Breaking the Cycle: Caleb David’s Journey Through Abuse, Loss, and Rediscovering Faith and Purpose

Lessons from Living

In this powerful episode of Lessons From Living, Caleb David shares his remarkable journey from a childhood marked by spiritual abuse, violence, and a narcissistic father to becoming a compassionate leader dedicated to service. Caleb opens up about witnessing his mother being beaten, how his early spiritual formation was distorted by an abusive pastor-father, and the long path toward healing and reclaiming his faith.

We explore how he broke free from the example he was shown, building resilience through business failure, the collapse of a marriage, and the deep work required to recover a healthy sense of identity. Caleb discusses why providing stability for his adopted Ethiopian children matters, how he rebuilt his understanding of God, and what motivates his lifelong commitment to service-oriented work.

This conversation dives into:

• Overcoming childhood trauma and spiritual abuse
• Breaking generational patterns and choosing compassion
• Recovering from business and relationship failure
• Rehabilitating a damaged faith relationship
• The importance of stable community for children
• Why a service mindset thrives in both nonprofit and private sectors
• Encouraging others to give back—even when they doubt their value

If you’re looking for a story of resilience, purpose, and the redemptive power of service, this episode will stay with you long after listening.