After 89 episodes, Dave and Jess Quak open up about taking a short, intentional break from producing the Sunburnt Souls podcast. This conversation dives deep into the rhythms of rest, spiritual renewal, and what it means to step back without stepping away.

They share honestly about attending to their inner life, protecting their marriage, finding God in the quiet, and letting go of performance and pressure. This is a heartfelt conversation about being human, listening to God, and trusting that pause doesn’t mean stop — it means prepare.

Episode Highlights

00:00 – 00:20 — Dave announces a surprise break for Sunburnt Souls
00:55 – 01:56 — Attending to the inner life and intimacy with God
02:41 – 03:08 — Dave’s plan: focus on God, marriage, and self-care
03:50 – 04:45 — Craving silence after seasons of constant noise
05:28 – 06:05 — Cultivating rhythms of quiet and presence
07:20 – 07:57 — Letting go of analytics and redefining success
08:41 – 09:34 — Working on marriage before problems arise
10:53 – 11:30 — Balancing ministry, work, and family demands
12:55 – 13:10 — Catching a giant Spanish mackerel (and having fun!)
14:22 – 15:33 — Encouragement for listeners heading into Christmas
16:34 – 17:48 — Giving and receiving love this Christmas
18:32 – 19:54 — The free course: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health
21:44 – 22:51 — Jess closes in prayer for rest, renewal, and blessing

Reflection

This episode is a reminder that even in ministry and creativity, our souls need rest. Dave and Jess model how to pause without guilt, to listen for God’s voice again, and to protect what matters most — their relationship with God, each other, and their own wellbeing.

Maybe this episode is your invitation to take a breath too.

☀️ CONNECT with Sunburnt Souls

Discover more from Sunburnt Souls — a Christian mental health podcast sharing real stories of faith, hope, and healing at sunburntsouls.com.

Explore our library of Christian mental health resources, including podcasts, free devotionals, and online courses designed to help you strengthen your faith, overcome anxiety and depression, and experience emotional and spiritual renewal.

🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

A 28-day, $28 journey to help you:

• Embrace your identity in Jesus
• Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
• Navigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace

👉 Start your 28-day journey today

📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

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🙏 SUPPORT THE MISSION

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After a BMX crash left him paralysed, Nathan faced years of depression and doubt. Discover how faith, resilience, and community led to real hope.

What happens when your body breaks, but your spirit refuses to?
This powerful Christian mental health story follows one man’s journey from a life-changing BMX accident and paralysis to discovering faith, purpose, and healing in the middle of depression.

What We Cover

1. The Crash and the Aftermath – A broken neck, a wheelchair, and life in ICU.
2. Faith in the Fog – Wrestling with God when prayers for healing go unanswered.
3. Depression and Medication – Facing major depression, inpatient stays, and the courage to ask for help.
4. TMS and Recovery – How new treatments and faith worked together to restore hope.
5. Calling and Purpose – Finding a new mission through chaplaincy and service.
6. What Healing Really Means – Why faith isn’t about fixing everything but trusting through anything.

Reflection

This episode speaks to anyone battling mental illness, chronic pain, or grief — reminding us that hope is not found in perfection, but in perseverance.

☀️ CONNECT with Sunburnt Souls

Discover more from Sunburnt Souls — a Christian mental health podcast sharing real stories of faith, hope, and healing at sunburntsouls.com.

Explore our library of Christian mental health resources, including podcasts, free devotionals, and online courses designed to help you strengthen your faith, overcome anxiety and depression, and experience emotional and spiritual renewal.

🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

A 28-day, $28 journey to help you:

• Embrace your identity in Jesus
• Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
• Navigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace

👉 Start your 28-day journey today

📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

🙏 SUPPORT THE MISSION

Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 ...

When silence and solitude fail, Scripture still speaks. In this heartfelt conversation, Dave Quak and Jess Quak explore how the Bible connects us to God when our minds and emotions feel heavy. From poetic laments to prophetic promises, discover how every part of God’s Word can bring peace, perspective, and presence.

What We Cover

1. Why Genres Matter When You’re Struggling
Understanding the Bible’s genres helps you read with clarity, find the right voice for your situation, and avoid misusing verses that were never meant to weigh you down.

2. Psalms (Poetry): Naming Feelings & Finding Language for Pain
Psalm 42 becomes a mirror for your soul—moving from dryness to desire, from ache to worship. Poetry helps name what hurts and opens a path toward healing.

3. Narrative: Solidarity with Imperfect Saints
Elijah, David, Jonah, and Esther show that God’s promises are stronger than our failures. Their stories remind us we’re not alone when we feel messy or misunderstood.

4. Wisdom Literature: Safeguarding Your Mind
Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes teach timing, boundaries, and relational grace—how to respond with wisdom when life feels chaotic.

5. Prophetic Books: God’s Call, Compassion & Comfort
From Isaiah 61 to Hosea, we see God’s relentless pursuit of the brokenhearted. Prophecy invites us to pray for mercy and trust in His plan for restoration.

6. The Gospels: Meeting Jesus in Real Life
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John each show a different facet of the same Saviour—personal, powerful, and present. For the anxious heart, Jesus remains the centre of hope.

7. Apocalyptic Texts: Hope Beyond Fear
Daniel, Ezekiel, Revelation—visions written to persecuted people. They’re not about panic but perseverance: the final word is still love, not fear.

8. The Big Takeaway
Therapy and medication matter. But Scripture is the one place you can always meet God’s voice. When your mind is hurting, His Word is still alive and waiting.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro: when solitude doesn’t work
03:15 Why Bible genres matter for mental health
04:27 Psalms & Psalm 42 – naming your feelings
08:39 “Why, my soul, are you downcast?”
11:06 Narrative – imperfect saints & solidarity
16:05 Wisdom literature – mental wellbeing guardrails
20:36 Prophetic books – context & comfort
25:16 Gospels – Jesus for every personali

☀️ CONNECT with Sunburnt Souls

Discover more from Sunburnt Souls — a Christian mental health podcast sharing real stories of faith, hope, and healing at sunburntsouls.com.

Explore our library of Christian mental health resources, including podcasts, free devotionals, and online courses designed to help you strengthen your faith, overcome anxiety and depression, and experience emotional and spiritual renewal.

🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

A 28-day, $28 journey to help you:

• Embrace your identity in Jesus
• Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
• Navigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace

👉 Start your 28-day journey today

📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

🙏 SUPPORT THE MISSION

Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 ...