In today’s episode of the Anchored By the Sword podcast, I’m joined by author, content creator, and all-around kind soul Hillary Phillips, to talk about her devotional My Brain While Reading the Bible—and let me tell you, I have never felt more seen.

If you’ve ever opened your Bible with the best intentions… only for your thoughts to immediately go everywhere else, this conversation is for you.

Hillary shares her powerful freedom journey—growing up in a home marked by alcoholism and abuse, navigating trauma, depression, grief, and eventually discovering healing through therapy, faith, and learning how to practically apply Scripture to real life. We talk openly about CPTSD, mental strongholds, and what it really means to “take our thoughts captive” without shame.

This episode is a reminder that two things can be true at once:
👉 You can love God deeply and still struggle
👉 You can be healing and joyful
👉 You can be faithful and human

We also dive into:

• Why comparison (especially on social media) steals our joy and calling

• Learning to stay in your God-given lane

• Walking with God through grief, including the loss of a loved one

• Hillary’s work with young women coming out of human trafficking and how God meets us in the hardest places

• How curiosity, imagination, and humor can help us engage Scripture in a life-giving way

Hillary’s devotional invites readers to see the people of the Bible as real humans—full of doubt, personality, fear, courage, and questions—while pointing us back to a faithful God who meets us right where we are.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• “Am I doing something wrong in my faith?”

• “Why does my brain work like this when I read the Bible?”

• “Is there freedom for someone like me?”

This episode is for you.

Bio:

Hillary Caitlyn Phillips is a social media influencer, content creator, actress, writer, and woman after God’s heart! She loves to uplift and encourage others through entertainment and prays that everything she creates brings joy and healing to others. She has voiced in animated projects, including The Big Blue Book and A Garden Cartoon Movie: The Greatest Thing Ever!

Anchor Verses:

Psalm 25:5

Psalm 33:18

Connect with Hillary:

LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/whatsuphill

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Itshillarycaitlyn

IG: https://www.instagram.com/hillsofhope/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itshillarycaitlyn

📖 Get the book: My Brain While Reading the Bible is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble (select locations or online), and ChristianBook.com.

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