Taylor Murray, host of the Faith & Feelings podcast. Photo by Aliyah Burton for Taylor Murray
Taylor Murray is a podcaster, author, speaker, writing coach and counseling grad student at Liberty University. Her podcast, Faith & Feelings, integrates her insights on mental health, including the truth about her own healing journey as a believer.
Murray said she started Faith & Feelings in February as a way to connect with others by doing something other than writing. Now, she has created a space where she can invite people who are older and wiser to share their experiences and what they’ve learned through conversation.
Through this podcast, Murray has given language to the hardships people are experiencing and has been able to help others as they heal. Being honest and open about mental health issues, especially as it relates to our own healing journey, can be a big help in leading others to Christ.
Some people have misconceptions about God that have led them to not believe in Him or not understand the way that He sees them. In an interview with Taylor, she said that before her own healing journey began, she struggled with how she viewed God.
Murray said she envisioned God as far removed, distant and absent. However, the more Murray healed, she began to realize that God is with her as she battles with fear, pain and shame.
Murray sat in front of her podcast microphone. Photo by Aliyah Burton for Taylor Murray
Murray said she realized that God weeps and grieves with us (John 11:35). Jesus also understands us in our pain and suffering, because He too had to endure pain as he was beaten, mocked and even killed for us (Matthew 27:11-56).
Murray said it is important for her listeners to know that she is still facing struggles with her mental health today. She finds it to be like forming a community when you let others in on your healing journey, rather than just sharing a word from the Lord without inviting people to see your own struggles as well.
This allows for people to see how relatable you are. As the body of Christ, we are to use the gifts God has given us to edify one another. Among those are the gifts of counseling and healing, according to 1 Corinthians 12:7-10.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 talks about God being our source of comfort, and as He comforts us, we are able to comfort others. This is why being in community with other believers is important.
Photo by Aliyah Burton for Taylor Murray
“I can't see Jesus physically sitting across the table from me right now, but when we are with the community of Christ, then we have brothers and sisters who can embody the presence of Jesus to us,” Murray said. “And when we see their tears, their grief, their pain, then we can more fully imagine the witness, the presence, the grief, the love, the tenderness, the compassion of God.”
Murray said it has been beautiful for her to be able to create these kinds of spaces for people to have an encounter with the Lord, and she can just sit back and watch him work.
For more information about Taylor and the Faith & Feelings podcast, you can check out her website, where she also has her books, writing classes and more.
Nicollette is a follower of Christ who was raised in South Florida. She has an AA in General Education and is currently working on her BS in Communication and Mass Media. Her goal is to edify the body of Christ through her writing.
