Carl and Laura Lentz Tell All About Life After Hillsong and Cheating Scandal: ‘A Long Journey’

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Carl says he is “feeling really content and peaceful and sober and steady.” Admittedly, “it’s taken a while to get there,” but for Carl, “that’s been the goal.”

“It’s definitely been a long journey,” Carl, 45, says. “I’ve just learned to take it day by day and not to push my feelings down. I’ve had to really sit in them quite a bit and just feel what I’ve had to feel without the pressure of forgiving anyone.”Not only has Carl asked God for forgiveness, but he believes “between me and God, that account has been settled.” Still, he recognizes that it takes much longer to make amends with people, especially for those who were in a public position, like himself.