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When you read God’s Word, do you ever step back and think “Lord, I’m struggling to believe that.” Especially in circumstances that challenge our expectations about our lives and God’s work, all of us are tempted to unbelief. Belief in the promises of God is hard. Today’s episode from Joan McConnell calls us to faith. She helps us wrestle with the Lord through unbelief by pointing us to the simple truths and practices that cultivate and strengthen faith amidst chronic or occasional seasons of unbelief. Read along → https://harvestusa.org/lord-belief-is-hard/

Having a child identify as LGBTQ+ can be bewildering for Christian parents. It’s easy to ask questions like… Does God recognize what he’s allowed into my world through my child’s LGBTQ+ identification and choices? Has the situation created by my child’s conduct slipped past the Lord? Joan McConnell assures parents that the Lord is still a present and active help in these situations. She reminds parents of God’s sovereignty and higher purpose for their lives as well as their child’s and the need to rely on help both from God himself and other brothers and sisters in Christ in today’s episode. If you’re a parent of an LGBTQ+ identifying child looking for biblical help and support, check out our Parents & Family Support Groups: https://harvestusa.org/get-help-for-yourself/parents-families/ As well as a library of resources focused on Christian parents of LGBTQ+ identifying children: https://harvestusa.org/how-we-help/a-struggling-child/ Read along with today’s episode → https://harvestusa.org/when-lgbtq-hits-home-theres-help/

Should married Christian couples schedule time for sex? There are seasons of life where it’s easy for healthy marriages to be overwhelmed by demanding schedules and competing priorities. In these seasons, prioritizing sexual intimacy with your spouse can be challenging. As Mark Sanders reminds us on today’s episode, God has endowed sex with meaning and power in the marriage relationship. It’s meant to be a celebration of your oneness, which means you might need to take simple practical steps to prioritize intimacy with your spouse in busy seasons. He also reminds us that the engine that drives sexual intimacy in a marriage isn’t merely a schedule, but a relationship marked by sacrificial love, care, emotional intimacy, and friendship. Read along here → https://harvestusa.org/sexual-intimacy-in-marriage-should-you-schedule-time-for-sex/

Are your eyes closed to the horrors of pornography? When you watch porn, are you aware of the harm being done behind the scenes of the images you’re consuming? Pornography is a dehumanizing, slave-recruiting, demonic industry. The true nature of it is hard to face. Yet opening our eyes to the true nature of porn might be a means the Holy Spirit uses to break’s it’s hold on your life. Today’s episode from Mark Sanders pulls back the curtain to expose the darkness, degradation, abuse, and harm the porn industry inflicts on men and women made in the image of God. He calls us to repent of the ways we’ve been complicit in this harm and sinned not only against God and spouse, but the people on screen. Finally, he reminds us that the mercy of God is greater than the dark depths of our sin, and that in Christ, our guilt can be overwhelmed by the torrent of his love for us. If you’re currently struggling with porn, visit the page below to browse an abundance of resources designed to help you: https://harvestusa.org/how-we-help/pornography/ Read along → https://harvestusa.org/open-your-eyes-the-next-time-you-look-at-porn/

Have you ever felt drawn to the beauty of another person and wondered if you sinned? Was it temptation? Sin? Should you feel guilty? How do we interpret these experiences in light of what the Scriptures say about temptation and lust? As Stephen Moss unpacks in today’s episode, the problem isn’t someone’s else’s beauty, but our heart’s sinful interaction, interpretation, and distortion of that beauty. Stephen outlines God’s purposes for beauty and how we should respond to that beauty. Ultimately, we fail if we approach others as either an object to consume or a threat to be avoided, rather than a fellow image bearer to be loved, served, and honored. Read along → https://harvestusa.org/same-sex-attraction-and-seeing-beauty-rightly/

Is the label “porn addiction” really helpful when discussing a habitual pattern of looking at porn? Our culture has largely bought into the notion that if you have an addiction, you have a disease. The church needs to slowly and carefully examine whether the word “addiction” and the anthropology it espouses is in line with Scripture and God’s revelation of who we are as human beings in a fallen world. To start, Mark Sanders explores three ways the word “addiction” can be helpful in accurately describe the experience of struggling with habitual sexual sin in today’s episode. The addiction model highlights how it feels to be unable to stop. The addiction model captures the insanity in a moment of temptation. The addiction model highlights the need for a zero-tolerance policy on sin. Read along → https://harvestusa.org/porn-addiction/ If you’re struggling with habitual sexual sin, explore some of our resources here: https://harvestusa.org/how-we-help/sexual-addiction/

Deep underneath all our motivations, hopes, and dreams lies a fundamental struggle that every human being inherited from Adam…we want to live autonomously from our Creator. Even in our fight against sexual sin, it’s easy to pursue freedom from sin on our own terms and in our own strength. But we can never fight sexual sin apart from embracing our neediness of the One who made us, knows us, and loves us. Mark Sanders encourages us to avoid the folly of seeking greater independence from God and to embrace our need for God which leads to deeper intimacy with him, gratitude, and joy. Read along here → https://harvestusa.org/you-need-god-hate-your-sin-embrace-your-neediness/

Last Tuesday on the podcast, Ellen Mary Dykas described the kind of friendships between women that can become emotionally enmeshed and sexual in nature. The good news is that God’s Word speaks hope and clarity to women who find themselves in in emotionally enmeshed and sexually unholy same-sex relationships. In part 2 on today’s episode, Ellen unpacks John 15:1-17 to demonstrate this hope by revealing how these relationships ultimately fail to satisfy the longings for intimacy inside us and why abiding in Jesus provides true intimacy we long for. Read along → https://harvestusa.org/when-womens-fr-sexual-part-2/ If you or someone you’re walking with is struggling with emotionally entangled friendships like the ones described in this episode, check out additional resources from Harvest USA here → https://harvestusa.org/how-we-help/relationship-struggles/

Working from home brings unique temptations for those struggling with sexual sin. How can you work from home with purity and resist sexual temptation? Today’s episode from Keith Seary unpacks three steps you can take to resist sexual temptations while working from home. Ground your view of work in the Bible. Honestly assess your motivations for working from home. Be willing to take “weird” steps to reduce temptation and increase accountability. If you’re working from home and struggling with sexual temtpation, give today’s episode a listen! You can also read along here → https://harvestusa.org/remote-work-and-sexual-temptation-a-christian-guide-to-working-from-home/

How do women’s friendships turn sexual? Believe it or not, several women who now identify as same-sex attracted never felt a romantic attraction towards women generally. Instead, they began to experience romantic attraction to a specific woman, a close friendship which grew into a sexual relationship neither expected to find themselves in. On today’s episode, Ellen Mary Dykas unpacks how unhealthy relational dynamics between women can grow into idolatrous and sexual relationships, how these relationships mimic and offer a counterfeit to the dynamic relationship we’re called to have with Christ and five diagnostic to signs to evaluate if your relationships are headed in this unhealthy direction. If you’re in or almost in one of these relationships or walking with someone struggling in this way. Tune in to our episode next Tuesday for part 2 of this important discussion and browse articles, books, and videos on relationship struggles here → https://harvestusa.org/how-we-help/relationship-struggles/ You can also read along with today’s episode → https://harvestusa.org/womens-friendships-turn-sexual-2/

If you betrayed your wife sexually, rebuilding trust and intimacy in your marriage is not easy. Even if you’re actively walking the path of repentance. It’s critical to humbly understand what your spouse needs and pursue her amidst her pain. Today’s episode from Catherine Krasinski appeals to husband’s to understand and care for their wives in the aftermath of sexual betrayal. She discusses the importance of trust, choosing and pursuing your wife, getting to know your wife more intimately, and learning what godly sex in marriage looks like in place of the false and degrading cultural messages about sex you may be tempted to bring into the marriage bed. If you’re ready to pursue and care for your wife with Christ-like humility and love, listening to today’s episode will be a helpful starting point. Read along → https://harvestusa.org/rebuilding-intimacy-an-appeal-to-husbands-who-have-been-unfaithful/ Resources for Rebuilding Intimacy Articles Rebuilding Trust After Sexual Betrayal → https://harvestusa.org/how-to-rebuild-trust-after-sexual-betrayal/ How Do I Lead My Family? → https://harvestusa.org/how-do-i-lead-my-family-despite-the-hypocrisy-of-sexual-sin/ Check Ins: Sowing Seeds of Trust → https://harvestusa.org/check-ins-sowing-seeds-of-consistency-to-build-trust/ Technology Protection Plan → https://harvestusa.org/technology-protection-plan/ A Couple’s Journey to Intimacy After Sexual Betrayal → https://harvestusa.org/a-couples-journey-to-intimacy-after-sexual-betrayal/ Rebuilding Intimacy After Sexual Betrayal → https://harvestusa.org/rebuilding-sexual-intimacy-sexual-betrayal-2/ God Gives The Best Sex → https://harvestusa.org/god-gives-the-best-sex/ Books God, You and Sex: A Profound Mystery by David White → https://harvestusa.org/books/god-you-sex-a-profound-mystery/ Redeeming Sex in Marriage: How the Gospel Rescues Sex, Transforms Marriage, and Reveals the Glory of God by Scott Mehl → https://www.prpbooks.com/book/redeeming-sex-in-marriage?srsltid=AfmBOooCqRgwokHtbe91fKzAIbM0aCG8fsSMKvrkbewPuLHTmRh98_TX

How can busy pastors and church leaders care for wives who just discovered their husband’s porn use or some other form of sexual unfaithfulness? Imagine this scenario… A busy pastor (or a church leader) receives a phone call from a wife who is in the throes of a PTSD-ish response to her husband’s sin. She’s anxious, brokenhearted, unable to accurately form her thoughts, and breaks into sobs with no warning. Her heart has been shattered, her thoughts are a scrambled mess, and most likely she is exhausted. And she’s asking you for help, but she probably doesn’t even know what she needs. Today’s episode from Ellen Mary Dykas outlines the obstacles pastors face when caring for sexually betrayed wives and shares five steps you can take to grow in your ability to offer the kind of pastoral care these hurting women need. Read along → https://harvestusa.org/wives-and-porn-and-busy-church-leaders/ Harvest USA Resources Available for Sexually Betrayed Wives Our free online course Hope in Your Heartbreak: First Steps for Sexually Betrayed Wives: https://harvestusa.org/courses/hope-in-your-heartbreak/ Our workbook Jesus & Your Unwanted Journey: Wives Finding Comfort After Sexual Betrayal: https://harvestusa.org/curriculum/jesus-and-your-unwanted-journey/ Learn more about our Side by Side support groups for wives: https://harvestusa.org/get-help-for-yourself/wives/

Gen Z Christians are having a hard time dating. The current divisions between young men and women in education, the workplace, social spaces, and religious communities are making it harder and harder for them to meet potential spouses and start dating. Many are now asking the question: Is it okay for Christians to use dating apps to find a spouse? Is it wise? In today’s episode, Keith Seary looks at the dangers and benefits of Christians pursuing a spouse through dating apps. He also offers practical guardrails to help mitigate the dangers of online dating and ensure your pursuit of a spouse honors Christ. You can read along here → https://harvestusa.org/todays-gender-gap-anti-christian-culture-and-online-dating-for-christians/

Earthly joys, like visiting Niagara Falls or enjoying the intimacy of sex, can fill us with awe. But once the experience is over, the joy inevitably fades. Why is it that sex and other early joys fail to satisfy us? Today’s episode from Mark Sanders reminds us that earthly joys fade because they were never intended to satisfy our soul. He points to God as the only one who can satisfy the longings of our hearts and shares the stunning reality that heaven will not only be filled with satisfaction as we behold God in glory, but it will actually get better with each passing hour of eternity. You can read along here: https://harvestusa.org/niagara-falls-etc/

Last Friday’s edition of The Harvest USA Podcast featured Caitlin McCaffrey discussing the importance of writing a full disclosure—a letter detailing the full nature and history of your struggle with sexual sin—and sharing it with your spouse. This is an important step of repentance to take if you’ve sinned against your spouse sexually. But how do you actually write and share a full disclosure with your spouse? This week’s episode offers the practical and detailed steps you need to move forward in this process. Caitlin shares the details your disclosure should contain, the format for writing it, how to involve trusted men and women from your church in the process, and how to prepare for, structure, and process the meeting where you actually share the full disclosure with your spouse. This will be a difficult day. It should be handled with the utmost care, prayer, and wise planning. If you’re ready to write a full disclosure, give today’s episode a listen. You can also read along with the original article on our website → https://harvestusa.org/how-to-write-a-full-disclosure/