The Holy Shift Show
recent episodesJoin us as we explore the complexities in life, the paradoxes of faith, and how the upside-down kingdom of God always points the right way forward.
EP 32: Grief is Holy — How to Grieve Well
What if the thing you've been trying to avoid is the very thing that heals you?
We don't know how to grieve. Not really. We've been taught to hurry our grief, spiritually bypass lament, and sanitize our suffering — leaving a lot of us with an “emaciated theology of suffering,” and no place to take our pain.
In this honest and tender conversation, Bible teacher, author, and award-winning broadcaster Rebecca Carrell joins me to talk about what it means to grieve well. We dig into why deep grief is not a lack of faith but an alignment with the Holy Spirit. We walk through what Jesus's response to Mary and Martha teaches us about showing up for people in pain. We talk about why a good ugly cry is one of the most healing things you can do. And we wrestle together with one of the hardest truths about grief: that it isn't one loss. It's a thousand small ones, stacked inside each other, resetting every time you wake up.
If you've ever been told you're too tender, too emotional, or too slow to heal — this episode is for you. If you've ever stood at the edge of someone else's grief and not known what to do — this one is for you too.
Grief is not the enemy of faith. It never was. Let's make the holy shift.
DNDW 3: Shifting
Feeling frazzled or frustrated in faith and life? Christine chats with author, podcaster, and Spiritual Director Emily P. Freeman about embracing spiritual curiosity, integrating our theology with our humanity, and recognizing how the rooms and relationships we live in—and the rhythms and rituals we live by—shape who we are becoming.They also explore questions like:*Are women allowed to have desires?*Can we trust ourselves?*Is soul care new age or woo-woo?*How do we move toward God and others?*How can we discern when to walk away from someone/something?If you are stuck in analysis paralysis or hoping to make some holy shifts in your own faith & life, this episode is for you!
DNDW 1: My Accidental Sabbatical
Christine is back to kick off the 2025 series centered on overcoming overwhelm and learning to live healed and whole. Eager to impart what she learned about God, herself, and love during her 1-year "accidental sabbatical," Christine shares some major holy shifts in her life, including an unwanted divorce, an unplanned move, and unwelcome health issues. She also introduces season 3’s theme, DRAW NEAR DWELL WELL, inviting you to explore soul care and spiritual formation practices that will help you live deeply connected to God, yourself, and others.
EP 20: Faithing Forward
Does your faith journey sometimes feel like stumbling blindly through a dark valley? Have you ever felt paralyzed by fear of the unknown? Christine chats with Fr. Cliff Warner about walking in freedom and learning how to live healed and whole. If you have experienced loss, grief, or doubt and are questioning how you can keep "faithing forward" in the middle of a broken world and story, this episode is for you.♥
EP 18: Being with and Becoming like Jesus
Christine chats with Pastor Ian Simkins about church hurt and the “upside-down” kingdom way of Christ. They discuss why our greatest calling is to be with—and become like—Jesus (and why it must happen in that order,) and commiserate about ending up in ministry rather accidentally and against their will. If you have been wounded by/disillusioned with the church, we hope this episode will be an encouragement to you. ♥
EP 17: Sometimes Women Lie About Being Okay
Christine chats with writer Rachel Joy Welcher about the purpose of poetry and how it serves as an invitation to notice beauty and interact with the sorrows, joys, and tensions of life. Rachel shares more about the loves and losses that have inspired her work, and Christine asks her to read some of her favorite poems aloud. Rachel then offers helpful writing tips plus 3 poetry prompts, inviting listeners to share online with #theholyshiftpoetry.
EP 8: Healing from Grief and Growing in Compassion
Christine chats with Crickett Berlin, who shares helpful tips on dealing with our own grief and ways to offer compassion to others who are hurting. They explore the true meaning of Jesus’ paradoxical statement, “Blessed are those who mourn,” and why community is crucial to healing. They also discuss the struggle to believe in the goodness of God in the presence of suffering and how God answers our “why” questions in a surprising way.