Healing After a Major Betrayal: How to Forgive, Protect Your Heart, and Rebuild with Grace

Summary:

Betrayal cuts deep—especially when it comes from someone you trusted. In this heartfelt episode, Tom shares from personal experience what it means to walk the long road of healing after a major betrayal. Whether you’ve been hurt by a friend, a spouse, a family member, or a business partner, the weight of that pain can feel overwhelming. But you don’t have to carry it forever.

This conversation unpacks the practical and spiritual steps toward emotional freedom, the importance of guarding your heart during recovery, and how to rebuild your life without bitterness taking root. If you’re struggling with how to forgive or how to move forward, this episode is for you.

5 Bullet Points Highlighting Key Points:

• Why forgiveness is more about your freedom than the other person’s behavior.
• The difference between healthy boundaries and isolation after betrayal.
• How to protect your peace while you're still in the healing process.
• Why bitterness can’t be your foundation—and what to build on instead.
• Biblical truths and personal practices to start over with clarity and hope.

Why You Should Listen:

If you’ve ever had the wind knocked out of you by betrayal, this episode offers a path forward. It’s not about pretending everything’s okay—it’s about taking real, honest steps toward healing, with God’s help. You’ll walk away encouraged, equipped, and reminded that even if your trust was broken, your story isn’t over.

Why This Episode Matters:

Betrayal can feel like the end—but it doesn’t have to be. This episode reminds listeners that God sees, God heals, and God still has a purpose for your life. It's a message of resilience, faith, and practical wisdom for anyone trying to pick up the pieces and begin again.

If today’s episode encouraged you, take the next step by visiting www.newlifewithgodpodcast.com. There, you’ll find additional resources and tools to help you navigate life’s challenges and rebuild with faith and purpose.

Share this episode with someone who may need a reminder that they’re not alone. Let’s inspire hope and show that with God’s grace, even the most broken seasons can lead to a beautiful new beginning.

If you'd like a copy of Tom's book "Starting Over: Life 2.0 With God', visit www.thestartingoverbook.com.

Do you want to know God and receive Jesus as Savior into your life for healing and salvation? Put your trust in Him with a simple prayer of faith HERE.

Summary

In today’s episode of Starting Over | Life 2.0 With God, Tom and guest Paul Berard unpack the very real struggle of managing anxiety during major life transitions.

Whether it’s a sudden loss, an unexpected move, becoming an empty nester, or walking through grief—these moments shake our routines and rattle our sense of control. But as Paul and Tom share from their own experiences, there are ways to slow down the chaos, reframe your mindset, and invite God into the stress instead of trying to carry it alone.

This is a real-life conversation about faith, fear, and finding steady ground when everything around you is shifting.

What You’ll Learn

• The difference between planned and unplanned transitions—and why the unplanned ones hit harder
• Why naming your anxiety is a key first step to managing it
• The importance of slowing down, breathing, and making “next-step” decisions—not solving everything all at once
• How exercise, small routines, and physical movement can reset your emotional health
• Why speaking truth to fear changes everything, especially with Scripture and support

Why You Should Listen

If you're feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, or just emotionally exhausted by the changes in your life, you're not alone—and you don’t have to navigate it on your own. This episode isn’t about giving you quick fixes. It’s about giving you real encouragement, grounded advice, and reminding you that God walks with you in the middle of the mess. Even when you don’t know what’s next, He does.

Why This Episode Matters

Transitions aren’t just logistical—they’re emotional and spiritual too. Left unmanaged, anxiety can paralyze us and steal the hope God wants to restore. But when we pause, breathe, and invite Him into the moment, everything starts to shift.

This conversation matters because so many people silently struggle through life changes thinking they have to “hold it all together.” But the truth is: healing starts when you admit you don’t have to. God’s not surprised by your situation—and He’s not disappointed in where you are. He’s with you, and He’s already working on what’s ahead.

If today’s episode encouraged you, take the next step by visiting www.newlifewithgodpodcast.com. There, you’ll find additional resources and tools to help you navigate life’s challenges and rebuild with faith and purpose.

Share this episode with someone who may need a reminder that they’re not alone. Let’s inspire hope and show that with God’s grace, even the most broken seasons can lead to a beautiful new beginning.

If you'd like a copy of Tom's book "Starting Over: Life 2.0 With God', visit www.thestartingoverbook.com.

Do you want to know God and receive Jesus as Savior? His death paid the price for your sins. Put your trust in Him with a simple prayer of faith HERE.

Summary

In this episode of Starting Over | Life 2.0 With God, Tom sits down with Paul Berard to talk about something that quietly affects so many of us—what to do when life has knocked the wind out of your dreams. After going through major disappointments, failures, or betrayals, dreaming again can feel risky. Even foolish. But what if that dream still matters? What if God’s not done with it—or with you?

This heartfelt conversation explores how to reclaim hope, rebuild your mindset, and protect those dreams from the voices (inside and outside your head) trying to shut them down. It’s honest, personal, and packed with encouragement for anyone trying to move forward after a major setback.

What You’ll Learn

• Why dreaming again after failure takes real courage
• How to tell the difference between a dream and a God-given vision
• The power of mindset and how it shapes your future
• How to guard your heart and protect your dreams from negative influences
• What to do when other people’s opinions threaten to derail your progress

Why You Should Listen

If you’ve ever thought, “It’s too late for me,” or “I don’t even know how to start over,” this episode is for you. Tom and Paul don’t shy away from the hard stuff—they’ve both walked through it. But what you’ll hear is not just their story—it’s a reminder of your story still being written. If you're in a place where you want to believe again, to dream again, to try again, this conversation might be just what your heart needs.

Why This Episode Matters

Life has a way of dimming the dreams we once held tightly. But God is the one who brings beauty from ashes. When we dare to dream again, even with shaky hands, we’re stepping into the story God still wants to tell through us.

This episode matters because too many people are stuck in regret, self-doubt, or fear—and they need to be reminded that it’s not too late. That there is still more ahead. That dreaming again might just be the most faithful thing you can do right now.

If today’s episode encouraged you, take the next step by visiting www.newlifewithgodpodcast.com. There, you’ll find additional resources and tools to help you navigate life’s challenges and rebuild with faith and purpose.

Share this episode with someone who may need a reminder that they’re not alone. Let’s inspire hope and show that with God’s grace, even the most broken seasons can lead to a beautiful new beginning.

If you'd like a copy of Tom's book "Starting Over: Life 2.0 With God', visit www.thestartingoverbook.com.

Do you want to know God and receive Jesus as Savior? His death paid the price for your sins. Put your trust in Him with a simple prayer of faith HERE.

Summary

In today’s episode of Starting Over | Life 2.0 With God, we’re getting real about something many people struggle with but don’t always talk about—loneliness after a breakup or divorce.

Tom opens up about his own experience with the silence that follows a relationship ending, how it hit harder than expected, and what helped him move through it.

This episode isn’t just about the pain—it’s about healing, rebuilding your identity, and finding God in the quiet moments. Whether you're in that space right now or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers hope, encouragement, and practical ways to keep going.

What You’ll Learn

• Why loneliness can feel so heavy after a relationship ends

• How to stop replaying the past and start moving forward

• Ways to build new connections and community

• The difference between being alone and being in solitude

• How to let God meet you in the quiet when life feels empty

Why You Should Listen

If you’re feeling like your world just fell apart—or even if it happened a while ago and you're still struggling—this episode is for you. You’ll hear honest talk about what it’s like to start over, why it’s okay to grieve what could’ve been, and how faith can help you rebuild from the inside out. It’s a reminder that you’re not the only one feeling this way, and that healing is possible—one step at a time.

Why This Episode Matters

After a breakup or divorce, it’s easy to feel like you’re the only one going through it. But you’re not. This episode helps break that isolation by offering stories, scripture, and encouragement from someone who’s been there. If you’re in a season of starting over, this is a gentle nudge to keep going, trust God, and believe that something better is still ahead—even if you can’t see it yet.

If today’s episode encouraged you, take the next step by visiting www.newlifewithgodpodcast.com. There, you’ll find additional resources and tools to help you navigate life’s challenges and rebuild with faith and purpose.

Share this episode with someone who may need a reminder that they’re not alone. Let’s inspire hope and show that with God’s grace, even the most broken seasons can lead to a beautiful new beginning.

If you'd like a copy of Tom's book "Starting Over: Life 2.0 With God', visit www.thestartingoverbook.com.

Do you want to know God and receive Jesus as Savior? His death paid the price for your sins. Put your trust in Him with a simple prayer of faith HERE.

Embracing Uncertainty: Trusting God When the Future Is Foggy

Summary

In this episode of Starting Over: Life 2.0 With God, we dive into the uncomfortable but inevitable topic of uncertainty. Whether you're navigating a life transition, facing a difficult decision, or just wondering what your next step should be, this conversation will speak to the heart of the struggle.

Tom and guest Paul Barard explore how uncertainty isn't just a pause—it can be a place of preparation. From biblical insights to personal stories, this episode encourages you to trade fear for faith, lean into discernment, and trust that God is guiding you even when you can't see the full path ahead.

What You’ll Learn

• Why uncertainty often reveals our core beliefs and identity struggles

• How taking a small step forward can lead to clarity

• What it looks like to practice active discernment and obedience

• How to balance wisdom and faith during indecision

• The power of surrendering control and trusting God one step at a time

Why You Should Listen

If you’re facing a season where clarity seems out of reach and the pressure to make the “right” decision feels overwhelming, this episode offers practical encouragement and biblical perspective. You’ll be reminded that you’re not alone—and that God isn’t distant during the unknown. He’s right beside you, holding your hand as you step forward.

Why This Episode Matters

In a world filled with options, decisions, and distractions, it’s easy to become paralyzed by indecision. This episode reminds us that uncertainty doesn’t have to be feared—it can be embraced as a sacred space where God does some of His best work.

By sharing stories, scriptures, and faith-filled insight, this conversation invites listeners to trust God not just with the destination, but with every uncertain step along the way.

If today’s episode encouraged you, take the next step by visiting www.newlifewithgodpodcast.com. There, you’ll find additional resources and tools to help you navigate life’s challenges and rebuild with faith and purpose.

Share this episode with someone who may need a reminder that they’re not alone. Let’s inspire hope and show that with God’s grace, even the most broken seasons can lead to a beautiful new beginning.

If you'd like a copy of Tom's book "Starting Over: Life 2.0 With God', visit www.thestartingoverbook.com.

Do you want to know God and receive Jesus as Savior? His death paid the price for your sins. Put your trust in Him with a simple prayer of faith HERE.

Summary:

In this episode of Starting Over: Life 2.0 with God, we take an honest look at what it means to practice patience in seasons of transition. Whether you're stepping out of a major life crisis, navigating uncertainty, or waiting for God to open the next door, the in-between can feel confusing and discouraging.

Joined by my friend Paul Berard, we talk about the emotional and spiritual toll that waiting can take, why delays aren't denials, and how God often does His most refining work in these quiet, unseen moments. This episode is about shifting your mindset from frustration to faith and finding strength in the slow.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to recognize that waiting on God is not the same as doing nothing

• Why God’s timing often doesn’t match our sense of urgency

• The connection between emotional frustration and spiritual immaturity

• How past seasons of waiting can prepare you for present growth

• Biblical insights and stories that show how patience leads to purpose

Why You Should Listen:

If you’re in a season where nothing seems to be happening fast enough—or at all—this episode will bring clarity and peace. Paul and I share personal stories and scripture-based insights that will help you see that your waiting has meaning. Whether you're waiting for healing, a breakthrough, or direction, this conversation will encourage you to keep trusting and keep moving forward.

Why This Episode Matters:

Patience is one of the most overlooked and undervalued acts of faith. Yet, it is often in our slowest, most uncertain seasons that God does His deepest work in us. When we learn to surrender our timelines and trust His, we begin to see the true beauty in the process.

This episode reminds listeners that the wait is not a waste—and that God is always preparing something greater, even when we can't see it yet.

If today’s episode encouraged you, take the next step by visiting www.newlifewithgodpodcast.com. There, you’ll find additional resources and tools to help you navigate life’s challenges and rebuild with faith and purpose.

Share this episode with someone who may need a reminder that they’re not alone. Let’s inspire hope and show that with God’s grace, even the most broken seasons can lead to a beautiful new beginning.

If you'd like a copy of Tom's book "Starting Over: Life 2.0 With God', visit www.thestartingoverbook.com.

Do you want to know God and receive Jesus as Savior? His death paid the price for your sins. Put your trust in Him with a simple prayer of faith HERE.

Summary:

In this episode of Starting Over Life 2.0 with God, Tom sits down with Kari Schwear, founder of GrayTonic, to unpack the often-overlooked space between social drinking and alcoholism—what she calls “gray area drinking.”

Kari shares her personal journey of breaking free from that gray zone, how her faith reignited in the process, and why it’s crucial to get honest with ourselves if we want true transformation. Together, they explore how to start over without alcohol, how to build a support system rooted in truth, and how God meets us in the middle of our mess with clarity, purpose, and healing.

What You’ll Learn:

• What gray area drinking is and how it affects far more people than we realize
• How honesty and self-awareness are key to lasting transformation
• Why addressing the deeper “gray areas” of life—marriage, faith, health, purpose—is critical
• How community, boundaries, and prayer help support a sober and faith-filled life
• Practical tools like Kari's SABER method and the “Engines and Anchors” exercise

Why You Should Listen:

If you’ve struggled with drinking—or know someone who has—but don’t quite relate to the label “alcoholic,” this episode is for you. Kerry shares how God used her gray area drinking as a catalyst for purpose and calling. You’ll learn how to reframe the role of alcohol in your life, how to rebuild your identity, and how faith, honesty, and community can become your lifelines when starting over. It’s a powerful conversation full of grace, truth, and hope for real change.

Episode Matters:

Many people wrestle silently in the space between social drinking and dependence, unsure of where they stand or how to move forward. This episode brings light to that hidden struggle and equips listeners with faith-based insights and tools to break free.

More than just giving something up, Kerry’s story is about discovering what you’re truly meant for—and letting God reshape your life from the inside out.

Kari Schwear Contact Info:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karischwear/

Website: https://www.graytonic.com/

If today’s episode encouraged you, take the next step by visiting www.newlifewithgodpodcast.com. There, you’ll find additional resources and tools to help you navigate life’s challenges and rebuild with faith and purpose.

Share this episode with someone who may need a reminder that they’re not alone. Let’s inspire hope and show that with God’s grace, even the most broken seasons can lead to a beautiful new beginning.

If you'd like a copy of Tom's book "Starting Over: Life 2.0 With God', visit www.thestartingoverbook.com.

Do you want to know God and receive Jesus as Savior? His death paid the price for your sins. Put your trust in Him with a simple prayer of faith HERE.

Summary

Rejection is something we all experience, and it’s never easy. Whether it’s a job loss, a failed relationship, or a missed opportunity, rejection can leave us feeling stuck and questioning our worth.

But what if rejection isn’t an end—what if it’s God’s way of redirecting us toward something better? In this episode, we’ll explore how to handle rejection with faith, how to see it as divine redirection, and how to trust that God’s plan is always better than our own.

Through biblical examples, personal stories, and powerful insights, we’ll uncover why every closed door can be a step toward a greater purpose.

What You’ll Learn

✅ Why rejection isn’t personal—it’s preparation for something better.

✅ How God’s “no” often leads to a better “yes” in His perfect timing.

✅ Biblical stories of people who faced rejection and later saw God’s greater purpose.

✅ How to shift your mindset from disappointment to divine appointment.

✅ Practical ways to trust God’s plan when rejection stings.

Why You Should Listen

• You’ve experienced rejection and struggle with feeling like you’re not enough.

• You’re questioning God’s plan after a door has closed in your life.

• You want to understand how to turn rejection into a stepping stone for something greater.

• You need encouragement to trust God’s timing and direction, even when it doesn’t make sense.

• You’re looking for biblical wisdom on how God uses rejection to position us for His purpose.

Why This Episode Matters

Rejection doesn’t define you—God’s plan does. The job that passed you by? God has something better. The person who left? God is making room for someone greater. The opportunity that fell through? It wasn’t meant for you—and that’s a good thing.

One day, you’ll look back and thank God for every “no” that led to a better “yes.”

Key Bible Verses & Quotes:

John 10:10 (NIV): "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." – The enemy wants rejection to destroy us, but God wants to use it to redirect us.

Acts 16:6-10 (NIV): "Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia." – Sometimes God’s “no” is a setup for a greater assignment.

Genesis 50:20 (NIV): "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." – Joseph’s rejection led to his purpose.

Quote from No Limits by John Maxwell: "The greatest limitations you will ever face will be the ones you place on yourself." – Don’t let rejection become a self-imposed limitation.

Quote from 'It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way' by Lysa TerKeurst: "God isn’t ever going to forsake you, but He will go to great lengths to remake you." – God uses rejection to transform us, not abandon us.

If today’s episode encouraged you, take the next step by visiting www.newlifewithgodpodcast.com. There, you’ll find additional resources and tools to help you navigate life’s challenges and rebuild with faith and purpose.

Share this episode with someone who may need a reminder that they’re not alone. Let’s inspire hope and show that with God’s grace, even the most broken seasons can lead to a beautiful new beginning.

If you'd like a copy of Tom's book "Starting Over: Life 2.0 With God', visit www.thestartingoverbook.com.

Do you want to know God and receive Jesus as Savior? His death paid the price for your sins. Put your trust in Him with a simple prayer of faith HERE.