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Disclaimer: This episode discusses topics including suicide and suicidal ideation, which may be distressing to some listeners. If you are experiencing emotional distress or feel unsafe, please know that help is available. If you are in immediate danger or need urgent support, call 911 (if in the United States) or your local emergency services immediately.

For those in the United States, you can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 (available 24 hours) or 1-800-273-8255. If you're located outside the United States, please consult your local crisis intervention resources or visit https://findahelpline.com for international hotline information.

Your well-being matters, and you are not alone. Please consider seeking help from trusted friends, family, or mental health professionals if you need support.

In this raw and vulnerable episode, Kori Leigh courageously shares her personal journey through addiction, recovery, and the rediscovery of faith. Kori’s story shatters the stereotypes of a dramatic "rock bottom"—revealing instead that her turning point was a quiet, insidious moment of clarity. Despite achieving outward success, she reached a point where the reality of an unmanageable relationship with alcohol became undeniable.

Kori opens up about how childhood trauma and longstanding familial patterns contributed to her struggles with alcohol. Instead of remaining trapped in a cycle of self-destruction, she embarked on a transformative journey by embracing a 12-step program and turning to faith. Her commitment to sobriety has now spanned eight years, proving that freedom from alcohol is not about a single moment but about a continuous, intentional journey of healing.

Reconnecting with God provided Kori with the courage to break generational cycles and embrace a life filled with hope and divine grace. Her story is a testament to the transformative power of faith, vulnerability, and self-examination, offering practical insights and heartfelt encouragement to anyone facing similar battles.

Join us for an episode filled with honest reflections and uplifting encouragement as Kori Leigh’s journey reminds us that even in the darkest moments, there is a path to healing and a future filled with hope – and a sober life beyond our wildest dreams!

Join the conversation in our community at https://butjesusdrankwine.com/community.

Order Christy’s book now available! Love Life Sober, A 40 Day Alcohol Fast To Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health and Renew Your Mind

Learn More about Coaching with Christy

Learn More about Coaching with Meade

Connect with us on Instagram! @imnotsoberimfree @lovelifesoberwithchristy @butjesusdrankwine

You can find this episode on YouTube HERE.

The creators, hosts, and producers of the But Jesus Drank Wine podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, psychological or professional advice nor do they intend for the podcast, any communication on behalf of BJDW or otherwise to be a substitute for such. Additionally, the views and opinions expressed in any mention of and/or linked resources are those of the authors/owners of those resources and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the But Jesus Drank Wine podcast team or guests of the show.

Christy chats with Jon Seidl, bestselling Christian author and founder of The Veritas Network, to discuss addiction, anxiety, and the road to true freedom.

Jon has spent years in journalism, faith-based media, and nonprofit work with I Am Second, helping people tell their stories of transformation. But behind the scenes, he was silently battling anxiety, OCD, and alcohol dependency, even as he was a known Christian mental health advocate.

Jon opens up about how cultural and personal pressures led him into alcohol dependency, despite his deep faith. He shares the moment he hit rock bottom, the role of therapy and spiritual surrender in his recovery, and the hard but necessary process of sanctification—how God refines us even through our failures.

This episode also dives into the themes of Jon’s upcoming book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic: A Candid Conversation on Drinking, Addiction, and How to Break Free.

Jon doesn’t just explore the struggles—he offers practical, faith-filled solutions for those struggling with alcohol.

Resources Mentioned:

The Veritas Daily: Jon’s daily faith-based inspiration at TheVeritasDaily.com

Join the conversation in our community at https://butjesusdrankwine.com/community.

Order Christy’s book now available! Love Life Sober, A 40 Day Alcohol Fast To Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health and Renew Your Mind

Learn More about Coaching with Christy

Learn More about Coaching with Meade

Connect with us on Instagram! @imnotsoberimfree @lovelifesoberwithchristy @butjesusdrankwine

You can find this episode on YouTube HERE.

The creators, hosts, and producers of the But Jesus Drank Wine podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, psychological or professional advice nor do they intend for the podcast, any communication on behalf of BJDW or otherwise to be a substitute for such. Additionally, the views and opinions expressed in any mention of and/or linked resources are those of the authors/owners of those resources and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the But Jesus Drank Wine podcast team or guests of the show.

JOIN THE BJDW COMMUNITY HERE!

For some reason, sharing my alcohol story has always been easy for me. But today’s podcast episode has been 42 years in the making. I’ve never told this story before.

Today, I want to tell you all about how I rediscovered Jesus. It’s a story of redemption, sobriety, and His unrelenting love that has shaped my life. This isn’t a story of religious perfection; it’s one of shame and brokenness and a profound reconnection with God that changed everything.

Growing up, my mother’s unwavering Christian faith was a constant in my life. She planted seeds of faith in my heart, even when I didn’t fully realize it.

When I went to college and ventured into early adulthood, those roots of faith began to feel distant. Life’s demands and distractions pulled me away, and I drifted. Yet, I always felt a quiet, persistent call deep in my soul—a whisper that refused to let me go.

In 2018, my world was upended. Losing my mom was a heartbreak I wasn’t prepared for. That loss brought me to my knees. In my grief, I found myself turning back to the Bible, searching for comfort, answers, and—if I’m honest—a way to understand myself again. I didn’t just read the words; I clung to them. Slowly, those seeds my mom had planted began to bloom.

As I delved deeper into my faith, I wrestled with the tension between living in a performance-driven world and embracing the transformative power of grace. I’d spent so much of my life trying to prove myself—to be “good enough.” But God met me in the messiness of my real life.

Here’s what I’ve come to know: being a Christian isn’t about rules or rituals. It’s about a deeply personal relationship with Jesus. It’s about freedom—the kind that heals your heart and fills your life with purpose. It’s about saying “yes” to grace when everything in you wants to cling to control.

Sobriety has been a significant part of my faith journey. For me, giving up alcohol wasn’t just about breaking a habit; it was about stepping into a life of clarity and intentionality, free from the things that clouded my connection to God.

If you’re navigating your own sobriety journey, wrestling with questions of faith, or simply searching for encouragement, know this: God’s grace is big enough for your doubts and your struggles. He has good plans and He can redeem your story, just like He did for me.

Resources Mentioned:

• Why We Can Trust The Bible, Suzy Silk, Church of the City New York https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/church-of-the-city-new-york/id1245313998?i=1000652522766

• The Gospel of John - Savoring the Peace of Jesus in a Chaotic World by Melissa Spoelstra https://a.co/d/7VgMw5Z

Have you experienced a moment where faith changed everything? Join the conversation in our community at https://butjesusdrankwine.com/community.

Order Christy’s book now available! Love Life Sober, A 40 Day Alcohol Fast To Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health and Renew Your Mind

Learn More about Coaching with Christy

Learn More about Coaching with Meade

Connect with us on Instagram! @imnotsoberimfree @lovelifesoberwithchristy @butjesusdrankwine

You can find this episode on YouTube HERE.

The creators, hosts, and producers of the But Jesus Drank Wine podcast are not healthcare practitioners and therefore do not give medical, psychological or professional advice nor do they intend for the podcast, any communication on behalf of BJDW or otherwise to be a substitute for such. Additionally, the views and opinions expressed in any mention of and/or linked resources are those of the authors/owners of those resources and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the But Jesus Drank Wine podcast team or guests of the show.