
Show Notes
This episode originally aired in April 2023 and is being re-shared due to its continued impact. What if letting go of control could actually set you free? In this powerful episode of the Collide Podcast, we sit down with Tara Sun, author, podcaster and speaker, to talk about the challenges of control, independence, and self-sufficiency. Tara invites us to examine the ways we try to manage life on our own and offers practical insights for surrendering our story to God. Whether you struggle with perfectionism, fear of uncertainty, or the desire to do it all yourself, this episode will inspire you to cultivate a deeper dependence on God that leads to freedom and peace. Meet Tara Tara Sun is the author of Surrender Your Story and the host of the Truth Talks with Tara podcast. She is passionate about helping others experience freedom through trusting God, letting go of control, and embracing His guidance. Tara’s story and teaching are a powerful reminder that true strength is found not in independence, but in reliance on God’s wisdom and timing. In This Episode, You’ll Learn How the need for control can limit your freedom and growth Why surrendering your story is a path to peace and trust in God Practical ways to let go of self-sufficiency and lean into God’s guidance How dependence on God transforms your perspective, priorities, and daily life
How This Episode Will Encourage You If you’ve ever felt burdened by the pressure to manage everything yourself, this episode will challenge and inspire you to release control and trust God fully. You’ll be reminded that letting go isn’t weakness—it’s the gateway to freedom, peace, and a life anchored in His grace. Personal and Powerful Bible Study - Explores how God shows up in our lives in ways that are both deeply personal and undeniably powerful. Connect with Tara - Website | Instagram Connect with Willow - Website | Instagram | Facebook Follow and Support Collide 🌐 Visit our website for upcoming conferences, helpful resources, and encouragement for women pursuing healing, purpose, and deeper faith. 📲 Follow along on Facebook and Instagram 🛍️ Shop for good at the Collide Store 💛 Give today online or Venmo to impact lives 📬 Subscribe to our Newsletter and be the first to hear about new episodes, blog posts, events, and resources and more! Mentioned in this episode: Book | Collide: Running Into Healing When Life Hands You Hurt National Bestseller ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Life hands us hurt we never asked for—leaving us anxious, insecure, and stuck. In Collide, Willow invites you to stop numbing and running, and start bravely stepping into the places you’ve avoided—because Jesus meets us in our mess, and healing starts there.
More from The Collide Podcast
When betrayal, broken trust, or years of hurt have shattered your marriage, is restoration really possible? What do you do when the person you trusted most becomes the source of your deepest pain? When betrayal rocks your marriage, hope feels impossible, and you're left wondering if your relationship will ever be the same, the road toward healing can feel overwhelming. In this powerful conversation, Willow welcomes back Clint and Charity Muñoz, founders of Restored 2 More, who share their deeply personal journey through pornography addiction, infidelity, betrayal trauma, and the hard work of rebuilding a marriage that once seemed beyond repair. With incredible vulnerability, Clint and Charity share how confronting their individual wounds, seeking professional help, and inviting Jesus into their brokenness opened the door to restoration they never imagined possible. They unpack the difference between simply stopping destructive behaviors and finding true healing, why restoration requires more than prayer alone, and how to hold on to hope when progress feels painfully slow. Whether you're fighting for your marriage, healing from betrayal, or carrying wounds from a relationship that didn't survive, this conversation is a powerful reminder that your pain doesn't have to define your future and God is still in the business of restoring broken lives. Meet Clint & Charity Muñoz Clint and Charity are marriage coaches, podcast hosts and the founders of Restored 2 More, a ministry dedicated to helping individuals and couples find healing from pornography addiction, sexual brokenness, and betrayal trauma. Drawing from their own journey through infidelity, addiction, and the restoration of their marriage, they offer hope and practical guidance to those navigating some of life's most painful relationship struggles. Their story is a powerful testimony to the transformative work God can do when we surrender our brokenness and invite Him into the healing process. In This Episode, You'll Learn Restoration begins with addressing what's beneath the surface. Discover why overcoming destructive behaviors requires understanding the deeper wounds, fears, and unmet needs driving them. Healing takes more than good intentions. Understand why counseling, community, accountability, and individual recovery work are essential tools for rebuilding trust after betrayal. Progress matters more than perfection. Learn how to recognize growth, navigate painful setbacks, and hold on to hope when restoration feels slow or uncertain. Your brokenness doesn't have to define your story. Be reminded that even when a relationship cannot be restored, God can bring healing, purpose, and transformation to your life.
What if God isn’t distant… but deeply present and longing for you? In this honest and thought-provoking conversation, Willow sits down with author and spiritual director Mike Neelley to unpack what it really means to experience God—not just believe in Him. If you’ve ever found yourself praying, “Where are you, God?”... you’re not alone. Mike shares how many of us were taught a version of faith that stops at “think and agree,” but misses the invitation to taste and see that God is good. Together, they explore the tension between theology and experience, the role of the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives, and the hidden obstacles that may be keeping us from receiving the love God is already pouring out. This episode will gently challenge what you believe about God, and open your heart to something deeper. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why faith is meant to be both believed and experienced How the Holy Spirit is actively speaking and moving in your life What might be blocking you from experiencing God’s love How unforgiveness, fear, and false beliefs can create distance Why your longing for God is actually evidence that He’s pursuing you Simple, practical ways to begin encountering God in everyday moments
What happens when the life you thought you were building suddenly disappears? In this deeply honest conversation, Willow sits down with Leslie Harter-Berg, author of You’re So Strong: On Grief and Letting Go of My Favorite Compliment, to talk about the devastating loss of her husband, Ryan, who died suddenly from an aneurysm and stroke at just 34 years old. Leslie opens up about becoming a widow and single mom overnight, raising two young boys through their own grief, and navigating the complicated identity shifts that followed. She shares how being told “you’re so strong” actually became a weight she felt responsible to carry—and how she eventually learned that she didn’t have to turn her pain into an inspiring story before she was ready. Together, Willow and Leslie talk about the importance of lament, making room for grief, and resisting the urge to rush toward the “good” ending. Leslie shares how her relationship with God changed as she learned to stop asking what the future should look like and simply sit with Him in the pain of the present. They also explore parenting through grief, remarriage after loss, making space for a former spouse in a new family, and the beautiful reminder that God is not distant from our suffering. He is a God who understands it. In This Episode You'll Learn: Why being told “you’re so strong” became an unexpected weight to carry How to let your kids see your grief without making them responsible for your emotions Why we don't have to rush through grief to get to hope or a “better” ending What it looks like to sit with God in the pain instead of trying to fix or explain it What Leslie now knows to be true about God: He is a God acquainted with our suffering
Do you ever go to bed wondering if you did enough as a mom today? If you've ever second-guessed your parenting, compared yourself to other moms, or felt crushed by the pressure to get motherhood right, this conversation is for you. In this encouraging episode, Willow sits down with counselor and author Heather Harrison to unpack why so many mothers struggle with shame and self-doubt, and how we can begin to trust ourselves and trust God in the motherhood journey. Heather shares four essential types of trust every mom needs, practical ways to quiet the noise of comparison, and wisdom gathered from hundreds of mothers reflecting on what they wish they had done differently. This episode is a gentle reminder that your children don't need a perfect mom, they need you, present, imperfect, and deeply loved by God. In This Episode You'll Learn: Why so many moms struggle with shame and feelings of inadequacy The impact of comparison and social media on motherhood Heather's four types of trust and how they apply to parenting How to distinguish thoughts from facts when self-doubt creeps in Why self-care isn't selfish Practical ways to be present with your children, even in busy seasons Wisdom from older mothers on what they would do differently How to parent with your long-term relationship with your children in mind
How have your wounds been quietly shaping your life? In this honest and hope-filled episode of The Collide Podcast, Willow sits down with pastor, Army veteran, executive coach, and author Tony Miltenberger to explore how unresolved pain often drives our reactions, relationships, and leadership more than we realize. Tony vulnerably shares his story of growing up feeling unseen, navigating childhood trauma, wrestling with anger, and nearly losing his marriage because of wounds he hadn't fully addressed. Through counseling, faith, and years of intentional healing work, he discovered that our greatest wounds often point to our greatest gifts. Together, Willow and Tony discuss why so many of us spend our lives managing symptoms instead of healing the root issue, how emotional triggers reveal deeper pain, and why Jesus wants to meet us in the places we'd rather avoid. If you've ever struggled with feeling unseen, unworthy, overlooked, rejected, or stuck in unhealthy patterns, this conversation will encourage you to stop running from your pain and begin discovering the wisdom hidden within it. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why emotional reactions often point to deeper unresolved pain The difference between treating symptoms and healing the wound beneath them How unhealed wounds can impact marriage and family relationships Practical ways to identify emotional triggers and begin healing Why your deepest wounds may reveal your greatest God-given gifts The importance of counseling, community, and spiritual disciplines in healing How to stop letting your past define your identity