You may be walking through disappointment. You may feel tempted to withdraw. You may not know how to trust God again. This conversation with Bart Millard from MercyMe will help you understand what it means to stay present, stay honest, and allow God to form something deeper in you through what you are facing.

You'll learn:

• Why suffering can deepen rather than destroy your faith
• How isolation quietly hinders the healing process
• Why vocalizing your struggles reduces their power
• The difference between giving up and true surrender
• How to trust God beyond specific outcomes

Guest Bio

Bart Millard is the lead singer of the multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated band MercyMe and a songwriter whose work has shaped modern worship music for decades. Known for the hit song "I Can Only Imagine," Bart has shared his story of pain, redemption, and faith through music, film, and writing. His journey—from a difficult childhood marked by abuse to becoming a voice of hope for millions—continues to inform his message about healing, resilience, and trusting God through adversity. Through his music, books, and storytelling, Bart invites people into an honest and grounded faith that holds both grief and gratitude.

Show Partner

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Episode Links

• Show Notes
• Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here!
• Invite me to speak at your church or event.
• Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Many people today feel scattered. Attention is fractured, emotions are unsteady, and spiritual life feels more like survival than formation. We move from one demand to the next, one distraction to another, and somewhere along the way, the soul begins to splinter. This week on Win Today, Heath Hardesty joins me for a deeply clarifying conversation about what it means to live with an integrated soul in a fragmented world. We examine why so many believers struggle to actually receive the love of God, how discipleship has often been reduced to a subtle form of self-improvement, and why attempts to short-circuit suffering often delay the very formation God is trying to produce. Heath offers a compelling vision of apprenticeship to Jesus—not as a program to become your best self, but as a way of life where union with Him becomes the starting point, abiding and obeying Him becomes the essence, and reflecting Him becomes the aim. If you feel spiritually scattered, if your faith feels more performative than relational, or if you've realized you don't actually know how to receive the love of God, this conversation will help reorient what true discipleship is meant to form.

Guest Bio

Heath Hardesty serves as the lead pastor of Valley Community Church and is a founder of Inklings Coffee & Tea in downtown Pleasanton, California. Raised in a blue-collar home, Heath began his vocational journey as a plumber's apprentice in Colorado before transitioning into pastoral ministry on the edge of Silicon Valley, where he now lives with his family. He holds degrees in literature, leadership, biblical studies, and theology from the University of Colorado Boulder and Western Seminary in Portland. Through his teaching and writing, Heath invites people into a reimagined vision of apprenticeship to Jesus—one that cultivates wholeness, resilience, and a deeper experience of God's love.

Show Partner

SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order.

Episode Links

• Show Notes
• Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here!
• Invite me to speak at your church or event.
• Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

We are living in a moment where the language of self-care is everywhere. Protect your peace. Take a break. Treat yourself. But beneath the bubble baths and wellness rituals, something deeper is breaking down. People are absorbing quiet but powerful lies that they are useless, replaceable, or fundamentally unimportant. This week on Win Today, journalist and bestselling author Jennifer Breheny Wallace joins us to examine what she calls the modern crisis of "mattering." Drawing from extensive research and deeply human stories, Jennifer explains why the need to feel valued and to know that we add value is not optional—it is a core human need. When that need goes unmet, the consequences show up everywhere: fragile self-esteem, burnout, toxic achievement culture, and a constant search for validation that never quite satisfies.

We explore why self-esteem alone cannot sustain a healthy identity, how success-driven cultures quietly erode a sense of worth, and why the hyper-visible world of social media often produces the opposite of real connection. Jennifer also introduces the concept of a "mattering core"—the conditions that help people know they are valued and capable of contributing value to others. When those elements are present, resilience grows. When they disappear, people begin to doubt their place in the world.

If you've ever felt the pressure to prove your worth, if success has started to feel strangely empty, or if you've wondered why validation never seems to last, this conversation will help reframe what human flourishing actually requires.

Guest Bio

Jennifer Breheny Wallace is an acclaimed journalist and bestselling author whose work focuses on the intersection of mental health, achievement culture, and human flourishing. She is the author of Mattering: How to Create a Life of Meaning, Empathy, and Impact, a groundbreaking exploration of why the human need to feel valued and to add value is essential to well-being. Jennifer's writing has appeared in outlets including The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, where she examines how modern pressures around success and validation shape the mental health of both adults and young people. Through her reporting and research, she helps readers understand how restoring a sense of mattering can strengthen resilience, deepen relationships, and restore purpose in an achievement-driven world.

Show Partners

SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order.

Episode Links

• Show Notes
• Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here!
• Invite me to speak at your church or event.
• Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Every generation eventually faces moments when stability disappears, and the ground beneath our assumptions begins to shake. Cultural chaos, personal uncertainty, and unexpected upheaval have a way of revealing what our faith is actually built upon. In those moments, the question is no longer theoretical—it becomes deeply personal. This week on Win Today, my good friend Paige Collins joins me for a thoughtful conversation about preparing our lives for seasons of shaking and why surrendering to God is often far more costly than we expect. We explore the posture required to remain steady when circumstances become unpredictable, the spiritual maturity that grows through relinquishing control, and how God often forms resilience in environments that feel uncomfortable or uncertain. We also touch on the intriguing and often misunderstood topic of dreams and whether God can still speak through them today. Scripture includes moments where the Lord communicated through dreams—from Solomon's encounter in 1 Kings to Joel's prophetic declaration that in the last days people would dream dreams. At the same time, we make an important distinction: dreams are never equivalent to Scripture, never authoritative revelation, and never a replacement for the Word of God. Instead, if they occur at all, they must be tested, weighed, and submitted to the authority of Scripture and the wisdom of the Church.

If the cultural moment feels unstable, if you sense the Lord inviting you into deeper surrender, or if you're wondering how to remain grounded when life becomes unpredictable, this conversation will help clarify the posture that prepares a believer to endure seasons of shaking.

Guest Bio

Paige Collins is a lifelong dreamer and visionary, and the founding partner of Icon Media Group, a premier PR firm specializing in faith and family entertainment. She has led high-impact publicity campaigns for major faith-based films and Kingdom-driven brands, helping shape the public conversation around faith in media and culture. Paige also serves as a producer, screenwriter, and founder of Honeybee Entertainment, a company dedicated to elevating stories of women of faith across film, television, and other creative platforms.

Show Partner

SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order.

Episode Links

• Show Notes
• Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here!
• Invite me to speak at your church or event.
• Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

It is possible to practice the rhythms of faith and still miss the Person those rhythms were meant to lead us to. We can read Scripture, attend church, adopt the language of discipleship, and build entire spiritual lives around the habits of Jesus—while quietly drifting from intimacy with Jesus Himself. This week on Win Today, Hosanna Wong joins me for a clarifying and deeply confronting conversation about the difference between performing Christianity and actually knowing God. We examine how selective obedience slowly erodes intimacy with Him, why legalism has learned to rebrand itself as passion for holiness, and how seasons of hiddenness and crushing are often the environments where authentic discipleship is formed. Hosanna also unpacks six roadblocks that frequently prevent believers from experiencing genuine connection with God, revealing how easy it is to substitute religious activity for relational transformation. The invitation of Jesus has never been behavior management or spiritual performance—it is repentance, surrender, and relationship.

If you've been doing the practices of faith but still feel distant from God… if you've sensed the quiet conviction that something deeper is being asked of you, or if you're realizing that obedience in some areas has been selective rather than surrendered, this episode will bring needed clarity.

Guest Bio

Hosanna Wong is an international speaker, best-selling author, and spoken word artist known for helping everyday people know Jesus in a real and personal way. Widely recognized for her viral spoken word piece "I Have A New Name," Hosanna shares her message in churches, conferences, prisons, and ministries around the world, reaching across denominations, cultures, and backgrounds. Raised in an urban ministry on the streets of San Francisco, she later spent years traveling throughout the United States speaking and sharing the gospel through spoken word poetry while living out of suitcases. Through her speaking, writing, and creative work, Hosanna equips believers to deepen their relationship with God and pursue authentic discipleship.

Show Partner

SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order.

Episode Links

• Show Notes
• Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here!
• Invite me to speak at your church or event.
• Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Sexual addiction is often treated as a behavior problem. Stop the behavior. Remove the temptation. Try harder next time. But what if the behavior is not the real issue? What if the patterns that bring shame, secrecy, and self-sabotage are actually revealing something deeper about the story you carry? This week on Win Today, therapist and researcher Jay Stringer joins me to unpack the anatomy of sexual addiction and unwanted sexual behavior. Drawing from research involving more than 3,800 men and women, Jay explains why these patterns are rarely random and how the unresolved parts of our past often shape them. We talk about why shame keeps people trapped in destructive cycles, why curiosity is often the first step toward healing, and why grief has the surprising power to reshape what we desire. Sexual struggles are not simply moral failures to suppress. They can become a roadmap that leads us toward the healing we have avoided. If you are stuck in patterns you cannot explain, if shame has kept you silent, or if you've tried to manage the behavior without understanding the story behind it, this episode will help you see why real freedom begins with honesty.

Guest Bio

Jay Stringer is a licensed therapist, minister, and researcher who helps men and women understand and outgrow unwanted sexual behaviors. He is the author of the award-winning book Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing, based on a multiyear research study involving more than 3,800 men and women exploring the roots of sexual addiction and compulsive sexual behavior. Jay is also the creator of the Sexual Behavior Self-Assessment and The Journey Course, a five-month program designed to help individuals identify and transform the deeper drivers behind destructive patterns. He holds an MDiv and a master's degree in counseling psychology from The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology and completed post-graduate training under Dr. Dan Allender while serving as a Senior Fellow at The Allender Center.

Show Partner

SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order.

Episode Links

• Show Notes
• Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here!
• Invite me to speak at your church or event.
• Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

We talk about healing as though it's inevitable. As though proximity to Scripture, therapy language, or Christian community automatically produces transformation. But God does not force anyone into wholeness. He invites. He confronts. He calls. And too many believers confuse awareness with growth. This week on Win Today, Debra Fileta joins me for a sober conversation about emotional health and spiritual maturity. We examine why so many Christians remain emotionally immature while sounding spiritually fluent, how "trauma-informed" has in some circles become trauma-defined identity, and why you cannot become spiritually mature if your mental and emotional life is neglected. Healing is not passive. It is participatory. If your faith is sincere but your reactions are volatile… if you know the right language but keep repeating the same patterns… or if you've mistaken self-protection for self-awareness, this episode will clarify what real growth actually requires.

Guest Bio

Debra Fileta is a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in relationship, marital, mental, and emotional health. She is the author of five books, host of the Love + Relationships Podcast, and founder of TrueLoveDates.com, a widely read relationship advice platform reaching millions worldwide. Known for her candid yet compassionate voice, Debra integrates clinical insight with Christian faith to help individuals and couples pursue emotional health and stronger relationships. Her work has been featured in outlets including Christianity Today, Focus on the Family, Relevant Magazine, Crosswalk.com, Charisma Magazine, and more.

Show Partner

SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order.

Episode Links

• Show Notes
• Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here!
• Invite me to speak at your church or event.
• Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

There are ways Christians escape that don't look like rebellion. They look like busyness. Performance. Endless content. Religious activity. We stay "engaged," but we are quietly numb. And over time, that numbness settles into the body as anxiety, irritability, and bitterness we don't know how to name. This week on Win Today, Stephen McWhirter joins me to discuss the socially acceptable ways believers avoid reality and why those patterns keep us stuck. Stephen's story is raw. He grew up in a violent home, ran hard from God through addiction and self-destruction, and encountered the presence of the Lord in a moment that changed everything. We explore how trauma and rebellion can coexist with spiritual language, how bitterness lodges itself in the body, and what it means to become a resting place for chaos rather than a reactor to it. This episode isn't about shame. It's about sobriety. If you've been medicating pain with distraction, ministry, content, or noise, this conversation will help you confront what you've been avoiding and rediscover what it means to be radically restored.

Guest Bio

Stephen McWhirter is a singer, songwriter, and worship leader known for his powerful testimony of transformation and his passion for helping others encounter the presence of God. After growing up in a tumultuous home and spending years in addiction and rebellion, Stephen experienced a radical encounter with Christ that reshaped his life and calling. He now leads worship and shares his story nationally, pointing people toward healing, identity, and freedom in Jesus.

Show Partner

SafeSleeve designs a phone case that blocks up to 99% of harmful EMF radiation—so I'm not carrying that kind of exposure next to my body all day. It's sleek, durable, and most importantly, lab-tested by third parties. The results aren't hidden—they're published right on their site. And that matters because many so-called EMF blockers on the market either don't work or can't prove they do. We protect our hearts and minds—why wouldn't we protect our bodies too? Head to safesleevecases.com and use the code WINTODAY10 for 10% off your order.

Episode Links

• Show Notes
• Buy my book "Healing What You Can't Erase" here!
• Invite me to speak at your church or event.
• Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.