In this week’s episode of the Summer Q&A Series, Nicole answers a deeply personal and universally relevant listener question: “How do you repair a relationship when trust has been broken—and you know you’ll never accept their point of view?”

With pastoral care, biblical grounding, and hard-earned wisdom, Nicole unpacks the spiritual and emotional nuance of reconciliation. Drawing from Matthew 18 and the parable of the unforgiving servant, she explores what it means to truly forgive someone from the heart—and how that differs from rebuilding trust or restoring a broken relationship.

Nicole challenges the common myth that forgiveness equals relational closeness, and instead introduces a framework for discerning when and how to rebuild a relationship. Listeners will walk away with clarity, compassion, and a path forward for their most complex relational wounds.

Main Takeaways

• Forgiveness and Reconciliation are not the same: You can forgive someone fully without restoring the relationship to what it once was.

• Forgiveness is about release: Releasing the debt someone owes you doesn't mean ignoring the pain or pretending it didn’t happen.

• Trust Must Be Rebuilt: Trust after betrayal requires mutual effort—both people must be willing to rebuild from their side of the breach.

• Respect is the Minimum Requirement: You don’t need to share the same worldview to have a relationship—but both parties must be willing to listen and respect one another.

• Relationships exist on a spectrum: Not every relationship needs to be fully restored. Some may be repositioned to a more distant—but still loving—place.

• Scripture challenges us to forgive radically: Jesus’ parable in Matthew 18:21–35 underscores the magnitude of the forgiveness we've received—and the forgiveness we're called to extend.

📜 Bible Verse References

• Matthew 18:21–35 – Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

• Jeremiah 17:9 – “The heart is deceitful above all things…”

• Psalm 139:23–24 – “Search me, God, and know my heart…”

• Matthew 6:12 – “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

Want More from Nicole?

• Subscribe to How to Study the Bible so you don’t miss a week of the Summer Q&A Series.

• Leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts—your feedback helps others discover the show.

• Check out Nicole’s book, The Miracle Moment, for a deeper dive into relational repair and forgiveness.

• Visit nicoleunice.com for additional resources, Bible studies, and updates on the upcoming fall series.

• Share this episode with someone walking through a difficult relationship—they don’t have to walk it alone.

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this episode of the Summer Q&A Series, Nicole responds to a powerful and timely question:
“What happens when we dehumanize others, and what might we be avoiding in ourselves when we do it?”

Rooted in Scripture and shaped by years of teaching and discipleship, Nicole explores how dehumanization—both subtle and overt—can reveal deeper emotional and spiritual struggles, particularly among women. Through biblical reflection and honest personal insights, she identifies three key areas often lurking beneath this behavior: fear, anger, and pride.

Listeners will walk away challenged and encouraged to reexamine how they view others—and how they might bring hidden heart issues before God for healing and transformation.

Main Takeaways

• Dehumanization is subtle but dangerous: We often strip others of their God-given dignity by grouping them into labels, roles, or categories.

• Words carry weight: Name-calling and group labels are not just emotional reactions—they violate the biblical truth that every person bears the image of God.

• Why we dehumanize: It's often an avoidance tactic for deeper emotional realities.

• Three Common Roots Behind Dehumanization in Women:

  1. Fear – Of being wrong, hurt, rejected, or vulnerable

  2. Anger – Especially unspoken or culturally suppressed anger

  3. Pride – The insidious belief that we know best, or can determine what's fair or right outside of God

• The Bible’s Response: God calls us back to humility, self-examination, and compassion. Transformation starts with asking God to search our hearts (Psalm 139).

Bible Verse References

• Genesis 1:27 – “God created mankind in His own image…”

• Psalm 139:13–14 – “You knit me together in my mother’s womb…”

• Jeremiah 2:13 – God describes forsaking Him as abandoning living water

• Jeremiah 17:9 – “The heart is deceitful above all things…”

• Psalm 139:23–24 – “Search me, God, and know my heart…”

Calls to Action (CTAs)

• Subscribe to How to Study the Bible to follow the rest of the Summer Q&A Series.

• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more people discover the show.

• Visit nicoleunice.com for Bible studies, teaching tools, and Nicole’s books.

• Invite a friend to listen and reflect on this episode together—great for small groups or mentoring relationships.

• Join the conversation on Instagram @NicoleUnice or use #HowToStudyTheBible.

🔗 Relevant Links & Resources

• NicoleUnice.com – Teaching resources, devotionals, and books

• BibleStudyTools.com – Scripture reference and Bible tools

• Recommended Reflection: Write out a prayer of surrender using Psalm 139.

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.