In this episode of Faith Over Addiction, host Tanya Gioia sits down with Sheila Rae Krygsheld — Bible teacher, apologist, and author of What Makes You Say That? How to Study What You Believe So You Can Share It With Others. Sheila opens up about the hardest-won season of her faith: her 17-year-old daughter's traumatic brain injury and the years-long journey through doubt, survivor's guilt, and spiritual exhaustion that followed. She shares candidly on trusting God in the vulnerable, "nothing left" moments, why doubt isn't the opposite of faith but part of it, and how studying Scripture became the anchor that rebuilt her identity in Christ. A raw, theologically grounded conversation on trust, doubt, and the character of God for anyone walking through their own hard season.
Key Talking Points
The origin story — how a viral moment of online division sparked Sheila's mission to help Christians know what they believe and why
The crisis that started it all — her daughter's traumatic brain injury, coma, and recovery, and the "goodness tank" comment from a doctor that sent her into a theological spiral
Survivor's guilt — wrestling with why her daughter lived when a close friend's daughter didn't
"Believe your beliefs, doubt your doubts" — Sheila's framework for handling doubt without losing faith
Doubt as mandate, not option — why every believer will wrestle, and how to do it without shame
The prostrate-on-the-floor moments — total surrender and vulnerability as the doorway to trust
Not anger, but exhaustion — Sheila's honest take on what actually happens when she can't "pick up the book"
The Psalms as permission — reading David's raw, unfiltered prayers back to God
The character of God — filtering hard circumstances through Philippians 4:8
Building a prayer tribe — the practical role of intercessory community in walking through crisis
Resources & Links
Book: What Makes You Say That? How to Study What You Believe So You Can Share It With Others — https://a.co/d/0eXFsgHk
Website: https://sheilakrygsheld.com/ (email list for essays/articles; free ebooks and Bible study coming soon)
Free Gfit : Get this free list of Christian affirmations that spell out who you are in God – actual in God’s own words. Repeat these biblical affirmations and replace these truths with the lies currently in your head! - https://www.tanyagioia.com/affirmations
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Are you caught in the chaos of addiction, constantly cleaning up emotional, spiritual, and physical messes that aren't yours? Welcome to Faith Over Addiction, where faith meets real life. Hosted by Family Recovery Coach Tanya Gioia, this podcast is designed to offer Christian women hope, healing, and practical tools to navigate the challenges of loving someone with addiction.
Through biblical truths, heartfelt stories, and actionable guidance, you’ll learn how to set healthy boundaries, find peace in the mess, and reclaim your God-given identity. You don’t have to carry what was never meant to be yours. It’s time to shift from “this is happening to me” to “this is happening for me,” and let God transform the chaos into something that glorifies Him.
Every week, I’m here to encourage you, offer clarity, and remind you that as a daughter of the King, You Always Have Other Options (YAHOO). Together, we’ll embrace faith as the foundation, boundaries as the bridge to healing, and God’s truth as the ultimate guide to freedom, strength, and grace.
Blessings,
Tanya Gioia 🌸
🎵 Music Credit:
Track: Luz Solart
Artist: Luna Cantina
Album: Luz Solart
Released: 2024
