You’ve been taught that spiritual maturity looks like control. Stoicism. Discipline. Measured responses. But what if that’s not maturity—just emotional suppression dressed in a Bible verse? This week on Win Today, Zach Meerkreebs—known for his role in the Asbury Outpouring—joins me in dismantling the cultural scorecard we’ve built around spiritual growth. We’re talking about the false belief that spiritual people don’t struggle. That leaders don’t wrestle with anxiety. That if you’re in pain, you’re just not “surrendered” enough. Together, we expose how hyper-spiritualizing life can distance us from intimacy with God, and why emotional honesty, not image management, is the real path to maturity. Zach opens up about seasons of personal crisis, the dangers of religious performance, and how stewarding pain, not escaping it, leads to transformation.
If you’ve ever felt disqualified because of your emotions, or like your faith wasn’t enough to fix what you were feeling, this conversation will reframe everything. It’s not weakness to be honest—it’s spiritual strength. Because God doesn’t just meet you in your polished faith—He meets you in your mess.
This episode will help you:
- Break free from the false scorecard of comfort, image, and ease
- Understand why emotional health is essential for real spiritual growth
- Learn how to steward crisis instead of hiding it
- Embrace honesty as the birthplace of true intimacy with God
Guest Bio
Zach Meerkreebs is a pastor, speaker, and spiritual formation leader known for his role in catalyzing the Asbury Outpouring. With a background in intercultural studies and a passion for inner healing, Zach calls the Church back to honest faith, emotional integrity, and radical humility. Through his work discipling emerging leaders, he challenges religious scorecards and helps believers experience God’s presence without performance. His message? Honesty leads to intimacy, and transformation begins where pretending ends.
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Guest Links
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Resources Mentioned This Week
- Lower: Igniting Spiritual Awakening Through Radical Humility
- Healing What You Can’t Erase: Transform Your Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Health from the Inside Out
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