At the Counter with the Baking Pastor | Christian Encouragement, Grief Support, Burnout Recovery, Soul Care, Faith in Everyday Life
At the Counter with the Baking Pastor is a Christian podcast for anyone navigating grief, burnout, life transitions, emotional healing, and the quieter seasons of faith.
Hosted by Laura Sharp-Waites, licensed minister and pastoral counselor, each episode offers honest conversations, meaningful stories, faith-filled encouragement, and practical soul care for the moments when life feels heavy or you simply don't feel like yourself anymore.
There's no pressure to have everything figured out here. Just a place to slow down, breathe, and notice God's presence in the middle of everyday life.
Pull up a chair. The counter is open.
At the Counter with the Baking Pastor | Christian Encouragement, Grief Support, Burnout Recovery, Soul Care, Faith in Everyday Life
9 | Does Your Past Still Define You? Your Past Is Not Your Identity
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Your story matters.
But your story is not the whole story.
In this episode of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor, Laura reflects on identity, healing, and the quiet process of becoming. While our past experiences shape us, they were never meant to become the final word about who we are.
Many of us carry labels long after a season has ended. We identify ourselves by what we've survived, what we've lost, what we've done, or what was done to us. But healing often begins when we learn to honor our story without allowing it to define our future.
In this episode, we'll explore:
• The difference between honoring your past and living inside it
• How survival seasons can quietly shape identity
• Letting go of labels that no longer fit
• Finding hope beyond loss, disappointment, and old narratives
• Creating space for who you are becoming
Whether you're healing from loss, recovering from a difficult season, rebuilding after disappointment, or simply wondering who you are now, this episode offers a gentle invitation to move forward with hope.
Soul Care Questions
• What part of your past has been speaking louder than your present?
• What label or role might be ready to loosen its grip?
• Who are you becoming now, even quietly?
Scripture/Blessing
"See, I am doing a new thing; now it springs up, do you not perceive it?"
— Isaiah 43:19
May you honor where you've been without letting it limit where you're going.
May you be released from labels that no longer fit.
May you trust that your story is still unfolding.
Closing
Pull up a chair.
The story isn't over yet.
☕ Interested in Being a Guest?
Before reaching out, I invite you to listen to a few recent episodes to get a feel for the heart of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor.
If your story or work feels like a good fit for our conversations about faith, grief, burnout, identity, healing, purpose, and the sacred ordinary moments of everyday life, I’d love to hear from you through PodMatch:
https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/atthecounterwiththebakingpastor
Pull up a chair and tell me what you’d love to bring to the counter.
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