Sunburnt Souls: A Christian Mental Health Podcast

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 🙏 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 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 Highlights00:00 – 00:20 — Dave announces a surprise break for Sunburnt Souls00:55 – 01:56 — Attending to the inner life and intimacy with God02:41 – 03:08 — Dave’s plan: focus on God, marriage, and self-care03:50 – 04:45 — Craving silence after seasons of constant noise05:28 – 06:05 — Cultivating rhythms of quiet and presence07:20 – 07:57 — Letting go of analytics and redefining success08:41 – 09:34 — Working on marriage before problems arise10:53 – 11:30 — Balancing ministry, work, and family demands12:55 – 13:10 — Catching a giant Spanish mackerel (and having fun!)14:22 – 15:33 — Encouragement for listeners heading into Christmas16:34 – 17:48 — Giving and receiving love this Christmas18:32 – 19:54 — The free course: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health21:44 – 22:51 — Jess closes in prayer for rest, renewal, and blessingReflectionThis 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 CoverThe Crash and the Aftermath – A broken neck, a wheelchair, and life in ICU.Faith in the Fog – Wrestling with God when prayers for healing go unanswered.Depression and Medication – Facing major depression, inpatient stays, and the courage to ask for help.TMS and Recovery – How new treatments and faith worked together to restore hope.Calling and Purpose – Finding a new mission through chaplaincy and service.What Healing Really Means – Why faith isn’t about fixing everything but trusting through anything.ReflectionThis episode speaks to anyone battling mental illness, chronic pain, or grief — reminding us that hope is not found in perfection, but in perseverance.“Sometimes God doesn’t give us our old life back. He gives us a new one — redeemed.”☀️ 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 Cover1. 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.Timestamps00:00 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. 👉 ...