#241 Shannon: Healing, Identity, And The God Who Is Good

We follow Shannon from a fearful, unstable childhood into years of illness, allergy, and anxiety, and then into a grounded life of identity, trust, and practical freedom. Scripture, confession, and a new view of God’s goodness move her from control to peace, from scarcity to sufficiency.• childhood turmoil, early faith, and fear shaped by trauma• murder of her mother, adoption by grandparents, perfectionism• years of illness: anaphylaxis, dysautonomia, vertigo, insomnia• food controls life, hoarding mindset, isolation and doubt• counseling, forgiveness, and letting go of judgment• reopening the Bible: promises, identity, righteousness• authority in Christ, armor of God, speaking scripture• “Olive Garden moment”: acting free while feeling afraid• healing as part of salvation, enemy has no authority• adoption wrestle reframed as trust, not punishment• practical steps: prayer, anointing, community, persistence💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.org

We trace Webster’s journey from a conservative Tongan Adventist home through rebellion, jail, and a degree no one would hire to a simple gospel that healed his identity and marriage. The turning point arrives when sonship replaces striving and Sabbath shifts from fear to joy.• growing up Tongan Adventist with strict norms• pastor’s kid pressure and hidden rebellion• drugs, drinking, and becoming a teen dad at 17• jail as a wake-up and unexpected door to college• degree earned, criminal record blocking jobs• providential roles in the church and at a K–12 school• serving hard from obligation, not rest• meeting Selena and facing doctrinal questions• fear-driven legalism around Sabbath and worth• a prodigal son message reframing identity• discovering testimonies that centered Romans and Colossians• freedom from sin as present reality in Christ• marriage restored by grace over performance• renewed desire to share good news, especially in Islander communities💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.org

We celebrate five years by returning to the first story that set our tone: Tyler’s journey from approval addiction and hidden porn use to a settled identity rooted in God’s love. The shift from behavior management to new life changes his marriage, his peace, and his idea of repentance.• why testimonies became our core format• family faith roots and an early shame script• porn at eleven and transactional forgiveness• striving, relapse, and the lie that guilt saves• Australia, a Hillsong altar call, and a mother’s messages• marriage begins, lines are crossed, consequences land• the real addiction is affirmation, not just lust• Romans 6 identity: dead to sin, alive in Christ• confession to Morgan, rupture, and a storm walk• learning love that needs nothing in return• living at peace without others’ approval• deconstructing old beliefs and rebuilding trust• the cost of obedience when reputation is on the line• cliffhanger: Morgan’s side and the miracle ahead💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.org

We trace Danilo’s journey from fear and performance to a living trust in Jesus only, moving from legalism to grace and from isolation to a wider family of faith. A child’s question, a fresh reading of Ephesians and Romans, and the courage to post the gospel changed his life.• growing up Adventist under fear and performance• panic, shame and identity as “sinner always”• a child’s question that sent him to grace• discovering “Jesus only” and assurance• Romans 6 and freedom from sin, new identity• posting online, backlash and not being ashamed• rejecting last generation theology while staying Adventist• unity beyond denominations and shared Sabbath rest• counsel to his younger self: don’t run from kindness💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.org

We trace Hollie's journey from fear-based faith and purity culture to a lived identity in Christ that quieted years of anxious loops. Sensitivity turns from burden to gift as she learns to want intimacy without making it her identity and to teach, create, and love from fullness, not lack.• reframing sensitivity as strength rooted in identity in Christ• naming purity culture myths and their impact on worth and desire• moving from anxiety, perfectionism, and rumination to peace• camp community, Scripture, and a worship moment that marked change• practicing Philippians 4 focus and rejecting self-condemnation• teaching and photography transformed by freedom and empathy• living single without lack while holding honest desire• embracing grief, joy, and resilience in a complicated world💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.org

Carl Syvertson shares his journey from understanding salvation intellectually to experiencing the transformative revelation that God has already freed him from sin and given him a new identity.• Carl's spiritual journey began with a family legacy of seeking closeness to Jesus• His great-great-grandfather was a Quaker missionary who became an Adventist after a dream showing others closer to Jesus• Carl describes himself as having been a "hothead" with a prideful attitude before understanding the gospel• During college at Andrews University, Carl encountered the writings of Jones and Wagner about righteousness by faith• For decades, Carl believed in salvation but still thought transformation required constantly asking the Holy Spirit for power• A breakthrough came when Carl realized God had already transformed him and given him the Holy Spirit• Carl found this truth confirmed in Scripture and in the writings he'd studied years before• The revelation changed Carl's relationships, particularly with his wife and daughter• Angry outbursts that once caused multi-day arguments became shorter and less destructive• Carl began recognizing the Holy Spirit's promptings to share these truths with others• Understanding comes through intimacy with God, not just intellectual knowledge• The gospel revelation isn't just a doorway to knowing God but must lead to ongoing relationship

Arnold returns to share his journey of theological transformation and the unexpected challenges he faced after embracing the gospel message.• Reflects on his previous understanding that salvation was a "group project" between humans and God• Describes how reading Romans 6 as a historical fact rather than instructions completely changed his perspective• Explains the resistance he encountered from church leadership when sharing his new understanding• Details how he was prohibited from speaking, teaching, or preaching as the head elder• Discusses the painful experience of being rejected by his home church of over 40 years• Reveals how finding his identity in Christ rather than in being "right" helped him navigate the rejection• Shares his new understanding of 1 John 5:3, seeing God's commandments as not burdensome because His love enables our obedience• Explores the tensions between viewing Scripture alone as authoritative versus Scripture plus other sources💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.org

Matthew Chan returns to share how his understanding of the gospel has deepened through the devastating loss of his family home in the LA fires and through the challenging process of receiving help from others.• Matthew's house burned down in the LA Eaton fires in January, completely destroying their home and possessions• While treating a patient during the fire, Matthew demonstrated supernatural peace, explaining that everything important to him is "hidden in Jesus"• The Chan family experienced an overwhelming outpouring of love and support from their community after the fire• Matthew initially resisted when friends wanted to create a GoFundMe, but learned that true humility means allowing others to love you in their way• The legitimacy of a gift is established in the love of the giver, not in whether the recipient deserves or needs it• Matthew's son wisely observed: "You didn't cry when you lost something; you cry when you receive something"• Even while growing in gospel understanding, Matthew continues to learn how to communicate truth with the right heart motives• Living "the unattached life" means having your primary attachment with the Father, freeing you from unhealthy attachments to temporal things💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.orgDownload the Love Reality app. Available in the App Store & Google Play.

Lauren Via shares her powerful testimony of walking through church conflict and finding healing after being forced to leave her beloved Oklahoma church community due to gospel misunderstandings.• Experiencing the difficult transition when church leadership began pushing back against gospel freedom• Suppressing her own emotions while supporting her husband and children through the conflict• Watching her four-year-old son develop anxiety as he witnessed his father's emotional distress• Having to leave their church without fully explaining the situation to their congregation• Moving to Texas and initially struggling to feel at home in their new church• Finding God's presence through repeated "dragonfly moments" at pivotal times• Experiencing breakthrough healing during a gathering in Missouri where friends prayed over her• Learning that freedom is a journey rather than a one-time event• Returning to Oklahoma a year later and experiencing the gift of forgiveness• Discovering that peace doesn't depend on circumstances but on our secure relationship with JesusIf you're going through a difficult transition or church conflict, remember that Jesus walks with you through every step. Your freedom remains secure even when your feelings suggest otherwise.💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.org

Jonathan Leonardo returns to share his journey through the challenges of pastoring while maintaining gospel integrity, revealing how institutional pressure led to personal compromise before finding freedom in uncompromised truth.• Transitioning from evangelist to pastor created tension between preaching clear gospel freedom and meeting denominational expectations• The Seventh-day Adventist relationship with the law creates unique challenges when preaching freedom from sin• Public criticism from denominational leadership created real-world consequences for Jonathan and his ministry• Compromising gospel clarity for job security led to internal dissonance and declining mental health• The pain of rejection from a church community that had been like a "third parent" was particularly devastating• Finding freedom required choosing conscience over compromise, even at professional cost• Despite challenges, Jonathan maintains his Adventist identity while refusing to water down the gospel message• Moving forward with greater awareness while continuing to preach the transformative power of being in ChristJoin us for Internet Church in the coming months as Jonathan explores living without double-mindedness and dives into seeing the gospel in Leviticus and Hebrews.💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.org