UL 339: When God Feels Distant: Expectations, Disappointment, and Hope (Steve Cuss)
Apr 21, 2025
Have you ever felt the ache of unmet expectations in your relationship with God? Does the faith you imagined seem different from the reality you’re living? In this episode, I sit down with Steve Cuss, author of The Expectation Gap, to explore the space between what we believe about God and how we experience Him in our everyday lives. Steve invites us to dive into the gaps that often hold our assumptions, fears, and doubts—and shows us how transformation can happen right there.
Through our conversation, we will learn:
- How to identify the stories we tell ourselves about God and why they matter.
- Practical ways to shift our perspective and experience greater freedom, trust, and intimacy with God.
- The three common gaps that can create frustration in our faith journey: God’s particular love, God’s visceral presence, and our spiritual progress.
- Insights from systems theory that can help us navigate the complexities of faith and leadership.
- Simple, yet powerful practices like reflection and adding ourselves to our conscious list of relationships to foster growth and wholeness.
If you’re wrestling with disappointment, control, or longing for a deeper connection with God, this episode is for you.
Steve, a pastor, author, and sought-after speaker, also shares insights from his book Managing Leadership Anxiety and how systems theory has shaped his approach to faith and leadership.
Join us as we unpack practical tools and meaningful shifts to help you navigate the complexities of faith and deepen your walk with God.
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About Steve Cuss:
Steve Cuss is a pastor, author, and speaker who is passionate about helping people navigate the complexities of faith, leadership, and relationships. He is the author of The Expectation Gap and Managing Leadership Anxiety: Yours and Theirs. Steve is known for his practical approach to faith and leadership, using tools from systems theory to guide individuals and organizations toward greater health and transformation.
