With You in the Weeds: Recent Episodes

With You in the Weeds

Do you feel stuck in the weeds between where you are and where you want to be? With You In The Weeds is hosted by two seasoned counselors who provide Christian therapy in their church. They are routinely “in the weeds” with their clients helping them navigate the hardships of life from a psychological and spiritual perspective. Listen now to hear honest conversations about how to manage your mental health, stress, emotions, relationships, parenting, marriage, and more! Co-hosted by John Tinnin, MDiv, MFT, and Lynn Roush, LPC. Joined by pastor Shay Roush, MDiv, and pastor/counselor Austin Conner, MDiv, CIT. Let us know what topics you'd like us to discuss at withyou@thecrossingchurch.com. This podcast should not be used as a substitute for medical or mental health advice. Individuals are advised to seek independent medical advice, counseling, and/or therapy from a healthcare professional with respect to any medical condition, mental health issue, or health inquiry, including matters discussed on this podcast.

As counselors, we are often asked by clients these perplexing questions: "Why do I do what I don't want to do? Why am I not further along in my spiritual growth? Will I ever be free from this besetting sin?"

These questions immediately get to the heart of the internal battle we all face when it comes to the topic of indwelling sin and what growth looks like in the life of a Christian.

John, Lynn, and Austin discuss the parasitic nature of sin and how it imbeds and expresses itself in our hearts and infects our relationships, often leading to various forms of destruction.

But Jesus has overcome the power of sin and is committed to beginning and empowering your growth (a process called sanctification) which can be characterized by staying, growing, and responding.

When you’re done with this episode you’ll get clarity on why the struggle is so hard and renewed hope the next time you find yourself doing what you don’t want to do.

Are you enjoying the WYITW podcast? We'd love it if you would leave us a rating and review on your podcast app. And tell your friends about us!

You can also follow us on Instagram @withyouintheweeds or email us at withyou@thecrossingchurch.com with any topics you’d like discussed on future episodes.

This episode kicks off a new series called Grounded in Grace where we will explore several key theological truths that we need to understand and cling to in the weeds of life.

We kick things off with the most foundational truth of all - The Gospel. But what does that even mean? And what implications will it have in your life?

John, Shay and Austin discuss the heart of the gospel message: that God sent Jesus to be in the weeds with you. This profound truth changes everything and impacts every area of your life:

The gospel changes your identity

The gospel changes your purpose

The gospel provides divine power for change and internal transformation

The gospel of grace is at the heart of Soul Care, so we are excited about this new series!

Are you enjoying the WYITW podcast? We'd love it if you would leave us a rating and review on your podcast app. And tell your friends about us!

You can also follow us on Instagram @withyouintheweeds or email us at withyou@thecrossingchurch.com with any topics you’d like discussed on future episodes.

This is our second installment of answering YOUR questions!

The WYITW team tackles 2 listener questions in this episode:

What therapeutic concept has been most eye-opening and helpful to you as a counselor?
As a single person in the church, I struggle to figure out where I fit in. How do I deal with being single when I feel overlooked?

John, Shay, Lynn & Austin have a spirited round table discussion on these excellent questions as they share what they have learned from their experiences in ministry and counseling.

We invite you to send us YOUR questions via email at withyou@thecrossingchurch.com or find us on Instagram or Facebook @withyouintheweeds, and message your question to our team.

Perhaps you know this in your mind, but actually believing it in your heart is a different story. John, Shay, and Austin set out to help close this gap between your head and your heart.

They discuss the following 3 important biblical truths that you need to remember:

God's heart is for the sexually broken.
The gospel says that you are simultaneously far more broken than you know, and yet far more loved than you can imagine. This powerful truth redeems, restores, and reminds us of our God-given dignity and value.
The promise of Romans 8:38-39 - Nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

They also discuss 3 practical ways to “clear the runway” of your life in order for those biblical truths to land:

First, learn the relational equation: honesty + vulnerability = connection.

Second, prepare for a marathon, not a 100 yard dash.

Third, your actions may have painful consequences but God's enduring love for you remains unchanged.

Our hope is that after listening you will be able to believe, even just a little bit more, that sexual brokenness does NOT disqualify you from God’s love.

If you want to read more on this topic, check out the following books:

"Surfing for God" by Michael John Cusick

"Unwanted" by Jay Stringer

"On The Threshold of Hope" by Diane Langberg

If you find the WYITW podcast helpful, tell your friends, leave the team a podcast review, follow us on Instagram @withyouintheweeds or email us at withyou@thecrossingchurch.com with any topics you’d like discussed on future episodes.

Have you ever believed this about yourself? We know that this bad, false belief is pervasive and often reinforced by feelings of self-loathing and self-condemnation. That's why the With You in the Weeds team decided to tackle it head on.

Lynn, John, and Austin address what might be one of the most heavy, messy, and complex FALSE beliefs in the entire series "Beliefs That Keep You Stuck". They define “sexual brokenness” and unpack the progression of intimate bonding and the powerful impact it has on your body and soul.

This episode highlights 3 crucial principles you need to be aware of when it comes to the process of sexual bonding and relational attachment that may shed light on why this struggle feels so hard.

Our hope is that as we tackle this false belief, the burdens you may carry related to this topic would be a bit lighter and that you have a better understanding of how this false belief is impacting you.

If you find the WYITW podcast helpful, tell your friends, leave the team a podcast review, follow us on Instagram @withyouintheweeds or email us at withyou@thecrossingchurch.com with any topics you’d like discussed on future episodes.

We know it’s counterintuitive, but it’s true. "Shoulding" yourself into being a better person neglects the most important ingredient we need to grow: grace.

John, Shay, and Lynn share why it’s hard to believe this is true and discuss the proper place “shoulds” have in the Christian life.

When you’re done with the episode you’ll know how important it is to:

-Focus on trusting God instead of pleasing God

-Use discernment when you see “shoulds” controlling your life

-Begin saying “I wish” instead of “I should”

If you find the WYITW podcast helpful, tell your friends, leave the team a podcast review, follow us on Instagram @withyouintheweeds or email us at withyou@thecrossingchurch.com with any topics you’d like discussed on future episodes.

"I should read my bible more" "I should get in shape" "I should be more successful in my job" "I should be a better friend/parent/Christian, etc"

Is your thought life full of all the things you "should" be doing? When you "should" on yourself, does it help you change, grow or do better?

So many people live under the heavy burden of things they "should" be doing, but then feel discouraged, ashamed or disappointed when they can't live up to their own standards.

John, Lynn, and Shay discuss the following 4 areas of life where we most often experience "shoulds" and explore why we believe them:

Religious "shoulds"
Vocational "shoulds"
Marriage "shoulds"
Parenting "shoulds"

When you’re finished, you’ll have a better idea of which “shoulds” plague you and how this belief might be keeping you stuck.

Identifying this false belief is the starting point to getting unstuck and moving towards a better belief.

If you find the WYITW podcast helpful, tell your friends, leave the team a podcast review, follow us on Instagram @withyouintheweeds or email us at withyou@thecrossingchurch.com with any topics you’d like discussed on future episodes.

"I should read my bible more" "I should get in shape" "I should be more successful in my job" "I should be a better friend/parent/Christian, etc"

Is your thought life full of all the things you "should" be doing? When you "should" on yourself, does it help you change, grow or do better?

So many people live under the heavy burden of things they "should" be doing, but then feel discouraged, ashamed or disappointed when they can't live up to their own standards.

John, Lynn, and Shay discuss the following 4 areas of life where we most often experience "shoulds" and explore why we believe them:

Religious "shoulds"
Vocational "shoulds"
Marriage "shoulds"
Parenting "shoulds"

When you’re finished, you’ll have a better idea of which “shoulds” plague you and how this belief might be keeping you stuck.

Identifying this false belief is the starting point to getting unstuck and moving towards a better belief.

If you find the WYITW podcast helpful, tell your friends, leave the team a podcast review, follow us on Instagram @withyouintheweeds or email us at withyou@thecrossingchurch.com with any topics you’d like discussed on future episodes.

This statement may be hard to accept, but without a biblically accurate view of suffering, not only will you feel stuck, but you may also hurt yourself and mislead others, leading to despair and giving up on God.

John, Shay, and Austin explain how a better, more accurate belief is that: “Obeying God Includes Suffering.” When you come to understand the reason why this is true, you will find greater degrees of acceptance, healing, and comfort in the midst of your suffering.

Suffering is always painful and never easy, but embracing these 3 realities can make a difference in your life:

1) You will suffer in this life, but Jesus is with you in the midst of that suffering.

2) Managing your suffering includes being honest, being in community and keeping Scripture in mind.

3) Growth can happen when you suffer: you can grow in resilience, character, compassion, and knowledge of God.

If you find the WYITW podcast helpful, tell your friends, leave the team a podcast review, follow us on Instagram @withyouintheweeds or email us at withyou@thecrossingchurch.com with any topics you’d like discussed on future episodes.

Do you believe that following God, praying and having strong faith will buy you an insurance policy against suffering? This false belief is often clung to as a way to feel in control when life feels chaotic and unpredictable.

The problem with this belief is that it breeds disappointment, resentment and disillusionment when you encounter trials and suffering that don't make sense.

John, Lynn, and Shay explain more about where you may have picked up this belief, why it's so tempting to believe, and how it may be keeping you stuck.

If you find the WYITW podcast helpful, text this episode to a friend, leave the team a podcast review, follow us on Instagram @withyouintheweeds or email us at withyou@thecrossingchurch.com with any topics you’d like discussed on future episodes.

Despite what you may think, understanding your past matters a great deal, and may have more impact on your personal growth than anything else.

Lynn, Shay, and Austin walk through the biblical foundations of why your past matters, explain the neurological nuts and bolts of how your past shows up in your present, and then give the following practical steps to explore your past:

create a timeline of events
acknowledge both positive and painful memories
identify and grieve the losses
confess and repent

The power to get unstuck lies with you. If and when you can examine your past, you will be on the road to healing from hurts and grow in your ability to manage your present.

If you find the WYITW podcast helpful, tell your friends, leave the team a podcast review, follow us on Instagram @withyouintheweeds or email us at withyou@thecrossingchurch.com with any topics you’d like discussed on future episodes.

You’re in good company if you believe this. Seriously, why would you want to think or talk about something in your past that's painful?

Maybe you hold to this belief because you think it’s counter-productive to talk about something that you can't go back and change. Maybe you think that looking at your past might open a can of worms that you're not ready to deal with. Or you’re simply just not sure where to begin.

Austin and Lynn explain why this common belief exists, why it keeps you stuck, and what the negative consequences are of maintaining this belief in the following areas:

-Marriage -Parenting -Jobs -Student Life

If you want to get unstuck, the first step is to identify why you've ignored your past and consider what it will take to move forward.

If you find the WYITW podcast helpful, tell your friends, leave the team a podcast review, follow us on Instagram @withyouintheweeds or email us at withyou@thecrossingchurch.com with any topics you’d like discussed on future episodes.

We all have needs, desires and longings, and Jesus was no exception. If you’re wondering why it’s godly to get your needs met, you can look to Jesus as your example.

John and Austin unpack this counterintuitive belief by examining where and how Jesus met his own needs, and how he handled his longings and desires.

Then they explore the deeper reason as to why you can't avoid your needs, desires, and longings no matter how hard you try. They also discuss some distorted views and false messages to watch out for and offer specific ways you can get needs met in a healthy, God-honoring way.

If you find the WYITW podcast helpful, tell your friends, leave the team a podcast review, follow us on Instagram @withyouintheweeds or email us at withyou@thecrossingchurch.com with any topics you’d like discussed on future episodes.

Is there a more shameful pronouncement of judgment for a Christian than being "selfish"? Taking care of yourself is definitely a source of confusion for people, and trying to get your needs met tends to get a bad wrap in the church.

Bible passages that reference "dying to yourself” and “losing your life in order to save it” may bring your efforts to take care of yourself to a screeching halt and leave you feeling exhausted, burdened and disconnected.

Is it possible that this belief is keeping you stuck and preventing necessary growth in your life? Maybe these passages of Scripture need to be understood in a broader context.

Austin and John unpack and define the human experience of having needs, desires, and longings. They explore why these are inherently good, how they’ve been infected by the sin virus, and what that means for you in your daily life.

If you want a more nuanced and freeing view of your needs, desires, and longings, you won’t want to miss this episode.

If you find the WYITW podcast helpful, tell your friends, leave the team a podcast review, follow us on Instagram @withyouintheweeds or email us at withyou@thecrossingchurch.com with any topics you’d like discussed on future episodes.

Today is all about answering YOUR questions!

Join the entire With You In The Weeds team to hear their answers to the following 4 questions that our listeners asked…

What is a biblical perspective on the use of medication for anxiety, depression or other mental health disorders?
What does the Bible say about divorce?
How do I deal with an emotionally immature parent?
How do I navigate a conflict with my spouse over a deeply rooted desire that my spouse doesn’t share?

You don't want to miss John, Lynn, Austin & Shay weigh in on these topics!

If you find the WYITW podcast helpful, tell your friends, leave the team a podcast review, follow us on Instagram @withyouintheweeds or email us at withyou@thecrossingchurch.com with any topics you’d like discussed on future episodes.

We know that anxiety is a normal part of life, so how are we going to manage it? Since there’s no quick fix, we explain a holistic approach to addressing anxiety from spiritual, mental, relational and physiological perspectives.

Listen in as we discuss what Jesus says about anxiety, what makes our anxiety worse, why we need self-awareness to “think about our thinking”, and how to implement some easy and effective coping strategies to calm yourself down when you’re anxious.

Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving a rating or review! Email us at withyou@thecrossingchurch.com with any topics you’d like to hear us discuss.

Why are we so anxious? We all feel it, but do we know where it’s coming from? Anxiety is a physiological state of uneasiness or distress and is our brain's way of telling us there’s a problem that needs to be solved.

Knowing the source of our anxiety is the first step to managing it!

Listen as we discuss the potential root causes of our anxiety, how it shows up in the body and the most common life situations that contribute to anxious feelings. This discussion will help you find where you are on a spectrum of anxiety symptoms so you can identify what you’re experiencing and why.

Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving a rating or review! Email us at withyou@thecrossingchurch.com with any topics you’d like to hear us discuss.

Why should we pay attention to our emotions? Can’t we just ignore them and hope they go away?

This series, Managing Your Emotions, is going to address unavoidable emotions like anxiety, depression, sadness, anger and shame that we often don't know how to handle, so we need to start by understanding our emotional dashboard.

Let’s be honest, in the church we often see two extremes: all facts (head knowledge) or all feelings (gut knowledge). Hint: we need both sides of our brain if we want to build a bridge between our head and heart!

Learn why we avoid and resist emotions, and how we can engage them in ways that help us gain wisdom, connect deeply in relationships and grow closer to God.

Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving a rating or review! Email us at withyou@thecrossingchurch.com with any topics you’d like to hear us discuss.

Get to know us! We are a team of Christian counselors and pastors who are routinely “in the weeds” with people helping them navigate the hardships of life from a psychological and spiritual perspective.

We want to offer you wisdom and insight from a trusted Christian viewpoint so that you feel normalized in your struggles and equipped to manage the weeds of life.

We invite you to listen as we have honest conversations about how to manage your mental health, stress, emotions, spiritual growth, relationships, parenting, marriage and more!

Did you find this episode helpful? Let us know by leaving a rating or review! Email us at withyou@thecrossingchurch.com with any topics you’d like to hear us discuss.