When anxious thoughts swirl, how can we find solid ground? This episode explores the surprisingly powerful and practical spiritual discipline of gratitude. Sarah Miller discusses how intentionally cultivating thankfulness can interrupt negative thought spirals, shift our focus away from fear, and ground us in the reality of God's goodness, even when circumstances are difficult. Learn why gratitude is more than just positive thinking, its connection to scripture, and simple, accessible ways to make it a consistent practice in your life.

Key Takeaways:

• Gratitude as an intentional spiritual discipline, not just a feeling or forced positivity.
• How gratitude counteracts anxiety's tendency to narrow focus on fear and negativity.
• The biblical call to give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18), not necessarily for them.
• How gratitude partners with prayer and supplication (Philippians 4:6) to foster peace.
• Practical ways to cultivate gratitude:
  • Simple Gratitude Journaling (focus on specifics).
  • Gratitude Prayers (starting prayer with thanks).
  • "Gratitude Walks" (noticing blessings in your environment).
  • Using Visual or Auditory Cues as reminders.
  • Expressing Gratitude to Others.
• Finding things to be thankful for even on hard days (starting small).
• Practicing gratitude as an act of faith and resistance against despair.

Resources Mentioned:

• 1 Thessalonians 5:18: "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
• Philippians 4:6: "...but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

Reflection Questions:

• What typically occupies your focus when you feel anxious? How might intentionally shifting focus to gratitude change that experience?
• Even if things feel difficult right now, can you name 1-3 specific, small things you can genuinely thank God for today?

Action Step: Choose one simple gratitude practice discussed in the episode (journaling 3 things, starting prayer with thanks, a gratitude walk, etc.). Commit to trying it daily for the next week, noticing any subtle shifts in your perspective or anxiety levels.

Standard Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional therapeutic or medical advice. Please consult with qualified professionals for your specific health needs.

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Episode 6: God’s Sovereignty & Your Anxiety – Holding Both

Episode Summary:

How can God be sovereign and in control when anxiety makes us feel completely out of control? How do we reconcile His power with our pain? In this episode, Sarah Miller explores the profound – and often difficult – tension between God’s sovereignty and our lived experience of anxiety. You'll discover that peace doesn’t always come from understanding why things happen, but from anchoring yourself in who God is. By looking to His unchanging character – His goodness, wisdom, love, faithfulness, and compassion – we can begin to rest in trust rather than certainty. This episode invites you to shift from demanding outcomes to leaning into His presence, even in the storm.

Key Takeaways:

Acknowledge the real tension of holding God's sovereignty alongside suffering and anxiety. Shift your focus from understanding God's specific plans to trusting His unchanging character. Understand that biblical trust doesn’t mean demanding specific outcomes or timelines. Recognize that God's sovereign care is often revealed through His presence with us in the storm, not necessarily by preventing it (e.g., Jesus in the boat, Daniel 3). Embrace the "already/not yet" nature of God’s Kingdom – trusting His ultimate victory while still living in a broken world. Find comfort not always in answers, but in knowing Who holds us and our future.

Resources Mentioned:

Psalm 115:3 – “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.”

Daniel 4:35 – (Concept: God does His will; no one can stop His hand.)

Romans 8:28 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good…” (handled with care – God works in all things, not that all things are good).

Mark 4:35-41 – Jesus asleep in the boat during the storm.

Daniel 3 – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace.

Hebrews 13:5 – “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Key Verses on God's Character: 1 John 4:8 – God is love. Lamentations 3:22-23 – His steadfast love never ceases…great is His faithfulness.

Psalm 145:9 – The Lord is good to all, and His mercy is over all He has made.

Reflection Questions:

Which aspect of God’s character (His goodness, wisdom, love, faithfulness, compassion) anchors you most when facing anxiety or uncertainty? How might shifting from needing to understand the why to trusting God’s who reshape how you respond to anxious thoughts about the future?

Action Step:

This week, when anxiety arises about a specific situation that feels out of control, choose one attribute of God’s character. Speak it aloud or write it down as a prayer: “Lord, even though I don’t understand this, I choose to trust that You are [good/loving/faithful/etc]. Hold me in Your character.”

Standard Disclaimer:

This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional therapeutic or medical advice. Please consult with qualified professionals for your specific health needs.

Connect & Support:

Subscribe to the Driveway Podcast!

Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement today.

Support the podcast at https://buymeacoffee.com/thetruewayofpeace

What happens when anxiety is so high that formal, coherent prayer feels impossible? This episode explores diverse and accessible forms of prayer, offering lifelines for connecting with God even when you feel like you can hardly breathe. Sarah Miller discusses simple breath prayers, the biblical gift of lament, praying scripture, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit's intercession, releasing listeners from the pressure to "pray correctly."

Key Takeaways:

• Permission to let go of pressure for "perfect" prayer; God welcomes us as we are.
• Breath Prayers: Simple, repetitive phrases synced with breathing (e.g., "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy"; "Abba, I belong to you"; "Maranatha").
• Prayer of Lament: Bringing raw honesty, pain, and questions to God (like many Psalms).
• Praying Scripture: Using God's own words (like verses from Ep 4) as prayers.
• The Holy Spirit's Intercession (Romans 8:26): Comfort in knowing the Spirit prays for us with groanings too deep for words when we cannot.
• Prayer is about connection, not performance.

Resources Mentioned:

• Romans 8:26: "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."
• Examples of Breath Prayers: "Lord, have mercy," "Abba, Father," "Jesus, peace," "Maranatha."
• Examples of Lament Psalms: Psalm 13, Psalm 22, Psalm 42, Psalm 88.

Reflection Questions:

• What pressures have you felt around prayer, especially during anxious times?
• Which of the accessible prayer forms discussed today feels most inviting or helpful for you right now?

Action Step: Choose one simple breath prayer phrase. Practice repeating it silently in rhythm with your breathing several times throughout the day this week, especially when you feel stressed or anxious.

Standard Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional therapeutic or medical advice. Please consult with qualified professionals for your specific health needs.

Connect & Support:

• Subscribe to Driveway Podcast!
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