Suffering, Anxiety and Christian Meditation | Finding Peace in Pain with Dr Joshua Knabb

Pain shows up whether we invite it or not and trying to outrun it usually makes it louder. I sit down with Dr. Joshua Nabb, a clinical psychologist and professor, to talk about what happens when suffering shatters your assumptions and forces bigger questions about faith, healing, and hope. Joshua shares his own story of early trauma, depression, and anxiety, plus the surprising role Christian therapy played in helping him name what hurt and start putting the pieces back together.We dig into a deeply biblical view of emotions that many churches still struggle to hold. Sadness, fear, and anxiety are not automatically spiritual failures. They can be signals that reveal what we value, what we have lost, and what we think is at risk. We talk about lament as a Christian mental health practice, including Psalm 88 and the honesty of the Psalms where the darkness does not neatly resolve. That honesty can be the start of freedom because it trains us to bring the whole truth into God’s presence.Then we get practical with Christian meditation and contemplative prayer that stay anchored to Scripture and the Christian tradition rather than borrowed spirituality. Joshua explains how to train attention with short Bible promises, how to work with intrusive thoughts without getting into a losing fight, and why the Jesus Prayer can feel like real time “soothing” instead of magical problem removal. We also address the “Is meditation New Age?” concern head on and point to the rich heritage of biblical meditation across Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant history.We close with what Joshua is researching next, including a Holy Spirit focused alternative to loving-kindness meditation built around the fruit of the Spirit, plus where to find his free guided practices and resources. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with a friend who is struggling, and leave a review so more people can find hope and tools that actually work.If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health.🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONHelp us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 Donate to Sunburnt Souls. ALL DONATIONS OVER $2 ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental HealthA 28-day, FREE journey to help you:Embrace your identity in JesusBuild life-giving spiritual rhythmsNavigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace👉 Start your 28-day journey today📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITYGet weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter⭐ LEAVE A REVIEWLove this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey.Listen and Rate on Apple PodcastsListen & Rate on SpotifySunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories ...