What if emotions are not the enemy but a vital part of following Jesus? Jessie Evans is joined by researcher and writer Becky Castle Miller, along with Steadfast team members Tiff Holdgate and Annalise Lind, to explore the psychology and theology of emotions—how our brains construct them, how Jesus discipled his followers emotionally, and how the church can engage emotional health more faithfully.
This episode is produced by Steadfast Christian Counseling in Charleston, SC. Our team of licensed therapists helps people of all ages work through trauma, anxiety, depression, and relationship struggles with a Christ-centered, research-informed approach. Learn more at steadfastchristiancounseling.com.
Key themes include:
Emotions as meaning-making processes of body + mind
Jesus as a teacher of emotions (joy, compassion, enemy love)
Trauma responses, IFS therapy, and discipleship
Why mistranslating “anxiety” in scripture harms people
Neurodivergence and emotional regulation challenges
Emotions, intuition, and recovery from spiritual abuse
Timestamps
00:01 – Welcome + introducing Becky Castle Miller
01:08 – Defining what “emotion” really means
05:00 – How Jesus discipled his followers emotionally
09:15 – Trauma-informed parenting and naming emotions
11:13 – A “third way” of engaging emotions in faith and culture
13:54 – Differentiating emotions, trauma responses, and IFS “parts”
16:30 – Becky’s personal story: emotional suppression, counseling, and healing
19:49 – Seminary, PhD research, and women bringing sound scholarship to the church
22:19 – Neurodivergence and challenges in emotional regulation
26:59 – Mistranslating “anxiety” in Scripture
31:18 – Co-regulation, not condemnation
33:09 – Rethinking “the heart is deceitful”
40:00 – Emotions, intuition, and spiritual abuse
42:36 – Misogyny + anti-emotionalism in evangelical culture
43:26 – Where to find Becky + her upcoming book
46:08 – Recommended books
47:16 – Closing reflections
Resources & Links:
Website: beckycastlemiller.com
Substack: beckycastlemiller.substack.com
Instagram: @wholeemotion
Jesus Was (Becky’s chapter “Jesus Was Emotional”) – Kregel Publishing
Following King Jesus by Scot McKnight & Becky Castle Miller – Amazon
Post-Traumatic Jesus by David Peters – Amazon
How Emotions Are Made by Lisa Feldman Barrett – Amazon | TED Talk
Between Us by Batja Mesquita – Amazon