1 00:00:02,650 --> 00:00:20,240 Speaker 1: Life Audio Hey friend, have you ever asked God what's 2 00:00:20,380 --> 00:00:24,580 Speaker 1: next but then you don't get a clear answer? Well 3 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:26,600 Speaker 1: today we're going to look at how we can lower 4 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:30,260 Speaker 1: the stress when we're walking through life transitions when it 5 00:00:30,300 --> 00:00:34,050 Speaker 1: doesn't seem like the answers are coming Well, friend, welcome 6 00:00:34,090 --> 00:00:39,129 Speaker 1: to Breathe, the stress-less podcast. I'm your host, Bonnie Gray. 7 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:42,580 Speaker 1: I'm a soul care mentor, and I'm the best-selling author 8 00:00:42,659 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: of four books on soul care. I want to ask 9 00:00:46,700 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 1: you today, can you believe it? We are stepping into 10 00:00:50,380 --> 00:00:54,960 Speaker 1: fall here very soon. Kids are heading back to school, 11 00:00:56,010 --> 00:00:59,230 Speaker 1: and it's still hot where I'm at in California, but 12 00:00:59,490 --> 00:01:02,050 Speaker 1: I know before long, the leaves are going to change color. 13 00:01:03,270 --> 00:01:05,740 Speaker 1: And I was just curious, have they started changing color 14 00:01:05,819 --> 00:01:10,060 Speaker 1: for you yet? It just reminds us that there's always 15 00:01:10,140 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: some kind of change. And I'm curious if you're standing 16 00:01:13,700 --> 00:01:17,630 Speaker 1: at the edge of a transition in your life, maybe 17 00:01:17,650 --> 00:01:21,590 Speaker 1: a new season, a change in roles, or you're just 18 00:01:21,650 --> 00:01:28,700 Speaker 1: simply what's happening next. Transitions can feel exciting, but they 19 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:33,040 Speaker 1: can also stir up anxiety. We might ask ourselves, what 20 00:01:33,060 --> 00:01:36,040 Speaker 1: do I let go of? Where do I go next? 21 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:40,700 Speaker 1: Will God really be with me in this new season? 22 00:01:42,060 --> 00:01:45,530 Speaker 1: I've been asking some of those same questions myself as 23 00:01:45,630 --> 00:01:49,090 Speaker 1: I step into a new season in my own life. Today, 24 00:01:49,270 --> 00:01:52,530 Speaker 1: we're going to talk about how to face transitions with 25 00:01:52,650 --> 00:01:56,570 Speaker 1: courage when you don't have all the answers and how 26 00:01:56,650 --> 00:02:00,140 Speaker 1: God may be showing you a new direction before he 27 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:04,780 Speaker 1: shows you where it's all headed. We're going to explore 28 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: why good transitions can feel stressful to your brain and 29 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:13,049 Speaker 1: your body, and one simple soul care practice that can 30 00:02:13,090 --> 00:02:16,610 Speaker 1: help you move forward when you don't have the whole map. 31 00:02:17,530 --> 00:02:21,130 Speaker 1: If you've been feeling uncertain about what comes next, this 32 00:02:21,430 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 1: episode is for you. Before we dive in, I want 33 00:02:26,180 --> 00:02:28,980 Speaker 1: to share that today's episode is brought to you by 34 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:33,710 Speaker 1: my book, Whispers of Rest. It's 40 days of God's 35 00:02:33,790 --> 00:02:38,190 Speaker 1: love to revitalize your soul. And if you've been longing 36 00:02:38,250 --> 00:02:43,450 Speaker 1: to slow down with fall approaching, experiencing God's peace and 37 00:02:43,490 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: care for your soul in the middle of life's unexpected seasons, 38 00:02:47,510 --> 00:02:50,340 Speaker 1: I think this book will encourage your heart. It's a 39 00:02:50,380 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: book I wrote during a really major transition in my 40 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:56,859 Speaker 1: life where I was just setting apart time to ask 41 00:02:56,900 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 1: God what's next for me. I'm going to leave a 42 00:02:59,880 --> 00:03:03,149 Speaker 1: link in today's show notes, and I hope that you 43 00:03:03,169 --> 00:03:20,390 Speaker 1: check it out. And we'll be right back. Let's take 44 00:03:20,570 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 1: a breath of peace together. Our scripture comes to us 45 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:31,030 Speaker 1: from Joshua 1. It reminds us, Be strong and courageous, 46 00:03:31,470 --> 00:03:35,369 Speaker 1: for the Lord your God is the one going with you. 47 00:03:35,390 --> 00:03:42,420 Speaker 1: He will not desert you or abandon you. Just simply inhale. 48 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 1: You go ahead of me, Lord. Exhale. I am never alone. Again, 49 00:03:51,540 --> 00:03:57,490 Speaker 1: gently inhale. You go ahead of me, Lord. Exhale. I 50 00:03:57,550 --> 00:04:04,370 Speaker 1: am never alone. Just continue to relax your shoulders, your hands, 51 00:04:04,670 --> 00:04:07,570 Speaker 1: and just breathe in God's loving promise to you. He 52 00:04:08,390 --> 00:04:13,220 Speaker 1: will be with you. Well, recently, friends, I had a 53 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:17,420 Speaker 1: really big scare. I lost something incredibly important to me. 54 00:04:18,060 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 1: It's irreplaceable. And it was all my fault. It was 55 00:04:22,690 --> 00:04:26,740 Speaker 1: so bad, I cried for three days. For more than 56 00:04:26,740 --> 00:04:30,380 Speaker 1: 10 years, I kept our family photos and videos on 57 00:04:30,420 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 1: a few hard drives, and I put them in a 58 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:36,049 Speaker 1: Ziploc bag. And this was before everything was stored on 59 00:04:36,070 --> 00:04:40,550 Speaker 1: the cloud. And friends, these weren't just random photos. They 60 00:04:40,610 --> 00:04:45,110 Speaker 1: held 10 years of our family's life. Vacations, first days 61 00:04:45,170 --> 00:04:49,770 Speaker 1: of school, soccer games, piano, violin recitals. And I even 62 00:04:49,810 --> 00:04:53,870 Speaker 1: took little videos interviewing Josh and Caleb. like I was 63 00:04:53,930 --> 00:04:58,470 Speaker 1: making my own family documentary. Well, early this year, I 64 00:04:58,510 --> 00:05:01,969 Speaker 1: decided to protect them better by putting them inside an 65 00:05:02,250 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 1: old padded computer bag. But fast forward to this summer, 66 00:05:08,220 --> 00:05:12,260 Speaker 1: because my ankle stress fracture was still healing, my older 67 00:05:12,300 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 1: son Josh was home from college and he was helping 68 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 1: me declutter and take things to Goodwill. And so I 69 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:22,570 Speaker 1: was just in this mad flurry of Keep this. Donate that. 70 00:05:22,650 --> 00:05:25,920 Speaker 1: Take this downstairs. And so when Josh held up my 71 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 1: old computer bag and he asked, Mom, do you want 72 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 1: this to go? I thought, Bonnie, why are you hanging 73 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:34,279 Speaker 1: on to that old thing? It's 20 years old. So 74 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:36,340 Speaker 1: I said, yeah, just put it in the trunk with 75 00:05:36,380 --> 00:05:41,250 Speaker 1: all the other donations. And off it went. I completely 76 00:05:41,330 --> 00:05:46,010 Speaker 1: forgot what was inside. And so a month later, I decided, hey, 77 00:05:46,070 --> 00:05:48,570 Speaker 1: why don't I spend some time organizing our family photos 78 00:05:48,670 --> 00:05:51,910 Speaker 1: and maybe start making those photo books. and I went 79 00:05:51,930 --> 00:05:56,310 Speaker 1: looking for my Ziploc bag of hard drives. Well, I 80 00:05:56,360 --> 00:06:00,180 Speaker 1: couldn't find it. I turned the whole house upside down, 81 00:06:00,620 --> 00:06:05,840 Speaker 1: and then, standing in my closet, it suddenly hit me. Oh, no. 82 00:06:06,420 --> 00:06:10,620 Speaker 1: The hard drives were in that computer bag. The computer 83 00:06:10,660 --> 00:06:16,280 Speaker 1: bag I donated to Goodwill. And, friends, I just started sobbing. 84 00:06:16,300 --> 00:06:19,960 Speaker 1: Over the next few days, I kept remembering something else 85 00:06:19,980 --> 00:06:24,580 Speaker 1: that I lost. Oh, those first day of school pictures. 86 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 1: And every time another memory came to me, I just 87 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:31,339 Speaker 1: cried all over again. Josh and Caleb did try to 88 00:06:31,380 --> 00:06:35,260 Speaker 1: console me. They said, Mom, we still have the memories. 89 00:06:35,790 --> 00:06:39,500 Speaker 1: Even if the photos and videos are gone, what matters 90 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:44,470 Speaker 1: is that you were there and we remember. But I cried. 91 00:06:44,870 --> 00:06:48,409 Speaker 1: I said, you're too young to remember everything. You don't 92 00:06:48,430 --> 00:06:51,589 Speaker 1: remember the train museum. or your first soccer game, or 93 00:06:51,610 --> 00:06:55,130 Speaker 1: your first day in kindergarten. And then my sons said 94 00:06:55,170 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 1: something I'll never forget. They said, Mom, we have your stories. 95 00:07:00,500 --> 00:07:04,420 Speaker 1: You've told us the stories. We'll always have the stories. 96 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:07,860 Speaker 1: And Josh even said, stories are even better. We can 97 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:11,460 Speaker 1: tell our kids those stories one day. And then something 98 00:07:11,580 --> 00:07:16,110 Speaker 1: inside my heart just, it was a big aha. Because 99 00:07:16,170 --> 00:07:19,580 Speaker 1: I had to ask myself, Do I really believe what 100 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:23,620 Speaker 1: matters most is that I was there? That we actually 101 00:07:23,740 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 1: lived those moments? That we loved and laughed and traveled 102 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 1: and celebrated and showed up for each other? Of course, 103 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:38,010 Speaker 1: I still grieve losing the photos and videos. I wish 104 00:07:38,150 --> 00:07:41,270 Speaker 1: I could get them back. But I realized that the 105 00:07:41,350 --> 00:07:46,950 Speaker 1: photos were records of the treasure. They weren't the treasure... 106 00:07:47,230 --> 00:07:52,860 Speaker 1: it themselves. The treasure was the people. The treasure was 107 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 1: the love. The treasure was the time we gave each 108 00:07:56,340 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 1: other and the experiences we shared. And I couldn't help 109 00:07:59,820 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: thinking about what Jesus tells us when he says to 110 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:08,300 Speaker 1: store our treasures in heaven. Because in God's kingdom, the 111 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,700 Speaker 1: treasures that last aren't the things that we can hold 112 00:08:11,820 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 1: on to forever. They're the people we love, the time 113 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:20,510 Speaker 1: we give, the moments of care and presence, and the 114 00:08:20,610 --> 00:08:25,800 Speaker 1: way we pour our lives into one another. And suddenly, 115 00:08:26,070 --> 00:08:30,980 Speaker 1: instead of only asking, what have I lost? I found 116 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 1: myself asking a different question. And I want to offer 117 00:08:35,620 --> 00:08:39,380 Speaker 1: these questions as soul care questions for you to consider also. 118 00:08:39,740 --> 00:08:45,260 Speaker 1: I asked myself, God, what experiences are you inviting me 119 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 1: to create now? What have I been putting off? What 120 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 1: new memories, relationships, joys, or beginnings are you inviting me 121 00:08:57,020 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: to make room for? How would you answer those questions, friends? Well, 122 00:09:02,700 --> 00:09:05,230 Speaker 1: I've been on sabbatical this year and I've been asking 123 00:09:05,260 --> 00:09:09,229 Speaker 1: God these questions about what's next because Caleb's going to 124 00:09:09,250 --> 00:09:11,410 Speaker 1: leave for college next year and I'm going to be 125 00:09:11,550 --> 00:09:15,229 Speaker 1: an empty nester. And honestly, more than half the year 126 00:09:15,270 --> 00:09:19,719 Speaker 1: has passed and I haven't received any clear answers from 127 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:23,960 Speaker 1: God about what's next for me. But through this loss, 128 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:28,510 Speaker 1: I'm beginning to wonder, maybe God isn't giving me an 129 00:09:28,710 --> 00:09:33,969 Speaker 1: answer as much as he's pointing me towards a new path. 130 00:09:35,110 --> 00:09:38,770 Speaker 1: Maybe the next season begins by taking steps towards the 131 00:09:38,830 --> 00:09:42,140 Speaker 1: kind of life I want to live with Jesus, making 132 00:09:42,179 --> 00:09:47,510 Speaker 1: room for experiences that matter. investing in people I love 133 00:09:47,590 --> 00:09:52,620 Speaker 1: and choosing more peace, beauty, and joy. And so I've 134 00:09:52,740 --> 00:09:56,810 Speaker 1: started having some new ideas brewing, and maybe I don't 135 00:09:56,950 --> 00:10:00,689 Speaker 1: know where they'll lead yet. Maybe I'll live into a 136 00:10:00,730 --> 00:10:03,050 Speaker 1: new direction one step at a time and God will 137 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 1: lead me to whatever does come next. Friend, maybe you 138 00:10:07,620 --> 00:10:11,600 Speaker 1: are also standing at the edge of something new too. 139 00:10:12,660 --> 00:10:18,340 Speaker 1: Maybe you're grieving something behind you while you're wondering what's ahead. 140 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:23,670 Speaker 1: What if instead of only asking, what am I leaving behind? 141 00:10:24,429 --> 00:10:28,349 Speaker 1: You begin asking Jesus, what are you inviting me to 142 00:10:29,090 --> 00:10:34,390 Speaker 1: experience with you next? And friends, that's the question I 143 00:10:34,429 --> 00:10:38,500 Speaker 1: want to put on your heart to plant as a seed. Well, 144 00:10:38,530 --> 00:10:41,939 Speaker 1: there's actually a surprising ending to this story. About a 145 00:10:41,980 --> 00:10:45,559 Speaker 1: week later, I was rummaging around in my closet when 146 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 1: a zip bag of hard drives suddenly fell out from 147 00:10:49,460 --> 00:10:54,540 Speaker 1: a shelf. Apparently, somewhere along the way, I had taken 148 00:10:54,580 --> 00:10:56,960 Speaker 1: them back out of the computer bag and I tucked 149 00:10:57,059 --> 00:11:00,689 Speaker 1: them in there on that shelf. And with the brain 150 00:11:00,790 --> 00:11:04,870 Speaker 1: fog that I've been having lately, I just completely forgot. 151 00:11:04,890 --> 00:11:08,980 Speaker 1: I can't even tell you the relief I felt. But 152 00:11:09,100 --> 00:11:13,429 Speaker 1: finding them didn't undo what God had already shown me 153 00:11:13,550 --> 00:11:16,790 Speaker 1: in those days when I thought they were completely gone. 154 00:11:17,950 --> 00:11:21,490 Speaker 1: For those days, I truly believe I lost them. And 155 00:11:21,530 --> 00:11:25,420 Speaker 1: I realize what I treasure most isn't the record of 156 00:11:25,460 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 1: the life I've lived. It was the life itself. And 157 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:35,570 Speaker 1: that's something I don't want to forget. Well, friend, that's 158 00:11:35,590 --> 00:11:40,030 Speaker 1: what I love about Joshua chapter 1. our breath prayer today, 159 00:11:40,210 --> 00:11:44,090 Speaker 1: God didn't give Joshua a detailed map of everything that 160 00:11:44,130 --> 00:11:46,250 Speaker 1: was going to happen next when he was going to 161 00:11:46,290 --> 00:11:50,510 Speaker 1: go into the promised land. God gave Joshua a promise 162 00:11:50,690 --> 00:11:54,670 Speaker 1: of his presence and he gave him a direction to walk. 163 00:11:55,720 --> 00:12:00,040 Speaker 1: God told him, be strong and courageous for the Lord 164 00:12:00,140 --> 00:12:04,959 Speaker 1: your God is with you wherever you go. Think about 165 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:09,760 Speaker 1: that phrase, wherever you go. Maybe that's what courage looks 166 00:12:09,820 --> 00:12:14,559 Speaker 1: like in a transition. Not having all the answers, not 167 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 1: knowing exactly where the path will lead, but trusting that 168 00:12:19,179 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 1: God is already ahead of you, taking the next step. 169 00:12:24,070 --> 00:12:28,370 Speaker 1: He's putting in front of you. So instead of asking, God, 170 00:12:28,470 --> 00:12:32,170 Speaker 1: can you please show me exactly what's next? We can 171 00:12:32,190 --> 00:12:36,590 Speaker 1: begin asking, Jesus, what's the direction you're inviting me to 172 00:12:36,670 --> 00:12:41,449 Speaker 1: move in today? And that's fascinating, isn't it? Because, you know, 173 00:12:41,530 --> 00:12:45,310 Speaker 1: transitions can feel stressful, but it can still be good. 174 00:12:46,330 --> 00:12:48,710 Speaker 1: After the break, we're going to look at the science 175 00:12:49,190 --> 00:12:52,929 Speaker 1: of what happens in your brain when life becomes uncertain. 176 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:56,179 Speaker 1: And I'm going to share one simple practice that can 177 00:12:56,240 --> 00:13:00,620 Speaker 1: help you feel more grounded as you move forward. And 178 00:13:00,660 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 1: we'll be right back. Well, friend, our wellness insight today, 179 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:21,199 Speaker 1: taking from science, ever wondered why a transition can leave 180 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:27,220 Speaker 1: you feeling unsettled even when the change might be good? Well, 181 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 1: the reason is that our brains naturally prefer predictability. When 182 00:13:34,090 --> 00:13:36,790 Speaker 1: we know what to expect, our brains don't have to 183 00:13:36,870 --> 00:13:39,550 Speaker 1: work as hard to figure out what might happen next. 184 00:13:40,250 --> 00:13:44,359 Speaker 1: But during a transition, there are suddenly changes more unknowns. 185 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:48,349 Speaker 1: What's going to happen? What should I do? Am I 186 00:13:48,410 --> 00:13:52,210 Speaker 1: making the right choice? Those kind of questions are about 187 00:13:52,230 --> 00:13:57,150 Speaker 1: the uncertainty that's ahead, and it will activate our stress response. 188 00:13:57,950 --> 00:14:02,740 Speaker 1: And that can leave our bodies, our minds feeling more anxious, tired, 189 00:14:03,140 --> 00:14:07,459 Speaker 1: or overwhelmed. And I think that's why the question of 190 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:10,140 Speaker 1: What am I supposed to do with this entire next 191 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:13,679 Speaker 1: season of my life? It can feel so overwhelming. It's 192 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:18,429 Speaker 1: really stress triggering. We're asking ourselves to solve a future 193 00:14:18,550 --> 00:14:23,310 Speaker 1: that we can't predict. But here's the good news. Research 194 00:14:23,370 --> 00:14:27,690 Speaker 1: shows that stress and uncertainty points us towards something much 195 00:14:27,750 --> 00:14:32,700 Speaker 1: more manageable. Instead of trying to control the whole outcome, 196 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 1: focus on what you can do next. Focus on one 197 00:14:38,220 --> 00:14:42,520 Speaker 1: small meaningful step that will give your attention somewhere to 198 00:14:42,620 --> 00:14:47,680 Speaker 1: go and it will lower the stress. Something actionable. So 199 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:51,130 Speaker 1: if you've been feeling anxious or unsettled in this season 200 00:14:51,170 --> 00:14:55,890 Speaker 1: of change, it doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong. You're 201 00:14:55,910 --> 00:15:00,170 Speaker 1: just simply standing in the uncertainty between what was and 202 00:15:00,230 --> 00:15:02,970 Speaker 1: what will be. And you don't have to solve the 203 00:15:03,130 --> 00:15:07,890 Speaker 1: whole future today. So this week's soul care practice is 204 00:15:07,990 --> 00:15:11,980 Speaker 1: very simple. I want you to name the direction of 205 00:15:12,010 --> 00:15:15,350 Speaker 1: your new season. That itself, being able to name it, 206 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:18,720 Speaker 1: will lower the stress in your brain because it lowers 207 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:22,800 Speaker 1: the unpredictability. It's something that you can identify. So just 208 00:15:22,850 --> 00:15:27,570 Speaker 1: take a few quiet moments with Jesus and ask, Jesus, 209 00:15:28,050 --> 00:15:31,750 Speaker 1: what direction are you inviting me to move toward in 210 00:15:31,870 --> 00:15:35,850 Speaker 1: this season? So don't ask yourself to figure out the destination. 211 00:15:36,170 --> 00:15:39,980 Speaker 1: Just notice the direction. And I want you maybe think 212 00:15:40,020 --> 00:15:42,860 Speaker 1: of a word that comes to you as it surfaces 213 00:15:42,940 --> 00:15:54,190 Speaker 1: on your heart. Okay, is it rest, beauty, connection, courage, peace, joy, creativity, 214 00:15:54,930 --> 00:15:59,070 Speaker 1: or renewal? Just write your word down somewhere you can 215 00:15:59,130 --> 00:16:01,530 Speaker 1: see it. You could jot it in your journal, on 216 00:16:01,570 --> 00:16:05,310 Speaker 1: a card, or in your Bible. And then ask one 217 00:16:05,330 --> 00:16:09,310 Speaker 1: more question. What is one small step I can take 218 00:16:09,450 --> 00:16:14,010 Speaker 1: in that direction this week? If your word is connection, 219 00:16:14,190 --> 00:16:17,170 Speaker 1: maybe you'll text a friend you've been meaning to see. 220 00:16:17,950 --> 00:16:21,010 Speaker 1: If it's joy, maybe make room for something you've been 221 00:16:21,090 --> 00:16:25,370 Speaker 1: wanting to try that gives you joy. If it's rest, 222 00:16:25,690 --> 00:16:30,250 Speaker 1: maybe you can leave one evening unscheduled. If it's beauty, 223 00:16:30,770 --> 00:16:35,310 Speaker 1: maybe go somewhere beautiful, create something beautiful, or simply slow 224 00:16:35,350 --> 00:16:38,450 Speaker 1: down long enough to just notice what's already around you. 225 00:16:39,270 --> 00:16:42,510 Speaker 1: The goal isn't to choose the perfect word or make 226 00:16:42,530 --> 00:16:46,430 Speaker 1: the perfect plan. It's just simply to take one next step. 227 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:49,440 Speaker 1: Because once you start taking that one step, God can 228 00:16:49,580 --> 00:16:53,740 Speaker 1: guide you. Maybe God is simply inviting you to walk 229 00:16:53,900 --> 00:16:58,940 Speaker 1: in a new direction with Him today. Let's pray. Jesus, 230 00:16:58,980 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 1: thank you for walking with us through every transition. Thank 231 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:05,359 Speaker 1: you that when we don't know what's ahead, you do. 232 00:17:06,350 --> 00:17:08,990 Speaker 1: Give us courage to take one small step with you, 233 00:17:09,590 --> 00:17:15,290 Speaker 1: trusting you're already there ahead of us, preparing the way. Amen. 234 00:17:15,910 --> 00:17:18,960 Speaker 1: And hey, if this episode encouraged you, Would you share 235 00:17:18,980 --> 00:17:21,740 Speaker 1: it with a friend? It's so much better to walk 236 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:26,610 Speaker 1: with someone else along our side. And I would love 237 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:30,990 Speaker 1: to ask a favor. If today's episode encouraged you, would 238 00:17:31,030 --> 00:17:33,730 Speaker 1: you take a moment to leave a rating and a review? 239 00:17:34,530 --> 00:17:37,629 Speaker 1: Your words help other women to discover this little corner 240 00:17:37,650 --> 00:17:40,330 Speaker 1: of the internet where we can slow down together and 241 00:17:40,369 --> 00:17:44,430 Speaker 1: remember we are God's beloved. Well, come say hello over 242 00:17:44,490 --> 00:17:48,209 Speaker 1: on Instagram at TheBonnieGreat. And if you want to go 243 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:52,700 Speaker 1: deeper in today's message about finding rest and peace and transitions, 244 00:17:53,540 --> 00:17:57,040 Speaker 1: pick up my book, Whispers of Rest, 40 Days of 245 00:17:57,100 --> 00:18:01,040 Speaker 1: God's Love to Revitalize Your Soul. I'll leave a link 246 00:18:01,220 --> 00:18:06,359 Speaker 1: in today's show notes for you. Remember, you're loved, you're cherished. 247 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:15,119 Speaker 1: Just rest. And I'll see you next time. Breathe, the 248 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:18,429 Speaker 1: Stress Less podcast is a production of Life Audio and 249 00:18:18,490 --> 00:18:21,450 Speaker 1: Salem Media. If you liked what you heard today, please 250 00:18:21,510 --> 00:18:24,189 Speaker 1: take a second to rate and review this podcast in 251 00:18:24,210 --> 00:18:27,370 Speaker 1: your favorite podcast app so that more listeners like you 252 00:18:27,430 --> 00:18:31,900 Speaker 1: can find the show. For more faith-filled, inspirational podcasts, visit 253 00:18:31,940 --> 00:18:32,980 Speaker 1: us at lifeaudio.com.