Feelings and Urges: Untangling What’s Really Going On

Summary: In this episode, Marc and Justin have an honest and raw conversation about the connection between our feelings, urges, and behavior. They talk about how men often act out of legitimate feelings—loneliness, inadequacy, boredom, pain—but in unhealthy ways like pornography, fantasy, or overachievement.

The conversation dives into how healing starts when we stop masking our pain, have compassion for ourselves, and invite God to meet us there. They share personal stories around same-sex attraction, shame, and healing from abuse, showing that God’s goal isn’t just to make us “better men,” but to restore us completely.

It’s a real look at how courage, vulnerability, and community are essential to breaking free from destructive cycles.

💬 Key Takeaways:

• Your feelings aren’t the enemy. They’re signals pointing to deeper needs—connection, validation, belonging—that God wants to meet.
• Compassion breaks shame. You can’t heal what you hate. When you look at yourself through Christ’s eyes, you stop seeing only the sin and start seeing the son He loves.
• Patterns can be retrained. Acting out is often a learned response to pain. Creating new “paths” of response takes intentional practice and grace.
• Community is God’s design for healing. When we risk being known by other men of faith, God uses those relationships to reshape how we see ourselves.
• Your story has power. Sharing your testimony brings light to dark places—the enemy loses power when truth is spoken out loud.

🔥 Real Quotes for Reflection:

“Christ had compassion for the sinner—and if we’re reflecting Him, we need to have compassion for ourselves too.”

“I trained myself to treat loneliness or boredom with pornography. Now I’m learning to train my heart to turn to God instead.”

“We can’t just slap a band-aid over our pain. God doesn’t want you to just survive—He wants to deliver you.”

“Reality is truth. Feelings are real, but they’re not always true.”

“Your testimony doesn’t fix everything—but it drags the devil into the light.”

🙏 For the Listener:

This episode invites you to pause and ask: What am I really feeling beneath my urges? Whether it’s loneliness, shame, or fear—you’re not alone in that process. God’s love isn’t scared of your mess. He’s ready to meet you there and bring freedom through honesty, community, and grace.

📄 Episode Summary Life is full of transitions—new jobs, marriage, fatherhood, loss, or seasons of uncertainty. In this episode, Marc unpacks the reality of change and why it often feels uncomfortable, disorienting, or even threatening to our identity as men. Rather than resisting transition, he invites listeners to see it as a space where God does some of His deepest work. With encouragement and practical wisdom, this conversation reminds men that transitions are not roadblocks but invitations to grow, mature, and step into new strength.

🧭 Key Topics Covered

• Why transitions often feel uncomfortable and overwhelming
• The role of identity and faith during seasons of change
• Common mistakes men make when facing life transitions
• How to embrace transition as an opportunity for growth
• Practical encouragement for trusting God in the unknown

🌐 fahrenheitmentoring.org

📩 Contact: Contact@fahrenheitmentoring.org

📄 Episode Summary In this follow-up conversation, Marc continues his discussion with John Kelsey, diving deeper into the challenges men face when it comes to identity, honesty, and walking in integrity. John opens up about his own story of brokenness and healing, and together they highlight how bringing struggles into the light allows men to experience freedom. This episode is a powerful reminder that growth comes not from perfection but from courage, vulnerability, and faith in God’s redeeming love.

🧭 Key Topics Covered

• Why hiding struggles keeps men trapped in shame
• The freedom that comes from honesty and vulnerability
• How faith reframes identity and restores hope
• The importance of community and mentorship in a man’s journey
• Practical steps toward living with integrity and wholeness

🌐 fahrenheitmentoring.org 📩 Contact: Contact@fahrenheitmentoring.org