Get a copy of the chapter “Grace: God’s Power to Crush the Impossible” from Thriving in Grace: Unleashing Wellness from a Biblical Perspective at karenadittman.com

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb

Connect with Constance Hastings at https://constancehastings.com/

Is it okay to doubt God?
What if faith doesn’t come easily—or neatly?
And what does following Jesus look like when life is full of fear, trouble, and unanswered questions?

In this episode of The Grace Cycle Show, Karen Dittman talks with Constance Hastings, author of The Trouble With Jesus: Considerations Before You Walk Away, about the honest intersection of faith, doubt, fear, and God’s grace.

Constance shares her personal journey from an unconventional upbringing into a life shaped by calling, compassion, and grace—and why doubt didn’t push her away from faith, but deeper into it.

Together, they explore:

• Common misconceptions about faith and what belief actually requires
• Why doubt is not the opposite of faith, but often part of a living one
• How fear distorts our image of God—and how grace restores it
• What love and empathy really look like in the way Jesus lived
• And how churches can better support people who feel unsure, skeptical, or spiritually tired

They also reflect on how Jesus Himself faced trouble, suffering, and misunderstanding, and what His responses teach us about courage, honesty, and trust.

This episode is for anyone asking:

• “Am I a bad Christian for questioning?”
• “Why does faith feel harder than it’s supposed to?”
• “Where is God in suffering and uncertainty?”
• “Is there room for me if my faith doesn’t look like everyone else’s?”

If you’ve ever felt like faith was more complicated than you were told—or wondered whether grace still applies when life is messy—this conversation offers a freeing reminder: grace doesn’t remove trouble, but it expands our lives with meaning, love, and unexpected adventure.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:23 Constance Hastings' Faith Journey

05:43 The Trouble With Jesus: Book Insights

10:51 Understanding Love and Empathy

12:55 Faith, Doubt, and Fear

19:37 Creating a Safe Space for Doubt in Church

27:04 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb

Get a copy of the chapter “Grace: God’s Power to Crush the Impossible” from Thriving in Grace: Unleashing Wellness from a Biblical Perspective at karenadittman.com

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb

Get a copy of Sleep Habits Journal: Practices, Prayers, & Devotions to Ease Your Sleepless Nights by Dr. Benjamin Long at https://www.sleephabitsjournal.com/

Why can’t I sleep—even when I’m exhausted?
Is something wrong with my body, my mind… or my life?
And where is God in the middle of another sleepless night?

In this episode of The Grace Cycle Show, Karen Dittman talks with Dr. Benjamin Long, physician and theologian, about the deep connection between sleep, faith, stress, hormones, and spiritual well-being.

Dr. Long shares:

• Why insomnia is often a signal, not just a problem
• How perimenopause and hormonal changes can seriously disrupt sleep for women
• What actually helps (and what usually doesn’t) when it comes to sleep hygiene
• And how Scripture frames sleep as a gift from God, not a failure of faith

They also talk about:

• The emotional and spiritual weight carried into the night
• Why unresolved stress, grief, and anxiety often show up as sleeplessness
• And how God’s grace meets us even when rest feels impossible

Dr. Long also explains the heart behind his guided sleep journal and how it helps people gently uncover what’s really keeping them awake—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

This episode is for anyone asking:

• “Why am I awake at 3 a.m. again?”
• “Is perimenopause or stress destroying my sleep?”
• “How do I stop my mind from racing at night?”
• “Can I trust God with my exhaustion?”

If you’re tired of being tired, this conversation offers both practical tools and deep reassurance: your sleepless nights are not wasted, and rest is something God wants to give you, not something you have to earn.

Dr. Benjamin Long is a sleep doctor by day & seminary student by night with an interest in the integration of theology and sleep. These interests have culminated into his debut book "Sleep Habits Journal: Practices, Prayers, & Devotions to Ease Your Sleepless Nights." He lives in San Antonio, Texas with his wife, son, and their dog-Rolo.

00:00 Introduction: Struggling with Sleepless Nights

00:24 Guest Introduction: Dr. Benjamin Long

00:43 Dr. Long's Journey to Publication

04:22 Insights on Perimenopause and Sleep

07:30 The Role of Caffeine and Alcohol in Sleep

11:55 Biblical Perspectives on Sleep

22:45 Practical Sleep Tips and The Sleep Journal

31:17 Conclusion: Embracing God's Gift of Sleep

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb

Get a copy of the chapter “Grace: God’s Power to Crush the Impossible” from Thriving in Grace: Unleashing Wellness from a Biblical Perspective at karenadittman.com

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb

Connect with Rose Anne Forte at https://choosefreedom.today

How do you break free from addiction when shame keeps pulling you back?
Can your mind really be changed—and can God’s grace reach you where you are?
And what does real, lasting recovery actually look like?

In this episode of The Grace Cycle Show, Karen Dittman talks with Rose Anne Forte, who shares her honest and hope-filled journey out of alcohol addiction and into freedom.

Rose Anne opens up about:

• The hidden role of shame in keeping people stuck
• How she began to rebuild her life through faith, Scripture, and practical mindset change
• Why gratitude, new habits, and mental “reprogramming” are essential to lasting recovery
• And how faith and science-backed tools can work together instead of against each other

This episode is for anyone who is asking:

• “Why can’t I seem to stop this behavior?”
• “How do I change the way my mind works?”
• “Does God still want to help me after all my failures?”
• “Is real freedom actually possible?”

Rose Anne also shares about her Choose Freedom Project and her devotional resources designed to help people break free from life-interfering behaviors, not just through willpower, but through grace-powered transformation.

If you’re struggling with addiction, destructive habits, or the quiet weight of shame—or if you love someone who is—this conversation offers hope that is honest, practical, and deeply rooted in God’s grace.

Rose Ann Forte is an international best-selling author, addiction and behavioral habits specialist, and the creator of the Choose Freedom® Program—a faith-based, neuroscience-informed framework that helps individuals break free from life-interfering thoughts, emotions, and behaviors through the renewal of the mind. She is the author of The Plans He Has For Me and Prepare to Quit, and the co-author of Transformed by His Promises, a 12-week devotional integrating biblical wisdom and neuroscience to support lasting emotional, spiritual, and behavioral transformation. Her body of work equips individuals, churches, and counselors with compassionate, practical tools for change without stigma, shame, or performance-based faith.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:50 Rose Anne's Journey: From Addiction to Renewal

01:46 The Struggle with Alcohol and Finding a New Path

04:26 Healing Outside the Church

05:38 The Power of Daily Practices and Devotionals

16:31 The Choose Freedom Project

20:14 Collaborating with Experts and Expanding the Mission

24:03 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Want to be a guest on The Grace Cycle Show? Send Karen Dittman a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1733503318442796293a1fecb