#262 Nana: A Ghanaian Med Student Finds Peace In Christ

We sit down with Nana and trace her path from Ghana to Michigan State to Loma Linda, where disappointment, burnout, and hidden shame collide with a gospel that finally feels personal. Her story centers on learning to trust God as Father and taking Romans 6 seriously when life refuses to cooperate.• growing up Seventh-day Adventist in Ghana and learning faith through family prayer• early disappointment with grades, health struggles, and a transactional view of God• seeds of sexual sin, secrecy, and the shame loop of performance religion• moving to the US, throwing herself into ministry, and burning out under pressure• seeking help through confession, prayer, and tools that address what is underneath• PhD stress at Loma Linda, a difficult lab environment, and the cost of isolation• finding hope through testimonies, Bible study, and seeing Romans 6 with new eyes• breakthrough clarity through No Longer I and living from identity in Christ• what “free from sin” means in daily life and what we would tell 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

Hannah shares how a lifetime of performance-based faith, fear, and shame slowly unravels as God teaches her what grace actually means. We talk through trauma, health, grief, motherhood, and the mind-body connection until the real miracle lands: her head and heart finally agree that God loves her.• growing up between Filipino and Scottish identity in rural Australia• early doubts about prayer and the belief God does not care• bullying, isolation, and finding belonging in the emo crowd• family breakdown, church pain, and a lifelong performance mindset• nursing school, ICU stress, and learning where she thrives• Arise Bible training and seeing how legalism blocks the heart• meeting David and discovering peace, respect, and safety in love• migraines, eczema, and how stress and fear can flare the body• traumatic birth, postpartum depression, intrusive thoughts, and medical advocacy• art therapy and naming wounds God answers with truth• grief after her grandmother’s death and finding God in anger and loss• anointing, prayer, biblical counseling, and freedom from people pleasing• ongoing family trials and clinging to God’s promise of restoration💰 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

Two old insecurities collide and turn a new marriage into a “thunderstorm,” until surrender and daily time with God start rewiring how love and safety work. We talk through the shift from fixing symptoms to naming core lies, practicing forgiveness, and learning Sabbath rest that changes the atmosphere at home.• getting married fast after sensing God’s leading• immediate differences in backgrounds, expectations, and responsibilities• the stress of parenting, a new dog, and competing rhythms at home• identifying childhood core lies like “I’m not good enough” and “I’m not safe”• the insecurity loop of striving, control, and feeling unseen• trying books, tactics, and planning while missing the root• seeking first the kingdom and honoring a spouse through daily Scripture• using the Bible as a neutral space for connection• breaking porn and other habits by going under the hood• honoring Sabbath to break performance and fear of man• surrendering control and seeing peace and healing follow• practical counsel for newlyweds who feel stuck💰 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 hear Manalo trace a winding path from Catholic superstition and street survival to new age spirituality, Scripture, and a real encounter with Jesus. His story lands on repentance, fatherhood, and the kind of forgiveness that feels impossible until God supplies it.• growing up between poverty and provision in Manila within a big family system• moving to Queens and building a tough persona out of fear• mixing Catholic practice with superstition and confusion about Scripture• returning to the Philippines for college and sliding into drugs and entitlement• chasing new age spiritualism and the “Christ consciousness” trap• reading the Bible for the first time and facing Jesus’ bold claims• baptizing himself in a river and feeling conviction without full freedom yet• restaurant life, occult detours, and finding a punk rock church community• hearing “repent” as suffering and learning repentance as turning to God• facing an unplanned pregnancy and choosing to show up as a father• walking through Sonia’s severe health crisis and witnessing recovery over time• meeting Lorraine, learning Holy Spirit as a person, and moving toward marriage• receiving supernatural grace to forgive a stepfather and living out kingdom love💰 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 sit down with Huy to name the difference between fake suffering that spirals inward and real suffering that comes with living on mission after Jesus sets us free. We talk peace, the true diagnosis of sin, and the practices that keep us from growing weary when we go back into the “building” to help others find the way out.• fake suffering as constant self-focus and mental striving• peace found in the Church as the body of Christ• why sin is the root problem, not preferences• altars of prosperity, pleasure, and power versus God’s free gift• why the Western church often resists radical freedom• maturity as Spirit-led decisions that grow into endurance• “If you’re not on mission, you are the mission”• time horizons, death, and the urgency to love people well• daily prayer questions for clear next steps• testimony, trust, and learning to go slower• how forgiveness breaks weariness and keeps rhythmStart sweating. There's not enough of us in the field. If you can't get past your first one, you won't ever go into the field. It's okay. Just do it. Stop sitting on the bench.💰 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

Tina Chan connects a refugee childhood, a high-pressure home, and traumatic births to the anxiety that later exploded into panic attacks. We talk through how therapy, practical tools, and a deeper view of God’s love shift fear into a steadier kind of freedom.• escaping Vietnam and reaching a Thailand refugee camp through danger and scarcity• early experiences of fear and hyper-independence in an immigrant household• shyness, insecurity, and the pressure of family disapproval while dating Matthew• premature births, NICU stress, and how trauma shapes a vigilant nervous system• first panic attacks, emergency calls, and learning what panic actually is• searching for relief through therapy, supplements, prayer, and cold grounding tools• moving from shame-based faith to assurance through the gospel lens of God’s kindness• defining freedom as living authentically before God and other people💰 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 Samuel’s journey from legalistic zeal and secret shame to a settled identity in Christ that produces real freedom and lasting change. A candid friend, a simple rule—believe God’s word over your life—and honest confession turn burden into peace.• growing up Adventist with sincere devotion and heavy performance pressure• school trauma, social isolation, and low self‑esteem shaping a rule‑first faith• leadership wins that hid a double life and deepening addiction• Brazil ministry, long prayers, and burnout exposing legalism• a friend’s hard truth becoming the turning point• hearing identity‑first gospel and letting the burden fall• moving from condemnation to confidence and steady transformation• confession in community replacing secrecy with light• practical freedom: thoughts challenged, shame silenced, habits changed💰 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 a life marked by grief, shame, and spiritual oppression to a restored marriage, steady identity in Jesus, and a practical way to stop being ruled by intrusive thoughts. We speak plainly about betrayal, depression, and the gospel that heals what effort and fear could not.• growing up in Alaska amid alcohol, violence, and loss• sister’s death shaping fear of abandonment and self-hate• early marriage, poverty, and surprising provision• betrayal, the crash, and sensing Jesus’ presence• counseling, separation, and a rebuilt friendship in marriage• breaking demonic oppression and naming depression• hearing gospel assurance beyond moral scorekeeping• practicing observer-mind and taking thoughts captive• refusing to carry blame that does not belong to us💰 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 Camille’s journey from childhood fear and college doubt to a practical, grace-filled approach to parenting. Identity in Christ, renewing the mind with Scripture, and simple practices transform shame, mom rage, and marriage strain into steady peace.• fear-led faith reshaped by Scripture• Peru breakthrough on Pharaoh and God’s wrath• union with Christ and freedom from sin in Romans• Alaska hardship, loss, and identity crisis• naming shame as the engine of mom rage• four-step reset after yelling to break cycles• rooting worth in Christ, not performance• rewiring triggers with verses and visualization• releasing control, gossip, and bitterness• speaking life: “describe what you see”• anger as a signal, not a master• training kids with Scripture and respectful disagreement• building contentment and truth-telling identities💰 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 Jon’s journey from image management to resting in God’s love, and how that shift reshapes marriage, ministry, and daily life. Shame loses power, identity settles, and love starts doing the work fear never could.• why behavior change without identity fails• living from no condemnation in Christ• how shame fuels both rebellion and pride• moving from judging to observing in relationships• marriage impacts of securing worth in God• assurance that doesn’t breed apathy• the Spirit’s role in real transformation• serving the Samoan community with gospel clarity• Jesus as the true picture of the Father• unity formed by the Spirit, not mere doctrine💰 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