What's God Got To Do With It? With Leanne Ellington

Have you ever found yourself thinking, I believe in God, but why do I still have doubts? If so, you’re not alone! In this episode, we tackle a powerful listener question about navigating faith when uncertainty creeps in. We’ll explore why doubt is a normal part of the faith journey, what the Bible actually says about questioning God, and how even some of the strongest believers—like John the Baptist and Thomas—had their moments of uncertainty. But here’s the good news: Doubt doesn’t mean you’re failing in your faith. It’s an opportunity to grow deeper. We’ll also break down the neuroscience behind why our brains crave certainty and how we can rewire our thought patterns to align with God’s truth. If you’ve ever felt like you’re wrestling with faith and doubt at the same time, this episode will remind you that God isn’t afraid of your questions—and He’s not going anywhere. HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // @leanneellington  To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com.Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deedee has been a pastor for decades, preaching faith, healing, and God’s love to her congregation. But behind closed doors, she was secretly struggling with a battle that didn’t have anything to do with her sermons, but everything to do with food. For decades, food felt like her hidden demon—something she couldn’t conquer no matter how much she prayed or tried to “willpower” her way through. Despite her deep-rooted faith and dedication to serving others, food seemed to have a stronghold on her life, leaving her feeling ashamed, defeated, and disconnected. Even though she was pouring herself out for everyone around her, she often felt empty and isolated—especially when it came to her own health and relationship with food. But everything changed when Deedee made the brave choice to invite God into this part of her life, too. She realized that her struggles with food were deeply intertwined with her relationship with God. As you’ll hear in this powerful episode, healing her relationship with food not only freed her from decades of shame and pain—it also allowed her to experience a closeness with God that she’d been seeking for so long. Her faith deepened, her heart softened, and she became a more powerful vessel for God’s love—both for herself and for those she leads. Today, Deedee is not only free from food’s grip—she’s living a life filled with peace, joy, and a renewed sense of purpose. If you’ve ever felt like your struggles are too insignificant or too shameful to bring to God, Deedee’s story is proof that no area of your life is too small—or too big—for God’s love and grace. HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // @leanneellington To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com.Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we’re tackling a topic that many shy away from but is so essential: the feeling of being angry at God. Yep, we’re going there. It's time to have  an honest conversation about those moments when life deals you such a hard blow that you find yourself looking up at the sky and asking, “Why, God? Why would You let this happen?” If you’ve ever been in a place where disappointment turned into frustration, or frustration turned into full-blown anger at God, this episode is for you. Maybe you’ve wondered if feeling this way makes you less faithful or if admitting your hurt somehow betrays your beliefs. We're here to tell you that it doesn’t. God is big enough to handle your anger, your questions, and your doubts. He invites you to bring your real, raw emotions to Him—because true intimacy with God is built on honesty. In this episode, Leanne shares her personal experience with feeling abandoned by God and how learning to be open with my emotions deepened her relationship with Him. We’ll look at examples from the Bible and explore practical steps on how to approach God in your hurt without shame. So, if you’re wrestling with anger, confusion, or doubt, join us as we talk about finding peace in God’s unchanging character and how being honest with Him is not a sign of weak faith but an act of true trust. HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // @leanneellington  To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com.Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever wondered, Does God really care about my relationship with food? Isn’t He more concerned with bigger, more spiritual things? If you’ve ever felt this way, you’re not alone. In this episode of What’s God Got To Do With It?, we’re tackling a topic that hits closer to home than most of us realize: our relationship with food—and why God cares about it. This isn’t a conversation about diets, calories, or “good” vs. “bad” foods. Instead, we’re digging deeper to explore how your relationship with food is tied to your beliefs, emotions, and self-image—and how those things affect your connection with God. In this episode we talk about: Why God cares about your struggles with food and body image.How guilt, shame, and control can weigh down not just your body but your spirit.Steps to invite God into this area of your life and find freedom through His grace. With Scripture, personal stories, and practical steps, this episode is your invitation to lay down the chains of guilt, shame, and perfectionism and walk into the peace and freedom God has for you. HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // @leanneellington  To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com.Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today is World Mental Health Day, and that’s why it's the perfect time to talk about the faith-brain connection, and how it has EVERYTHING to do with your  own mental and emotional health. In this next episode of The God Pod, Leanne takes you on a journey to explore the profound interplay between faith, self-image, and neuroscience. Leanne breaks down (in simple science terms) how just influencing ONE specific part of the brain (the Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC), or the "social brain" as she calls it) can change the game for you -- simply by knowing about it -- as just this ONE part of the brain influences everything from self-perception and emotional pain to coping mechanisms and physical pain. Inviting God into the conversation right away, she shares how this region of the brain drives our need for acceptance and connection while also playing a big role in your coping mechanisms or habits which you feel are "out of control". And it's not just theory either, as she shares evidence-based scientific studies that show how faith has been proven to drastically impact everything from self-esteem and addiction recovery...to the alleviation of physical pain, and how THIS can hold the keys to your own mental and emotional health. Ultimately, she's simply inviting you to 'try on' this idea that faith can be a catalyst for healing, strength, and transformation in the realm of mental and emotional well-being. HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // @leanneellington  To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com.Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you have beliefs that are holding you back that (no matter what you try), they continue to have a stronghold on you?In this week's episode of the God Pod, Leanne Ellington shares her personal journey of transforming beliefs through the unique intersection of where "faith meets science"...and where "science meets faith", as we start to unravel how faith and science intersect in transforming your deepest-held beliefs about yourself. She shares a unique process to transform your own beliefs, but also takes you on a deeply introspective voyage, and candidly discusses her transition from attempting to change her beliefs purely through scientific and emotional tools...to inviting God into the conversation. She shares her initial struggles with self-worth and the fear of "being alone the rest of her life", and details how she crafted new beliefs that resonated with her core self and how she "backed them up" with carefully-chosen scripture. Leanne's journey from skepticism to faith, from doubt to trust, ultimately culminated in a profound transformation, including the unexpected and beautiful development of a loving relationship, and this episode invites you to explore your own beliefs and see where "faith meets science" can help you reshape your own self-perceptions. HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // @leanneellington  To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com.Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Carley found herself constantly thinking about food—either obsessing over dieting or feeling like a failure for not being able to stick with anything—she knew something had to change. She was sick of the all-or-nothing mindset, the endless rules, and the guilt that always followed. But as the youngest woman to ever go through the Stressless Eating program, she also knew she didn’t want to carry this struggle into the rest of her life. In this episode, Carley opens up about what it felt like to be trapped in a cycle of food obsession, why she finally decided to get help, and how she rewired her brain to break free. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by all the conflicting advice out there or wondered if you’d ever find peace with food, Carley’s journey will show you that real, lasting change is possible—at any age. HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // @leanneellington  To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com.Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leanne is back with Scott and Ketric for another episode of our "Ask the God Pod" series. This week they tackle a question many newcomers to faith share: What does prayer look like? In this episode of "Ask the God Pod," Scott and Ketric are back to tackle a listener's heartfelt question about coping with the immense stress of supporting a loved one struggling with addiction. For over two decades, this listener has been on a turbulent journey alongside her brother, who battles alcoholism. Initially driven by the hope of saving him, the toll on her own well-being has become increasingly apparent. She's endured the emotional rollercoaster of multiple rehab attempts, homelessness, and hospitalizations, all while feeling the weight of responsibility grow heavier. As the stress seeped into every aspect of her life, from relationships to her own health, she wants to know how to detach from the drama and reclaim a sense of control and peace amidst the chaos. Join us as we explore the power of perspective, resilience, and faith in navigating the challenges of loving someone through addiction. Links to the Acting As If Series: Episode 1: (THINKING) When Downward Spiral Thoughts Rule Your Life Episode 2: (FEELING) When Your Thoughts Don't Match How You Feel Episode 3: (BELIEVING) When Your Self-Image Undermines What You Really Want Episode 4: (DOING) When What You Say Doesn't Align With What You Do HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // @leanneellington GUEST: Ketric Newell & Scott Stephens To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com.Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leanne is back with Scott and Ketric for another episode of our "Ask the God Pod" series. This week they tackle a question many newcomers to faith share: "What if my faith-life is different from how I was raised?" Raised in a Christian household, this question comes from a listener who grappled with uncertainty and doubt about her beliefs since leaving home. Struggling with feelings of guilt and obligation tied to her upbringing, she candidly expressed the internal conflict of adhering to a faith she's uncertain about. Join us as we delve into the complexities of faith, exploring themes of personal conviction, authenticity, and the freedom to question and define your own spiritual journey. Through compassionate dialogue and insights grounded in both faith and reason, we aim to offer guidance and understanding to anyone navigating similar uncertainties on their path to spiritual discovery. HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // @leanneellington GUEST: Ketric Newell & Scott Stephens To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com.Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leanne is back with Scott and Ketric for another episode of our "Ask the God Pod" series. This week they tackle a question many newcomers to faith share: What does prayer look like? If Hollywood movies haven't quite given you the full picture, this is for you. This episode dives into the essence of prayer, from heartfelt conversations to quiet moments of reflection. They explore different forms of prayer and how to connect with God in a way that feels authentic to you. Whether you're curious or already taking your first steps on your faith journey, this episode offers a warm welcome and practical guidance on building a meaningful prayer life. HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // @leanneellington GUEST: Ketric Newell & Scott Stephens To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com.Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.