Episodes

  • How Fear Based Theology Affects Your Mental Health

    How Fear Based Theology Affects Your Mental Health
    Mar 19 2026

    🎧 Episode Summary:

    In this powerful episode of the Finding God Podcast, host Keana W. Mitchell explores how fear-based theology belief systems rooted in shame, punishment, and conditional love can deeply impact your mental and emotional well-being. Building on last week’s episode, Relearning God’s Character, Keana unpacks the psychological toll of viewing God through a lens of fear and control, and offers a path toward healing through truth, grace, and spiritual safety.

    You’ll learn how fear-based theology can lead to anxiety, religious OCD (scrupulosity), depression, and even PTSD-like symptoms. Through biblical examples, psychological research, and trauma-informed insight, Keana contrasts fear-driven faith with the liberating power of love-based theology.

    This episode also includes therapeutic healing exercises rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and spiritual reflection to help you begin releasing fear and embracing the truth of God’s unconditional love.

    🧠 Topics Covered:

    • What fear-based theology is and how it shows up in everyday life
    • Mental health disorders linked to fear-based religious beliefs
    • Biblical examples of fear-based vs. faith-based theology
    • CBT-inspired healing exercises for spiritual and emotional restoration
    • How to reframe your view of God through love, not fear

    ✨ Healing Exercises Included:

    • Thought Reframing with Scripture
    • Safe Imagery Practice
    • Affirmation Journaling
    • Forgiveness Visualization

    🎵 Featured Song:

    “Have I Told You Lately” by Unique-ly Chosen A gentle, soul-soothing reminder of God’s love and presence. Listen now on the Finding God Podcast YouTube channel.

    📲 Connect with Keana:

    • Instagram: findinggod2
    • Website: keanawmitchell.com
    • YouTube: Finding God Podcast - YouTube
    • Link to song on Sound Cloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/pfLl5mvMeOmiPKmESB


    💬 Call to Action:

    If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who’s healing from spiritual trauma. Don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast, it helps others find this safe, nurturing space.
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    19 mins
  • When the Church Hurts You: Naming Spiritual Trauma

    When the Church Hurts You: Naming Spiritual Trauma
    Mar 12 2026
    Episode SummaryThis episode explores what happens when the place meant to nurture your soul becomes the source of your deepest wounds. Keana unpacks the reality of spiritual trauma, why it’s often hard to name, and how the body, mind, and spirit respond when harm is done in the name of God. Drawing from the work of leading trauma experts, this conversation helps listeners understand their experiences with clarity, compassion, and without shame.What We Cover in This EpisodeWhat spiritual trauma is and why it’s often misunderstoodHow church hurt impacts the body, emotions, and nervous systemWhy naming the harm is the first step toward healingThe difference between God and harmful religious systemsHow spiritual trauma affects identity, trust, and connectionGentle reflection questions to help listeners explore their own experiencesInsights from Leading Psychologists & Trauma ResearchersThis episode integrates wisdom from respected voices in trauma science:Dr. Diane Langberg — Spiritual trauma as harm done in the name of GodDr. Judith Herman — Trauma as a violation of trust that overwhelms copingDr. Bessel van der Kolk — Trauma’s imprint on the body and nervous systemDr. Stephen Porges — Polyvagal Theory and why spiritual triggers feel so intenseDr. Kristin Neff — Self‑compassion as a foundation for healingThese perspectives help listeners understand that their reactions are not spiritual failures they are human responses to harm.Key Signs of Spiritual TraumaAnxiety or panic in church settingsFear-based relationship with GodShame or guilt tied to religious teachingsHypervigilance around pastors or authority figuresEmotional numbness or shutdown during prayer or worshipConfusion about what is “God” versus what is “church conditioning”Reflection Questions from the EpisodeListeners are invited to gently explore:What parts of church once felt safe but no longer do?What beliefs created fear instead of freedom?When did your body first signal that something was wrong?What parts of your story have you minimized or dismissed?What would it feel like to tell the truth about your experience?A Compassionate ReframeKeana reminds listeners that:You are not weak for being hurt.You are not disloyal for naming what happened.You are not betraying God by acknowledging harm.God is not the trauma you experienced.Healing honors your dignity and your relationship with the divine.Resources MentionedThe Body Keeps the Score — Dr. Bessel van der KolkRedeeming Power — Dr. Diane LangbergTrauma and Recovery — Dr. Judith HermanPolyvagal Theory — Dr. Stephen PorgesSelf‑Compassion Research — Dr. Kristin NeffClosing EncouragementYou are not alone. Your story matters. Naming spiritual trauma is not the end of your faith it’s the beginning of healing, clarity, and reconnecting with God in a way that is safe, grounded, and true.📬 Contact Information for Keana W. Mitchell — Finding God Podcast 🌐 Website Emory Rose https://keanawmitchell.com 📘 Facebook Page Finding God https://www.facebook.com/FindingGod 👥 Facebook Group Finding God Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/FindingGod 📸 Instagram Keana W. Mitchell https://www.instagram.com/findinggod2 🎧 Listen to Finding God on RedCircle https://redcircle.com/shows/190efd66-2f1a-4c5f-861e-40ab89d4c41b 📧 Email paperanthementertainment@gmail.com 🎵 Music Feature — Unique-ly Chosen New Music Coming Soon!!! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/finding-god/donations
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    13 mins
  • How to Worship God without Fear

    How to Worship God without Fear
    Mar 5 2026
    In this week’s episode of the Finding God Podcast, Keana W. Mitchell explores what it truly means to worship without fear for those healing from religious trauma, spiritual manipulation, or environments where worship felt pressured or unsafe. This gentle, trauma‑informed conversation guides listeners back to the heart of worship: connection, honesty, and safety in God’s presence.Keana begins with a grounding moment, then revisits last week’s episode on reconnecting with God after religious trauma. Drawing from leading trauma researchers like Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, Dr. Stephen Porges, and Dr. Diane Langberg, she explains how trauma affects the nervous system and why worship can feel overwhelming even when the desire to connect with God is strong.Through powerful biblical examples — David, Elijah, Hagar, Mary Magdalene, and the disciples Keana shows how God consistently meets people in fear with gentleness, not pressure. The episode then explores what worship without fear looks like in real life and offers practical steps for creating spiritually safe, grounding worship practices.This episode is a compassionate reminder that God’s presence is not a place of fear, but a place of refuge.What You’ll Hear in This EpisodeWhy worship can feel unsafe after religious traumaHow trauma affects the body’s ability to feel spiritually safeInsights from leading trauma psychologists (van der Kolk, Porges, Langberg)Biblical stories of people who found safety in God’s presenceWhat worship without fear actually looks likeGentle, practical steps to begin worshiping safely againEncouragement for reconnecting with God at your own paceKey TakeawaysGod’s presence is a place of safety, not pressureTrauma can make worship feel overwhelming — and that’s normalHealing requires gentleness, not spiritual performanceWorship can be quiet, slow, and deeply personalGod meets you where you are, not where others expect you to beSmall moments of connection matter and build over timeScripture ReferencesPsalm 23; Psalm 34 — David finding refuge in God1 Kings 19 — Elijah encountering God’s gentle whisperGenesis 16 & 21 — Hagar meeting “El Roi,” the God who sees herJohn 20 — Mary Magdalene and the disciples finding peace in Jesus’ presenceScholarly References (General Citations)van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score.Porges, S. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory.Langberg, D. (2015). Suffering and the Heart of God.Support the MinistryIf this episode encouraged you, consider supporting the Finding God Podcast through the donation button on RedCircle. Your support helps keep these spiritually grounded conversations going.🌿 Core Scriptures That Teach Healthy Giving1. 2 Corinthians 9:7 — Giving should never be forced“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” This is the clearest biblical statement against manipulative or pressured giving. Healthy giving is chosen, not coerced.2. 2 Corinthians 8:12 — Give according to what you can, not what you can’t“For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.” This verse rejects teachings that demand giving beyond your means or equate poverty with disobedience.3. Proverbs 3:27 — Give when it is within your power“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” Healthy giving respects your capacity and boundaries.4. Luke 6:38 — Giving is relational, not transactional“Give, and it will be given to you… For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” This is about generosity as a heart posture, not a formula to manipulate God.5. Matthew 6:1–4 — Giving should be private, not performativeJesus warns against giving to impress others and teaches that God honors giving done in sincerity.6. Acts 20:35 — Giving is about helping the weak“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” This frames giving as compassion, not obligation.🌿 What These Verses Reveal About “Healthy Giving”Across Scripture, healthy giving is:Voluntary — not pressured or guilt‑drivenJoyful — not fearfulProportionate — based on what you can givePrivate — not performativeCompassion‑driven — not transactionalAligned with your heart — not forced by leadersThis directly contradicts financial manipulation, spiritual coercion, or teachings that tie God’s love or blessing to how much you give.🌿 A Deeper Layer: What Healthy Giving ProtectsThese verses protect:Your autonomyYour emotional safetyYour financial boundariesYour relationship with GodYour ability to give from love, not fearThey also affirm that God never asks you to harm yourself to prove your devotion.📬 Contact Information for Keana W. Mitchell — Finding God Podcast 🌐 Website Emory Rose https://keanawmitchell.com 📘 Facebook Page Finding God https://...
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    19 mins
  • Healthy Giving vs. Financial Abuse

    Healthy Giving vs. Financial Abuse
    Feb 26 2026
    This week on The Finding God Podcast, we’re revisiting an important conversation that resonated deeply with listeners when it first aired. In this episode, Keana W. Mitchell explores a topic that is often overlooked or misunderstood in faith communities: the difference between healthy, spirit‑led giving and financial abuse.Many believers have experienced pressure, guilt, or manipulation around giving sometimes without realizing it. This episode brings biblical clarity, trauma‑informed insight, and practical tools to help you discern when giving honors God and when it crosses into coercion.Whether you’re hearing this message for the first time or revisiting it with fresh ears, this episode offers wisdom, healing, and freedom for anyone who has ever questioned their relationship with giving.🔍 What You’ll LearnThe biblical roots of giving in both the Old and New TestamentsHow to recognize healthy giving vs. financial manipulationReal‑life examples of spiritual coercion and boundary violationsWhat Scripture teaches about generosity, stewardship, and integritySigns of financial abuse in church or ministry settingsHow to heal and set financial boundaries without guilt or fear📖 Scripture Highlights2 Corinthians 9:7 – “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart…”Proverbs 11:25 – “A generous person will prosper…”Matthew 23:14 – “You devour widows’ houses…”Micah 3:11 – “Her priests teach for a price…”🧠 Expert InsightChristian psychologist and trauma expert Dr. Diane Langberg writes:“Spiritual abuse often includes financial exploitation, leaving victims emotionally depleted, physically strained, and spiritually confused.”Keana reflects on how financial abuse distorts your view of God, damages trust in community, and erodes your sense of worth and how God invites you back into freedom, clarity, and peace.🧘‍♀️ 5 Healing Exercises to Reclaim Your PowerFinancial Truth Journal – Reflect on your giving history and motivationsBoundary Affirmation Practice – Rebuild confidence in saying noScripture Reframing – Replace guilt with grace through God’s WordGiving Reset Ritual – Pause giving to rediscover your “why”Safe Stewardship Plan – Create a budget that honors both your faith and your needs🎶 Song of the Week: “Hallelujah” by Unique‑ly ChosenThis week’s featured song is a powerful declaration of spiritual freedom. “Hallelujah” invites listeners to release shame, reclaim their voice, and celebrate the God who sees the heart not the wallet. It’s a healing anthem for anyone who has ever felt pressured, overlooked, or spiritually manipulated.🎥 Watch the lyric video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mYa2N81wR84 (youtu.be in Bing)💬 Final ReflectionGiving is sacred but it should never come from fear, shame, or pressure. You are not your tithe. You are not your bank account. You are a child of God, and your worth is not for sale.🎧 Listen on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/022Zht5DjU1i3k7BAeHaTW?si=ffde46a60bc74bef (open.spotify.com in Bing)📬 Contact Information for Keana W. Mitchell — Finding God Podcast 🌐 Website Emory Rose https://keanawmitchell.com 📘 Facebook Page Finding God https://www.facebook.com/FindingGod 👥 Facebook Group Finding God Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/FindingGod 📸 Instagram Keana W. Mitchell https://www.instagram.com/findinggod2 🎧 Listen to Finding God on RedCircle https://redcircle.com/shows/190efd66-2f1a-4c5f-861e-40ab89d4c41b 📧 Email paperanthementertainment@gmail.com 🎵 Music Feature — Unique-ly Chosen New Music Coming Soon!!! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/finding-god/donations
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    27 mins
  • How to Reconnect with God after Religious Trauma

    How to Reconnect with God after Religious Trauma
    Feb 19 2026

    This week on the Finding God Podcast, we’re stepping into a tender and deeply important conversation: how to reconnect with God after experiencing religious trauma. If you’ve ever felt afraid of God, unsure how to pray, or disconnected from your faith because of harmful church experiences, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and a gentle path forward.

    Religious trauma can distort your view of God, your sense of safety, and your ability to trust. But trauma does not have the final word. In this episode, Keana walks with you through what religious trauma is, how it affects your nervous system, and why your struggle to reconnect with God is a normal trauma response not a spiritual failure.

    Drawing from the work of leading trauma researchers like Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, Dr. Diane Langberg, Dr. Kristin Neff, and Dr. Stephen Porges, this episode blends psychology and faith in a way that honors both your story and God’s heart.

    ✨ In This Episode, We Explore:1. What Religious Trauma Really Is

    How spiritual abuse, fear‑based teachings, and shame‑driven environments impact your relationship with God.

    2. How Trauma Distorts Your View of God

    Why your nervous system may associate God with fear, disappointment, or pressure — and how to gently untangle that.

    3. What Reconnection Actually Looks Like

    A slow, non‑linear, compassionate process rooted in safety, honesty, and God’s gentleness.

    4. Practical Ways to Reconnect With God

    Trauma‑informed spiritual practices that don’t rely on rituals, pressure, or performance.

    5. Signs You’re Reconnecting (Even If It Feels Small)

    How to recognize subtle shifts that show your heart is healing.

    6. Reflection Questions for Your Journey

    Prompts to help you explore your beliefs, fears, and hopes with God.

    💛 Why This Episode Matters

    If you’ve ever wondered why reconnecting with God feels hard or if you’ve questioned whether God is disappointed in your healing pace this episode will bring relief, validation, and hope. You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of God’s heart and a gentler way to rebuild trust with Him.

    🎧 Listen Now

    Press play and take this journey at your own pace. God is not rushing you — and neither are we.


    📬 Contact Information for Keana W. Mitchell — Finding God Podcast

    🌐 Website

    Emory Rose

    https://keanawmitchell.com

    📘 Facebook Page

    Finding God

    https://www.facebook.com/FindingGod

    👥 Facebook Group

    Finding God Community

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/FindingGod

    📸 Instagram

    Keana W. Mitchell

    https://www.instagram.com/findinggod2

    🎧 Listen to Finding God on RedCircle

    https://redcircle.com/shows/190efd66-2f1a-4c5f-861e-40ab89d4c41b


    📧 Email

    paperanthementertainment@gmail.com

    🎵 Music Feature — Unique-ly Chosen

    New Music Coming Soon!!!






    Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/finding-god/donations
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    18 mins
  • Q&A Episode for How to Hear God's Voice without Rituals

    Q&A Episode for How to Hear God's Voice without Rituals
    Feb 13 2026

    In this first Friday Q&A session, Keana answers listener questions about hearing God’s voice without pressure, performance, or spiritual rituals. Building on this week’s full episode, “How You Can Hear God’s Voice Without Rituals,” this conversation brings clarity, compassion, and practical guidance for anyone who has struggled to discern God’s voice especially after legalism, spiritual abuse, or fear‑based teaching.

    Keana also revisits last week’s episode on Recognizing Legalism in the Church, helping listeners understand how legalistic environments distort our ability to hear God clearly and confidently.

    🌿 Questions Answered in This Episode
    • How do I know if I’m hearing God or just my own thoughts
    • Do I need to pray a certain way for God to speak to me
    • What if I grew up believing I had to earn God’s voice
    • Why is it so hard to hear God when I’m anxious or overwhelmed
    • Can God speak to me even if I’m not consistent with prayer or Bible reading
    • What are practical ways to hear God without rituals
    • How do I rebuild trust in God’s voice after spiritual abuse
    • What if I don’t hear anything at all

    Each answer is gentle, grounded, and rooted in the truth that God speaks because you belong to Him not because you perform for Him.

    ✨ Key Takeaways
    • God’s voice aligns with His character: loving, gentle, patient, and clear
    • Fear, shame, urgency, and confusion are not God’s voice
    • You don’t need rituals, formulas, or perfect prayers to hear God
    • Anxiety and overwhelm can make it harder to sense God, but they don’t separate you from Him
    • Healing from spiritual abuse takes time, and God’s voice is never manipulative or controlling
    • God often speaks through peace, wisdom, timing, and everyday moments
    📝 Reflection Questions
    • What beliefs about hearing God came from fear instead of truth
    • What does God’s voice sound like to me
    • What practices help me feel grounded and open
    • What belief about hearing God am I ready to release
    • Where have I sensed God speaking in simple, ordinary ways
    🌼 Final Encouragement

    You don’t have to earn God’s voice or follow rituals to be heard. God is already near, already speaking, and already welcoming you into a relationship. Healing your ability to hear Him is a journey and you don’t have to walk it alone.

    📬 Contact Information for Keana W. Mitchell — Finding God Podcast

    🌐 Website

    Emory Rose

    https://keanawmitchell.com

    📘 Facebook Page

    Finding God

    https://www.facebook.com/FindingGod

    👥 Facebook Group

    Finding God Community

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/FindingGod

    📸 Instagram

    Keana W. Mitchell

    https://www.instagram.com/findinggod2

    🎧 Listen to Finding God on RedCircle

    https://redcircle.com/shows/190efd66-2f1a-4c5f-861e-40ab89d4c41b


    📧 Email

    paperanthementertainment@gmail.com

    🎵 Music Feature — Unique-ly Chosen

    New Music Coming Soon!!!





    Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/finding-god/donations
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    20 mins
  • How to Hear God's Voice Without Rituals

    How to Hear God's Voice Without Rituals
    Feb 12 2026

    In this episode, Keana explores a freeing and deeply healing truth: you can hear God’s voice without rituals, pressure, or spiritual performance. Many of us were taught that God only speaks when we pray a certain way, behave a certain way, or follow a specific formula. But God’s voice isn’t earned, it's received through relationship.

    This conversation builds on last week’s episode, Recognizing Legalism in the Church, and continues the journey of releasing fear‑based beliefs so you can reconnect with God’s heart in a gentle, authentic way.

    🌿 In This Episode, We Explore:
    • Why so many people believe rituals are required to hear God
    • How legalism and church culture distort our understanding of God’s voice
    • What hearing God actually looks and feels like
    • The difference between God’s voice and fear‑based thoughts
    • Barriers that make it hard to hear God
    • Simple, non‑ritualistic ways to create space for God to speak
    • How God meets you in ordinary, everyday moments
    ✨ Healing Exercises Mentioned
    • Release the Ritual List — Let go of the rules you were taught about hearing God
    • Gentle Listening Prayer — Ask God one simple question and sit with what comes
    • Voice Comparison Exercise — Notice the difference between fear and love
    • Peace Check — Pay attention to where peace shows up in your body
    • Scripture Reframing — Read verses through the lens of God’s character
    📝 Reflection Questions for the Week
    • What rituals did I believe I needed to hear God
    • What fears come up when I try to listen for His voice
    • When have I sensed God speaking in simple, ordinary ways
    • What does God’s voice sound like to me
    • What belief about hearing God am I ready to release
    🌼 Final Encouragement

    God doesn’t speak to you because you perform. He speaks because you belong to Him. You don’t have to earn His voice or follow rituals to be heard. God is already near, already speaking, and already welcoming you into a relationship.

    Thank you for listening to this week’s episode of the Finding God Podcast. See you next week.

    📬 Contact Information for Keana W. Mitchell — Finding God Podcast

    🌐 Website

    Emory Rose

    https://keanawmitchell.com

    📘 Facebook Page

    Finding God

    https://www.facebook.com/FindingGod

    👥 Facebook Group

    Finding God Community

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/FindingGod

    📸 Instagram

    Keana W. Mitchell

    https://www.instagram.com/findinggod2

    🎧 Listen to Finding God on RedCircle

    https://redcircle.com/shows/190efd66-2f1a-4c5f-861e-40ab89d4c41b


    📧 Email

    paperanthementertainment@gmail.com

    🎵 Music Feature — Unique-ly Chosen

    New Music Coming Soon!!!




    Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/finding-god/donations
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    21 mins
  • Q&A for Why God is not Trying to Punish You

    Q&A for Why God is not Trying to Punish You
    Feb 6 2026

    In this gentle and deeply honest Q&A session, Keana responds to listener questions from the episode “Why God Isn’t Wanting to Punish You.”

    This conversation is for anyone who grew up afraid of God, anyone healing from spiritual abuse, and anyone who still feels like God is disappointed in them.

    Keana explores questions about fear‑based theology, misinterpreted scripture, shame, trauma responses, and rebuilding trust with God after painful experiences.

    This episode is a safe space to breathe, reflect, and rediscover a God who restores — not punishes.

    What We Cover in This Episode
    • Why bad things happen if God isn’t punishing us
    • How to unlearn fear from childhood or church trauma
    • The difference between conviction and shame
    • Why we still feel afraid of God even when we “know better”
    • How to rebuild trust with God after spiritual abuse
    • What to do when scripture feels harsh or scary
    • How to stop projecting your earthly father onto God
    • And more listener‑submitted questions
    Key Takeaway

    God is not waiting to punish you.

    He is waiting to restore you.

    Every question you carry is an invitation into deeper healing and deeper love.

    📬 Contact Information for Keana W. Mitchell — Finding God Podcast

    🌐 Website

    Emory Rose

    https://keanawmitchell.com

    📘 Facebook Page

    Finding God

    https://www.facebook.com/FindingGod

    👥 Facebook Group

    Finding God Community

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/FindingGod

    📸 Instagram

    Keana W. Mitchell

    https://www.instagram.com/findinggod2

    🎧 Listen to Finding God on RedCircle

    https://redcircle.com/shows/190efd66-2f1a-4c5f-861e-40ab89d4c41b

    💛 Free Skool Community: Restoring Faith After Abuse

    https://www.skool.com/restoring-faith-after-abuse-4824/about?ref=afeaf0bc4df2485d81b2e43d18415929

    📧 Email

    paperanthementertainment@gmail.com

    🎵 Music Feature — Unique-ly Chosen

    New Music Coming Soon!!!




    Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/finding-god/donations
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    21 mins