shame thr…
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In this episode, Trish is back to share how her healing journey continued and inspired her to walk alongside other women who desperately needed a second chance after incarceration. The unexpected gift of training to be a social worker was how much time she would invest in healing from her own trauma and shame. While her criminal record may have kep…
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People-pleasing can seem like a harmless and common habit. Yet there are times when the fear that fuels our people-pleasing behavior can have unimaginable consequences. In this episode, I’m joined by LCSW, Trish Plum who has allowed a nightmare of a season to be redeemed by God in incredible ways. Trish will explain how the pain of an unmet need to…
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If you’ve developed a pattern of people-pleasing, it can feel impossible to break free of it, especially in our core relationships. It often begins when someone in our childhood in authority communicates that their needs trump our needs. We become driven by the need to avoid conflict or deflect from the shame we feel about ourselves. But when we do…
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In this second part of Neesie’s story, she unpacks how the reality of her trauma continued to play out in her life and relationships. She clearly describes how the emotional intensity of unaddressed wounds can overwhelm and surprise us. While this shame took Neesie through depression that was completely unmanageable, God had prepared a way out. Nee…
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It is such a heavy burden to carry the weight of generational abuse. When people who are designated to care for us neglect our need to be nurtured, it is easy to believe we aren't valuable. In this episode, I am joined by Neesie Cieslak, speaker, author, and family life educator, who shares the first part of her story, telling about her experience …
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We are all created with a deep desire to be uniquely and personally loved. If we have learned to allow God to meet that need, we have the ability to appreciate our own strengths and those of others with ease. And at the same time, we can also show compassion for others in their areas of weakness. Yet when we are uncertain of our value, we have a na…
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Anger is one of those emotions that rarely acts alone. If we are embarrassed, disrespected, or afraid, anger often follows faster than we ever expect. Yet if expressing anger becomes a pattern for us, the added guilt and shame make it so difficult to get to the root of our pain. It is so hard to trust what God says of us in these moments. In this e…
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In order to take a deeper dive into how and why anger surfaces in our hearts, I’ve invited Licensed Therapist and Counselor, Russ Yost to help us find some practical solutions in our weakest moments. Anger can be fueled by many situations, but we often come face to face with it when something exposes the shame we carry. If you struggle with anger, …
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Anger is a complex and confusing emotion, regardless of which side of it you find yourself on. It often emerges from a deep sense of powerlessness, tempting us to believe that reasserting control through displays of anger will bring us justification and a sense of security. However, when we neglect to address the pain within our own hearts, we inad…
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For many of us, the means by which we learned to escape difficult emotions as a child follow us straight into adulthood. But as we mature, we can learn to recognize the behavior and call it out in ourselves. In this episode, Jacob is back to share how he has come to see his patterns of escape as an opportunity to pay attention to the check engine l…
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When our circumstances bring fear, chaos, and loneliness, the desire to want to escape makes sense. It’s our brain’s way of protecting us. But many times we learn to rely on those coping mechanisms early in our lives, having no awareness of how it could lead to so much emotional, spiritual, and even physical bondage. In this episode, Jacob shares h…
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When the pressure of life overwhelms us, we naturally want to hide. While we all hide in different ways, we are all seeking relief from the intensity of our emotions. We trick ourselves into believing that if we can numb or escape, we can pretend that the pain and the pressure don’t exist. And while these methods can work in the short term, these p…
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If you identify as a perfectionist, you’ve probably discovered that hiding this way can work in the short term, but eventually, life becomes unmanageable. In this episode, Janelle continuesher story and shares how parenting and marriage exposed her, making it impossible to control the narrative any longer. Discover how God invited Janelle to face t…
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Last week we explored the ways a perfectionist can try to control how those around them see and value them. These attempts can help us cope in the short term, but prevent us from experiencing deep relationships with God and those we are closest to. In this episode, I’ve invited Janelle to share how she actively avoided any task that didn’t come eas…
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