New Life Live With Steve Arterburn

Caller Questions & Discussion: Dr. Jill reflects on the meaning of Good Friday and why it’s called “good.” Our sin is deeper than we often realize, but God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness are greater than we could ever imagine. My fiancée has asked for more time before we get married—how do I navigate relationship uncertainty and emotional stress? Our son and daughter-in-law have cut off all communication with us. I have many of their belongings and want to return them—should I hire a lawyer or handle this family conflict personally? We have legal guardianship of our 12-year-old granddaughter and 8-year-old grandson after she was sexually assaulted. What should I do after my grandson shared what happened with the neighbors? It upset my granddaughter and the neighbors.

Caller Questions & Discussion: Dr. Sheri explains how the process of healing after trauma can feel like a lobster in the ocean—protected by a thick shell we develop after being hurt. I lost my husband in February after he suffered for years following a car accident, and I’m struggling to cope with grief. Should I consider surgery for ongoing issues with my eyes? I’ve had surgery before, but it didn’t improve my vision. I have ADHD and have been taking Lexapro and Adderall, which used to work well for me. But now, I feel disconnected from God’s voice. Do I need to adjust my medication?

Caller Questions & Discussion: Becky discusses “Spy Wednesday” when Judas sold out Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. We have betrayed Jesus by going our own way. During Holy Week, let us dismantle everything that isn’t about eternal things. My husband of 39 years left me and gave me the responsibility of selling our home. How do I deal with the anger and resentment? I was put out of the house due to aggression toward my 17-year-old stepdaughter and was charged. Is there any way to reconcile my marriage? I’m 20 and have a child with a woman who also has a child with another man. I’ve tolerated a lot of disrespect—how do I set healthier boundaries?

Caller Questions & Discussion: Becky discusses the Garden of Gethsemane and how Christ knew the suffering that was ahead of Him. In this world, you will face struggles. But as Christ prayed for the cup of suffering to be taken from Him, He said, “Not my will, but yours be done.” If pastors made themselves more vulnerable, would it help with church attendance? I brought someone to church, and he felt uncomfortable. I don’t fly anymore because I was on a plane that almost crashed. But my daughter moved 1,200 miles away and is upset with me for not coming to see her, along with other issues from the past. How do I know if Jesus has taken me through a healing process from trauma, or if I’m becoming depressed? I’ve been in therapy for a long time dealing with PTSD from my parents and am a new believer.

Caller Questions & Discussion: Dr. Jill asks the question: How do we do end of life well? In the last few years, Dr. Jill has experienced close friends and family members who have passed away or are on the verge of passing away. She’s seen how there’s avoidance until you can no longer avoid. What then? You have to lean in and show up. When people finally face what’s happening, God shows up. My husband confessed that female coworkers have been flirting with him, and it hurts me that he didn’t tell me sooner. It reminds me of what happened 15 years ago when he was unfaithful. How do I move on? I know my sister is lying to me; should I cut off my relationship with her? How can I support my girlfriend who has OCD in the healthiest ways?

Caller Questions & Discussion: Becky challenges us with an important question: What work do you need to do on your own journey? You can’t control how others perceive you or the choices they make, but you can take responsibility for your own healing and growth. My life is a mess because of my gambling addiction. I’ve lost everything, and the only person I could talk to about it committed suicide this week. What should I do now? My dad recently passed away, and I discovered my sister had been taking money from him. I feel completely lost and don’t know where God is in all of this. How do I move forward?

Caller Questions & More: Dr. Alice shares the story of a woman that she’s counseling who had an abortion when she was a teen and had to learn how to forgive her family. God wants you to move to forgiveness; it will set you free from bitterness and resentment. Are we to forgive everyone or just other believers? I struggle to forgive myself for the abortions I’ve had and other things. How do I mend things with my 35-year-old daughter? She said she’s going to take a break from us. I’m 60 and was kicked out of nursing school because of my anxiety; I was able to go to another school and graduate. What can I do if anxiety makes it hard for me to work? How much should I intervene with my 22-year-old cousin? She’s lived with me since she was 10yo, but she’s now pregnant and living with her boyfriend. I’m married and don’t have any kids yet, but I believe that children are an inheritance from the Lord (Ps. 127:3-4). Is my faith lacking if I use IVF?

Caller Questions & Discussion: Dr. Alice shares a story about a high school cheerleader who became pregnant and had to leave school. Many teen girls and boys facing an unplanned pregnancy consider abortion and feel they can’t talk to their parents or church for support. I lost my beautiful 14-year-old daughter to a fentanyl overdose five years ago and regret selling my family estate years ago. How do I live with regret? I’m a minister. Is it wise to introduce people to the Holy Spirit and ask them if they’ve talked to the Holy Spirit? Brian tells of a man with alcohol and sex addiction whose pastor discouraged therapy. Should pastors advise against counseling?

Caller Questions & Discussion: Chris shares a powerful insight on anger and fear—two challenging emotions addressed in the Bible. Reflecting on James 1:19, we’re reminded to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. How do I navigate life after being divorced for 3 years? I was gaslit, and it still haunts me. I filed a restraining order against my husband and am disabled; where do I go from here? My friend said I shouldn’t get back into work too soon. How do I deal with my older brother in an inheritance dispute after my mom died? He feels it’s fair to hold back money from me. I was looking at sexually explicit material 15 years ago, but I’ve stopped. Do I have to follow through with everything my wife says I need to do to avoid divorce? How can I support my sister and my 32-year-old nephew on the autism spectrum? He has a job and is very outgoing but cannot drive and wants to go to New York City by himself.

Caller Questions & Discussion: Dr. Jim shares about the Shema, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, and how it is one of the most often quoted Bible Scriptures. Families can base the foundation of their relationships on this verse, especially Christian parents. My friend is 39 and just learned that her father is not her biological father! Should she keep her mother’s secret? My son’s wife and their 18-year-old daughter won’t go to church with them; they were deployed overseas, went through a house fire, and wonder where God is. How does a couple work through this faith and family challenge? My mother struggles with alcohol addiction and is in a care facility for dementia, but she still tries to seek out alcohol. How do I stay involved if I’ve resigned myself spiritually for my own sanity?

Caller Questions & Discussion: Dr. Jill shares about Jacob, who wrestled with God but ultimately surrendered. My daughter is in her 4os and is living with us. How do I deal with her hoarding? Do I tell my pastor I’m going to leave my church that I’ve gone to for 20 years? I feel judged by the pastor after I shared with him about getting a divorce. I’m 90, have lost a lot of people, and am going to see a counselor who does EMDR. What can I get from EMDR? How do I tell a family member who sexually abused me as a child that I’m not interested in helping him recover? How can I be Dad to an 11-year-old stepson when his mother says he doesn’t have to do anything he doesn’t want to?

Caller Questions & Discussion: Do I need to punish my 13-year-old son? He has been sexting a girl from school, and I’ve already taken away his phone. I’ve been married for over 41years and have a blended family, but my adult stepdaughter struggles to get along with me, even to the point of getting in my face and shouting. I’ve asked my 84-year-old mom, my only remaining family member, not to discuss certain things that are mentally difficult for me to handle, but she keeps doing it. Should I cut her off completely? I’m a counselor and just found out I might have PTSD. I think I might have anger issues but don’t show it. How can I be productive and help people if I need help myself? I’m one child in a blended family of 30; why did some of my brothers and sisters not want to know about each other?

Caller Questions & Discussion: Worry and anxiety can easily take over your life—but learning to identify your concerns is the first step toward healing. Becky reminds us that “life be life-ing, but God be God-ing!” My husband of nearly 50 years was involved with another woman and kissed her. He finally did a full disclosure. What do I need to focus on most? After struggling with sexual addiction years ago, my wife recently filed for divorce. She did this after getting upset that I didn’t tell her I was involved with another woman before we even met. After limiting your time with a jealous family member, what else can you do? What can you do if you’re the jealous one, or if someone is jealous of you?

Caller Questions & Discussion: JJ shares a powerful story from the world of sports that reminds us that God is not only omnipotent but also a loving Father who deeply cares for us. Because of His love, we can bring our shortcomings to Him and trust that He listens. I’ve been in an avoidant relationship for 10 years. We’re both retired. But when I set a boundary with him, he broke up with me. What should I do? How do I manage my clutter? My mom struggled with clutter too. I’m not a hoarder, but as an adult I’m realizing these habits have followed me. How can I disconnect from my adult children’s drama? They ask me to hold them accountable, but they don’t listen—and I’m exhausted. I’ve been baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and also in the name of Jesus only; what’s the difference?

Caller Questions & Discussion: Dr. Alice shares two biblical promises that can carry you through pain: learning to be content and trusting that God works all things for the good. I’m 66 and feel like my heart has turned to stone. Why can’t I feel God anymore? My 45-year-old son and his wife cut me off after sending a letter saying they no longer celebrate Christmas. I haven’t seen them in 20 years—how do I cope with this kind of family estrangement? I was sexually abused by my father as a child. He told me he’d kill me if I ever told anyone, and even though he’s now dead, I’m still afraid. How can I heal from this fear and trauma?

Caller Questions & Discussion: Dr. Jacqui discusses how reading helps your mental health. For example, literature can give us words for what we are feeling but don’t know how to express. Start by reading the Psalms, which provide language for our emotions and emotional health. Rather than telling men who look at sexually explicit materials that it is wrong, have you ever thought about telling them that it undermines safety in their marriage covenant? Can you give me guidance on a friendship with an unreliable woman? Last Friday, I was going to take her out for lunch on her birthday, but she was very late and didn’t take responsibility for it. Is EMDR giving over control to the therapist like hypnotherapy? My dad passed away when he was on a hunting trip, and I did EMDR therapy through a secular therapist.

Caller Questions & Discussion: Marc discusses statements that seem to show resilience but actually minimize the impact of trauma and past experiences. He explains two types of memories: implicit and explicit. Experiencing adverse childhood events isn’t about the severity of what happened—it’s about how we make sense of what we went through. I’ve been unemployed for two years and have depleted my savings. My husband has savings, but he won’t cover household expenses like food. I’ve told him I want to file for a legal separation. My husband did remodeling work for a widow in my Bible study, but she isn’t willing to pay him. I talked to our Bible study leader about it—what can I learn from this situation? The Bible says we have a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7), so why do so many Christians struggle with depression? I wasn’t in church for a year due to IBS, and it’s hard to get back into the groove.

Caller Questions & Discussion: Dr. Jim shares practical ways he and his wife grow closer spiritually—through praying, reading the Bible, and meaningful conversations. You can connect with your spouse spiritually, even if it’s just 5 minutes a day. How do I respond when my husband has separated emotionally from me but still plays the role of a loving husband and dad? He has anger outbursts, and we have three children. I moved to a rural community in Kentucky, and people often get excluded from churches or groups due to politics and personal conflicts. How can I handle these local power struggles gracefully? How can I help my 20-year-old granddaughter who says she is ‘married’ to both a woman and a man? She has a history of childhood sexual abuse, and her mother died from a drug overdose.

Caller Questions & Discussion: JJ discusses how we often waste energy focusing on past regrets, anxiety about the future, or trying to control everything around us—strategies that don’t work. He invites us to stop wasting energy on what we can’t fix and instead focus on what truly helps. Our 23-year-old son is bisexual and introduced us to his boyfriend last night. How do I navigate this? My daughter was sexually assaulted and had an abortion as a teen; how do I deal with my guilt that still affects our communication today? How can I support my 25-year-old son and his struggle with sexual integrity? He’s already been to Every Man’s Battle, but I recently saw something on his phone.

Caller Questions & Discussion: According to blended family expert Ron Deal, despite good intentions, most couples who bring children from previous relationships into marriage are not prepared to deal with them. The smarter you are, the better your family will be. I discovered my husband has been making a lot of phone calls to a female classmate from high school. To what extent should I insist on full disclosure? I’m a single mom to two teens and have been divorced for 2 years; how do I help them adjust to me dating again? I’m remarried, my husband’s adult son is in a wheelchair, and my husband and I don’t get to spend much time together. What is my role? What should I do?