Content designed to encourage the reader through practical and general life tips.
I really enjoy the feeling of nostalgia. It has a sweet sadness to it, bringing up wonderful memories from the past that I would love to revisit if I could. But when a sight, a smell, or a situation suddenly transports us back to a difficult or traumatic time in our past, the feeling is … Continue reading Handling traumatic memories
As a counselor, I hear this question a lot. Even from friends or fellow church members outside the space of the counseling room. Anxiety is a very normal part of our human experience. But why? God makes it so clear in Scripture that not only should we not be anxious, but that we have no … Continue reading Why are we so anxious all the time?
None of us like rejection. The simple word feels mean. And yet, all of us face rejection at some point or another in our lives. So it’s worth asking the question: How can we respond to and handle rejection well? The most primary concern when we face rejection is the toll it takes on our … Continue reading How to handle rejection well
Hangnails are not the most painful or distressing part of life. There are much bigger and more painful problems around each of us. But consider with me the power of a small, regularly occurring annoyance in life… like a hangnail. Perhaps a bigger example: I have a colleague who worked with a couple in marriage … Continue reading There won’t be any hangnails in heaven
It's dark. It's cold. It's rainy. It is very normal at this time of year to find yourself feeling a little down in the dumps. Of course, there is a large spectrum between “feeling down” and “clinical depression.” But neither one is fun! With the seasonal change toward wintertime comes a natural down-turn in our … Continue reading Fighting back against the seasonal blues
This is a question that I hear often. And it is absolutely true that the gospel brings HOPE into the struggle with anxiety! The gospel is the good news that although we are all sinners, unable to make ourselves right with our God and Creator, God came to earth as a man (Jesus) in order … Continue reading How does the gospel help me with my anxiety?
Do you ever have trouble falling asleep at night because your brain just won’t turn off? I certainly do. God has created us as creatures who need rest. Our bodies will literally shut down if we do not sleep. Our emotions and our mental health will suffer if we work 7 days a week, 15 … Continue reading Rest is a good thing
I realized this morning that I’m feeling a little stressed out. How did I come to this realization? My husband started rubbing my shoulders and they were tight as rocks. That (short) massage hurt! Uh oh. I know my body well enough to know that super tight shoulders are a warning sign of stress. Frankly, it’s … Continue reading I really hate stress.
Have you given something up for Lent? Chocolate, ice cream, coffee, meat – these are popular items for church members to “fast” from during the 40+ days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. Oh wait, let me clarify – I did not give up sugar for Lent. No, in reality, my husband and I are trying … Continue reading I miss sugar.
Have you ever wondered if you have depression? Perhaps you’re positive of it, and have been struggling for a long time. Depression is a very common mental illness in today’s world, with great treatments available. For folks who have never experienced depression, it can be difficult to imagine the pain – physical, emotional, and mental … Continue reading A glimpse into the pain of depression, from Psalm 142