Blended and Blessed: Faith, Family & Messy Parenting with Ash Morrison
In This Episode:
Summary / Introduction
Parenting is never simple—but for many Christians navigating anxiety, guilt, and depression, it can feel like a spiritual battleground. In this heartfelt episode of the Sunburnt Souls Christian Mental Health Podcast, host Dave Quak sits down with Ash Morrison, a mum of five and devoted believer, to unpack the raw beauty and challenges of faith, family, and healing. Through her story of raising a child with disabilities and finding peace amid imperfection, Ash reminds us that true Christian mental health is about surrender, not striving.
Learning to Let Go: From Perfection to Peace
For Ash Morrison, letting go wasn’t easy. Growing up in a broken home left her chasing perfection—believing that if she could just get everything right, life would feel safe. But faith-based healing often begins when we admit we can’t control it all.
“God has been so good lately, helping me realise there are things I can’t control,” Ash shares. “Now, I’m like, ‘Okay, Lord, handle it.’ If I need to apologise, I will, but I’m learning to let go.”
In her journey of Christian mental health, Ash discovered that trying to “out-parent” fear only deepened her anxiety and guilt. It wasn’t until she faced her son Archer’s complex medical diagnosis that she found peace—trusting that God’s grace fills the gaps where our strength ends.
Parenting Through Pain: When Love Looks Like Surrender
Ash’s blended family of five includes her son Archer, who lives with tuberous sclerosis complex, autism, and developmental delays. For years, her days were filled with therapy appointments, sleepless nights, and constant worry.
But amid exhaustion and mental health strain, Ash learned that faith and surrender are deeply connected. “With Archer’s diagnosis, I couldn’t out-parent a disability. I had to trust God for doctors, specialists, and peace.”
Her story is a reflection of faith-based resilience—showing that even when we’re overwhelmed, God meets us in our weakness. It’s a reminder to parents and pastors alike: healing often begins with humility.
Breaking the Cycle of Guilt and Control
Perfectionism and Christian guilt often go hand in hand. For Ash, every missed routine or imperfect moment once felt like failure. “If I helped someone and it went wrong, I felt responsible for their life’s trajectory,” she recalls.
Through therapy, prayer, and gratitude practices, she began to unlearn those patterns. “Because I hadn’t dealt with my childhood trauma, I overanalysed everything I said or did,” she says. “But God showed me how to parent from grace, not guilt.”
Ash’s healing journey mirrors what many Christians face—learning to replace self-criticism with compassion and choosing trust over control. This is what authentic faith-based mental health looks like: not perfection, but presence.
The Power of Gratitude in Healing
When life felt most chaotic, Ash committed to a 365-day gratitude challenge. Every night, no matter how exhausted, she wrote one thing she was thankful for. Some days, it was as simple as “a warm blanket” or “an hour of sleep.”
By the end of that year, gratitude had reshaped her mindset. “When Archer was in hospital, I thanked God for nurses and doctors. Gratitude trained my brain to find peace in the middle of pain.”
Her story illustrates a key truth for anyone struggling with depression or anxiety: gratitude isn’t denial—it’s a spiritual discipline that rewires the heart toward hope.
Conclusion / Final Encouragement
Ash Morrison’s story is a living testimony that faith and mental health can coexist—even thrive—amid hardship. Whether you’re a pastor, parent, or anyone carrying the weight of worry, her words invite you to pause, breathe, and trust.
You don’t need to have it all together. Healing begins when you release the illusion of control and allow God to be your strength. Through faith-based resources, honest community, and daily gratitude, peace becomes possible—one small surrender at a time.
Start Your Own Journey to Healing
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Let’s walk together toward freedom, one story at a time.
