**Episode 37: "Christian Dating Struggles: Spiritual Leadership, Southern Pressures, and Letting Go of the Checklist"**

In this heartfelt episode of *An Epiphany with Tiffany*, we tackle the complex and deeply personal question: "What does being a Christian mean to you?" Our guest, a single mom and survivor of an abusive relationship, shares her raw and inspiring story, offering a unique perspective on the challenges of dating while holding strong to faith. We examine how her experiences have shaped her views on relationships, spiritual leadership, and the journey of healing after trauma.

We take a deeper look into the concept of spiritual leadership, often seen as a male-dominated role in Christian communities. How do women fit into this picture when they're not expected to lead in the same way? This episode opens up the reality that leadership—especially spiritual—can and should be shared within relationships, challenging traditional roles while honoring biblical principles.

Southern dating has its own unique intensity. Many women feel pressured to marry young, with society sometimes labeling them "old maids" by their early twenties. We break down the burden of these expectations and explore how this pressure impacts Christian dating culture, particularly for those seeking a partner who truly aligns with their faith.

Our guest also shares her frustrations with modern dating, where it can feel like a revolving door of men and never-ending "talking stages." She's grown weary of superficial relationships, where many men claim their faith but show little depth beyond putting John 3:16 in their bios. We dive into the emotional and spiritual toll this takes and how difficult it can be to find genuine connections rooted in shared Christian values.

Effective communication is crucial in any relationship, and Christian dating is no exception. We discuss how understanding each other's communication styles can either strengthen or weaken a relationship, especially when navigating tough conversations about faith, boundaries, and trust.

Finally, we tackle the famous "Christian checklist"—that mental list of traits we think are non-negotiable in a partner. But is holding on to this checklist truly helping us, or could it be limiting us from seeing God’s greater plan? We talk about the importance of releasing control, trusting in God’s timing, and opening ourselves to love that may not fit our preconceived notions.

Join us for this raw, insightful conversation on love, faith, and identity in the world of Christian dating. And who knows? By the end of this episode, you might just have an epiphany of your own!

If you are interested in being one of the ladies I interview, please reach out to me at anepiphwithtiff@gmail.com

Thanks for listening! I hope you have enjoyed the stories and the perspectives shared in this episode. Please share it with a friend whose dating life might need some help. If you want to connect with me on social media, you can find me on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter @AnEpiphwithTiff. I hope to see you there! There are multiple ways you can support my show. You can pray for me, rate, review, and share any episode you love, or you can financially contribute by going to patreon.com/Anepiphanywithtiffany. Until next time, I’m Tiffany, and I hope you just had an epiphany!

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