Soul Talks With Bill & Kristi Gaultiere

Hope is more than wishful thinking — it’s the anticipation of good things from a good God who has redeemed us, loves us, and cares for us. This is why Jesus' followers have the most reason to be hopeful humans.  Even still, all of us experience times when feelings of shame and depression drain our hopefulness and crush our spirit.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi talk about cultivating hope to become healthy in your apprenticeship to Jesus. You will learn about the causes of depression, the dynamics of shame, and how powerful the presence of a safe friend can be when you find yourself spiraling. Praying that you overflow with hope by the power of the Spirit (Romans 15:13). Resources for this Episode:Meet with a Soul Shepherding Spiritual DirectorEarn a Certificate in Spiritual DirectionDonate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

A common misunderstanding in Christianity is that you won’t struggle with mental health issues if you read the Bible and pray. The reality is that we’re all human and factors like trauma, stress, and genetics can lead to wrestling with anxiety or depression. Part of apprenticeship to Jesus is engaging difficult yet valuable inner work to become healthy and loving like him. Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi discuss cultivating a resilient faith that will strengthen your emotional resolve and deepen your soul. You’ll learn how to return to joy after experiencing distress by attending to your heart, getting honest with safe friends, and taking courage from Jesus to do hard things. Resources for this Episode:Attend a Soul Shepherding RetreatMeet with a Soul Shepherding Spiritual DirectorDonate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

Are you feeling bored or restless in your current season with the Lord? It's natural to pursue transition when you feel the itch for something new. Yet all of us know that changing our circumstances doesn't automatically change us. There's often a deeper work of formation and preparation that Jesus desires to accomplish in our lives when he asks us to remain planted.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi teach why moving forward in the Kingdom often looks like staying put. You'll learn how to engage the mundane in a way that cultivates spiritual growth, a healthy soul, and a larger capacity to love Jesus and others. Resources for this Episode:Journey of the Soul: A Practical Guide to Emotional and Spiritual GrowthIgnatian Meditation GuidesDonate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

Relationships are complex! All of us carry wounds from our past, get triggered, and unintentionally hurt others. This means that conflict is a normal part of life with others. Thankfully, the presence of Jesus is available to help us repair our hearts and relationships even when navigating complicated dynamics and emotions. Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi talk about the triggers and emotions they experienced from a recent conflict they had with each other. Hearing their story will equip you with a roadmap to handle conflict with Jesus as you grow in self-awareness, attune to his goodness during difficult moments, and learn to see through his eyes of forgiveness and empathy. Resources for this Episode:Attend a Soul Shepherding RetreatEarn a Certificate in Spiritual DirectionHealthy Feelings, Thriving Faith: Growing Emotionally and Spiritually Through the EnneagramDonate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

An important part of spiritual growth is learning to be comforted and strengthened by the joy of the Lord. Yet it can be challenging to experience joy in the midst of mundane life and human struggle. All of us can learn from Rabbi Jesus who teaches us to draw joy from Abba that transcends our circumstances. Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi ponder Jesus’ invincible joy that endured the poverty of the manger and agony of the cross. You’ll be equipped with spiritual disciplines to help you “take heart” with Jesus and embrace joy through nature, relationships, contemplation, and the hope of redemption. Resources for this Episode:Attend a Soul Shepherding RetreatMeet with a Soul Shepherding Spiritual DirectorDonate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

Have you ever been trapped in a shame storm? It’s tempting to isolate when feelings of judgment and rejection overwhelm us. But defending against our emotions only becomes a barrier to embracing our greatest need — to be fully seen, known, and loved by Jesus, often through one of his ambassadors. Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi offer guidance to help you work through moments of feeling unworthy and unlovable. You’ll become aware of the sadness underneath your shame, learn to express your needs, and take the courage to care for yourself with Jesus and others. Resources for this Episode:Meet with a Soul Shepherding Spiritual DirectorEarn a Certificate in Spiritual DirectionDonate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

It's vulnerable to ask for what we need or desire. Opening our hearts to others cultivates connection and trust but also leaves us susceptible to rejection and disappointment. And it's no different in a relationship with Jesus — depending on him wholeheartedly always requires risk.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi talk about the nuances of prayer. The closer you grow to the Good Shepherd, the more you'll sense him move you away from transactional prayer and into a conversational relationship. It's in this space of vulnerable interaction that you become more confident in Jesus' love, grow in self-awareness, and develop a larger capacity for emotional honesty and empathy. Resources for this Episode:Attend a Soul Shepherding RetreatMeet with a Soul Shepherding Spiritual DirectorDonate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

The tension between our need for transformation and our inability to make it happen can leave us feeling helpless. Thankfully change doesn’t happen as a result of our own strength. It's through acknowledging our weakness that we develop a greater dependency on God's revolutionary love, care, and power.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi chat with John Ortberg — pastor, speaker, and author of a new book called Steps: Transforming Your Life When Willpower Isn't Enough. Their conversation will awaken you to the power of walking out your brokenness with Jesus and others in deep vulnerability and humility. You'll find freedom by learning to live with an attitude that says, "I can't, but God can…I think I'll let him!"Resources for this Episode:Get Your Copy of Steps: Transforming Your Life When Willpower Isn’t EnoughLearn More About John’s Ministry called Become NewMeet with a Soul Shepherding Spiritual Director

All of us experience grief when we fall short of caring for others the way the Good Shepherd perfectly tends to us. It can be especially distressing for parents of adult children to look back and realize how their own lack of wholeness wounded their kids. Thankfully, there's hope for redemption! We can pray for their wounds to become sacred and create an unquenchable longing for Jesus in their hearts.Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi comfort and encourage parents who feel overcome by regret. Not only can you trust Jesus to heal your children — you can meet the "God of all comfort" in your own brokenness as he redeems your hurt and transforms you into a wounded healer. Resources for this Episode:Attend a Soul Shepherding RetreatSecure: Letters From Papa to Help Moms Nurture Their Child’s DevelopmentEarn a Certificate in Spiritual DirectionDonate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

All of us likely know somebody whose relationship with Jesus seems to be collapsing like a house of cards. It’s difficult to trust God when a loved one deconstructs — we could find ourselves anxiously searching for solutions or lost in despair. Yet it brings comfort to remember that our Prodigal Father is furiously loving and always working in the hearts of those who appear to be walking away from Christ.  Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi share heartfelt empathy for you and your loved ones who are deconstructing. You will be moved to faithfully love those struggling in their faith and equipped to journey with them in the Spirit of Jesus. Plus, a powerful time of prayer will stir your faith for reconstruction to rise out of the ruins of deconstruction. Resources for this Episode:Journey of the Soul: A Practical Guide to Emotional and Spiritual GrowthEarn a Certificate in Spiritual DirectionDonate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

Jesus’ suffering on the cross can make it seem like God is distant or mean. And it becomes hard to authentically trust God’s feelings toward us if we see him as someone who turned away from his own son. Thankfully, looking at the crucifixion with spiritual eyes shows us that Jesus is not only unforsaken at the cross — he’s deeply loved.Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi share incredible insight about Jesus’ interaction with his Papa during his suffering and death. Seeing Abba’s care for Jesus as he took humanity’s sin upon himself will encourage you to draw love, strength, comfort, and joy from your Father in the middle of your brokenness and shame. Resources for this Episode:Unforsaken: Journey with Jesus on the Stations of the CrossAttend a Soul Shepherding Institute RetreatDonate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

Let’s be honest. It’s easy to trade attunement with Jesus and others for the low-hanging distraction of a screen. Smartphones aren’t sinful and digital devices aren’t all bad. But our compulsion to overuse technology says something about our souls — all of us long for loving connection with God and others. Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi discuss the spiritual and psychological damage you experience from too much screen time. You won't be “shamed” into changing your technology habits. Instead, you’ll be equipped with soul care practices to help you detach from your phone and attach to Abba and his best life for you.Resources for this Episode:Attend a Soul Shepherding Institute RetreatIgnatian Meditation GuidesSabbatical GuideMeet with a Soul Shepherding Spiritual DirectorDonate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

Many of us carry trauma or wounds that make us believe there’s no hope for secure attachment with God. But what if Jesus is already present in the parts of you that feel wounded and embarrassed? The good news is that brokenness is a bridge — not a barrier — to embracing the depths of God’s love.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Kristi chats with Michael Cusick —professional counselor and author of Sacred Attachment: Escaping Spiritual Exhaustion and Trusting in Divine Love. His story of abuse and restoration will help you open every broken part of you to God’s healing love. Plus, you’ll be equipped with practices to help calm your body and cultivate a secure attachment with God.Resources for this Episode:Sacred Attachment: Escaping Spiritual Exhaustion and Trusting in Divine LoveLearn More About Michael and His Counseling MinistryJoin the Soul Shepherding Network to Watch Kristi and Michael's InterviewMeet with a Soul Shepherding Spiritual DirectorDonate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

All of us experience ups and downs in our devotion to Jesus. Sometimes we feel enthusiastic about our apprenticeship to him and burn with passion to share his love. But every season comes with unique challenges and it can feel discouraging when your heart isn’t fully throbbing for Christ. Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi read and discuss a love letter to Jesus. Their conversation will help you break through the shame that arises when you lack passion and draw you to reorient your heart and mind with the grace of the Risen Christ. Resources for this Episode:Attend a Soul Shepherding Institute RetreatMeet with a Soul Shepherding Spiritual DirectorSouls on Fire: Black Heroes Who Inspire Devotion to JesusDonate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

It’s easy to assume God is absent when life gets chaotic or pain and hardship strike. But often the events we interpret as “useless” or “damaging” become the greatest blessings to our relationship with Jesus and formation in Christlikeness. That’s why we can take heart in the sovereign hand of God that guards us in all of our wanderings. Join us for this episode of Soul Talks and enjoy a “Soul Food Reading” from a recent Institute retreat. Bill shares the little-known story of John Newton — the preacher and hymnist who wrote Amazing Grace. You’ll be encouraged to see how God weaves all the details of your life together to draw you to himself, lead you deeper into grace, and shape you into a wounded healer who ministers to others with compassion.Resources for this Episode:Attend a Soul Shepherding Institute RetreatDonate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul TalksSouls on Fire: Black Heroes Who Inspire Devotion to Jesus

Not everybody struggles with obvious addiction but all of us have a “fix.” The solutions we use to soothe our pain, meet our needs, and manage our lives apart from God seem to work temporarily but leave us with bigger problems. Thankfully, the brokenness of addiction serves as an invitation from Jesus to experience a level of intimacy and transformation that we didn’t think possible. Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks for a conversation between Kristi and Ian Cron — bestselling author, psychotherapist, and Enneagram teacher. Your heart will long to surrender everything to our compassionate and powerful God after hearing Ian’s story and insights from his new book, The Fix: How the Twelve Steps Offer a Surprising Path of Transformation for the Well-Adjusted, the Down-and-Out, and Everyone in Between.Resources for this Episode:The Fix: How the Twelve Steps Offer a Surprising Path of Transformation for the Well-Adjusted, the Down-and-Out, and Everyone in BetweenLearn more about Ian and his work with the Ennea

The wildfires in Los Angeles have destroyed thousands of homes and displaced even more people. Our hearts are devastated for everyone affected. We’re especially praying for the friends we’ve made through Soul Shepherding who find themselves both experiencing and ministering through trauma.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Kristi talks with Terry Fouche — a Sr. Spiritual Director with Soul Shepherding and pastor in a neighborhood hit hard by the Eaton fires. You’ll be drawn to go deeper into the compassionate heart of Jesus as Terry shares how emotional honesty, lament, and empathy have shaped him and his community during these challenging times.Resources for this Episode:Attend a Soul Shepherding Institute RetreatHealthy Feelings, Thriving Faith: Growing Emotionally and Spiritually Through the EnneagramMeet with a Soul Shepherding Spiritual DirectorDonate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

All of us find ourselves in conversations  — with both Christians and those who don't know Jesus — who feel it's unloving, judgmental, and arrogant to share the truth of Christ with others. It's sad when somebody's belief system keeps them from trusting the Good Shepherd more deeply. We often feel lost because we don't know the best way to love and care for them. Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi teach you how to confidently hold the truth about Jesus while simultaneously relating to others with empathy and humility. You will be encouraged to see that building your life on the foundation of Christ will both mature the way you think and help you grow in compassion for others.Resources for this Episode:Journey of the Soul: A Practical Guide to Emotional and Spiritual GrowthHealthy Feelings, Thriving Faith: Growing Emotionally and Spiritually Through the EnneagramEarn a Certificate in Spiritual DirectionDonate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

Right now, there’s a war happening between darkness and God’s kingdom of light. Difficulties like financial hardship, sickness, loss, and relational tension can make it challenging to live in genuine peace. But all of us can train in Jesus’ easy yoke to experience the comfort of leaning into Abba’s providential care. Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi wrestle through the fully integrated process (thoughts and emotions) of trusting God deeply when your circumstances feel desolate and disorienting. They’ll equip you with practices (like The Apprentice Prayer and emotionally honest conversation) to cultivate a heart that rests in God before, during, and after hardship.  Resources for this Episode:Your Best Life in Jesus’ Easy Yoke: Rhythms of Grace to De-Stress and Live EmpoweredMeet with a Soul Shepherding Spiritual DirectorAttend a Soul Shepherding Institute RetreatDonate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

The new year is typically a time to “leave the old behind” and “look forward to the new.” But it’s easy to become so future-oriented that you miss Jesus’ presence with you here and now! That’s why it’s powerful to reflect and rejoice in Christ before you turn the page to next year. Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi share the heart of genuine gratitude — being thankful for who Jesus is and not only what he does. They’ll equip you with a practical discipline that will transform the way you find closure and step into new seasons with hope, focus, and a healthy soul.  Resources for this Episode:Attend a Soul Shepherding Institute RetreatMeet with a Soul Shepherding Spiritual DirectorDonate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks