What happens when you've spent years praying for God to take away the food noise, but the freedom you're searching for goes so much deeper than food?

For Julie, food noise was constant. She woke up thinking about food, went to bed thinking about food, and spent years crying out to God, wondering why He hadn't taken it away.

But underneath it all was a people-pleasing perfectionist who had spent much of her life seeking approval, staying busy, and putting everyone else's needs ahead of her own.

And while she knew what Scripture said about being loved, chosen, and beloved by God, her internal response was often, "Yeah, right."

She believed those promises were true. She just couldn't believe they were true for HER.

In this case study, Julie shares what changed when she stopped looking for another food-focused solution and started rewiring the beliefs and self-image underneath her struggles. She talks about quieting the food noise, uncovering the real need behind her nighttime eating, and realizing that her perfectionism and people-pleasing were actually forms of self-abandonment.

And perhaps her biggest breakthrough came down to two simple words: "I matter."

For the first time, Julie began recognizing that her needs, hopes, dreams, and health mattered, too. She learned to set boundaries without guilt, say no without shame, and experience the joy she'd been searching for.

But one of the most powerful parts of Julie's story is what happened in her relationship with God.

After years of intellectually knowing what Scripture said about her, she describes finally being able to RECEIVE those truths and believe that she is loved, chosen, and worthy of being called His beloved.

As Julie puts it, she went from "bondage to freedom."

This isn't a story about finding the perfect diet or never struggling again. It's about learning to stop abandoning yourself, recognize the lies you've spent years believing, and finally experience the freedom of knowing that you matter.

If you've ever thought, "Why won't God take this away?" "I know what Scripture says, but why can't I believe it?" or "I'm so busy taking care of everyone else that I've lost myself"—Julie's story is for you.

HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // @leanneellington // @theteenagerbrain

To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com.

What happens when you've spent years praying for God to take away the food noise, but the freedom you're searching for goes so much deeper than food?
For Julie, food noise was constant. She woke up thinking about food, went to bed thinking about food, and spent years crying out to God, wondering why He hadn't taken it away.
But underneath it all was a people-pleasing perfectionist who had spent much of her life seeking approval, staying busy, and putting everyone else's needs ahead of her own.
And while she knew what Scripture said about being loved, chosen, and beloved by God, her internal response was often, "Yeah, right."
She believed those promises were true. She just couldn't believe they were true for HER.
In this case study, Julie shares what changed when she stopped looking for another food-focused solution and started rewiring the beliefs and self-image underneath her struggles. She talks about quieting the food noise, uncovering the real need behind her nighttime eating, and realizing that her perfectionism and people-pleasing were actually forms of self-abandonment.
And perhaps her biggest breakthrough came down to two simple words: "I matter."
For the first time, Julie began recognizing that her needs, hopes, dreams, and health mattered, too. She learned to set boundaries without guilt, say no without shame, and experience the joy she'd been searching for.
But one of the most powerful parts of Julie's story is what happened in her relationship with God.
After years of intellectually knowing what Scripture said about her, she describes finally being able to RECEIVE those truths and believe that she is loved, chosen, and worthy of being called His beloved.
As Julie puts it, she went from "bondage to freedom."
This isn't a story about finding the perfect diet or never struggling again. It's about learning to stop abandoning yourself, recognize the lies you've spent years believing, and finally experience the freedom of knowing that you matter.
If you've ever thought, "Why won't God take this away?" "I know what Scripture says, but why can't I believe it?" or "I'm so busy taking care of everyone else that I've lost myself"&mdash;Julie's story is for you.
HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com //&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/">@leanneellington</a>&nbsp;// <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theteenagerbrain/">@theteenagerbrain</a>
To learn more about Leanne, head over to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.leanneellington.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.leanneellington.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1703203495304000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2T76r3wacmFiJTC4kFARzo">www.LeanneEllington.com</a>, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.whatsgodgottodowithit.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.whatsgodgottodowithit.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1703203495304000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QD3Ll1AxAtxOKSf7zD6ps">www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com</a>.

She Knew God Loved Her. So Why Couldn't She Believe It? Julie's Story of Food Noise, Faith & Freedom (Case Study)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f7df23c0-6be4-44cd-9ba2-b4f800071cd5/transcript

Leanne is back as we conclude our deep dive into the Paradox of Worthiness. In this final episode of the series, she unravels the concept of "Self-Endorsement" and explores this idea that it's possible for you to value your own opinion of yourself and God’s opinion of you more so (even just a little bit more so) than someone else’s opinion of you. And how THAT can liberate you from the constant need for external validation.

Self-Endorsement is truly about standing confidently in who you are, but more so who God says you are, and seeking approval from God, rather than relying solely on others' opinions. Leanne encourages you to break free from society's definition of approval and external validation, renew your mind, and invite God into the process through prayer. 

As she wraps up this series, the invitation is clear: explore a new perspective, be patient with yourself, and trust the unfolding journey of self-discovery as you identify what you need for your head, heart, and spirit.

HOST: @LeanneEllington

To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com

Leanne is back as we conclude our deep dive into the Paradox of Worthiness. In this final episode of the series, she unravels the concept of "Self-Endorsement" and explores this idea that it's possible for you to value your own opinion of yourself and God’s opinion of you more so (even just a little bit more so) than someone else’s opinion of you. And how THAT can liberate you from the constant need for external validation.
Self-Endorsement is truly about standing confidently in who you are, but more so who God says you are, and seeking approval from God, rather than relying solely on others' opinions. Leanne encourages you to break free from society's definition of approval and external validation, renew your mind, and invite God into the process through prayer. 
As she wraps up this series, the invitation is clear: explore a new perspective, be patient with yourself, and trust the unfolding journey of self-discovery as you identify what you need for your head, heart, and spirit. HOST: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/">@LeanneEllington</a>
To learn more about Leanne, head over to <a href="http://www.leanneellington.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.LeanneEllington.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1702926032111000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1Qvug-fNj4xMmOam3Sc_Y2">www.LeanneEllington.com</a>, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to <a href="http://www.whatsgodgottodowithit.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1702926032111000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2Nr1wXyFWBekV_5izGQR7y">www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com</a>

Trading Up: Exchanging External Judgments For Your God-Given Value

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/428941bf-a708-4e14-add8-b4ad01700ba2/transcript

Leanne is back to continue exploring this complex topic of worthiness, diving into the paradox of feeling worthy when you DON'T feel worthy. Once again Leanne talks about the 5 Blocks to God’s love, originally introduced as a 'Self-Imaging' formula, and how these blocks, if not addressed, can hinder your experience of love and worthiness. 

This episode focuses on the fourth ingredient and God block: Self-Esteem, where she teaches about understanding Self-Esteem as more than just confidence, but a profound interplay of "knowing, liking, and trusting" yourself. 

She explores this concept that most people are walking around very untrusting of themselves, because somewhere along the lines they stopped believing themselves when they made promises to themselves. And this causes them to not only STOP trusting themselves, but to also LOSE respect for themselves, believing themselves less and less the NEXT time they commit to something. And THAT is what damages your Self-Esteem. 

She takes you on a deep-dive of how to repair your integrity if you've gotten into the habit of making promises to yourself without actual follow-through. She also shows you how to invite God into this conversation to explore the power of promise-keeping when it comes to restoring your Self-Esteem. 

Leanne encourages and invites you to create a new definition of Self-Esteem, only this time around taking your "spiritual integrity" into account and seeking God's perspective on getting back in alignment with yourself WHILE you embrace the concept of taking radical ownership of your own Self-Image...and the spiritual journey towards God-inspired integrity.

HOST: Leanne Ellington // @leanneellington // StresslessEating.com

To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com.

Leanne is back to continue exploring this complex topic of worthiness, diving into the paradox of feeling worthy when you DON'T feel worthy. Once again Leanne talks about the 5 Blocks to God&rsquo;s love, originally introduced as a 'Self-Imaging' formula, and how these blocks, if not addressed, can hinder your experience of love and worthiness. This episode focuses on the fourth ingredient and God block: Self-Esteem, where she teaches about understanding Self-Esteem as more than just confidence, but a profound interplay of "knowing, liking, and trusting" yourself. She explores this concept that most&nbsp;people are walking around very untrusting of themselves, because somewhere along the lines they stopped believing themselves when they made promises to themselves. And this causes them to not only STOP trusting themselves, but to also LOSE respect for themselves, believing themselves less and less the NEXT time they commit to something. And THAT is what damages your Self-Esteem.&nbsp; She takes you on a deep-dive of how to repair your integrity if you've gotten into the habit of making promises to yourself without actual follow-through. She also shows you how to invite God into this conversation to explore the power of promise-keeping when it comes to restoring your&nbsp;Self-Esteem. Leanne encourages and invites you to create a new definition of Self-Esteem, only this time around taking your "spiritual integrity" into account and seeking God's perspective on getting back in alignment with yourself WHILE you embrace the concept of taking radical ownership of your own Self-Image...and the spiritual journey towards God-inspired integrity.
HOST: Leanne Ellington // <a href="https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/">@leanneellington</a> // StresslessEating.com
To learn more about Leanne, head over to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.leanneellington.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.leanneellington.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1703203495304000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2T76r3wacmFiJTC4kFARzo">www.LeanneEllington.com</a>, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.whatsgodgottodowithit.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.whatsgodgottodowithit.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1703203495304000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QD3Ll1AxAtxOKSf7zD6ps">www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com</a>.

Earning Back Your Own Trust With God As Your Co-Pilot

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/8c7d1efd-f949-4a01-a364-b4ad016f476e/transcript

Leanne is back to continue exploring this complex topic of worthiness, diving into the paradox of feeling worthy when you DON'T feel worthy. Once again Leanne talks about the 5 Blocks to God’s love, originally introduced as a 'Self-Imaging' formula, and how these blocks, if not addressed, can hinder your experience of love and worthiness.

This time however, the spotlight turns to the third ingredient and God Block: Self-Worth, as Leanne emphasizes the importance of understanding what you're "weighing and measuring" to define your own worth. She shares personal experiences of tying self-worth SOLELY to external factors like appearance, relationships, and achievement, and how goal-setting can be great, but if that's the ONLY place you are finding your worth, that's where the trouble lies.

Leanne encourages and invites you to create a new definition of self-worth, only this time around taking a "spiritual currency" into account and seeking God's perspective on your divine worth, teaching you how to embrace the concept of taking radical ownership of your own Self-Image... while inviting God into the process as your co-pilot and divine partner.

HOST: Leanne Ellington // @leanneellington // StresslessEating.com

To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com.

Leanne is back to continue exploring this complex topic of worthiness, diving into the paradox of feeling worthy when you DON'T feel worthy. Once again Leanne talks about the 5 Blocks to God&rsquo;s love, originally introduced as a 'Self-Imaging' formula, and how these blocks, if not addressed, can hinder your experience of love and worthiness.
This time however, the spotlight turns to the third ingredient and God Block: Self-Worth, as Leanne emphasizes the importance of understanding what you're "weighing and measuring" to define your own worth. She shares personal experiences of tying self-worth SOLELY to external factors like appearance, relationships, and achievement, and how goal-setting can be great, but if that's the ONLY place you are finding your worth, that's where the trouble lies.
Leanne encourages and invites you to create a new definition of self-worth, only this time around taking a "spiritual currency" into account and seeking God's perspective on your divine worth, teaching you how to embrace the concept of taking radical ownership of your own Self-Image... while inviting God into the process as your co-pilot and divine partner.
HOST: Leanne Ellington // <a href="https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/">@leanneellington</a> // StresslessEating.com
To learn more about Leanne, head over to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.leanneellington.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.leanneellington.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1703203495304000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2T76r3wacmFiJTC4kFARzo">www.LeanneEllington.com</a>, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.whatsgodgottodowithit.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.whatsgodgottodowithit.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1703203495304000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QD3Ll1AxAtxOKSf7zD6ps">www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com</a>.

Currency of the Soul: God's Truth About Your Divine Worth

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2de15170-645f-4a63-b618-b4ad01594d9e/transcript

In this powerful conversation, Angie Smith gets honest about the pressure so many of us feel to perform, prove, perfect, and become whoever we think the room needs us to be. And often, the identities we wear so confidently—“the achiever,” “the responsible one,” “the perfectionist,” “the strong one”—may have less to do with who we truly are and more to do with how we learned to feel safe, accepted, and enough.

As a bestselling author, Bible teacher, speaker, and developmental psychologist, Angie brings a unique perspective to the intersection of psychology, identity, and faith. In her new book, Into the Deep: Finding Relief from Pressure, Exhaustion, and the Need to Perform in a Shallow World, she invites us to move beyond surface-level survival and discover what happens when we stop trying to earn an identity that God says was never ours to earn in the first place.

In this episode, we explore the intersection of neuroscience and faith, why affirmations like “I am enough” don't always change what we believe deep down, and how perfectionism, people-pleasing, comparison, impostor syndrome, and control can become strategies for protecting ourselves from rejection or shame. We also talk about what happens when our theology says we're loved, chosen, and worthy, but our self-image tells a completely different story.

We bring the conversation into food and body, the exhausting belief that changing something externally will finally make us feel different internally, and what it looks like to stop using our bodies, achievements, relationships, or productivity as evidence of our worth. Angie also shares what it means to trust God when trusting Him doesn't guarantee the outcome we want—and how to recognize when we've turned even our relationship with God into another place to perform.

This isn't about becoming a shinier, better, more impressive version of yourself. It's about questioning the patterns and identities you've built around performance, approval, and control—and discovering who you already are when you stop trying to become whoever the room needs you to be.

GUEST: @angiesmith19
Angie's Website: AngieSmithMinistries.com
Get the Book:Into the Deep: Finding Relief from Pressure, Exhaustion, and the Need to Perform in a Shallow World — available wherever books are sold (releases October 6, 2026)

HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // @leanneellington // @theteenagerbrain

To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com.

In this powerful conversation, Angie Smith gets honest about the pressure so many of us feel to perform, prove, perfect, and become whoever we think the room needs us to be. And often, the identities we wear so confidently&mdash;&ldquo;the achiever,&rdquo; &ldquo;the responsible one,&rdquo; &ldquo;the perfectionist,&rdquo; &ldquo;the strong one&rdquo;&mdash;may have less to do with who we truly are and more to do with how we learned to feel safe, accepted, and enough.
As a bestselling author, Bible teacher, speaker, and developmental psychologist, Angie brings a unique perspective to the intersection of psychology, identity, and faith. In her new book, Into the Deep: Finding Relief from Pressure, Exhaustion, and the Need to Perform in a Shallow World, she invites us to move beyond surface-level survival and discover what happens when we stop trying to earn an identity that God says was never ours to earn in the first place.
In this episode, we explore the intersection of neuroscience and faith, why affirmations like &ldquo;I am enough&rdquo; don't always change what we believe deep down, and how perfectionism, people-pleasing, comparison, impostor syndrome, and control can become strategies for protecting ourselves from rejection or shame. We also talk about what happens when our theology says we're loved, chosen, and worthy, but our self-image tells a completely different story.
We bring the conversation into food and body, the exhausting belief that changing something externally will finally make us feel different internally, and what it looks like to stop using our bodies, achievements, relationships, or productivity as evidence of our worth. Angie also shares what it means to trust God when trusting Him doesn't guarantee the outcome we want&mdash;and how to recognize when we've turned even our relationship with God into another place to perform.
This isn't about becoming a shinier, better, more impressive version of yourself. It's about questioning the patterns and identities you've built around performance, approval, and control&mdash;and discovering who you already are when you stop trying to become whoever the room needs you to be.
GUEST: @angiesmith19 Angie's Website: AngieSmithMinistries.com Get the Book: Into the Deep: Finding Relief from Pressure, Exhaustion, and the Need to Perform in a Shallow World &mdash; available wherever books are sold (releases October 6, 2026)
HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // <a href="https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/">@leanneellington</a>&nbsp;// <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theteenagerbrain/">@theteenagerbrain</a>
To learn more about Leanne, head over to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.leanneellington.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.leanneellington.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1703203495304000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2T76r3wacmFiJTC4kFARzo">www.LeanneEllington.com</a>, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.whatsgodgottodowithit.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.whatsgodgottodowithit.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1703203495304000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QD3Ll1AxAtxOKSf7zD6ps">www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com</a>.

When Who You Are Becomes Who Everyone Needs You to Be with Angie Smith

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3976cff7-70bf-4204-8231-b4db00ed03c2/transcript

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Alison Cook gets honest about something many of us don't realize: we can know all the right things about God, healing, and ourselves—and still have parts of us that don't feel safe, connected, or secure.

As a psychologist of religion, licensed therapist, and bestselling author, Alison has spent decades exploring the intersection of psychology, faith, and spiritual formation. But in her new book, The Secure Soul: Finding Inner Strength and Connection When Trust Doesn't Come Easy, she takes us beyond simply understanding our patterns and into the deeper work of tending to the parts of ourselves that learned to protect, perform, control, or disconnect in order to feel safe.

In this episode, we explore the intersection of neuroscience and faith, how early experiences can shape our brains, nervous systems, self-image, and even the way we experience God. We talk about the difference between who we truly are and who we learned to become in order to feel safe, why some of the behaviors we desperately want to "fix" may actually be attempts to protect us, and what happens when our theology says "God loves me" but something inside of us still struggles to let that love land.

We also bring this conversation into food and body, perfectionism, self-criticism, and the pressure so many women feel to become a better version of themselves. Alison shares what it means to "Recognize & Return," why receiving love and care can sometimes feel harder than giving it, and how healthy self-trust and trust in God can work together instead of competing with each other.

This isn't about finding one more thing about yourself to fix. It's about learning how to stop abandoning the parts of yourself that need your presence—and discovering a deeper kind of security rooted in connection with yourself, with others, and ultimately with God.

GUEST: Dr. Alison Cook // @dralisoncook
Website: www.DrAlisonCook.com
Podcast: The Best of You Podcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bestofyoupodcast
FREE QUIZ: Uncover the role you learned to play in your family
Get the Book: The Secure Soul: Finding Inner Strength and Connection When Trust Doesn't Come Easy — available now wherever books are sold

HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // @leanneellington // @theteenagerbrain

To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com.

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Alison Cook gets honest about something many of us don't realize: we can know all the right things about God, healing, and ourselves&mdash;and still have parts of us that don't feel safe, connected, or secure.
As a psychologist of religion, licensed therapist, and bestselling author, Alison has spent decades exploring the intersection of psychology, faith, and spiritual formation. But in her new book, The Secure Soul: Finding Inner Strength and Connection When Trust Doesn't Come Easy, she takes us beyond simply understanding our patterns and into the deeper work of tending to the parts of ourselves that learned to protect, perform, control, or disconnect in order to feel safe.
In this episode, we explore the intersection of neuroscience and faith, how early experiences can shape our brains, nervous systems, self-image, and even the way we experience God. We talk about the difference between who we truly are and who we learned to become in order to feel safe, why some of the behaviors we desperately want to "fix" may actually be attempts to protect us, and what happens when our theology says "God loves me" but something inside of us still struggles to let that love land.
We also bring this conversation into food and body, perfectionism, self-criticism, and the pressure so many women feel to become a better version of themselves. Alison shares what it means to "Recognize &amp; Return," why receiving love and care can sometimes feel harder than giving it, and how healthy self-trust and trust in God can work together instead of competing with each other.
This isn't about finding one more thing about yourself to fix. It's about learning how to stop abandoning the parts of yourself that need your presence&mdash;and discovering a deeper kind of security rooted in connection with yourself, with others, and ultimately with God.
GUEST:&nbsp;Dr. Alison Cook // <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dralisoncook/">@dralisoncook</a> Website:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.dralisoncook.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.DrAlisonCook.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1790665075020000&amp;usg=AOvVaw26UwEVG2TcktPadT2oVcsE">www.DrAlisonCook.com</a> Podcast:&nbsp;<a href="https://podfollow.com/1620059010">The Best of You Podcast</a> YouTube:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@bestofyoupodcast" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/@bestofyoupodcast&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1790665075020000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1R972WpdDtxDossnTFK_AT">https://www.youtube.com/@bestofyoupodcast</a> FREE QUIZ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dralisoncook.com/quiz">Uncover the role you learned to play in your family</a> Get the Book:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dralisoncook.com/the-secure-soul">The Secure Soul: Finding Inner Strength and Connection When Trust Doesn't Come Easy</a>&nbsp;&mdash; available now wherever books are sold
HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com //&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/">@leanneellington</a>&nbsp;// <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theteenagerbrain/">@theteenagerbrain</a>
To learn more about Leanne, head over to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.leanneellington.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.leanneellington.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1703203495304000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2T76r3wacmFiJTC4kFARzo">www.LeanneEllington.com</a>, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.whatsgodgottodowithit.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.whatsgodgottodowithit.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1703203495304000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QD3Ll1AxAtxOKSf7zD6ps">www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com</a>.

When "Fixing Yourself" Becomes the Problem with Dr. Alison Cooke

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d7847920-e3ae-49fe-9ba0-b4d4006d3e6f/transcript

Colleen was a pastor. She was teaching God's word, leading others, preaching identity in Christ. But behind closed doors, she felt like a hypocrite.

She knew what God said about her. She could teach it. She believed it was true... for everyone else. But for her, it felt like words on a page that wouldn't land in her heart.

And on top of that, she was carrying a lifetime of shame about her body. Since she was eight years old, shopping in the "chubby girls" section, she'd been told she had a problem to fix. She'd been on every diet. She'd tried to overachieve in everything else to make up for the one area she couldn't get right. She'd been given mixed messages her whole life: skinny is beautiful, but you're okay just the way you are. Don't overeat, but finish everything on your plate. Sugar is bad, but it's the reward for being good.

By the time menopause hit, she was gaining more weight, trying harder and harder to lose it, and sinking into the lowest point of her life. She felt like a failure. She felt disgusted with herself. And the worst part? She couldn't reconcile what she knew in her head with what she felt in her heart.

She had seen God heal her miraculously from incurable diseases. So why couldn't she get from what she knew about her identity in Christ to actually seeing it and feeling it in her life? She kept thinking: I'm the problem. I have to fix myself.

Colleen had fought so many battles—behavioral modification, diet plans, spiritual disciplines, positive affirmations—but she was fighting the wrong battles. And when you fight the wrong battles, you don't win the war.

When she heard Leanne's podcast with Dr. Lee Warren, she cried through the whole thing. She thought, This is too good to be true. But she was desperate. She had nowhere else to turn. And she asked God, Did you put Leanne in my path?

In this powerful case study, Colleen shares how she finally learned to go to the root instead of just trying to fix the behavior. How she dismantled the lies that had infiltrated every area of her life and built what she calls "new beautiful beliefs"—not positive affirmations, but truth that actually landed in her bones. How she learned to be friends with her body again, to take off the minister hat and just be the woman, the essence, the soul God created her to be.

Today, Colleen is at peace with herself for the first time in her life. She's not obsessed with her weight or her size. She's not fixated on what she looks like. She's learning to care for her body instead of punishing it. She's starting strength training—not to lose weight, but to get stronger and thrive. She's wearing clothes that make her feel alive instead of hiding in frumpy baggy outfits. She's showing up in rooms without worrying about how she looks or what she said. She's ushering in God's peace and grace instead of getting pulled into other people's chaos.

And the sweetest part? She has a hope-filled expectation for the future. Instead of dreading getting older, fatter, more wrinkled, she's asking, What's the abundant part of life here for me in this season? She's living Psalm 92: Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They will bear fruit even in old age.

If you've ever felt like you know God's promises are true but they don't feel true for you, or if you've ever felt like a hypocrite because you can't receive what you teach, Colleen's story is for you. Because healing isn't about trying harder or praying more or fasting more. It's about going to the root. It's about learning how to take your thoughts captive in a way that actually works. And it's about finally surrendering—not giving up, but letting God show you the right battle to fight so you can win the war.

HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // @leanneellington // @theteenagerbrain

To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com.

Colleen was a pastor. She was teaching God's word, leading others, preaching identity in Christ. But behind closed doors, she felt like a hypocrite.
She knew what God said about her. She could teach it. She believed it was true... for everyone else. But for her, it felt like words on a page that wouldn't land in her heart.
And on top of that, she was carrying a lifetime of shame about her body. Since she was eight years old, shopping in the "chubby girls" section, she'd been told she had a problem to fix. She'd been on every diet. She'd tried to overachieve in everything else to make up for the one area she couldn't get right. She'd been given mixed messages her whole life: skinny is beautiful, but you're okay just the way you are. Don't overeat, but finish everything on your plate. Sugar is bad, but it's the reward for being good.
By the time menopause hit, she was gaining more weight, trying harder and harder to lose it, and sinking into the lowest point of her life. She felt like a failure. She felt disgusted with herself. And the worst part? She couldn't reconcile what she knew in her head with what she felt in her heart.
She had seen God heal her miraculously from incurable diseases. So why couldn't she get from what she knew about her identity in Christ to actually seeing it and feeling it in her life? She kept thinking:&nbsp;I'm the problem. I have to fix myself.
Colleen had fought so many battles&mdash;behavioral modification, diet plans, spiritual disciplines, positive affirmations&mdash;but she was fighting the wrong battles. And when you fight the wrong battles, you don't win the war.
When she heard Leanne's podcast with Dr. Lee Warren, she cried through the whole thing. She thought,&nbsp;This is too good to be true.&nbsp;But she was desperate. She had nowhere else to turn. And she asked God,&nbsp;Did you put Leanne in my path?
In this powerful case study, Colleen shares how she finally learned to go to the root instead of just trying to fix the behavior. How she dismantled the lies that had infiltrated every area of her life and built what she calls "new beautiful beliefs"&mdash;not positive affirmations, but truth that actually landed in her bones. How she learned to be friends with her body again, to take off the minister hat and just be the woman, the essence, the soul God created her to be.
Today, Colleen is at peace with herself for the first time in her life. She's not obsessed with her weight or her size. She's not fixated on what she looks like. She's learning to care for her body instead of punishing it. She's starting strength training&mdash;not to lose weight, but to get stronger and thrive. She's wearing clothes that make her feel alive instead of hiding in frumpy baggy outfits. She's showing up in rooms without worrying about how she looks or what she said. She's ushering in God's peace and grace instead of getting pulled into other people's chaos.
And the sweetest part? She has a hope-filled expectation for the future. Instead of dreading getting older, fatter, more wrinkled, she's asking,&nbsp;What's the abundant part of life here for me in this season?&nbsp;She's living Psalm 92:&nbsp;Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They will bear fruit even in old age.
If you've ever felt like you know God's promises are true but they don't feel true for you, or if you've ever felt like a hypocrite because you can't receive what you teach, Colleen's story is for you. Because healing isn't about trying harder or praying more or fasting more. It's about going to the root. It's about learning how to take your thoughts captive in a way that actually works. And it's about finally surrendering&mdash;not giving up, but letting God show you the right battle to fight so you can win the war.
HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // <a href="https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/">@leanneellington</a>&nbsp;// <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theteenagerbrain/">@theteenagerbrain</a>
To learn more about Leanne, head over to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.leanneellington.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.leanneellington.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1703203495304000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2T76r3wacmFiJTC4kFARzo">www.LeanneEllington.com</a>, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.whatsgodgottodowithit.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.whatsgodgottodowithit.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1703203495304000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QD3Ll1AxAtxOKSf7zD6ps">www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com</a>.

She Was a Pastor But Couldn't Receive What She Taught (Case Study)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3c46cf64-f3d5-4326-b9eb-b4cd013422b6/transcript

In this powerful conversation, Lysa TerKeurst gets honest about something most of us don't want to admit: we all have control issues. And often, what we call "being responsible" or "planning ahead" is actually fear disguised as strength.

As the founder of Proverbs 31 Ministries and a #1 New York Times bestselling author, Lysa has spent years helping women navigate boundaries, forgiveness, and faith. But in her new book, Making Peace With What I Can't Control, she reveals her own struggle with trying to change people who don't want to change, prevent outcomes she feared, and manage things that were never hers to control in the first place.

In this episode, we explore the intersection of neuroscience and faith, how our brains are wired to seek certainty and safety, and what happens when our need for control bumps up against our relationship with God. Lysa shares how to know when we've crossed the line from healthy responsibility into fear-driven control, what it actually looks like to surrender without giving up, and how to make peace with trusting God's heart when we don't understand what He allows.

This isn't about becoming passive. It's about learning the difference between what is actually ours to steward and what was never ours to carry. If you've ever felt exhausted from overthinking, trying to fix others, or wanting to figure it all out, this conversation is for you.

GUEST: @LysaTerKeurst
Lysa's Website: www.LysaTerKeurst.com
Lysa's Podcast: Therapy & Theology
Get the Book: Making Peace With What I Can't Control — available wherever books are sold (releases September 15, 2026)

HOST: Leanne Ellington // @leanneellington // StresslessEating.com

To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com.

 

In this powerful conversation, Lysa TerKeurst gets honest about something most of us don't want to admit: we all have control issues. And often, what we call "being responsible" or "planning ahead" is actually fear disguised as strength.
As the founder of Proverbs 31 Ministries and a #1 New York Times bestselling author, Lysa has spent years helping women navigate boundaries, forgiveness, and faith. But in her new book,&nbsp;Making Peace With What I Can't Control, she reveals her own struggle with trying to change people who don't want to change, prevent outcomes she feared, and manage things that were never hers to control in the first place.
In this episode, we explore the intersection of neuroscience and faith, how our brains are wired to seek certainty and safety, and what happens when our need for control bumps up against our relationship with God. Lysa shares how to know when we've crossed the line from healthy responsibility into fear-driven control, what it actually looks like to surrender without giving up, and how to make peace with trusting God's heart when we don't understand what He allows.
This isn't about becoming passive. It's about learning the difference between what is actually ours to steward and what was never ours to carry. If you've ever felt exhausted from overthinking, trying to fix others, or wanting to figure it all out, this conversation is for you.
GUEST:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/lysaterkeurst/">@LysaTerKeurst</a> Lysa's Website: <a href="http://www.lysaterkeurst.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.LysaTerKeurst.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1789511381527000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0cdTXIxEOAxQpb2Pwel2BB">www.LysaTerKeurst.com</a> Lysa's Podcast:&nbsp;<a href="https://podfollow.com/1641587501">Therapy &amp; Theology</a> Get the Book:&nbsp;<a href="https://lysaterkeurst.com/making-peace/">Making Peace With What I Can't Control</a> &mdash; available wherever books are sold (releases September 15, 2026)
HOST: Leanne Ellington // <a href="https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/">@leanneellington</a> // StresslessEating.com
To learn more about Leanne, head over to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.leanneellington.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.leanneellington.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1703203495304000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2T76r3wacmFiJTC4kFARzo">www.LeanneEllington.com</a>, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.whatsgodgottodowithit.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.whatsgodgottodowithit.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1703203495304000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QD3Ll1AxAtxOKSf7zD6ps">www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com</a>.
&nbsp;

Making Peace With What I Can't Control with Lysa TerKeurst

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/4175f2ca-38f6-4c6e-a092-b4c60062eeb9/transcript

Join us as Leanne continues to explore the complex topic of worthiness, diving into the paradox of feeling worthy when you DON'T feel worthy. Once again Leanne talks about the 5 Blocks to God’s love, originally introduced as a 'Self-Imaging' formula, and how these blocks, if not addressed, can hinder your experience of love and worthiness.

This time however, the spotlight turns to the second ingredient and God Block: Self-Care, as Leanne challenges 'conventional' views of health by emphasizing a 3-dimensional approach—mental, emotional, and spiritual care—as the foundation for physical well-being. She encourages you to redefine health and self-care, while inviting God into the journey and addressing the cultural misconceptions that often lead to harmful practices, and she paints a picture of shifting from the world's take on health...to a more all-encompassing, God-centered one.

It's time to toss out the one-size-fits-all approach, and figure out your unique recipe for health and well-being. But this time around: inviting God in as your Divine Partner. 



HOST: Leanne Ellington // @leanneellington // StresslessEating.com

To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com.

Join us as Leanne continues to explore the complex topic of worthiness, diving into the paradox of feeling worthy when you DON'T feel worthy. Once again Leanne talks about the 5 Blocks to God&rsquo;s love, originally introduced as a 'Self-Imaging' formula, and how these blocks, if not addressed, can hinder your experience of love and worthiness.
This time however, the spotlight turns to the second ingredient and God Block: Self-Care, as Leanne challenges 'conventional' views of health by emphasizing a 3-dimensional approach&mdash;mental, emotional, and spiritual care&mdash;as the foundation for physical well-being. She encourages you to redefine health and self-care, while inviting God into the journey and addressing the cultural misconceptions that often lead to harmful practices, and she paints a picture of shifting from the world's take on health...to a more all-encompassing, God-centered one.
It's time to toss out the one-size-fits-all approach, and figure out your unique recipe for health and well-being. But this time around: inviting God in as your Divine Partner.&nbsp; 
HOST: Leanne Ellington // <a href="https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/">@leanneellington</a> // StresslessEating.com
To learn more about Leanne, head over to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.leanneellington.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.leanneellington.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1703203495304000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2T76r3wacmFiJTC4kFARzo">www.LeanneEllington.com</a>, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.whatsgodgottodowithit.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.whatsgodgottodowithit.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1703203495304000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QD3Ll1AxAtxOKSf7zD6ps">www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com</a>.

Divine Partnership: Health & Self-Care With God's Support

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6fb29db9-f4d3-4581-a3bc-b4ad0157cb14/transcript

In this episode of the "God Pod", Leanne invites you to redefine "surrender" and actively shift from self-reliance to God's guidance. Diving into the first ingredient AND the first "God Block", the focus is on Self-Acceptance as both an ingredient for a loving Self-Image and a potential block to receiving God's love. 

Consider this episode a roadmap to recognizing and addressing your own "God Blocks", fostering self-acceptance, and taking practical steps to actually break through the "Paradox of Acceptance"...and how to accept yourself (even with all the messy bits) when you DON'T accept yourself. 



HOST: Leanne Ellington // @leanneellington // StresslessEating.com

To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com.

In this episode of the "God Pod", Leanne invites you to redefine "surrender" and actively shift from self-reliance to God's guidance. Diving into the first ingredient AND the first "God Block", the focus is on Self-Acceptance as both an ingredient for a loving Self-Image&nbsp;and a potential block to receiving God's love. Consider this episode a roadmap to recognizing and addressing your own "God Blocks", fostering self-acceptance, and taking practical steps to actually break through the "Paradox of Acceptance"...and how to accept yourself (even with all the messy bits) when you DON'T accept yourself. 
HOST: Leanne Ellington // <a href="https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/">@leanneellington</a> // StresslessEating.com
To learn more about Leanne, head over to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.leanneellington.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.leanneellington.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1703203495304000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2T76r3wacmFiJTC4kFARzo">www.LeanneEllington.com</a>, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.whatsgodgottodowithit.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.whatsgodgottodowithit.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1703203495304000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QD3Ll1AxAtxOKSf7zD6ps">www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com</a>.

Removing the Blocks: Self-Acceptance and God's Unwavering Grace

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3c6f1a5b-640b-46bb-814c-b4ad015480b1/transcript

Are you looking to carve out your own spiritual path and connect with a higher power? Maybe you’re on a quest for meaning, purpose, or a sense of belonging?



Perhaps you grew up in a religion that doesn’t quite align with who you are now, or maybe you’ve lost your connection to God and want to find your way back?



Or if you’re like a lot of people, you’re simply trying to make sense of a world that sometimes seems overwhelming and confusing…



Welcome to "What's God Got To Do With It?" – a podcast that’s anything but preachy, but will cut through the noise to meet you exactly where you are in your journey – without judgment or shame. It’s your spiritual safe space, where skepticism and doubt are welcome.



Join our host, Leanne Ellington, a once-skeptical bacon-loving, Hebrew-speaking Jew who, wrestling with her own beliefs, set out on a quest to discover her own faith and found God in the most unexpected places.



Leanne, a “self-image scientist” will be your companion and guide on this incredible adventure, sharing her own unconventional journey while inviting you to discover your own spiritual path and connect with a higher power in a forum where you can build confidence and feel supported.



And if you're wondering What's God Got To Do With It? The short answer is....EVERYTHING!

Are you looking to carve out your own spiritual path and connect with a higher power? Maybe you’re on a quest for meaning, purpose, or a sense of belonging?
 
Perhaps you grew up in a religion that doesn’t quite align with who you are now, or maybe you’ve lost your connection to God and want to find your way back?
 
Or if you’re like a lot of people, you’re simply trying to make sense of a world that sometimes seems overwhelming and confusing…
 
Welcome to "What's God Got To Do With It?" – a podcast that’s anything but preachy, but will cut through the noise to meet you exactly where you are in your journey – without judgment or shame. It’s your spiritual safe space, where skepticism and doubt are welcome.
 
Join our host, Leanne Ellington, a once-skeptical bacon-loving, Hebrew-speaking Jew who, wrestling with her own beliefs, set out on a quest to discover her own faith and found God in the most unexpected places.
 
Leanne, a “self-image scientist” will be your companion and guide on this incredible adventure, sharing her own unconventional journey while inviting you to discover your own spiritual path and connect with a higher power in a forum where you can build confidence and feel supported.
 
And if you're wondering What's God Got To Do With It? The short answer is....EVERYTHING!

What's God Got To Do With It? With Leanne Ellington

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