S9 Episode #8- Healing, Identity, and the Pursuing Love of God with Stasi Eldredge
THE ONE WITH STASI ELDREDGE
This week on The Collected Podcast we are excited to welcome beloved author and speaker, Stasi Eldredge for a hope-filled conversation about God's relentless love and pursuit of our hearts. Stasi shares her powerful story of wandering from faith, encountering Jesus in a moment of surrender, and discovering the healing and restoration only He can bring. Together, we explore identity, intimacy with God, the truths that set us free from shame, and themes from her new book, The Ladder of Love. If you've ever wondered whether you're too broken, too far gone, or simply long for a deeper connection with God, this episode is a beautiful reminder that you are loved, chosen, and invited into a life-changing relationship with Him.
ABOUT STASI
Stasi Eldredge is a New York Times bestselling author, and her books have sold nearly 3 million copies and changed women's lives all over the world. A teacher and conference speaker, Stasi is the cofounder of Wild at Heart, a ministry devoted to helping people discover the heart of God, recover their own hearts in God's love, and learn to live in God's Kingdom. Her passion is to see lives transformed by the beauty of the gospel. She and her husband, John, make their home in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Her latest book, The Ladder of Love, is out now!
ABOUT THE BOOK
[Press Release] Many women long for a deeper relationship with Jesus. They attend church, read their Bible, and pray– yet still feel as though they know God more in their heads than in their hearts.
In The Ladder of Love, Stasi explores the beautiful journal Scripture invites us into– one that leads us closer and closer to the heart of God. The Bible describes our relationship with God through many images: clay, sheep, servant, child sibling, friend, and bride. These are not random metaphors. They reveal a progression of intimacy, a pathway of learning to receive God's love.
With warmth, biblical insight, and guided prayers, Stasi helps readers uncover the barriers that keep them distant from God and discover the healing that comes from experiencing Him personally. As women learn to recognize where they may have "learned God wrong," they are gently invited into a truer understanding of His heart and a deeper experience of His presence.
The Ladder of Love is an invitation to move beyond simply knowing about God and begin living from the security of being deeply loved by Him.
CONNECT WITH STASI:
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LISTEN
WATCH
Video will be posted on Friday, November 6th. We apologize for the delay! :)
SHOW NOTES
Stasi's Faith Journey
Stasi shared her faith journey, beginning with her Catholic upbringing in a believing household. She described how at age 13 during the Jesus movement, she learned about a personal relationship with Jesus and initially followed him for about a year before slipping back into old behaviors due to losing fellowship.
Stasi explained how she reached rock bottom in college, involving harmful activities, and mentioned how her husband who had become a Christian played a role in her eventual return to faith, culminating in her reading Matthew 11:28 when Jesus said, “Come to ME, all who are weary and I will give you rest.” In that moment, Stasi experienced a personal moment of surrender.
Message of Hope and Healing
Stasi shared a message of hope, emphasizing that no one is beyond God's healing power and presence, regardless of past harm or pain.
Stasi shared that there is a God who loves you and has been pursuing you for your entire life, that you might know him and love him in return. There is life and goodness ahead. There is hope in Jesus!
Christianity is an invitation to restoration. Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted and set the captives free!
Stasi described her personal journey of healing in her 30s through Christian counseling, learning that Jesus loves and pursues everyone, offering restoration and transformation.
She explained that God can address wounds from any time in a person's life and help reframe negative self-perceptions, offering truth and healing.
Biblical Truth
Stasi shared biblical truths about identity and worth, encouraging listeners to believe these truths apply to themselves, including being loved, chosen, and cherished by God.
“What if I am not unwanted, but I am sought after?
What if I am not an embarrassment, but I am delighted in?
What if I am not too broken to be healed, but I am the treasure of His heart?
What if I am not too dirty, but I am clothed in righteousness?
What if I am not the shamed one, but I am the bride of Christ? I am chosen, holy and dearly loved, even before I took my first breath.”
She described a personal experience from when her children were young where she had a difficult day and went for a walk, during which she looked at the stars and heard a voice in her spirit saying, "I’m glad you like it, my darling," which surprised and moved her.
Later in her Bible reading, she read the verse, “How beautiful you are, my darling.”
The Ladder of Love Book
Stasi shared a personal story about finding comfort in scripture during a difficult time, specifically in Song of Songs where God calls believers "darling," which led her to want to know God more deeply.
She explained that her new book "The Ladder of Love" aims to help people deepen their intimacy with God by exploring various metaphors and aspects of God's nature found in scripture, starting from our formation as clay and progressing toward greater proximity to God's heart.
Stasi emphasized that as we ascend this spiritual ladder, we don't lose the foundational aspects of our relationship with God.
Building Spiritual Foundation on Jesus
Stasi discussed the importance of building one's spiritual foundation on Jesus and His Word, emphasizing how this foundation provides stability and identity.
She shared her personal journey of learning about Jesus as a beloved and friend, particularly focusing on the concept of a reciprocal relationship where God invites believers to be His friends and confidants. He is our advocate and ally.
Stasi explained how this mutual friendship goes beyond simple obedience, allowing for deeper connection and understanding between believers and God.
Spiritual Intimacy with God
Stasi discussed the concept of spiritual intimacy with God, focusing on the Hebrew word "yada" and Greek word "gnosis" which represent an experiential knowing of God that changes our heart and life so that we love Him in return.
Stasi explained that this type of knowledge goes beyond mere facts about God, comparing it to the deep understanding one might have of a close friend or spouse. She emphasized that God wants people to experience Him in a way that changes their heart and leads to love in return, using her relationship with her husband as an example of the kind of intimate knowledge she described.
Experiencing God's Presence
Stasi discussed her book about experiencing God's presence, describing it as a practice that develops over time similar to learning to ride a bike. She explained that God's presence often begins with a sense of peace during prayer or quiet time, and emphasized that God desires relationship and love more than obedience.
Stasi identified the first barrier to experiencing full life with God as people's past experiences with love, particularly in relationships with parents, siblings, and friends, which can affect how they perceive and approach God's love.
Stasi discussed the concept of romantic love and healing from distorted views of love, mentioning that many people, particularly women, get stuck on the "servant/master" rung of her ladder metaphor. She explained the difference between serving to earn favor versus offering worship out of love and relationship with Jesus.
Stasi shared that she personally resonates with the "loving friend" and "beloved of God" rungs, emphasizing the honor of being God's partner in bringing the kingdom.
Meditation Practice with Jesus
Stasi shared a meditation practice involving deep breathing and quiet time to connect with Jesus' presence in one's heart. She described a process of handing oneself over to God's hands, expressing rest in Him, and engaging in a conversational prayer. Stasi emphasized that the practice is about discovering deeper love from God, whether or not participants feel a profound response.
NEXT STEPS
Let’s Dig a little deeper together!
1. Exchange a Lie for God's Truth
Take 10 minutes this week and finish the sentence, "What if..." using one area where you struggle most.
For example:
What if I'm not unwanted, but deeply pursued by God?
What if I'm not too broken, but being restored?
What if I'm not ashamed, but dearly loved?
Then find a Scripture that speaks God's truth over that belief and meditate on it throughout the week.
2. Practice Five Minutes of Quiet Presence with Jesus
Set aside five uninterrupted minutes each day to simply be with God. Take a few deep breaths, surrender your worries to Him, and invite Jesus into the conversation. Don't focus on getting a dramatic experience. Instead, focus on being present with the One who loves you. As Stasi shared, intimacy with God grows over time through consistent relationship.
Thank you, as always, for listening! Please remember that everything we do is funded by those who benefit from our ministry. Our ministry a 501(c)3, so your contribution is tax-deductible.
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The Collected Podcast is a production of Collected Ministries, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping disciples of Jesus discover and live from their true identity in Christ, recognize and walk in their divine purpose within the Kingdom of God, and experience growth in their capacity for mature, healthy relationships.
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Jes French: @jesafrench
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The Collected Podcast is produced by Jes French and edited by Jacob Early. Cover art designed by Ben Biondo.