29: Faith Over Fear: Overcoming Fear & Anxiety with God's Peace

Speaker: 00:00:06

Hey, I'm your host, Mari Wagner,

and you're listening to the ever be

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podcast where faith meets lifestyle.

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I'm so excited you're here, whether you're

a new listener or a longtime follower,

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I know there's something here for you.

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Pull up a chair and listen in for

insightful real life conversations

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and actionable steps on how to claim

the full life God created you for.

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If you're a woman desiring to live

a Christ centered life in today's

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modern world, then this is for you.

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Welcome to Ever Be.

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mari-wagner_2_10-01-2024_153255: Welcome

back, everybody to the ever be podcast.

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I'm your host, Mari Wagner,

in case you're new here.

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Hello and welcome.

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And today we're going to be talking

about a topic that unfortunately,

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I think really resonates with so

much of us and especially so much

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of so many of us that are kind of

in like the younger generations.

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We hear more and more how much fear

and anxiety is taking over our culture,

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um, and the young generations of today.

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So we're going to be talking

about fear and anxiety.

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I'm not excited to record this because

I like fear and anxiety, of course,

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but I'm excited to record it because

I truly feel like this episode is

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going to be so Holy Spirit led.

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It just came upon my

heart to talk about this.

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Um, and I know that when we are

rooted in God's truth in God's word.

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Clarity comes to our mind and

peace washes over our soul and it

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overcomes all fear and anxiety.

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Even if you still feel fear,

because that's a very human

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feeling, being rooted in God's

truth and his presence in our life

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overcomes anything and surpasses anything.

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So I'm excited to talk about this

today because I hope it's going to be

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a really helpful tool tool for you.

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And I'll say now, like send

this episode to a friend.

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If you feel like you know, a friend

that's struggling, or if you and a friend

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have had a conversation recently about

how you're in a really stressful time

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or a really anxious time or a difficult

time or whatever, this is a good episode

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to send to a friend, um, to bless

their day, to lift their spirits and

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to remind them that they're not alone.

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And the Lord did not make

them to go through this.

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life on earth alone, this broken

life alone, um, this broken world.

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But he gave us his son.

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He gave us his Holy Spirit.

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He gave us his fatherhood.

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He gave us his mother, the saints,

um, in a Christ centered friendships

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and community and our church to.

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Help us in the journey and to

give us strength in the journey.

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So this episode could really

build up the church, could

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really build up someone's faith.

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Um, so if you have somebody in mind,

that's really struggling, please send

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them this episode to bless their day.

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So we've all faced moments in our life

where fear really can It like grips

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us, grips our hearts and it feels

like it almost paralyzes us, right?

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And leads into, I feel like what we call

anxiety where it's kind of that, um,

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irrational thought process or irrational

fears or like a rational, like what if

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cycle that we kind of get into sometimes.

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And so what I want to talk about today

is how we overcome that fear and anxiety

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with God's peace through his word.

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Through the sacraments, um, just through

the tools and the Holy Spirit that the

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Lord has given us, because fear is not of

the Lord and anxiety is not of the Lord.

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And so when those emotions are

gripping you, you are currently like

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in a state that is not of the Lord.

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Now it doesn't mean that The Lord

is not allowing it to happen.

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He is allowing it to happen in your life.

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And sometimes he allows hard things

in our life to strengthen our faith

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and to strengthen our character,

our surrender, our devotion to him,

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um, and to sanctify us truly because

this world, we can't, we can't get

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to the next world without suffering.

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So in the end, it's

for our sanctification.

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And I know that that might be hard

to hear sometimes, and especially if

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you're going through something really

hard right now, and I mean, we all

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are, um, but it's just the truth.

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I mean, Jesus opened the gates

of heaven through the cross.

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So if we're called to be like

him and follow in his footsteps,

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we can't expect to get through

heaven without our own cross.

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So let's just, let's

just keep that in mind.

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Um, But we are, we aren't meant to

do it alone and truly, I want you to

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know that it's not about eliminating

the emotion of fear or just pushing

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it aside, but really instead allowing

God to come into those spaces.

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And fill us with his peace, fill

us with his Holy Spirit that

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surpasses all understanding.

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Cause I think that's one thing that

we get really caught up on these days,

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at least I do, is understanding what

the heck is going on, understanding

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the plan, wanting that understanding

of God, what are you calling me to?

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What do you, why are you

allowing this in my life?

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What do you want for me?

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What decision do you want me to make?

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What is the right decision?

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What is a bad decision?

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We seek peace through understanding.

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And I feel like that's such a human

experience and it's totally fine that

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we feel that because it's so normal

and so natural for us to logically

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find our way to a peaceful state.

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Now, faith.

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Is when we trust in the Lord and

rest in his peace without that

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understanding, because we don't

trust in the logic or in the outcome.

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We trust in the person of God.

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We trust in his, who he is, his

character and what that means

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for us as his sons and daughters.

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Um, that's what gives us peace

that surpasses all understanding.

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And that's how we were able

to overcome fear and anxiety

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and find peace amidst our.

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Misunderstanding of why we're

going through what we're

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going through at the moment.

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So this episode is going to be all about

some practical steps of how to do this.

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I want to dive into scripture and some

specific Bible verses that can be your

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lifeline, that can be your anchor as

you're walking through a time of anxiety.

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And I'm going to share some

personal stories too, because

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I am not excluded out of this.

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I'm truly, I feel like I'm

preaching to myself in this episode.

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I'm, I'm literally going to listen

to it after it airs again, to just

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remind myself of these truths.

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Um, so yeah, so I'm just going to

share a little bit of my journey as

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well, and I hope that it's helpful.

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So first let's dive into scripture.

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Let's look at what the Bible

says about fear and anxiety.

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Because if you look hard

enough, or honestly, you don't

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have to look hard enough.

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If you open the Bible, you'll realize

that the word of God is filled

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with reminders to not be afraid.

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Fun fact, the phrase do not

be afraid appears I'm pretty

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sure 365 times in the Bible.

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Okay, that's once for

every day of the year.

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So here's what this tells me.

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The Lord knows who his

sons and daughters are.

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He knows our humanity because he

created us and because he made every

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part of our being, our emotion and

our nervous system and our, our

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mental state, our physiological

state, um, our emotional state.

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He made.

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All of that, and even how that

interacts with our physical being

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and our spiritual being, he knows

every intricate part of who we are.

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And when.

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humanity fell, right?

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And we entered into this

broken state of who we are.

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He knew that we would

experience fear and anxiety.

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He knew that we would

experience these fallen broken

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emotions that are not of him.

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And so I think in his wisdom, right,

since he inspired the word of God,

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the Bible, um, he made sure to speak

to those emotions that he knew we

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would feel, all the time in our life.

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I'm, I'm pulling up these verses right

now online, and I just want to read

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them out just so that you can hear them.

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And it's reiterated over and over

again, that the Lord is constantly

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trying to get our attention and

tell us you have nothing to fear.

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I am with you.

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Okay.

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So in Matthew 10 29, he says, do not fear.

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Therefore, you are of more value than.

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The sparrows in Deuteronomy.

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And do not panic in Joshua one, nine,

it says, be strong and courageous.

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Psalm 23, four, I will fear no evil

Psalm 27, one of whom shall I be afraid?

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Psalm 34, four through eight.

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He delivered me from my fears.

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Psalm 46, one through three.

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God is our refuge in our strength.

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Psalm 56, three through four.

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When I am afraid, I trust in you.

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Dang, that one hits.

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I love that one.

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Psalm 56 verse three through four.

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When I am afraid, I trust in you

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and so many other, so many other

verses, um, that we can find

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that tell us to not be afraid.

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And so what I was saying was, yeah, I

think the Lord included that in there.

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Cause he knew that we would.

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Yeah.

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fall into fear and anxiety often.

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Um, but he knew that he would

be the solution to that.

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And so that anytime we open the

Bible, there's a big chance that

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we'll find a verse that speaks to

that human, um, experience of ours,

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of, of being afraid of being anxious.

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And I think he uses them to remind us

that you don't, you don't just need

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to not be afraid, but you don't need

to be afraid because he is with us.

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And that's the biggest takeaway I want

all of us to take from today is that

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we are never alone in our suffering.

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We are never alone.

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Alone in our fear and our anxiety

it might feel that way and anxiety

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is a feeling that makes you feel

like Just like so out of your body

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and isolated and like everything

is the worst But you are not alone.

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The Lord is always always with

you and he is your strength.

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So Isaiah 41 10 tells us do

not fear for I am with you.

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I want you to, to memorize that.

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Do not fear for I am with you.

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And just say that under your breath.

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When you feel that anxiety,

do not fear for I am with you.

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Let it be a reminder that the

Lord is speaking to your heart.

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Every time you feel that fear,

because God doesn't tell us

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that we won't face fear, right?

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He's not telling us.

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In the Bible, like this isn't real.

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You're not going to face it.

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He says you're going to, but he

reassures us that we won't face it alone.

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And when we're filled with

anxiety, we need to remember that.

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And in Philippians four,

six through seven, it reads,

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do not be anxious about

anything, but in every situation.

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By prayer and petition with thanksgiving,

present your request to God, and

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the peace of God, which transcends

all understanding will guard your

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hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

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This peace is real.

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You guys, this piece is

something the world can't offer.

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It's something that

only Jesus can give us.

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And it's truly available to us in every

situation, in every moment of our life.

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The Lord just tell us, tells

us by prayer and petition,

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experience this peace from Christ.

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So when we feel that fear and

anxiety grip us in those moments,

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we just need to take, we need to

remember, like to take a second.

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To pray and ask the Lord to pray for a

moment of peace, to pray for a moment

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of stillness in our mind and in our

soul for a moment of calm, to pray

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for the Lord's peace to wash over us,

for him to be with us, even though

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he already is with us, but mostly to.

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To ask Him to be with us and to ask

Him to allow us to feel His comfort,

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His presence, His consolation.

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And it's been really helpful for me

in my life to have either a verse or,

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um, they're called like scriptural

declarations, like Bible declarations.

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Um, you may have heard of them before.

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And it's basically these like phrases

that are either are rooted in scripture

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or, um, Truth, um, that give us peace,

give us confidence that kind of like, is

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it like a positive talk, a positive, like

talking voice that we can have in our

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head and in our hearts to affirm us of our

identity and to affirm us of the goodness

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of Christ or the peace that you're seeking

or his providence or whatever it is that

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you're struggling with in that moment.

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And at first, when I first heard of these.

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Like years ago, I'm going

to be completely honest.

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I thought they were kind of dumb.

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I was like, okay, so just saying

a few positive phrases over and

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over again, like you really think

that's going to solve my problem?

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Like you really think that's

going to make me feel better?

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Like I'm smarter than that, you know?

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And I never tried them.

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And it wasn't until last year, like

exactly a year ago, last fall, that I

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was going through something really hard.

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Um, I won't go into detail because

I don't really share a lot of

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my medical journey publicly.

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Um, but as you all know, my husband and

I, Trey, we've been trying to conceive

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for a few years now, um, almost three

years, and we've had to go through

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different testings, different procedures.

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Um, Just a whole journey in seeking

answers and trying to find healing

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for our hormones and fertility

and all that kind of stuff.

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And I happen to hate medical things.

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I don't really like the doctor's office.

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I don't like the hospital.

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I hate getting my butch on.

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I don't like procedures.

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I don't even really

like taking medication.

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It kind of all freaks me out and

gives me anxiety and I don't really

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know why or how but It just does.

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Okay.

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Um, it just does.

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And so this has been a cross for more

reasons than one, more than just because

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it's really hard emotionally, um, to

desire this vocation of motherhood and

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have to wait for the Lord's timing and

have it be a much, much different plan

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than what I ever thought I would face.

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But also because I have to

face the doctor so many times.

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I have to get my blood drawn.

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I have to take stuff.

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I have had to go through

different procedures.

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I've had to do different things.

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Um, last year I had a really big

procedure that I had to do and I

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honestly, you guys was terrified.

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Like, I was just, I was so scared.

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I think it's probably one of the most

scared times I've ever been in my life.

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Um, whoo!

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It's taking me back, um, to last fall.

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And I had to draw on the

Lord's strength so much.

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I did not think I was going

to get emotional about this.

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I had to draw on the Lord's

strength so much because I had to

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face some really real fears and

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do that on top of the very, Difficult

cross that we were going through.

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And so it was very trying on

many different emotional and

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mental and spiritual levels.

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Because not only did I have to

overcome times of anxiety and fear,

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like mentally and emotionally, but I

also had to face the Lord spiritually.

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and still trust Him, and still love

Him, and still surrender myself,

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and still trust that He was good.

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I still had to trust and believe it

with every fiber of my being, that

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even though the Lord was allowing me

to face these really difficult moments,

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and face these really big fears,

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He was good.

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I had to, I had to believe that.

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And I had to understand that even

though the Lord was leading me

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to these really difficult places,

that I had to trust him through it.

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And that no matter what,

he was my source of peace.

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That even though he was allowing this

in my life and that I know he has

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the power and had the power to To

take it all away in an instant, in a

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miraculous instant, if it was his will.

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I still knew and had to constantly

remind myself that my peace

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would be drawn from him and my

strength would be drawn from him.

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And the only way I would overcome these

fears and face these difficulties and face

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my fear and anxiety would be through him.

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It's such a paradox, it's such an

interesting experience of loving the one

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who is allowing your cross to happen.

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And I truly felt like Jesus in the

garden of, not the garden, um, well

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yeah, the garden of Gethsemane,

like the mountain of olives.

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When he died.

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Uh, knew the fullness of what was

coming in his crucifixion when he

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said, Lord, take this cup from me.

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But if it's not your will,

let your will be done.

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Like like if it's not your will

that this cup would be taken,

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then I will still do your will.

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I had moments where I really resonated

with that, with those words that

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Christ said, where it was like,

Lord, I know you can take this away.

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But if it's not your will, give me the

strength and the grace to be obedient

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to you, to continue to love and trust

you and follow you in all things.

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And through this process of knowing

that this procedure was coming up, I

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leaned hard into prayer and I leaned

hard into the, I leaned hard into the

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word of God and certain declarations.

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I spoke over myself daily, several

times a day, whenever I felt that fear.

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And I kid you not, you guys, it works.

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Like I seriously experienced, even

though I still had fear, cause

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: 00:18:32

that's what I want you guys to know.

308

: 00:18:34

It's not eliminating fear cause that's

a normal human experience and the Lord's

309

: 00:18:38

not saying you're not going to face it.

310

: 00:18:39

But even though I had that

fear, I was given the grace of.

311

: 00:18:44

Courage, I was given the grace of

almost like peace amidst that fear and

312

: 00:18:51

that comes from a deep seated trust in

the Lord and, and a trust that comes

313

: 00:18:56

from like not even knowing the plan.

314

: 00:18:58

Truly, like, I feel like the whole

experience is miraculous because fear and

315

: 00:19:03

anxiety, like I said, can be so crippling,

but to come to a place where you're like,

316

: 00:19:08

I literally still don't know the plan.

317

: 00:19:11

And yet I feel at peace

because I know the Lord.

318

: 00:19:14

is with me and I know

the Lord is behind it.

319

: 00:19:17

Um, that's grace.

320

: 00:19:19

That's grace.

321

: 00:19:20

And I want you to experience that if you

haven't before, if you're struggling,

322

: 00:19:23

like, I want you to feel that and I'm

telling you, you can, you can get there.

323

: 00:19:28

You just need to cling to the Lord.

324

: 00:19:30

And I think a really beautiful way

to do this is to clothe ourselves

325

: 00:19:33

in scripture and clothe ourselves

in, these declarations of truth.

326

: 00:19:38

So for me personally,

327

: 00:19:41

the one line, I can do all things

through Christ who strengthens me.

328

: 00:19:46

I don't know where I heard that.

329

: 00:19:47

That's like your classic Pinterest quote.

330

: 00:19:48

Okay.

331

: 00:19:49

Like you're just scrolling Pinterest and

you freaking see that quote everywhere.

332

: 00:19:52

Like I can do all things through

Christ who strengthens me.

333

: 00:19:54

You know, it's just like your

basic girl, Christian quote.

334

: 00:19:59

But that one was the one that came

to my mind one day or that I came

335

: 00:20:03

across it and it stuck with me.

336

: 00:20:05

And every day in that

season, multiple times a day.

337

: 00:20:09

I spoke that over myself.

338

: 00:20:11

I can do all things through, Christ.

339

: 00:20:12

That strengthens me in a mirror, in a,

in a moment of anxiety, I can do all

340

: 00:20:17

things through Christ that strengthens

me in a moment of like fear where

341

: 00:20:20

I'm like scared and like sobbing.

342

: 00:20:23

I'm like, I can do all

things through Christ.

343

: 00:20:25

That strengthens me in a moment

of uncertainty or sorrow.

344

: 00:20:29

I can do all things through Christ.

345

: 00:20:30

That strengthens me.

346

: 00:20:33

The Lord doesn't give us anything more

than we can handle, and if He has given

347

: 00:20:37

you a season of fear, depression, or

anxiety, or even if that's just a cross

348

: 00:20:45

that you've carried for most of your

life or a lot of your life, He, He

349

: 00:20:50

doesn't give you anything that you can

handle because you can do it with Him.

350

: 00:20:55

Right?

351

: 00:20:55

We can't do anything alone.

352

: 00:20:57

But with the Lord, we can do

anything because truly he takes,

353

: 00:21:01

he takes the yoke, he takes the

cross and alleviates it for us.

354

: 00:21:06

I was also praying with

the Psalms of Ascent a lot.

355

: 00:21:10

And honestly, I don't have it memorized,

like what passage, like what, like.

356

: 00:21:15

Number, chapter, and verse it is, but if

you look it up, like Psalms of Ascent,

357

: 00:21:19

there's like, it's like a collection of

these Psalms and I prayed with those often

358

: 00:21:23

and I felt like a lot of those rooted me

back in God's trust, um, God's goodness.

359

: 00:21:30

his providence,

360

: 00:21:31

and gave me words to praise the Lord in

a time where I found, where I found it

361

: 00:21:36

really difficult to find the words myself,

where I was in a lot of fear and sorrow,

362

: 00:21:41

and I found it difficult to find words to

worship and, and praise and love the Lord.

363

: 00:21:46

These, Psalms of ascent

really gave me those words.

364

: 00:21:50

So I really recommend that you look

into those and pray with those.

365

: 00:21:53

Um, and then lastly, the

rosary, you guys is a lifesaver.

366

: 00:21:59

You've heard me talk about it before

and I'll never stop talking about it.

367

: 00:22:02

The rosary is miraculous.

368

: 00:22:04

I straight up say that with so much

confidence and I've said it before.

369

: 00:22:08

It's like math, like one plus

one equals two every single time.

370

: 00:22:12

The rosary brings peace into

your life every single time.

371

: 00:22:15

I will not budge on that, and if

you are not praying it at all, like,

372

: 00:22:21

You need to change that right now.

373

: 00:22:24

I'm going to speak with this confidence

and conviction and authority as your

374

: 00:22:28

like sister in Christ alongside you or

older sister, wherever you are in your

375

: 00:22:33

life, in your faith journey, like, please

pray the rosary and start to do it.

376

: 00:22:40

Like, Often, I recommend you do it

every day, like you try to, like,

377

: 00:22:45

trust me, I try to pray it every day.

378

: 00:22:47

I'm not perfect.

379

: 00:22:48

There are many days where I don't

pray it, but it is probably one of my

380

: 00:22:51

number one go to prayer routines that

I incorporated into my life because

381

: 00:22:56

it pours out grace like no other.

382

: 00:23:01

Mary, our lady is known to be like,

she's called the mediatrix of graces.

383

: 00:23:07

Like, the Lord gives her the ability

to distribute graces on his behalf.

384

: 00:23:13

So everything is coming

from the Lord, right?

385

: 00:23:15

Mary is not God.

386

: 00:23:16

She's not omnipotent.

387

: 00:23:17

Only God is.

388

: 00:23:18

But the Lord gives her this special

role in our lives to administer

389

: 00:23:23

his graces as she sees fit.

390

: 00:23:25

Just like a mother would.

391

: 00:23:27

Right?

392

: 00:23:27

Our moms take care of us, and they tend

to our needs in every way, even though our

393

: 00:23:32

fathers love us as well, and our fathers

provide for our families and our homes.

394

: 00:23:38

It's kind of like how dad, um, goes

to work and provides for his family,

395

: 00:23:44

and by providing, Uh, like security,

both like physically and emotionally,

396

: 00:23:52

as well as providing like financially,

he allows her to be like this sense of

397

: 00:23:56

like safety in the home where the mother

can then provide so much care, um, in

398

: 00:24:02

so many different ways, ways, right?

399

: 00:24:04

Like food nourishment, nurturing of

like your emotional side, your spiritual

400

: 00:24:10

side, um, fostering relationships

within the home, uh, friendships,

401

: 00:24:15

like the mom can tend to so many

parts of her family because the

402

: 00:24:19

father is providing that foundation

of security and safety and protection.

403

: 00:24:24

It's this is like an analogy that I

literally just made up on the spot

404

: 00:24:27

right now, but I feel like it's kind of

making sense for me in that same way.

405

: 00:24:30

Like the Lord provides that security

and foundation of his fatherhood

406

: 00:24:34

and like just who he is as Lord and

he gives Mary this like special.

407

: 00:24:40

role to tend for her children.

408

: 00:24:43

And it's all coming from the Lord,

but she has that ability to give

409

: 00:24:47

us grace in so many different ways.

410

: 00:24:49

And so the rosary is a way that

grace can be poured out upon us.

411

: 00:24:53

And.

412

: 00:24:55

I still have it as part of my prayer

routine often, and especially in

413

: 00:24:59

times of fear and anxiety, I bring

the rosary into my life once a day.

414

: 00:25:05

And honestly, guys, there's been seasons

where I've prayed it more than once a day.

415

: 00:25:08

And I don't know if

you've ever heard this.

416

: 00:25:09

I listened to a podcast episode

on pints of Aquinas with Gabby.

417

: 00:25:15

Ooh, what's his last name?

418

: 00:25:18

I don't remember his last name.

419

: 00:25:20

He talks about the rosary all the time.

420

: 00:25:22

And he actually encouraged us to

like, he encouraged the listeners

421

: 00:25:24

to play the rosary, the full rosary.

422

: 00:25:26

So like four times a day, like

all the mysteries in one day.

423

: 00:25:30

Um, and I did that for a little

bit and I mean, it was awesome.

424

: 00:25:33

And I hope that one day I can do

it all the time because there's so

425

: 00:25:36

many promises and graces with that,

but now we're getting off topic.

426

: 00:25:39

Um, you don't, It's not required

to pray the rosary every day or

427

: 00:25:43

even the full rosary every day.

428

: 00:25:44

But a lot of really beautiful

graces can come from that.

429

: 00:25:47

But at least incorporating the

rosary into your life more often.

430

: 00:25:50

And like I said, I encourage

you to do it every day.

431

: 00:25:53

I in my life have experienced

transformational peace

432

: 00:25:58

from praying the rosary.

433

: 00:26:00

It literally can lessen

and remove your anxiety.

434

: 00:26:04

And there were times when I was, you

know, recovering from this procedure or

435

: 00:26:09

facing this procedure and I was like,

I, like, cannot calm my racing thoughts.

436

: 00:26:16

I'm like, my breath is like hard to catch.

437

: 00:26:20

I would go to the rosary and

it would instantly like bring a

438

: 00:26:23

stillness to my soul, instantly

bring a stillness to my being.

439

: 00:26:29

And I knew that it was just this like

supernatural grace that was coming from.

440

: 00:26:33

The Lord through his mother.

441

: 00:26:35

So I really, really encourage

you to pray the rosary, um,

442

: 00:26:38

to overcome fear and anxiety.

443

: 00:26:39

And through rooting myself in

scripture and prayer and the

444

: 00:26:42

rosary in these declarations, I

was given just this overwhelming

445

: 00:26:47

sense of confidence in God and just

peace that can only come from him.

446

: 00:26:52

And it's in moments like these that we

can truly Place our trust in him and trust

447

: 00:26:57

him to handle the things that we can't

448

: 00:27:00

Now Let's talk about some practical

steps that we can take to overcome

449

: 00:27:03

our fear and anxiety With our faith

450

: 00:27:06

step one surrender your fear to God

When anxiety hits, our natural instinct

451

: 00:27:14

is to try and control the situation.

452

: 00:27:16

Our natural instinct is to try and seek

understanding and, like, control all the

453

: 00:27:21

moving pieces so that we feel like we know

what's going on and we have got it all

454

: 00:27:25

together, when the truth is, we don't.

455

: 00:27:27

We don't.

456

: 00:27:28

Matthew 6 is one of my favorite

chapters and so much of it talks about

457

: 00:27:33

not worrying, not having anxiety,

trusting in the Lord's providence.

458

: 00:27:36

So that is another place in

scripture where you can go to

459

: 00:27:38

and pray with to really ground

yourself in this truth of trusting

460

: 00:27:42

in God and letting go of that fear

461

: 00:27:44

because that's the truth.

462

: 00:27:45

What the devil wants us to do, you guys,

the devil wants us to hold on to that

463

: 00:27:50

fear, to hold on to that anxiety, to hold

on to all of these like crippling thoughts

464

: 00:27:55

that make us go, you know, swirling in

this like endless cycle of like, what

465

: 00:28:00

if, what if, what if, what if, what if,

and so really we need to like, let go of

466

: 00:28:06

it, um, and hand it over to the Lord and

trust that he can handle it for us truly.

467

: 00:28:13

And I've kind of already said this, but

the best way to do that is through prayer.

468

: 00:28:17

And so making space often throughout

your week, if not daily, I mean,

469

: 00:28:21

I encourage you to do it daily.

470

: 00:28:23

If you're not already doing that,

then at least a few times a week,

471

: 00:28:26

um, to create space for prayer.

472

: 00:28:28

Prayer is like our super food to our soul.

473

: 00:28:31

Okay.

474

: 00:28:31

I mean, if we're talking about like.

475

: 00:28:33

kale or beef liver or like, you know, all

these like super foods that people talk

476

: 00:28:38

about that like protect us from cancer and

give us all this like health and vitality.

477

: 00:28:43

It's like, like prayer

is that for our soul.

478

: 00:28:45

Like our soul needs that super food

of prayer to strengthen it, to build

479

: 00:28:51

it up, to trust in the Lord, um,

to recognize the Lord in our life.

480

: 00:28:55

So make time for it daily

481

: 00:28:58

because prayer is our refuge.

482

: 00:29:01

And this can be.

483

: 00:29:02

Um, contemplative prayer, like you

just sitting with the Lord, um,

484

: 00:29:05

and sharing your heart, just trying

to hear him journaling through

485

: 00:29:10

those thoughts, like journaling

your prayer, sitting in adoration.

486

: 00:29:13

I mean, being in his presence, you

guys is like nothing compares to that.

487

: 00:29:17

Nothing compares to sitting in

his presence and adoration and

488

: 00:29:19

the peace that comes from that.

489

: 00:29:21

And honestly, the graces and the

miracles that can just happen

490

: 00:29:23

just by being in his presence.

491

: 00:29:25

So I highly encourage,

um, that you do that.

492

: 00:29:28

And then scripture, like I said, I feel

like one of the reasons I love scripture

493

: 00:29:33

and especially the Psalms is because

it gives me words to pray in times

494

: 00:29:36

when I feel like I don't have them.

495

: 00:29:38

Whether you're going through like sorrow

and depression and you just feel so

496

: 00:29:43

down that you like have no words of

praise or life within you, the words.

497

: 00:29:50

in scripture can give those to you.

498

: 00:29:53

Or if you feel so wrapped up in

fear, so stuck in fear, the word in

499

: 00:29:57

scripture can give you that courage

and that confidence of what is true.

500

: 00:30:03

A verse that I feel like is really

helpful for this is Psalm 23 verse four.

501

: 00:30:07

Even though I walk through

the darkest valley, I fear

502

: 00:30:11

no evil for you are with me.

503

: 00:30:14

Even though I walk through

the darkest valley, I fear no

504

: 00:30:16

evil because you are with me.

505

: 00:30:19

Wherever you're at, the Lord is with you.

506

: 00:30:22

And these are truths that maybe we know,

maybe we've heard, but we forget them.

507

: 00:30:28

Okay, and we like brush them off

because we feel like yeah, I already

508

: 00:30:31

know that I already know that but

it doesn't help But it does you guys

509

: 00:30:34

God's Word is living and true and

it is healing in itself So seek it.

510

: 00:30:40

It's healing.

511

: 00:30:41

It's empowering.

512

: 00:30:42

Like I said, it's that super food

for your soul to build you up.

513

: 00:30:46

So spend time in prayer,

meditating on God's word.

514

: 00:30:50

Next, I would say, surround

yourself with good community.

515

: 00:30:54

Um, Christ and Earth's

friendships are really special.

516

: 00:30:57

If you have really good friends in

your life that aren't, um, Catholic

517

: 00:31:00

or Christian, that's great too.

518

: 00:31:02

But if you have friends that are rooted

in faith, there's something so powerful

519

: 00:31:06

and so, so consoling about that.

520

: 00:31:08

Because these friends, Can join

you in prayer whether like actively

521

: 00:31:12

in the moment can pray for you

with you or can pray for you

522

: 00:31:16

and also can just kind of be a space

of like a safe space for you to open

523

: 00:31:21

up for you to openly talk about your

struggles and get support from friends

524

: 00:31:26

who um, maybe aren't like in a better

place and are confident and are grounded

525

: 00:31:32

in like what is true and can remind

us of truth because anxiety and fear,

526

: 00:31:37

um, like I said, they're They're not

of the Lord, they're of the evil one.

527

: 00:31:40

And what he wants to do often, the

evil one is isolate us in these

528

: 00:31:44

feelings and keep us feeling like

the things that we are thinking are

529

: 00:31:48

true when they're not, they're lies.

530

: 00:31:50

Um, and that like, we're the only

ones feeling them in that because

531

: 00:31:54

we're feeling this, like we are

alone and we are unworthy and we are

532

: 00:31:58

stupid for feeling these things and

we are just weak and whatever lies.

533

: 00:32:03

Right.

534

: 00:32:04

That are going through our brain.

535

: 00:32:05

And so Christ centered community and

having the courage to open up about what

536

: 00:32:08

you're going through with a friend can

really bring us strength, um, and show us

537

: 00:32:13

the truth and kind of like wipe away those

lies that the evil one is speaking to us.

538

: 00:32:17

And then lastly, I would say like actively

seek activities that bring you calm

539

: 00:32:23

and peace in your life, whether it's.

540

: 00:32:26

Through worship and prayer, like

we've been talking about or an

541

: 00:32:29

activity that kind of like takes you

away from your day to day stressors

542

: 00:32:32

and kind of like grounds you.

543

: 00:32:33

I like doing things physically with

my body, like whether it be like

544

: 00:32:38

going to a workout class where I'm

like actually letting out stress and

545

: 00:32:43

like physical stress, um, and energy.

546

: 00:32:46

Or I personally like, I love making

sourdough bread, um, or baking.

547

: 00:32:51

And I feel like especially baking

bread, like you have to like,

548

: 00:32:53

you need it with your hands.

549

: 00:32:54

You have to mix it.

550

: 00:32:55

You have to stretch it.

551

: 00:32:56

You have to fold it.

552

: 00:32:57

And kind of like that use of my

hands brings me out of myself,

553

: 00:33:00

out of my, like work, my screens,

whatever is clouding my mind.

554

: 00:33:05

It kind of just connects that like

mental, emotional, physical, spiritual

555

: 00:33:09

all into one in a hobby that is like

very relaxing and peaceful for me, um,

556

: 00:33:15

walking outside with your bare feet.

557

: 00:33:18

is really helpful.

558

: 00:33:20

I feel like I would do this a lot.

559

: 00:33:21

Um, last fall when I feel like I was

going through a hard time, I would

560

: 00:33:24

spend every single morning outside.

561

: 00:33:26

I would eat my breakfast on the

patio, get some sunlight on my

562

: 00:33:29

skin, on my eyes, on my face.

563

: 00:33:31

Um, just a disclaimer, you're not looking

at the sun directly with your eyes.

564

: 00:33:35

I'm not saying that you should do that.

565

: 00:33:36

I just mean like getting

sunlight in your face.

566

: 00:33:38

On you is really good.

567

: 00:33:39

Um, and then I would walk barefoot on

our grass in the backyard and like,

568

: 00:33:44

it's almost just like, this is not

a weird woo woo thing, but it's like

569

: 00:33:47

almost being like grounded on the

earth, one with nature and just being

570

: 00:33:51

like, okay, these are my real feelings.

571

: 00:33:55

I am a real human being.

572

: 00:33:58

The Lord has created me.

573

: 00:33:59

The Lord has created this earth.

574

: 00:34:01

Everything he has created is good.

575

: 00:34:03

It's just like a way to center yourself,

bare feet on the ground, sun on your skin.

576

: 00:34:08

It's a way to like reset

your nervous system.

577

: 00:34:10

And I'm pretty sure this is all

scientific, but like, I'm not a scientist,

578

: 00:34:13

so don't quote me on any of this, but

I'm pretty sure it's scientific that it

579

: 00:34:16

like helps regulate your nervous system.

580

: 00:34:17

So highly recommend that you do that too.

581

: 00:34:19

Or going on a walk, like

just like anything else.

582

: 00:34:22

Getting ourselves out of our regular

space and like moving, getting some

583

: 00:34:27

movement and some fresh air is so helpful.

584

: 00:34:29

And I feel like can create a space

of peace for you to clear your mind.

585

: 00:34:33

Or if you're going to walk and talk

things out with a friend or your

586

: 00:34:36

husband or a family member, whoever

it is that is there to support you.

587

: 00:34:40

Um, those things can be really,

really helpful to create atmospheres

588

: 00:34:43

of peace in the midst of your

difficult time of fear and anxiety.

589

: 00:34:47

Okay, friends.

590

: 00:34:47

I hope that was helpful, you guys.

591

: 00:34:48

I hope that this episode reminded

you in the midst of fear,

592

: 00:34:52

God's peace is there for you.

593

: 00:34:54

It's available to you and it's

like the Lord is readily available

594

: 00:34:59

and wanting to give it to you.

595

: 00:35:01

And that just reminds me

of, um, this line in St.

596

: 00:35:04

Faustina's diary where it kind of talks

about his grace and his mercy and how

597

: 00:35:08

it like hurts the Lord that we like

don't ask him for grace and mercy,

598

: 00:35:14

um, because he has so much to give us.

599

: 00:35:17

But we just don't ask for it because we

feel like we can do it all by ourselves

600

: 00:35:21

or we like feel like we don't need

him or like it's bad to ask when he's

601

: 00:35:24

actually so honored when we recognize

our littleness and he's so honored when

602

: 00:35:29

we recognize our deep need for him.

603

: 00:35:31

So when we do that and we come

before the Lord, crippled as we

604

: 00:35:35

are, In whatever state you're in and

you're just like, Lord, I literally

605

: 00:35:40

am a shred of nothing right now.

606

: 00:35:45

I am so small.

607

: 00:35:46

I need you.

608

: 00:35:48

I have nothing left within me.

609

: 00:35:49

Please wash over me your mercy, your

strength, your grace, your peace.

610

: 00:35:55

Um, because I, I'm just, I'm just a kid.

611

: 00:36:00

You know, in the end, I'm just a kid

and you're my dad and I need my dad

612

: 00:36:05

and you can go in prayer and say that.

613

: 00:36:06

And the Lord would be so

delighted to provide for you

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: 00:36:10

and to care for you in that way.

615

: 00:36:12

I know it.

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: 00:36:13

And I know that he's waiting

for you to just ask him.

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: 00:36:16

So let's take a moment to

just close in a prayer.

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: 00:36:19

I want to pray for all you.

619

: 00:36:20

Um, and yeah, if you would just say a

prayer for me as well and, and my journey.

620

: 00:36:26

After you listen to this,

it would be so appreciated.

621

: 00:36:29

And like I said, share this with a

friend, um, to bless someone else.

622

: 00:36:32

Cause I feel like so many of us need

to hear this message these days.

623

: 00:36:36

Um, we need to overcome this fear

and anxiety that is not of the Lord

624

: 00:36:41

and overcome it with, with the Lord's

peace that surpasses all understanding.

625

: 00:36:46

So let's pray.

626

: 00:36:47

In the name of the

Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

627

: 00:36:48

Amen.

628

: 00:36:50

Heavenly Father, we thank you for your

peace that surpasses all understanding.

629

: 00:36:55

Lord.

630

: 00:36:55

Um, I ask that you calm the hearts of

those listening today who are struggling

631

: 00:37:01

with fear and anxiety, especially, um,

remind them that you are with them in

632

: 00:37:06

every valley, every moment, um, that

they feel alone, that they feel low.

633

: 00:37:12

That they feel gripped by fear

634

: 00:37:15

and Lord, I pray that you give them the

strength to surrender their fears to you.

635

: 00:37:20

Um, just fill them with your

Holy spirit and help them to

636

: 00:37:23

trust in your perfect plan.

637

: 00:37:25

And mother Mary, I just asked for you

in her session, um, that you would

638

: 00:37:29

give us all, um, a grace and a

desire to encounter the piece of the

639

: 00:37:33

rosary, um, that you would put it

on our to seek this prayer out more.

640

: 00:37:38

Um, we just ask for your intercession.

641

: 00:37:41

Yeah, of everything we're struggling for.

642

: 00:37:43

So we pray, Hail Mary, full of

grace, the Lord is with thee.

643

: 00:37:45

Blessed art thou among women, and

blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

644

: 00:37:48

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us

sinners now and at the hour of our death.

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: 00:37:51

Amen.

646

: 00:37:52

In the Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

647

: 00:37:53

Amen.