Cheering Past Challenges

Born of a passionate desire to transform her own personal battles into a platform for helping others, Rebecca Stewart’s Cheering Past Challenges Podcast promotes mental health and wellness for any who are struggling in personal hardships. Throughout the process of caring for her mother diagnosed with schizophrenia, and the journey that eventually birthed freedom out of despair, Rebecca developed a roadmap for dealing with trauma in her life. Cheering Past Challenges Podcast focuses on the core values of Grace, Faith, Surrender, and Hope as tools to overcome life’s greatest difficulties. Whether you suffer from a mental health disorder, are struggling as a caregiver for someone else, or are trapped in your own trauma, this podcast is for you. Follow each episode and begin reclaiming health and victory for yourself!

Carrying the Caregiver Cross- A lesson from Arthur Blessitt 01/21/2025

How Wes Huff Can Help You Be a Better Caregiver 01/16/2025

Navigating a "Not Normal" Christmas: 3 Easy Steps for Caregivers 12/12/2024

Death by a Thousand Paper Cuts- Little Grief with Author Jess Kayhart 03/07/2024

Nurturing Ourselves and Others During Sickness 03/01/2024

Havin' Fun While Cleaning Toilets- A book review on Mandy Arioto's Have More Fun Book 02/08/2024

Hope for the Homeless 02/02/2024

How You Can Evolve As a Caregiver 01/25/2024

Nourishing Your Soul with Life Coach Melissa Schultz 01/18/2024

Getting over the Post Christmas Blues 01/11/2024

Getting over the Post Christmas Blues What does Ezekiel’s vision of God have to do with Post Christmas Stress? Are you feeling a little blue after the Christmas hustle and bustle? You are not alone. According to experts the "saddest week of the year" is the third week of January. January is the month we know the bills are starting to come in from our pre christmas shopping sprees. January typically in the midwest is dreary, dark, and grey. There can be lots of snow which is fun for the kids but not so fun for driving adults. January is long. What is there to look forward to? Valentines Day which is oh yeah can be another depressing holiday if you are single. What can we do with this predicament? I’m going to give you three simple options. Don’t try to do them all. Don’t try to jump right in. First just give yourself some grace. We are all in this fishbowl feeling of post-Christmas sadness. God is still on the thrown! “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?” Psalm 56:3-4 I think many of us are afraid. We are afraid it's a new year and we might not meet all the benchmarks we so boldly set out to do in December. It’s a new year which can be exciting but also heavy. So how do we put our trust in the Lord that everything will be okay? Maybe you are struggling now with finances. Maybe your marriage had some fights over the holidays. The kids were upset. Maybe your expectations weren’t met. How to Get Over the Post-Christmas Blues 1. Whatever our challenge is, we can learn best how to deal with it from Ezekiel. His name literally means “God is strong.” or “God strengthens”. This very meaning sums up what the book of Ezekiel is about. We as children (we are all children of God) must learn to obey God. But we have a choice! God gave us free will. We can choose to turn towards him or away from him. When things are going well it's easy to praise the Lord. But when crap hits the fan, we often turn to other things. I do this, i might distract myself with shopping, or focusing on material wants or desires. It is not easy to just turn to the Lord and say, “I am suffering in my marriage but I praise you OH GOD. You are so good.” Ezekiel chose to obey God. He was chosen by God to be prophet. He was also a Jewish street preacher. He was born around 622 BCE from a priestly lineage. He was a priest who also was a mover and shaker. And he was probably called crazy in his day. Ezekiel was a prophet. That means the Lord gave him spiritual visions to help show his people the true Glory of God. Ezekiel did whatever crazy thing the Lord said to do. His vision: The Lion- strength/God The ox- service The man- intelligence The eagle- divinity. (belonging to God) Some say the four represent the four gospels: Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John. Then there is a wheel intersecting a wheel. And all I think that that refers to God’s ability to move anywhere, God is present everywhere and he is not under the realm of time. He is above Time and he is all knowing. Now if I were Ezekiel and I had a dream about two wheels intersecting I wonder if I would be able to metaphorically get that. Do you ever have a dream that won’t leave you and you ask the Lord, what does that mean? Sometimes if that happens you just need to share it and see what your friend or spouse thinks. We have to be like Ezekiel when we are facing some challenging times. 2. We have to connect. We have to be willing to share our dreams and our visions with other people we trust. I know that I don’t have it all figured out! But I know through the power of connection with others I can draw closer to God, his vision for me ,and ultimately his solution to the problem I'm facing. 3. Invest in Yourself. We just got a bunch of crap from Christmas. We need to take ten minutes to declutter our lives. Physically and emotionally. What can you get rid of? What can you let go of? What can you say no to? That last one is huge. Saying no to things that God is not calling you to do. Then we can start to add in the real things that will make a difference in our lives. Meaningful relationships. Healthy meals. Walks with friends. Making investments in yourself never costs a lot of money. It's more about the time you spend on yourself. It's okay to ask the Lord what He wants for you. Then go and get it! For now, you can join the Pace of Peace program for just $7 a month! Get connected with other women and find your tribe that will walk alongside you virtually as you make goals and meet them. Invest in the gift of fellowship! In the end, no one really wants another iphone for Christmas. What we want is connection with others. We want to find meaning in our lives. How we do that is through the Lord. His vision for us supersedes all selfish desires. In the end, whatever junk we are putting in to fill the void of purpose will never be enough. Food will never be enough. Material things will never be enough. A new car is not going to fix your marriage. Turning to the Lord will. Find us on Social Media Check out our website: /episode/index/show/cheeringpastchallenges/id/29435603

Mom of Six Makes a Difference- featuring Lyndsey Neumann 12/29/2023

Christmas Stories from Our Family to Yours 12/21/2023

From Chaos to Calm with Jess Kayhart 12/14/2023

From Chaos to Calm with Jess Kayhart Today’s discussion leads to the question: How can God still be good, even when bad things happen? Author Jess Kayhart shares her personal story of loss and how she was able to turn towards God and not away from Him during the most painful point of her life. Jess shares key moments of her traumatic childhood, including being involved in a tragic accident that took the life of Penny, her stepmom. Then in response to that lost, her father committed suicide 6 weeks later. She believed the following lies: “If you can know everything and you can help during a crisis, that can be where your value comes from. If you know enough and are good enough, it will all be fine.” This was a lie placed in Jess’s heart that led her to a life of perfectionism. The turnaround for her happened at a conference/church service where she devoted her life to Christ and received His deep healing. He healed all her wounds. From there Jess was able to fully heal and surrender to her situation. She then talks about her posture for the Lord. How she changed her posture and slowly turned towards Him. Jess shares how she met the love of her life, how she was set up and mortified to be set up with Ken, her future husband. They met at a youth conference and had a whirlwind romance. They met and married within 6 months. However, trust was still difficult for Jess to acquire and she talks about how that is normal for people who go through trauma. She talks about the importance of honesty and open communication. She says, “Do not ask questions you don’t want the answer to!” How good is that?! Panic attacks became a regular thing in Jess’ life. It taught her that she still had parts of her that were trying to get control. And there were still things Jess needed to deal with. The panic attacks went on for 6 months straight and they came out of nowhere! They were relentless. Her mind went racing and she felt a tremendous amount of heat in her body and she was unable to breathe. So all she could think to do was walk outside. Ultimately, she found a therapist to help her work through the anxiety. How you can be compassionate towards yourself. She recommends two books on anxiety: To get more insight check out Jess's Here's a link to Jess's book /episode/index/show/cheeringpastchallenges/id/29060673

Why Don't We Always Hear God's Voice? 10/27/2023

Why Don't We Always Hear God's Voice? Do you ever feel like God is not near you when you're suffering? God's love is enough! Host Rebecca Stewart discusses the topic of the goodness of God and how His love is enough during your trials. We all have seasons when things aren't going our way. Some of these seasons can be particularly difficult, such as seasons of grief. Rebecca lost her mother two years ago, although it feels like it just happened. When you get out your bible and can't hear His voice, why is that? It's because the enemy tries to get in the way. He tries to distract you. Have you heard of the song "The Nearness of You" by Norah Jones? It's a beautiful song of intimacy. Likewise, we can read in scripture about the nearness of the Holy Lord. The purpose of scripture is to you gently remind us of how to live, how to receive His love, and what we can expect moving forward in life. Are you fearing the Lord? Sometimes when we don't hear the voice of God it's because we aren't fearing the Lord. We are more distracted by life and the world. Do sometimes you feel like you're sin free? You know that is a lie! We all sin. BUT GOD. He will fulfill us and help us align with his vision for us when we fear him. Dressing Your Truth is a program created by Carol Tuttle to help women know how to dress. It's something Rebecca used to follow because she wanted her outside appearance to match the inside. However, over time, it became clear that the program wasn't in alignment with the Lord. We need to repent when we look to outside inviduals and programs over the Lord and His word. We need to be careful of things that appear to be of the Lord and are NOT of the Lord. We don't have to understand every biblical aspect of Jesus, but we do have to have a heart FOR JESUS. It doesn't need to be complicated! You don't have to read every book of the bible or be a biblical scholar to understand His awesome love and receive it. "All the wicked, He will destroy"- God's promise to take out all of the evil in the world. This is important to know. God is still on the throne and one day Jesus will come back and make all things right. His second coming will be EPIC! In the meantime, are you ready? Go check out for more content to help you on your journey! /episode/index/show/cheeringpastchallenges/id/28444433

How to be loved in an unlovable world 10/19/2023

Using the Gift of Prophesy During Difficult Times 10/13/2023

Israel and Prayer 10/13/2023

Handling The Christmas Grinch In Your Life 12/16/2022

What Winter Blues? Managing SAD with Personal Coach Melissa Schultz 12/09/2022

The Shock of Losing My Mom 08/18/2022

Laugh Your Way Out of Grief with Lisa David Olson 08/11/2022

The Power of Positivity with Dr. Heather Browne 08/04/2022

Surviving My Husband's Suicide with Kathleen Brock 07/29/2022

The Journey of Grief with Jocelyn Jones 07/17/2022

Riding the Waves of Grief with Jennifer Hyer 07/07/2022

016 - Speaking of Sex 06/10/2021

015 - Dementia Care 04/01/2021

015 - Dementia Care Dementia is a tough topic to talk about. Nobody really wants to talk about dementia care. But many of us are taking care of our loved ones who have developed memory loss and have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and/or Dementia. Everybody knows somebody that knows someone that has this condition. While it’s not the most fun topic, it’s a conversation that’s worth having. This week, I am sharing 10 positive tips on how to interact and love your friends and family who may be suffering from Dementia. Caregivers often carry so much guilt because they have a hard time showing love or consistently being patient with their loved ones struggling with Dementia. However, even when it seems that our friends or family members are “unlovable” at times, it’s important to show them that we love and care for them. By ensuring comfort throughout each day and focusing on what brings us joy, we find new ways to be thankful for our loved ones. Topics Discussed: Encouraging devotional to hold onto during challenging times Choosing love and kindness that covers a multitude of sins Major differences between Alzheimer’s and Dementia The importance of encouraging autonomy and independence Why joy and laughter are important for those suffering from Dementia Extending love and healing through physical touch The importance of not taking things too personally Connect with Rebecca Stewart: Website: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: About Cheering Past Challenges Podcast: Cheering Past Challenges is a community of individuals seeking to overcome past and current trauma by seeking spiritual solutions. Join Host, Rebecca Stewart, as she shares her journey of taking care of her mother with Schizophrenia. By focusing on Mental Health & Wellness, Rebecca offers insight on how to care for your loved ones during the most difficult moments of their lives. About Unbinding Love: “Bring purpose to your life.” Unbinding Love is a Christian Non-Fiction book that aims to provide hope for the caregiver/family member of someone who has Schizophrenia. It is a heart guide of how to put yourself back on the to-do list, make the right priorities, and find yourself again so that you can thrive in your caregiving and bring purpose to your life. Visit to learn more! /episode/index/show/cheeringpastchallenges/id/18574142

014 - Seek Him First with Jennifer Hayes Yates 03/25/2021

014 - Seek Him First with Jennifer Hayes Yates Before the Global Pandemic hit, we all lived crazy, busy lives. From getting the kids to school, to running errands for our business, to maintaining a healthy work-life balance at home, it was difficult to find time to replenish our soul. With all the time at home this past year, many of us have deepened our walk with God. However, now that the world is slowly going back to “normal”, it’s essential that we keep our daily devotion with the Holy Spirit. This week, I am talking with Jennifer Hayes Yates about seeking God first in all that we do. Jennifer Hayes Yates is a wife, mama, writer, and speaker with an empty nest and a Southern accent. Having taught in Christian education for twenty-two years, she has a passion for communicating God’s truth and inspiring busy women to grow their faith one quiet moment with Jesus at a time. Jennifer is now a blogger, best-selling author, and passionate speaker. Lover of all things Jesus, books, and coffee, she can be found in quiet corners or busy spaces, sipping lattes, studying commentaries, and chatting up strangers. But she’s still just a small-town girl hoping to glorify God in all she writes and make a few disciples along the way. As we discuss the importance of focusing on our relationship with God, Jennifer shares with us why Spiritual self-care is more important than simply going to the spa to unwind. Jennifer walks us through various scriptures to encourage us on our Faith Journey and how to create time with God. Topics Discussed: How to connect with our bibles 15 minutes at a time Learning how to surrender to God Real soul care is starving the flesh and feeding your spirit Recognizing Proverbs 31 as principles rather a “perfect” woman to idolize Learning how to walk in the spirit in an authentic way Teaching people how to mature and grow in our faith Adjusting quiet time with the lord during a global pandemic Learning how to be intentional about growing from where you are Focusing on the relationship with God rather than a ritualistic routine Recognizing that a daily devotional is only a starting point The importance of accountability and community Getting creative with our quiet time with the lord Connect with Jennifer Hayes Yates: Website: Facebook: Facebook Group: Instagram: Connect with Rebecca Stewart: Website: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: About Cheering Past Challenges Podcast: Cheering Past Challenges is a community of individuals seeking to overcome past and current trauma by seeking spiritual solutions. Join Host, Rebecca Stewart, as she shares her journey of taking care of her mother with Schizophrenia. By focusing on Mental Health & Wellness, Rebecca offers insight on how to care for your loved ones during the most difficult moments of their lives. About Unbinding Love: “Bring purpose to your life.” Unbinding Love is a Christian Non-Fiction book that aims to provide hope for the caregiver/family member of someone who has Schizophrenia. It is a heart guide of how to put yourself back on the to-do list, make the right priorities, and find yourself again so that you can thrive in your caregiving and bring purpose to your life. Visit to learn more! /episode/index/show/cheeringpastchallenges/id/18456647

013 - When You’re In the Rain and You Don’t Have an Umbrella 03/18/2021

013 - When You’re In the Rain and You Don’t Have an Umbrella If you don’t struggle with mental illness, I’ll bet you know someone who does. Maybe it’s your spouse, a parent, or a best friend. Oftentimes we don’t always know the best thing to do during the hard moments. Whether it’s Anxiety, Depression, or Schizophrenia, the most important thing is to remind your loved ones that you care deeply for them. Sometimes the best thing you can do is to just be there and listen. This week, I am sharing what it’s like to love someone with a mental illness. It’s a lot like standing in the rain without an umbrella. You never feel fully prepared for life’s challenges. Which is why I want to talk about the two women I loved most in my life, my mother and my grandmother, and what it was like to see them suffer from mental illness at a young age. As many of you know, my mother struggles with Schizophrenia. But my grandmother who took me in when I was only seven years old also suffered from a mental illness. Although she didn’t suffer from Schizophrenia, she did suffer from Depression. Throughout this episode, I walk you through personal stories of seeing mental illness firsthand, societal stigmas around mental illness, and the importance of being honest with your circumstances. Although mental illness is a daily battle, it does get better. There may be hard days but know that it’s not your fault. Despite life’s greatest challenges, know that God is bringing you your greatest blessings along the way. Topics Discussed: The biggest stigma around mental illness Why it’s important to share personal stories Learning that it’s okay if you have a chemical imbalance Why it’s important to take care of yourself and asking for help The history of hiding mental illness in society Why “fake it til’ you make it” doesn’t apply to Mental Health Connect with Rebecca Stewart: Website: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: About Cheering Past Challenges Podcast: Cheering Past Challenges is a community of individuals seeking to overcome past and current trauma by seeking spiritual solutions. Join Host, Rebecca Stewart, as she shares her journey of taking care of her mother with Schizophrenia. By focusing on Mental Health & Wellness, Rebecca offers insight on how to care for your loved ones during the most difficult moments of their lives. About Unbinding Love: “Bring purpose to your life.” Unbinding Love is a Christian Non-Fiction book that aims to provide hope for the caregiver/family member of someone who has Schizophrenia. It is a heart guide of how to put yourself back on the to-do list, make the right priorities, and find yourself again so that you can thrive in your caregiving and bring purpose to your life. Visit to learn more! /episode/index/show/cheeringpastchallenges/id/18284099

012 - 4 Steps to Overcoming a Bad Childhood 03/11/2021

012 - 4 Steps to Overcoming a Bad Childhood We all have experienced trauma in our lives. Whether it was the death of a loved one at an early age, constantly moving to new places due to our parents career path, or experiencing a certain level of abuse, we all have wounds from our childhood. But the good news is that God is there guiding us every step of the way to our healing journey. This week, I am sharing four steps to overcoming a bad childhood. I don’t believe that you or I had the worst childhood growing up. However, I do believe that we all have experienced traumatic events growing up. We don’t grow up leaving a perfect childhood behind. Because we all faced difficult challenges in our lives, it’s important that we share our experiences with one another. In order to truly heal from our past trauma, we have to dig deep and work on our healing. Throughout these four steps, I share how we can face our past trauma, reflect on our current beliefs, and discover forgiveness for our future. No matter what traumatic event you experienced growing up or even still facing, God will help you find freedom. Topics Discussed: Different types of trauma faced during childhood Placing our hope and trust in God through traumatic experiences Reflecting on the past and accepting past circumstances Leading by example and sharing your experiences with others How prayer leads us to forgiving others and ourselves Connect with Rebecca Stewart: Website: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: About Cheering Past Challenges Podcast: Cheering Past Challenges is a community of individuals seeking to overcome past and current trauma by seeking spiritual solutions. Join Host, Rebecca Stewart, as she shares her journey of taking care of her mother with Schizophrenia. By focusing on Mental Health & Wellness, Rebecca offers insight on how to care for your loved ones during the most difficult moments of their lives. About Unbinding Love: “Bring purpose to your life.” Unbinding Love is a Christian Non-Fiction book that aims to provide hope for the caregiver/family member of someone who has Schizophrenia. It is a heart guide of how to put yourself back on the to-do list, make the right priorities, and find yourself again so that you can thrive in your caregiving and bring purpose to your life. Visit to learn more! /episode/index/show/cheeringpastchallenges/id/18254729

Cheering Past Challenges

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