After 89 episodes, Dave and Jess Quak open up about taking a short, intentional break from producing the Sunburnt Souls podcast. This conversation dives deep into the rhythms of rest, spiritual renewal, and what it means to step back without stepping away.

They share honestly about attending to their inner life, protecting their marriage, finding God in the quiet, and letting go of performance and pressure. This is a heartfelt conversation about being human, listening to God, and trusting that pause doesn’t mean stop — it means prepare.

Episode Highlights

00:00 – 00:20 — Dave announces a surprise break for Sunburnt Souls
00:55 – 01:56 — Attending to the inner life and intimacy with God
02:41 – 03:08 — Dave’s plan: focus on God, marriage, and self-care
03:50 – 04:45 — Craving silence after seasons of constant noise
05:28 – 06:05 — Cultivating rhythms of quiet and presence
07:20 – 07:57 — Letting go of analytics and redefining success
08:41 – 09:34 — Working on marriage before problems arise
10:53 – 11:30 — Balancing ministry, work, and family demands
12:55 – 13:10 — Catching a giant Spanish mackerel (and having fun!)
14:22 – 15:33 — Encouragement for listeners heading into Christmas
16:34 – 17:48 — Giving and receiving love this Christmas
18:32 – 19:54 — The free course: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health
21:44 – 22:51 — Jess closes in prayer for rest, renewal, and blessing

Reflection

This episode is a reminder that even in ministry and creativity, our souls need rest. Dave and Jess model how to pause without guilt, to listen for God’s voice again, and to protect what matters most — their relationship with God, each other, and their own wellbeing.

Maybe this episode is your invitation to take a breath too.

☀️ CONNECT with Sunburnt Souls

Discover more from Sunburnt Souls — a Christian mental health podcast sharing real stories of faith, hope, and healing at sunburntsouls.com.

Explore our library of Christian mental health resources, including podcasts, free devotionals, and online courses designed to help you strengthen your faith, overcome anxiety and depression, and experience emotional and spiritual renewal.

🧠 NEW ONLINE COURSE: Loving Life with Faith and Mental Health

A 28-day, $28 journey to help you:

• Embrace your identity in Jesus
• Build life-giving spiritual rhythms
• Navigate anxiety, depression, and burnout with honesty and grace

👉 Start your 28-day journey today

📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter

🙏 SUPPORT THE MISSION

Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 ...