436: STOP Expecting Marriage to Be Easy! Gabe & Rebekah Lyons on Intimacy Myths, Emotional Equivalence, and Affair-Proofing Your Relationship
Win Today: Your Roadmap to Wholeness
Release Date: 04/16/2025
Win Today: Your Roadmap to Wholeness
In a culture obsessed with self-discovery, the pursuit of "finding yourself" often leads to more confusion than clarity. Preston Morrison, Senior Pastor of Pillar Church and host of The Leader's Cut, challenges this narrative by exposing the misconceptions that keep us spiritually immature. He delves into how pride creates distance and separation, the pain inherent in midlife transitions, and the transformative power of embracing life's wilderness seasons. Episode Links Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" ! at your church or event. Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on...
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You’ve been taught that spiritual maturity looks like control. Stoicism. Discipline. Measured responses. But what if that’s not maturity at all—just emotional suppression dressed in a Bible verse? This week on Win Today, Zach Meerkreebs, known for his role in the Asbury Outpouring, joins me to dismantle the cultural scorecard we’ve built around spiritual growth. We’re talking about the false belief that spiritual people don’t struggle. That leaders don’t wrestle with anxiety. That if you're in pain, you're just not “surrendered” enough. Episode Links Buy my NEW...
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This week on Win Today, I’m joined by Kris Vallotton for a raw conversation about how well-meaning but bad theology is distorting our view of emotional health and creating systems of self-oppression inside the Church. From the stigma surrounding therapy and medication to the over-spiritualization of trauma, Kris pulls no punches. Together, we explore why real transformation can’t just be personal—it must be systemic. Because if the environment around you is sick, your health will always hit a ceiling. If you’ve ever been shamed for struggling, blamed for being anxious, or silenced...
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We’ve mistaken platforms for purpose. We’ve idolized influence and sacrificed intimacy. And we’ve called it success when in reality, it’s just burnout in disguise. This week, Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Tauren Wells joins Win Today for a brutally honest conversation about the danger of exposure growing faster than character. Together, we explore how influence without intimacy leads to insecurity, how image management becomes spiritual performance, and why pathologizing our struggles has kept us from doing the real work of healing. Episode Links Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What...
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We’ve called it emotional intelligence. We’ve called it self-awareness. But what if the story you’re telling yourself—the one you rehearse in your head day after day—isn’t making you healthier? It’s keeping you sick. This week, Rita Springer joins Win Today for an unfiltered, emotionally disruptive conversation about the link between obedience and mental health. Because here’s the truth: peace doesn’t come from managing your anxiety better. Peace comes from surrender. And when we treat obedience like a suggestion instead of a lifeline, we stay stuck in cycles of...
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We live in a culture of extremes—where the loudest voice wins, emotional manipulation masquerades as influence, and overcorrection has become the new dysfunction. We see it in our families. We feel it in our churches. And when it finally shows up in our relationships, we wonder why everything feels so chaotic. This week on Win Today, Manny Arango is here to pull the curtain back on the deeper issues no one wants to admit. Together, we’re talking about the generational cycles of chaos we’ve inherited, how manipulation uses fear to gain control, and why overcorrecting for past...
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There’s a moment, often quietly, when you realize life didn’t turn out the way you thought it would. The dreams you chased, the milestones you reached—they didn’t deliver the satisfaction you imagined. And somewhere along the way, loneliness crept in, success started to feel hollow, and the constant pressure to optimize every part of your life became a crushing weight. This week on Win Today, Ian Simkins joins us to talk about the uncomfortable truths no one tells you about midlife. In this conversation, we’ll unpack: Why midlife often exposes the false gods we've been...
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Marriage has a way of exposing the wounds we thought we had buried. The unresolved pain, the unspoken insecurities, the habits we hoped would disappear—they all surface in the crucible of intimacy. In this final installment of our LOVE LIKE THIS series, Dave & Ann Wilson—hosts of FamilyLife Today® and authors of Vertical Marriage—join us to discuss: Why your unhealed wounds inevitably show up in your marriage The devastating impact of words and how they can either crush or cultivate your spouse How intimacy, when misused, turns into manipulation...
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Many enter marriage believing it will be effortless—a seamless fusion of two souls destined for harmony. But what if this belief is the very thing setting couples up for disappointment? What if the key to a thriving marriage lies not in ease, but in intentional effort and understanding? This week on Win Today, Gabe and Rebekah Lyons join us to dismantle pervasive myths about marriage and intimacy. Drawing from their 28 years together, they offer candid insights into: The biggest lie about intimacy that's sabotaging relationships. Why viewing your spouse as a 'problem to solve'...
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In today's swipe-right culture, many believe love is something you stumble upon—a serendipitous event. But what if that mindset is sabotaging your relationships? What if true love is less about finding and more about forging? This week on Win Today, Kait and JJ Tomlin, renowned dating coaches and hosts of the Heart of Dating podcast, join us to dismantle dating myths and offer raw insights into building intentional relationships. They delve into: The myth of "the one" and why love is intentionally built, not passively found. Differentiating between red flags and...
info_outlineMany enter marriage believing it will be effortless—a seamless fusion of two souls destined for harmony. But what if this belief is the very thing setting couples up for disappointment? What if the key to a thriving marriage lies not in ease, but in intentional effort and understanding? This week on Win Today, Gabe and Rebekah Lyons join us to dismantle pervasive myths about marriage and intimacy. Drawing from their 28 years together, they offer candid insights into:
- The biggest lie about intimacy that's sabotaging relationships.
- Why viewing your spouse as a 'problem to solve' undermines connection.
- Understanding the anatomy of an affair and how to safeguard your marriage.
- The concept of marrying your emotional equivalent and its impact on relational dynamics.
In a culture that often glamorizes the idea of effortless romance, Gabe and Rebekah present a refreshing narrative—one that champions resilience, mutual growth, and the beauty of navigating challenges together. Whether you're single, engaged, or have been married for years, this conversation offers invaluable perspectives to cultivate a relationship that not only endures but flourishes.
Episode Links
- Show Notes
- Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here!
- Invite me to speak at your church or event.
- Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.