{"id":312865,"date":"2025-02-25T04:30:16","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T09:30:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/%series%\/how-to-find-peace-when-you-dont-know-where-to-look-jeremiah-johnston\/"},"modified":"2025-03-27T12:35:59","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T16:35:59","slug":"how-to-find-peace-when-you-dont-know-where-to-look-jeremiah-johnston","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/how-to-find-peace-when-you-dont-know-where-to-look-jeremiah-johnston\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Find Peace (When You Don&#8217;t Know Where to Look): Jeremiah Johnston"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Wondering how to find peace\u2014for real? Scholar and author Jeremiah Johnston shares practical ways to choose and implement the shalom you crave.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wondering how to find peace\u2014for real? On FamilyLife Today, Dave and Ann Wilson host scholar and author Jeremiah Johnston who shares practical ways to choose and implement the shalom you crave.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47000,"featured_media":312867,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"https:\/\/traffic.omny.fm\/d\/clips\/cbd16f10-ac60-4f09-b4df-b15400ce35aa\/33aaac7e-3581-4e21-a3df-b154011ba58c\/e14a0247-a229-4229-9363-b282013e3fff\/audio.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:35:42","filesize":"32.72M","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"2025-02-25 04:30:16","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2822],"tags":[],"podcast_series":[8571],"cwp_profile":[9809],"series":[2101],"class_list":["post-312865","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-growing-in-your-faith","podcast_series-jeremiah-johnston-unleashing-peace","cwp_profile-jeremiah-johnston","series-familylife-today"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2025\/02\/image_e6b9c5.jpg?w=1024","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2023\/02\/image-scaled.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-download\/312865\/how-to-find-peace-when-you-dont-know-where-to-look-jeremiah-johnston","player_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/312865\/how-to-find-peace-when-you-dont-know-where-to-look-jeremiah-johnston","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303?mt=2&app=podcast","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/feed\/podcast\/familylife-today","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"lpSZKaFU8S\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/how-to-find-peace-when-you-dont-know-where-to-look-jeremiah-johnston\/\">How to Find Peace (When You Don&#8217;t Know Where to Look): Jeremiah Johnston<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/how-to-find-peace-when-you-dont-know-where-to-look-jeremiah-johnston\/embed\/#?secret=lpSZKaFU8S\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;How to Find Peace (When You Don&#8217;t Know Where to Look): Jeremiah Johnston&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"lpSZKaFU8S\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2025\/02\/image_e6b9c5.jpg",1024,1024,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Margaret","author_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/author\/margaret-coylefamilylife-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Wondering how to find peace\u2014for real? On FamilyLife Today, Dave and Ann Wilson host scholar and author Jeremiah Johnston who shares practical ways to choose and implement the shalom you crave.","meta_box":{"show_notes":"<ul>\n<li>The mission from Jeremiah Johnston with creating <a href=\"https:\/\/christianthinkers.com\/\">Christian Thinkers Society<\/a> is to teach Christians to become Thinkers and Thinkers to Become Christians.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/shop.familylife.com\/product\/unleashing-peace\/\">Get his book, \"Unleashing Peace\" in our FamilyLife shop<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Find resources from this podcast at <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.familylife.com\/Products.aspx?categoryid=130\">shop.familylife.com<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Find more content and resources on the <a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/app\/\">FamilyLife's app<\/a>!<\/li>\n<li>Help others find FamilyLife. Leave a review on <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303\">Apple Podcast<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm?si=d6dfa8d2415f4750\">Spotify<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Check out all the FamilyLife podcasts on the <a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/familylife-podcast-network\/\">FamilyLife Podcast Network<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylife.com\/fl2025-02-25.pdf","transcript_content":"<p>FamilyLife Today\u00ae with Dave and Ann Wilson - Web Version Transcript<\/p>\n<p>This content has been generated by an artificial intelligence language model. While we strive for accuracy and quality, please note that the information provided will most likely not be entirely error-free or up-to-date. We recommend independently verifying the content with the originally-released audio. This transcript is provided for your personal use and general information purposes only. References to conferences, resources, or other special promotions may be obsolete. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the use or interpretation of this content.<\/p>\n<p>How to Find Peace (When You Don\u2019t Know Where to Look)<\/p>\n<p>Guest:Jeremiah Johnston<\/p>\n<p>From the series:Unleashing Peace (Day 2 of 2)<\/p>\n<p>Air date:February 25, 2025<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Panic is as dangerous as any other pathogen. We live in a crisis of panic right now. There has been a 51 percent increase in in-patient hospitalizations among youth, age 12-18; the majority of those are females. We know there is an anxiety crisis in our country. We know that this is also, I think, the most important question the church can answer\u2014we have the answer for anxiety\u2014it\u2019s shalom; it\u2019s Jesus. We need to help people get there and then live in it.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Welcome to FamilyLife Today, where we want to help you pursue the relationships that matter most. I\u2019m Ann Wilson.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: And I\u2019m Dave Wilson, and you can find us at FamilyLifeToday.com. This is FamilyLife Today!<\/p>\n<p>Dave: I developed sort of a bad habit during the pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: You wore sweatpants every day?<\/p>\n<p>Dave: That was part of it;\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Ann: That\u2019s what I did.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014every meeting was on Zoom.<\/p>\n<p>No, it was: I literally started waking up, grabbing my phone\u2014and instead of opening to the Word of God, which has been a practice of mine for decades\u2014I found myself going to the news\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Ann: I did the same thing.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014like first thing,\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Yes, because\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014like New York Times: \u201cWhat are the latest numbers? What is happening around the world? What is the pandemic doing in Michigan?\u201d I would be anxious; I would be scared. I would be like, \u201cOh my goodness! It\u2019s worse than\u2014how can it get worse?!\u201d It kept getting worse and worse.<\/p>\n<p>I just\/it hit me, two or three weeks in, like, \u201cWhat are you doing? You are filling your mind with negativity, and you are starting the day nervous and scared.\u201d I thought, \u201cI need to start with the Word of God.\u201d I\u2019m not saying, \u201cNever look at the news, not know what is going on in the world,\u201d but I literally had to discipline myself: \u201cDon\u2019t reach for that phone. You can find out later what you need to know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: We had to turn off notifications because they\u2019d pop up; and you\u2019re like, \u201cWhat?\u201d Then you get sucked into the world of fear is what I would say.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes, I think fear and anxiety is rampant. It\u2019s always been a struggle; but right now, even sort of post-pandemic, it\u2019s still with us. We need to talk about it.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Absolutely.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: We\u2019ve got Jeremiah Johnston back in the studio with us. Welcome back.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: It\u2019s so great to be here. Thank you. Love you guys; it\u2019s awesome to be here.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: I mean, we spent a day already talking a little bit about\u2014I love the title of your book\u2014Unleashing Peace. By the way, did you come up with that title?<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: I did.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Because it\u2019s descriptive\u2014\u201cI want to unleash it,\u201d\u2014Experiencing God\u2019s Shalom in Your Pursuit of Happiness.<\/p>\n<p>You mentioned yesterday you went through a valley. I want to hear more about that valley, because I\u2019m guessing there was a little anxiety in that valley.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Absolutely.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: How did you find God\u2019s peace in the middle of that?<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Yes; you know, anxiety comes when we have large transitions in our life\u2014major transitions\u2014a move, a transfer, a ministry change, health challenge\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014babies<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: \u2014babies, triplets.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014triplets.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: You know, I have been just blowing and going, running and gunning, my whole life, just loving the Lord and following Him\u2014and just hit a wall at the pandemic\u2014where I ended up having a major unplanned abdominal surgery, where I had to have a piece of my colon cut out, after 400 workouts; best shape of my life. No one could explain to me why this was happening; I was angry.<\/p>\n<p>In the midst of this, we had major events\u2014kind of like Cru\u2014we plan our events months, sometimes, years out\u2014and to have those just cancelled, one after another\u2014that\u2019s what I\u2019m called to do: to help people replicate Christian thinking.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: I mean, some of that had to be financial.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Oh, yes, significant; absolutely.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: That\u2019s how you live: is you speak.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Absolutely. Praise God, we\u2019re a debt-free ministry\u2014but we have to cash flow the ministry, and we have to actually do ministry\u2014it was so challenging and all those reasons. It began to affect me mentally, where I would just\/was living in anxiety and not living in the peace of God.<\/p>\n<p>I always joke with people now: \u201cYou know, the worst thing you can do, if you want the peace of God, is to write a book on it.\u201d [Laughter] It took me a minute to really allow these truths to permeate my life at the most practical levels.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Also,\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Yes?<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014you are married; and you have five kids.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: \u2014who are watching me every day, listening to me every day, emulating my moods. They see all the non-verbal signals that we give.<\/p>\n<p>It was challenging, and I realized I didn\u2019t have a care team. I realized I needed to talk to professionals. I realized that I needed to help people manage\u2014and also, I\u2019m sorry\u2014they don\u2019t give you a manual. You can have two seminary degrees and a PhD, but they don\u2019t tell you how to handle, when God is just opening all kinds of opportunities, how to regulate that, and be a dad, and be a husband, and to do it with success. I\u2019m not going to leave my family behind in my ministry; I\u2019m going to say, \u201cNo,\u201d for anything that gets in the way of that.<\/p>\n<p>I was just stuck! Have you ever been there?<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Oh, yeah.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: I was stuck! I saw a Christian psychologist, who was life-changing to me. He<\/p>\n<p>helped me really start thinking about how I was thinking and how I was processing<\/p>\n<p>things. That\u2019s where so much of the truth of this book\u2014I know it works, because it<\/p>\n<p>works in my own life\u2014the Word of God.<\/p>\n<p>But we need to have a care team; we need to establish peace for ourselves. Like you said\u2014such a practical thing\u2014not beginning the day in fear and panic. It turns out that panic is as dangerous as any other pathogen, and we live in a crisis of panic right now. There has been a 51 percent increase in in-patient hospitalizations this year among youth, age 12-18; and the majority of those are females.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m not a Christian boogeyman or anything\u2014I don\u2019t always have to have a boogeyman in the room\u2014but we should pay attention to the metrics. We know there is an anxiety crisis in our country. We know this is also, I think, the most important question the church can answer\u2014that\u2019s why I start the book this way\u2014\"We have the answer for anxiety: it\u2019s shalom; it\u2019s Jesus. We need to help people get there and then live in it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Having lived in it through my own life, and then developing this peace plan\u2014and you all, I want to tell you what I did; this is what comes out of writing a book, 70,000 words on the peace of God\u20141 page, 20 steps of how I live in the peace of God for my life. These are the non-negotiables. I don\u2019t do these with perfection; but again, I\u2019ve eliminated \u201call or nothing\u201d thinking from my life\u2014it\u2019s not \u201call or nothing\u201d thinking\u2014the Christian life isn\u2019t \u201call or nothing\u201d: \u201cOh, I messed up today; so I\u2019m just not going to live for the Lord anymore,\u201d\u2014no! But so many of us have that \u201call or nothing\u201d thinking, and that brings anxiety as well.<\/p>\n<p>My number one\u2014are you ready for this, Dave?\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Practical Ways to Implement Shalom: I want to hear it.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: \u201cStop obsessively checking the news.\u201d [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Ann: There you go!\u2014yes.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: You just wrote that five minutes ago; that was your number one?<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Listen, that was my number one, because our minds are not geared to read<\/p>\n<p>a body count every single day. Now, that doesn't mean we don't care. But again, our<\/p>\n<p>minds are not wired to just be inundated with the murder number, the body count, the<\/p>\n<p>pathogen they\u2019re playing every single day.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Jeremiah, talk about this too\u2014because you have five kids\u2014we have a lot of<\/p>\n<p>listeners who have kids who are teenagers; and they have that phone with them, and<\/p>\n<p>they are constantly checking that. As parents\u2014as your kids are getting older\u2014how will<\/p>\n<p>you help navigate that?<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Well, first off, it\u2019s the greatest conflict in our personal home. I totally understand that: the devices. I talked about this, as I was writing Unleashing Peace; because even before the pandemic, psychologists can't quantify the damage that all these devices are doing on young people. And that was before the pandemic, where we sent devices home with everyone; and they were on them all day just because they had to be to have education, which was a total failure, in and of itself. Long story, short; they already knew it was a problem.<\/p>\n<p>And so first off, I get it. I live in that tension with five kids and devices. We have to limit<\/p>\n<p>these things in our kids\u2019 lives\u2014again, I\u2019m preaching to the choir; you guys have done<\/p>\n<p>great programs on managing social media and all these devices\u2014we have to because<\/p>\n<p>that is a source that is so toxic, especially, for our young women. Eating disorders are<\/p>\n<p>the most fatal\u2014of all mental illnesses\u2014are eating disorders. People don't realize that's<\/p>\n<p>the most fatal.<\/p>\n<p>So stopping to check the news;<\/p>\n<p>not doom-scrolling;<\/p>\n<p>not contributing to the panic\u2014Number 3.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: What's that mean?<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: I'm going to be less provokable in my Christian life. There is an entire industry out there, Ann\u2014and you know this\u2014they are betting on the fact that they can click bait you to death, and they can get you to engage in all kinds of fights with people you don\u2019t even know on social media\u2014they don\u2019t know you; you don\u2019t know them\u2014and you\u2019re just\/it\u2019s just the rage machine.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re not going to live in the peace of God, Dave, if we\u2019re just constantly living in I\u2019m-provoked City over everything. I'm an expert in late antiquity. The Roman Empire was way worse than it was today. Paul could have been provoked by everything every time he opened his eyes; he stayed central to the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is why I love FamilyLife Today\u2014central to the gospel and its power to change lives\u2014that\u2019s why it is such an honor to be on this program with you guys.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: I\u2019ve even found, in reference to that, I can get caught up in the comment section.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Yes; absolutely.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Somebody posts something\u2014and it might be sort of just mild\u2014but then, the<\/p>\n<p>comments go crazy; and that\u2019s where I start scrolling.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Exactly; exactly.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: It's almost like you're watching a car wreck.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: And then, he\u2019ll say, \u201cAnn! Look at this. Come over here, and look at this!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dave: And it's like, \u201cWhat am I doing?\u201d So that's a great one:\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: And it's just an offramp.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014 \u201cStop doom-scrolling.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: \u201cStop doom-scrolling.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u201cDon't contribute\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014\"to the panic.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Number (4) is a big one: \u201cStay social.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: \u201cStay social.\u201d And this was where I was so affected. And the worst<\/p>\n<p>punishment psychologists will tell us for human beings is isolation. So if you're<\/p>\n<p>isolated\u2014that's the worst; you think about solitary confinement\u2014so stay social.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEstablish a daily schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>We got to rise and grind. We got to have that schedule in our life.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLeave the house.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>You could sit in that Content Chair all day long, [seven] days a week, and just die.<\/p>\n<p>So get out of the house, like, \u201cGo to Costco.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Even kids: sometimes, we have to push them out of the house.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Exactly; yeah.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGet off the devices.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGet out into nature.\u201d I need more beauty in my life.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cExercise\u201d; huge. The cheapest therapy we can do every day is exercise for the benefits we get mentally for it.<\/p>\n<p>And then, 10-20 really get practical: \u201cStart thanking God more for what He's done instead of always worrying about what comes next.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Now, when you were walking through that valley, was worry a big part of it?<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Absolutely\u2014not knowing\u2014we had just taken a major step of faith in 2019 and expand as a ministry.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014right before the pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: It was incredible\u2014greatest year of ministry\u2014and then, it\u2019s like the floor fell out and being isolated.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: I'm thinking too\u2014our listeners know this\u2014Jeremiah came into our studio; he goes<\/p>\n<p>in and meets everybody. He's sitting in our sound booth, and he's talking to everybody.<\/p>\n<p>He's like everybody's best friend. You are an incredible extrovert\u2014love people\u2014so this<\/p>\n<p>isolation\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Oh, I was dying. I had never experienced it. I\u2019ve been involved in church life for as long as I can remember\u2014and I just love it\u2014this whole thing of: \u201cStay home,\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t talk to your neighbors,\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t\u2026\u201d\u2014it was killing me.<\/p>\n<p>Number 11 was huge: \u201cLook at art more.\u201d We need more beauty in our life. Arthur [F.]<\/p>\n<p>Holmes, that great Wheaton professor, said, \u201cAll truth is God's truth.\u201d I'm not going to<\/p>\n<p>find a single bit of truth that doesn't drive us right back to the God of the Bible,<\/p>\n<p>because all truth is God's truth; and we need more beauty.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo have quiet time prayer in any sleepless moments, lying in bed.\u201d And then, if I fall<\/p>\n<p>asleep while I'm praying, just consider that a gift from God. Just turn those worries into<\/p>\n<p>prayers.<\/p>\n<p>Here's a really practical one: \u201cUse Scripture Typer.\u201d I don't know if you all have seen this<\/p>\n<p>app to memorize Scripture, but it's called Scripture Typer. A friend of mine<\/p>\n<p>recommended it to me. It's just a great way to practice memorizing Scripture. The Word<\/p>\n<p>of God\u2014the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God\u2014and huge for us. When stress or<\/p>\n<p>anxiety fills my mind\u2014Ann, you brought this up\u2014I need to replace it with key verses;<\/p>\n<p>that is how I\u2019m going to have shalom in my life. There's no way around that in the<\/p>\n<p>Christian life. We just have to stop right there. There's not a secret sauce that you guys<\/p>\n<p>know, or just a few Delta Force Christians like you; we all have to do the same thing,<\/p>\n<p>don\u2019t we?<\/p>\n<p>Ann: I love the language that is used in Scripture, too: \u201cTake every thought captive...\u201d; when Jesus said, \u201cI came to set the captive free.\u201d I think of taking those thoughts\u2014and I\u2019m taking them and putting them in a cell\u2014and I will not let them out. Learning how to do that, for me, has been huge: \u201cI\u2019m not going to think that\u201d; and to use Scripture in replacing that\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: \u2014huge.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014transforms our lives.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: It literally will rewire\u2014we don't have time to go into neuroplasticity\u2014it will rewire the way you think; I can attest to that in my own life.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Here is another one\u2014I know you even put in your book\u20141 Peter 5: \u201cCast all your anxiety\u201d\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: \u2014violently out there.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: I literally think of\u2014I preached; as a preacher\u2014I got to get the fishing line out and<\/p>\n<p>cast \u201cWorry\u201d; and had a guy in the audience put on \u201dPeace,\u201d coming back. But I found\u2014<\/p>\n<p>and I think it's for all of our realities\u2014you got to do that over, and over, and over.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: \u2014all day; maybe, 5,000 times today.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: It doesn\u2019t happen once.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: The force of the language is even more than \u201ccasting\u201d\u2014I like J.B. Phillips [version]\u2014\u201cYou\u2019ve got to slam dunk your worries on God. You\u2019ve just got to crush them down on God.\u201d That is what He wants you to do\u2014trust me\u2014He can take it.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: That\u2019s good.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: I want to talk about this saying, \u201cThank You, Jesus\u201d throughout the day.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yeah; what's that?<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: And again, a lot of people have been talking about this. I've been talking about it since 2015. A great barometer of our mental health is our ability to experience gratitude. It's amazing when we do something the Bible tells us to do\u2014count our blessings\u2014we're a lot happier when we focus on the blessings, the positives in our life.<\/p>\n<p>Yale University\u2019s most popular class of all time is a class on happiness, and the big outcome of that class is a gratitude journal. Well, the Scripture has been telling us to do that for 2,000 years. They can call it a gratitude journal today at Yale; the Bible calls it \u201ccounting your blessings.\u201d You\u2019re a lot healthier person when you focus on the blessings in your life. We\u2019ve all been around people and benefitted from people\u2014they just focus on the positive\u2014don\u2019t you love being around people like that?<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: We can\u2019t stand the Negative Nellie, who is always in the room, and reminding us of what we can\u2019t do, didn\u2019t do, [what] didn\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Ehhhhh-eh!<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: We don\u2019t want that. And the Bible doesn\u2019t want us to live that.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: But it\u2019s so easy to do:\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Totally; it is.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014complain. We all got things to complain about. You\u2019re saying, \u201cGet out of that valley.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: \u2014say, \u201cThank You, Jesus,\u201d throughout the day.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Last week, I ended up going on a walk. A lot of times, I\u2019ll listen to podcasts\/I\u2019ll listen to Scripture. So this time, I left my phone at home\u2014went for a long walk\u2014and as I was walking and praying\u2014again, outdoors; it was beautiful, out in Florida\u2014looking at nature, I thought, \u201cLord, for this entire time, all I\u2019m going to do is thank You and praise You.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Yes; that\u2019s so powerful.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: I was crying by the end. Because when you think through what God has done and the goodness\u2014and it's not that there aren't bad or hard things\u2014but when you think about God's goodness, or maybe just little things, and you say them out loud\u2014that's why I was in tears; I was praying out loud\u2014I wasn't around anybody. But man, my heart was filled with joy. It was filled with peace that surpasses\u2014and I love that Scripture\u2014it surpasses all understanding.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Absolutely; that\u2019s huge. And for those of you who are joining us: I'm<\/p>\n<p>reviewing my personal peace steps. I would encourage people to develop their own.<\/p>\n<p>Like Ann, that's a beautiful analogy.<\/p>\n<p>Here's point (16). I want you to listen closely to this one: \u201cThere are things only God can<\/p>\n<p>control and things He allows me to take part in controlling.\u201d I try and discern which are<\/p>\n<p>which and only work to resolve the things He allows me to help control.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Ohhhh! I am bad at this one.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: We could do a whole show on that, because I'm a control freak. I live and<\/p>\n<p>die by my schedule\u2014traveling, writing, speaking\u2014I want to control everything. And<\/p>\n<p>man, there's things God doesn't need my help with. Jeremiah Johnston thinks he's<\/p>\n<p>God's Chief of Staff; did you know that? I do; I want to help God control things in my life,<\/p>\n<p>and I just can't do that if I'm going to live in the peace of God.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: How do you navigate\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014discerning.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014that, as a dad?<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: I don't know if I do it very well. But I will tell you this: we have a very open<\/p>\n<p>dialogue in our family. Our kids know they can talk to us about anything. Our kids also<\/p>\n<p>know that nothing changes our love for them. No decision they could ever make would<\/p>\n<p>change their value in our eyes or the love that we have for them.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Have they experienced much anxiety?<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Our son, Justin, has. The mask-wearing just crushed him, emotionally, and<\/p>\n<p>also the change in schedule. He's kind of like his dad\u2014a very schedule-oriented guy\u2014<\/p>\n<p>and he just didn't understand. And yet, we broke free of that; praise God; and again,<\/p>\n<p>through talking.<\/p>\n<p>I'll just mention this\u2014I know y'all have done so many helpful programs\u2014kids don't walk<\/p>\n<p>up, and say, \u201cHey Dave, I'm having a panic attack.\u201d They say they have constant<\/p>\n<p>headaches, or they have constant stomach aches. Those are the two big signs. I'm not<\/p>\n<p>a psychologist; but if you have a child, who is regularly complaining of headaches<\/p>\n<p>and\/or stomach aches, you should probably have a professional work with you\u2014a<\/p>\n<p>Christian counselor; a Christian therapist\u2014help you with your child; because they\u2019re<\/p>\n<p>saying more than that. So again, huge on that one.<\/p>\n<p>A true sabbatical is huge\u2014a time of rest to do what feeds my soul; resting my mind\u2014<\/p>\n<p>not thinking about the next sermon.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: The Sabbath rest is something, I think, we just don\u2019t think is that important; it\u2019s a Ten Commandment.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: It is; and it is part of shalom. God says: \u201cRest, chill out, relax, do something fun.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dave: So in your crazy busy schedule, do you Sabbath?<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Absolutely; we have a lot of fun Sabbath-ing too.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: What\u2019s that look like?<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Sabbath isn\u2019t boring; it\u2019s fun.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014but even when you Sabbath\u2014you're Sabbath-ing\u2014but I like what you said; you're not thinking about\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: \u2014the next: \u201cOh, yeah\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This goes into the next point about being able to say, \u201cNo.\u201d We can't Sabbath\u2014and check our phones 2,000 times that day\u2014and be present with our family. So we have to have those moments\u2014and they are holy moments\u2014where you just say, \u201cNo, I\u2019m not available; sorry. I\u2019m going to be with my kids today. I\u2019m going to go and have a blast, and make weird noises, and have a fun time with them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dave: In some ways, you\u2019re Sabbath-ing, down here in Orlando.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Absolutely. Thank you again, guys, for encouraging your guests to bring their families with them. First off, it\u2019s great to expose them to a place like this. I know they are taking that in, verbally and non-verbally.<\/p>\n<p>But to get down here and just have fun and travel. I\u2019m a big travel narrator when we travel\u2014I am pointing things out\u2014I\u2019m a travel guide in the car. So they kind of get worn out with that.<\/p>\n<p>Big one for me\u2014and again, as the Lord blesses you, wherever you are in life\u2014and you\u2019re going to have opportunities. It doesn\u2019t mean you have to say, \u201cYes,\u201d to everything. Now, no one gave us Christian Thinkers; I joke, \u201cWe became our ministry before we even knew we had one.\u201d There was a time in my life I said, \u201cYes,\u201d to everything; because I\u2019m just trying to be faithful and see our ministry grow.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: I have a husband, who can say that too.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Yeah; but I had to learn:\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014say what?<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014say, \u201cYes,\u201d to everything. [Laughter]<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah:<\/p>\n<p>I had to learn the power of saying, \u201cNo, I\u2019m sorry; I can\u2019t do that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I realized I had 11 different inboxes; I had to start telling people, \u201cI don\u2019t respond to this inbox; text me or email me\u201d; I just didn\u2019t have time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDon't make decisions when I'm tired or discouraged,\u201d\u2014this is a real challenging one, because I was in a season of months of discouragement\u2014and you have to make decisions at some point in that time period.<\/p>\n<p>I was in a funk; that is where\u2014like we talked about\u2014having that care team was so helpful; because sometimes, you need people to come alongside and help you think right, and just say, \u201cYou know, Jeremiah, you are not processing this the right way.\u201d This is where I just thank God for this teaching of shalom, because it\u2019s all right there; we just need to do it. We need to have a shalom team\/a care team.<\/p>\n<p>And then, (20) was huge for me. I have a doctor\u2014I travel with all kinds of supplements,<\/p>\n<p>and nutritional habits in eating\u2014just taking care of our physical temples will help us<\/p>\n<p>think better. And so again, we're talking about my personal 20 steps. I needed 20; you,<\/p>\n<p>Ann, might only need 2.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: I might need 50!<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: You exude the peace of God.<\/p>\n<p>These are things that are so important. And then, when I live in the peace of God, I then can be an agent of peace for others. This will set you apart in your Christian life.<\/p>\n<p>There is this amazing story I tell in Unleashing Peace of a gentleman\u2014who was just given the highest award\/civilian honor that the nation of Australia gives\u2014a man they call the Angel of the Gap. He lived in this beautiful Sydney Harbor, in a very expensive area called the Gap; but it\u2019s also known for its sandstone cliffs. It\u2019s one of the number-one suicide spots in the world. For 50 years, Don Ritchie lived there. He sold kitchen appliances and just was a salesman. He was part of the greatest generation\u2014World War II vet\u2014decorated.<\/p>\n<p>He began to notice when people would linger just a little too long by themselves at the Gap\/at the cliffside. He would walk up, and say, \u201cHey, do you want to come to my house for some tea? I\u2019m Don.\u201d At his funeral, recently\u2014it's documented\u2014his son said, \u201cMy dad saved over 400 lives from suicide.\u201d One of the people he saved later painted a canvas, sent it to him, and said, \u201cThank you. You're the Angel of the Gap.\u201d Literally, they said, \u201cAn Angel walked among us.\u201d Don did not have a single credential with mental health; he wasn't trained psychologically, but he could practice what the Bible talks about: the ministry of being present. He said, \u201cDon\u2019t ever underestimate the power of a smile in someone\u2019s life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>My biggest challenge is: we are so busy; we never know what someone else is dealing with\u2014and we always assume negatively\u2014that person could be going through their biggest challenge. Why don\u2019t you just smile at them, and practice the ministry of presence, and give them grace? Don exemplifies that for us. That\u2019s why I wanted to highlight that powerful story. So when I live in these 20 steps, I can be like a Don Ritchie\u2014I can practice the peace of God\u2014because some people need to see it on us to believe that they can actually get there.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: That was one of my favorite parts of your book\u2014is that story\u2014because it makes you realize: \u201cAnybody can minister to another person, just by being there.\u201d You don\u2019t even have to have the right words\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: No, you don\u2019t even have to say anything.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014but you\u2019re just present, \u201cHey, I\u2019m Ann. How are you doing today?\u201d That\u2019s something that\u2014you\u2019re right, Jeremiah\u2014is we get so caught up in our own worlds and the demands of life. It\u2019s really easy not to notice those around us.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: And I think another aspect of that story is\u2014all around us\u2014are people walking toward that bridge.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Exactly; exactly.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: It\u2019s not, literally, a bridge; but they are struggling; they are feeling\u2014it could even be our own kids; it could be our spouse\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Absolutely.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014God is saying, \u201cI can bring My peace to them through you. Will you just be present?\u201d That\u2019s a beautiful motivation\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Yes!\u2014the ministry of presence.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014to say, \u201cIf God gives me peace, it\u2019s probably not just for me; He wants me to extend it to others.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah: Absolutely; He wants you to be an agent of shalom.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll just end with this: we all need to be saved from ourselves too. I used to live in the UK, where I did my doctoral residency at Oxford; and there is this beautiful picture of a young man, who has all of these individuals holding him. He is standing outside of the walkway of a bridge, over the busiest intersection in North London, Golders Green. He was getting ready to jump\u2014and all these strangers, who were walking by him, collapsed on the man\u2014and saved him from himself. You don\u2019t think God\u2019s providential? Someone had a rope, going home from work that day; another person is grabbing his belt buckle; another person has him by his calf muscles.<\/p>\n<p>For me, when I saw that picture\u2014I now show it anywhere I speak; I open the book, Unleashing Peace, with that story\u2014because it is an illustrated sermon for me: \u201cWe have to be saved from ourselves.\u201d This is the heart of Jesus towards every person struggling right now; and God can use anyone\u2014like you said, Ann\u2014to be a change agent in someone\u2019s life, a peace agent, a shalom agent. So that\u2019s my prayer\u2014I want to be present enough in my life to see when those people\u2014or myself, when I need to be saved from myself, I allow people to collapse around me and help me. That\u2019s the Christian life.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Hey guys, we just wanted to take a quick minute to jump in and say, \u201cWhatever<\/p>\n<p>you're going through today, I think this is important to remember: \u2018You aren't alone.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And did you know that Dave and I have a team at FamilyLife Today ready to pray for<\/p>\n<p>you? It's this incredible honor and a privilege to lift your name up to God. So if you need<\/p>\n<p>prayer, please don't hesitate to reach out to us; I really mean that. Head on over to<\/p>\n<p>FamilyLife.com\/PrayForMe. Again, that's FamilyLife.com\/PrayForMe; and tell us how we<\/p>\n<p>can pray. And again, we are not kidding: Dave and I have a prayer team specifically<\/p>\n<p>dedicated to praying for our listeners. And I pray for some of these while I'm on my<\/p>\n<p>walks with God; I just pray. I will pray for you. And Dave, you always fast on Fridays;<\/p>\n<p>and that's when you pray.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yeah, I take the whole day\u2014and instead of eating food\u2014I'm praying: I'm praying<\/p>\n<p>for my family, but I'm also praying for you and your family. Isn't that a great thing to<\/p>\n<p>know that someone's praying for you? And if it's not, Ann and I praying for you,<\/p>\n<p>someone from our small prayer team will pray for you by name. We love to do it, so go<\/p>\n<p>to FamilyLife.com\/PrayForMe and submit your requests. Do it right now; we would love<\/p>\n<p>to pray for you today.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: When Jeremiah was talking about peace\u2014a lack of anxiety and worry\u2014if there is anything our world needs right now, that\u2019s it; isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n<p>Ann: We all long for it, but we don\u2019t know how to attain it.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes, and one of the things we briefly touched on with Jeremiah\u2014and it is in his book, Unleashing Peace\u2014is my go-to passage, Philippians 4.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: It\u2019s all of our go-to passage; all of us love this one.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: I love how Paul says\/he says: \u201cDo not be anxious about anything.\u201d It\u2019s a command; it isn\u2019t a suggestion. He is actually saying: \u201cThis possible. You don\u2019t have to worry; you don\u2019t have to fret. You don\u2019t have to be anxious about the big things\/little things\u2014about anything.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Here is the thing about Paul, too\u2014is you read that\u2014some people think, \u201cWell, you can say that; look how easy your life is,\u201d\u2014but Paul, for a good part of his life, he spent it in prison!<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Yes, he\u2019s writing this from a prison cell.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014in prison, yes.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: I think, as Jeremiah said, it comes down to an action, which is in this passage that I had never really seen\u2014because he doesn\u2019t just say, \u201cDon\u2019t be anxious about anything,\u201d\u2014that\u2019s what we don\u2019t do; but he says: \u201cDo this...\u201d He gives you an answer: \u201cBut in every situation\u201d\u2014so again: big ones, little ones, the one you are in right now, the one that is coming tomorrow; here is what you do\u2014\u201cby prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.\u201d There is an action step: Pray about it.\u201d Petition means \u201cMake a list if you have to. Literally, get out your journal, and say, \u2018God, this is what I\u2019m struggling with\u2026\u2019\u2014\u2019I don\u2019t know if I can pay the mortgage,\u2019\u2014\u2018My son is battling a medical condition,\u2019\u2014\u2018I don\u2019t know the future,\u2019\u2014whatever it is; thank God He is with you in it and present those [to Him]. In other words, \u201cLet it go.\u201d We talked about<\/p>\n<p>1 Peter: \u201cCast it to God\u201d; and then, he says something will happen. What does he say?<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u201cThe peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014\"will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.\u201d So if you want peace, there is a way. I would say it is not a way; it is a Person\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Well, it is interesting\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014peace is Jesus.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014because of all the people that I know\u2014I would say you live this out.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: What are you talking about? You don\u2019t know what\u2019s swirling around in my brain.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Let me just say this; it was interesting: we just had one of our sons visit us in Florida. You were ahead of us on your motorcycle. This son\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Because I couldn\u2019t fit in the car with the grandkids. I had to ride my motorcycle everywhere we went.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: This son looked at you, ahead of us, on your motorcycle; and he said\u2014he\u2019s in ministry; he is building a ministry\u2014and he said, \u201cMan, I needed this trip, because I needed\u201d\u2014[emotion in voice] makes me teary thinking about it\u2014\u201cI need to get some lessons from my dad, because he lives his life in peace.\u201d There is so much going on in the world, and his ministry, and a lot of hard things; and yet, he looks at you\u2014and you\u2019ve gone through some really difficult things\u2014but you live your life in peace. It\u2019s a peace that surpasses all understanding, because it doesn\u2019t make sense.<\/p>\n<p>I feel like, as you are preaching that, you live this. Do you think\u2014like share with us, because I\u2019ve seen you live it out beautifully, not perfectly\u2014\"How do you do it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Well, I think it is the next verse\u2014which is what Jeremiah Johnston, when he was talking and when I read his book, connected that there is an action verb that connects us to peace\u2014and he calls it: \u201cIt is our thinking.\u201d It\u2019s what Paul went on to say in verse 8. Often, we stop with verse 7\u2014you know, \u201cThe peace that surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ,\u201d\u2014we\u2019re like, \u201cOh, that is awesome\u201d; and we forget the next thing he said\u2014it is not a separate thought; it is in context\u2014he says, \u201cFinally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy\u201d\u2014here is the verb\u2014\u201cthink about such things.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I think one of the things I take away from today's interview was: peace comes through<\/p>\n<p>what we dwell on: \u201cWhat do we think about?\u201d Paul is saying, \u201cThink about good things,<\/p>\n<p>pure things, right things.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: That is so wise. I sit there and think, \u201cThat's denial; we need to think about<\/p>\n<p>reality.\u201d And reality is harsh, and reality's hitting us head-on. And so it can feel like: \u201cNo,<\/p>\n<p>Paul's saying, \u2018Don't think about those things\u201d\u2014not that we're not dealing with life and<\/p>\n<p>we're in denial\u2014but I feel like you've done that.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Well, I would just say it is war\u2014it is a battle\/the battle of the mind\u2014because your mind will go to the negative. It will go to the news that\u2019s often negative; and you\u2019ll get scared, anxious, worried. I\u2019ve done it millions of times.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Me too.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: I\u2019m sitting here, thinking, \u201cYou think I have peace all the time?!\u201d It\u2019s like it\u2019s a war\u2014it is, literally, a mental battle in my mind\u2014and everyone\u2019s mind\u2014to say, \u201cI\u2019m going to take this negative thought captive.\u201d I literally think of grabbing it\u2014and putting it in a prison cell\u2014and saying, \u201cYou\u2019re not going to live in my brain. I\u2019m going to think about what\u2019s noble, and right, and praiseworthy; I\u2019m going to think about Jesus,\u201d\u2014because peace isn\u2019t a feeling\u2014it\u2019s a person; peace is Jesus\u2014He is the Prince of Peace. When you set your heart and mind, and it is guarded by Him, the result is peace.<\/p>\n<p>Again, I\u2019m not going to sit here, and say, \u201cOh, it\u2019s just peace that lasts forever,\u201d\u2014no, it\u2019s gone in like five minutes sometimes. Again, you have to cast, again, that thought\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Ann: I like that idea of casting.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014you just throw it.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Yes, you can see it [anxiety\/worry] on a fishing pole, casting it.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: And I love how Jeremiah brought the sense that the verb is like with force. You don\u2019t sort of flippantly, \u201cOkay, God\u201d\u2014no; it\u2019s like\u2014\u201cI need You so badly. I\u2019m bringing this to You right here, right now. Will You guard my heart and mind in You?\u201d He is like, \u201cYes; I\u2019ve got it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>You may have to cast it 5,000 times today\u2014every time your mind starts to go to anxiety\u2014\u201cDon\u2019t worry about anything with prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.\u201d Why do I have that memorized?\u2014because I\u2019ve done it a million times\u2014and that is where peace is. It\u2019s in the person, Jesus; and the closer we walk with Him, the greater the depth of the peace we feel.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Well, I don't know if you've done this; but I have often woken up in the middle of<\/p>\n<p>the night with my mind racing. Instantly, fear-based: \u201cWhat could happen to our kids?\u201d\u2014<\/p>\n<p>\"our grandkids?\u201d\u2014\"our future?\u201d There's so many different things that have kept me<\/p>\n<p>awake at night. Even when they were teenagers, especially, that's when I was waking<\/p>\n<p>up the most.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: I didn't worry about the kids. I just worried about the car insurance to pay for.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: That's so true; we're so different that way. But even now, if I wake up, I feel like<\/p>\n<p>now what I'm starting to do, I'll do that casting. I'm so visual; I have to visually see<\/p>\n<p>Jesus in front of me. I've shared this before: I take the thing that's weighing me down of<\/p>\n<p>creating so much worry and anxiety, and I picture myself handing it to Jesus. And then, I<\/p>\n<p>see myself standing free\u2014\u201cHe sets the captive free,\u201d\u2014I'm not carrying it; I've given it to<\/p>\n<p>Him, because He says, \u201cCome to Me, all of you who are weary and heavy laden, and I<\/p>\n<p>will give you\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014\u201crest.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: \u2014\"rest.\u201d I picture Him taking it. And then, I'll ask this question: \u201cJesus, is there<\/p>\n<p>anything I need to do?\u201d And if something pops into my mind, it could be\u2014usually,<\/p>\n<p>there's nothing\u2014to me, He's saying, \u201cRest.\u201d But that's been a really good visual practice<\/p>\n<p>of my casting. I have to visually see myself handing it to Him. But that's hard to do. It's<\/p>\n<p>hard to not just go back, and back, and back, and try to carry it ourselves.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: Well, I'm hoping, just as a result of our conversation, a listener today says, \u201cYou<\/p>\n<p>know what? I'm not going to carry this any longer. I am going to let it go to the Prince of<\/p>\n<p>Peace. I'm going to pray and thank Him for my life, and I'm going to trust Him; and I'm<\/p>\n<p>going to trust that He'll bring peace as well. And every time my mind goes somewhere<\/p>\n<p>else, I'm going to keep that thought captive and allow Him to change my thinking, which<\/p>\n<p>will change my peace.\u201d I hope couples do this together\u2014<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Me, too.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u2014that a husband and wife will do it together.<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Will you just read it one last time\u2014that \u201cThink about these things\u201d\u2014what are the<\/p>\n<p>things we're to think about?<\/p>\n<p>Dave: \u201cFinally, brothers\u201d\u2014and sisters\u2014\"whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is<\/p>\n<p>right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable; if anything is excellent<\/p>\n<p>or praiseworthy, think about such things.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: That's really good.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: And even says this: \u201cWhatever you have learned, or received, or heard from me,<\/p>\n<p>or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ann: Absolutely; that is so true.<\/p>\n<p>And hey, for you, the listener, if you want to dive more into this topic, go to<\/p>\n<p>FamilyLifeToday.com. Check out this episode's show notes; we've got a link to<\/p>\n<p>Jeremiah Johnston's book, Unleashing Peace.<\/p>\n<p>And let me just add: if you know anyone who needs to hear conversations like this one,<\/p>\n<p>we'd love it if you would just share today's specific conversation from wherever you get<\/p>\n<p>your podcasts. And while you're there, just a simple way that you can help more people<\/p>\n<p>discover God's plan for families is by leaving a rating and a review for FamilyLife Today.<\/p>\n<p>We would really appreciate it if you do that.<\/p>\n<p>Dave: We're Dave and Ann Wilson, and we will see you back next time for another<\/p>\n<p>edition of FamilyLife Today.<\/p>\n<p>FamilyLife Today is a donor-supported production of FamilyLife\u00ae, a Cru\u00ae Ministry.<\/p>\n<p>Helping you pursue the relationships that matter most.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve benefited from the FamilyLife Today transcripts, would you consider donating today to help defray the costs of producing them and making them available online?<\/p>\n<p>Copyright \u00a9 2025 FamilyLife. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n<p>www.FamilyLife.com<\/p>\n","theme_header_position":"Sticky","post_header_is_sticky":"default","is_header_overlay":"0"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast\/312865","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/podcast"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47000"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=312865"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/312867"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=312865"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=312865"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=312865"},{"taxonomy":"podcast_series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast_series?post=312865"},{"taxonomy":"cwp_profile","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cwp_profile?post=312865"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=312865"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}