Still Faithful — Looking Back Without Shame {Eps 117}

Still Faithful — Looking Back Without Shame {Eps 117}

Author: Melinda Patrick January 3, 2026 Duration: 9:07

As we begin a new year, many parents are carrying more than they expected — unresolved relationships, unanswered prayers, and the quiet weight of loving a child through pain, distance, or deep disagreement.

In this first episode of the Still Faithful series, we slow down together and begin with something essential: releasing shame.

This episode is for parents who are questioning themselves, their faith, or what faithfulness looks like after a hard year. It's a grounding invitation to look back honestly — without self-blame — and to begin moving forward with steadiness, clarity, and grace.

This is not about fixing your child or forcing outcomes.
It's about strengthening you.

In this episode, we talk about:

  • The difference between faithfulness and outcomes

  • How to look back at the past year without self-condemnation

  • What you may be carrying that was never meant to be yours

  • Why faithfulness can coexist with heartbreak

  • How to begin a new year grounded rather than striving

Reflection questions to sit with:

  • Where have I been harder on myself than God has been?

  • What did faithfulness look like for me this past year — even if it felt quiet or unseen?

  • What responsibility or guilt do I need to release as I move forward?

A gentle reminder:

You can be deeply faithful and deeply heartbroken at the same time.
Faithfulness does not require resolution — only presence.

As we move through this series, we'll continue to explore how to stay spiritually anchored, emotionally steady, and rooted in love — even when the story isn't finished.

 

About the Series: Still Faithful

Still Faithful is a season created for Christian parents navigating painful, unresolved parenting journeys — including estrangement, distance, and moments when a child's choices challenge deeply held beliefs.

This series is designed to help you:

  • Stay grounded when parenting hurts

  • Discern next faithful steps without pressure

  • Love well without losing yourself

  • Trust God even when outcomes are uncertain

 


Melinda Patrick hosts The Bridge Between Us: A Guide For Christian Parents Navigating the LGBTQ Conversation, a space created for those navigating one of family life's most complex and emotional journeys. This podcast speaks directly to the moment a parent learns their child identifies as LGBTQ-a moment often met with a whirlwind of love, fear, faith questions, and a deep desire to preserve connection. Rather than offering simplistic answers, these conversations explore the nuanced tension between deeply held religious beliefs and the unconditional love for a child. Melinda brings empathy and understanding to the heartbreak and confusion, assuring parents they are not alone in their struggle. Each episode delves into practical aspects of building and maintaining that essential bridge of relationship, discussing what it means to embody both grace and truth in daily interactions. The dialogue here is for parents seeking to move beyond fear or isolation, looking for a compassionate path forward that honors their faith and their child. By focusing on real stories and thoughtful perspectives, this podcast becomes a vital resource for strengthening family bonds during a time of profound change. It’s about finding a way to walk together, even when the path feels unfamiliar.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Bridge Between Us: Loving Your LGBT Identified Child Without Compromising Biblical Truth
Podcast Episodes
What If God Wants To Do More Than Answer Your Prayer {Eps 141} [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:33
If I asked what you most want God to change about the situation with your child, you could probably answer quickly. Maybe you want a decision reversed. A relationship restored. A conversation to finally happen. Or you de…
When Your Child's Choices Start Consuming Your Life {Eps 140} [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:18
When something is happening in your child's life that you desperately want to change, it can all start feeling like your responsibility. Their choices. Their relationship with God. Whether they understand what you're try…
When Fear Becomes Your Parenting Strategy {Eps 137} [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:19
Fear is a natural response when someone we love is making choices we don't understand or when the future feels uncertain. For many Christian parents, fear can quietly become a constant companion—fueling worry, second-gue…
When Guilt Is Driving Your Parenting {Eps 136} [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:47
Guilt is one of the heaviest burdens many Christian parents carry, especially when an adult child makes choices that differ from their values, faith, or hopes for the future. Questions like What did I do wrong?, Could I…
The Beliefs That Quietly Drive Your Parenting {Eps 135} [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:54
As Christian parents, we often focus on our child's choices, behaviors, and circumstances. But what if some of our strongest emotional reactions are actually being shaped by our own beliefs that we haven't fully recogniz…