#248 Jonathan and Torie, Breaking Legalism: Love, Mission, And The Gospel That Actually Changes Lives

We trace Izzy’s journey from anxious validation-seeking to a settled identity in Christ, moving from an “okay gospel” to real freedom where feelings serve rather than rule. Practical shifts around forgiveness, thought life, relationships, and provision show what abundance looks like day to day.• early family story and separation anxiety shaping control and people pleasing• feeling like an outsider at church and chasing validation at school• teen dating patterns, body image pressure, and conflict cycles• baptism and settling for an “okay gospel” without freedom• Annie’s mentorship making faith personal and embodied• Bees and Karen reframing identity, forgiveness, and feelings not being lord• practicing truth: holding thoughts captive and choosing the fruits of the Spirit• visible change in attitude, conflict, and joy in ordinary tasks• Link’s journey to shared belief and moving toward marriage• provision mindset shift, money anxiety easing, and redeemed time💰 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.orgJoin us for the best gathering on the internet, Internet Church. Every other Friday. Find out at www.lovereality.org/circles Continue growing with friends! Join a circle over at www.lovereality.org/circles

We share how a lifelong scorekeeping faith broke under the weight of grace and how salvation as a gift, not a contract, reshaped Verna’s story from control to freedom. The gospel shifts behavior from obligation to fruit, turning church culture into real communion.• upbringing in a strict, rule-focused faith culture• marriage, family conflict, and a move to Michigan• a welcoming church community and inclusive worship• parenting insights shifting from behavior to heart• resisting leadership roles due to performance fear• preaching that led to personal breakthrough in Scripture• salvation as gift versus debtor’s ethic and contracts• freedom, assurance, and a renewed identity in Christ• mentoring students and friends toward gospel clarity💰 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.orgJoin us for the best gathering on the internet, Internet Church. Every other Friday. Find out at www.lovereality.org/circlesJoin us for the best gathering on the internet, Internet Church. Every other Friday. Find out at www.lovereality.org/circles Continue growing with friends! Join a circle over at www.lovereality.org/circles

We trace Ariana’s path from a small-town church and a turbulent home to anxiety, addiction, striving, and finally a clear identity in Christ. A Friday night with Scripture and a single line—“feelings aren’t Lord”—becomes the hinge that shifts her marriage, her mind, and her future.• growing up Adventist in Mankato amid family alcoholism and divorce• public school pressures, validation through dating, and early boundaries with substances• academy years of rules, comparison, and a hunger for real faith• college loneliness, intentional dating, marriage, and vocational twists• hidden pornography struggle, cycles of confession, shame, and effort• long commutes with the Bible, reframing Old Testament lives, asking harder questions• testimonies and Wave clips leading to the key insight: feelings aren’t Lord• practicing truth-telling over stored lies and reframing identity in Christ• freedom from addiction, anxiety, and depression by rooting identity in Jesus• how marriage dynamics changed when identity shifted from feelings to Christ💰 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.orgJoin us for the best gathering on the internet, Internet Church. Every other Friday. Find out at www.lovereality.org/circles Continue growing with friends! Join a circle over at www.lovereality.org/circles

We share how a rule-shaped faith gave way to a Spirit-led life. Torie’s steady devotion and mission work collide with Jonathan’s raw honesty about addiction, and together we discover that grace, not effort, breaks chains and heals shame.• growing up Adventist, performance and reputation• mission years in Bolivia, language and leadership struggles• COVID challenges, visas, and resilience• Jonathan’s curiosity, partying, and rebaptism tension• legalism vs grace, confusion and burnout• the vulnerable email about porn and shame• gospel reframes in Romans and the epistles• freedom from law as Spirit-led life• community that feels like heaven on earth• loving counsel to our younger selves💰 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.orgJoin us for the best gathering on the internet, Internet Church. Every other Friday. Find out at www.lovereality.org/circles Continue growing with friends! Join a circle over at www.lovereality.org/circles

We gather with a live room to explore why the gospel begins with rest, not effort, and hear how that truth lands in real lives. Testimonies trace freedom from control, loneliness, anxiety, people pleasing, and the fear of getting theology perfect.• rest as the starting point for spiritual life• Ephesians 2 and Hebrews 4 on seated identity• releasing control and OCD patterns• moving from loneliness to communion and connection• peace within storms through a still small voice• choosing safety over harmful opinions in faith communities• freedom from condemnation cycles and anxiety• centering Jesus over perfect doctrine• Hebrews deep dive on why God rested• ending people pleasing with beloved identity• discovering self by first knowing who Christ is💰 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.orgJoin us for the best gathering on the internet, Internet Church. Every other Friday. Find out at www.lovereality.org/circles Continue growing with friends! Join a circle over at www.lovereality.org/circles

A raw journey from fear-based religion and authority wounds to healing, recovery, and identity as a beloved son. Tracy shares hard stories—addiction, grief, and legalism—and how Jesus redefined his name, his marriage, and his mission.• Early farm life shaping fear and attachment wounds• Boarding school legalism fueling secrecy and rebellion• College drift, contempt for authority, objectifying women• Nuclear site safety fight and first glimpses of God’s care• Pain meds, porn, and a terrifying wake-up moment• Counseling, Celebrate Recovery, and identity work• Forgiveness letters softening resentment toward family• Marriage grief after child loss and learning to stay• Healing from corporate Adventism toward Christ-centered faith• Baptizing his son into Christ, not a club• Living daily as a treasured son and offering the same hope💰 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.orgJoin us for the best gathering on the internet, Internet Church. Every other Friday. Find out at www.lovereality.org/circles Continue growing with friends! Join a circle over at www.lovereality.org/circles

We trace Matthew’s journey through a house fire, church leadership conflict, and a deeper surrender to sonship, contentment, and the “unattached life.” Loss becomes seed as he releases bitterness, receives love, and watches new freedom take root in others.• moving from legalism to identity and sonship• the evacuation, radical peace, and living unattached• humility in receiving help and generosity• leadership meetings, labels, and lack of due process• guarding conscience without becoming combative• embodied healing, confession, and letting go• gratitude, new community, and fresh gospel fruit💰 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.orgJoin us for the best gathering on the internet, Internet Church. Every other Friday. Find out at www.lovereality.org/circles Continue growing with friends! Join a circle over at www.lovereality.org/circles

We trace James’s journey from premature birth and the loss of his twin to years of school struggles, bullying, hidden shame, and a relentless search for identity that finally lands in secure sonship and freedom in Christ. The story holds nothing back—confession, dismissal from a camp, suicidal lows, and the moment the voice of truth replaced a lifetime of lies.• early trauma, survival in NICU, family faith• ADHD and dyslexia, endless school switches• bullying, social anxiety, and isolation• puberty, same-sex attraction, and shame• church community as lifeline and codependency risks• GED and move to Houston for a fresh start• Antioch community care and culture shock• cycles of porn, perfectionism, and Romans 7 living• identity teaching, Dan Moeller, and Love Reality• habits vs sin mastery and practical coaching tools• redefining singleness and masculinity in Christ• learning to hear God’s voice and drop old labels• living from Romans 8 and secure sonship💰 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 Byron’s journey through a powerful week of prayer, the quiet drift of friends, and the choice to let God defend him. Restoration shows up in a song, a beach, and a courage to move forward without bitterness.• recap of the week of prayer and early fruit• misunderstandings about theology and labels that stick• fractured friendships and limits of “giving space”• burnout, Sabbath rest and seeking God’s voice• Portland trip as reset and honest lament• God’s confirmation through Jesus Loves Me• released from role but not from calling• the beach gathering and symbolic washing away• grief for losses and gratitude for transformed lives• choosing reconciliation and trusting God to vindicate💰 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 share Amy’s journey from childhood fear and OCD to a settled trust in Jesus that carried her through a false accusation against her dad and a sudden move. The story traces how legalism fell away, belief took root, and peace held under pressure.• early love for Jesus and seven years of undiagnosed strep• OCD patterns, nightly fear and the pull of control• legalism as safety, perfectionism in chores and prayer• a night in John 14 bringing assurance and calm• medical treatment easing OCD alongside growing faith• learning the gospel of grace through family and church• false accusation, investigations and financial threat• the decision to move and grieving close friendships• unexpected ease in starting over and a deeper hope• choosing prayer over panic and trust over control💰 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