{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Episode 159 :: Ray Leight :: Stories of Mental Health, Faith, and Maturing into Yourself ","description":" Today we are continuing our conversation about mental health and faith and caring for our hearts with identity coach Ray Leight. Ray and his wife Kathryn lead Faith by Grace, a coaching practice and ministry designed to equip people to do deep inner work to live lives of freedom and joy. Ray shares with me today how the Lord led him into ministry and a passion for identity coaching through his own journey of coping with trauma as well as living with undiagnosed neurodivergence and bipolar two until he was well into adulthood. Ray brings some really fascinating insights into this conversation that brings to the surface some of the points of contention that can confuse Christians about spiritual healing, maturing in faith, and neurological and biological roadblocks that occur genetically or as a result of trauma and life experience. Have you ever had a breakthrough in a struggle and then after time you feel like you go backward? Have you ever questioned God\u2019s healing in your life? Do you lack clarity with terms like \u2018codependency\u2019 or \u2018boundaries\u2019, but find it confusing about how that might actually apply practically? I\u2019d love to invite you to give this conversation a listen with Holy Spirit-led discernment for your healing journey. His discernment is always available to those who call on Him! And I ALWAYS want to encourage you to pursue His leading in any conversation we have! But I think some of the things we discuss today touch on places we can get tripped up in the church, so I just want to remind us all to have ears to hear and hearts tuned to the One who made us and will bring us to the day of completion.  We are professionals with our  tools we fashion for survival, aren\u2019t we? But friends, we have to hand over those tools to the Carpenter who made us by hand and have Him give us new tools, new skills, and new ways of living life. The Lord can and will recalibrate and reset what you have always known and how you have coped.  God\u2019s goodness and mercy and hope are always there and are always enough as we walk out this journey. As Ray shared,  \u201cIt is not selfish to care for yourself.\u201d In fact, it honors God and makes space for Him to continue doing a work in you. You matter, my friend. Your story matters. Connecting with Ray: Book: Maturing into Yourself  (Other books) Facebook Instagram Twitter Website (and Coaching information) Sponsor for this Episode: Hopefuel Use the code 'SIMPLY15' for 15% off Instagram Website Please consider joining our Patreon community. If you have enjoyed what you have heard on the podcast today or from other episodes, we would so appreciate your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return. If you feel you cannot financially commit at this time, would you please consider leaving us a star rating and\/or review on Apple Podcasts? My family and I are so grateful for each of you and how you are part of our story. References:  Bipolar 2 ADHD CRU (Campus Crusade)  Life Builders Leanne Payne\u2019s Pastoral care model  Bethel Church (Just a quick word of using the Holy Spirit-led discernment here)  Sozo and shabar work (same here) We\u2019re all just spiritual beings walking around in earth suits - Well I royally screwed this one up. I merged multiple quotes together and CS Lewis didn\u2019t say one of them. Good times. But this was insightful.  On-Site Podcast on Treating Trauma, and the other about Living Centered- (this is the episode I was listening to) - On-site is a REALLY sound resource at the intersection of faith and mental health.  codependency Finding a New Normal The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Bod in the Healing of Trauma- Bessel van der Kolk (this is an incredible resource for understanding how trauma and experiences stored in the body and affects us over time) An example of a study of people believe that they are actually saved or not Also studies of what do people mean when they say they\u2019re Christian and how Americans and faith have shifted since the pandemic Example of some stories we\u2019ve heard on the podcast of spiritual things we may or may not understand Tessa Afshar, Michael Heiser, and Todd Nettleton. \u201cBeloved is where we begin.\u201d Scripture References:  Genesis 3 - Adam and Eve believed the lie and ate the fruit  John 8:42-47- We have an enemy that lies to us  Romans 5, Romans 14:16-19, 2 Corinthians 4:1-6,  2 Timothy 1:7- Kingdom of the world is fear, shame, and guilt. Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit   Deuteronomy 6:4-7,Matthew 22:37-40,Mark 12:30-31,Luke 10:27-We are called to love the Lord our God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength Philippians 1:6- Jesus is working on you until the day of completion  Psalm 51:10-19- Create in me a clean heart oh God John 16:33- In this world you will have trouble  John 10:10- He is the One who gives us life and to the full  Galatians 5:22-23- Fruits of the Spirit  1 Corinthians 12- Gifts of the Spirit  2 Corinthians 5:17- You are a new creation  Jeremiah 17:9- The heart is deceitful above all else Ezekiel 11:19; Ezekiel 36:26; Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10- We are given a heart of flesh for our heart of stone Hebrews 10:16, Jeremiah 31:33- Jesus wrote the Law on our hearts Hebrews 10- Jesus fulfilled the Law Matthew 28:19-20- We are called to go and share the Gospel  The Holy Spiri has the power to save  John 17- Jesus talking to God about bringing Him glory in the garden  Ephesians 1, Romans 8:31-39- Your identity is who you are in Christ Matthew 13:31-32-Faith of a mustard seed parable Matthew 7:5-Take the log out of your own eye  Mark 12:30-31- Love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself 1 John 4:19- We love because He first loved us Ephesians 3:14-21- How vast God\u2019s love is for us Romans 5:8- While we were still sinners (us and all our issues) Christ died for us Colossians 1:24-27-Christ in You the hope of glory Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast: Instagram (Em life \/\/ Podcast Life) Facebook Twitter Blog  ","author_name":"Simply Stories Podcast","author_url":"http:\/\/simplystories.libsyn.com\/website","html":"