Episode Summary:

Today’s episode is a powerful one. We’re joined by Jonathan M. Seidl—author, speaker, and previous Editor-in-Chief of the widely followed nonprofit I Am Second—as he courageously shares his personal journey detailed in his latest book, Confessions of a Christian. Alcoholic. It’s a raw, honest, and redemptive conversation about how a man of faith found himself battling addiction, the shame that came with it, and what it took to break free.

If you—or someone you love—have ever struggled with hidden pain, addiction, or the pressure to keep up appearances, this conversation is for you. Jon’s story is a testimony to the power of grace, truth, and the freedom found in Christ. 

The Christian community loves stories of salvation but often struggles with stories of sanctification—especially messy sanctification. Today’s guest, Jonathon Seidl, is breaking the stigma with a radically vulnerable work that’s not only for those struggling with secret sins, but also for every person on a journey to overcome nagging issues (which is really everyone). In this episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective, we’re going to delve into one man’s story about the raw and messy details of his secret battle with addiction, and how to break free from hidden addictions.

Quotables from the episode:

• Alcohol was the solution to my problems, a bad solution, but an easy one, a quick one so now you took away my solution, and now I had to deal with everything that I was using alcohol to numb or escape from.
• Anything that is mis-ordered is disordered.
• I did have a rock-bottom moment and there's a lot of people that do-and I know in your work I'm sure you've heard a lot of those stories-I've had my own, but what I want to encourage people that you don't have to have a rock bottom moment in order to reevaluate your relationship with alcohol or food or gambling or work or exercise.
• The drinking was a symptom of something else going on. You must get to the root.
• When you know that something is bad for you, and you know that what you're doing is unhealthy right and you still do it anyways there's something deeper, there's always something deeper.
• But what happens as a child, is when those things happen, your brain literally cannot make sense of them. So, you look to escape and at six that's tonka trucks. At 36 that's tequila.
• What I'd come to find is, I was never able to completely give up drinking because I was always trying to give up drinking. And so, I wrote this article, "How were you able to stop drinking?" I said, “ I stopped trying to stop drinking."
• If you are someone who has gone through addiction, there is a difference between worldly shame and godly grief. Yes. Worldly shame beats yourself up, and I beat myself up for years. And you know what I did with that worldly shame? I drank it away. Like I just kept going back to the bottle, right? But when I finally got to the point of godly grief, that very quickly led me to repentance.
• I think an overarching message is don't fall under the lie that you have to do this recovery journey alone because Satan thrives in isolating us, but that could be AA, it could be celebrate recovery, it could be a therapist, it could be a church mentor, but please share it with a trusted individual.
• Millions of people have gotten sober without Jesus, but you're not going to live the most flourishing and fulfilled life without Jesus and that's what I want for you, and I'm telling you that's available on the other side. 

Recommended Resources:

• Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic: A Candid Conversation on Drinking, Addiction, and How to Break Free by Jonathon M. Seidl 

• Finding Rest: A Survivor’s Guide to Navigating the Valleys of Anxiety, Faith, and Life by Jonathon Seidl and Kirk Cameron

• Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide
• Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win
• Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue

Social Media Links for Host and Guest:

Connect with Jon Seidl:

Website / Instagram / Facebook / X

Connect with Dr. Bengtson:

Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book  Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails  /  Website  /   Blog  /  Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson)  /  LinkedIn  /  Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple

Guest:

Jonathon M. Seidl has been telling stories his whole life. In fact, he’s written over 10,000 of them, first after helping start a successful news website and then as the editor in chief of the popular nonprofit I Am Second. He’s the author of the new book Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic, a radically vulnerable story of being the Christian who became an alcoholic and his climb out of addiction and how others can break free from life’s entanglements. He currently runs the popular daily devotional website The Veritas Daily (theveritasdaily.com), where he writes on faith, culture, and addiction while also completing his master’s in theological studies from Southwestern Seminary.  Originally from Wisconsin, he lives in Frisco, Texas, with his wife, Brett, and their children, Annie and Jack.

Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson

Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson