1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:06,439 Speaker 1: Life audio fear has a tendency to make the improbable 2 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: seem not only probable, but eminent. And like you emphasize, 3 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:16,320 Speaker 1: peace begins when we re route our thoughts on to truth. 4 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:19,280 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Faith over Fear Podcast, where we discuss 5 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:23,240 Speaker 1: powerful truth to quiet anxiety and fear big and small. 6 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:26,600 Speaker 1: I'm Jennifer Slattery and I'm Carol McCracken, and we wonder 7 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: what do you do when your thoughts won't slow down, 8 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 1: When one concern turns into another, and then another, and 9 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:37,200 Speaker 1: it turns into a spiral that you can't seem to stop. 10 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 1: You try to reason with it, you try to pray 11 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:41,480 Speaker 1: through it, you try to fix it, but your mind 12 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 1: just keeps circling back to the same fear. We've probably 13 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 1: all been there. And while there are practical ways we 14 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 1: can dial down anxiety's intensity experiencing increased peace, it isn't 15 00:00:56,560 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 1: necessarily just about like trying harder. It's soone and strengthened 16 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 1: by truth. I'm curious, Carol, because I know you are 17 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: in it right now. What's going on and how has 18 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 1: truth been an anchor to you? 19 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 2: What you're saying really does resonate Because my husband is 20 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 2: experiencing some. 21 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:17,399 Speaker 3: Health issues, and he's always had. 22 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 2: A challenge with some heart issues, so we got those 23 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 2: taken care of, and he's had to face his mortality, 24 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 2: so we've been. 25 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 3: Through a lot of that. 26 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 2: But he got another one when we least expected it. 27 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 2: I was in the backyard and I was throwing the 28 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 2: ball for the dog, and his hand started. 29 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:34,679 Speaker 3: Twitching a little bit, like what's that? 30 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:38,199 Speaker 2: So we needed that looked at, and for a long 31 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 2: time when you're waiting on test results, and you're waiting 32 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 2: on test results, and the doctor mentioned, well, I think 33 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 2: maybe we need to look at Alzheimer's diagnosis or maybe 34 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 2: a Parkinson's diagnosis, which are both big things. So we 35 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 2: sat in that for quite some time. And I do 36 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 2: trust in the Lord, and I love the Lord very much, 37 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 2: but sleep was getting hard because I kept thinking, Okay, 38 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 2: if it's Alzheimer's, what do we do? Do we need 39 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 2: to move, do we need help? What are support groups? 40 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 2: How can I be a better wife? But then if 41 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 2: it's if it's Parkinson's that's a degenerative body disease, what 42 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:15,959 Speaker 2: do we do? I'm doing all these what ifs, what ifs, 43 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:19,079 Speaker 2: what ifs when we don't even know anything. Yet, how 44 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 2: can you solve stuff when you don't know what you're 45 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 2: dealing with. I was trying to solve it without the 46 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:28,640 Speaker 2: information that I needed. I just hate when thoughts race 47 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:30,800 Speaker 2: like that. I was getting angry in bed and I'm like, 48 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 2: come on, now, you know better, release it, release it, 49 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:34,640 Speaker 2: go to sleep. 50 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:35,959 Speaker 3: But yet sleep. 51 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:37,959 Speaker 2: Didn't come, and I got tired, and then I got 52 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:39,120 Speaker 2: all wrapped up in it. 53 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 3: So I mean, anxiety is a thing. 54 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:47,919 Speaker 1: Yeah, experience big things. It will feel too big for us. 55 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 1: It take us time to process through it, to recognize, okay, 56 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:57,640 Speaker 1: I'm feeling really overwhelmed, and then to eventually say, okay, 57 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 1: now what do I do with this? 58 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:02,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's a very good point. 59 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 2: I was trying to solve it in my own power 60 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 2: the way that I thought that I needed to do. 61 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 3: I knew I should give it to the Lord. So 62 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 3: I was given it to the Lord. I was given 63 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 3: it to the Lord. But yet I wasn't sleeping, and I. 64 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 2: Think I was trying too hard not to show my 65 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 2: angy to my husband. 66 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: That's another good point. When somebody you love is going 67 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:23,359 Speaker 1: through it with you and you're trying to be strong 68 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:26,079 Speaker 1: for them, but you also need support and then there's 69 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:30,799 Speaker 1: anxiety on like I want to be supportable. And it's 70 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 1: interesting anxiety often begins in our minds. I mean, there 71 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 1: can be physical components and things, but that and that's 72 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 1: one of the reasons Scripture emphasizes taking our thoughts captive, 73 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 1: or another way to say that taking control of our 74 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 1: thought life. But there's an important caveat that doesn't mean 75 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 1: denying or suppressing our anxiety and fear my experience. The 76 00:03:56,960 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 1: more I try to suppress it, and especially if I 77 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 1: try to share aim myself, if I condemn myself over time, 78 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 1: it actually it intensifies. May feel good in the moment, 79 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 1: like I have gotten good and I'm trying to unbreak 80 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 1: this learned behavior. I've gotten really good at denying my 81 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:17,119 Speaker 1: inner chaos and just distracted. I can clean, I can paint, 82 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 1: I can stay really busy. And that usually catches up 83 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:22,960 Speaker 1: at night because we don't have those distractions. 84 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 2: That is one hundred percent what I was doing. I 85 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:28,719 Speaker 2: like being busy, I like focusing on other things. But 86 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:31,679 Speaker 2: when you are in the bed in the dark, trying 87 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 2: to go to sleep, it's sure enough catches up with you. 88 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:37,600 Speaker 1: You're alone with your brain and with God. So that's 89 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 1: really helpful and that leads right right. God invites us 90 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: to turn to Him in our fear. He invites us 91 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 1: to step away from the shame that I should have 92 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:52,160 Speaker 1: I could have, and instead just say, you know what, 93 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:56,040 Speaker 1: this is so hard, this is so overwhelming. I don't 94 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:56,720 Speaker 1: know what to do. 95 00:04:56,839 --> 00:04:57,119 Speaker 3: Lord. 96 00:04:57,279 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 1: I'm reminded of David from scripture experience so many situations 97 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 1: and for a long time that created intense fear. But 98 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 1: I really like in Psal I'm fifty six his wording, 99 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 1: I'm going to read this now. He said, so I'm 100 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:16,280 Speaker 1: fifty six to three. When I am afraid, I put 101 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:19,799 Speaker 1: my trust in you. And I like how you started 102 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:23,679 Speaker 1: that when when I am and he was a warrior, 103 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:26,480 Speaker 1: man after God's heart, and he experienced fear. 104 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:30,119 Speaker 2: Not if when that gives me comfort. It doesn't deny fear. 105 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 2: But it's doing what you were saying. You're not alone 106 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 2: with your brain. God is there too. What David is 107 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 2: saying is that there's definitely fear, but you redirect it. 108 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:43,360 Speaker 3: Out of your brain, redirect it towards God. 109 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:47,359 Speaker 1: Right, that's to learn something we practice because it's not 110 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 1: natural in the moment. This is a skill we can 111 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 1: get better and better at I'm thinking back to your 112 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 1: episode with Kyle Iidelman, take every thought Captive, because that's 113 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:58,839 Speaker 1: a big part of what this episode is. It's like, 114 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 1: how do we take these big spiraling thoughts, how do 115 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 1: we slow them, stop them, and redirect them. It takes 116 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:08,839 Speaker 1: time to change your brain. Doctor Kirk Thompson said our 117 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 1: brains change at the rate something like two millimeters a day. 118 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 1: That's not a lot. I think sometimes we read these 119 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 1: verses that says take your thoughts captive, or there's one 120 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:22,600 Speaker 1: Romans twelve to two where it says be transformed by 121 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:25,160 Speaker 1: renewing your mind, and we think, okay, we're going to 122 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 1: read a scripture say a verse and boom, everything's gonna 123 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:33,039 Speaker 1: be fine. But we learn healthy, faith filled ways to 124 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 1: deal with our overwhelm, which leads me to do questions. 125 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:39,200 Speaker 1: I would really love your thoughts on, like when you 126 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:43,279 Speaker 1: were worried about your husband. Why do our anxious thoughts 127 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 1: feel so believable? And is that connected to why scripture 128 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 1: emphasizes renewing the mind? 129 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 3: Maybe so. 130 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:53,280 Speaker 2: I don't know about you, but I can come up 131 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:57,279 Speaker 2: with the most outlandish situation. I think that I'd tease 132 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:00,159 Speaker 2: myself into Okay, you've got to be prepared for every 133 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:02,799 Speaker 2: what if this happens? What if this happens? You mentioned 134 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:05,840 Speaker 2: mentioned Romans twelve two. We're going to read it to 135 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 2: you in the New Living translation. It says, don't copy 136 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 2: the behavior and customs of this world, but let God 137 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 2: transform you into a new person by changing. 138 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 3: The way that you think. 139 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 1: I love it. 140 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 3: That gives me comfort because the work is not all 141 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:23,040 Speaker 3: on me. 142 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:23,559 Speaker 1: Amen. 143 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:27,120 Speaker 2: God is the one that does the transforming. I need 144 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 2: to remember to lean into God right. 145 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 1: One of our previous guests, doctor Irene Craigel, said that 146 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 1: the untended mind drifts towards negativity. So we're going to 147 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 1: have this natural pull to what if thinking, And a 148 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 1: lot of times why they're so hard to release to 149 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 1: God is because a lot is at stake. So we 150 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 1: might in our brain think, well, it's only five percent likely, 151 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 1: but that five percent feels really really heavy. And fear 152 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: thrives in assumptions like we like to project onto the 153 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 1: future all of those things and that, and they feel 154 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 1: more probable. Those scenarios feel more probable the longer we 155 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 1: ruminate on them, and fear has a tendency to make 156 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 1: the improbable seem not only probable but eminent. And like 157 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 1: you emphasize, peace begins when we re route our thoughts 158 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 1: on to truth. 159 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, that scripture. 160 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 2: If we could get to the truth about God in 161 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:31,240 Speaker 2: that training that you're talking about, that it would really 162 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 2: help the peace. 163 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:36,679 Speaker 1: David has another good phrase and psal I'm fifty six 164 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 1: in the very next verse, after he says when I'm afraid, 165 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 1: I will trust in you, he said, in God, whose 166 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:47,320 Speaker 1: word I praise? In God, I trust and am not afraid. 167 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 1: I love this phrase. What can mere mortals do to me? 168 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: NLT phrases it this way, I praise God for what 169 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 1: he is promised, which implies to me that David knew 170 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 1: God's promises. God proves his promises true all the time. 171 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:07,439 Speaker 1: But for those proofs to really fortify our soul strengthen 172 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:11,080 Speaker 1: our faith, we need to know what those promises are. 173 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:13,719 Speaker 3: That's right. So you got to equip yourself. 174 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:16,400 Speaker 2: You know, whether you read the Bible yourself or you're 175 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:19,319 Speaker 2: in a Bible steady grief, you got to open that book. 176 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 2: You know, you've got to get those promises to know 177 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 2: what they are, because they're like ammunition for your brain 178 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 2: to cling to. 179 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:29,199 Speaker 1: I also like when he said, what can mortal man 180 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 1: do to me? It's like he's putting his problems, lining 181 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:36,680 Speaker 1: them up with what he knows to be true about God. 182 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:39,640 Speaker 1: And when you think about God in all his vastness, 183 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 1: all powerful, all loving, all knowing, merciful, always present, and 184 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 1: then you're like, okay, is its my boss? All knowing? No? 185 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:49,720 Speaker 1: Is he all powerful? No? Is he bigger and stronger 186 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:53,559 Speaker 1: than God? We can go through and start to unpack 187 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 1: some of our where are what if scenarios and what 188 00:09:57,520 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 1: statements they're making about God? So like your husband's health, 189 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 1: maybe what if would be what if I can't care 190 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:10,680 Speaker 1: for him you have a stronger, more powerful caretaker who 191 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:13,440 Speaker 1: is actually in control. And if we start to trace 192 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 1: it out to what does God's character say regarding this 193 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:22,400 Speaker 1: what if scenario? That can help us put everything back 194 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:23,200 Speaker 1: in perspective. 195 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:25,679 Speaker 2: There's a simple practice that you can do. 196 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 3: It's called the truth pause. 197 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 2: When anxiety rises, we're supposed to pause, but I would 198 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 2: like to know, Jennifer, how do you train yourself to 199 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:37,440 Speaker 2: actually pause or notice? 200 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:40,440 Speaker 1: That takes time? And for me, first, you just notice 201 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:44,000 Speaker 1: what's going on in the moment, and you pay attention 202 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:46,560 Speaker 1: to what's going on physically, so when you're anxious. This 203 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 1: is especially if you don't if you're not so good 204 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 1: at naming your feelings, knowing what you feel, but it'll 205 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:55,040 Speaker 1: keep you up. You don't know you're anxious, but you 206 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 1: can't sleep, so there's something going on. We can begin 207 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 1: to pay attention to what's going on internally, and we 208 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:05,439 Speaker 1: might get stuck in that spiral. I have been actively 209 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:09,320 Speaker 1: working on turning to God in my anxiety and seeking 210 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:12,320 Speaker 1: his presence and letting his presence calm me. But it's 211 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 1: been a while of catching myself like you did. You 212 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 1: spent two days. I don't remember how much. You know 213 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 1: you spent time not receiving comfort from God. And once 214 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:24,840 Speaker 1: you recognize it, you turned him. Well, next time you'll 215 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:28,679 Speaker 1: shift a little sooner. The more we cultivate our relationship 216 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:31,880 Speaker 1: with Him over time and take in scripture and fortify 217 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:34,920 Speaker 1: our souls with truth, He can use that truth then 218 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 1: to calm us, to plant thoughts in our mind, to 219 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:41,959 Speaker 1: speak to us. And the more we learn to seek 220 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 1: His presence in our lives in difficult situation, overall, it 221 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:51,280 Speaker 1: begins to form more of a habit, practice becomes more natural. 222 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:54,719 Speaker 1: I've had times where I have sensed his presence, for 223 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:58,560 Speaker 1: I've made the turn, been in anxiety, and I've sensed 224 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:02,640 Speaker 1: this soothing device, then that was my indication to turn 225 00:12:02,679 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 1: to him. That doesn't happen all the time, but I 226 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 1: really believe if we're coming to him and we're saying 227 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:11,240 Speaker 1: I want to anchor in your truth, I want to 228 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:14,560 Speaker 1: experience the peace of your presence, teach me how to 229 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:16,040 Speaker 1: do this? Help me? 230 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:19,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's good because the pause sometimes it sounds so 231 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:22,760 Speaker 2: clinical when you're supposed to ask yourself, what am I 232 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,680 Speaker 2: assuming right now? Or what story am I telling myself. 233 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 2: I've said before I can help anybody else name their feelings, 234 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 2: but it's difficult for me to name my own. Do 235 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 2: you sometimes need an objective outside boys, Jennifer, do you 236 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:40,240 Speaker 2: get stuck? You can't see the forest for the trees? 237 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:43,720 Speaker 1: I right, Actually, I'm gonna in my opinion, I mean 238 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:47,319 Speaker 1: yet I do. I do think a therapist can be helpful, 239 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:50,679 Speaker 1: a spiritual mentor can be helpful, a spouse, a best friend, 240 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:53,720 Speaker 1: but they're not gonna know what's going on in the 241 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 1: depths of your soul, what you're really afraid of, what 242 00:12:56,800 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 1: lies are really taking root? So I suggest and what 243 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:03,240 Speaker 1: I'm trying to learn to do I may not do 244 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 1: well in the moment when it's late at night, and honestly, 245 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 1: when it's nighttime, that's not the time I need to 246 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 1: be digging in and getting to the route I need 247 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:14,720 Speaker 1: to sleep. And so trying to tell myself this is 248 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:17,319 Speaker 1: something like, Okay, I'm gonna deal with it tomorrow. It's 249 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 1: still gonna be here tomorrow. The Lord's gonna meet me 250 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:24,960 Speaker 1: there tomorrow, and starting to train myself to not get 251 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 1: so sucked into it. But then I've made a promise 252 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 1: to myself, right, I'm going to process this tomorrow or 253 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 1: whenever it works for me. So then when I am 254 00:13:34,840 --> 00:13:39,240 Speaker 1: journaling with God or praying, reading scripture, pausing and saying, okay, Lord, 255 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:42,960 Speaker 1: this happened, I got so overwhelmed and I completely lost 256 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 1: my cool and I couldn't calm down. What helped me 257 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:48,560 Speaker 1: understand what was going on with me? Usually he'll tell 258 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:51,720 Speaker 1: me a little each day. It's almost like, okay, well, 259 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 1: first this happened when you should have stepped away, or 260 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 1: first of all, you've got too much on your player. 261 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:58,440 Speaker 1: He'll give me a little nugget and then he'll show 262 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:01,600 Speaker 1: me and do you remember this owned that you experienced 263 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 1: or do you remember when somebody said this over you? 264 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:06,760 Speaker 1: Because it's going to be different for each person. We 265 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:10,480 Speaker 1: don't always know the story that we're telling ourselves. But 266 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:13,960 Speaker 1: here's the good news. God always knows in above all else. 267 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:15,960 Speaker 1: He wants us to come to him and he will 268 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:20,280 Speaker 1: use all things. But again, going back to it takes time, 269 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 1: and there have been so many times when I'm like, 270 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 1: this isn't working for me. God isn't helping me. I'm 271 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 1: still overwhelmed, I'm still really anxious. But he was working. 272 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:34,440 Speaker 1: Maybe he was giving me insight to a relationship that 273 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: was creating a lot of stress and anxiety, and that 274 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:40,240 Speaker 1: maybe there's some big perspective change that needed to occur 275 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:43,040 Speaker 1: in my soul. That's usually the case. Or maybe he's 276 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:45,400 Speaker 1: solving an issue. I mean, whatever it is for each 277 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:48,560 Speaker 1: of us, giving him time to work, and when we're 278 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 1: in the throes of it, trusting that he is working 279 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:57,200 Speaker 1: and he will reveal the next steps to us to take. 280 00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 1: We just have to keep bringing it to him, keep taking. 281 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:04,720 Speaker 1: In Scripture, I love that verse that says, God transform 282 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 1: you by renewing your mind or by changing the way 283 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:11,160 Speaker 1: you think we are automatically. Every time we take the 284 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 1: good stuff in scripture and praise music. Every time we 285 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 1: do that, we are changing our brain. Back to your point, 286 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 1: how do we know when we're in the throes of it. 287 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 1: Maybe the big overwhelms are too much in that moment 288 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 1: for us to practice some of these tools. So maybe 289 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:32,560 Speaker 1: we're going to begin. When I am caught in traffic 290 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:34,520 Speaker 1: and I'm feeling overwhelmed and like I'm going to be 291 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 1: late for this appointment, I'm not so overwhelmed that I've 292 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 1: lost my thinking brain. So for the next week, when 293 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 1: I feel stress, I'm going to practice the pause. I'm 294 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 1: going to practice reminding myself of truth. I'm going to 295 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 1: practice sitting in God's presence, trusting that as we continually 296 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:53,600 Speaker 1: do that, not only are we deepening our relationship with 297 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 1: Christ and we changing our brain. The other thing I 298 00:15:57,880 --> 00:15:59,920 Speaker 1: would say, and I actually learned this from my dog. 299 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 1: It's tall larned so many spiritual lessons from my dog. 300 00:16:02,920 --> 00:16:06,960 Speaker 1: But I read somewhere that when dogs bark, if they 301 00:16:07,040 --> 00:16:09,120 Speaker 1: bark a lot and you tell them not to bark, 302 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:11,160 Speaker 1: it just makes it worse because if they have nervous 303 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 1: systems too. But the calmer you can keep them throughout 304 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:17,600 Speaker 1: the day. They're starting at a more stable place, so 305 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 1: when an overwhelming thing does come, they're not already at 306 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:24,840 Speaker 1: the top of their overwhelm. So I'm trying to practice 307 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:27,800 Speaker 1: throughout the day what are things that are life giving 308 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:31,120 Speaker 1: to me? In short and answer to your question, I say, 309 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:35,480 Speaker 1: just invite God in practice and trust that he is 310 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 1: steadily moving us to increase peace, because that's what he promised. 311 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 2: Truth is true, That's what he promised. So we're supposed 312 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 2: to pause, But I like how you said, let's practice 313 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:51,920 Speaker 2: that pause. Maybe that pause is not coming naturally, and 314 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:55,280 Speaker 2: when anxiety rises after the pause, we ask ourselves what 315 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 2: am I assuming right now? And we've got to replace 316 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 2: that assumption that we've named with truth about God. 317 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 1: So basically, what you're saying is peace grows where God's 318 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:10,840 Speaker 1: truth takes roots. When we come back, we're going to 319 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:13,439 Speaker 1: talk about what does that look like to focus not 320 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:15,320 Speaker 1: on our fear but on God. So right now we're 321 00:17:15,320 --> 00:17:26,359 Speaker 1: going to listen to a short message from our sponsors. 322 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 1: We're back and for the break, we talked about learning 323 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 1: to recognize that we're going to be anxious and afraid. 324 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 1: That doesn't mean we're terrible Christ followers. It means we're 325 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 1: human and learning to turn to God when we're in 326 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 1: that place. And we talked about the hope of knowing 327 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 1: that we are not stuck in fearful thinking forever because 328 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 1: God can change us. He can change our thoughts, he 329 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 1: can change our brain and praise God, he does the 330 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 1: bulk of the work, which is very encouraging. 331 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:58,800 Speaker 2: And if he's going to do the bulk of the work, 332 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:02,240 Speaker 2: we should let him. So how do we fix our 333 00:18:02,359 --> 00:18:05,400 Speaker 2: minds on God? This sounds trite and I don't mean 334 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:08,680 Speaker 2: it to be, but you've got to equip yourself and 335 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:11,959 Speaker 2: pick out some things that'll help. There's one that I 336 00:18:12,119 --> 00:18:14,720 Speaker 2: like are THEA twenty six y three. That's the one 337 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 2: that says you keep in perfect peace whose mind is 338 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 2: stayed on you? So you can infer to that. You know, 339 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:23,399 Speaker 2: if you're not at peace, what are you fixing your 340 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 2: mind on? 341 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:25,439 Speaker 3: What are you focusing on? 342 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 2: Are you focusing on the right thing the wrong thing? 343 00:18:28,119 --> 00:18:30,920 Speaker 2: I mean, life happens. You've got to adjust your focus. 344 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:36,199 Speaker 2: Peace is not about eliminating problems, right. Peace comes where 345 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 2: the mind rests, and you know, God is not surprised 346 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:43,160 Speaker 2: about what's happening in our lives, we might be when 347 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:47,120 Speaker 2: those problems come up. If we're up in the future, 348 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:50,680 Speaker 2: we've got to somehow get our attention back to God. 349 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:52,720 Speaker 2: In the way that I know how to do it 350 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 2: is through scripture. 351 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 1: What about you, Jennifer, Yeah, well I would say the same. 352 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:58,159 Speaker 1: And this is actually a verse that I use at 353 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:01,320 Speaker 1: night when I'm feeling anxious, and I'll use it with tapping, 354 00:19:01,359 --> 00:19:03,119 Speaker 1: which I know you're going to have a mental health 355 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:05,440 Speaker 1: expert on to talk about that. But I will use 356 00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:08,920 Speaker 1: a practice called tapping while I repeat the verse over 357 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:11,760 Speaker 1: and over, and some verses will say it's steadfast, and 358 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:15,919 Speaker 1: in the original Hebrew it's this sustained like it's when 359 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:19,720 Speaker 1: you place weight on something, when you bestow authority, when 360 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:24,080 Speaker 1: you receive sustaining power. So the repeated pattern we see 361 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:28,120 Speaker 1: in scripture is that it's God's faithfulness to bear the 362 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:32,120 Speaker 1: full weight of his servants' lives, his their body, their soul, 363 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:36,120 Speaker 1: their future. And it reminds me of First Peter one seven, 364 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 1: which says, cast all your anxiety on him because he 365 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:41,880 Speaker 1: cares for you. 366 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:46,000 Speaker 2: I like that one the mind wil dwell somewhere, won't 367 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:47,360 Speaker 2: it right? 368 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:51,399 Speaker 1: Right? And I go ahead, and I would also so 369 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:55,600 Speaker 1: we we fix our minds on God over and over. 370 00:19:56,040 --> 00:20:00,679 Speaker 1: Whenever that anxious thought arises, we learn to recognize it 371 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:04,359 Speaker 1: because ninety or eighty percent of our thoughts we're unaware of. 372 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:07,200 Speaker 1: But we learn to contemplate what we're thinking. If there's 373 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:10,680 Speaker 1: something I'm particularly concerned about, I will find a scripture 374 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 1: that will speak directly to that anxiety or fear so 375 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:17,320 Speaker 1: that I can counter the lie with truth. 376 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:17,840 Speaker 3: I like that. 377 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:21,679 Speaker 1: How do you go about finding your verses, Jennifer, That 378 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:24,119 Speaker 1: is a good question. You can do a Google search. 379 00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:26,920 Speaker 1: You can say, like verses for when I'm afraid of 380 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:30,760 Speaker 1: relationships versus for health anxiety. And I would also encourage 381 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:34,680 Speaker 1: don't just go to the verses. I would encourage you googlings. 382 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:40,199 Speaker 1: Biblical stories that show God's faithfulness, that show God's power. 383 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:43,920 Speaker 1: There's something that happens as we read the actual narratives 384 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 1: in scripture. It shows God's character lived out through real lives. 385 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:56,280 Speaker 1: You'll read a passage about this massive army coming against 386 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:59,239 Speaker 1: a small group of people, and God stepped in and 387 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 1: confused every one, or he provided food that rain down 388 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:07,360 Speaker 1: out of the sky. When we start from those stories, 389 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:11,080 Speaker 1: we see, Okay, this is a real fear. But God 390 00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:13,720 Speaker 1: did it there, and so Lord, how are you going 391 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:16,720 Speaker 1: to do it? Maybe that's a better question to start asking, 392 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:19,960 Speaker 1: how are you going to resolve this? 393 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:25,320 Speaker 2: That's really good if you practice your scripture. There's ways 394 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:28,720 Speaker 2: where you can may get meditation, and there is a 395 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:31,840 Speaker 2: method out there, and there's four steps through it and 396 00:21:32,119 --> 00:21:34,840 Speaker 2: you find your verse. You got to read that verse slowly. 397 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 2: That's what works for me. Anyway, what's it saying? Then 398 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:41,600 Speaker 2: identify what what does this reveal about God? Getting back 399 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:46,400 Speaker 2: to the character of God. Man, you could turn it into. 400 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:48,399 Speaker 3: A prayer, pursing it. 401 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:50,840 Speaker 2: You're speaking it back to God and then you repeat 402 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:54,919 Speaker 2: it when anxious thoughts return. So you're training your brain, 403 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:57,320 Speaker 2: but you're talking to God at the same time. 404 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:00,960 Speaker 1: Right could you listener as an example, turn Isaiah twenty 405 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:03,840 Speaker 1: six y three into a prayer? How might you do that? 406 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 3: Lord? 407 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:08,480 Speaker 2: You promised to keeping perfect peace those whose minds stay 408 00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:08,880 Speaker 2: on You. 409 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:11,760 Speaker 3: Help me to turn my thoughts towards you. Right now? 410 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:16,119 Speaker 1: I love it. Another practice that is fortifying my soul 411 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:19,919 Speaker 1: for peace. Almost every morning I listen to it's called 412 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:23,440 Speaker 1: the Hearing Heart app. I think I've mentioned it before 413 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:26,359 Speaker 1: because it's been such a game changer for me. Put 414 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:30,879 Speaker 1: out by Life Model Works and they know mental health stuff, 415 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:33,840 Speaker 1: they know brain science stuff, and they're strong with theology 416 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:36,920 Speaker 1: and they merge all that together. The very music they 417 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:41,119 Speaker 1: play in the app works on rewiring your brain, and 418 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:44,920 Speaker 1: they choose one attribute of God to focus on each 419 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:48,040 Speaker 1: day and they'll bring up scripture for that, and then 420 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:52,040 Speaker 1: they also encourage a pause where you're connecting with the Lord. 421 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:55,560 Speaker 1: So you have three really powerful avenues towards peace. You've 422 00:22:55,560 --> 00:22:58,440 Speaker 1: got God's presence, You've got God's truth, and then you've 423 00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 1: got the science. Sometimes I I wonder if we coast 424 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:08,000 Speaker 1: a bit in our normal, everyday lives until anxiety and 425 00:23:08,040 --> 00:23:11,159 Speaker 1: fear hit and we want to build this really strong 426 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:14,199 Speaker 1: foundation that's going to carry our overwhelm. What if we 427 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:16,720 Speaker 1: began to shift our thinking and said, I am going 428 00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:20,800 Speaker 1: to actively build into my soul those elements that are 429 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:23,800 Speaker 1: going to long term increase my peace and are going 430 00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:28,879 Speaker 1: to increase my capacity my resiliency for when those big 431 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:32,280 Speaker 1: storms come. That was something I had to get to 432 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:34,199 Speaker 1: because I'm like, Oh, it takes so much time to 433 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:37,879 Speaker 1: do all of these practices, but losing sleep steals a 434 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:42,560 Speaker 1: lot more time losing productivity because my brain won't stop spiraling. 435 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:46,880 Speaker 1: That takes a lot more time than taking two minutes 436 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:49,800 Speaker 1: a couple times a day to center myself in God's 437 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:53,960 Speaker 1: presence and reflect on his character or a particular truth 438 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:54,800 Speaker 1: that I really need. 439 00:23:54,840 --> 00:23:56,879 Speaker 2: Then that stuff's in there when you need it. So 440 00:23:56,960 --> 00:24:00,480 Speaker 2: when anxiety does hit, you've got the weapons lack of 441 00:24:00,520 --> 00:24:04,240 Speaker 2: a better term, to counter that anxiety. I have heard 442 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:07,040 Speaker 2: it used that way. I read a book one time 443 00:24:07,560 --> 00:24:10,639 Speaker 2: about when the people were in jail. 444 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:13,280 Speaker 3: It was a large group of people that were in jail. 445 00:24:13,359 --> 00:24:16,880 Speaker 2: They were being oppressed and they had nothing in there 446 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:21,040 Speaker 2: to fortify themselves with. But those that had scripture that 447 00:24:21,119 --> 00:24:24,639 Speaker 2: they could pull from their heart and recite and tell 448 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:30,080 Speaker 2: others had that weapon built into them, so that helped 449 00:24:30,119 --> 00:24:31,400 Speaker 2: their resiliency. 450 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:33,719 Speaker 3: If it's in you, you've got it. 451 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:38,440 Speaker 1: And there's also scripture, there's a powerful spiritual element. We're 452 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:42,040 Speaker 1: told that it's a sort it's our offensive, our only 453 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:47,280 Speaker 1: offensive weapon. And so sometimes the enemy will try to 454 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:50,080 Speaker 1: terrorize us, try to make us afraid, and he'll play 455 00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:53,160 Speaker 1: on our brain. But when we speak scripture, he flees, 456 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:56,840 Speaker 1: It defeats him, and something else happens when we speak scripture. 457 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,000 Speaker 1: I just learned this a couple of days ago. Our 458 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 1: brain leaves our own personal voice, so if we say it, 459 00:25:03,359 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 1: our brain believes it to be true more app as 460 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:07,960 Speaker 1: opposed to like if you were to say the same 461 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:09,560 Speaker 1: thing to me, or I was to listen on an 462 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:14,600 Speaker 1: app There is something that occurs neurologically when we actually 463 00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:17,920 Speaker 1: read the truth out loud. So if you're really struggling 464 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:23,760 Speaker 1: to anchor yourself in truth, start reading it out loud. 465 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:26,720 Speaker 1: And maybe I'm going to read this verse five times 466 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:30,480 Speaker 1: a day for the next month and see what happens 467 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:34,199 Speaker 1: to four listeners who just want a nugget carry them 468 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:36,080 Speaker 1: through the day. I'm actually going to read a passage 469 00:25:36,119 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 1: right now, sixty two five through eight, and it's how 470 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:45,439 Speaker 1: we quiet our soul with God. I believe it's from David. 471 00:25:45,840 --> 00:25:48,720 Speaker 1: He said, my soul finds rest in God. My hope 472 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:52,400 Speaker 1: comes from him. Truly, He is my rock and my salvation. 473 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:56,080 Speaker 1: He is my fortress. I will not be shaken. My 474 00:25:56,240 --> 00:26:00,280 Speaker 1: salvation and my honor depend on God. He is my 475 00:26:00,480 --> 00:26:04,200 Speaker 1: mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, 476 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:06,920 Speaker 1: you people. So there's his pep talk again. Pour out 477 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:10,600 Speaker 1: your hearts to him, for God is our refuge, and 478 00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:15,560 Speaker 1: I'm encourage people really dig deep into There's so much truth, rock, 479 00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:19,880 Speaker 1: immovable stable fortress, something you can hide in a defensive 480 00:26:20,040 --> 00:26:23,760 Speaker 1: tower around you. Your salvation, the one who can rescue 481 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:28,200 Speaker 1: you from any situation, your honor, so somebody's slandering you, 482 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:31,960 Speaker 1: your career and your reputation. He is the one who 483 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:35,520 Speaker 1: defends your right and your cause. And then again that shifting. 484 00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:38,320 Speaker 1: So I will pour out my heart to him. I 485 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:41,960 Speaker 1: will trust him because he is my refuge. 486 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:44,920 Speaker 2: I think David was speaking some truth to himself there, 487 00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:48,399 Speaker 2: he reminding himself of the truth. Therefore we got the 488 00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 2: benefit of it in scripture so that we can speak 489 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:54,760 Speaker 2: truth to ourselves. Also, sometimes you have to remind yourself 490 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:57,879 Speaker 2: of what the truth is because we get caught up 491 00:26:57,920 --> 00:26:58,720 Speaker 2: in or what ifs. 492 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:01,400 Speaker 3: You know, God is more powerful than any what if 493 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:02,200 Speaker 3: we could. 494 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:06,680 Speaker 2: Ever have, Right, we remember that that goes a long 495 00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:10,520 Speaker 2: way if we re anchor our thoughts, you know, gathering 496 00:27:10,560 --> 00:27:15,040 Speaker 2: all those spiraling thoughts, what do you anchor it in? 497 00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:16,280 Speaker 3: The truth? 498 00:27:16,440 --> 00:27:16,640 Speaker 1: Right? 499 00:27:16,760 --> 00:27:19,040 Speaker 3: But you just read is truth. 500 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:22,720 Speaker 2: That's what we should anchor ourselves in, not those terrible 501 00:27:22,800 --> 00:27:23,320 Speaker 2: what ifs. 502 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:26,640 Speaker 1: Right, David said, pour out your heart time. We're not suppressing, 503 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:30,240 Speaker 1: we're not denying reality because again that doesn't work. Instead, 504 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:34,680 Speaker 1: we're guiding our soul. And the more we understand who 505 00:27:34,760 --> 00:27:38,880 Speaker 1: God is in all his vastness, the more his character 506 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:43,560 Speaker 1: becomes clear, the weaker our fear and anxiety become, and 507 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:47,080 Speaker 1: we learn about who God is three ways reading scripture, 508 00:27:47,359 --> 00:27:50,800 Speaker 1: like you keep emphasizing, hearing other people's God's stories is 509 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:55,800 Speaker 1: hugely powerful. So surrounding yourself around people who have strong 510 00:27:55,840 --> 00:28:00,440 Speaker 1: faith will naturally increase your faith and the and also 511 00:28:00,560 --> 00:28:04,800 Speaker 1: experiencing Him in our own lives. And so that's another truth. 512 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:07,359 Speaker 1: Like I know for your husband, he has gone through 513 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:12,120 Speaker 1: a lot of health stuff. So one practice might be, Okay, Lord, 514 00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:17,200 Speaker 1: remind me of how I felt back when XYZ happened, 515 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:20,080 Speaker 1: and remind me how you came through. I always like 516 00:28:20,119 --> 00:28:22,840 Speaker 1: to say, remind me how I felt, because it's like, Okay, 517 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:25,200 Speaker 1: I was that overwhelmed then too, and you know what 518 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:27,560 Speaker 1: it was. Okay, that's good. 519 00:28:27,720 --> 00:28:34,960 Speaker 2: Definitely you might not silence anxiety completely, but I get 520 00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:37,000 Speaker 2: a lot of comforts. When I get to the end, 521 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:39,680 Speaker 2: I'm like, God, you know how I'm feeling. 522 00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:40,560 Speaker 3: This is terrible. 523 00:28:40,600 --> 00:28:43,280 Speaker 2: I hate being this irritable, I hate being this anxious. 524 00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:46,200 Speaker 2: You know what's going on with me right now? Help 525 00:28:46,240 --> 00:28:49,760 Speaker 2: me and just pushing it out because he already. 526 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:53,320 Speaker 1: Knows, right Yeah. And I would encourage all of us listeners, 527 00:28:53,480 --> 00:28:56,959 Speaker 1: you as well, to create a peace verse. It's going 528 00:28:57,080 --> 00:29:02,480 Speaker 1: to help you. 'tias one verse speaks to a recurring anxiety. 529 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 1: Don't try to solve it all in one day. That's 530 00:29:04,760 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 1: not practical. It's not gonna work. You're gonna get overwhelmed. 531 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:11,600 Speaker 1: Choose one anxiety, maybe start with a smaller one. I'm 532 00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:15,960 Speaker 1: anxious that my kid's best friend is gonna move away 533 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:18,440 Speaker 1: and they're gonna be lonely, whatever it is, and you 534 00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:23,320 Speaker 1: choose one verse that speaks to that fear, and really 535 00:29:23,640 --> 00:29:26,680 Speaker 1: work on repeating it to your soul, not just when 536 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:30,520 Speaker 1: you're anxious and afraid, but throughout the day. Some examples 537 00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:32,360 Speaker 1: could be we'll put these in the show notes. Psalm 538 00:29:32,440 --> 00:29:35,000 Speaker 1: twenty three to one that talks about God being our shepherd, 539 00:29:35,040 --> 00:29:37,440 Speaker 1: the one who cares for us, John fourteen twenty seven, 540 00:29:37,480 --> 00:29:40,880 Speaker 1: where Jesus said not to be afraid and to trust 541 00:29:40,880 --> 00:29:42,920 Speaker 1: in him Isaiah forty one. Tim kase I forgot what 542 00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:50,160 Speaker 1: that one was write it down, speak it out loud, 543 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:53,720 Speaker 1: pray it throughout the day. Maybe get an accountability partner. 544 00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:57,680 Speaker 1: My husband is really good to remind me about certain tools, like, hey, 545 00:29:57,760 --> 00:30:01,200 Speaker 1: have you practiced this today? Because I too. I just 546 00:30:01,280 --> 00:30:04,680 Speaker 1: sometimes forget. Maybe you can put sticky notes on your 547 00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:10,920 Speaker 1: mirror with the verse written down, keep it in your pocket. 548 00:30:10,400 --> 00:30:11,440 Speaker 3: Maybe in your car. 549 00:30:11,760 --> 00:30:14,080 Speaker 2: That helps me sometimes, and I can just pull it 550 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:16,440 Speaker 2: out sometimes when I need it, say I'm in that 551 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:20,400 Speaker 2: traffic you talked about earlier in the episode. God's promises 552 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:24,680 Speaker 2: steady the soul. When circumstances feel unstable. 553 00:30:25,280 --> 00:30:26,760 Speaker 3: His promises are true. 554 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:31,520 Speaker 2: Peace doesn't come from controlling the future, but trusting the 555 00:30:31,560 --> 00:30:33,640 Speaker 2: one who holds the future. 556 00:30:34,040 --> 00:30:39,920 Speaker 1: That's really helpful. I have a seven day scripture reset 557 00:30:40,040 --> 00:30:42,200 Speaker 1: for anxiety. I'll put that in the show notes. You 558 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:45,360 Speaker 1: can download it for free. It's got scripture you can 559 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:48,880 Speaker 1: reflect on each day, some prayer prompts and helpful practice 560 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:52,280 Speaker 1: each day to calm yourself. I'm gonna recommend in the 561 00:30:52,320 --> 00:30:56,960 Speaker 1: week ahead, each day choose one verse. So I would say, 562 00:30:57,000 --> 00:30:58,960 Speaker 1: choose one verse for the full week, because we want 563 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:02,440 Speaker 1: it to really stick each day, read it slowly three 564 00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:05,760 Speaker 1: times more is great too. Pray through it like Carol 565 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:10,200 Speaker 1: guided you, and then return to it whenever anxious thoughts return. 566 00:31:10,320 --> 00:31:12,719 Speaker 1: And we've got to remember the Holy Spirit is helping us. 567 00:31:12,800 --> 00:31:15,840 Speaker 1: He will remind us over time. 568 00:31:17,640 --> 00:31:18,200 Speaker 3: I love it. 569 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:21,520 Speaker 2: So in doing all of those things, it's getting down 570 00:31:21,560 --> 00:31:24,800 Speaker 2: to one thing. Let God's word become the loudest voice 571 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:25,440 Speaker 2: in your mind. 572 00:31:25,640 --> 00:31:30,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, because peace grows where God's truth takes root. Thank 573 00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:33,040 Speaker 1: you for listening. If you haven't already done so, we 574 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:35,480 Speaker 1: encourage you to subscribe to this podcast so you won't 575 00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:37,640 Speaker 1: miss a single episode. We've got some really good ones 576 00:31:37,720 --> 00:31:40,080 Speaker 1: coming up. We're going to be diving into what it 577 00:31:40,120 --> 00:31:43,920 Speaker 1: means to hold on to faith when life feels uncertain, painful, 578 00:31:44,040 --> 00:31:47,720 Speaker 1: or dark. Carol's going to be talking with Pastor Chad Roberts. 579 00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:51,800 Speaker 1: He's the blind pastor who wrote a book on blind faith. 580 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:54,120 Speaker 1: I love that, and to share how God met him 581 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:57,040 Speaker 1: in the loss of his sight and taught him to 582 00:31:57,320 --> 00:32:01,880 Speaker 1: walk by faith in deeper ways. Rasik joins us to 583 00:32:01,960 --> 00:32:05,040 Speaker 1: talk about staying anchored in Christ when faith feels shaken 584 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:09,400 Speaker 1: and the church disappoints us and Kirby Kelly she is 585 00:32:09,800 --> 00:32:14,360 Speaker 1: another Life audio podcast host. Sister Sister in Christ and 586 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:16,760 Speaker 1: a sister in our network, and she brings a powerful 587 00:32:16,800 --> 00:32:20,840 Speaker 1: reminder that God is still weaving hope and redemption into 588 00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:27,040 Speaker 1: every season. If you're walking through hardship, through overwhelming circumstances, 589 00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:29,080 Speaker 1: these episodes are going to be for you. That's another 590 00:32:29,240 --> 00:32:32,800 Speaker 1: practice you can take is listen each week to Faith 591 00:32:32,880 --> 00:32:38,680 Speaker 1: over Fear because we are speaking truths directly, prayerfully designed 592 00:32:38,720 --> 00:32:42,400 Speaker 1: to quiet your fear and your anxiety and increase your faith. 593 00:32:42,680 --> 00:32:46,960 Speaker 1: We also invite you to rate this podcast, leave a 594 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:49,960 Speaker 1: review that encourages us, and it does something with the 595 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:53,320 Speaker 1: algorithms that helps others to find our content as well. 596 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:56,240 Speaker 1: Share it with your family and your friends. One more thing, 597 00:32:56,600 --> 00:33:00,240 Speaker 1: we always have reflection questions in the show notes. That's 598 00:33:00,280 --> 00:33:03,200 Speaker 1: another great way you can prayerfully process through those. Maybe 599 00:33:03,280 --> 00:33:05,960 Speaker 1: choose a different question each day of the week and 600 00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:09,160 Speaker 1: until next time, mey you lib is one who truly 601 00:33:09,320 --> 00:33:10,520 Speaker 1: has been set free.