What do you do when God seems silent? How do you even hear God's voice? International speaker and author Em Tyler knows what it's like to struggle to hear God. She joins host Jon Seidl for an honest conversation about hearing God, abiding in Christ, prayer, and discerning the Holy Spirit.

For those struggling with addiction or walking in recovery, these aren’t abstract questions. Sometimes we’re asking God for new direction while overlooking what He has already made clear.

Em explains why Christian maturity actually means becoming more dependent on Jesus, not less, and how Scripture, humility, ordinary promptings, forgiveness, and simple obedience help us recognize His voice. Hearing God doesn’t have to be mysterious. Sometimes it looks like trusting Him enough to do the next right thing.

Connect with Em: https://www.emtyler.com/
Listen to her "Grow +Go Podcast": https://emtyler.substack.com/podcast
Read Em's writing: https://emtyler.substack.com/
Follow her on Instagram: @helloemtyler
Get Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help: veritasrecovery.org
Follow me: @jonseidl
Order my new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic
Watch this episode at The Vertias Daily

We Explore:

— What abiding in Christ actually looks like in everyday life
— Why Christian maturity means becoming more dependent on Jesus, not less
— How to discern God’s voice without pretending certainty
— What God’s silence may reveal about obedience and surrender
— How Scripture helps us test what we think we’re hearing
— Why forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration are not the same thing

What do you do when God seems silent? How do you even hear God's voice? International speaker and author Em Tyler knows what it's like to struggle to hear God. She joins host Jon Seidl for an honest conversation about hearing God, abiding in Christ, prayer, and discerning the Holy Spirit.
For those struggling with addiction or walking in recovery, these aren&rsquo;t abstract questions. Sometimes we&rsquo;re asking God for new direction while overlooking what He has already made clear.
Em explains why Christian maturity actually means becoming more dependent on Jesus, not less, and how Scripture, humility, ordinary promptings, forgiveness, and simple obedience help us recognize His voice. Hearing God doesn&rsquo;t have to be mysterious. Sometimes it looks like trusting Him enough to do the next right thing.
Connect with Em:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.emtyler.com/">https://www.emtyler.com/</a> Listen to her "Grow +Go Podcast": <a href="https://emtyler.substack.com/podcast">https://emtyler.substack.com/podcast</a> Read Em's writing:&nbsp;<a href="https://emtyler.substack.com/">https://emtyler.substack.com/</a> Follow her on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/helloemtyler/">@helloemtyler</a> Get Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help: <a href="https://www.veritasrecovery.org">veritasrecovery.org</a> Follow me: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jonseidl/">@jonseidl</a> Order my new book,&nbsp;<a href="https://amzn.to/4opuOt">Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic</a> Watch this episode at <a href="https://jonseidl.substack.com/t/podcast">The Vertias Daily</a>
We Explore:
&mdash; What abiding in Christ actually looks like in everyday life &mdash; Why Christian maturity means becoming more dependent on Jesus, not less &mdash; How to discern God&rsquo;s voice without pretending certainty &mdash; What God&rsquo;s silence may reveal about obedience and surrender &mdash; How Scripture helps us test what we think we&rsquo;re hearing &mdash; Why forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration are not the same thing

Jon Seidl is the bestselling Christian author who became an alcoholic, not the other way around. It's usually the other way around. Or is it? "Confessions of a Christian alcoholic" (based on the book by the same title) is all about real stories, radical vulnerability, and remarkable comebacks of people who have struggled with alcoholism and addictions of all sorts. The show features interviews with fellow addicts and alcoholics as well as professionals in the fields of trauma, faith, and addiction recovery. Because let's be honest, we're all addicted to something. "Confessions" is a place for the desperate, the downtrodden, the destitute, and especially, the drunk. But it's also a place of hope and healing. Jon found sobriety after decades of struggling, but more importantly than finding sobriety, he found Jesus. In every episode, he gets radically vulnerable as he explores what it looks like to be on this journey of messy sanctification. Visit christianalcoholic.com for more resources.

Jon Seidl is the bestselling Christian author who became an alcoholic, not the other way around. It's usually the other way around. Or is it? "Confessions of a Christian alcoholic" (based on the book by the same title) is all about real stories, radical vulnerability, and remarkable comebacks of people who have struggled with alcoholism and addictions of all sorts. The show features interviews with fellow addicts and alcoholics as well as professionals in the fields of trauma, faith, and addiction recovery. Because let's be honest, we're all addicted to something. "Confessions" is a place for the desperate, the downtrodden, the destitute, and especially, the drunk. But it's also a place of hope and healing. Jon found sobriety after decades of struggling, but more importantly than finding sobriety, he found Jesus. In every episode, he gets radically vulnerable as he explores what it looks like to be on this journey of messy sanctification. Visit <a href="http://christianalcoholic.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://christianalcoholic.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1747239325727000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1G-752Q-1dyjq6GN5gt7xw">christianalcoholic.com</a> for more resources.

Jon Seidl is the bestselling Christian author who became an alcoholic, not the other way around. It's usually the other way around. Or is it? "Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic" is all about real stories, radical vulnerability, and remarkable comebacks of people who have struggled with alcoholism and addictions of all sorts.

Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic with Jon Seidl

When God Seems Silent: Em Tyler on Hearing His Voice and Discerning the Holy Spirit

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/a6e4ca95-b6dd-4fe7-944e-b49d00e6ff82/transcript

What do dying people wish for near the end of their lives? Devon Comp knows. He's sat with countless numbers of them as a hospice chaplain. And there's one consistent request: they wish they were more present.

More time with their kids. More time focusing on what matters. Another chance to tell someone what they meant to them. One woman even longed to hear the birds more.

But no one has ever wished they drank more. They chased their addiction more. Money? Fleeting.

Devon joins this episode of "Confessions" to talk about what people facing death can teach those still finding reasons to postpone change. This conversation follows a man who kept welcoming company as cancer took his ability to speak, grieving parents who needed more than a Bible verse, and a man whose drinking made more sense once someone learned what had happened to his wife.

For host Jon Seidl, the conversation reaches into an uncomfortable part of recovery: facing how much life alcohol muted while he was using it to cope. And for those who profess hope in Jesus, Devon presses a further question: How much of that hope is actually reaching the way they live?

Read Devon’s writing: Safe Haven
Follow Devon: @devon_comp
Read about his move into nursing: “A Change in Badge.”
Explore the FREE Veritas Recovery Community to connect with people on a similar journey
Get Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help at veritasrecovery.org
Follow Jon: @jonseidl
Order Jon's book: Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic
Watch this episode ad-free at The Vertias Daily

We explore: 

—When alcohol stops being the problem and starts becoming “the cure”
—The resentment, loneliness, and purposelessness underneath Doug's drinking
—The look from Abby that finally broke through his denial
—Why Doug believes getting sober became an act of sacrificial love
—The fears that come with imagining life without alcohol
—Why replacing one addiction with another isn't true freedom
—What rebuilding trust actually looked like in Doug and Abby's marriage
—Why healing required more than simply stopping drinking
—What it means to fully surrender at the feet of Jesus

Music licensed through Soundstripe.
Code: S0O6ZGXSLBEYFQP2

What do dying people wish for near the end of their lives? Devon Comp knows. He's sat with countless numbers of them as a hospice chaplain. And there's one consistent request: they wish they were more present.
More time with their kids. More time focusing on what matters. Another chance to tell someone what they meant to them. One woman even longed to hear the birds more.
But no one has ever wished they drank more. They chased their addiction more. Money? Fleeting.
Devon joins this episode of "Confessions" to talk about what people facing death can teach those still finding reasons to postpone change. This conversation follows a man who kept welcoming company as cancer took his ability to speak, grieving parents who needed more than a Bible verse, and a man whose drinking made more sense once someone learned what had happened to his wife.
For host Jon Seidl, the conversation reaches into an uncomfortable part of recovery: facing how much life alcohol muted while he was using it to cope. And for those who profess hope in Jesus, Devon presses a further question: How much of that hope is actually reaching the way they live?
Read Devon&rsquo;s writing: <a href="https://devoncomp.substack.com/">Safe Haven</a> Follow Devon: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/devon_comp/">@devon_comp</a> Read about his move into nursing: <a href="https://devoncomp.substack.com/p/a-change-in-badge">&ldquo;A Change in Badge.&rdquo;</a> Explore the&nbsp;<a href="https://community.veritasrecovery.org/veritas-recovery-community">FREE Veritas Recovery Community</a> to connect with people on a similar journey Get Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help at <a href="https://www.veritasrecovery.org">veritasrecovery.org</a> Follow Jon:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jonseidl/">@jonseidl</a> Order Jon's book: <a href="https://amzn.to/4opuOt">Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic</a> Watch this episode ad-free at <a href="https://jonseidl.substack.com/t/podcast">The Vertias Daily</a> We explore:&nbsp;
&mdash;When alcohol stops being the problem and starts becoming &ldquo;the cure&rdquo; &mdash;The resentment, loneliness, and purposelessness underneath Doug's drinking &mdash;The look from Abby that finally broke through his denial &mdash;Why Doug believes getting sober became an act of sacrificial love &mdash;The fears that come with imagining life without alcohol &mdash;Why replacing one addiction with another isn't true freedom &mdash;What rebuilding trust actually looked like in Doug and Abby's marriage &mdash;Why healing required more than simply stopping drinking &mdash;What it means to fully surrender at the feet of Jesus
Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: S0O6ZGXSLBEYFQP2

A Dying Woman's Wish: Hospice Chaplain Devon Comp on What People Really Ask for Near the End

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/db87a83b-d2f9-4cc7-8e20-b4e4003800d6/transcript

Doug Johnson knew his drinking had gotten bad. There were bottles of whiskey disappearing over a weekend, around $1,000 a month going toward alcohol, Everclear mixed into sweet tea, and drinking at 10 in the morning. But he still wasn't ready to admit it was a problem.

Then came "the look"—the moment his wife, Abby, looked at him and had seemingly lost all hope after making one request: don't get drunk. She needed to know their kids were going to be safe while she was gone. Despite his promise, he could see she felt she was rolling the dice.

At last, he couldn't ignore it. And it started him on a path not to sobriety, but to Jesus in a new way.

In this episode, Doug joins Jon Seidl to talk about the resentment, loneliness, and purposelessness that helped turn alcohol into what he calls “the cure”; how addiction affected his marriage to popular pro-life advocate Abby Johnson; his faith; why he believes getting sober became an act of sacrificial love; and what it took to rebuild trust.

Five years after his last drink, Doug explains why freedom wasn't ultimately about replacing alcohol with something else, but rather fully surrendering at the feet of Jesus.

Follow Doug on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dougontap
Watch Unplanned
Learn more about Abby Johnson's work: https://abortionworker.com 
Listen to the the episode with Ian Faulkner here
Explore the FREE Veritas Recovery Community to connect with people on a similar journey
Get Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help at veritasrecovery.org
Follow Jon: @jonseidl
Order Jon's book: Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic
Watch this episode ad-free at The Vertias Daily

We explore: 

—When alcohol stops being the problem and starts becoming “the cure”
—The resentment, loneliness, and purposelessness underneath Doug's drinking
—The look from Abby that finally broke through his denial
—Why Doug believes getting sober became an act of sacrificial love
—The fears that come with imagining life without alcohol
—Why replacing one addiction with another isn't true freedom
—What rebuilding trust actually looked like in Doug and Abby's marriage
—Why healing required more than simply stopping drinking
—What it means to fully surrender at the feet of Jesus

Music licensed through Soundstripe.
Code: YHZVVVG2E2F5M08J

Doug Johnson knew his drinking had gotten bad. There were bottles of whiskey disappearing over a weekend, around $1,000 a month going toward alcohol, Everclear mixed into sweet tea, and drinking at 10 in the morning. But he still wasn't ready to admit it was a problem.
Then came "the look"&mdash;the moment his wife, Abby, looked at him and had seemingly lost all hope after making one request: don't get drunk. She needed to know their kids were going to be safe while she was gone. Despite his promise, he could see she felt she was rolling the dice.
At last, he couldn't ignore it. And it started him on a path not to sobriety, but to Jesus in a new way.
In this episode, Doug joins Jon Seidl to talk about the resentment, loneliness, and purposelessness that helped turn alcohol into what he calls &ldquo;the cure&rdquo;; how addiction affected his marriage to popular pro-life advocate Abby Johnson; his faith; why he believes getting sober became an act of sacrificial love; and what it took to rebuild trust.
Five years after his last drink, Doug explains why freedom wasn't ultimately about replacing alcohol with something else, but rather fully surrendering at the feet of Jesus.
Follow Doug on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dougontap">https://www.facebook.com/dougontap</a> Watch&nbsp;<a href="https://amzn.to/3WdHvxG">Unplanned</a> Learn more about Abby Johnson's work: <a href="https://abortionworker.com">https://abortionworker.com</a>&nbsp; Listen to the the episode with Ian Faulkner <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/confessions-of-a-christian-alcoholic-with-jon-seidl/id1813869195?i=1000777936549">here</a> Explore the&nbsp;<a href="https://community.veritasrecovery.org/veritas-recovery-community">FREE Veritas Recovery Community</a> to connect with people on a similar journey Get Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help at <a href="https://www.veritasrecovery.org">veritasrecovery.org</a> Follow Jon:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jonseidl/">@jonseidl</a> Order Jon's book: <a href="https://amzn.to/4opuOt">Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic</a> Watch this episode ad-free at <a href="https://jonseidl.substack.com/t/podcast">The Vertias Daily</a> We explore:&nbsp;
&mdash;When alcohol stops being the problem and starts becoming &ldquo;the cure&rdquo; &mdash;The resentment, loneliness, and purposelessness underneath Doug's drinking &mdash;The look from Abby that finally broke through his denial &mdash;Why Doug believes getting sober became an act of sacrificial love &mdash;The fears that come with imagining life without alcohol &mdash;Why replacing one addiction with another isn't true freedom &mdash;What rebuilding trust actually looked like in Doug and Abby's marriage &mdash;Why healing required more than simply stopping drinking &mdash;What it means to fully surrender at the feet of Jesus
Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: YHZVVVG2E2F5M08J

Famous Wife, Divided Life: Doug Johnson on 'The Look' That Exposed His Addiction and Finally Giving It to Jesus

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/acf20079-4779-45a7-bbf0-b4da0138f260/transcript

Charles Reed was drunk in the delivery room when his daughter was born. Afterward, he told his wife he was going for a walk—but he went straight to a liquor store. Becoming a father hadn’t made him stop. So what finally did—and what would following Jesus require afterward?

For years, Charles could close a big deal at work while hiding how badly alcohol and drugs were running his life. He was wildly talented and successful, but he kept crossing lines he once swore he’d never cross. By the time his family could see the full picture, he was organizing his days around the next drink.

Then Charles describes something he hadn’t been looking for: an encounter with Jesus that he says removed his desire to drink in an instant.

That wasn't the end of his journey, but rather the start of it. After all, his wife had heard all the promises before. He had trust to rebuild, habits to confront, and a family that needed him to show up.

In this episode of Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic, Charles joins Jon Seidl to talk about the fear beneath his addiction, the limits of “I would never do that,” and the daily work of recovery even after a miraculous moment.

Follow Charles on Instagram: @hendrieehill
Learn more about America's Keswick here
Listen to the the episode with Arman and hear his story here
Explore the FREE Veritas Recovery Community to connect with people on a similar journey
Get Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help at veritasrecovery.org
Follow Jon: @jonseidl
Order Jon's book: Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic
Watch this episode ad-free at The Vertias Daily

We explore: 

— Why becoming a father didn’t make Charles stop drinking
— How fear shaped his relationship with alcohol long before he recognized addiction
— What professional success allowed him to hide
— How “I would never do that” became another line he crossed
— The encounter with Jesus Charles says removed his desire to drink
— Why a miraculous experience still left daily recovery work to do
— How ordinary acts of responsibility helped rebuild his wife’s trust
— What his story offers families who are still praying for change

Music licensed through Soundstripe.
Code: 2R0FYQ1ZWZYBPXV3

Charles Reed was drunk in the delivery room when his daughter was born. Afterward, he told his wife he was going for a walk&mdash;but he went straight to a liquor store. Becoming a father hadn&rsquo;t made him stop. So what finally did&mdash;and what would following Jesus require afterward?
For years, Charles could close a big deal at work while hiding how badly alcohol and drugs were running his life. He was wildly talented and successful, but he kept crossing lines he once swore he&rsquo;d never cross. By the time his family could see the full picture, he was organizing his days around the next drink.
Then Charles describes something he hadn&rsquo;t been looking for: an encounter with Jesus that he says removed his desire to drink in an instant.
That wasn't the end of his journey, but rather the start of it. After all, his wife had heard all the promises before. He had trust to rebuild, habits to confront, and a family that needed him to show up.
In this episode of Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic, Charles joins Jon Seidl to talk about the fear beneath his addiction, the limits of &ldquo;I would never do that,&rdquo; and the daily work of recovery even after a miraculous moment.
Follow Charles on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hendrieehill?stkn=MXFuNGJ2eThneHMzNg==">@hendrieehill</a> Learn more about America's Keswick&nbsp;<a href="https://addictionrecovery.org">here</a> Listen to the the episode with Arman and hear his story <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/confessions-of-a-christian-alcoholic-with-jon-seidl/id1813869195?i=1000777936549">here</a> Explore the&nbsp;<a href="https://community.veritasrecovery.org/veritas-recovery-community">FREE Veritas Recovery Community</a> to connect with people on a similar journey Get Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help at <a href="https://www.veritasrecovery.org">veritasrecovery.org</a> Follow Jon:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jonseidl/">@jonseidl</a> Order Jon's book: <a href="https://amzn.to/4opuOt">Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic</a> Watch this episode ad-free at <a href="https://jonseidl.substack.com/t/podcast">The Vertias Daily</a> We explore:&nbsp;
&mdash; Why becoming a father didn&rsquo;t make Charles stop drinking &mdash; How fear shaped his relationship with alcohol long before he recognized addiction &mdash; What professional success allowed him to hide &mdash; How &ldquo;I would never do that&rdquo; became another line he crossed &mdash; The encounter with Jesus Charles says removed his desire to drink &mdash; Why a miraculous experience still left daily recovery work to do &mdash; How ordinary acts of responsibility helped rebuild his wife&rsquo;s trust &mdash; What his story offers families who are still praying for change
Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: 2R0FYQ1ZWZYBPXV3

Drunk in the Delivery Room: Charles Reed on Crossing Lines We Said We Never Would, and His Miraculous Encounter with Jesus

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/c5ed7e1a-61e6-42f0-a6b8-b4d4010849a3/transcript

When God Seems Silent: Em Tyler on Hearing His Voice and Discerning the Holy Spirit

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