Kelley Steele, the wife of prominent Phoenix-based pastor Reginald Steele, is facing intense criticism online after sharing that she once felt “graced by God” to iron her husband’s clothes as he prepared to meet another woman — a confession that has ignited fierce debate over faith, marriage, and self-worth.
In a now-viral video clip from the popular Dear Future Wifey podcast, Steele describes enduring emotional pain during a rocky season in her marriage.
Despite her husband allegedly not coming home on weekends and telling her things like “I hate you” and “I wish I never married you,” Steele says she relied on her Christian faith to maintain her composure and continue serving him.
“Although he would go out for weekends, I would literally help him get ready to go meet a side chick by ironing his clothes,” she said. “These are all things I was graced to do. I would not encourage anybody to do that unless you are graced by God.”
She added that once she embraced her identity in Christ, “a radical heart shift” took place.
“I allowed God’s voice to be louder than his,” she said, referring to her husband.
Social Media Users Not Having It
But the internet wasn’t moved to forgiveness.
Thousands of users across platforms like Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram slammed Steele’s statements as a dangerous glorification of suffering under the guise of spirituality.
“Y’all love to justify foolishness by including God,” wrote one commenter.
“This is why you can’t take advice from everybody,” said another.
“May this level of delusion never find me,” a third user posted.
Many critics accused Steele of spiritualizing emotional abuse, with one user labeling it “spiritual psychosis.” Others said this kind of messaging perpetuates harmful ideas about women tolerating infidelity in the name of faith.
Who Is Kelley Steele?
Kelley Steele is a well-known Christian author, speaker, and women’s ministry leader. She and her husband co-lead Kingdom Church in Phoenix, Arizona. Together, they have five adult children and four granddaughters.
Kelley is the founder of Every Woman Kingdom Women’s Ministry and hosts the annual Kingdom Women’s Conference, which draws thousands of attendees from around the country. She is also the author of two books, Depression Defeated: Your Pit Has a Purpose and Legacy: Ancient Stories for the 21st Century Woman. Additionally, she executive produced the worship album Overflow: Kingdom Worship.
Despite the backlash, Steele continues to stand by her faith-centered teachings on marriage. She has not yet responded directly to the public criticism.
A Broader Conversation on Faith and Boundaries
While some admirers see Steele’s story as one of perseverance and divine transformation, others argue that it sets a dangerous precedent for women in religious spaces — particularly when it comes to tolerating infidelity and emotional abuse.
The short clip from the podcast has sparked broader conversations about the role of forgiveness, endurance, and personal dignity in marriages rooted in faith — and whether spiritual beliefs should ever excuse behavior that damages self-worth.
