Years ago, I was preaching on a Sunday evening. I was upset about something and it came through in the message. (I think I had just read a book and was battling some concern as I prepared this message.) That evening, my in-laws were present. After church was over, my father-in-law who had preached for many years… Continue reading What I Learned About Anxiety that Has Helped Me Greatly
Category: Stress
Are You Worried?
I know what it is to worry at 3:00 A.M. Do you? If you are like many, worry can take center stage in your mind and refuse to leave until it has exhausted your imagination with all sorts of frightening possibilities. Do you worry about what someone thinks? The truth is that you just can’t… Continue reading Are You Worried?
Enough is Enough
This morning I began reading a life of being, having, and doing by Wayne Muller. I never got beyond the opening chapter. The chapter “A Life of Enough” made me think. …the bar keeps rising, nothing is ever finished, nothing is ever good enough. So we work and add and never stop, never back away, never… Continue reading Enough is Enough
Moving Past Weariness
Gordon MacDonald tells of a time when as a child he was traveling with his family on a dusty, deserted road in Canada. It was late, and the family had been traveling the entire day. They were lost, tired, and were becoming irritable with one another. They could not find a motel, and the few… Continue reading Moving Past Weariness
When Perfection Becomes an Obstacle
David Seamands, a longtime Christian counselor, told of a young woman whose mom always demanded perfection. She was never good enough for mom’s praise. When she was 6 or 7 she had a piano recital. She had worked hard and practiced and practiced. On the day of the recital she performed her piece flawlessly. Her… Continue reading When Perfection Becomes an Obstacle
When the Sharp Teeth are Pulled From Human Anxiety
Lately, I have been spending a lot of time with The Paraclete Psalter: A Book of Daily Prayer. Yesterday’s reflection on Psalm 46 was especially meaningful to me. God is our refuge and strength. In 1529 the church reformer and former Augustinian monk Martin Luther paraphrased Psalm 46 in a hymn that has been sung… Continue reading When the Sharp Teeth are Pulled From Human Anxiety
8 Questions to Ask When You Are Overwhelmed and Exhausted
I wrote this post with ministers in mind. But it really is applicable to most everyone. The following are some questions that have helped me in times when I have felt overwhelmed and exhausted: 1. What am I thinking about? I ask this question because I know that if I am spending a lot of… Continue reading 8 Questions to Ask When You Are Overwhelmed and Exhausted
Burying Those Feelings Never Works
There is often a high price to pay when you bury your feelings. Feelings exist. I may not like these feelings. I may not feel comfortable with these feelings. I may be very uneasy by what I am feeling. I can try to bury my feelings but they will not stay buried. At some point… Continue reading Burying Those Feelings Never Works
When Christmas Tests Your Nerves
Some of you know what it is to experience Christmas as a very stressful holiday. Perhaps the stress comes from moms and dads trying to create just the perfect Christmas experience for their loved ones. Or it may come from anticipating Christmas dinner as your older brother brings his new wife for the first time.… Continue reading When Christmas Tests Your Nerves
If You Need to be Refreshed
Early this morning, I read an article by John Ortberg entitled, “A River Runs Through It” (Conversations, 7.2, Fall/Winter 2009). I was sitting at our kitchen table with a fresh cup of coffee as I began to read this article. Each morning since receiving this new issue of Conversations, I have read a different article… Continue reading If You Need to be Refreshed