In this deeply needed and tender conversation, Anna sits down with author, podcaster, and Bible teacher Michelle Nezat to talk about a topic many believers quietly carry: church hurt and spiritual abuse. With decades of experience studying Scripture, creating discipleship tools, and walking alongside the body of Christ, Michelle brings clarity, biblical grounding, and compassion to a conversation that is often confusing and isolating.
Together, Anna and Michelle unpack the difference between being hurt at church and experiencing church hurt or spiritual abuse, why power and authority matter in that distinction, and how easy it is to get swept into a toxic bubble without even noticing. Michelle shares from her own current "wilderness season," as she and her family navigate healing, disorientation, and the slow, steady process of finding a healthy church home after deep hurt.
If you've ever asked,
"Am I crazy?"
"How did this happen?"
"Can I trust again?"
"Where do I go from here?"
this episode will breathe truth, comfort, and hope into your heart. Michelle reminds us that Jesus is not the one who hurt you, His Word can heal you, and His design for the Church is good—even when His people fall so painfully short.
Hurt at Church vs. Church Hurt vs. Spiritual Abuse
Why Naming the Hurt Matters
How Toxic "Bubbles" Form
Guarding Your Heart with Scripture
Healing After Church Hurt
Re-entering Community with Wisdom
Turning Your Eyes Upon Jesus
1 Timothy – Qualifications for elders and church leadership
1 Corinthians 12 – The Church as one body with many parts
1 Peter 2:4–5 – Believers as living stones being built into a spiritual house
Romans 14 – Disputable matters and living unto the Lord
Isaiah & Jeremiah – Warnings about idolatry and spiritual delusion
Ephesians 5 – The Church as the Bride of Christ
A Seat at the Table – Michelle Nezat (her debut novel centered on Scripture's authority) - https://a.co/d/0ad7sRW9
More Than a Song Podcast – Michelle's long-standing podcast connecting Christian music to Scripture - https://www.michellenezat.com/podcast-2/
The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse – David Johnson & Jeff VanVonderen - https://a.co/d/0boRB0rQ
The True Vine – Andrew Murray - https://a.co/d/07gDSWEh
Wesley Huff – Apologist and contextual Bible teacher (mentioned as a resource Anna enjoys) - https://www.wesleyhuff.com/
Website: https://www.michellenezat.com/
Podcast: More Than a Song - https://www.michellenezat.com/podcast-3/
Novel: A Seat at the Table - https://michellenezat.podia.com/mybooks
Want to be a guest on Overwhelmed to Overcomer? Send Anna McLaughlin a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/overwhelmedtoovercomer
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MUSIC CREDITS
Theme music: Brave New World
ASLC-1BEF9A9E-9E9D609662
Artist: Fantoms
Inspiring Hopeful
Audio source: Jamendo
Artist: Aliaksei Yukhnevich
ASLC-2B505EF3-E9CD4817A6
