In Totality with Megan Ashley

Episode 92: "Faith Under Fire: When Following God Gets Hard"

Air date: October 14, 2025
Host: Megan Ashley
Guest: Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell

Overview

In this intensely honest and deeply spiritual episode, host Megan Ashley sits down with her pastor and mentor, Philip Anthony Mitchell, to discuss what it means to follow God when faith is challenged by suffering, opposition, and internal battles. Through candid conversation and biblical wisdom, they wrestle with the realities of spiritual warfare, the importance of suffering well, and how to maintain faith when life grows difficult. This episode is both practical and prophetic, offering real tools for believers at every stage.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Navigating Blessing and Suffering in Ministry

• Pastor Phil describes the last year as a “clinic in knowing how to steward both the blessings and the favor of Christ and also steward the sufferings of Christ all at the same time.”
  (05:49) “How do I live well and suffer well? How do I steward those who love me and appreciate the Ministry of 2019 at the same time I have to steward a growing chorus of enemies?” — Mitchell (05:49)
• He reflects on how increased ministry impact (attendance, finances, influence) has also brought deeper levels of opposition, misunderstanding, and personal warfare.
• Pastor Phil candidly shares that seasons of favor do not exclude suffering, but often include it:
  (06:40) “I know what it is for people to say hosanna in one week and say, crucify him at the end of the same week.” — Mitchell

2. The Purpose of Trials and Honest Self-Examination

• Suffering and criticism exposed deeper issues in Mitchell’s heart, such as lingering desires to be understood and appreciated by everyone, which led to self-reflection with God.
  (10:55) “Why do I want to be loved by everyone?… There is a brokenness attached to that that I had to unearth during this time.” — Mitchell
• He emphasizes the difference between healthy critique (for growth) and the sin of slander, warning that much online “righteous critique” is simply personal or demonic attack (12:20).

3. Identifying the Real Enemy and Biblical Boundaries

• Pastor Phil unpacks the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17), highlighting that David did not waste energy addressing non-essential battles (like Goliath’s armor bearer):
  (19:59) “We would do ourselves well to discern our Goliaths from the armor bearers and know where to throw stones and where not to throw stones.” — Mitchell

4. Discerning When to Respond in Conflict

• The Holy Spirit, spiritual authority, and anticipated outcomes guide whether to engage criticism or remain silent.
  (21:12) “The Holy Spirit will give us insight when we need to respond… We have to make sure we don’t allow our flesh to be louder than the voice of the Holy Spirit.” — Mitchell
• He commends Megan for navigating public attacks with humility and encourages believers not to let emotions dictate responses.
  (24:50) “Emotions are gifts from God. They are indicators, they indicate something’s going on… but I can’t let that indicator just tell me [to act].” — Mitchell

5. Suffering Well: Theology and Practical Application

• Megan notes that most believers expect the Christian life to be “easier,” indicating a lack of teaching on suffering.
  (26:11) “We’re not doing a great job discipling people in suffering… we’re not presenting a gospel in a way where we’re preparing people to suffer well.” — Megan
• Pastor Phil outlines the biblical rhythm: “Live well, suffer well, recover well, repeat” (27:09).
• He references Job and the letters of Peter (especially 1 Peter) as clinics on suffering faithfully.
  (31:17) “First and Second Peter is a very powerful, powerful clinic on suffering well.” — Mitchell
• True Christianity includes a theology of adversity, contrary to "Western Christianity's placebo of happiness and ease." (29:00-33:30)

6. The Gift and Danger of Memory During Suffering

• Megan shares how Lamentations 3 and the song “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” have ministered to her in pain, teaching that recalling God’s faithfulness can turn the tide amid despair (38:58).
• Mitchell warns that memory can be weaponized by the enemy but also redeemed by rehearsing God's previous faithfulness:
  (40:02) “The devil can use our memory against us, but also the Holy Spirit can help us use our memory for good.” — Mitchell
• He references Paul’s “forgetting what is behind” (Philippians) as key to overcoming past shame (42:32).

7. Hope Beyond This Life

• Both emphasize that Christian hope must be anchored in eternity, not just deliverance in this present life.
• (48:13) “If we do not have a hope that goes beyond this life, we will not have strength for the sufferings we endure in this life.” — Mitchell
• Referencing Stephen’s martyrdom and the book of Revelation, Mitchell insists that focusing only on present breakthrough robs believers of deeper fortitude.
  (50:14) “If you have a hope that goes beyond this life, you can endure almost anything.” — Mitchell

8. Encouragement for the Emotional and Sensitive

• Both discuss their own emotional wiring and encourage similar listeners not to despise their God-given sensitivity; it can lead to deeper dependence on God, but should not become a crutch.
  (53:35) “Don’t despise your wiring… but don’t let your wiring be a crutch to the point that you can’t survive your trials.” — Mitchell
• They advocate honesty with God in prayer (“David said some crazy, crazy stuff, bro. And so he… gives us permission to be honest.” 54:52) and stress the role of community, the Word, and the secret place as sources of comfort and transformation (55:26).

9. Ministry Born from Suffering

• Citing 2 Corinthians, Megan shares how personal affliction equipped her to comfort others, and Mitchell affirms the authority to minister that comes from walking through suffering.
  (57:39) “It’s a badge of honor for us to have suffered… so that in moments like this, we can speak with a type of confidence to people who are watching that Christ is faithful in suffering.” — Mitchell

10. The Importance of Therapy, Community, and the Secret Place

• Both strongly encourage listeners to seek professional help (“Don’t die in that secret place in silence… get the help that you need.” 58:59).
• Megan testifies to the role of weekly therapy in surviving the hardest year of her life (59:09).
• Mitchell encourages making prayer and the secret place the “vice” that believers run to in pain:
  (60:29) “My vice now is the secret place… every time my heart feels sick, I’m going to carry my heart into the secret place.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There is a type of slander that is sinful, that hides behind the guise of righteous critique.” — Mitchell (12:11)
• “Sometimes the prayer is not God, get us out—it's God, show me what you're trying to do in me while I'm in this.” — Mitchell (10:55)
• “Memory is one of my greatest weapons.” — Megan (39:35)
• “You need to be honest with God. It does not make sense to sanitize your prayers when God knows all things.” — Mitchell (40:19)
• “His faithfulness is not dependent upon him answering my prayer. His faithfulness is woven into his character.” — Mitchell (43:58)
• “Sometimes we cannot pray our way out of a circumstance, but you can pray your way into peace in the middle of your circumstance.” — Mitchell (44:56)
• “Don’t let your emotions become a God, that they become louder than the pages of Scripture.” — Mitchell (54:52)
• “Make the secret place your vice. Every time your heart is sick, train your heart to carry it into the presence of God.” — Mitchell (60:29)
• “We have to learn to stop suffering independent of the presence of the Lord… You need him to suffer well.” — Megan (59:40)
• “If you and I do not fix our gaze on eternity… we will not have strength for the sufferings we endure in this life.” — Mitchell (48:13)

Key Timestamps

• Blessing and Suffering in Ministry: 05:01–09:41
• Healthy Critique vs. Slander: 12:11–13:00
• David, Goliath, and Not Wasting Stones: 16:22–19:59
• How To Decide When to Respond Publicly: 21:12–24:50
• Survey: Christians Expecting Life Will Be Easier: 26:11–27:09
• Theology of Suffering with Job & Peter: 27:09–34:01
• Activating Memory as a Weapon in Suffering: 38:58–40:02
• Hope Beyond Present Life: 48:13–51:08
• Permission for Honest Emotions/Prayer: 53:35–55:04
• Role of Therapy & Community: 58:39–59:55
• Secret Place as Vice: 60:29–END

Episode Tone & Language

• Honest, vulnerable, peer-to-peer discipleship style, blending direct biblical reflection, personal testimony, warmth, and encouragement. Pastor Mitchell often uses phrases like "bro," "y'all," and "fam," making the conversation accessible and richly relatable.

Summary Takeaway

This episode of "In Totality" offers a compelling, scripturally grounded exploration of faith under fire. Megan Ashley and Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell reassure believers that suffering is not just inevitable but a sacred opportunity for growth, deepened trust, and ministry to others. With practical wisdom, they urge listeners to embrace honest prayer, biblical literacy, Spirit-led discernment, and the sustaining power of eternity-focused hope—while never neglecting the power of community, therapy, and the secret place.