1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: Life Audio. This is Donna Jones and you are listening 2 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: to That's just what I needed. Hey, friend, if you've 3 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 1: ever been in a conversation where you've walked away thinking, Wow, 4 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 1: that was just what I needed, you know how life 5 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:26,439 Speaker 1: giving that can be, Well, that's what this podcast is 6 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: all about. We're women who want to know, love, and 7 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:32,600 Speaker 1: follow God in our real lives, but sometimes wonder just 8 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:35,160 Speaker 1: how to do it. So each week we'll talk about 9 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:37,480 Speaker 1: what following God looks like in the midst of daily 10 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 1: demands and crazy cultural chaos. Because this isn't just what 11 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 1: we need, it's actually exactly what we need. Hey, hey, 12 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:50,239 Speaker 1: my friend, I'm so glad you're here today. We have 13 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:53,239 Speaker 1: another great episode. And let me just tell you I 14 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 1: say that all the time, but this one is really special. 15 00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 1: I loved today's conversation so much that I ask my 16 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: guest if we could do a giveaway for her book. 17 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 1: So let me tell you her name and what her 18 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:09,959 Speaker 1: book is and how you can enter the giveaway, and 19 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 1: I'll remind you again at the end. But I really 20 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 1: do think that you are going to love this conversation. 21 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 1: My guest today is Becky Keith, and Becky is a 22 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 1: writer author. She's actually the editor for Day Springs Encourage. 23 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 1: She's written several books, she's a speaker, and she is 24 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:31,760 Speaker 1: really just a wellspring of wisdom. She has written this 25 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 1: new book called a Verse a Day for the Anxious Soul. 26 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:38,320 Speaker 1: The subtitle is one hundred Days a piece for the 27 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 1: Calm you crave Now. Her publisher sent me a copy 28 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:46,160 Speaker 1: of this book, and I started reading the devotions, and 29 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 1: you guys, they're so good that I didn't want to 30 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 1: give away my copy. So I ask her publisher if 31 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 1: they would provide one for one of my lucky listeners, 32 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 1: and they happily obliged. So I'm gonna give you a 33 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 1: little pitch. Why I think you are going to want 34 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 1: this book is because it's their simple devotions, and who 35 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 1: doesn't love a devotion. But it's specifically toward anxiety, but 36 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 1: not just anxiety on a clinical level, although that is 37 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:17,359 Speaker 1: part of it, definitely, But really, anybody can benefit from 38 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 1: this devotion that struggles with anxiety or overwhelm or stress. 39 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 1: And I'm particularly thinking now of not just women, but 40 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 1: also some of us have teenage or college age or 41 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 1: twenty something year old daughters that are struggling with anxiety 42 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 1: and I was looking through this devotion, I thought this 43 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: would be such a great book to give to a gal, 44 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 1: a young woman, or even for yourself. So here's what 45 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 1: you got to do in order for your chance to win. 46 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:50,920 Speaker 1: It's really easy. Just leave a review on the podcast. 47 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:54,520 Speaker 1: That's it. Just rate the podcast hopefully five stars, and 48 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 1: then leave me just one or two sentences of a review, 49 00:02:57,800 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: and everyone that leaves a review will be entered to 50 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 1: win a copy of Becky's book. So, without further ado, 51 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 1: let's meet my new friend, Becky Keith. Well, Becky, welcome 52 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:11,079 Speaker 1: to the podcast. 53 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 2: I'm so happy to be here with you, Donna. 54 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: Okay, Becky and I were talking before we hit record, 55 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 1: and we met about ten years ago. I had forgotten, 56 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 1: Becky reminded me. So it's so fun to be able 57 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: to have her on the podcast today. 58 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:28,800 Speaker 2: I know what an unexpected reconnection. So this will be great. 59 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 1: I know, I know, I love it. And I was 60 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 1: telling Becky. Her publisher sent me an advanced copy of 61 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 1: her book and I've been reading it and I told 62 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 1: Becky I am such a fan. So I want you 63 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 1: to know, as you're listening to this podcast that you 64 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 1: are about to be blessed because Becky has written this 65 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 1: book called Becky tell Us the name of the book 66 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 1: a verse a day for the anxious soul, Okay, And 67 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 1: it's a devotion and it's targeted obviously for anxiety, but 68 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: really for anybody who is wanting more peace. I tell 69 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 1: you what this is like. It's golden. It's golden. And 70 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 1: there's not any of us listening that don't need more peace. 71 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 1: So we're going to just dive right into that because 72 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 1: Becky has some great, great insights on this and I'm 73 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:19,239 Speaker 1: personally excited to hear what you I just say, Becky, 74 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,839 Speaker 1: and so I know that everybody listening is gonna be blessed. 75 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 1: So you struggle with anxiety you have for a while, 76 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 1: and you write something that's interesting. You say that anxiety 77 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 1: is a gift. Which, let's just be honest, most of 78 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 1: us would not say that that is a gift. So 79 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 1: why do you say that? How is that possible? And 80 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 1: how has God used anxiety in your life? 81 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:44,039 Speaker 2: Well? I can say, sitting here now and maybe even 82 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 2: the last several years, I can say anxiety as a gift, 83 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 2: but I would not have said that ten fifteen years ago. 84 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 2: And let me also say that like, anxiety doesn't always 85 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:56,920 Speaker 2: feel like a gift. It doesn't feel good when you 86 00:04:56,960 --> 00:05:00,200 Speaker 2: are in an anxious moment, when you are overwhelmed. Be 87 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 2: like me, someone listening has like the physical symptoms of 88 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 2: anxiety can feel like a brick on my chest. It 89 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 2: can feel like a racing mind, just tension all in 90 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 2: my body. That doesn't feel good. I'm like God, I 91 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 2: want a different gift. But here is why I call 92 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:17,719 Speaker 2: anxiety a gift. And really this applies, I think, to 93 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:20,480 Speaker 2: lots of things in our lives. For me, anxiety is 94 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 2: a thing that the Lord has used to draw me 95 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:26,039 Speaker 2: closer to him, to remind me of how desperately I 96 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 2: need Jesus. And he has used anxiety as the conduit 97 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 2: of greater dependency and intimacy with him. Anything that's gonna 98 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 2: lead me deeper into Jesus, that's a gift. 99 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:39,839 Speaker 1: It is. 100 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:42,040 Speaker 2: It's a gift, even though it's not something I would 101 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 2: have written into my story. It's by far the thing 102 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 2: that the Lord has used the most to teach me 103 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:50,719 Speaker 2: dependence and really then the peace of his presence and 104 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:52,280 Speaker 2: the power of his presence as well. 105 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:54,719 Speaker 1: That's good. But I'm gonna ask you a question. Though, 106 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 1: So when you first started realizing, okay, I'm dealing with anxiety, 107 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 1: did you immediate press into the Lord or did that 108 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 1: take you a hot second to realize, Okay, what do 109 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 1: I do with this? 110 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:10,160 Speaker 2: No, that took me like a like a hot year, 111 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:13,880 Speaker 2: not just a second. No. I mean so my default 112 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:16,839 Speaker 2: is to strive and to fix things on my own. 113 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 1: And I know no one listening can relate to that, right. 114 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 2: I know. I'm sure this is like someone is like 115 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 2: that sounds very unrelatable. So no, like, and even now 116 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:30,159 Speaker 2: I have to catch myself, Donna of like when I 117 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 2: am starting to struggle with anxiety, when I'm having a 118 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 2: wave of overwhelm, when I'm feeling a sadness that doesn't 119 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 2: match my circumstances. For a long time, I thought, I 120 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:43,159 Speaker 2: just have to fix this. I need to manage my time, better, 121 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:45,840 Speaker 2: take care of my body, get my kids to behave 122 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 2: even like, pray more. If I just write more things 123 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 2: in my gratitude journal, if I just do more, do better, 124 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:55,600 Speaker 2: try harder, then I can get over this. And also, 125 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 2: to be honest, I confused, I misapplied scripture. It says 126 00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 2: do not be anxious, and so I was like Okay, 127 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 2: Well I am anxious. So then does that mean that 128 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:06,960 Speaker 2: I'm a weaker faithless Christian? Does that mean that I'm 129 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 2: not trusting God? Okay, I guess I just have to 130 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 2: like will myself to trust God more. What I didn't 131 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 2: understand is that, yeah, God doesn't want us to live 132 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:17,320 Speaker 2: in a state of fear or anxiety, but in the 133 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 2: same way, like scripture doesn't say don't have high blood 134 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 2: pressure or don't have a thyroid that doesn't work, Like 135 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 2: there was something deeper physiological chemical going on in my 136 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 2: body that I needed support, and so I finally had 137 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 2: to get from you, Like the turning point was getting 138 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 2: radically honest with myself and with God and then eventually 139 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 2: with my husband and people close in my family to 140 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 2: say like I'm not okay, I cannot fix this on 141 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 2: my own, and yet I am worthy of help and 142 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 2: love and support, like how would God want to meet 143 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 2: me here? And that was really the beginning of some 144 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 2: practical healing like going to therapy and talking to my doctor, 145 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 2: as well as spiritual growth of saying jus, like I'm 146 00:07:57,200 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 2: not going to try to perform for you anymore. I 147 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 2: know that you love me. When I'm out my weakest 148 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 2: and I have nothing to give just as much as 149 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:04,680 Speaker 2: you love me when I'm doing things with you and 150 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 2: for you, and I need you. And I think that's 151 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 2: one of the most beautiful prayers we can say, is simply, Jesus, 152 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 2: I'm desperate for you, and he will always meet his 153 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:13,920 Speaker 2: children in that place of desperation. 154 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 1: Okay, that reminds me, Becky. I just heard it was 155 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 1: a sermon or a podcast. I don't even remember where 156 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 1: I heard it, but they were talking about how the 157 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 1: three word prayer that the Lord always answers, and it 158 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 1: was when Peter was walking on water toward Jesus and 159 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: then then the waves started coming over him and he 160 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 1: started sinking. It was like the simple three D prayer, 161 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 1: Lord save Me. In this sermon, they were making the 162 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: point that's a prayer the Lord always answers, Lord save me, 163 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 1: because he reaches down and saves Peter. So that's kind 164 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 1: of what you were talking about, Like, Okay, God, I 165 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 1: can't do this without you. 166 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:48,679 Speaker 2: Right in that moment with Peter on the water is 167 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:50,440 Speaker 2: the same thing that I found Jesus doing with me. 168 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 2: That it was the assurance of his presence that made 169 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 2: the difference. It wasn't just that Peter was okay because 170 00:08:57,640 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 2: his feet suddenly felt like that they were on solid ground, 171 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 2: or that the waves stop. It was that Jesus reached 172 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 2: his hand and took hold of Peter and reminded him 173 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:08,320 Speaker 2: that he was there. And I think that like in 174 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:10,880 Speaker 2: the same way, like sometimes it feels like in my life, 175 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 2: I'm sure and you'res too, Sometimes a storm keeps raging 176 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:15,080 Speaker 2: and it's like no, no, like I want I want 177 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 2: things to be called. I want circumstances to be different. Now, 178 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 2: that's not what makes it well with our soul. It 179 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 2: is well with our soul when we remember, like, oh, 180 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:27,080 Speaker 2: Jesus is right here with me. He is taking hold 181 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 2: of my hand, He hears me when I called Jesus 182 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:33,320 Speaker 2: save me, and his presence is what we need more 183 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:35,000 Speaker 2: than a shift in our circumstance. 184 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:37,760 Speaker 1: That's good. Okay. So I'm going off script a little 185 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:40,839 Speaker 1: bit here. But so let's say somebody is listening and 186 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:43,720 Speaker 1: they are thinking, yeah, I know that I've heard that 187 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 1: Jesus is always with me Jesus, but I don't feel 188 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: like he is in my circumstance. That feels overwhelming, Maybe 189 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 1: in my anxiety that I'm struggling with or my depression 190 00:09:55,040 --> 00:09:58,600 Speaker 1: or my stress, my overwhelm. I don't sense that he is. 191 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:00,600 Speaker 1: What would you say to that person? 192 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 2: I would say, that's very real, You're normal. Thank you 193 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:06,320 Speaker 2: for being honest, Like if you can be honest with 194 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:09,920 Speaker 2: yourself about that, that like honesty is the first step 195 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:14,520 Speaker 2: towards intimacy, towards breakthrough, towards transformation. And I would say 196 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:16,840 Speaker 2: keep going, Like what comes to mind is one of 197 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 2: my favorite versus. I think it's Isaiah twenty six to three, 198 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 2: and this is the promise of God. You will keep 199 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 2: in perfect peace those whose thoughts are fixed on you 200 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:29,600 Speaker 2: and maybe not quote that exactly right, those who trust 201 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:31,680 Speaker 2: in you, those whose thoughts are fixed on you. But 202 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:34,560 Speaker 2: what's so interesting is that we're fixing our thoughts. It's 203 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 2: actually our mind and imagination. And so what I have found, 204 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 2: especially when it comes to anxiety and depression or just 205 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:44,160 Speaker 2: even feelings of stress and overwhelm, often when we have 206 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:47,200 Speaker 2: that sense like I don't feel God's nearness, where are 207 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:50,480 Speaker 2: you fixing your mind and imagination? Because I can fix 208 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:53,960 Speaker 2: my mind imagination on every terrible what if scenario? Or 209 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:57,679 Speaker 2: I can fix my mind and imagination on imaginary conversations 210 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:00,679 Speaker 2: that I need to have difficult conversations. I can be 211 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:03,320 Speaker 2: ruminating on what I did that I messed up in 212 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 2: the past, or what someone did to hurt me. Our 213 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 2: mind is so powerful and God made it in these 214 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:11,080 Speaker 2: amazing ways. But if we are thinking about all the 215 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:13,840 Speaker 2: things that stress us and overwhelm us and grieve us, 216 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 2: God cares about those things. But he's saying, fix your 217 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:20,040 Speaker 2: mind and imagination on me. And so that's one of 218 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 2: the reasons why I wrote this book. Because we're not 219 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:24,360 Speaker 2: always going to feel like a relationship with God isn't 220 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 2: a feeling. We're always going to feel his nearness. But 221 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:31,560 Speaker 2: when we practice meditating on truth, when we practice putting 222 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 2: Jesus in the picture, so to speak, like putting him Okay, 223 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:37,559 Speaker 2: right here, He's with me right now at my messy desk, 224 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 2: with the conversation I need to have my husband later 225 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 2: with the hard thing my kid is going through, like 226 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:43,720 Speaker 2: whatever it is like when we put Jesus in the picture, 227 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:45,960 Speaker 2: Guess what. The more we imagine that he is there 228 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:48,439 Speaker 2: because the Word promises he is, the more that piece 229 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:50,679 Speaker 2: is going to come and the more those feelings are 230 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 2: going to catch up with what we know is true. 231 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 1: Does that make sense? Oh, yeah, that makes perfect sense. 232 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 1: It makes perfect sense. And it even actually even goes 233 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:01,360 Speaker 1: back to that story with Peter, because it was like 234 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 1: he was looking at Jesus, his eyes were fixed on 235 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:06,960 Speaker 1: Jesus while he was walking, and then he started looking 236 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 1: at the waves, and then that's when he started sinking. 237 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 1: So it really does dovetail on all of that. That's so, so, 238 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:16,079 Speaker 1: so good. So for you, when did you make this 239 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:20,839 Speaker 1: shift from believing that anxiety was something shameful. There are 240 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 1: people that would shame us, virtually shameus, and we shame 241 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:28,960 Speaker 1: ourselves for feeling anxious. Right, So from feeling shameful to 242 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 1: something that deepened your faith. 243 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:34,440 Speaker 2: For me, it wasn't like a singular moment. It was 244 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:39,640 Speaker 2: an overtime being again honest with myself and with the 245 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 2: Lord and with others. Let me say it this way, 246 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 2: what I realized in honesty. So shamefester's in the dark. 247 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 2: Shamefesters when we keep things in our own minds. But 248 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 2: there is power in bringing our struggles out of the 249 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:57,480 Speaker 2: darkness of our own thoughts, out of the darkness violation, 250 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:00,240 Speaker 2: and into the light of shared experience. Like the me 251 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:01,960 Speaker 2: one of his number one lies is like, you're the 252 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:04,319 Speaker 2: only one. You're the only one who feels this way 253 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:06,360 Speaker 2: to You're the only one who struggles like this. Other people, 254 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:08,959 Speaker 2: if they really knew, then they would discount you. You'd 255 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:11,719 Speaker 2: be disqualified, especially for me, Like I'm a writer, I'm 256 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:13,559 Speaker 2: a speaker, like and so I felt like, well, how 257 00:13:13,559 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 2: can I write Bible studies or do things and yet 258 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:18,200 Speaker 2: still struggle with anxiety. But those were just the lies 259 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:21,319 Speaker 2: of the enemy. But when I started talking about my anxiety, 260 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 2: when I started being honest about it, that automatically that 261 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,240 Speaker 2: shame lost some of its power. So I realized, like 262 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:29,720 Speaker 2: it was a self construct. It's certainly not something that 263 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 2: God was giving me. And then two started realizing, oh, 264 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:35,679 Speaker 2: I was giving voice to other people's experiences as well, 265 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:38,000 Speaker 2: and so then it became something instead of something that 266 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:40,760 Speaker 2: made me feel isolated alone, it was something that actually 267 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:44,520 Speaker 2: helped form and build community and connection, and shame doesn't 268 00:13:44,679 --> 00:13:47,800 Speaker 2: thrive in community and connection. And so it was definitely 269 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:50,960 Speaker 2: like a slow process, and certainly going to therapy and 270 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 2: getting some tools and understanding you know, things in my 271 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:56,560 Speaker 2: past that contributed to my anxiety, you know, all those 272 00:13:56,640 --> 00:14:00,200 Speaker 2: kinds of things but it just was like a Okay, today, Today, Today, 273 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:02,360 Speaker 2: I'm going to choose to live in the light. Today, 274 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:05,560 Speaker 2: I'm going to choose to not let shame shackle me. Today, 275 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:08,000 Speaker 2: I'm going to choose to say Jesus save me. 276 00:14:08,679 --> 00:14:11,880 Speaker 1: Wow, that is so so good. I have so many 277 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:13,880 Speaker 1: more questions I can't wait to ask you. We're going 278 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 1: to take a quick break and when we come back, 279 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 1: we're going to continue this amazing conversation. So you were 280 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 1: just talking to us about how shame cannot thrive in 281 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 1: the light, and that was a lie that you're the 282 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 1: only one. So talk to us a little bit about 283 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 1: some of the lies that we believe surrounding this whole 284 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 1: area and how scripture speaks back to that. 285 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:41,520 Speaker 2: So certainly you're the only one that struggles. That's not true. 286 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:44,360 Speaker 2: I also think that there's a lie of the enemy. 287 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 2: I hear him, I see him speaking to other people 288 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:49,400 Speaker 2: that like anxiety is a new thing, you're the only 289 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 2: one that struggles. This is a twenty first century problem. 290 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 2: This is a you know, an internet and social media problem. 291 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 2: And I absolutely believe that there are things today like 292 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 2: the pandemic, like what's happening politically social media that contribute 293 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:05,840 Speaker 2: to anxiety, and that should be addressed absolutely, But it 294 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 2: actually gives me a lot of comfort when I look 295 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:10,720 Speaker 2: at scripture and I see, have you read the Psalms, 296 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 2: David was anxious and depressed a lot of time, right, 297 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:17,000 Speaker 2: Like we see over and over like a pattern of 298 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 2: people in the Bible who God used, who God met, 299 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 2: kind of freaking out, being overwhelmed, feeling at the end 300 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:26,280 Speaker 2: of their rope, feeling disqualified. I would argue that Moses 301 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:28,200 Speaker 2: had a lot of anxiety about the things that God 302 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 2: asked him to do, feeling unqualified, focusing on his own weaknesses, 303 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 2: like and yet over and over we see this pattern 304 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:36,520 Speaker 2: of scripture of people crying out to God and God 305 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:39,480 Speaker 2: meeting them in the midst of their weakness. And then 306 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 2: that brings me to like one of my favorite verses, 307 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:45,440 Speaker 2: to speak back to the lie that anxiety disqualifies you 308 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 2: from service to God, or the lie that this is 309 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:51,360 Speaker 2: a new thing that we're dealing with, and therefore, like 310 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 2: how does God meet us in the midst of it? 311 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 2: And Paul says his power works best in my weakness. 312 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:00,120 Speaker 2: And for a long time I took that to mean like, okay, well, God, God, 313 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 2: God is powerful, so he can work despite my weakness. 314 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:06,320 Speaker 2: That's not what it says, it is. God's power works 315 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:09,920 Speaker 2: best in my weakness. And so I have seen that 316 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:12,280 Speaker 2: even in the midst of my anxiety. Like one of 317 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 2: the lies was like, anxiety is going to have a 318 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 2: negative impact on my family. So I have three sons. 319 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 2: They are now teenagers. Send Costco gift cards, please everyone, 320 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 2: because I can barely keep these boys ahead. But you know, 321 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 2: when I was dealing with like a really intense way 322 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:29,000 Speaker 2: of anxiety, and I feel like I can't be present 323 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 2: with my kids the way that I want to. Well, 324 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 2: guess what in learning to be honest with them about hey, 325 00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:36,560 Speaker 2: you're not doing anything wrong, mommy struggling, here's why, or 326 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 2: I let my kids see me cry. 327 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 1: Guess what. 328 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:41,800 Speaker 2: God use those moments of weakness that I wanted to hide, 329 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 2: and he used that as a teaching moment to teach 330 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 2: my kid's compassion empathy to know that, like, we don't 331 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:49,960 Speaker 2: have to be perfect. We're not going to be perfect. 332 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 2: We need God's help, we need his strength. This is 333 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 2: what it looks like. We need one another. So that's 334 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:57,040 Speaker 2: kind of a long answer, but to say, like if 335 00:16:57,120 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 2: you feel like like one of the lies that someone 336 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 2: is believing right now, is that your mental health struggles, 337 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:04,919 Speaker 2: maybe it's depression, maybe it's anxiety, maybe's something else disqualify 338 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:06,399 Speaker 2: you from being used by God. And I want to 339 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 2: say no, God's power works best in our weakness when 340 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:13,600 Speaker 2: we surrender to him, right when we open ourselves to 341 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 2: say God, I have nothing to give, And He's like, 342 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:18,080 Speaker 2: I'm actually an expert at nothing to give, Like I'm 343 00:17:18,080 --> 00:17:21,440 Speaker 2: actually an expert at multiplying a lack and turning it 344 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:23,919 Speaker 2: into abundance. The Five Loaves and two Fish, And I 345 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 2: know that he wants to do that in someone's life 346 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 2: right now in this season. 347 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:31,359 Speaker 1: Mmmm, Oh, that's so good. You say something that I 348 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:36,880 Speaker 1: think is really interesting to inhale truth and exhale trust. 349 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 1: So explain what you mean by that. Yeah. 350 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:42,480 Speaker 2: So, one of the things that on my anxiety journey 351 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:46,480 Speaker 2: that I learned and have found very helpful and continue 352 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:50,719 Speaker 2: to do it is breath regulation. God made our bodies amazing, 353 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:52,880 Speaker 2: and so in the book I talk a lot about 354 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 2: obviously our anxious soul and how our faith intersex anxiety, 355 00:17:56,280 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 2: but also that God cares about our bodies and he 356 00:17:58,119 --> 00:18:00,639 Speaker 2: gave us the tool of our breath to like bring 357 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:04,200 Speaker 2: us from a place of fight flight or freeze to 358 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:06,720 Speaker 2: like that ground and a calm, and we can trigger 359 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:09,639 Speaker 2: that with breathing. So, like my therapist taught me a 360 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 2: breathing technique. It's called breathing the box or breathing the square. 361 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:15,719 Speaker 2: I share about in the introduction. It's super easy. But 362 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 2: basically it's like you just breathe in for four counts, 363 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 2: you hold for four counts, you exhale slowly for four counts, 364 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:24,879 Speaker 2: and then you hold. You kind of can picture a 365 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 2: box in your mind and you do that again and again. 366 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:29,000 Speaker 2: My kids like joke with me, They'll be like, Mom, 367 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:31,040 Speaker 2: you need deep breath. I'm like, yes, I do, do 368 00:18:31,119 --> 00:18:33,160 Speaker 2: it with me. It literally you can feel, you can 369 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:35,120 Speaker 2: like feel the tension like oh, like oh my shoulders 370 00:18:35,119 --> 00:18:37,040 Speaker 2: were up, Oh they're kind of coming down. Oh my 371 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:40,240 Speaker 2: heart rate is coming down. So that's really powerful physiologically. 372 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:44,560 Speaker 2: But then if you combine that with prayer with truth, 373 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:48,399 Speaker 2: then it is combining both the physiological and the spiritual. 374 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:51,320 Speaker 2: And people call that breath prayer and so where it's 375 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:54,359 Speaker 2: like you are inhaling a prayer and exhaling a prayer. 376 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:57,879 Speaker 2: So my kind of twist on that, and I offer 377 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:00,800 Speaker 2: this exercise every single day, so a verse the day 378 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:02,720 Speaker 2: for the anxious soul is one hundred days. And so 379 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 2: there's an inhale truth, exhale trust that's connected to scripture. 380 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 2: And basically it's that prompt to pause. We rush through life, 381 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:13,560 Speaker 2: we rush through even our times with Jesus, and to 382 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:16,840 Speaker 2: pause and to just center our breathing in a way 383 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:19,840 Speaker 2: that inhales the truth. So like one of my favorites 384 00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:21,800 Speaker 2: a Psalm twenty three one, so I would just inhale 385 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:23,200 Speaker 2: like the Lord is my shepherd. 386 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:24,080 Speaker 1: You just hold it. 387 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:25,840 Speaker 2: You hold that thought in the mind like, oh, the 388 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:28,879 Speaker 2: Lord is my shepherd, and then you exhale your trust 389 00:19:28,880 --> 00:19:30,720 Speaker 2: at kind of like a declaration like I have all 390 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:33,000 Speaker 2: that I need. You can just do that on a loop, 391 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:35,160 Speaker 2: like you inhale that trust. The Lord is my shepherd, 392 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:37,240 Speaker 2: I have all that I need. 393 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:38,640 Speaker 1: Because it's not enough just to. 394 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 2: Know the truth. We have to embody the truth. And 395 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:43,679 Speaker 2: so that's why I feel like it's so important in 396 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 2: our minds. Again we're going to fix our thoughts on 397 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:49,359 Speaker 2: Jesus and to say, not only Lord, I know the truth, 398 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:51,720 Speaker 2: but I'm going to choose to trust you in the 399 00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:53,359 Speaker 2: midst of the truth, in the midst of this hard 400 00:19:53,359 --> 00:19:54,520 Speaker 2: thing I'm going through right now. 401 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:59,320 Speaker 1: Wow, Okay, I'm going to start doing that. That is 402 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 1: really powerful, Becky. 403 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:03,359 Speaker 2: It's so powerful, and you can do it like when 404 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:06,400 Speaker 2: anytime anywhere. It doesn't take a long time. Like sometimes 405 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 2: I'm feeling like the frazzle of the day and I'll 406 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:10,879 Speaker 2: just walk out my back porch and sit there and 407 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:13,280 Speaker 2: just breathe for a minute. Or I'm making dinner and 408 00:20:13,320 --> 00:20:15,639 Speaker 2: I can get I'm highly sensitive and so it's like 409 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 2: two kids are asking for something and the dinner's going 410 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:20,639 Speaker 2: my phone is beeping and I'm like ah, and I'm like, okay, 411 00:20:20,880 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 2: just take a minute, Becky and just breathe. And it 412 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:25,600 Speaker 2: can just even be like Jesus, I need you, Jesus, 413 00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:28,000 Speaker 2: I trust you. It can be so simple. Whatever the 414 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:30,399 Speaker 2: spirit brings to your mind, or you can borrow ones 415 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:34,080 Speaker 2: from the book, but doing these breath prayers, these inhale truth, 416 00:20:34,119 --> 00:20:36,959 Speaker 2: exhaled trust for one hundred days is going to like 417 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:40,000 Speaker 2: form a new habit in your spirit and it's going 418 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:42,640 Speaker 2: to bring to mind when you're driving, when you're stressed, 419 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:44,960 Speaker 2: like whatever it is. It's so helpful and it like 420 00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:48,159 Speaker 2: really helps reset you in that moment and reconnect to 421 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:50,359 Speaker 2: God so that you can have the power and the 422 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:51,680 Speaker 2: peace to do the next thing. 423 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:54,120 Speaker 1: Oh and you know what else I love about that 424 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 1: is that you are taking scripture and you are applying 425 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:00,399 Speaker 1: it to your life, which is how it's meant to 426 00:21:00,440 --> 00:21:02,399 Speaker 1: be lived. Right. We're not meant to just go to 427 00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:04,679 Speaker 1: church on Sunday and hear this sermon and live our 428 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:07,479 Speaker 1: lives apart from the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. 429 00:21:07,680 --> 00:21:09,520 Speaker 1: But this is like, Okay, I'm taking the word of 430 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:12,320 Speaker 1: God and the power of the Holy Spirit and I'm 431 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:16,159 Speaker 1: integrating it into my actual life. I mean, that's what 432 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 1: it's meant to do. I love that you structured your 433 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:24,000 Speaker 1: book around fourteen peace practices. And maybe we've already talked 434 00:21:24,040 --> 00:21:26,800 Speaker 1: about this, but is there another one or which one 435 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:29,200 Speaker 1: has been most transformative to you personally? 436 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:32,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, so there's one hundred devotions. But then at the 437 00:21:32,840 --> 00:21:35,960 Speaker 2: end of every week I give a peace practice. And 438 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:41,160 Speaker 2: these are like very practical, doable rhythms that you can 439 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:43,960 Speaker 2: start incorporating in your life right now. They don't take 440 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:46,159 Speaker 2: a lot of time, they don't cost any money, but 441 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 2: things that I can tell you have truly made a 442 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:54,520 Speaker 2: difference in my life and are like scientifically backed, and 443 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:56,800 Speaker 2: I'll have to be honest, like it's not rocket science. 444 00:21:56,840 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 2: But sometimes we just need these like nudges of reminders. 445 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:03,800 Speaker 2: So things like peace practice number one is move. We 446 00:22:03,840 --> 00:22:06,879 Speaker 2: need to move our bodies often, like when I'm in 447 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:09,760 Speaker 2: a high state of anxiety, I don't feel like exercising. 448 00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:12,560 Speaker 2: I don't feel like I love hiking in our local 449 00:22:12,560 --> 00:22:15,080 Speaker 2: foothills here in southern California, but I don't feel like 450 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:17,280 Speaker 2: going on a hike when I'm feeling anxious or depressed. 451 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:19,879 Speaker 2: But if I can make myself, if I can remember no, no, 452 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:22,640 Speaker 2: God made the chemicals in my body, like those endorphins 453 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:24,760 Speaker 2: are going to release as I'm moving my body. That's 454 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:27,679 Speaker 2: actually gonna help calm me down and give me positive energy. 455 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:31,119 Speaker 2: Even a walk around the block is so helpful. Or 456 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:34,040 Speaker 2: things like peace practice number six is one of my favorites. 457 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 1: Hug. 458 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:37,800 Speaker 2: We are made for physical connection. Like sometimes I don't 459 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:40,560 Speaker 2: have words to explain my anxiety to my husband, but 460 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:42,200 Speaker 2: we've gone to the point now where I can just 461 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:44,439 Speaker 2: look at him. He almost knows before I say it. 462 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:47,640 Speaker 2: He's like, you need a hug, don't you. I'm like yes, yes, 463 00:22:47,680 --> 00:22:49,480 Speaker 2: I do, because sometimes I'm like, I don't want to 464 00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:51,760 Speaker 2: I don't need to share all the things going on 465 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 2: in my head, but I just need that physical connection 466 00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:56,920 Speaker 2: that's gonna remind me for a minute I'm not alone, 467 00:22:57,320 --> 00:22:59,919 Speaker 2: i am safe. It's gonna ground me in that moment. 468 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:03,639 Speaker 2: And other things like journal I'm a big proponent of journaling. 469 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:07,159 Speaker 2: It's so helpful in kind of untangling the things that 470 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:09,600 Speaker 2: are in our minds. Can feel really messy, but you 471 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:12,040 Speaker 2: put it on paper and again it kind of takes 472 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:14,480 Speaker 2: some of the power away. It feels a little bit clear. 473 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:17,359 Speaker 2: So if there are fourteen of those, and it's been 474 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:19,920 Speaker 2: so fun to hear people who have gone through the 475 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:21,560 Speaker 2: book because it's been out for a couple of months 476 00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:25,400 Speaker 2: now and say, Becky, like, fourteen piece practices are actually 477 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:28,480 Speaker 2: making a difference in how I feel and how my 478 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:31,360 Speaker 2: anxiety is doing. And so those are really fun to include, 479 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 2: so so good. And you're right, some of those aren't 480 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:36,800 Speaker 2: rocket science, and it's just having in the top of 481 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:39,600 Speaker 2: mind and then doing them and in your book that 482 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:41,880 Speaker 2: puts it at the top of the mind, and then 483 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:45,760 Speaker 2: it's super helpful. I love that because practical is helpful. 484 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:47,240 Speaker 2: So what would you say? 485 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 1: And I think I know how you're going to answer 486 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:51,920 Speaker 1: this one, but I just have to ask it anyway. 487 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:55,159 Speaker 1: What would you say to someone who's listening and they 488 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 1: are just so riddled with anxiety, maybe over a circumstance 489 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:02,080 Speaker 1: that they are just like, I don't know that I 490 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:04,239 Speaker 1: can do this, and they just feel like, yeah, what 491 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:08,479 Speaker 1: Becky's saying sounds good, but my circumstance is just so 492 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:12,720 Speaker 1: deep and so dark and so hurtful, so confusing. Maybe 493 00:24:12,840 --> 00:24:15,320 Speaker 1: it just feels impossible to me. What would you say 494 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:15,919 Speaker 1: to that person? 495 00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:19,159 Speaker 2: I'm hesitating in this moment because what comes to mind 496 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:21,959 Speaker 2: might sound cliche, and I never want to be someone 497 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:26,040 Speaker 2: who offers like a spiritual band aid over someone's gaping wound. 498 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:27,800 Speaker 2: So I guess what I first want to say is 499 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 2: that God has so much compassion for you, friend. He 500 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:32,560 Speaker 2: is a god of compassion. That's like one of the 501 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:35,000 Speaker 2: main When God met Moses on Mount Sinai and said 502 00:24:35,040 --> 00:24:39,879 Speaker 2: his name Yahweh, which by the way, Jahweh is like 503 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:43,639 Speaker 2: the name of God actually means inhale exhale, which is 504 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:46,159 Speaker 2: a whole nother like wild, amazing thing, but so like 505 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:48,440 Speaker 2: when you actually are breathing, you're saying the name of God. 506 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:51,200 Speaker 2: But when he said his name, which describes his character, 507 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 2: the Lord, the Lord is compassionate and gracious. So the 508 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:58,040 Speaker 2: foundational to who God is is that he has compassion 509 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:00,320 Speaker 2: on you and some of them. We're going through something 510 00:25:00,359 --> 00:25:02,600 Speaker 2: really hard, it can feel like that people in our 511 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:04,960 Speaker 2: lives have run out of compassion for us. People in 512 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:08,600 Speaker 2: our lives can have we're all on empathy overload, or 513 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:12,040 Speaker 2: there's some people check out, especially if there's a prolonged trial, 514 00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:15,040 Speaker 2: or they get numb or apathetic or critical. I want 515 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:17,000 Speaker 2: to say, God is not critical of you. He is 516 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:19,600 Speaker 2: compassionate towards you. But the thing I just want to 517 00:25:19,640 --> 00:25:21,960 Speaker 2: say boldly that the spirit just brought to my heart 518 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:25,000 Speaker 2: is that Scripture says it, what is impossible for man 519 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:29,960 Speaker 2: is possible for God. Your impossible is not God's impossible. 520 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:32,840 Speaker 2: And so I think the enemy often wants to make 521 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:35,159 Speaker 2: us feel here's another big lie. It's always going to 522 00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:37,320 Speaker 2: be this way. You are always going to feel this way. 523 00:25:37,440 --> 00:25:40,040 Speaker 2: I have been in the pit of depression. I have 524 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:43,679 Speaker 2: cried so many closed door tears. I felt like I 525 00:25:43,720 --> 00:25:46,359 Speaker 2: am never gonna get over this hump of anxiety. The 526 00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:48,920 Speaker 2: waves keep on crashing, and the enemy wants to tell us, Yep, 527 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:51,320 Speaker 2: you're right, you will never it will always be this way. 528 00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:53,600 Speaker 2: That is not the story I see in scripture. I 529 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:55,480 Speaker 2: see people who are at their end of their rope. 530 00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:58,320 Speaker 2: I see Elijah under the broom tree, who said, God, 531 00:25:58,320 --> 00:26:00,280 Speaker 2: I want to give up and die, and Jesus was like, 532 00:26:00,359 --> 00:26:02,200 Speaker 2: God was like, actually, I'm just gonna want you to 533 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:04,440 Speaker 2: take a nap, Elijah. I'm gonna give you something to eat, 534 00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:06,960 Speaker 2: and we're gonna keep doing the next day together. God 535 00:26:07,119 --> 00:26:09,840 Speaker 2: meets his people with compassion, and what feels impossible to 536 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:13,040 Speaker 2: you right now is possible for God. And then the 537 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:14,880 Speaker 2: second thing I want to say, Maybe it's the third 538 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:16,680 Speaker 2: or fourth I've lost count, but what I want you 539 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:19,560 Speaker 2: to know, friend, is that you are worthy of support. 540 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:23,359 Speaker 2: If you feel riddled with anxiety, you feel like you 541 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:26,000 Speaker 2: just can't keep going, I want to encourage you to 542 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:29,080 Speaker 2: reach out to someone. Maybe that someone is your doctor, 543 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:32,840 Speaker 2: maybe that someone is your pastor maybe it is a 544 00:26:32,880 --> 00:26:36,720 Speaker 2: best friend or a sister. But do not try to 545 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:41,440 Speaker 2: do it alone. Because our burdens shared are divided, and 546 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:45,119 Speaker 2: our joy shared is multiplied, and there's someone even if 547 00:26:45,119 --> 00:26:47,800 Speaker 2: you've been burned before there's someone who will share and 548 00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:50,200 Speaker 2: help divide this burden, and so I just want to 549 00:26:50,240 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 2: encourage you to not keep doing it alone. 550 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:57,199 Speaker 1: Wow, that is so hope filmed and kind, Becky. I 551 00:26:57,280 --> 00:27:00,400 Speaker 1: love that you just shared Thatugh, I love that. So 552 00:27:00,440 --> 00:27:03,640 Speaker 1: as we're winding down our time and gosh, I could 553 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:06,040 Speaker 1: just talk to you all day really about all this, 554 00:27:06,119 --> 00:27:08,320 Speaker 1: but I guess that's why we get your book. So, 555 00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:13,440 Speaker 1: are there some rhythm or a small step that somebody 556 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:16,520 Speaker 1: is listening right now? They're in the middle of the stuff, 557 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:18,800 Speaker 1: so they're going to end this podcast in just a 558 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:23,479 Speaker 1: few minutes. What's one small step, one rhythm that they 559 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:24,840 Speaker 1: can take, starting right. 560 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 2: Now, Starting right now, I want to encourage you. What 561 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:32,000 Speaker 2: is the most honest thing you could tell God about 562 00:27:32,040 --> 00:27:36,240 Speaker 2: how you're feeling. That's confession. Confession is simply truth telling. 563 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:39,080 Speaker 2: We think of confession as like, oh, I have to 564 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:42,879 Speaker 2: like admit some moral failure. Confession is just telling God 565 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:45,480 Speaker 2: the truth. But the power of confession, the power of 566 00:27:45,560 --> 00:27:48,120 Speaker 2: truth telling, is that when we basically it's saying God, 567 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:50,760 Speaker 2: here's how I see it, and we do that first 568 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:53,159 Speaker 2: and it kind of empties ourselves and then we can 569 00:27:53,160 --> 00:27:55,280 Speaker 2: say Okay, God, now how do you see it? And 570 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:58,720 Speaker 2: so I learned this from a guy named Jamie Winship. 571 00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:00,960 Speaker 2: He has a phenomenal book. You can find them all 572 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:04,440 Speaker 2: over YouTube and podcasts and stuff. But we tell God 573 00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:06,800 Speaker 2: the truth and then we receive his truth. And so 574 00:28:06,880 --> 00:28:10,080 Speaker 2: I would just say, even after this finishes, just say God, 575 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:14,480 Speaker 2: I am feeling God, I'm afraid of tell him honestly, 576 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:16,600 Speaker 2: and then say and now, God, what do you want 577 00:28:16,600 --> 00:28:18,480 Speaker 2: me to know? And what do you want me to do? 578 00:28:18,680 --> 00:28:21,520 Speaker 2: That's basically what scripture is. It's the stories of people saying, God, 579 00:28:21,680 --> 00:28:24,600 Speaker 2: I can't do it, I'm overwhelmed. Okay, Now what do 580 00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:26,160 Speaker 2: you want me to know? And what do you want 581 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:27,880 Speaker 2: me to do? And then just take the one next 582 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:29,840 Speaker 2: step forward? And if we do that, every day you 583 00:28:29,880 --> 00:28:32,439 Speaker 2: will experience the peace of God. You will experience more 584 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:35,080 Speaker 2: purpose in your life, you will experience a breakthrough, and 585 00:28:35,119 --> 00:28:36,919 Speaker 2: on days that it does not feel like it, you 586 00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:39,160 Speaker 2: will have the assurance that God is right there with you, 587 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:42,040 Speaker 2: just like he's right here with me in my messy kitchen. 588 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:44,360 Speaker 2: I'm feeling overwhelmed with all some stuff in my life today, 589 00:28:44,400 --> 00:28:46,240 Speaker 2: and yet I'm like, Lord, I'm afraid I'm afraid I 590 00:28:46,240 --> 00:28:48,560 Speaker 2: don't have what it takes. I'm afraid that it's too much. 591 00:28:48,560 --> 00:28:51,040 Speaker 2: I'm afraid that I've said yes to the wrong things. 592 00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:53,040 Speaker 2: I'm afraid that you won't provide. And then he's like, 593 00:28:53,080 --> 00:28:54,960 Speaker 2: and Becky, I am with you. I'll never leave you 594 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:57,120 Speaker 2: or forsake you. And that's what he's saying to you today, 595 00:28:57,160 --> 00:28:57,760 Speaker 2: to my friend. 596 00:28:58,400 --> 00:29:01,400 Speaker 1: Love that. Get honest. Okay, Lord, this is how I 597 00:29:01,520 --> 00:29:04,320 Speaker 1: see it. But now tell me how you see it. 598 00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:07,000 Speaker 2: That's right, God, this is how I see it. I'll 599 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:08,000 Speaker 2: tell me what you see. 600 00:29:08,360 --> 00:29:11,680 Speaker 1: So good, so good, Becky. Okay, So I know that 601 00:29:12,160 --> 00:29:13,920 Speaker 1: so many of my listeners are going to want to 602 00:29:13,960 --> 00:29:16,239 Speaker 1: get a copy of your book. So how can we 603 00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:18,880 Speaker 1: get that and how can we connect with you? Yes? 604 00:29:19,160 --> 00:29:21,480 Speaker 2: Well, it's available in all the places you can find 605 00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:24,480 Speaker 2: at Amazon, Barnes, and Noble right now, it's in Target 606 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:28,080 Speaker 2: stores nationwide, which is so fun, though you could go 607 00:29:28,120 --> 00:29:30,880 Speaker 2: and pick up a physical copy, but yeah, basically anywhere 608 00:29:30,880 --> 00:29:33,440 Speaker 2: where you like buying books, you can find a Verse 609 00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:35,960 Speaker 2: a Day for the Anxious Soul. You can find out 610 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:38,640 Speaker 2: more about my other books and speaking and stuff on 611 00:29:38,680 --> 00:29:42,200 Speaker 2: my website, Becky Keef dot com and my favorite place 612 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:44,160 Speaker 2: online to hang out is Instagram's I would just so 613 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:46,160 Speaker 2: love it if you heard this conversation. It was meaningful 614 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:48,080 Speaker 2: to you. Please come over to Instagram find me. I'm 615 00:29:48,120 --> 00:29:50,600 Speaker 2: just at Becky Keef. Pop in my DM say hello. 616 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:52,880 Speaker 2: I just would love to even just pray for you 617 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:53,960 Speaker 2: and what you're going through today. 618 00:29:54,280 --> 00:29:56,200 Speaker 1: So good. We will put all of that information in 619 00:29:56,280 --> 00:29:59,920 Speaker 1: the show notes so people can find you. Becky, thank 620 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:03,160 Speaker 1: thank you so much for sharing your wisdom, your heart, 621 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:08,719 Speaker 1: your insight, scripture, all the things. This has been just 622 00:30:08,800 --> 00:30:12,240 Speaker 1: what I needed and I know just what everybody who 623 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:14,840 Speaker 1: is listening needed as well, So thank you so much. 624 00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:16,240 Speaker 2: Thank you for having me friend. 625 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:21,400 Speaker 1: Wasn't that a great conversation. As a reminder, I'm giving 626 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:24,280 Speaker 1: away a copy to one lucky winner, and all you 627 00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:27,440 Speaker 1: have to do is rate the podcast five stars hopefully 628 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:31,200 Speaker 1: and leave one or two sentences as a review. I'll 629 00:30:31,200 --> 00:30:34,320 Speaker 1: be revealing a lucky winner and the next couple of weeks, 630 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:36,520 Speaker 1: so make sure you stay tuned to see if you 631 00:30:36,840 --> 00:30:39,480 Speaker 1: are the winner. And if you don't follow me on 632 00:30:39,560 --> 00:30:42,400 Speaker 1: social media, let's connect over on Instagram. You'll find me 633 00:30:42,440 --> 00:30:45,480 Speaker 1: at Donna A. Jones. Sign up for my newsletter My 634 00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:49,200 Speaker 1: blog over at Donna Jones dot org, and, as always, 635 00:30:49,240 --> 00:30:51,840 Speaker 1: my friend, I can't wait to see you next time, 636 00:30:51,920 --> 00:30:54,000 Speaker 1: for that's just what I needed.