197: Am I Under Attack—or Just Overwhelmed? Spiritual Warfare and Personal Responsibility with Joel Muddamalle

The Best of You

Dr. Alison Cook

Health & Fitness, Mental Health

4.9 • 957 Ratings

🗓️ 26 February 2026

⏱️ 63 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Have you ever wondered if there’s something spiritual happening beneath what you’re carrying? You’re doing the work.You’re praying.You’re going to therapy.You’re trying to take responsibility. And still… something feels off. In this episode, Dr. Alison sits down with Theologian Joel Muddamalle to explore spiritual warfare — not through fear or sensationalism, but through clarity and discernment. Together, they examine: How the enemy works through systems, structures, and misaligned desires The difference between personal responsibility and spiritual opposition Why obsession with darkness is just as unhelpful as dismissing it How to stay grounded in Christ’s victory rather than panic This conversation reframes spiritual warfare as something far more ordinary — and far more hopeful — than we often imagine. Not demon hunting.Not blame shifting.But cultivating wholeness. Because the center of the Christian story is not darkness.It’s restoration. If you’ve ever felt confused about this topic — or unsure how to integrate faith, mental health, and spiritual reality — this episode offers grounded wisdom for everyday life. More Resources: Follow Dr. Alison on Instagram @dralisoncook Join the 80,000+ soul menders in our email community and receive weekly reflections and gentle practices here. Learn more about Joel Muddamalle’s work. Order The Unseen Battle. If you liked this episode, then you’ll love: Episode 144: Healing the Soul Through Encounters with Jesus Featuring John Eldredge Episode 122: Navigating Anxiety, Therapy, and Spiritual Formation—Balancing Mental, Emotional, & Spiritual Health with John Mark Comer 📖 Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here Don't forget to browse this week's sponsors, who make it possible for me to bring you these resources for free + provide you with additional discounts! Quince - How you dress affects your mood and you can trust that Quince has you covered in every day sustainable wardrobe staples. Go to ⁠Quince.com/bestofyou⁠ for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Cozy Earth - Cozy up in every day luxury bedding and their bamboo pajamas and physically feel your nervous system take a breath. Head to Cozyearth.com and use my code BESTOFYOU for up to 20% off. *Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:24.6	Herbal.
0:25.6	Esences.
0:26.6	Surface repair to smoothness, nourishment with a regimen use versus non-conditioning shampoo.
0:29.6	I actually want us to frame spiritual warfare within the context of household rebellion, of household conflict, of dysfunction, and relationship challenges.
0:41.3	The enemy loves to work in systems and structures, loves to work through neutral things that can become ultimate things in order to misalign your affections. Hey everyone, and welcome back to this week's deep dive episode of the Best of You podcast.
1:03.3	I'm so glad you're here with me this week and every week. I love hearing from you. I love getting your feedback.
1:09.5	Today's episode came directly out of so many
1:12.6	questions. I've heard from so many of you these past few years. Have you ever wondered whether
1:18.0	there's something spiritual going on underneath what you're carrying? Like you're doing the work,
1:24.2	you're praying, you're trying to take responsibility for your choices, you're trying
1:27.8	to regulate your nervous system, get enough sleep, have the hard conversation, set boundaries,
1:31.6	go to therapy. Maybe you're doing all the right things, and still something feels off.
1:38.2	Maybe it's anxiety that spikes out of nowhere. Maybe it's a pull toward isolation, like
1:43.2	you just want to disappear. Maybe it's discouragement that doesn't match the nowhere. Maybe it's a pull toward isolation, like you just want to disappear. Maybe it's
1:45.5	discouragement that doesn't match the moment. Maybe it's a kind of internal fog or oppression that
1:50.9	makes it hard to access hope. And then you wonder, is this just me? Is this my brain? Is this my
1:57.1	body? Or is something else happening here? Today, we're going to talk about something that can get sensationalized really fast or sometimes dismissed
2:06.7	entirely in that spiritual warfare, what my guest today calls the unseen battle.
	...

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