Emunah (Hebrew for faith, belief)

About Emunah (Hebrew for faith, belief)

This podcast explores ways to live lives that honor Jesus.

Publisher

Tamara M. Cooke Henry, Ph.D.

Category

religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 Mar 2023

Latest episode

25 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

128 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   25 Sept 2026

   Too Sophisticated for God? Money, Education, Success—and Our Need for Jesus

   What happens to our faith when life gets better? There was a time when many of our parents and grandparents prayed because they had few other places to turn. They prayed when money was short, when doctors had no answers, when racism closed doors, and when opportunities were deliberately denied. But what happens when some of those barriers come down? What happens when you have the degree, the career, the house, good health insurance, a retirement account, professional connectionsand enough money to handle most emergencies? Do we still recognize our need for God when we can seemingly take care of ourselves? In this thought-provoking episode of Emunah, host Dr. Tamara Henry sits down with Minister Evora Thomas for an honest conversation about faith, money, education, professional success, self-sufficiency, and our continuing need for Jesus. The question is deliberately provocative: Have some of us become too sophisticated for God? When Success Changes the Way We See God Education, financial security, professional achievement, health care, opportunity, and independence can all be tremendous blessings. But they can also create a sense of security that makes human beings less conscious of their vulnerability. When money can solve the immediate crisis, medicine can treat the illness, insurance can cover the loss, and education and connections can open doors, it can become easy to confuse having resources with having control. This episode explores four factors that can affect our reliance on faith: Illusion of Control Financial resources, insurance, education, connections, and careful planning allow us to manage many of life's problems. But does our ability to manage circumstances sometimes tempt us to believe that we control more than we actually do? Comfort and Complacency Difficulty often drives people to prayer. But what happens when life is comfortable? Material abundance can reduce our awareness of vulnerability and make it easier to become spiritually complacent. How do we continue seeking God when there is no immediate crisis forcing us to our knees? Self-Sufficiency and Meritocracy We work hard. We earn degrees. We build careers. We make plans and sacrifice to achieve our goals. But success can sometimes encourage the belief that we are entirely the authors of our own destiny. Where does God fit into a life that appears to be self-made? Misinterpreting Blessing Is prosperity necessarily evidence of God's favor? If wealth, education, health, and professional success become our measurements of being "blessed," what does that imply about faithful people who are poor, sick, struggling, or suffering? This conversation challenges us to distinguish biblical blessing from material prosperity. A Particular Question for Black Americans The conversation also takes a closer look at the African American experience. Generations of Black Americans prayed, marched, organized, sacrificed, and sometimes died to open doors that racism and segregation had deliberately closed. The Civil Rights Movement helped expand access to education, careers, housing, political participation, and economic opportunity. Those gains were worth fighting for. But they also raise a spiritual question: Now that some of us have opportunities our ancestors prayed for, has achievement changed the way we understand our dependence on God? The issue isn't whether Black Americans should have pursued education, prosperity, equality, or professional success. The question is whether gaining greater access to earthly resources can unintentionally make any of usregardless of raceless conscious of our need for God. Key Questions This episode asks: When does healthy independence become spiritual self-sufficiency? Can financial security create an illusion of control? Does comfort sometimes make us spiritually complacent? Can education and professional achievement cause us to overestimate our own sufficiency? Have we confused prosperity with God's approval? Do we seek God differently when we are no longer desperate? Can we enjoy the blessings God has given us without allowing those blessings to replace our dependence on Him? And ultimately, is there any level of success at which we outgrow our need for Jesus? The Bottom Line Maybe the real question isn't whether rich people need Jesus, educated people need Jesus, or struggling people need Jesus. Perhaps the question is: Do we recognize our need for Him? Money can pay the mortgage, but it cannot give life meaning. Education can teach us how the world works, but it cannot fully answer why we are here. Medicine can treat the body, but it cannot guarantee tomorrow. Success can give us choices without necessarily giving us peace. One of the spiritual dangers of having enough may be beginning to believe that we are enough. Jesus asks in Mark 8:36, For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? We are not too educated for Jesus. We are not too wealthy for Jesus. We are not too accomplished for Jesus. We are not too independent for Jesus. And we are not too sophisticated for God. There is no level of success at which we outgrow our need for Him. In This Episode Host: Dr. Tamara Henry Guest: Minister Evora Thomas Podcast: Emunah Exploring what it means to live a God-honoring life Scripture Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

2. 

   18 Sept 2026

   Fighting Temptation: Know Your Weak Spots

   Why are some temptations harder to resist than othersand do you know where you are most vulnerable? Temptation is something every Christian faces. Spiritual maturity does not make us immune, but Scripture teaches us how to recognize temptation, understand where it comes from, and respond before an invitation to sin becomes an act of disobedience. In this episode of Emunah, Dr. Tamara Henry welcomes Pastor Ronnie D. Simmons for a practical, Bible-centered conversation and teaching on fighting temptation and knowing your weak spots. Pastor Simmons explains what temptation really is, how it differs from a test or trial, and why understanding our personal areas of vulnerability matters. Using Scriptureincluding Jesus temptation in the wilderness in Matthew 4he offers biblical strategies for resisting temptation, exercising self-control, relying on the Holy Spirit, and standing firm when temptation comes. Pastor Ronnie D. Simmons is the inspirational pastor and founder of House of Faith Christian Center, a Word of Faith, non-denominational church in Smyrna, Tennessee. Key Topics What temptation isand what it is not Why temptation itself is not sin Why every believer faces temptation, regardless of spiritual maturity How to identify your personal weak spots and areas of vulnerability The source and progression of temptation The difference between a test from God and temptation to sin How our own desires and the values of the world can make us vulnerable What Jesus teaches us about resisting temptation in Matthew 4 Why knowing and speaking the Word of God matters The role of the Holy Spirit and self-control How prayer, Christian community, and accountability strengthen us What to do when you fall into temptation Takeaways Temptation is not sin; it is an invitation to sin. No one is beyond temptation. Spiritual maturity does not eliminate vulnerability. Knowing your weak spots can help you recognize temptation before it gains momentum. God does not tempt us to do evil. Scripture is one of our most powerful defenses against temptation. Jesus demonstrated how to confront temptation with the truth of Gods Word. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to exercise self-control and choose obedience. We should not try to fight every spiritual battle alone; godly community and accountability matter. Giving in to temptation does not have to be the end of your story. Confession, repentance, and Gods forgiveness provide a way forward. Resisting temptation requires intentional choices: recognize it, reject it, speak Gods Word, flee when necessary, pray, and seek support. Sound Bites Temptation is just an invitation to sin. God never tempts anyone to do wrong. Say no to temptation and speak the Word. Scriptures for Further Study James 1:1315 Understanding the source and progression of temptation James 4:7 Submit to God and resist the devil Matthew 4:111 Jesus is tempted in the wilderness Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray so that you do not fall into temptation 1 John 1:9 Confession, forgiveness, and cleansing 1 John 2:16 The desires of the flesh, the eyes, and the pride of life 1 Corinthians 10:1213 God provides a way of escape Psalm 119:11 Hiding Gods Word in your heart 2 Timothy 2:22 Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness Ephesians 6:1018 Putting on the whole armor of God Proverbs 28:13 Confession, repentance, and mercy Galatians 6:1 Restoring someone who has fallen with gentleness Connect with Pastor Ronnie D. Simmons Email: RDSimmons2@att.net Connect with Emunah Emunah wants to hear from you. What is one lesson from this episode that will help you recognize or resist temptation? Email: wordconsultingllc@gmail.com Visit Women of the Word: wordconsulting.com Emunah explores how biblical truth speaks to the real challenges of everyday life and helps us live God-honoring lives.

3. 

   11 Sept 2026

   "Just Pray About It": Can Christians Go To Therapy?

   Can Christians go to therapyor does seeking professional counseling mean you dont have enough faith? For generations, many Christiansparticularly in Black communitieshave been told to just pray about it. Prayer is powerful, but does trusting God mean we should never seek help from a therapist? Can faith, prayer, Scripture, and professional mental health care work together? In this episode of Emunah, host Dr. Tamara Henry sits down with therapist and ordained minister Rev. Dr. Marva Jones for an honest conversation about Christianity, therapy, mental health, and the stigma surrounding counseling in many Black communities. Together, they explore what therapy really is, why seeking counseling is not necessarily a sign of weak faith, how Christians can find appropriate mental health support, and the important role the church can play in encouraging emotional and spiritual well-being. Why Is Therapy Still Stigmatized? For many people, admitting I need help isnt easy. Within some Black families and faith communities, generations have been taught to be strong, keep family problems private, endure hardship, and take their struggles to God in prayer. But what happens when just pray about it isnt the whole answer? Dr. Henry and Dr. Jones discuss how cultural expectations, historical mistrust, misconceptions about mental health, and some church traditions have contributed to the stigma surrounding therapy. They also consider an important question: Can seeking professional help actually be an act of faith and wisdom rather than evidence of spiritual weakness? Meet Rev. Dr. Marva Jones Rev. Dr. Marva Jones is founder and president of The Tree of Life Counseling and Training Center, Inc., with offices in Westlake and Avon Lake, Ohio. She is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with Supervision Designation and a Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor. Dr. Jones and her staff provide individual therapy addressing a variety of mental health and substance-use disorders, as well as family therapy. Their work includes co-parenting issues involving divorced and separated parents, blended families, marriage counseling, sports-performance concerns, and helping athletes navigate life transitions. Dr. Jones is also the author of The Dance (The Power of the Father), which addresses co-parenting through divorce and separation. Her experience as both a mental health professional and ordained minister gives her a unique perspective on the relationship between psychological care and Christian faith. In This Episode, We Explore What therapy isand what it isnt Whether Christians can go to therapy and still trust God Why seeking counseling does not necessarily indicate a lack of faith Why mental health care has been stigmatized in many Black communities How cultural and generational attitudes influence our willingness to seek help The relationship between prayer, Scripture, faith, and professional counseling How God can work through therapists, counselors, pastors, physicians, and other people What Christians should consider when choosing a therapist Why cultural competence matters in mental health care The role churches can play in reducing mental health stigma How open conversations about emotional health can help individuals, families, and congregations Key Takeaways Therapy can provide a safe, collaborative environment for emotional healing and personal growth. Seeking therapy can be an act of wisdomnot weakness. Faith and professional mental health care do not have to compete with one another. Churches can play an important role in removing shame and stigma from conversations about mental health. Finding a qualified counselor who understands your cultural background and respects your faith can make a significant difference. Education and honest conversation can help break generational barriers surrounding mental health care. Asking for help does not mean abandoning faith. Sometimes help may be one of the ways God answers prayer. Sound Bites Seeking therapy is an act of wisdom, not weakness. God works through people, including therapists and counselors. Education is key to erasing the stigma around mental health. Scriptures to Consider Proverbs 11:14 The value of wise counsel Proverbs 12:15 The wisdom of listening to advice Proverbs 17:22 The connection between a joyful heart and well-being Proverbs 24:6 The importance of wise guidance Psalm 41:3 Gods care in times of sickness and weakness 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Encouraging and building one another up One Question to Consider Whats the difference between trusting God to heal you and refusing the help He may have already provided? God can work through prayer. He can work through Scripture. He can work through pastors, physicians, family members, supportive communitiesand trained mental health professionals. Seeking help doesnt have to be the opposite of faith. With wisdom and discernment, it can be an expression of it. Join the Conversation What do you think? Can Christians go to therapy? Have you ever struggled with the belief that seeking counseling meant you werent trusting God enough? Emunah would love to hear from you. Email: wordconsultingllc@gmail.com Visit Women of the Word at wordconsultingllc.com. Emunah explores ways to live God-honoring lives by bringing biblical truth into conversation with the issues we face every day.

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