The story of Hannah opens inside a storm of rivalry, shame, and unmet longing—and yet it becomes a roadmap for hope. We unpack how a woman dismissed by culture and misread by a priest found language for her pain, courage for her vow, and a song that reframed value beyond fertility, status, or success. Along the way, we wrestle with the messier threads: a husband who minimizes real depression, a priest who projects his anxieties, and a community that confuses outcomes with worth.

What surprised us most is the tenderness woven into Eli’s broken narrative. After a harsh misread, he listens, blesses, and later helps young Samuel recognize God’s voice—a quiet second chance inside consequences he can’t reverse. That tension matters for mental health and discipleship: people can wound us and still become part of our healing; grace doesn’t erase fallout but can redirect a legacy. We also talk about spiritual parenting and the power of community mentors—the craftspeople, teachers, and safe adults who bolster a child’s faith and emotional resilience when a home is stretched thin.

Hannah’s song stands as the episode’s heartbeat: identity rooted in God’s character, not in what we produce or what others say we lack. We challenge formulaic faith around infertility and outcomes, insisting the text is descriptive, not prescriptive, and we center the presence of God as the anchor when everything else shakes. If you’ve ever felt unseen or mislabeled in your struggle, this conversation invites you to bring your ache to the One who hears—even when words won’t come—and to watch how blessing, community, and steadfast presence can change the story.

If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs hope today, and leave a review to help others find the conversation.

☀️ CONNECT with Sunburnt Souls

Discover more from Sunburnt Souls — a Christian mental health podcast sharing real stories of faith, hope, and healing at sunburntsouls.com.

Explore our library of Christian mental health resources, including podcasts, free devotionals, and online courses designed to help you strengthen your faith, overcome anxiety and depression, and experience emotional and spiritual renewal.

🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

A 28-day, $28 journey to help you:

• Embrace your identity in Jesus
• Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
• Navigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace

👉 Start your 28-day journey today

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Fire falls on the altar, a nation gasps, and the prophet stands vindicated—then one threat sends him running into the wilderness. We follow Elijah through that whiplash from public triumph to private collapse and uncover a deeper story of how God meets burnout with gentleness, not guilt. If you’ve ever felt the Monday crash after a spiritual high, this conversation will feel like a mirror and a map.

We walk through the showdown on Mount Carmel, the fear that flares when Jezebel vows revenge, and the raw prayer beneath a desert tree. Instead of rebuke, Elijah receives an angel with bread and water—sleep, eat, repeat—because sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is recover your body. We talk about honest rhythms that sustain real life: rest that protects your nervous system, simple nourishment, and prayer that tells the truth. We also challenge the isolating lie of I am the only one by naming the 7,000—hidden communities, faithful friends, and mentors who share the load.

Along the way we tackle a stubborn myth: that mental distress proves spiritual failure. The world is broken; burdens attach without asking. Stewardship matters, shame does not. Elijah is not benched—he is met, strengthened, and sent to new assignments, including mentoring Elisha and encountering God again in a low whisper. Expect mountains, valleys, and the ordinary stretch between. Build small, repeatable practices that carry you through all three.

If freedom is your word for the year, let it include unhurried recovery, grounded community, and the courage to keep going when emotions swing. Press play, share this with someone who feels alone, and tell us: which rhythm do you need to rebuild this week? Subscribe, leave a review, and join the conversation so others can find hope here too.

☀️ CONNECT with Sunburnt Souls

Discover more from Sunburnt Souls — a Christian mental health podcast sharing real stories of faith, hope, and healing at sunburntsouls.com.

Explore our library of Christian mental health resources, including podcasts, free devotionals, and online courses designed to help you strengthen your faith, overcome anxiety and depression, and experience emotional and spiritual renewal.

🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

A 28-day, $28 journey to help you:

• Embrace your identity in Jesus
• Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
• Navigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace

👉 Start your 28-day journey today

📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

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Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 ...

After 89 episodes, Dave and Jess Quak open up about taking a short, intentional break from producing the Sunburnt Souls podcast. This conversation dives deep into the rhythms of rest, spiritual renewal, and what it means to step back without stepping away.

They share honestly about attending to their inner life, protecting their marriage, finding God in the quiet, and letting go of performance and pressure. This is a heartfelt conversation about being human, listening to God, and trusting that pause doesn’t mean stop — it means prepare.

Episode Highlights

00:00 – 00:20 — Dave announces a surprise break for Sunburnt Souls
00:55 – 01:56 — Attending to the inner life and intimacy with God
02:41 – 03:08 — Dave’s plan: focus on God, marriage, and self-care
03:50 – 04:45 — Craving silence after seasons of constant noise
05:28 – 06:05 — Cultivating rhythms of quiet and presence
07:20 – 07:57 — Letting go of analytics and redefining success
08:41 – 09:34 — Working on marriage before problems arise
10:53 – 11:30 — Balancing ministry, work, and family demands
12:55 – 13:10 — Catching a giant Spanish mackerel (and having fun!)
14:22 – 15:33 — Encouragement for listeners heading into Christmas
16:34 – 17:48 — Giving and receiving love this Christmas
18:32 – 19:54 — The free course: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health
21:44 – 22:51 — Jess closes in prayer for rest, renewal, and blessing

Reflection

This episode is a reminder that even in ministry and creativity, our souls need rest. Dave and Jess model how to pause without guilt, to listen for God’s voice again, and to protect what matters most — their relationship with God, each other, and their own wellbeing.

Maybe this episode is your invitation to take a breath too.

☀️ CONNECT with Sunburnt Souls

Discover more from Sunburnt Souls — a Christian mental health podcast sharing real stories of faith, hope, and healing at sunburntsouls.com.

Explore our library of Christian mental health resources, including podcasts, free devotionals, and online courses designed to help you strengthen your faith, overcome anxiety and depression, and experience emotional and spiritual renewal.

🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

A 28-day, $28 journey to help you:

• Embrace your identity in Jesus
• Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
• Navigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace

👉 Start your 28-day journey today

📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

🙏 SUPPORT THE MISSION

Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 ...

After a BMX crash left him paralysed, Nathan faced years of depression and doubt. Discover how faith, resilience, and community led to real hope.

What happens when your body breaks, but your spirit refuses to?
This powerful Christian mental health story follows one man’s journey from a life-changing BMX accident and paralysis to discovering faith, purpose, and healing in the middle of depression.

What We Cover

1. The Crash and the Aftermath – A broken neck, a wheelchair, and life in ICU.
2. Faith in the Fog – Wrestling with God when prayers for healing go unanswered.
3. Depression and Medication – Facing major depression, inpatient stays, and the courage to ask for help.
4. TMS and Recovery – How new treatments and faith worked together to restore hope.
5. Calling and Purpose – Finding a new mission through chaplaincy and service.
6. What Healing Really Means – Why faith isn’t about fixing everything but trusting through anything.

Reflection

This episode speaks to anyone battling mental illness, chronic pain, or grief — reminding us that hope is not found in perfection, but in perseverance.

☀️ CONNECT with Sunburnt Souls

Discover more from Sunburnt Souls — a Christian mental health podcast sharing real stories of faith, hope, and healing at sunburntsouls.com.

Explore our library of Christian mental health resources, including podcasts, free devotionals, and online courses designed to help you strengthen your faith, overcome anxiety and depression, and experience emotional and spiritual renewal.

🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

A 28-day, $28 journey to help you:

• Embrace your identity in Jesus
• Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
• Navigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace

👉 Start your 28-day journey today

📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

🙏 SUPPORT THE MISSION

Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 ...

When silence and solitude fail, Scripture still speaks. In this heartfelt conversation, Dave Quak and Jess Quak explore how the Bible connects us to God when our minds and emotions feel heavy. From poetic laments to prophetic promises, discover how every part of God’s Word can bring peace, perspective, and presence.

What We Cover

1. Why Genres Matter When You’re Struggling
Understanding the Bible’s genres helps you read with clarity, find the right voice for your situation, and avoid misusing verses that were never meant to weigh you down.

2. Psalms (Poetry): Naming Feelings & Finding Language for Pain
Psalm 42 becomes a mirror for your soul—moving from dryness to desire, from ache to worship. Poetry helps name what hurts and opens a path toward healing.

3. Narrative: Solidarity with Imperfect Saints
Elijah, David, Jonah, and Esther show that God’s promises are stronger than our failures. Their stories remind us we’re not alone when we feel messy or misunderstood.

4. Wisdom Literature: Safeguarding Your Mind
Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes teach timing, boundaries, and relational grace—how to respond with wisdom when life feels chaotic.

5. Prophetic Books: God’s Call, Compassion & Comfort
From Isaiah 61 to Hosea, we see God’s relentless pursuit of the brokenhearted. Prophecy invites us to pray for mercy and trust in His plan for restoration.

6. The Gospels: Meeting Jesus in Real Life
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John each show a different facet of the same Saviour—personal, powerful, and present. For the anxious heart, Jesus remains the centre of hope.

7. Apocalyptic Texts: Hope Beyond Fear
Daniel, Ezekiel, Revelation—visions written to persecuted people. They’re not about panic but perseverance: the final word is still love, not fear.

8. The Big Takeaway
Therapy and medication matter. But Scripture is the one place you can always meet God’s voice. When your mind is hurting, His Word is still alive and waiting.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro: when solitude doesn’t work
03:15 Why Bible genres matter for mental health
04:27 Psalms & Psalm 42 – naming your feelings
08:39 “Why, my soul, are you downcast?”
11:06 Narrative – imperfect saints & solidarity
16:05 Wisdom literature – mental wellbeing guardrails
20:36 Prophetic books – context & comfort
25:16 Gospels – Jesus for every personali

☀️ CONNECT with Sunburnt Souls

Discover more from Sunburnt Souls — a Christian mental health podcast sharing real stories of faith, hope, and healing at sunburntsouls.com.

Explore our library of Christian mental health resources, including podcasts, free devotionals, and online courses designed to help you strengthen your faith, overcome anxiety and depression, and experience emotional and spiritual renewal.

🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

A 28-day, $28 journey to help you:

• Embrace your identity in Jesus
• Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
• Navigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace

👉 Start your 28-day journey today

📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

🙏 SUPPORT THE MISSION

Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 ...

Why are some people so blunt—and why does it sting? In this honest and humorous episode of Sunburnt Souls: A Christian Mental Health Podcast, Dave and Jess Quak explore why blunt people speak the way they do and how relationships can thrive when truth meets grace. From prophetic personalities and neurodivergence to marriage, faith, and communication, they unpack how clarity can coexist with kindness.

Using biblical insight—including Jesus’ blunt conversation with the woman at the well—this episode helps listeners see how honesty, when fuelled by love, can heal rather than hurt.

Whether you’re the blunt one or the sensitive one, you’ll find hope, laughter, and practical wisdom for living out faith in the messiness of human connection.

☀️ CONNECT with Sunburnt Souls

Discover more from Sunburnt Souls — a Christian mental health podcast sharing real stories of faith, hope, and healing at sunburntsouls.com.

Explore our library of Christian mental health resources, including podcasts, free devotionals, and online courses designed to help you strengthen your faith, overcome anxiety and depression, and experience emotional and spiritual renewal.

🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

A 28-day, $28 journey to help you:

• Embrace your identity in Jesus
• Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
• Navigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace

👉 Start your 28-day journey today

📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

🙏 SUPPORT THE MISSION

Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 ...

In this solo episode of Sunburnt Souls, a Christian mental health podcast, host Dave Quak opens up about faith, mental illness, and what it means to live a life that’s “unideal” yet deeply loved by God.

From a story about Tony with Tourette’s in church to reflections on his own bipolar journey, Dave explores how God meets us in our brokenness—not despite it.

This episode tackles the stigma around mental health in the church, the reality of unanswered prayers, and why God’s power is often made perfect in weakness.
Whether you live with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or simply feel “less than ideal,” this episode is a reminder that you are seen, loved, and called.

Quote Highlights

• “Just because life isn’t ideal doesn’t mean it can’t be full and amazing.”
• “We all walked past the bucket of brokenness—something stuck to each of us.”
• “God didn’t give me bipolar disorder, but He’s not wasting it.”
• “His power is made perfect in my weakness.”
• “Faith and mental illness aren’t enemies—they’re often fellow travellers.”

☀️ CONNECT with Sunburnt Souls

Discover more from Sunburnt Souls — a Christian mental health podcast sharing real stories of faith, hope, and healing at sunburntsouls.com.

Explore our library of Christian mental health resources, including podcasts, free devotionals, and online courses designed to help you strengthen your faith, overcome anxiety and depression, and experience emotional and spiritual renewal.

🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

A 28-day, $28 journey to help you:

• Embrace your identity in Jesus
• Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
• Navigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace

👉 Start your 28-day journey today

📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

🙏 SUPPORT THE MISSION

Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 ...

Sunburnt Souls is a Christian Mental Health Podcast. This week we meet 18 year old Indigo Rogers. She has already published her first book The Indigo Psalms: Volume One—a raw and beautiful collection of personal psalms written since she was 14. In this episode, Dave Quak sits down with Indigo to talk about faith, mental health, worship, and what it means to bring your whole self before God.

We explore:

• How writing psalms became Indigo’s way of processing emotions and worshipping God
• Why lament and honesty matter just as much as joy in the Christian life
• What her generation is facing with anxiety, depression, and the search for hope
• How she sees teaching, worship, and writing as ways to live out her calling
• The transforming presence of God in everyday struggles, from loneliness to long-term frustrations

Whether you’re a young person navigating faith, a parent wanting insight into Gen Z spirituality, or someone carrying mental health battles of your own, Indigo’s story and words will encourage you.

👉 Buy The Indigo Psalms: Volume One on Amazon
or through major online bookstores.

☀️ CONNECT with Sunburnt Souls

Discover more from Sunburnt Souls — a Christian mental health podcast sharing real stories of faith, hope, and healing at sunburntsouls.com.

Explore our library of Christian mental health resources, including podcasts, free devotionals, and online courses designed to help you strengthen your faith, overcome anxiety and depression, and experience emotional and spiritual renewal.

🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

A 28-day, $28 journey to help you:

• Embrace your identity in Jesus
• Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
• Navigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace

👉 Start your 28-day journey today

📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

🙏 SUPPORT THE MISSION

Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 ...