Holding Onto Your Identity in Christ When Life is Hard with Amy Bragg Carey and Anna Marie Carey

Holding Onto Your Identity in Christ When Life is Hard with Amy Bragg Carey and Anna Marie Carey

by | Sep 21, 2026 | Bold Brave & Beautiful Podcast

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What happens when you know God loves you, but your circumstances make it hard to believe that He cares?

In this episode of Bold, Brave & Beautiful, I’m joined by mother-daughter authors Amy Bragg Carey and Anna Marie Carey, authors of Claimed by God: Thirty Declarations of Your Identity in Christ.

You know how much I care about saying the hard things with hope! That’s exactly how Amy and Anna came to our conversation. I was impressed and appreciative of their willingness to be vulnerable about their own struggles with self-doubt, identity, and difficult seasons. They didn't offer simple answers or pretend that declaring God's truth makes life's hard circumstances disappear. Instead, they shared honestly about what they've learned: God's love is true and steady even when our circumstances are anything but.

Amy and Anna Marie talk about what it looks like to anchor our identity in Christ when we're struggling to believe what God says about us, why our words matter, and how declaring Scripture can help reshape our perspective—even before our circumstances change.

If you've ever found yourself wondering, "If God really loves me, why does my life feel like this?" I think you'll find comfort in their courage and honesty.

 

Resources From This Episode

Connect with Amy and Anna Marie via email: president@friendsuniversity.edu.
Claimed by God on Amazon

 

About Today’s Guests:

Amy Bragg Carey (EdD, Azusa Pacific) is the president of Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. She serves on the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities board and the International Friends Missions board. Amy lives in Kansas with her husband, Bryan.

Anna Marie Carey (BS, University of Northwestern, St. Paul) is a songwriter, copywriter, and video producer. She is also the worship director at The Gathering Community Church in Robbinsdale, Minnesota. Anna lives in the Twin Cities in Minnesota.

 

Share the Episode

Know a woman who needs this reminder that God's love is steady even when life isn't? Share this episode with her!

Bold, Brave & Beautiful releases new episodes on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month.

Find all the episodes in the podcast archive at BarbRoose.com/podcast.

 

About Your Host

Barb Roose is a Christian speaker, Bible teacher and author who helps overwhelmed women stop carrying the things God never asked them to carry so those women can experience God’s peace, freedom, and purpose. She speaks nationally and internationally at conferences and retreats, including Aspire Women’s Events, ECPA Leadership Summit, Proverbs 31 COMPEL and She Speaks Conference. Barb is the author of seven Bible studies, including Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus, Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle, and five books, including Stronger Than Stress. She hosts the Bold, Brave & Beautiful podcast and writes her weekly Happy Monday devotional. Barb is the proud mom of three adult kids. She lives in northwest Ohio and prefers to eat dessert first.

Experience Life-Transforming Power of Prayer

Pray Like This Bible Study by Barb Roose

As a Christian, you know you’re supposed to pray. But do you ever find yourself wrestling with any of these questions related to prayer?

Do I have to pray the right way for God to answer my prayer?

Do I have to pray the right way for God to answer my prayer?

Am I still praying if I read pre-written prayers?

If you’ve pondered these questions or others about prayer, my Pray Like Bible Study is for you.

Even if you're a prayer warrior, Pray Like This sharpens your prayer focus and is a great resource for you to teach others about prayer.There's a reason why Jesus was passionate about prayer and I want to show you how!

Click Here
Don’t Skip This One… – Taking Care of You – Week Three

Don’t Skip This One… – Taking Care of You – Week Three

by | Sep 14, 2026 | Self-Care, Taking Care of You

Let's jump in! Today's topic: Exercise
 
Has a healthcare professional suggested that you exercise to build or rebuild your strength? Is your scale confirming that you need to sit less and move more?  
 
Today's topic is exercise! There are lots of reasons why Christian women struggle with exercise. Which ones resonate with you?
  1. We're so busy taking care of everyone and everything, so it seems like there’s no time to workout or we’re too tired.                                                       
  2. Perhaps you were raised to believe that exercise was “worldly” and good Christian women didn’t need to be caught up in what the world is doing.                                                                                                                                          
  3. Have you been discouraged by the unrealistic expectations for women's bodies to look a certain way, so you gave up on exercise altogether?                                                                                                                           
  4. For many of us, all the sweating and exertion is uncomfortable, so we skip it.
I know many of you dread this conversation, so I'm writing today with compassion, candor, and practical help. I want more for you - and God does, too! Here’s the big idea that I want to convey in today’s Happy Monday devotion: Moving our body for is for our good and prepares us to be used for God's glory.
 
While we don't read about pilates or pickleball in the New Testament, various authors use athletic imagery on many occasions:
 
And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. -Hebrews 12:2 NLT
 
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. -Philippians 3:14 NLT
 
In ancient times, athletes trained for races and events. As the scriptural authors wrote about these contests and used words like endurance and perseverance, those words paint a picture of someone who must be prepared or else they won't make it to the end. While there's spiritual application, there's a physical layer as well. Some of the endurance we need to do the work that God has called for us to do requires that bodies be able to withstand the physical toll. Unfortunately, some of us are on the sidelines because our bodies need to get stronger first. 
 
THE PROBLEM BEHIND THE PROBLEM
Here’s what I think: We've been turned off by how the culture has worshipped tiny waists, tight abs, and youth - and rightly so. However, in our full-force rejection of anything related to body image, we’ve neglected God’s common sense wisdom for why exercise is important. We've forgotten that: 
  • Moving our bodies improves blood flow, which improves healthy digestion and better sleep. Some of us are a nightly walk away from better sleep!
  • God created our bodies to release feel-good hormones when we exercise, which naturally lift our mood. This can help with anxiety.
  • There’s research suggesting that the bilateral motion involved with walking can help repair trauma in our brain and body.
WHY I WALK…
I began walking for stress relief over fifteen years ago while living with an alcohol-addicted spouse.  Most of my walks began with angry or anxious tears streaming down my face. However, an hour later, that movement regulated my body. I'd listen to worship music to refocus my mind. I felt the endorphins that came from moving my body, so I felt uplifted and less hopeless. God also used walking not only to help me keep my mouth shut so I wouldn’t say things I’d regret. I kept walking for the next few years during that stressful situation until I discerned God’s leading to make needed changes.
 
Now, at 54 years old, I remain committed to moving my body each day. I tend to walk after work to help drain the stress of the day from my bodies and to take deep breathes to refill my body with oxygen. This helps me sleep well, too! I also use hand weights and calisthenics, like jumping jacks and squats to keep my muscles and joints strong. All of these movements work together to strengthen my body so that I have the energy and stamina to travel, speak, and serve all of you. 
DON’T GIVE UP ON YOUR BODY
Even if you feel like it’s too late or you’re hopeless out of shape, don’t give up on your body! If you're not dead, then God's not done with using you to make a difference! 
 
I love dreaming of seeing all of us with our heads high, shoulders back, and voices strong yelling, Here am I God, send me! May today's devotion be a reminder that God still has adventure and purpose waiting for you, so never stop praying for ways for Him to use you and then get prepared!
 
Also, our physical selves will return to dust when we die, but God doesn’t give up on our bodies. He will resurrect our imperfect bodies, just as He resurrected Jesus’ broken body. Even though Jesus’ body was beaten and scarred, God redeemed it, even though God left the scars. This shows us that our bodies tell the story of our faith just like our mouths speak our faith, too.
 
WHERE TO START?
Do you need to start or restart moving your body? Today's a good day to start:
  1. Start slow - Of course, check with your healthcare provider if you haven't moved in awhile. Please do not try to work out for an hour to start. Start small and slow, like a walk or 1lb pound weights! Check out Grow with Jo on YouTube for simple exercises.                                                                      
  2. Walk with friend(s) - A good place to start is mimicking what Jesus did: He walked with friends. You have many options! You can walk with a friend or call each other and talk while you walk in your respective places. There are also walking discipleship groups where women choose a verse or Bible story to discuss while walking for 30 minutes.                                                                                  
  3. Step Tracker - Most of us overestimate how much we're walking each day. Accountability is important, so I suggest using step trackers. My step tracker is my watch (because it tracks sleep, too!), but if you don’t want to buy a watch, here’s a simple, low-cost step tracker you can clip to your shirt or pocket to make sure you're actually moving your body.                                                                  
  4. Don't worry about what everyone else is doing! We all have different capacities. I'm giving you permission to give yourself what you need and not worry about what others will say.
I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Did you sense any helpful a-ha moments or sense God prompting you? What next steps were confirmed as you read or are there any changes that you need to make? Comment and tell me more!

Read the Entire Series: Taking Care of You

Week One:  Morning Enemy #1

Week Two: God, I'd Rather Be Sleeping!

Delighting in God & Good Vanilla with Stephanie Rousselle

Delighting in God & Good Vanilla with Stephanie Rousselle

by | Sep 7, 2026 | Bold Brave & Beautiful Podcast

Why do some believers seem so alive with joy in Jesus, while you feel... meh? Or worse, a little cynical? Verses like Psalm 34:8 tell us to "delight in the Lord," but does that actually work in real life?

In this episode, I’m sitting down with my friend Stephanie Rousselle. She’s a powerful Bible teacher, host of the Gospel Spice podcast, and author of the new book Awaken Delight: Satisfying Your Soul's Longing for God. Stephanie shares her powerful story of coming to faith as a former atheist raised in a hedonist culture in France, and how that journey led her to a life motto of "God's glory, our delight!"

Together, me and Stephanie unpack what Psalm 34:8 really means, why delight isn't about getting what you want from God, and how delight can be sensory, tangible, even "luscious"  perspective that can fire up your faith. So, if your faith has gone flat or you're longing to feel alive in Jesus again, this conversation will help you reclaim it.

 

RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE

Link to Awaken Delight 

Stephanie’s Gospel Spice website

Connect with Stephanie on Instagram

 

ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Stephanie Rousselle is a Bible teacher, speaker, host of the Gospel Spice podcast, and founder of Gospel Spice Ministries. Born and raised in France, Stephanie is a former atheist whose life motto is now "God's glory, our delight!" Having resided in four different countries during her lifetime, she now lives with her family in Pennsylvania.

 

About Your Host:

Barb Roose is a Christian speaker, Bible teacher and author who helps overwhelmed women stop carrying the things God never asked them to carry so those women can experience God’s peace, freedom, and purpose. She speaks nationally and internationally at conferences and retreats, including Aspire Women’s Events, ECPA Leadership Summit, Proverbs 31 COMPEL and She Speaks Conference. Barb is the author of seven Bible studies, including Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus, Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle, and five books, including Stronger Than Stress. She hosts the Bold, Brave & Beautiful podcast and writes her weekly Happy Monday devotional. Barb is the proud mom of three adult kids. She lives in northwest Ohio and prefers to eat dessert first.

Experience Life-Transforming Power of Prayer

Pray Like This Bible Study by Barb Roose

As a Christian, you know you’re supposed to pray. But do you ever find yourself wrestling with any of these questions related to prayer?

Do I have to pray the right way for God to answer my prayer?

Do I have to pray the right way for God to answer my prayer?

Am I still praying if I read pre-written prayers?

If you’ve pondered these questions or others about prayer, my Pray Like Bible Study is for you.

Even if you're a prayer warrior, Pray Like This sharpens your prayer focus and is a great resource for you to teach others about prayer.There's a reason why Jesus was passionate about prayer and I want to show you how!

Click Here
God, I’d Rather Be Sleeping! – Taking Care of You – Week Two

God, I’d Rather Be Sleeping! – Taking Care of You – Week Two

by | Sep 7, 2026 | Self-Care, Taking Care of You

It’s week 2 of our new series, Taking Care of You! Last week, many of you appreciated my two clothing principles and the reminder to shine Jesus-bright when we're out and about. Did you miss last week’s Happy Monday? Check the end of this letter for the link to last week’s devotion.
 
I’m excited about today’s topic: SLEEP.
 
In the Bible, there are over one hundred references to sleep and over six hundred references to rest! In one of my favorite stories on sleep, Jesus was asleep on a boat in the middle of a storm while his disciples panicked. I don’t know about you, but my goal is to have the kind of faith that allows me to sleep like Jesus during life's “storms". Can I get an amen?
 
Often, our sleep is the first thing to go when the storms of life pop up, or there's a lot going on. We stay up to finish housework or to tie up loose ends from our jobs. Many of us stay up because we promised someone at the church that we would write a newsletter or prepare for a Bible study the next day. Sometimes, we just let time get away from us. Have you ever said, “Let me watch a little YouTube real quick before bed"?  All the sudden it's 1:28am and you've watched twenty-six videos of watching baby goats in pajamas instead of going to sleep.
 
Of course, when you finally lay down and close your eyes, your mind sends out an announcement: Not so fast, honey. It’s time for you to think about everything that you were too busy to think about all day.  Let’s gooooo!
 
When we’re carrying more than God planned for us, our sleep suffers. Here’s a powerful insight from Psalm 127 about this:
 
It is useless for you to work so hard
    from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat;
    for God gives rest (sleep) to his loved ones. -Psalm 127:2 NLT
 
Did you notice the last line?
 
God grants sleep to his loved ones…
 
When you lay down at night, God’s desire is for you to sleep like you don't have a care in the world because you know that God is taking care of you.
 
When you give your problems to God during the day, when you lay down your head at night, you won't lie awake overthinking or obsessing about what’s unfinished, unsettled, or messed up. Even if you do have worries, you know that you can pray my favorite surrender prayer from my Stronger Than Stress book and Bible study: God, I can’t. You can. I will let You. Amen.
Ask yourself this: For all the things keeping you from sleep, can you fix or change anything in the middle of the night? The answer is usually no.
 
If not, what do you need to start surrendering at night so that you can go to sleep? 
 
TWO ENCOURAGING VERSES:
Here are two verses that I discuss in my Stronger Than Stress book in the “Taking Care of You” chapter on page 139 - and if you’re struggling with sleep, then screenshot these verses and read them tonight before bed:
 
You can go to bed without fear;
   you will lie down and sleep soundly. -Proverbs 3:24 NLT
 
He will not let you stumble;
   the one who watches over you will not slumber.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel
   never slumbers or sleeps. -Psalm 121:3-4 NLT
 
Both of these verses remind us of God’s character and His care for us. Sleep is a grace.  In a world of sin and hardship, God created our bodies to need a daily shutdown period to restore us while He sustains and maintains the world around us. Lucky for us, God doesn’t need sleep, and He's always at work! God knows that we don’t need to be aware of everything happening in the world 24/7 - that weight is too much for us. So, let’s not rob ourselves of experiencing the grace of sleep by lying awake obsessing about the problems that God is already working on.
 
LET’S GET PRACTICAL! FOUR WAYS TO HELP YOU IMPROVE SLEEP:
 
1. Put Your Devices to Bed Before You Go to Bed
If your sleep has been struggling, perhaps a good starting point is putting your devices to bed before you go to bed. There's all kinds of research telling us that the screen light before bed disrupt our natural melatonin production, which is needed for sleep. For years, I've plugged my cell phone into my office and it's been so helpful for better sleep! (I use this alarm clock instead of my phone.)
 
2. Write It Down and Release It to God
For decades, I’ve kept a journal. I write and reflect on my day before bed. Journaling helps empty all the swirling things in our minds onto paper and that helps us problem-solve and can reduce our anxiety. If you haven't journaled or you aren't sure what to write, here are some prompts to help you:
  • God, today I am grateful for (list 3-5 things).
  • God, I am anxious about (tell God what's going on).
  • God, I need to surrender (tell God what you need to let go of).
  • God, I choose to remember (God's love, His provision, He is always with you)
3. Give “It” to God
In my Stronger Than Stress book, I mention creating a “God Box” where you grab a box and a stack of notecards. Before bed, write down whatever is on your mind, and at the bottom of each card, you can write: “God, I can't. But You can. I will let You. Amen" surrender prayer.  
 
4.  Worship Your Night Worries Away!
If you’re an over-thinker, a worrier, or someone who obsesses over problems, I suggest listening to worship music before bed to keep you mind from spinning. Worship songs about God’s love, faithfulness, and power fill your mind and fight back against your anxieties. I have a great Spotify playlist that you can access here!
 
I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!  What do you need to surrender so you can stop worrying and go to sleep? If you need to try one of my four suggestions, comment with “Sleep.”  Good sleepers, tell me what helps you let go of your worries and go to sleep?

Read the Entire Series: Taking Care of You

Week One:  Morning Enemy #1

Week Three:  Don't Skip This One…

Morning Enemy #1 – Taking Care of You – Week One

Morning Enemy #1 – Taking Care of You – Week One

by | Aug 31, 2026 | Self-Care, Taking Care of You

Welcome to our new series, Taking Care of You.” If you’re wondering why we’re spending the next few week focusing on caring for ourselves, check out last week’s Happy Monday.
 
As we begin this series, I’d like to pray for you and everyone in our Happy Monday community:
OUR FIRST TOPIC: CLOTHES
As we jump into this topic, make sure to catch my two favorite clothing closet principles at the end of today's devotion!
 
Did you know that the words garment, clothing, and cloak appear over 250 times in the Bible? Most of us have never thought about that. Even more, we don’t think about how what we wear may impact to how we live out our faith.
 
Even as the Bible tells the story of Jesus and God’s plan for humanity, notice how God uses clothing as a symbol of significance or as a spiritual connection: 
  • God made animal skins for Adam and Eve after they sinned.
  • God was also the first fashion designer! He provided Moses with specific instructions on the fabrics and embellishments of the priests’ holy garments.
  • One of my favorite Biblical references to clothes was Queen Esther wearing her queenly finery to stand before King Xerxes and save her people.
In each of these instances, clothes were connected to one’s purpose or a spiritual symbol of a grace, influence, or power (like the armor of God).  This doesn’t mean that we need to become “religious” about our clothes or begin policing what others are wearing. No! Our clothes don’t need to become performative. The religious leaders in Jesus’ time used their clothes to reinforce the idea that they were better than others. That kind of show doesn’t glorify God.
 
WHY DOES THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT CLOTHES MATTER?
I think we underestimate how much our clothes impact not only our mood and how engaged - or disconnected we are to others. As Christian women, it's important for us to notice when we look in the mirror and frown or we turn away feeling badly about ourselves. When we know we look bad, chance are we'll feel bad. 
 
Yet, we don't live in a vacuum. Check out Jesus’ words about our purpose in the world as His followers. 
 
Check this out:
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden…No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stnd, where it gives light to everyone in the house. - Matthew 5:14-15 NLT
 
So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” -2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT
 
God’s big picture purpose for us: To tell the world about Jesus! To tell the world about Jesus, we have to be ready and watching for those opportunities.
 
Over two decades ago, I had a huge a-ha moment about how our clothes can impact our purpose:
 
When we’re feeling self-conscious about what we’re wearing because we feel frumpy or uncomfortable, we’re less likely to be outgoing, curious, or engaging with people around us. That same self-consciousness can become a basket that covers opportunities for us to shine Jesus-bright to the people around us.
 
Look, I know that you love Jesus! But, if you're not leaving home because you don't like what you look like or you keep to yourself off at work or church because you're comparing yourself to the other women, then what God-sent opportunities could you be missing? 
 
No matter who you are, God wants to put people in your path so that you can  smile a Jesus-smile of hope in this dark world. But, if you're wearing those jeans that you know don't fit and you're wiggling around, you may miss that person. Perhaps, you toss on whatever you can find and you rush out of the house hoping that you don't run into someone you know. However, what if God wants you to run into certain people so that you can pray for them? It would be terrible for you to see people can then try to avoid them. Look, I've done just that. I've skulked around the grocery store in an embarrassing outfit and prayed not to run into anyone, so no judgement here! At the same time, let's not let that happen again! We always want to be ready for God to use us!
 
LET ME SHARE MY TWO CLOTHING PRINCIPLES!
Let's talk practical application - but first let me say this: It doesn’t matter what you wear as long as your clothes are not a distraction from your heart and mind looking for possible divine appointments from God.
 
Here are two principles from my popular “Taking Care of You” message that may help:
  1. If it doesn’t fit, get rid of it.
  2. Stop wearing clothes that make you sad.
Right now, some of you are laughing because you know that I’m right! What you have on right now could fit exactly what I’m talking about. Can I offer you some advice: TAKE THOSE CLOTHES BACK OFF! Dear friend, stop wearing clothes that make you sad! If something doesn't fit, stop wearing it. Period.
 
Perhaps today's devotion is prompting you to clean out your closet.  Is it time to let go of the clothes from your past, clothes you’re never going to wear, or clothes you’re keeping because someone gave them to you? Apply my two principles above and run after the freedom that God may be trying to give you from feeling blah or frumpy each day!
 
Some of you may be wondering if there’s a line that’s too far in caring about how we look. That’s a good question. As one who loves cute clothes and fashion, I believe as long as we’re living out our highest purpose - telling people about Jesus - then we have freedom to enjoy cute shoes and fun clothes without guilt or shame.
 
I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Who needed today’s devotion? If you did, hit reply and write “clothes” to me. If one or both of those principles were helpful, copy and paste the one that you needed to hear today!

Read the Entire Series: Taking Care of You

Week Two: God, I'd Rather Be Sleeping!

Week Three:  Don't Skip This One…

My Two Favorite Tools to Prevent Doing Too Much! I’m So Over It, Week Five

My Two Favorite Tools to Prevent Doing Too Much! I’m So Over It, Week Five

by | Aug 17, 2026 | I'm So Over It, Letting Go, Overwhelm, Peace

Happy Monday friends!
 
Before I begin today's devotion, I felt compelled to start with this important message:
 
You are so loved and seen my God, my friend. I don't know what's happening in your life, but maybe, God prompted your heart to open today's devotion so that you could be reminded about how much you matter to God. 
 
For some of you, this “I'm So Over It” series has been challenging because you've seen some places where God needs to grow your faith. At the same time, I never want you to lose track of how much God loves you - and how much you mean to me as well. 
 
I felt like I was supposed to share that with you!
 
Let's jump into our final week of the series. As I wrote last week’s devotion, I grappled with our scripture reading about how Jesus loved everyone, but he didn’t always help everyone who asked. That was tough for me, and it was tough teaching for many of you. If you didn’t read last week’s devotion or if you need to reprocess it again, you can read it here.
 
We'll wrap up talking this series on letting go of what God doesn't want you to carry by looking at with two practical tools. These can lead you to freedom from taking on more than you can handle! I use these tools and God has blessed me with more peace and wisdom. I want the same blessing for you!
 
SAYING “NO” FEELS TERRIBLE, BUT WHAT IS SAYING “YES” TOO OFTEN COSTING YOU?
For some of us, we were raised always to say “yes” when it pertains to church or our families. Yes, it's good to show up for family, but when we have the mindset that we always should say “yes," all of the time, that isn't healthy and it may not be God's best for us.
 
In our devotion last week, we saw how Jesus loved everyone, but because he knew his mission, he didn’t always say “yes” when people asked for help. Yes, we should help when we can, but when we say “yes” too much, it keeps us from having the time to be available for the things that God maybe calling us to do.
 
PROTECTING OURSELVES AGAINST DOING TOO MUCH
Let me share two tools that will equip you against taking on more than you can handle. One tool I created and the other tool has been around forever, but most of us aren't using it.
  1. MY “AM I OVER MY LIMIT?” QUESTIONS
God created us with emotional and physical limits. You have a limit, and I have a limit. We were not created to be everything to everybody. The problem is that we ignore our mental and physical limits or we don’t know how to assess them because we're too busy taking care of everyone else and we aren't aware of ourselves. 
 
When we’re unclear about our limits, we’ll often say “yes” to wonderful things. But too many wonderful things may turn us into exhausted wrecks. 
 
What do we do to prevent this: Here are the two crucial questions that I developed for myself. These wise  “limits” questions equip me to assess what season I'm in and these prompt me to be honest about whether I can handle more or if I need to focus on staying within my limits.
  1. Will you have time to nurture your relationship with God each day?
  2. Will you have time to take good care of yourself every day? (adequate sleep, rest, exercise, nourishment, invest in healthy relationships)
Given all of your current obligations, how would you answer those questions right now? If you can’t answer “yes” to both, then chances are, you’re over the limit for what is healthy spiritually or physically for you. I know that sounds harsh, but it’s true. Anytime we’re over our spiritual or physical limits, we’re setting ourselves up for discouragement, exhaustion, anxiety, depression, or worse, burnout.
 
By the way, if you can't answer “yes” to both questions, check out the “Creating a To-Don't List” online event that I'm hosting next Monday! Details are below.
 
Th good news is that once you recognize that you're over the limit, you can do something about it! The question is whether you will, which I encourage you to do so. (Start with attending my online event!)
 
As someone who lived over her limit for decades, I promise you that the best decision you’ll ever make for your spiritual, physical, and mental health is to bring your schedule and obligations to a place where you can answer “yes” to both of those questions. For me, it meant changing a career. And that hard choice was absolutely worth it.
 
2. “SHUT DOWN” DAY
Some of us don’t know how to stop moving. Others of us have never learned how to feel safe sitting still. The good news is that God has given us a practice tool to learn how to do both. Are you ready?
 
Sabbath.
 
Most all of us have been taught about sabbath. Yet, most Christian women have every excuse under the sun for why they don’t do it. God instituted the Sabbath and Jesus affirmed it. Yet, we’re too busy to do it.
 
I’ve never met a woman who is overloaded and still practices a true Sabbath.
 
 Why does God ask us to do this:
  • Sabbath trains our hearts to trust in God and learn to let go of our anxiety about the future;
  • Sabbath trains our minds to see that God will take care of the things beyond our control;
  • Sabbath trains our bodies to learn that resting is safe.
Some of us have never learned that we’re safe and accepted when we’re still. We’ve tied our security or self-esteem to always being busy. Sabbath is how God trains us to find safety and security in Him.
 
Friends, over fifteen years ago, Sabbath changed my life. Even now as I travel a lot and write lots of books, I am committed to one day off per week to honor God and rest my body. I’m self-employed in ministry, so Sabbath is an act of faith that God will take care of me when I’m not working.
 
YOUR CHALLENGE: This week, pick one day and clear the day from appointments/obligations, errands, or cleaning. Yes, you can still do basic care for older loved ones or childcare, but the sabbath goal is to eliminate the mental labor and errands. Spend your Sabbath doing things that make you feel joyful and alive, whether visiting with friends, making a meal, gardening, hobbies, or a nap.
 
I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU:  Friends, I’m praying that you’re listening to any of God’s nudging in your heart. Don't ignore it! Let Him lead you to more freedom and peace! If you need to reassess your limits, comment and type “Limit” or if you need to take a weekly day off, comment and write “sabbath.”

Read the Entire Series: God, I'm So Over It! Letting Go of Things That God Never Asked You to Carry

Week One: Do You Overthink? 

Week Two: Hope for Those Who Do Too Much! 

Week Three: Do You Often Take Matters Into Your Own Hands?

Week Four: Are You Overloaded with Too Much?

Letting Go of Shame with Toni Kim

Letting Go of Shame with Toni Kim

by | Aug 17, 2026 | Bold Brave & Beautiful Podcast

Have you ever wondered why you still feel shame even though you believe in grace? In this episode, Barb talks with Toni Kim, the director of spiritual care at the National Association of Evangelicals and former pastor of over twenty years  to talk about her new book, Shame Redeemed: Learning to Live in Christ's Freedom.

Toni unpacks the real difference between guilt and shame, why shame keeps so many faithful Christians stuck in hiding, and how God's lavish love invites us into healing instead of condemnation. Drawing on her own story as an Asian American woman in ministry, Toni brings wisdom about both the personal and communal sides of shame and practical ways to start living unashamed.

Don’t miss the part of the interview where Toni unpacks the well-known story of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden and how God still saw Adam and Eve as His children even though they failed and they were ashamed. This was Barb’s favorite part of the episode!

Has shame been a constant part of your life? If you've ever felt like you're not quite good enough for God's love, this conversation will remind you: shame doesn't get the final word. God’s love for you does.

Resources:

Connect with Toni Kim

Shame Redeemed: Learning to Live in Christ’s Freedom

About Our Guest:

Toni Kim is director of spiritual care at the National Association of Evangelicals. Previously, she served over twenty years as a pastor in Vancouver and Boston. Toni and her husband Walter currently live in Charlottesville, Virginia, and have two adult children.

Experience Life-Transforming Power of Prayer

Pray Like This Bible Study by Barb Roose

As a Christian, you know you’re supposed to pray. But do you ever find yourself wrestling with any of these questions related to prayer?

Do I have to pray the right way for God to answer my prayer?

Do I have to pray the right way for God to answer my prayer?

Am I still praying if I read pre-written prayers?

If you’ve pondered these questions or others about prayer, my Pray Like Bible Study is for you.

Even if you're a prayer warrior, Pray Like This sharpens your prayer focus and is a great resource for you to teach others about prayer.There's a reason why Jesus was passionate about prayer and I want to show you how!

Click Here
Are You Overloaded with Too Much? I’m So Over It, Week Four

Are You Overloaded with Too Much? I’m So Over It, Week Four

by | Aug 10, 2026 | I'm So Over It, Letting Go, Overwhelm, Peace

Happy Monday everyone,
 
Regular readers, will you join me in welcoming a new big group of ladies to our Happy Monday community? If you're new here, we're thrilled to have you! I write this weekly devotion to help you start your week with Jesus and a smile. 
 
We're almost done with our current series, “I’m So Over It!” (You can read the previous weeks at the bottom of this letter.) In addition to a weekly fun quiz, we've drawn wisdom from various Bible stories to help us see where God wants us to experience more of His peace and less stress.
 
Ready for today's topic: OVERLOAD. It's quiz time! Reminder: If your score is higher than you’d like, consider that a gentle nudge from God to pay close attention to today's devotion. 
WHAT’S BEHIND OUR CHRONIC OVERLOAD?
For much of my life, “overload” was my middle name. When God began dealing with me about why the “reason-behind-the-reason” that I stayed busy 24/7, I discovered five uncomfortable “whys” that fuel chronic overwhelm for many Christian women. Which ones resonate with you?
  1. We love being needed.
  2. We want things done a certain way, so we don’t like to allow anyone’s help.
  3. We assume responsibility for people or things that aren’t our responsibility.
  4. We use our contributions or accomplishments to build our self-worth.
  5. We don’t know how to say “no” or express healthy personal boundaries.
Do you have any others to add? Which ones could you relate to? 
 
Let me add that for Christian women, there can be lots of blurry lines. Many Christian women struggle with saying “no” when people at church, especially the pastor. If no one has told you this, it maybe helpful to know that you should ask for time to pray and discern before saying “yes,” even if the pastor or another leader asks you. 
 
HOW DID JESUS AVOID OVERLOAD?
We're in the gospel of Mark today! The following Bible study is challenging, but needed, especially if you love helping people, but you've been doing too much lately.
 
At the beginning of Mark’s gospel, word about Jesus has spread. It's helpful to know that Mark's gospel focuses on Jesus as a servant. There's a lot of ministry action in Mark. Fun fact: the word “immediately” appears over thirty times in the New King James Version of Mark's gospel. So, Jesus stayed busy!
 
Mark.1 records how people traveled to hear from Jesus teach. Then, they stayed to seek healing from ailments and diseases that many couldn’t find relief from any other way. Here's how Jesus handled himself:
 
Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Later Simon (Peter) and the others went out to find him. When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.” -Mark 1:35-37 NLT
 
Even though a crowd waited for him and he was very popular, Jesus began his day by tending to his need to connect with God.
 
As Jesus spent time with God, it's not hard to imagine that Jesus reaffirmed his clarity on what to do and what not to do. Do you do ask God for clarity on everyday matters? 
 
I believe that we have freedom to seek God at a time during the day that makes sense. You don’t need to become legalistic about only mornings. But I do believe that before you look at your to-do list or your calendar, you should spend time with God. It can make all the difference to look at what you have to do after He realigns your heart and mind versus looking at it through your cram-it-in lens.
 
Next, here is how Jesus responded to Simon. It's shocking! 
 
But Jesus replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.” -Mark 1:38 NLT
 
Wait! What about the people? Jesus knew that many people needed him for earthly healing and relief. Yet, Jesus operated from a heavenly perspective. While some people would not receive what they wanted in that moment, but Jesus ultimately gave everyone what they needed through his sacrifice.
 
THAT’S CHALLENGING TEACHING, ISN’T IT?
Let’s review the radical way that Jesus lived: 
  1. Jesus took care of himself before addressing the needs of everyone else.
  2. He turned down the request to stay even though the people asked him to.
  3. Jesus did not help or heal everyone who sought him out.
  4. There’s no record of Jesus beating himself up or feeling guilty.
REFLECT OF THIS: Jesus loved people. We know that Jesus gave his life for them. At the same time, loving people didn’t mean that Jesus said yes to everything that every person asked him to do, even the people closest to him.
 
Because Jesus had clarity on what his mission was, he didn't tie his love for people into an obligation to step into every single person’s problem or situation. 
 
Read that last sentence again.
 
What do we do this? How do we apply what Jesus models to our lives? Stay tuned! We'll continue this conversation next week with practical tools on how to say “no” without guilt, learn spiritual tools that lead to freedom and more! Make sure to join me so we can grow into God's best for us together. 
 
I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! How did you do on the quiz? What did you think about today's teaching, especially realizing that Jesus didn't help everyone who came asking? 

Read the Entire Series: God, I'm So Over It! Letting Go of Things That God Never Asked You to Carry

Week One: Do You Overthink? 

Week Two: Hope for Those Who Do Too Much! 

Week Three: Do You Often Take Matters Into Your Own Hands?

Week Five: My Two Favorite Tools to Prevent Doing Too Much!

Do You Often Take Matters Into Your Own Hands? I’m So Over It, Week Three

Do You Often Take Matters Into Your Own Hands? I’m So Over It, Week Three

by | Aug 3, 2026 | I'm So Over It, Letting Go, Overwhelm, Peace

Hi friends,
 
Happy Monday to all of you, including our new friends!  I’m thrilled that you’re here!
 
It’s week three of our series, “I’m So Over It.” We're looking at the four different types of overwhelm and how God may be trying to grab our attention so we can live in more peace and less stress. In week one, we discussed overthinking, and last week, we addressed over-functioning. (You can read those devotions at the end of this week's devotion.)
 
This week’s topic is OBSESSING. Do you tend to obsess? Here’s another quiz - and remember, don't beat yourself up! 
There’s nothing wrong with desiring good, even godly things like wanting our loved ones to know Jesus. We may long for physical healing or to experience a shift in one of our relationships. However, when we’re obsessed with how things should be, the danger is that we often become impatient when our prayers aren't answered according to our timing.
 
For example, take the Old Testament couple Abraham and Sarah, who spent years waiting for  God to keep His promise to give them a child. However, there seems to be a point at which Abraham and Sarah allowed their obsession with having a child to cause them to jump ahead of God’s timeline, resulting in significantly more stress and overwhelm than they bargained for.
 
I’m sharing their story today because I think there’s a little Abraham and Sarah in all of us: When we become obsessed with what we want, we must avoid the temptation to take matters into our own hands.
 
In Genesis 12, God told Abraham that He would make then-Abram into a great nation and all the people of the world would be blessed through him.  In Genesis 15, Abram questioned that promise because he didn’t have a son. God reassured Abram that a child was coming. Here’s Abram’s response in Genesis 15:6:
 
And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith. - Genesis 15:6 NLT
 
In that moment, Abram had a bedrock, unshakeable belief. Perhaps you've heard, “God said it, so I believe it.”  That's how we want to live, right? But then, time goes on and nothing happens. 
 
In Genesis 16, the attention shifts to his wife, Sarai. She's impatient because there's no child yet. Abram agreed to his wife’s scheme to take matters into their own hands to produce the baby that God already promised. They forced their servant Hagar into a slave surrogacy. This wasn’t God’s plan. God doesn’t fulfill His promises through manipulation or prompting us to use controlling behaviors.
 
While I acknowledge Abram and Sarai’s lack of faith in that moment, I have compassion for all the years of their infertility-related heartache. Still, their obsession put them on a collision course with many years of unneeded pain. After Hagar became pregnant, there was abuse on all sides (Genesis 16: 4-7). After Hagar’s son, Ishmael, was born, that innocent little boy grew up in a home that held the tensions and likely resentments of adults who tried to play God and got burned.
 
Yet, through it all, God remained faithful to His promise. Fourteen years later, when Abram was 100 years old, a post-menopausal Sarai gave birth to their covenant miracle son, Isaac (Genesis 21:5).  In the end, Abraham and Sarah received their miracle baby, but relationships were damaged along the way.
 
WHY DO WE TAKE MATTERS INTO OUR OWN HANDS?
It's usually one or more of these three reasons:
  1. God seems to be taking too long, and our hearts ache so much that we can’t stand it.
  2. We panic when we think of all the worst-case scenarios if what we’re praying for doesn’t happen.
  3. We’re afraid that God won’t give us what we’ve set our hearts on.
 
As you look at those three reasons, which one seems most relatable to you?
 
Just like I have compassion for Sarah, I have compassion for anyone who can relate to one of these three reasons. We don't have to beat ourselves for wanting something, but it should also prompt us to seek God’s help instead of going our own way. God invites us to share how hard it is to wait. In Psalm 13, where King David says, “How long, LORD?” four times in that one psalm! David poured his aching heart out, and that leads me to believe that God welcomes our lament and confusion when we’re in long waiting seasons as we're encouraged to keep trusting Him.
 
MY GO-TO PRAYER WHEN I’M TEMPTED TO HELP GOD OUT…
If you have a little Abraham and Sarah's impatience inside of you, then this is where God desires for you to surrender that deep desire or obsession to Him. There’s a brief prayer from my Stronger Than Stress Bible study that helps you step into trusting God. 
 
Here it is: God, I can’t. But You can. I will let You. Amen.
 
Do you need to pause right now and offer up that prayer? This maybe the most important prayer you pray today, especially if you've already been cooking up plans to deal with someone or something that is best left up to God. Stop now and pray!
 
MY OWN PERSONAL JOURNEY…
I’ve prayed for a spouse over five years. After fighting for my first marriage for many years, God healed my heart after my long, sad divorce. I was surprised that I would have a healthy desire for a second chance at love and marriage. But, the road hasn’t been easy. Either I’ve been criticized for wanting to remarry, told that I’m too old, too tall, or rejected because I’m abstinent until marriage (which has been the biggest issue by far!), waiting on God amid this deep desire has been hard. Yet, this journey continues to draw me closer to God as I wait instead of taking matters into my own hands.
 
I know that many of you can’t relate to my specific situation, even though some of you can. Maybe you’re wrestling with a desire to purchase a particular house, car, or possession, but the finances aren’t there yet. Perhaps your spouse isn’t going to church, and you’re tempted to use manipulation, nagging, or guilt to get them to attend. Some of you are navigating a long infertility journey like my daughter, Sami, and you've been praying for years for children. Whatever it is, there will always be a temptation to take a shortcut and grab what God hasn’t given to you yet. Getting what we want can't fill us like only God can.
 
PRACTICAL THINGS THAT HAVE HELPED ME
While there are seasons when I handle the longing desire better than others, I’ve chosen to anchor my soul into these words from Psalms 84:11:
 
The Lord will withhold no good thing
   from those who do what is right.
 
This psalm doesn’t promise that God will give us whatever we want, rather, the psalmist reminds us that God will not withhold all the goodness that comes from His nature as our Abba Father and Almighty God. When we fix our minds onwho God is  and live like we trust Him, we receive God's best for us right now. Here's what anchors my spirit when my feelings are all over the place:
 
I am receiving God’s best for me right now because God is with me at all times.
 
Here are three practical ways to live out trusting God while we wait:
  • Instead of lying awake all night thinking of how to get what we want, we turn on a worship song and focus on God so we can rest in His peace (Isaiah 26:3).  
  • Instead of thinking of worst-case scenarios if it doesn’t turn out as we’d hope, we practice gratitude and remember God’s faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).
  • If we’re afraid we won’t get what we’d hoped for, we replay God’s promises and remember that He never withholds any good thing from us (Psalm 84:11).
 
I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! What was your score on today's quiz? You can leave a comment and let me know. What has weighed heavy on your heart lately that you need to surrender to God? If today's devotion resonated with you, feel free to leave a comment with “surrender" so I'll know!

Read the Entire Series: God, I'm So Over It! Letting Go of Things That God Never Asked You to Carry

Week One: Do You Overthink? 

Week Two: Hope for Those Who Do Too Much! 

Week Four: Are You Overloaded with Too Much?

Week Five: My Two Favorite Tools to Prevent Doing Too Much!

When Your Mental Health Messes with Your Faith | Interview with Dr. Jean Lee Neely

When Your Mental Health Messes with Your Faith | Interview with Dr. Jean Lee Neely

by | Aug 3, 2026 | Bold Brave & Beautiful Podcast

So many Christians struggle with mental health, and yet we still struggle to talk about it without shame. If you’ve ever struggled with anxiety, depression or sadness because no one understands, this episode is for you.

In this honest and deeply compassionate conversation, Barb is joined by author Jean Neely to discuss her book Christ in the Abyss: Cultivating Deep Faith amid Depression and Despair. Drawing from her own decades-long journey with mental health challenges, Jean offers a powerful reminder: God’s presence isn’t reserved for when we feel strong—it meets us right in the depths of our pain.

Together, they explore how Christians can approach depression and mental health with honesty and faith, what to do when struggles begin to shake your beliefs, and how to navigate doubt when God feels silent. This episode offers reassurance that God sees you and loves you, even at your lowest points.

 

RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE

Connect with Jean on Facebook

Connect with Jean on Instagram

Christ in the Abyss: Cultivating Deep Faith amid Depression and Despair

Visit Jean's Website

Read from Jean's Substack

ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Jean Lee Neely is a Korean American writer and educator. She has degrees in comparative literature from the University of California, Irvine and Sorbonne University in Paris and a PhD in English literature from the University of Southern California. Jean writes regularly on issues of mental health and faith for Faith and Leadership, a resource from the Duke Divinity School for Christian leaders. She has also written for Sojourners, Inheritance, the Asian American Christian Collaborative (AACC), and Christians for Social Action. She has taught seminars on navigating the intersections of faith, spiritual formation, and mental health for college students and Christian faculty. She lives in Southern California with her husband and son.

Experience Life-Transforming Power of Prayer

Pray Like This Bible Study by Barb Roose

As a Christian, you know you’re supposed to pray. But do you ever find yourself wrestling with any of these questions related to prayer?

Do I have to pray the right way for God to answer my prayer?

Do I have to pray the right way for God to answer my prayer?

Am I still praying if I read pre-written prayers?

If you’ve pondered these questions or others about prayer, my Pray Like Bible Study is for you.

Even if you're a prayer warrior, Pray Like This sharpens your prayer focus and is a great resource for you to teach others about prayer.There's a reason why Jesus was passionate about prayer and I want to show you how!

Click Here
Hope for Those Who Do Too Much! I’m So Over It, Week Two

Hope for Those Who Do Too Much! I’m So Over It, Week Two

by | Jul 27, 2026 | I'm So Over It, Letting Go, Overwhelm, Peace

Happy Monday, friends,
 
Wow! Lots of emails came in after last week’s kickoff of our I’m So Over It” series. Thank you for sharing your quiz scores and your resolve to overthink God instead of overthinking everything else. It was an honor to pray for you all!
Today is the second week of our series, and we’re tackling a topic that happens to be one of my personal struggles: OVERFUNCTIONING.
 
Do you overfunction? Not sure what that means or looks like? I created an overfunctioning quiz, but please don't beat yourself up! Happy Monday is a 100% grace place! We are all on this journey together. God sees us and loves us as we are. These self-assessments are invitations, not indictments on our worthiness or faith. Once you take the quiz, then invite God to speak as you read the rest of today’s devotion. Here’s the quiz:
How’d you do? Confession time: If I'm in an unhealthy place, I will hit the maximum score every time.  What about you? If we peel back the layers of overfunctioning, our doing-too-much dysfunction comes from a good place. As women, our goal is to protect what we love, fix what’s broken, and keep everyone and everything on track. However, when we’re not aware of our motives, we’re driven by guilt, or we’re afraid for any reason, our good intentions morph into unhealthy overfunctioning.
 
LET'S LEARN FROM AN OLD FRIEND
There’s a New Testament woman who was stressed because she was doing too much. We’ve covered her story in a past Happy Monday series, but let's look at her story again from a different perspective. Even if you know the story of Martha and Jesus, pay attention to Jesus’ compassionate but very insightful response to Martha’s frustration.
 
As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Luke 10:38 NLT
 
Notice that Martha welcomed Jesus and his entourage with open arms. This shows us Martha’s heart came from a good place. It’s so easy for us to be critical of Martha, but let’s not overlook her strengths. Some of us are Marthas. Even if you’re not, let’s appreciate:
 
It’s the Marthas who know how to cook and they remember to buy all of our favorite breakfast foods.
 
It’s the Marthas who spread the good-smelling sheets on the beds, and they love making sure everyone is taken care of.
 
I point these reminders out so we don’t overlook the good in Martha. However, here’s where Martha lost herself:
 
But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. -Luke 10:40 NLT
 
So any of us could relate to Martha's to-do list and her angst, but chances are Martha was doing more than needed because of her personal motives. In the midst of doing good things, Martha lost sight of her identity as a child of God.
 
This happens to so many of us. We make taking care of others our life’s purpose. Taking care of others can give us purpose, but let’s not confuse caring for others as our sole sense of purpose or identity. Our identity is God's child, not taking care of others or a specific job. Too many of us hace attached our identity to what we do for others -  or worse yet, taking over for people who should be taking care of themselves.
 
This is why Jesus says the following to our friend, Martha:
 
There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her. -Luke 10:40 NLT
 
Yes, Jesus affirmed Mary’s desire to sit and learn at his feet. At the same time, Jesus included a reminder to Mary that she was more than what she could do for others. Martha needed to know that she didn’t need to earn her self-worth by serving others. As I wrote in Stronger Than Stress, God created us as human be-ings, not human doings. Just being a child of God is always enough.
 
MY OVERFUNCTIONING A-HA MOMENT
For so many years, I performed Christianity because I felt like God would love me to the extent that I did things that made Him happy. But, this error in understanding grace led to faith where I was always doing for God like Martha, but struggling to sit with God like Mary.
 
I transferred this overfunctioning mindset into my relationships. It seemed to work when I was a young wife and mother. My good intentions became dysfunctional when my then-spouse struggled with alcohol addiction.  When I felt my marriage slipping away, I kicked into overfunctioning overdrive. I’d checked every one of those on the quiz. And I was miserable because I was doing too much out of fear and a desire to fix what only God could handle.
 
The a-ha moment came when I began attending a family addiction support group meeting back in 2016 and learned one important slogan that has helped me so much:
 
"Keep your eyes on your own hula-hoop."
 
This means that I need to take care of the things that I’m responsible for. Then, I need to be aware of not inserting myself into things that God is responsible for, which is other people and circumstances beyond my control. I learned how to do less to make room for God to do more.
 
Where do you need to “keep your eyes on your own hula hoop”? If you’re not sure, look back at that quiz.
 
ASK THESE QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU OVERFUNCTION
There are certain phrases that overfunctioners tend say. I've listed a few below. If you recognize these, consider where God maybe prompting you to back off because you're doing to much. Take this pause seriously because you maybe jumping into territory that are actually where God is working and you maybe getting in the way.
 
1. Instead of automatically saying “Don't worry, I’ve got it.”
Ask: Should someone else take care of this, especially if I am tired or I haven’t been consistent with time with God or my own self-care?
2. Instead of saying, “I’ll take care of it.”  
Ask: Am I responsible for this, or am I overstepping where someone else should be taking the lead instead of me?
3. Instead of  saying“No problem, I want to do it.”
Ask: Am I doing it because I like feeling needed, or am I afraid that someone won’t do it as I would?
 
I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! What was your score on today's quiz? You can hit reply and let me know. Could you relate to Martha's story today? If so, I'd love to hear about it, or you can leave a comment with “Do Less” and I'll know today's devotion resonated with you.

Read the Entire Series: God, I'm So Over It! Letting Go of Things That God Never Asked You to Carry

Week One: Do You Overthink? 

Week Three: Do You Often Take Matters Into Your Own Hands?

Week Four: Are You Overloaded with Too Much?

Week Five: My Two Favorite Tools to Prevent Doing Too Much!

Do You Overthink? I’m So Over It, Week One

Do You Overthink? I’m So Over It, Week One

by | Jul 20, 2026 | I'm So Over It, Letting Go, Overwhelm, Peace

Happy Monday everyone,
 
Today is the kickoff of our new series called “I’m So Over It!” This series aims to tackle the four ways we experience overwhelm. Put a mental checkmark on the one(s) that you can relate to. We’ll address one of these each week with scriptural wisdom:
  • Overthinking - Trying to control situations with our thinking, but unable to make decisions
  • Overfunctioning - Taking on people and things we’re not responsible for
  • Obsessing - Fixing our expectations on a specific outcome
  • Overloaded - Shouldering more than we can handle
Let me add this: There’s nothing wrong or sinful in experiencing overwhelm. There’s no need to beat ourselves up or feel ashamed.  However, when we know we're struggling, that’s when we must realize that God is trying to get our attention. God promises freedom, but our part is to allow God to work in us because far too many of us are holding on to things God has never asked us to carry.
 
TODAY’S TOPIC: OVERTHINKING!
 
Do you overthink? Not sure? Here’s a fun, but helpful temperature check. Count how many apply to you - and feel free to hit reply and tell me your score. Note…please don’t overthink this exercise. Make sure to keep reading for today’s teaching!
Today, let’s look at the story of an Old Testament man that I consider an overthinker in the Bible by the name of Gideon. The words “overthinker” or “overthinking” are not specifically mentioned in his story. However, as we focus on Gideon’s story, he’s rocking an overthinking vibe, for sure!
 
You can read Gideon’s story in Judges 6. We’re introduced to his situation before we meet him. The Israelites are in the Promised Land, and their leader Joshua is dead. Sadly, God’s people broke their promise to serve God with their whole hearts. So, God allowed attackers to go after the Israelites. Judges 6:6 sums up the dire nature of the situation:
 
So Israel was reduced to starvation by the Midianites. Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help. -Judges 6:6 NLT
 
Afterward, God sent a prophet to tell the people that they’d messed up by worshiping other gods. He also set a rescue plan in motion. An angel (whom we’ll later see is God) visits a man named Gideon who is hiding in a winepress. Pay attention to how the angel greets Gideon and keep this in mind as we read Gideon’s later responses:
 
The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!” -Judges 6:12 NLT
 
There are two important pieces of information in that greeting: First, Gideon is called a hero, and the angel says that God is with him. Now, at the time, this goes right over Gideon’s head. He is hiding in a winepress, trying to secure food that the Midianites can’t steal. Gideon also feels pretty sure that God has abandoned His people. We can see that Gideon is skeptical of the angel’s words because of the hardship.
 
Undaunted, the angel (who we learn is actually God) tells Gideon about the mission: he will rescue Israel from the Midianites. Best of all, the angel assures Gideon that no special skills are required:
 
Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!” -Judges 6:14 NLT
 
God’s words should have made Gideon excited! Here was a chance for a powerless Gideon to set out with God’s power to free the Israelites. Instead of climbing out of the winepress and shouting “Let’s gooooo,” Gideon had a “But.”
 
“But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” -Judges 6:15 NLT
 
God gave Gideon a promise and Gideon’s first word back to God was a “but.” Sometimes, “but” is a polite way of saying, “nope.” God has told the man to go, and Gideon’s brain spit out not one but TWO reasons that God’s promises couldn’t be true.
  
WHAT’S YOUR “BUT, GOD?”
 
How many of us struggle to trust what we read about God in the Bible?  We second-guess God’s unconditional love or His promises to forgive. Some of you who believe in God’s love or grace at 99%. It’s true for you 99% of the time, but there’s that 1% that you’re not sure about. So you question it, you’re anxious about it, which means you never fully rest in it.
 
Here’s what I’ve learned about overthinking…Often, the roots of our constant rethinking stretch back to our younger years, when we tried to figure out how to meet our needs for safety, love, or belonging. We spent those years paying attention to what drew attention, what was rewarded, or what we needed to avoid. So, we became pros at scrutinizing every single detail.  
 
What made us feel safe as kids can make it challenging to trust God as an adult.  We’re so used to picking apart, second-guessing, or being skeptical that we struggle with trusting God. We pick up our Bibles, we look at verses about God’s love, grace, or the promise of His presence, and we have our own “But God” issues.
 
Look at the first five words of God’s response to Gideon’s overthinking error:
 
The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.” -Judges 6:16 NLT
 
Once again, God assures Gideon that He will be with him. God promised Himself. I will be with you. It’s the same promise we experience in the Person of Jesus Christ, our Emmanuel, which is that God is with us. For all of the reasons why Gideon didn’t think success was possible, God reminded him that those reasons didn’t matter because God was with him.
 
I encourage you to read Gideon’s story in Judges 6. After a few more false starts, Gideon finally set out on the campaign to rescue God’s people. But, Gideon kept asking God for reassurance that he was on the right track. He kept coming up with reasons that kept him from believing God’s promise to be with him.
 
Can you relate?
 
A CHALLENGE FOR A DIFFERENT KIND OF OVERTHINKING!
 
Instead of overthinking negative thoughts, catastrophizing, or trying to control, I’d like to challenge you to think differently. It's time to drop our “but's” and fully embrace what God says is true. Here's the challenge: What if we committed to overthinking God’s presence and His provision? 
 
If we're overthinking other things, then we're underthinking God. Let's flip that! When we’re overthinking God, we’re fixed and focused on God's presence and power. Here’s a short list of what that means for me and you:
 
God promises peace in every situation. (Philippians 4:7)
God promises grace upon grace. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
He promises strength to endure. (Romans 5:3-5)
He promises divine wisdom when it’s needed. (James 1:5)
God promises unconditional love. (Romans 8:39)
 
Who's going to overthink God with me this week? I dare you to try it! Whenever you catch yourself puzzling over a conversation, text message, big problem or frustration, shift to my list about God’s promise to be with you and overthink that.
 
For me, overthinking shows up most often in situations where I feel out of control or where I'm feeling rejected. So, overthinking about God in those situations replaces my fears and sadness with God's peace and His love. That feels way better than all those negative thoughts!
 
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
If you’re an overthinker, this isn’t a switch you can flip off without God’s help. Here are some spiritual practices that I’ve done and God’s Spirit helped me to let go of a lot of overthinking:  
 
  1. God Morning/God Night Technique - This is easy! Write five promises of God on a notecard and set it by your bed. (I also taped a card to my bathroom mirror.) Read those promises each morning and each night to train your mind to meditate on God, not your problems. Here’s a resource on this.
  2. Journaling - Writing down your thoughts helps you notice where you’re overthinking and where you need to invite God in to help you stop fixing things in your mind.
  3. Ask yourself these clarifying questions: Is this a situation or problem that I need to solve right now? Is this my problem to solve, or do I need to surrender it to God?
 
I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! What was your score on the “Are You An Overthinker”? You can leave a comment and let me know. If you need to let God work on your overthinking this week, just message me with “Overthinker” and I can pray with you this week.

Read the Entire Series: God, I'm So Over It! Letting Go of Things That God Never Asked You to Carry

Week Two: Hope for Those Who Do Too Much! 

Week Three: Do You Often Take Matters Into Your Own Hands?

Week Four: Are You Overloaded with Too Much?

Week Five: My Two Favorite Tools to Prevent Doing Too Much!

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