37 | When Faith Doesn't Feel Safe Anymore | Spiritual Direction, Church Hurt & Rest with Paul Burgmayer

What happens when faith still matters to you, but church no longer feels safe? Church hurt, spiritual exhaustion, misuse of authority, shame, and disappointment can leave people wondering where God is and whether faith can ever feel safe again. Healing doesn't always begin with having the right answers. Sometimes it begins with finding a safe place to tell the truth, ask difficult questions, and simply be heard. In this episode of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor, Laura welcomes spiritual director, researcher, and author Paul Burgmayer for a gentle conversation about spiritual direction, church hurt, prayer, trust, and finding God in ordinary life. Paul explains what spiritual direction actually is and why “direction” doesn't mean someone telling you what to do. Instead, a spiritual director can offer presence, careful listening, and space to notice where God may already be at work. Together, Laura and Paul explore: • What spiritual direction is and what a spiritual director actually does • Why people seek spiritual direction during seasons of church hurt or spiritual exhaustion • How healthy spiritual direction avoids control and misuse of authority • Why rebuilding spiritual trust can take time • How prayer can change throughout different seasons of life • Simple forms of prayer when you don't have many words • Finding God in ordinary, everyday moments • What to do when worship or church begins to feel like autopilot • Why slowing down can feel difficult in a culture that wants quick answers • The relationship between psychology and spirituality • Why rest may be the first step when faith feels exhausted Paul also shares a powerful lesson from his own spiritual director, who waited nine years for Paul to feel safe enough to say something he had been carrying. It's a reminder that trust cannot be rushed, especially after we've been hurt. If you're spiritually tired, questioning, recovering from church hurt, or simply longing for a quieter and safer way to listen for God, pull up a chair. You don't have to solve everything today. Sometimes the first step is simply to rest. Connect with Paul Burgmayer Learn more about Paul, his research, spiritual direction, and his book The Making of Modern Spiritual Direction at historyofsd.com. Pull Up a Chair Explore more Christian encouragement, grief support, burnout recovery, soul care, books, resources, and the At the Counter community at BakingPastor.com. If this conversation helped you, consider sharing it with someone who may need a safe place to breathe today. Until we pull up a chair next time.  Join me October 19–23 for The Empty Chair at the Counter, a free five-night online retreat for anyone carrying grief, change, or a season that feels heavier than expected. Come as you are. Your chair is already waiting. https://bakingpastor.com/tec-atc/ Support the show ☕ Enjoying At the Counter? Share the podcast with a friend: If an episode made you think of someone, send it their way. Leave a review: Your review helps more people discover At the Counter with the Baking Pastor and find encouragement for the season they’re walking through. Come join us at the Counter: Download the At the Counter app in your phone’s app store and connect with a welcoming community where the conversation continues between episodes. At the Counter with the Baking Pastor is for anyone looking for Christian encouragement for hard seasons, grief support, burnout recovery, soul care, and faith in everyday life. We talk about grief and loss support, caregiving, life transitions, unwanted change, emotional healing, spiritual weariness, rest and renewal, and practical soul care for the days when life feels heavy, faith feels tired, or you simply don’t feel like yourself anymore. Pull up a chair. The counter is open. ☕