Have you ever felt a relationship shift the moment a loved one says, "I don't believe the same things you do anymore"?

In this episode, Pedro tackles "Unconditional Positive Regard." We explore the hard work of separating a person's identity from their changing beliefs, the painful reality of conditional love, and how Jesus modeled radical acceptance at the Last Supper.

What I cover:

• The Science of Identity Fusion: Why our brains instantly strip away empathy and recategorize loved ones as "outsiders" when their theology shifts.
• The Condition of Our Love: How another's deconstruction exposes that our "unconditional" love is often just a transaction based on shared agreements.
• Grace at the Table: How Jesus chose to stay close to those whose paths were about to wildly diverge from His.
• This Week's Challenge: Connect with someone whose beliefs have shifted and talk about nothing theological. Remind them your love isn't a transaction.

Connect with me:

Email me: isitbecauseofjesus@gmail.com

Buy the book.

Website: isitbecauseofjesus.com

Support the show on Patreon.

Have you ever had a friend drop a tiny hint that they are doubting their faith, and you immediately felt the urge to panic and preach?

In this episode, Pedro tackles becoming the "Safe Friend." Instead of throwing Christian clichés at a drowning person, we look in the mirror to explore why someone else's doubt triggers our own anxiety. We break down the fear of "psychological contagion" and explore how Jesus handled His friends' shattered faith on the road to Emmaus—pulling up a chair to listen rather than starting a theological debate.

What we cover:

• The Science of Panic: Why our brains process a friend's doubt as a contagious threat to our own worldview.
• The Urge to Fix: How offering quick apologetics and easy answers is often just a defense mechanism to manage our own fear of the dark.
• Grace in the Mess: How Jesus creates the ultimate safe space by walking with His disappointed friends and letting them fully unload their grief.
• This Week's Challenge: Resist the urge to preach. The next time someone shares a spiritual struggle, look them in the eye and simply say, "Tell me more."

Connect with me:

Email me: isitbecauseofjesus@gmail.com

Buy the book.

Website: isitbecauseofjesus.com

Support the show on Patreon.

Have you ever sat in your small group, nodding along to something you disagree with because you're terrified of losing your friends?

In this episode, Pedro tackles the "Fear of Relational Rupture." Instead of blaming the church for our silence, we look in the mirror to explore why we often "pre-reject" ourselves out of fear. We break down the heavy toll of hiding your doubts and explore how Jesus meets us in the dark—just like He did with Nicodemus—while gently inviting us to step into the light.

What we cover:

• The Science of Fear: Why our brains process the threat of social rejection exactly like physical pain.
• The Cost of Hiding: The exhausting emotional weight of Sunday morning imposter syndrome.
• Grace in the Mess: How Jesus handles our worldview-shattering questions without intimidation.

This Week's Challenge: Step out of hiding. Find one safe person who loves you and Jesus, and share just one question you've been keeping to yourself.

Connect with me:

Email me: isitbecauseofjesus@gmail.com

Buy the book.

Website: isitbecauseofjesus.com

Support the show on Patreon.

If you found this episode helpful, please rate the show, leave a comment, or share it with a friend who is wrestling with doubt. For more resources, visit the links in the show notes.