Articles
How to Communicate Better: 6 Bible Verses to Help
There are hundreds of thousands of books, podcasts, and seminars on how to communicate better. This is not surprising, as being able to communicate well is at the very heart of sustaining and enjoying the relationships we have with those around us. It is hard to discern where to go, what to read, or what to listen to, in order to become better communicators. Here we will seek God’s Word on His ideal foundations for communicating. Communicating better is also something that does not come naturally. Many have been raised in homes that never taught healthy communication, while others have been [...]
Dating After Divorce: Learning to Trust Again
Dating after divorce is a journey of learning to trust again. Once you have reconciled yourself to the understanding that there is life after divorce, you can thrive afterward. Learning to move past the grief of losing a marriage is the first step in dating after divorce. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. – 1 Peter 5:10, ESV Processing grief after divorce. Grief isn’t just about death. It also is experienced when you lose a way [...]
Breaking Negative Thought Patterns
Learning about your mental health is hard work. From a spectrum of illnesses to normal thought patterns being negative, the concept of “taking every thought captive” can seem impossible. Since much of what happens in your brain is subconscious, it takes effort to change patterns and habits of negative thinking into healthy thinking. Negative thought patterns can affect your mood, your attitude toward work, and your relationships. Your brain creates ruts and in times of stress will default into the most familiar ruts. It takes time to program or reprogram the ruts to healthy thinking, rather than negative thinking. Then the Spirit [...]
6 Signs that You Struggle with Boundaries in Relationships
In today’s me-focused culture, the word “boundaries” has become a popular buzzword. Although some may misuse the concept of establishing boundaries in relationships as an excuse for spending less time with someone or committing to fewer responsibilities, real boundaries are not about selfishness or simply carving out “me” time. Boundaries in relationships are actually helpful to both people. Boundaries help each person know where they end and the other person begins. If you’ve thought about boundaries as a luxury or simply a way to get what you want, think again. Boundaries help you and the other person understand each other’s needs, [...]
How to Recharge When You’re Experiencing Emotional Exhaustion
If you’ve ever found yourself feeling like you’re at a breaking point emotionally, you’ve experienced emotional exhaustion. Emotional exhaustion shows up not only in how you’re feeling emotionally but also physically and in negative impacts on your ability to perform at work and be present at home. When emotional exhaustion sets in, you may find that you have less patience to engage with family and friends at the end of your workday, and you are more easily frustrated with them. Emotional exhaustion doesn’t happen overnight unless you’re under intense stress. For most people, emotional exhaustion builds up slowly over time, and [...]
Common Signs of Distorted Thinking
What is distorted thinking, and how can it affect you? That’s what we want to explore together today. Distorted thinking is something you can overcome with the truth of God’s Word and the help of a Christian counselor. What Is Distorted Thinking? Distorted thinking is any kind of thought process that leads you away from the truth. It can be linked to stress, emotional turmoil, or crises in your life. It can also be a long-term pattern that was formed in childhood as a coping mechanism against pain or one that was modeled to you. The problem with distorted thinking is [...]
6 Bible Verses for Overcoming Depression
Depression is a complex illness that affects every aspect of a person. It cannot simply be described as a medical problem or an emotional one. Rather, it strikes at the very heart of what it means to be human. Depression was referred to as “melancholia” as far back as the time when Hippocrates the Greek physician was living in 400 B.C. In the Bible, many key characters such as David, Jonah, and Ezekiel describe themselves in a depressed state, using expressions like “groaning in the anguish of heart” (David in Psalm 38) and “Take my life, for it is better for [...]
Do I Have ADHD? How to Know for Sure
Have you been wondering, “Do I have ADHD?” You may be having difficulty staying focused and on-task at work or home. You may have tons of energy when starting projects but difficulty finishing them or following through. You might keep misplacing your wallet, keys, or credit card. Your train of thought may often jump off the rails without warning. Perhaps you struggle with procrastination, organizational skills, or time management. These challenges may or may not be signs of ADHD. There are few things in life more frustrating than the feeling that your mind or body is not working as well as [...]
Types of Anger Issues: How to Identify and Overcome Them
Anger is a human emotion that can be triggered by many things such as stress, family problems, financial strain, frustration, depression, etc., and it may be either righteous or sinful. While everyone experiences it from time to time, it is a cause for concern if you indulge in sinful anger which can interfere with your work, personal relationships, peace of mind, and especially your relationship with God. Be angry and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. – Ephesians 4:26, ESV Depending on the cause of your anger, it can be classified as righteous [...]