What happens when your "perfect" life is upended by a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis at just 17 years old? In our latest episode, Zack and Becky Mariscal join the podcast to share their incredible journey of faith, wrestling with God, and finding a love that endures the unthinkable.

Whether you are walking through your own "wilderness" or supporting someone who is, this story is a powerful testament to the God who heals the brokenhearted and carries us through the storm.

🎧 Listen now to find hope in the struggle.

Scriptures:

• Genesis 32:24,28 NIV
• Luke 7:47 Voice
• Isaiah 6:5 NIV
• Titus 2:12 NIV
• Acts 2:38 NIV
• 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 NIV
• Exodus 3:10-12 NASB95
• Psalm 56:8 NLT
• Psalm 126:5-6 NLT
• Psalm 147:3 NLT

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Chapters:

00:00 - Zack and Becky Mariscal

01:52 - Wrestling with God

04:58 - When they became Christians

08:29 - How do you handle the struggles of being a Christian as a teenager

14:14 - What young men can learn from others

19:03 - Getting sick and starting to date

27:03 - How God moved through the struggle

31:29 - The shock and trials of being diagnosed with cancer

46:01 - The scriptures reveal how the spirit brings us through difficulty

52:04 - Why God wants us to just show up sometimes

56:36 - God brings us through our sufferings to our destiny

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#DeepSpirituality #FaithJourney #CancerSurvivor #RelationshipGoals #GodIsReal #HopeInTheStruggle #PodcastRecommendation

Desperation is a feeling that no one really likes, but our willingness to admit that we are desperate is the key to experiencing God’s supernatural power. Desperation opens our hearts and makes room for God to move in ways that go far beyond our wildest dreams.

In this scripture playlist, we’ll go from denial to desperation so that God can turn the impossible into the inevitable.

Scriptures referenced:

• Psalm 34:6 MSG
• James 4:2 ERV
• Mark 11:25 ERV
• Psalm 66:18-20 NIV
• Ephesians 6:13-18 MSG
• Psalm 5:1-3 TPT
• Psalm 77:2 AMP
• Psalm 86:1 TPT
• Psalm 107:6 CEB
• Jeremiah 29:11-13 TPT
• Isaiah 55:6 TPT
• Matthew 6:5-6 MSG
• Revelation 3:20 ERV

(00:00) Introduction and Welcome

(01:31) Four reasons we don’t pray desperate prayers

(04:06) After clearing our heart, we can pray

(05:26) Powerful prayers unlock a powerful future

(06:58) Desperate prayers start with simple steps

(08:30) Outro and credits

The greatest battle of our age is spiritual. Long before Silicon Valley and algorithms, Jesus warned us that our way of seeing determines our way of being. But today, our "lamp is our screen," and the algorithms behind it are engineered to disciple us, shaping our reactions, emotions, and identity.

In this profound conversation, Russ Ewell and Zach Leighton (Reliant Media Group) dive deep into the spiritual crisis of the digital age. They discuss the difference between conforming to the world's patterns and being transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Zachary Leighton → Reliant Creative: https://reliantcreative.org/

Zach Leighton, founder of Reliant Media Group, empowers churches and nonprofits with story-driven, digital media strategies that deepen connection and build community. With expertise in brand development he helps ministries share their unique stories in a way that resonates and drives lasting impact.

Scriptures:

• Luke 11:34-36 Voice
• Romans 12:2 NIV
• Hebrews 11:1 NLT
• Romans 5:3-4 NIV
• Revelation 12:11 NIV

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Chapters:

• 00:00 Coming up
• 01:29 Algorithm of faith introduction
• 06:13 What is Reliant Creative?
• 08:01 Why churches are slow to change
• 13:13 Why we run to social media
• 19:28 [Ad] Deep Spirituality Newsletter
• 20:51 What do churches have to invest in to tell their story
• 30:01 What story does the average Christian need to tell?
• 39:14 [Ad] Deep Spirituality Newsletter
• 40:22 Why does the story speak to our soul?
• 54:03 Reliant Creative + Outro

It’s hard to hear God when life feels chaotic. We often think the solution to our stress is to push harder or move faster, but the story of Elijah shows us that God doesn’t speak through the noise—he speaks through the whisper. Many of us miss moments of insight and renewal simply because we’re too distracted to notice.

In this episode of Scripture Playlists, you’ll hear a short devotional and a curated collection of scriptures designed to help you quiet your mind, calm your heart, and create space to hear God’s voice.

GO DEEPER: DOWNLOAD THE WORKBOOK: If the noise inside feels overwhelming, our free ebook workbook can help you understand what’s going on beneath the surface. It’s designed to help you process your emotions, grow in self-awareness, and deepen your relationship with God and the people closest to you.

https://deepspirituality.com/what-god-whispers

Scriptures used:

• 1 Kings 19:11-13 MSG
• Psalm 46:10 Voice
• Matthew 11:28-30 AMP
• Isaiah 30:15 GW
• Psalm 131:1-3 NLT
• Psalm 62:5 TPT
• Mark 4:39 NCV
• Matthew 7:24-27 TPT
• Psalm 94:19 TPT
• Isaiah 26:3 NLT
• 1 Peter 5:7 NCV
• Psalm 37:7 TPT
• Psalm 42:5 Voice
• Philippians 4:6-7 TLB

Gen Z is hurting—and they know it. In this candid conversation, therapist Liz Llamas and nurse leader MaryAnn McGaret join host Russ Ewell to explore why so many young adults feel exhausted, anxious, and alone—despite being more focused on wellness than any generation before.

We cut through the noise of viral self-care trends and social media “The Great Lock-In” challenges to reveal what’s really missing: authentic connection, true meaning, and the courage to find your own path. Discover how discipline, community, and finding your unique motivation can bring the breakthrough you need—no matter where you’re starting from.

Hit play for practical advice—and a reminder that you’re not alone in the search for a life that finally feels whole.

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Scriptures:

Proverbs 20:5 NIV

The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.

Chapters:

00:00 What "The Great Lock-In" reveals about Gen Z

07:03 What is your take on wellness

09:56 Why Gen Z is so into wellness right now

20:04 What's missing in Gen Z's relationships

28:47 Promo - The Chemistry Lab: Which super power do you need?

30:07 Simple tools to take care of yourself (AAA)

36:53 Steps towards being a likable person

50:34 Finding the right technique for you

57:45 Why Gen Z is still finding their way and stuck at home

01:08:53 Promo - Your Personalized Power Plan

01:10:11 How to motivate Gen Z towards progress

01:24:15 What did we learn today?

****

📬 Unlock spiritual breakthroughs every week—subscribe to The Chemistry Lab! https://deepspirituality.com/subscribe

Quiz: Which spiritual superpower do you need? https://deepspirituality.com/superpower

Quiz: Your Personalized Power Plan https://deepspirituality.com/your-personalized-power-plan/

If you’ve ever felt the weight of ambition—your own or others’—and wondered why efforts that seem good end up fracturing relationships, breeding anxiety or leaving you empty, this episode offers a clear, faith-rooted perspective. We explore how selfish ambition is driving spiritual and social decay, and how a different kind of ambition—rooted in humility, love, purpose and God’s vision—can rebuild what’s broken.

In this edition of Deep Reads, Darryl Howell reads the article “What’s Going on with Our World? (Part I)” from Deep Spirituality, written by Russ Ewell.

Whether you’re spiritually curious, disillusioned by religion, or simply seeking a truer, healthier way of living, this episode stakes new ground—a place where ambition isn’t the problem but the form of ambition is.

Tune in, press play, and let’s together ask: What kind of ambition is shaping our lives—and what could be different if we chose a better one?

What’s Going on with Our World? (Part I): Selfish ambition is breaking us. But here’s what we can do about it. → https://deepspirituality.com/whats-going-on-with-our-world-part-i/

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction

00:35 - What’s Going on with Our World?

02:55 - The paradox of progress

09:47 - Observation

16:25 - Hypothesis

29:18 - To be continued…

30:22 - Reply or reach out

If you've ever felt like your spiritual life is compartmentalized (church on Sunday, work Monday-Friday, “real life” elsewhere), this episode invites you to reimagine how the spiritual and the physical can align. We dive into how God designed the world to explain Himself—through nature, science, relationships, and even everyday moments.

In this edition of Deep Reads, Darryl Howell reads the article “The Spiritual Chemistry of Everything” from Deep Spirituality, written by Russ Ewell.

Whether you’re curious about faith, feeling disconnected, or simply ready for a fresh way of seeing God in the world, this episode is for you. Press play and let the lab of your life begin: open your notebook, lean in, and let’s discover what it means to live fully integrated, alive to the spiritual chemistry of everything.

Read along with the full article "The spiritual chemistry of everything" → https://deepspirituality.com/spiritual-chemistry-of-everything/

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction

06:16 - The Workshop

14:47 - Weekly Experiment

19:15 - Field Notes

Do you ever feel like you've failed so hard your world came crashing down? We've all been there.

Join host Russ Ewell and guests Josh Turner and Gary Ruelas as they unpack a powerful story of catastrophic failure that led to an even more profound destiny. We’re talking about more than just bouncing back—we're talking about the difference between a life guided by your plan versus a life guided by God's. Get ready to rethink everything you thought you knew about fear, failure, and your future.

Don't let one bad moment define your entire life's purpose! Listen now and discover the beautiful path God has waiting for you, even if it's not the one you expected.

Scriptures:

Proverbs 24:15-16 ESV

Acts 17:26 NRSV

John 14:6 NIV

Psalm 71:17 NIV

1 John 3:20 NLT

Acts 10:3-4 ERV

Ephesians 3:17-18 NASB

Hebrews 12:1-2 TPT

Psalm 46:1-2 NLT

► SUBSCRIBE: https://youtube.com/deepspirituality/?sub_confirmation=1

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:29 Welcome to the show

02:30 Josh's greatest failure

07:39 What if failure sends you in a different direction?

10:56 What failure reveals about our priorities with God

15:15 God guides us to our destiny through the failures

24:05 Ad break - The Chemistry Lab

25:22 The physics of being born on third base

34:50 How spirituality shows up in every part of our life

43:38 We have access to the spiritual power to overcome our fears

52:56 Ad break - Quick Quiet Times

54:01 Why labeling is causing Gen Z problems

01:04:31 The fearful difficulty of sharing our emotions

01:08:25 Fear is a sign that we can reach out to ask for help

01:17:46 Learning to have a conversation toward love

01:26:08 Meet the internal needs to conquer our fear