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Do you ever wonder why you do the very things you don’t want to do and don’t do the things you really want to do?

In Episode 5 of the Ever After Podcast, we explore how the lies we believe and the painful emotions we carry can eventually lead us to coping strategies that help us numb, soothe, or escape our pain—like perfectionism, people pleasing or drivenness. Over time, many of these protective behaviors can become deeply ingrained—even addictive. We often focus on changing the outward behavior, but unless we address the wounds, lies, and emotions beneath it, the struggle tends to continue.

In this episode, Anita vulnerably shares her personal battle with an eating disorder and how Christ gently revealed truth to the wounded places in her heart, finally bringing freedom from decades of unhealthy thought and behavior patterns.

This episode invites you to consider how your protective patterns may actually be signposts—pointing to deeper wounds that God longs to heal with His truth, love, and presence.

Episode Summary

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• how your unmet core longings and wounds are related to your false beliefs (lies), emotional upheaval and coping strategies you adopted to soothe your pain
• why just focusing on your outward behavior (behavior management) will not bring life change
• how your addictive behaviors are signposts to places God wants to heal

Resources Mentioned

• Healing Care Group: A Journey Toward Transformation, by Terry Wardle, ⁠⁠https://www.healingcare.org/healing-care-group-curriculum⁠⁠
• Healing What’s Within: Coming Home to Yourself–and to God–When You’re Wounded, Weary and Wandering, by Dr. Chuck DeGroat
• Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: It’s Impossible to be Spritually Mature While Remaining Emotionally Immature, by Peter Scazzero

Scriptures

• John 8: 31, 32
• Psalms 27: 1, 8
• Ephesians 3:8
• I Thessalonians 5:23
• Isaiah 61:1-3
• Galatians 5: 1

Key Takeaways:

• You seek to get your core longings met in other places other than God.
• Your addictive behaviors are related to your past woundedness.
• Jesus came to heal our broken hearts and make us whole!

Connect with Us

• Email: anita@DiscoverEverAfter.org
• Website: https://discovereverafter.org/
• Instagram: @anitakellycouch
• YouTube: @AnitaKellyCouchEAE

Episode 6: Inviting God into the Wound

Have you ever wondered why your past still has such power over you? What if you knew Jesus could set you free from the pain of your past?

In Episode 6 of the Ever After Podcast, we explore how our healing begins when we allow God to meet us in the places we’ve tried to avoid. We may face difficult obstacles as we allow a truer version of our stories to finally be told. 

Jesus is our Wounded Healer and He promises to never leave us as we begin to courageously step into feeling the pain of our past and sharing our stories of harm with a few empathetic witnesses. As we do this, we will be brought into deeper intimacy with Christ as we share in His sufferings. What a privilege!

Episode Summary

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• how suffering is a part of the healing process
• why just focusing on your outward behavior (behavior management) will not bring life change
• how your addictive behaviors are signposts to places God wants to heal

Resources Mentioned

• Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing, by Dr. Jay Stringer
• The Place We Find Ourselves Podcast, Adam Young with guest Cathy Loerzel, How Healing Happens, Episodes 24-26, ⁠https://adamyoungcounseling.com/how-healing-happens-part-1/⁠
• Loved to Life: A 40 Day Pilgrimage with Love Himself That Will Change Your Life, by Ann Voskamp
• The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe about Ourselves, by Dr. Curt Thompson

Scriptures

• Philippians 3: 10, 11
• Ephesians 1: 3
• Romans 8:18
• Luke 5: 1-10
• John 21: 1-17
• I Peter 2: 9

Key Takeaways:

• Healing begins when you allow God into the places you’ve tried to avoid.
• Healing requires your confession (telling the truth) as you allow a truer, fuller version of your story to come into view.
• Your pain must be felt and shared in the presence of empathy and kindness.

Connect with Us

• Email: anita@DiscoverEverAfter.org
• Website: https://discovereverafter.org/
• Instagram: @anitakellycouch
• YouTube: @AnitaKellyCouchEAE