The Struggle Is Real

Can They Say That?

NEXT STEPS: You listened…now what? Here are some “Now What?” ideas to try this week.

1. Identify your struggles. Literally, Name. It. If you’re a praying person, ask God to help you see what your struggle is and what might be at the root of it.
2. What do you believe about yourself? Does your inside match your outside? Is it ok to let the world see who you truly are? Answering these questions in a journal and reading it out loud to yourself can take some of the power out of what might be holding you back.
3. JOURNAL. JOURNAL. JOURNAL. This doesn’t have to be in the ‘traditional’ sense. Use bullet points. Write in code. Draw. Just put it on paper.
4. Write a letter to yourself telling yourself what you want to believe about who you are.
5. Get a small counter (like the kind they use to take attendance at games) and use it to track unhelpful or judgmental statements you say to yourself. At the end of the day, right the number down on a calendar. Do this for at least 21 days and watch as the behavior decreases.

There isn’t much we can say about this book that the title doesn’t already convey. Donald Miller allows us to get Scary Close to his story, his struggles and ultimately, his journey to healing. A perfect ‘next step’ to listening to this week’s episode. We recommend this book in the printed and audio version. Webb Wilder narrates and we’re confident listening will feel like a conversation with a friend.

1. Tired of Trying to Measure Up By Jeff VanVonderen https://www.amazon.com/Tired-Trying-Measure-Expectations-Intimidation/dp/0764205374/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1531846786&sr=8-1&keywords=tired+of+trying+to+measure+up

If part of your struggle to find a sense of freedom comes from a frenetic pace of life within the church, then this book is for you. VanVonderen gives straight and grace-filled help and awareness centered on the exhaustion so many within the walls of the church feel. The spiritual, mental and emotional exhaustion that can come from doing in the church rather than being in a relationship with Christ. You’re gonna want a highlighter for this one, folks.

1. 4 Surprising Benefits of Sharing Your Story https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-web-violence/201309/resilience-and-4-benefits-sharing-your-story

Telling you story (or stories) can be a scary thing. It requires risk and vulnerability. Yet, those are the very things that build relationship. And while we may have been hurt in relationships in our lives, relationships are also how we best heal. This article provides some surprising information about the benefits of sharing your story. We hope it provides some encouragement as well.