Flourish-Meant: You Were Meant to Live Abundantly

How do you overcome chronic worry? Today's guest, Kristine Brown, shares personal and practical insights to help you escape a pattern of worrying and begin a lifestyle of peace.

Kristine Brown is a ministry wife, mom, stepmom, Mimi, and former chronic worrier. She loves connecting today's woman with women of the Bible through her website, freelance writing, and speaking to women's groups.

Brown shares her personal struggle with chronic worry, which began with a nurturing nature. She explains the gradual descent from concerns for others into a habit of worrying about all things as a way of life. Kristine notes the compounding effect of worry on her emotional and physical well-being.

We explore how taking responsibility for things we have no authority or power to change can lead to stressful and toxic mindsets. Brown shares how she eventually realized her worries reflected that she wasn't living as if she trusted the Lord. She knew the truth of God's faithfulness, but her emotions and thought life didn't align with believing in his goodness.

Kristine describes having a "worst-case-scenario" mindset. She shares her cancer diagnosis as a pivotal experience that served as an opportunity to choose to trust God. We explore the gradual journey of learning to trust in place of choosing worry as an ongoing process we walk out daily.

Brown examines the Biblical story of Rahab as an example of living with trust in God when we don't know all the answers.

Kristine Brown shares the following tips to move from a mindset of chronic worry to a lifestyle of peace and trusting God:

• Ask yourself if you wake up in the morning rehashing the same problem you've already prayed about.
• Ask yourself if you tend to jump in and fix things before praying to ask God about it.
• Visualize God filling us with joy and peace as promised in Romans 15:13 to gain strength when you need it most.
• Equip yourself with positive verses and thoughts to have on hand before a trigger for worrying occurs.
• Identify your triggers and times when you're most vulnerable to worry. Form a counter-habit as a defensive strategy during those times.
• Maintain positive habits.
• Surround yourself with resources where you can find verses so you don't have to search for them during a moment of crisis.

We discuss the importance of resisting shame when struggling with worry, but instead keeping God's loving grace in mind as the powerful embrace to carry us through. Kristine recommends talking about worry to help diffuse the shame pitfalls.

Connect with Kristine Brown at kristinebrown.net, where you can obtained free resources and check out her new book, Cinched: Living with Unwavering Trust in an Unfailing God.

Get Tina Yeager's FREE Upcycled Inspirational Flip Book template at upcycledbook.com and craft a gift of weekly inspirations for yourself, family members, or special people in your life.

I would like to invite you to join The True Crime Mission Fields Program, a life-changing opportunity exclusively joining Christians who have married faith and true crime. Featuring Chaplain Lori Prather, the products within the True Crime Mission Fields Program allow you to connect your passions and skills as Christians with practical service opportunities within the world of true crime. You will begin to serve people in difficult circumstances, and have a greater impact in this world than you ever imagined possible. Access your Free Report: Meet the Christian Who Married Faith with True Crime and receive up to 70% of any collection when you use this link https://www.theunlovelytruthtribe.com/uttylk22r3e?affiliate_id=3727901

Do you know what you're made for? Today's guest, Dr. Bryan McIntosh, helps us address the question of why we're here. A native of Dalton, GA, Bryan McIntosh is a graduate of Duke University, later receiving his M.Div. from CIU and a Ph.D. in New Testament from Southern Seminary. Understanding who God is, who we are in Him, and what His plan is for us sets us apart as believers. We discuss the shift from centering our purpose solely upon ourselves and what we can achieve to including the Lord's role as central in fulfilling why we are here. Bryan shares his personal journey of seeking purpose post-graduation and cites Old and New Testament examples. He emphasizes God's consistent nature as faithful in fulfilling His promises. Dr. McIntosh recommends a message by Louie Giglio called "Finding Me in the Story of Thee." He notes the struggle many face when centering who we are in what we do instead of basing our identity on who we are in relationship with Christ. McIntosh states that our Creator is the only one who can accurately define who we are meant to be and the purpose for which we were made. Dr. McIntosh explains that unless we center our story in the Lord, nothing will make any sense. We discuss the relational nature of faith in a loving Redeemer. Bryan explores the correlation between purpose and relationship with God. Empowerment and direction flow from connection with the Lord. McIntosh explains we all have a specific reason for which we were created. He defines calling as much deeper than vocation. Bryan shares how he was ordained for ministry, but found his mission redirected from the pulpit to the business world. His overarching call did not depend upon a specific career placement. We discuss the greater importance of who we are and how we represent Christ. Our role as ambassadors transcends the titles and jobs under which we serve. Dr. Bryan McIntosh offers the following tips to discover and live out our purpose:

• Know your identity as defined in Scripture.
• Accept your identity as a "new creation."
• Walk in the "good works" God prepared for us, as promised in Ephesians 2:10
• Recognize the Lord provides what we need to live out our purpose
• Let go of shame, regret, unforgiveness of ourselves and others, and all the negatives which might hold us back

We discuss how we each have a unique purpose which works in concert with the gifts of others around us.

We also acknowledge the role of faith in stepping forward to fulfill our destiny when we cannot see the entire path ahead.

Bryan recommends staying in the Word and seeking counsel from wise believers. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing God is for us and His character is good. Daily reminding ourselves of those truths will help us overcome fear and discouragement.

McIntosh recommends seeking the Lord daily to avoid the traps of distraction.

Connect with Bryan McIntosh at madeforeden.org and get a copy of his book, Made for Eden, wherever books are sold.

Get Tina Yeager's FREE Upcycled Inspirational Flip Book template at upcycledbook.com and craft a gift of weekly inspirations for yourself, family members, or special people in your life. I would like to invite you to join The True Crime Mission Fields Program, a life-changing opportunity exclusively joining Christians who have married faith and true crime. Featuring Chaplain Lori Prather, the products within the True Crime Mission Fields Program allow you to connect your passions and skills as Christians with practical service opportunities within the world of true crime. You will begin to serve people in difficult circumstances, and have a greater impact in this world than you ever imagined possible. Access your Free Report: Meet the Christian Who Married Faith with True Crime and receive up to 70% of any collection when you use this link https://www.theunlovelytruthtribe.com/uttylk22r3e?affiliate_id=3727901

How do you navigate major changes in your life? Today's guest, Dr. D. Michael Lindsay, reveals the keys to making the most of transitions. Dr. D. Michael Lindsay serves as the President of Taylor University, a Christian institution that has recently been named by U.S. News the #1 College in the Midwest. He is the author of Hinge Moments: Making the Most of Life's Transitions and several other books, including the Pulitzer-nominated Faith in the Halls of Power. Dr. Lindsay wrote the book after searching for a resource to offer the students in his university. Since he could not find an adequate reference to help the young people in need of answers, Lindsay consulted the nation's most successful individuals and created a guide to help those who needed it most. Dr. Lindsay interviewed 550 people, including former U.S. presidents, Secretaries of State, presidents of esteemed universities, leaders of major non-profit organizations, and Fortune 500 CEOs. He discovered incredible insights about how successful people overcome transitions. Lindsay describes the process as a spiritual journey as well as a psychological challenge. Dr. Lindsay addresses different types of "hinge moments," including changes we expect and those which devastate us. Change is instantaneous, he states, but transition is a gradual process. Dr. Lindsay examines what he calls the intersection phase, a low point in our transition process. He states the most difficult part of our journey includes God at work and our decision regarding how to respond to the change. Lindsay shares his own journey of leaving a treasured position at one university and waiting over a year before securing his current role as president of Taylor University. During this difficult period, he chose to take a regular discernment walk, which offered tremendous benefit. Dr. Lindsay notes the 7 stages of transition, one of the first being a sense of restlessness. He encourages several key practices, including the following:

• Slow down to discern what God might do.
• Sabbath-keeping gives time to rest and reflect.
• Recognize the intersection phase, when we need to transition into a new season of life.

We discuss the importance of recognizing transition as a change, not an end. We also emphasize the need topPay attention, listen observe, and expect God to show up. We must be willing to surrender our comfort, gifts, and expectations so God can open up doors for us. This occurs as a result of spiritual disciplines. Fulfillment requires us to hold goals loosely. Dr. Lindsay cites a host of inspiring examples, including the story of NIH Director Francis Collins, who mapped the human genome to personalize cancer treatment. Collins was inspired by a patient's quiet faith to leave atheism behind and seek a personal relationship with God. Lindsay explains his choice to use the analogy of a hinge. A hinge serves as a fulcrum to open possibilities and close doors that need to be closed. He notes that prayers can best serve us as we listen for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Dr. Lindsay refers to Karl Barth's analogy of the Lord guiding us on a journey to new harbors on the river of the Holy Spirit. D. Michael Lindsay encourages us to prepare for a lifestyle of transitions. He refers to the story of C. Everett Koop. Koop was Surgeon General and a world-class pediatric surgeon who described a lifelong journey of new opportunities and purpose. Like a lobster during its molting phase, our most vulnerable times often serve as the periods during which we undergo the greatest amount of growth. Look for Dr. D. Michael Lindsay's book, Hinge Moments, wherever books are sold. Learn more about Dr. Lindsay at taylor.edu I would like to invite you to join The True Crime Mission Fields Program, a life-changing opportunity exclusively joining Christians who have married faith and true crime. Featuring Chaplain Lori Prather, the products within the True Crime Mission Fields Program allow you to connect your passions and skills as Christians with practical service opportunities within the world of true crime. You will begin to serve people in difficult circumstances, and have a greater impact in this world than you ever imagined possible. Access your Free Report: Meet the Christian Who Married Faith with True Crime and receive up to 70% of any collection when you use this link https://www.theunlovelytruthtribe.com/uttylk22r3e?affiliate_id=3727901

How can you help children better address their fears? Today's guest, Michelle Medlock Adams, shares what we should know about how to help kids cope with their fears. Author of over 100 books with more than 4 million books sold, Michelle Medlock Adams is also a NY Times Bestselling ghostwriter and has won more than 90 industry awards for her own journalistic endeavors. Michelle runs her own children's book imprint—Wren & Bear Books—as part of End Game Press; serves as the Chairman of the Board of Advisors for Serious Writer, Inc.; and is a much sought-after speaker at professional writing conferences and women's retreats. She's celebrating the recent release of "Springtime For Your Spirit" with Andy Clapp, and she's super excited about the upcoming release of "Our God is Bigger Than That" with Eva Marie Everson and "I Love You to the Sun and Beyond" with Cecil Stokes. Adams consulted experts when co-authoring Our God is Bigger Than That with Eva Marie Everson to learn insights about helping kids through fear. Rather than dismissing the subject of their worries, psychologists recommend addressing the issue with compassionate listening. Michelle recommends validating feelings and letting your child talk through their fears. Adams relates how her parents helped her worked through her own fears as a child and how she later applied this compassionate talked through the concerns her children faced. Whether rational or not, fears are best conquered with love. Michelle shares how the harrowing moments of her grandson's medical situation in NICU after birth inspired the title of the children's book, Our God is Bigger Than That. As parents and grandparents, the more we face our own fears, the better we can help children face theirs. Michelle notes how we can encourage kids to recognize the power of God's presence to strengthen us to overcome all the situations we face. We discuss the impact a children's book can have upon kids, adults, and the bonding in families. Stories with Biblical truth offer immense benefits to bring hope and healing to families. Adams offers the following tips to help kids overcome fears:

• Communication
• Routine
• Discuss stories with open-ended questions
• Appropriate humor
• Relate how you struggled with fear as a child

Connect with Michelle Medlock Adams at michellemedlockadams.com. Check out Wren and Bear Books, a division of End Game Press, at https://www.endgamepress.com/wren-bear-books.

Get a copy of Our God is Bigger Than That at https://www.endgamepress.com/store/p/pre-order-our-god-is-bigger-than-that.

I would like to invite you to join The True Crime Mission Fields Program, a life-changing opportunity exclusively joining Christians who have married faith and true crime. Featuring Chaplain Lori Prather, the products within the True Crime Mission Fields Program allow you to connect your passions and skills as Christians with practical service opportunities within the world of true crime. You will begin to serve people in difficult circumstances, and have a greater impact in this world than you ever imagined possible. Access your Free Report: Meet the Christian Who Married Faith with True Crime and receive up to 70% of any collection when you use this link https://www.theunlovelytruthtribe.com/uttylk22r3e?affiliate_id=3727901

Do you have a hope that is bigger than any pain you could face? Today's guest, Jim David, shares powerful insights he gleaned from documentary interviews.

Jim David is an award-winning filmmaker and skilled storyteller. Among the recognitions of his work are two regional Emmy Awards. In 2021, his film, A Strong Finish, received numerous accolades and earned the Best Documentary Audience Choice award at the 2021 International Christian Film and Music Festival. The film was also an official nominee at the 2022 International Christian Visual Media (ICVM) Crown Awards.

Jim David cites a few examples which inspired his film and the mission to share hope for overcoming impossible crises and hardship. He refers to the Biblical stories of Job and Joseph while describing the way God strengthens us on our journey through this broken world and its trials. His interviews cover emotional and physical suffering, noting how pressing into God helped them through struggles.

Jim discusses the biggest takeaways he learned from the heroic and inspiring interviews he captured for the documentary series on hope.

• Community
• What is it for me to glorify God through this?
• Bringing awareness of how to respond to those who go through crisis and suffering
• Allow some time for lament.
• Asking questions differs from questioning God
• People can grow closer to the Lord through a struggle, even though this is not the natural response we expect.

David encourages audiences to discover lasting hope through the awe-inspiring faith of those who overcame unimaginable difficulties.

We discuss how God remains with us in times of suffering. Jim shares how those he interviewed demonstrated mind-boggling strength in the Lord during horrific circumstances.

David invites his viewers to enter into conversations about the relationship between faith and suffering. He underscores the fact that Jesus experienced intense suffering and empathizes with us when we go through pain. Christ also knows the end of the story.

Jim David highlights hope as part of the framework defining our purpose. We discuss the power of our mindset and a focus on the eternal.

Jim shares his personal struggle with hearing loss and how he learned to recognize the opportunity to hear the Lord's voice in the midst of it.

David encourages listeners to reach out to those in crisis and make time to listen to their hearts. He emphasizes hope in the film and how to cultivate benefits from the most difficult times in our lives.

Learn more about Jim David's inspirational film at ForAPurpose movie.com. Connect with him at jimdavid.com

Check out the film he mentioned at a strong finish at RedeemTV.com

I would like to invite you to join The True Crime Mission Fields Program, a life-changing opportunity exclusively joining Christians who have married faith and true crime. Featuring Chaplain Lori Prather, the products within the True Crime Mission Fields Program allow you to connect your passions and skills as Christians with practical service opportunities within the world of true crime. You will begin to serve people in difficult circumstances, and have a greater impact in this world than you ever imagined possible. Access your Free Report: Meet the Christian Who Married Faith with True Crime and receive up to 70% of any collection when you use this link https://www.theunlovelytruthtribe.com/uttylk22r3e?affiliate_id=3727901

Do you know how to handle the transition after college, or even at other times in life? Today's expert guest, Erica Young Reitz, explores the timeless and modern challenges of navigating major life shifts. She lends her professional insights to help students and others thrive beyond the greatest changes we experience. Erica Young Reitz directs Senior EXIT, a one-year experience that prepares graduating college seniors for the transition into the next phase of life. She works for the CCO (Coalition for Christian Outreach), reaching out to students at Penn State University. Erica has an MA in higher education from Geneva College, with a graduate research focus on the senior-year transition. We discuss the identity crisis related to the shift from the concreteness of academic performance to the vagueries of "succeeding" in real life. Reitz emphasizes the importance of anchoring yourself in your identity in Christ during the social, financial, and occupational challenges of starting on the ground floor post-college. Erica recommends finding community

• in church
• at a "third place"
• through hobbies or special interest groups
• or by participating in volunteer activities

Reitz shares the following practical tips for navigating a transition after college or during other seasons of life:

• pay attention to the internal process when facing changes
• consider investing in a commitment to your new job
• consult mentors and a supportive network to help discern between a challenge you should work through or a toxic situation to escape from
• seek counseling and/or coaching as needed

Connect with Erica Young Reitz and get a copy of her book at AfterCollegetransition.com

I would like to invite you to join The True Crime Mission Fields Program, a life-changing opportunity exclusively joining Christians who have married faith and true crime. Featuring Chaplain Lori Prather, the products within the True Crime Mission Fields Program allow you to connect your passions and skills as Christians with practical service opportunities within the world of true crime. You will begin to serve people in difficult circumstances, and have a greater impact in this world than you ever imagined possible. Access your Free Report: Meet the Christian Who Married Faith with True Crime and receive up to 70% of any collection when you use this link https://www.theunlovelytruthtribe.com/uttylk22r3e?affiliate_id=3727901

If the worst things happen in your life, are you able to cultivate joy? Could you find joy in any circumstance?

Today's guest, J.T. Jester, is a young entrepreneur, philanthropist, podcaster, and inspirational speaker based in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. A graduate of High Point University in North Carolina, JT is also an experienced mountaineer, extreme skier, boater, hunter, and adventurer who has made it his life mission to encourage people to untether from natural or self-imposed limitations and live full, passionate lives. Born with life-threatening VATER/VACTERL syndrome, as well as extreme dyslexia and short-term memory loss, he established the JT Mestdagh Foundation to bring encouragement, joy, and laughter to people with physical and learning disabilities and their families. JT hopes that through sharing his life experiences and other people's stories, people will be reminded there truly are no bad days and to never give up.

J.T. Jester shares the inspiration for his book title, No Bad Days. During one of his hospitalizations when he was 7 or 8 years old, J.T.'s father offered sympathy for his suffering. J.T. told his dad, "There are no bad days, only hard ones. And we get through them." This statement became the motto by which J.T. and his family lived.

Jester describes himself as "blessed," since he did not have all of the possible complications of vacterl syndrome. He was born with a non-functioning GI system which required sixteen surgeries throughout childhood, including a hospital stay of over 200 days. In middle and high school he had a tethered spinal cord that required surgery so he could walk and regain other functioning. He recounts his faith journey and relates his perseverance and healing to his relationship with Christ.

J.T. shares the experience of going to a youth camp, though needing medical assistance, and notes how he gave his life to Jesus at the camp.

We discuss the ripple effect of J.T.'s positive attitude on those whose lives he touched. Jester emphasizes the importance of choosing a "tribe" of supportive people to help you fulfill your goals and live your best.

J.T. explains that we all have hard days into which we fall. He relates how his ski coach taught him to fall, which helped him realize he learned prevention and response from this training. J.T. says learning to fall and get back up is crucial to living well. He also emphasizes the need to find trustworthy people who will be there to help us when we need it the most.

We discuss the importance of recognizing we will fall but refusing to let fear prevent us from living our fullest. J.T. credits his parents with allowing him to do everything he wanted to experience, even though it might seem challenging due to his medical risks.

Jester recounts the troubleshooting and preparation required to fulfill his goal of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. He shares the incredible story of his experience training for the climb as well as summiting in a shorter time than average. He notes how on the last day of the trip he suffered from altitude sickness and faced unexpected glacier obstacles.

J.T. said the challenges on the last day forced him to relinquish his backpack. He didn't want to let go of his backpack, but the process of needing to do this taught him how reaching goals sometimes requires us to let something go. We need to rely upon our tribe to help us. Jester reached the summit and described the spiritual and emotional experience.

We discuss the importance of setting big goals in order to maintain hope and joy in life. J.T. notes the benefits of writing down goals daily, monthly, and yearly. He also reiterates how your tribe will help you write the story you want for your life. He recommends choosing stronger, smarter, more proficient support team members to help you grow.

We explore how to select tribe members who will prove beneficial. Jester details how different people helped strengthen him in areas of physical training, skill development, and discipleship.

We emphasize how we can choose a problem-solving perspective instead of letting circumstances shape the limits of our lives. Jester relates one of the stories in his book, No Bad Days. A woman wrote an allegory called "A Trip to Holland" to describe her unexpected, yet beautiful experience as a mother of a child with Down's Syndrome.

J.T. notes how we all face different challenges, but can choose to grow and find joy in our journeys.

Connect with J.T. Jester at jtjester.com and on social media at jtjesterspeaks.

I would like to invite you to join The True Crime Mission Fields Program, a life-changing opportunity exclusively joining Christians who have married faith and true crime. Featuring Chaplain Lori Prather, the products within the True Crime Mission Fields Program allow you to connect your passions and skills as Christians with practical service opportunities within the world of true crime. You will begin to serve people in difficult circumstances, and have a greater impact in this world than you ever imagined possible. Access your Free Report: Meet the Christian Who Married Faith with True Crime and receive up to 70% of any collection when you use this link https://www.theunlovelytruthtribe.com/uttylk22r3e?affiliate_id=3727901

How can we equip our kids to maintain conservative values?

Today's guest, Dr. Trent Talbot, shares how we can prepare our kids to become the leaders of the next generation. He shows how to cultivate truth in today's children so they can withstand the current of shifting values in the culture around them.

While trying to raise his children to love their God and country, Dr. Talbot became aware that there is a real war going on for the hearts and minds of the next generation. Although formally trained as a medical doctor, Dr. Talbot stepped back from his ophthalmology practice to start his conservative publishing company, BRAVE Books. BRAVE Books has a mission to empower this generation's youth with conservative values so that the next generation will be filled with strong and discerning leaders.

Dr. Talbot and I discuss the importance of creating family time and safe spaces for conversations with our children. Dr. Talbot relates ways to use stories to teach children about larger concepts. We explore the powerful impact of playing games and making time with our kids enjoyable.

Trent emphasizes the need to discuss current topics with young children in ways they can understand, particularly using stories. He shares how we can invite kids of different ages to talk to us about sensitive or controversial issues. Kids will hear about these subjects from those in the world around us if we don't share the truth with them.

Connect with Dr. Talbot and BRAVE Books at https://bravebooks.us/

I would like to invite you to join The True Crime Mission Fields Program, a life-changing opportunity exclusively joining Christians who have married faith and true crime. Featuring Chaplain Lori Prather, the products within the True Crime Mission Fields Program allow you to connect your passions and skills as Christians with practical service opportunities within the world of true crime. You will begin to serve people in difficult circumstances, and have a greater impact in this world than you ever imagined possible. Access your Free Report: Meet the Christian Who Married Faith with True Crime and receive up to 70% of any collection when you use this link https://www.theunlovelytruthtribe.com/uttylk22r3e?affiliate_id=3727901

Do you have the tools to keep hope alive? Today's guest, Kat Vazquez, shares how the Lord called her to reach out to those in darkness and offer them tools to amplify hope. Kat and her husband Jorge are the founders of Revolution Media Ministries and the husband-wife team behind The Revolution TV and Your Story Is Not Done film series. Evangelists, authors, and TV hosts for over 15 years, the husband and wife team are called to evangelize the lost, while empowering the Church to do the same. Kat shares the origin of Your Story is Not Done in her heartfelt compassion and mentorship for a struggling friend many moons ago. She and her husband founded this mission of hope after receiving visions and dreams in the years to follow. They launched the book, which offers tools to amplify hope, as the pandemic struck. Kat explains that we all have calls on our lives, but sometimes stumble on the way to fulfilling our purpose. She says, "But the Lord is not intimidated or frustrated or put off by us trying to figure out and navigate through all of that. He just wants us to ask Him for help, to invite him back into our real and to trust in who he says he is, that he is a good father." We discuss the examples seen in flawed heroes of scripture for whom God brought about redemption and purpose. Kat notes how Jesus can rewrite our story. When we struggle to hold onto hope and pursue our call, Vazquez encourages the following:

• Keep talking with the Lord. Invite the Holy Spirit into your real struggle and suffering.
• Allow a healthy, spiritual community to love and support you.
• Find mentors to help you grow.
• Seek professional support to bring healing for trauma, addiction, or other intense struggles.
• Carve out time to let the Holy Spirit renew and refresh your weary soul.
• Depend on Jesus and your relationship with him to anchor your faith.
• Abide in Christ during difficult seasons.
• Don't give up. Your story is not done.

Kat advises, "Pray for wisdom ... There is such a value in resting and allowing the Lord to come and fill up your empty vessel again. Because he loves you. He cares for you. He is El Roi. He is a God that sees me. It just wrecks me when I think about that. He's the God that sees me. He sees me. He knows what I'm walking through, how hard it is. But His Grace is sufficient. So invite him into your real and allow him to fill your cup to overflowing. I promise it will be worth it."

Connect with Kat and Jorge Vazquez at

Website: YourStoryIsNotDone.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YourStoryIsNotDone Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourstoryisnotdone/

I would like to invite you to join The True Crime Mission Fields Program, a life-changing opportunity exclusively joining Christians who have married faith and true crime. Featuring Chaplain Lori Prather, the products within the True Crime Mission Fields Program allow you to connect your passions and skills as Christians with practical service opportunities within the world of true crime. You will begin to serve people in difficult circumstances, and have a greater impact in this world than you ever imagined possible. Access your Free Report: Meet the Christian Who Married Faith with True Crime and receive up to 70% of any collection when you use this link https://www.theunlovelytruthtribe.com/uttylk22r3e?affiliate_id=3727901

How do you keep hope alive when things get stormy?

Today's guest, Grace Fox, is a career missionary, a member of the First 5 writing team for Proverbs 31 Ministries, a co-host of the podcast "Your Daily Bible Verse," and the author of 12 books including her new devotional, Keeping Hope Alive: Devotions for Strength in the Storm.

It's not a matter of "if" things get stormy, but "when." Grace shares the importance of preparing for crisis before the storms of life hit.

Fox recommends studying scripture, connecting with healthy people in community, listening to praise music, worship, and developing the discipline of practicing the presence of the Lord daily.

We discuss the struggle to experience the presence of God during times when we're suffering. Grace shares the value of lament and praying through Psalms during times of pain and crisis. She explains that acknowledging our pain instead stuffing it is healthy. Rather than showing a weakness of faith, pouring our struggles out to God in prayer can strengthen our faith.

Grace emphasizes the need to express our pain. We note how Psalm 23 shows us how we don't skip the valley of grief, but can find strength from God's presence with us when we suffer. Grace shares how God's presence in our times of struggle can give us hope.

Fox encourages listeners to recognize lies and replace them with God's truth from scripture.

Grace shares a story of facing a dangerous situation with her houseboat as an illustration of how important it is to make sure we don't leave an opening for the enemy to attack us. Sometimes we leave a small crack into which the enemy can pry into our lives and attack us. She notes unforgiveness, unconfessed sin, and fear as examples of openings that leave us vulnerable to the enemy.

We discuss the importance of catching negative thought patterns and resisting them as soon as possible. Everyone has fearful or other negative thoughts, but we can choose to stop and shift them so we can minimize our vulnerability to the enemy's attack strategy to use them against us.

We explore how to use the attack of fearful thoughts as an opportunity to choose to trust the Lord with our concerns.

Grace shares the illustration of a crossing guard's stop sign as a way to remember we can halt our negative thoughts and change the direction we move afterward.

We discuss how we can find hope when stuck in a place of hopelessness and darkness. Fox emphasizes the critical role our self-talk plays in the times when we are experiencing crisis and suffering, especially when hopelessness sinks in. She shares her own personal experience with overcoming moments of hopelessness during a time when an injury left her immobile.

Grace recommends praying through our times of crisis and choosing to thank God for his presence. Even when we are not in a situation we can feel thankful about, we can thank God that he is with us.

We talk about choosing to pray for support for the present, the next few moments, perhaps, when crisis prevents us from considering hope for a longer stretch of time.

Grace explains the original meaning of the scripture about the sufficiency of grace as centering on the present.

Fox urges listeners to put hope in an anchor that will not shift or disappoint us. The only anchor that can do this is Jesus.

Connect with Grace Fox at https://www.gracefox.com/ or on Facebook at gracefoxauthor. Check out her podcast, Your Daily Bible Verse, wherever you choose to listen to content.

I would like to invite you to join The True Crime Mission Fields Program, a life-changing opportunity exclusively joining Christians who have married faith and true crime. Featuring Chaplain Lori Prather, the products within the True Crime Mission Fields Program allow you to connect your passions and skills as Christians with practical service opportunities within the world of true crime. You will begin to serve people in difficult circumstances, and have a greater impact in this world than you ever imagined possible. Access your Free Report: Meet the Christian Who Married Faith with True Crime and receive up to 70% of any collection when you use this link https://www.theunlovelytruthtribe.com/uttylk22r3e?affiliate_id=3727901