Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Grace is Messy

Home
Meet Steve Austin
About Messy Grace
Books
Speaker
Contact
Categories
- Faith
- Family
  - Marriage
  - Parenting
- Mental Health
- Recovery
- Writing Help
Best of Messy Grace
Support
Supporters
Affirming Churches
ASK STEVE!
Press
The Podcast

Home
Progressive Christian

2016-06-06T12:50:31-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Overcoming the Crippling Fear of Postpartum Depression

Last updated on: June 6, 2016 at 12:50 pm By Lindsey Austin

A baby is supposed to fill us with unspeakable joy, but for someone who has walked through the nightmare of postpartum depression, the fear can be crippling. After my son’s birth, I suffered from severe postpartum depression. It was the darkest time in my life. I was hospitalized for nearly two weeks and separated from my newborn for most of that time. The situation was completely beyond my control, but I felt so much shame over it. With the help of... Read more

postpartum depression

Pregnancy

2016-06-06T16:44:56-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Miley Cyrus and How to Find Grace in the Midst of the Mess

Last updated on: June 6, 2016 at 4:44 pm By Steve Austin

I have found God in the midst of the mess. And I’ll never be the same. Let’s go ahead and get this out of the way: I am not a Miley Cyrus fan. I was too old to care about Hannah Montana and I didn’t love her achy breaky daddy either. That song was awful, even when it was popular, but this daughter of his, she’s a whole new level of what in the literal hell is going on? She... Read more

Faith

Family

Messy Grace

This is My Story (series)

2016-06-06T16:45:57-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I was molested. How to overcome the trauma of abuse.

Last updated on: June 6, 2016 at 4:45 pm By Guest Contributor

*Trigger Warning: This story contains graphic details of child molestation.* To be a christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God forgave the inexcusable in you. -C.S. Lewis I was twelve when my dad left my mom. To be honest, I really don’t remember what life was like before the divorce. I don’t remember the good or the bad. Everything’s a blur. And there are parts of the story after the divorce I often wish I could magically blur away.... Read more

This is My Story (series)

abuse

childhood sexual abuse

2016-06-06T16:48:01-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

How to Bury Your Past and Live in the Present

Last updated on: June 6, 2016 at 4:48 pm By Steve Austin

Ever wondered how to stop living in the past and be present in the now? It’s possible. Here’s how. How many times do I go back to my past and try to find life there? Digging up memories of former hurts, dwelling on old mistakes and pain I buried years ago? It reminds me of Mary and Martha, the day they went back to the tomb of Jesus and found it empty. But I’m definitely not trying to resurrect Jesus. More... Read more

Faith

Messy Grace

This is My Story (series)

2016-06-06T16:49:02-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Advice to a Younger Me: Life Gets Better!

Last updated on: June 6, 2016 at 4:49 pm By Sarah Simmons

What would you tell your twenty-year-old self? Here’s some wisdom and grace from Sarah. To my twenty-year-old self: Oh, sweet girl, things are going to get better. You’re going to get through this. I know you don’t believe it. Everything seems shattered, as you lie gasping under the weight of searing pain. You hate yourself for not being able to make it better. You don’t know life apart from shame. Somewhere this belief that you’re intrinsically toxic has taken root.... Read more

2016-06-06T16:50:55-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

How to Trust God Through Your Worst Nightmare

Last updated on: June 6, 2016 at 4:50 pm By Steve Austin

We pulled up to our new little cottage and just stared. This was it — we were actually going to live out our dream in Seward, Alaska of all places — a tiny little town in Resurrection Bay. A few blocks in one direction took us to the waterfront and a few blocks in the other led directly to the mountain path. Our little rental home withstood the tsunami from the late 1960’s, but the original hardwood floors still creaked... Read more

2016-09-01T08:24:33-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A Snapshot of the Daily Struggle with Mental Illness

Last updated on: September 1, 2016 at 8:24 am By Steve Austin

After two days of panic attacks and a scary spike in my blood pressure, I left work early and drove myself to the doctor’s office, full of shame and anxiety. Every stop light seemed to make it worse. Although I don’t normally have road rage, the little old lady in front of me was making my forehead sweat. Once I arrived, the doctor put me back on meds (I should have never stopped them) and took me off caffeine. I... Read more

2016-06-06T16:54:14-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

To Those with Less-than-Perfect Moms on Mother’s Day

Last updated on: June 6, 2016 at 4:54 pm By Steve Austin

Do you have a less-than-perfect mother? Is she deceased and your memory of her doesn’t exactly make you want to celebrate on Mother’s Day? Mother’s Day isn’t easy for everyone. We don’t get to choose our parents. But in this video, I will share some thoughts around wisdom and grace that I learned from two of my favorite people: Anne Lamott and Carl Nicholson. Check it out and PLEASE share it. https://youtu.be/sj7x8-_F08E Read more

2016-06-06T16:55:18-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

When the Church Answers for My Marriage Weren’t Enough…

Last updated on: June 6, 2016 at 4:55 pm By Lindsey Austin

Steve and I had been passionately in love during the early years. Date nights, trips out of town, words of affirmation, deeds of service, time spent: you name it, we did it. We were experts at keeping the romance alive. My second child was just shy of five months old when my husband wrecked my car. Instead of being concerned for his safety, I wanted to run away. He may have been stranded on the side of the interstate, but... Read more

2016-06-06T16:56:32-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Why I am Teaching My Children to Make Friends with Fear

Last updated on: June 6, 2016 at 4:56 pm By Steve Austin

How and what are you teaching your children about fear? When you make friends with fear, it can’t rule you. -Anne Lamott Ben and I had a wonderful time feeding the ducks at the park. When I looked down at my watch, it was 7:03pm. I couldn’t believe two hours had passed in that one brief blink. We’d thrown bread to the mallards and the Canadian geese and stood at a semi-safe distance and watched the little goslings as they... Read more

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Jesus heal on a man lowered through a roof in Capernaum?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Paralysis Leprosy Dumbness Blindness

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Anxiety Best of Messy Grace Current Events Depression Faith Family Featured Fiction lgbtq Marriage Mental Health Messy Grace Millennials Parenting Recovery Recovery from a Suicide Attempt Recovery from Abuse Recovery from Porn Addiction Religious Recovery Self Care The Struggle With Church This is My Story (series) Uncategorized Writing Help

Select a Month January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 June 2015 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 June 2013 April 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 September 2011 August 2011 May 2011 July 2010

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Progressive Christian