Whether you are in a prolonged period of stress or just having a bad day, everyone experiences times of stress. Our jobs can be stressful and full of pressure-filled deadlines. Our family budget may be tight, and we are worried about making ends meet. Or our family relationships are tense, whether that be with our spouse or extended family.
There are any number of things in life that can be the source of our stress. Although stress may be unavoidable, we don’t have to get stuck in a cycle of never-ending worry. I’ve asked my friend, Barb Roose, to join me for a conversation about stress and how the Bible can lead us to be stronger than stress in our lives.
Barb is a speaker and an author who is passionate about equipping women to be strong and courageous, so that they can experience God’s great adventure of faith and purpose for their lives. She has authored eight Bible studies and five books, including Stronger Than Stress: 10 Spiritual Practices to Win the Battle of Overwhelm.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- The effect of stress on our lives
- How to take your stress to God
- Practicing “Hands up, Hands down”
- And more!
Barb has been a dear friend to me through the years, and it’s always a pleasure to hear her insights and wisdom.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Connect with Barb on her website, Instagram, or Facebook
- [BOOK] Stronger Than Stress: 10 Spiritual Practices to Win the Battle of Overwhelm
- When Life Feels Like More Than You Can Handle with Barb Roose | Episode 7
- Stories of Race with Barb Roose and Susan Seay | Episode 87
- Bold, Brave, and Beautiful Podcast: Five Secrets that Husbands Wish That Their Wives Knew with Mark Savage
- [BOOK] Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus (Bible Study)
- BONUS: Why Marriage Should Be 70/30, Not 50/50
- As a thank you for listening, get your 3 free eBooks.
My Key Takeaways:
1) As women, we tend to focus on taking care of others. We can prioritize our family, chores, and even helping others over taking care of ourselves. When this happens, we can experience some real health issues. Our bodies were not meant to hold the weight of the world, all while pushing self-care lower and lower down the priority list.
2) Learn how to take your stress to God. When we allow stress to build up inside of us, it’s like a balloon that overinflates. It can only take so much before it pops. When this happens, we take our stress out on ourselves, those we love, and those we interact with. Instead, we need to practice surrendering our stress to God. Here’s a prayer from Barb that is a great place to start! God, I can’t, but you can. I will let you. Amen.
3) Recognize when you are over your limit. We were never meant to help to the point of exhaustion. In both Christian and secular circles, there is this idea that we must overextend ourselves to do good, even if it is at the expense of our health and well-being. Here are two guidelines Barb uses to tell if you need to step back from helping others: 1. You don’t have time to care for yourself. 2. You don’t have time to spend with God.
About Barb:
Barb Roose is a speaker and author passionate about helping women live with courage, beauty, and strength so they can experience God’s purpose for their lives. She’s open and real about her own struggles with depression, anxiety, parenting challenges, family addiction, trauma, and seasons of unanswered prayer. Barb has spoken on national platforms, including the She Speaks Conference and UMC Leadership Institute. She’s the proud mom of three adult children and lives in northwest Ohio. When she isn’t speaking or writing, she enjoys traveling, reading, and eating dessert first.
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