Ep. 40 Be Still and Be Loved | Michael John Cusick

What do you do when there’s a gap between what you believe about God and what you actually experience? When the invitation to be still and be loved feels not just difficult—but impossible?

Michael John Cusick knows that gap all too well. His story begins in unlikely places: Alcoholics Anonymous at age five, family drug rehab by age ten, and a trailer park childhood marked by chaos. He jokes that if reality TV had existed back then, he might’ve had his own show. Instead, he became a psychotherapist, speaker, Spiritual Director, and author of Sacred Attachment and Surfing for God.

In this episode, Michael shares his own winding journey toward God—one marked by brokenness, addiction, healing, and ultimately, divine attachment. His trauma-informed wisdom helps reframe how we think about God’s love, especially when our wounds have distorted our ability to receive it.

We talk about:

• Living a double life and the toll it took on his soul

• The four S’s of attachment and why they matter in our relationship with God and others

• The lies he had to unlearn to discover safety with God

• Rhythms and practices for growing in secure attachment

And yes, we even talk about pedicures—with his daughter—and how they changed the way Michael experiences Jesus washing Peter’s feet.

But the most powerful moment comes at the end, as Michael guides us through an experiential reading of Psalm 23 that you won’t soon forget. 

🎧 Tune in and let this episode be an invitation—to be still and live loved.

 

💬 Grace Quotes from Michael John Cusick:

“Hey, this distance my [child], it's killing me. I [God] long for connection with you.”

“On the worst day of my life, I felt embraced by God. I felt seen by God. I felt for the first time he wasn't disgusted by me, but that he had compassion on me.”

“How do I gain secure attachment? By living the grace life. The pressure's off to be somebody other than who I am at any given moment.”

  Key Scriptures:

"Be still and know that I am God!" Psalm 46:10a

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12

"You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies." Psalm 23:5a

Resources Mentioned:

🌿 Michael's Books, including Sacred Attachment: Escaping Spiritual Exhaustion and Trusting in Divine Love 🌿 Restoring the Soul Podcast

Connect with Michael John Cusick:

Websites: MichaelJohnCusick.com Restoringthesoul.com Instagram: @MichaelJCusick @restoringthesoul  Podcast: Restoring the Soul

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