What happens when what you feel doesn’t line up with what’s true?
In this episode, I sit down with Erica Gwynn — author of That’s Just Not True: How to Replace the Lies You Didn’t Know You Believed with God’s Unchanging Truth — for an honest conversation on discerning truth in a world full of “half-truths.” We talk about how feelings aren’t facts, finding peace in God’s sovereignty through suffering, and why trusting Him often means surrendering control of the story we thought we’d live.
Erica shares her journey of motherhood, faith, and healing after her daughter’s premature birth — and how God used a painful season to reveal His purpose. We also dive into the lie of manifestation, the tension between free will and divine direction, and what it means to live with intentional rhythms instead of constant hustle.
If you’ve ever wrestled with doubt, control, or wondering whether you “missed your shot,” this conversation will remind you that God’s plan is never late, never wasted, and always good.
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Jac: Welcome to the podcast, How to Be WellnStrong. I’m your host, Jacqueline Genova, and I’m excited to have you join me as I speak with leading voices in wellness, integrative medicine, and mental health as we discover what it truly means to be wellnstrong in both body and mind. Get ready to be empowered, inspired, and motivated to be an advocate for your own health.
Let me ask you a question: What happens when what you feel doesn’t line up with what’s true? In this episode, I sit down with Erica Gwynn, author of That’s Just Not True: How to Replace the Lies You Didn’t Know You Believed With God’s Unchanging Truth, for an honest conversation on discerning truth in a world full of half-truths.
We talk about how feelings aren’t facts, finding peace in God’s sovereignty through suffering, and why trusting Him often means surrendering control of the story we thought we’d live. Erica shares her journey of motherhood, faith, and healing after her daughter’s [00:01:00] premature birth—and how God used a painful season to reveal His purpose. We also dive into the lie of manifestation, the tension between free will and divine direction, and what it means to live with intentional rhythms instead of constant hustle. If you’ve ever wrestled with doubt, control, or wondering whether you missed your shot, this conversation will remind you that God’s plan is never late, never wasted, and always good.
Let’s get into it. So just to kick things off, Erica, you wrote this incredible book—I have it here with me. It’s called That’s Just Not True. It is marked up heavily. I’m one of those people who highlights every single line of something good, which means 99% of your book is highlighted. All that to say, there are so many wonderful, rich topics I want to cover, Erica. Like I said earlier, we’ll see where the conversation takes us, but thank you for all the incredible work you’re doing. I know this is going to be a really awesome conversation.
Erica: Oh, thank you for having me, girl. I’m so excited to be here. And thank you for your kind words and [00:02:00] for reading it—that gives me literal life. I really appreciate it.
Jac: I’m so glad. And also, Erica, I’m one of those people who will actually read through the book before having a conversation, and I know Mary was very surprised. She was like, “I can’t believe you actually read the book,” and I was like, “Of course—why wouldn’t I?” Same applies to you, right?
Anyway, the first thing I wanted to talk about—chapter one. You talk about how feelings aren’t truth, right? This is a topic I discuss a lot in my podcast and in my messages with wellnstrong: feelings aren’t facts. I shared with you something earlier that my family’s been going through over the past few months, and I’ve had to hold onto this truth more than I ever have in my life. Could you share a bit about your story—why you wrote this book—and how critical that belief was in overcoming what you faced?
Erica: Sure. I’m Erica. The book is called That’s Just Not True: How to Replace the Lies You Didn’t Know You Believed With God’s Unchanging Truth. Inside are 17 lies—what I like to call really good-looking half-truths. Not everything that’s a lie is presented as something bad, and that’s why we fall for them. If the apple looked bad, Eve wouldn’t have taken it, right? Culture presents things that look and sound so good—“Don’t you want this for yourself? Of course God wants this for you!”—and we take a bite. Then we’re left wondering, “Why am I overwhelmed, exhausted, empty? Why am I not satisfied? Am I missing out? Is this what God really wants for me?”
That led me down the rabbit hole of looking at these thoughts I’ve had—and still sometimes have—and asking, “Okay, God, what do You actually say about this? Is it true or not? Did the world sell me this and I believed it—maybe even thinking You said it when You never did?”
Becoming a mom pushed me further down that rabbit hole. One chapter in particular—“I Can Do Anything”—started because I was doing morning affirmations with my preschooler. They were adorable: “I am smart, I am strong, I am brave, I am kind, I am important, and I can do anything.” As a three-year-old, that’s precious. But part of her birth story is in the book: she was born at 32 weeks, three pounds, in the NICU for 73 days, with a feeding tube for nine months. She had a rough start.
I realized there might be a point where she reaches an insurmountable hurdle—maybe medical. I believe God wrote her story intentionally and that this was part of His plan. I also tell her, “Mommy will tell you the truth.” So I’m holding these in both hands: can I tell her, “You can do anything,” and also, “God is doing all of this on purpose for a purpose”? What if those conflict? If she can’t get over a hurdle, am I the liar? Is God the liar? Is He no longer good? Of course not. So I opened my Bible and asked, “God, what’s true?”
You mentioned “my feelings are my truth.” I say, “Feelings are not facts.” Feelings can lie. They’re important, informational guideposts about how you’re processing something—but today we hear “This is my truth.” There are 8 billion people on the planet; if there are 8 billion truths, what is capital-T Truth—the actual guidepost we align to? A lot of trouble comes from treating everyone’s personal truth as equal and final.
Jac: A hundred percent. We’ll get into manifestation and the pantheism of “the universe,” because I loved how you highlighted that—so needed. People say, “Follow your heart,” but the Bible says the heart is deceitful. What are you basing your “truth” on?
Going back to your daughter—what’s her name?
Erica: Olivia.
Jac: Olivia—love that. You wrote something I found so powerful: that God uses the aftermath of something He hates to accomplish what He loves, and that He grieves with us—He doesn’t take pleasure in our pain—but uses it to create purpose, peace, and power. Jesus even said to Peter, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” How did that experience shape your view of God’s sovereignty and control?
For context: I started wellnstrong because of my mom’s journey. She’s been dealing with stage four breast cancer since 2018. I realized we could do every therapy under the sun—complementary or conventional—but at the end of the day, God is still sovereign. He has numbered our days. That took so much burden off my shoulders. The situation I mentioned earlier this year also reminded me we are not in control. You can do all the right things, but nothing thwarts God’s plan. How did your experience shape your view of suffering and trusting Him when you didn’t get the “perfect” birth story as a 25-year-old new mother?
Erica: First, it was a long journey—and ugly at first. God isn’t afraid of the ugly. I didn’t immediately go, “Oh, God has a plan, so it’s all okay.” No. I was depressed. The NICU stretch was brutal. Every day I prayed, “God, please let this be the day.” There were medical milestones; for one, she needed five days without a bradycardia event. We’d get to day three, even four—so close—and then she’d have an event and the clock reset. It felt like an endless winter. “God, when? Will we ever take her home?”
I could affirm He’s good, but I was like, “I don’t see the good for me. I’m just here without my baby. I don’t even know how to be a mom.” It’s important to say that because when you read someone’s story years later, it can feel distant. It’s easier to say “God is good, He’s sovereign” from the other side. In pain, it’s harder.
I kept repeating things I did not feel. My heart said, “He forgot you. Your story fell through the cracks. He’s doing other people’s miracles. He’s not good to you.” I had to refuse to give up hope and keep saying, “I know God is good. I trust good will come somehow, sometime,” even when I had no idea how long.
Jac: How did you rebuild trust with God, and how long did it take?
Erica: Slowly and steadily—by being painfully honest with myself so I could be painfully honest with God. I went to Him like a child: “Dad, I’m hurt. This sucks.” Not polished prayers. Crying-on-the-bathroom-floor prayers. I asked Him to meet me there. I tried not to grow so bitter or closed off that I refused comfort. He grieves with us; He’s not vindictive. Letting Him in—rather than pushing Him away—mattered.
Jac: I’ve been reading Job. At the end, God tells Job’s friends to have Job pray for them. Job complained, wrestled, asked “Why?”—but he never turned his back on God. That wrestling is still relationship. The strongest relationships go through hard things and become closer. Those of us who’ve wrestled with God come to a new understanding of His character—that He’s still good even when our story isn’t what we wanted.
Erica: Yes. I say in the book: there are moments now where, if I could rewrite history, I don’t know that I would. Wild to say, because at 25 I would’ve screamed, “Abort mission!” Now at 31 I can see His hand. It was still hard and dark, but not in vain. We may not see all the reasons in this lifetime, but sometimes we glimpse pieces—and that changes your perspective.
Jac: A friend told me to list all the times God has been faithful. It’s powerful—especially if you’re grieving or uncertain. We’re quick to forget what He’s done.
Erica: And His ways look different than we pictured, which requires humility and curiosity. I’ve seen things that were hard or traumatizing become creative answers to old prayers. God is infinitely more creative than we are. Where we think X + Y = Z, He throws Q into the mix and makes it work. If we limit life to our timelines and Pinterest boards, it’s less full than what He can do when we hand Him the paintbrush.
Jac: Do you know Paige Brown? You’d love her—women’s Bible study in Nashville. Her line: “Whatever you’re given today—that is God’s best for you.” It reframed everything for me. It helps curb comparison.
Another chapter that hit me: “I Missed My Shot.” You dispel the myth that there’s only one “right” path. I just turned 30—it’s easy to ask, “Did I make the right decision?” We trust God to lead (Proverbs 3:5–6), but how far does that guidance go? You note the only way to get it “wrong” is to reject His reroutes. How have you come to peace with letting God lead while being confident in your decisions—without rumination?
Erica: Candidly, I still ruminate and overthink. I wrote from the weeds—and I’m still there with everyone else. The goal isn’t a total absence of tension; we live between two Edens. The enemy will keep offering rotten fruit.
On “missing my shot,” the tension is real: we have free will. The tightrope analogy helps: Am I to step forward, pause, or get off? That comes from active partnership with God. People say, “What’s meant for you won’t miss you.” True—but only when we don’t miss it. God’s best won’t just plop into your lap while you sit in a meadow. The doorbell rings; you still have to get up and answer. He’s gracious and keeps knocking, but you participate.
The comfort: it’s not about holding a specific position—career, relationship, accolade. It’s a heart position—aligned to the Father’s will, taking faithful steps as the Spirit leads. If that’s your posture, you can’t “miss” it. Curves will come. He won’t say at the pearly gates, “You missed it at 25.” He keeps knocking; you keep answering—together.
Jac: And if there are two good, God-honoring options and you can’t tell if it’s God or emotion leading—you choose in faith, and God remains sovereign over the outcome.
Erica: Exactly. Stephanie May Wilson (who endorsed the book) says we get hung up on details: “God, should I have a green smoothie or a berry smoothie?” Sometimes He’s quiet because either is fine. He wants good for us. If He isn’t convicting you that one is wrong, pick the one that brings joy. He trusts you.
Jac: We’re nearly out of time, but I want to touch on manifestation. I loved how you exposed the lie—elevating our desires and expecting “the universe” to deliver, versus aligning with God and praying to Him. I love vision boards and goals—Scripture values vision—and science backs it. But we must distinguish creation from Creator. Why was it important to include this?
Erica: I have a vision board as my desktop background. I set goals. The key is: who’s in charge? “I can manifest my dream life” is a half-truth (and a half-truth is still a lie). Yes, habits and intentional action matter. But saying, “If I want it badly enough, and vibe at the right frequency, the universe will match me”—that’s not of God. No one “manifests” car crashes or cancer. We are not in control of everything, and we weren’t meant to be. The challenge is to assess control variables honestly: where are you white-knuckling the wheel you shouldn’t be? Sometimes you’re the passenger on purpose. Surrender isn’t sexy, but it’s true.
Jac: I love Norman Vincent Peale—The Power of Positive Thinking. He talks about vision and saturating your subconscious with God’s Word. Biblical meditation fills the mind with Scripture (not emptying it). It changes perception and state—gives peace.
Before we close, rhythms. I struggle with living reactively—emails, opportunities, constant response. You wrote about high-functioning anxiety in your late 20s and ignoring “check engine” lights. I loved your line: “It’s no wonder you feel great in the pedicure chair but have heart palpitations at home an hour later.” How did you create rhythms so life isn’t just a hamster wheel?
Erica: Rhythms (h/t Jess Connolly’s Tired of Being Tired) remove the pressure of timestamps. Many of us build rigid schedules (7:00–8:00 this, 8:15–8:35 that) and then life blows them up. Rhythms swap “8–9 call Mom” for “Call Mom when I go to the grocery store.” It’s intentionality with flexibility. It’s habit stacking—predictable but humane. For me: folding laundry + praying for my kids’ friends. For you: prayer walks. That’s a rhythm.
On discipline: I’m not innately disciplined. I use a simple focus timer when I’m working—being “on the clock” helps. Physical boundaries help: if I’m with my kids, my phone can’t be on me. I set reminders with notes. And I limit my daily to-do list by folding a scrap paper into quarters—only four items fit. It forces realistic guardrails.
Jac: As a fellow entrepreneur, work is endless. What would take us a lifetime, God can do in a second. I’ve been praying for guidance with wellnstrong and trusting He’ll bring the right people in His timing.
Erica: Amen.
Jac: Erica, this has been so fun. We’re going to be good friends. I love your book—I’m sending it to friends and can’t wait to share this conversation. Where can listeners connect with you and grab a copy?
Erica: You can connect with me at ericagwen.com/books—that’s where you can grab the book. If this is before release, you can pre-order and redeem pre-order bonuses on the site—I highly recommend it. You can get the entire audiobook for free, plus a chapter-by-chapter discussion guide (great for book clubs, Bible studies, or women’s groups). Shoot me a message on Instagram—I’m at erica za—and my podcast is The Thrive Podcast. Come hang out!
Jac: I’ll include links in the show notes. Quick question—what nationality is “Za”? Italian?
Erica: Everyone thinks so—it’s actually Polish. It was spelled differently when my great-grandparents came through Ellis Island—the letter isn’t part of our current alphabet—so it changed. It sounds Italian now, but it’s Polish.
Jac: Good to know! I’ll link everything in the show notes. Finally—my favorite question: what does being wellnstrong mean to you?
Erica: Being wellnstrong means taking intentional steps every day in a direction that embodies strength to you—physical (caring for your body), mental (disciplining your mind and filtering what goes in), and emotional (embracing curiosity, being willing to be wrong, and growing in empathy). Holistically looking at your life and moving toward all of the above.
Jac: Beautiful. Answers like that are why this is my favorite question to ask. Erica, I look forward to having you back soon, and thank you for being you—and for this wonderful book.
Erica: Thank you for having me.
Jac: I hope you enjoyed this episode. If you’d like to support the show, please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and share it with others. Be sure to visit wellnstrong.com to access notes from the show and to stay current with new content. I’m so grateful you joined me. Be well and be strong.
