Life Issues
Grief can be misunderstood by many. But the most important truth about grief is that the grieving process is not going to end all of the pain. It can be devastating to lose a person who is very significant in someone’s life. People can also go through a loss of the way they view themselves or the way other people are going to view them.
When Steve Arterburn, founder of New Life Ministries, went through a divorce, he experienced a great deal of loss. In his grieving, he had to address his insecurity and fear of the future. But more than anything, it was the loss of a safe and intact home for his 12-year-old daughter that hurt him.
While he describes his sadness as feeling different now than it did then, he acknowledges that it’s still there. (more…)
Life Issues
Obsessive thoughts are a struggle for so many. If left unchecked, however, these obsessive thoughts can play over and over in your head like a record that has a scratch. Your thoughts can change depending on the situation. But once they’ve entered your mind, you may not be able to get rid of them.
Some examples of obsessive thoughts are:
- Fear of getting sick or dying.
- Anxiety over cleanliness and organization.
- Worry over forgetting something (Did I lock the door?).
If you struggle with obsessive thoughts, you may also worry about the future. In Matthew 6:34, Jesus said, “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Some things are out of your control. But in this passage, He encourages you to trust Him. In recovery, we learn what we have control over and how to surrender the things we don’t have control over. It is helpful to consider what is behind the obsession. (more…)
Life Issues
On the outside, we have it all together. But on the inside, we may have secrets that we’ve never told a soul. Our secrets lie below the surface. No one can see them; nevertheless, they are there. These secrets cause us pain and keep us from being fully known.
Secrets have the potential to destroy everything near and dear to us. But when we address our pain and bring our secrets out into the open, we’ll find healing.
Where do we feel pain? (more…)
Life Issues
On New Year’s Day, we are excited to set New Year’s resolutions and accomplish them. But within 30 days, most of us quit.
We’re initially looking forward to doing whatever it takes to reach our resolutions. But as reality sets in, we become less and less excited. It’s hard work to meet our goals—many of us give up on them altogether.
Is there a way we can accomplish our New Year’s resolutions and make them stick? Yes, absolutely! We can learn three principles from farming.
Get rid of contaminants. (more…)
Life Issues
Are you stuck? Feeling like you cannot get things done? Here are some steps to get you moving in the right direction:
1. Avoid distractions.
In our tech-filled world, it’s easy to let technology distract us. Turn off the TV; hide your phone; take a break from social media. By overcoming constant distractions like technology, the less likely you’ll be to procrastinate.
2. Establish goals.
Most people never write their goals down. Write them down—keep a daily journal. Research shows that by writing down your goals, you’re more likely to accomplish them! (more…)
