Podcast Summary
Keep It Positive, Sweetie
Episode: In This New Season with Megan Ashley
Host: Crystal Renee Hayslett
Guest: Megan Ashley Brooks
Date: December 12, 2023
Overview
On this episode of Keep It Positive, Sweetie, host Crystal Renee Hayslett welcomes Megan Ashley Brooks for an intimate and deeply spiritual conversation about embracing new seasons of life. Megan, a mother of four and public figure known for co-hosting the Know For Sure podcast, reflects on her journey through faith, motherhood, divorce, mental health battles, church hurt, and profound personal growth. The discussion centers around confronting shame, navigating life's unexpected turns, and the transformative power of a relationship with God.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Entering a New Season: Transitions and Faith
- Megan's Move and Life Shift
- Megan, originally from Columbus, Ohio, moved to Atlanta during the COVID-19 pandemic (02:55) with her children and then-husband, marking a significant life transition.
- She discusses the challenges and unexpected ease of moving during lockdown due to fewer daily distractions (03:05).
- Navigating Divorce
- Megan reflects on meeting her husband at Bible college, their youthful infatuation, and how life challenges, such as the diagnosis of her son Caleb with autism and fragile X syndrome, began to strain their marriage (07:32).
- The pain and guilt surrounding her motivations for wanting a second child are deeply explored. Megan shares a powerful story of God asking her to pray for others before granting her own requests (09:06).
"God said, I heard you. Don't ask me again. Go pray for someone else." — Megan Ashley (09:09)
2. Motherhood, Guilt, and Purpose
- Caleb’s Diagnosis and Finding Purpose
- Megan shares how her son Caleb's unique challenges and gifts transformed her understanding of who God is, moving her from knowing of God to knowing God personally (13:30).
- Advice to Other Parents
- Encourages mothers of special needs children to remember: “God created that child... He didn’t say that we are fearfully and wonderfully made if we fit society’s standards.” (14:42)
“He is the reason that I know God… he’s the reason I know God is real.” — Megan (13:39)
3. Church Hurt, Shame, and Redemption
- Facing Judgment
- Megan recounts the harsh judgment she faced from her church community after becoming pregnant at 19, and the vital support of her mother and friends who embodied Christian love (15:59).
- She emphasizes that true Christian community should love people through their lowest points, not punish them for them (18:00).
“They didn’t take my hardest moment or my biggest fall... and punish me for it. They loved me through it.” — Megan (17:59)
- Processing and Rejecting Shame
- Megan discusses how shame has been a recurring struggle in her life, weaponized by the enemy, but combats it by embracing God's forgiveness and moving forward (18:48, 20:26).
- Crystal and Megan both note that God forgets forgiven sins; it's us, not Him, who keeps revisiting them (21:40).
4. Faith Walk: Publicly Standing for Christ
- Not Interested in Church Titles, Committed to Service
- Megan explains why she’s not interested in being a pastor despite her deep immersion in church work (24:25), emphasizing the weight of spiritual responsibility.
- Her focus is on being the authentic woman God intended, referencing the scriptural fear of hearing, “Depart from me, I never knew you” (25:53).
“My goal and focus right now is to be the one that He knew more than being the one that’s known to everyone else.” — Megan (25:01)
- Boldness in Faith
- Discusses the importance of public affirmation of her faith, despite cultural pressures to be vague about religious beliefs (28:16).
“Whatever you think it's going to cost you, it didn't cost you as much as it cost Him.” — Megan (29:54)
5. Isolation, Purging, and Spiritual Growth
- Wilderness Season
- Megan describes post-divorce life as a "wilderness season"—an isolating but purifying period where God is dealing with her heart on a deep level (32:25).
- She shares a metaphor about purifying water in a dirty bowl to illustrate incremental spiritual cleansing and the patience self-growth requires (34:03).
- Doing the Work for God, Not for Others
- Shares a story about a fairground basketball game to reinforce that evidence of change is between oneself and God, not for validation from others (36:17).
“Am I doing this because I want a heart that God has made, pleasing to Him, or do I want growth that looks good to everyone else?” — Megan (36:49)
6. Friendship, Loss, and Redirection
- Podcast Ending & Perspective Shift
- The end of her podcast with B. Simone is described as a “tragic blessing,” a painful but necessary catalyst for her spiritual growth and deepening focus on family and God (39:46).
- Therapy and Discipleship
- Megan values therapy (with a Christian counselor) and being part of a discipling relationship as critical tools for healing (42:24).
7. Reluctance Around Intimacy and Building Healthy Boundaries
- Intimacy After Divorce
- Megan openly admits her reluctance about intimacy in future relationships, highlighting the importance of spiritual healing and trust before moving forward romantically (44:54).
- She uses the metaphor of guarding her heart with a fence rather than a wall, allowing visibility but controlled access (47:26).
“You can protect your heart with a concrete wall… but then no one gets to see it. Maybe put a fence around it.” — Megan (47:42)
8. Daily Routines for Spiritual Health
- Morning Practices
- Shares her routine: beginning the day with the Bible app before anything else, then spending devoted time in prayer, study, and devotion (51:00–52:50).
- Crystal concurs this is “the cheat code” to facing the day with God’s guidance (53:56).
9. Mental Health, Depression & The Power of Truth
- Battling Suicidal Thoughts
- Megan asserts that truth—knowing God's love and purpose—has been her only reliable remedy for depression and suicidal ideation (60:33–62:54).
- She differentiates between "wanting to die" and "not wanting to live with pain," and cautions listeners to recognize depression as a manipulation of the enemy.
- Obedience & Healing
- Sometimes the key to freedom from depression or anxiety is obedience to God's instructions (65:58).
“Sometimes you’re not depressed, you’re disobedient. There’s a difference.” — Megan (65:44)
10. Listener Letters & Practical Encouragement
- Advice to Those Facing Judgment After False Accusation
- The hosts respond to a formerly incarcerated man's letter, advising him to practice grace toward family, seek supportive community, remain consistent, and trust God for new relationships (67:51–69:56).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On transformation through struggle:
“It’s been the most tragic blessing I could ever… that’s the best way to describe it.” — Megan (39:46)
- On her new spiritual priority:
“I got to focus on being the one he knew.” — Megan (25:01)
- On shame and forgiveness:
“You’re not going to make me remember or feel shamed over what God has forgiven and forgotten.” — Megan (20:26)
- On community and grace:
“Sometimes people prefer you broken… it makes them feel better about their brokenness.” — Megan (68:45)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:30 — Opening quote on God ‘pruning us for new seasons’
- 02:55 — Moving to Atlanta during the pandemic
- 07:32 — Son’s autism and guilt over motivations
- 09:06 — God’s message “I heard you, pray for someone else”
- 13:30 — How Caleb changed Megan’s faith
- 15:59 — Church hurt, shame, and her mother’s support
- 18:48 — Ongoing struggle with shame
- 24:25 — Why Megan doesn’t want to be a pastor
- 25:53 — “Be the one He knew” and fear of not being true to God’s design
- 29:54 — On the cost of following Christ
- 32:25 — The wilderness: isolation, spiritual work, growth
- 34:03 — Spiritual growth metaphor: clearing the bowl
- 36:17 — Growth is to please God, not for others’ validation
- 39:46 — End of the Know For Sure podcast: “tragic blessing”
- 42:24 — Impact of therapy and discipleship
- 44:54 — Reluctance around intimacy after divorce
- 47:26 — Protecting her heart with a "fence" not a wall
- 51:00 — Daily spiritual routine (Bible app first, morning devotions)
- 60:33 — Depression, suicidal thoughts, and spiritual truth
- 65:44 — “Sometimes you’re not depressed, you’re disobedient.”
- 67:51 — Listener letter: advice after incarceration
Conclusion & Call to Action
Crystal and Megan end the episode urging listeners to “keep it hopeful, sweetie” and “keep it faithful, sweetie,” reminding everyone that God’s redemptive work meets us wherever we are. The episode is an open-hearted call to embrace faith, seek healing, and pursue a life centered on God’s purpose—regardless of how rocky the path may be.
Where to Find Megan Ashley
- Social Media: @ImmeganAshley
- Podcast: "In Totality With Megan Ashley" (all streaming platforms, YouTube, Patreon community)
Overall Tone:
Sincere, vulnerable, faith-driven, and empowering, with frequent moments of laughter, empathy, and deep spiritual reflection.