#30 - Finding Peace in Uncertain Times

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Welcome back to Mind and Faith Matters, the podcast

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where we explore everything from mental health,

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faith, and all the in -between. I'm your host,

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Dr. Cory Potter. Today we're talking about something

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that affects every one of us. Uncertainty. The

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unknown. Those seasons and moments of life when

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we can't quite see what's ahead. and our minds

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try to fill in the gaps. If you've ever had a

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major life change, traumatic situation, maybe

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it's waiting for test results or wondering how

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a situation would turn out, you know how uncomfortable

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uncertainty can be. Frankly, our brains don't

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like it and our hearts struggle with it too.

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In this episode, we'll explore what uncertainty

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does. to us mentally and physically, how we can

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approach it with a healthy mindset, and how biblical

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truth can anchor us in God's peace. Uncertainty

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is one of the most powerful stress triggers for

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the human brain. Neuroscience tells us that our

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brains are prediction machines. The prefrontal

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cortex works constantly to anticipate what will

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happen next. so we can feel safe and prepared.

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When life becomes unpredictable, which it often

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does, that system short circuits. The brain's

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alarm system, the amygdala, lights up as if there's

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danger even when there isn't. And studies show

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that uncertainty activates the same fight or

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flight response as a physical threat. Our heart

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rate increases, muscles tighten, and cortisol

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levels rise. We become restless, distracted,

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and emotionally on edge. One study from University

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College London found that people experienced

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more stress when they didn't know whether something

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bad would happen than when they were told for

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sure that it would. The brain finds the unknown

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harder to handle. than bad news itself. And psychologically,

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this constant state of not knowing can create

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anxiety, irritability, or anger. When we feel

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powerless to predict outcomes, we often try to

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regain control by overthinking, planning excessively,

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or becoming frustrated with others. Uncertainty

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makes the brain search. for meaning and security.

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If we can't find either, the stress response

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stays switched on. And over time, that can lead

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to fatigue, sleep problems, and decision fatigue.

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Uncertainty often brings emotional turbulence.

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Yet scripture offers us a way to see these moments

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differently. They can become opportunities to

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trust God rather than threats to our peace. Before

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we look at what the Bible says though, let's

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talk about mindset. Psychology uses a term called

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cognitive appraisal. It means that how we interpret

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a situation determines how we feel about it.

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If we see uncertainty, as danger, we experience

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fear. If we see it as an opportunity for growth

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or trust, the brain responds differently. Stress

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decreases and calm increases. That's worth repeating.

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Let me say it again. If we see uncertainty as

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danger, we experience fear. related anxiety and

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stuff. If we see it as an opportunity for growth

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or trust, the brain responds differently. Stress

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decreases and calm increases. Therapies like

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cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and

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commitment therapy teach that peace does not

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come from controlling outcomes, but from controlling

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perspective. we can learn to say, I can handle

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not knowing right now. That statement activates

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the rational part of the brain and quiets the

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threat response. And then to those of us who

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know and love God, faith reframes uncertainty

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by saying, even though I don't know what's coming,

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I know who holds the outcome. That shift from

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control to trust changes the brain function.

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Neuroscientist Andrew Newberg's research found

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that prayer and worship decrease activity in

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the amygdala, the fear center, and increase activity

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in the prefrontal cortex, where rational thinking

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and emotional regulation happens. In other words,

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When we as believers pray or meditate on scripture

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with genuine trust the body relaxes breathing

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slows and peace follows a Healthy mindset toward

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uncertainty includes three basic steps You might

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want to write these down and if you're driving

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come back to this mark and write it down later

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first acknowledge uncertainty honestly. Denial

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helps keep that stress alive, but naming it brings

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clarity. Just call it what it is. Second, you

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want to reframe it mentally. View uncertainty

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as a training ground for growth, not a sign of

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danger. And third, anchor uncertainty spiritually.

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Turn it into a moment of trust and surrender

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to God. So let's look at what scripture teaches

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us about handling uncertainty. Proverbs chapter

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3 verses 5 and 6 says trust in the Lord with

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all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

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In all your ways submit to him. and He will make

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your paths straight." This passage captures both

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the emotional and the spiritual side of uncertainty.

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When you lean on your own understanding, the

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mind works overtime to try to solve what it cannot

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control. But when you trust, the burden shifts

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to God, and peace can follow. Philippians 4,

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chapters 6 and 7, adds this do not be anxious

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about anything but in every situation by prayer

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and petition with thanksgiving present your requests

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to God and Paul continues and the peace of God

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which transcends all understanding will guard

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your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus that

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phrase guard your hearts and minds is significant

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It shows that peace has an active, steadying

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quality. When you pray with gratitude in uncertain

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times, your brain shifts towards calm awareness

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and connection with God. The focus turns to His

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guidance and care and your heart begins to settle

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into trust. Next, I'll tell you that James chapter

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4 verses 13 through 15 In essence, reminds us,

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you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.

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Instead, you ought to say, if it is the Lord's

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will, we will live and do this or that. James

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calls believers here to humility about the future.

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It's not a warning against planning, but an invitation

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to depend on God's will rather than our own timeline.

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I will tell you that in the Bible Hebrews chapter

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11 talks about those examples, really example

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after example of people who walked with God without

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knowing how things would turn out. Abraham in

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the Old Testament left his homeland not knowing

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where he was going but trusted God. Moses faced

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Pharaoh not knowing how Israel would be freed.

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but he trusted God. Faith grows stronger in uncertainty

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because it focuses on the source, not the solution.

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So let's connect what we've learned so far. Neuroscience

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says uncertainty triggers the body's alarm system.

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Psychology says we can reframe uncertainty through

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perspective and meaning. scripture says peace

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comes through trust in God's sovereignty. When

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these truths come together faith becomes both

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spiritual and neurological therapy. Trust changes

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how the brain functions and how the heart feels.

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When you pray during uncertainty your breath

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slows. Your breathing, I should say, slows. Your

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stress hormones drop and your mind reorients

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towards hope. We've talked about anchoring and

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drifting and anchoring in hope in other episodes.

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But when you read scripture and meditate on God's

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promises, your focus shifts from chaos to calm.

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Uncertainty doesn't vanish. But your relationship

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to it changes. It becomes the soil where faith

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grows rather than the storm that breaks you.

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So let's close with a few practical ways to handle

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uncertainty with a healthy mindset and a biblical

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focus. Start with awareness. Notice when your

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thoughts are spinning with what -ifs. Acknowledge

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the feeling instead of resisting it. Ground yourself,

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in other words. Take a few deep breaths and remind

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yourself that in this moment or season of life

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you are safe and seen by God. I want you to pray

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with honesty. Use the prayer of Mark chapter

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9 verse 24 where he says, I believe help my unbelief.

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Sometimes we want to believe more, but we are

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hesitant because of uncertainty. God welcomes

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authenticity. Limit the noise is the next thing.

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When uncertainty rises, reduce information overload.

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You know, too much input fuels anxiety. I go

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to the source of the calmness, which is Jesus

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in my storms. In fact he says, come to me all

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who are weary and I will give you rest. Uncertainty

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is a form of weariness. Next you want to practice

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gratitude. Philippians chapter 4 connects gratitude

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with peace for a reason. Thanking God for what's

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steady helps calm what feels shaky. A big one

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for believers, we want to meditate on truth.

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Verses like Psalm 46 10 be still and know that

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I am God Retrain the brain to rest rather than

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react Stay connected To others to God talk with

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trusted friends or mentors who can help you to

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see beyond the present moment Use that network

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social connections Soothes the nervous system

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and strengthens faith God knows what he's talking

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about when he says you should be part of a family

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of faith or a church family or a group of believers

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that come together to support each other. Each

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of these practices builds resilience in our lives.

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They help the mind and spirit learn that peace

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depends on confidence in God's care rather than

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clarity about outcomes. That's a huge shift for

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many. Uncertainty will always be part of life.

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It doesn't have to control how we live, think,

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or believe though. When the unknown comes, your

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brain may sound the alarm, but your spirit can

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answer with truth. You can say, God, I don't

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know what's next, but I know you are good. You

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can breathe deeply. And remember that peace is

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not the absence of uncertainty, but the presence

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of trust. And as you move through uncertain times

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or seasons, keep your mind steady and your heart

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anchored. The unknown may stir anxiety, but God's

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promises restore calm. Thanks for spending time

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with me today on Mind and Faith Matters. If this

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episode encouraged you, share it with someone

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who might be feeling the weight of uncertainty

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right now. And you can find more resources and

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even my merchandise store at mindandfaithmatters

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.com. Your support there helps us to continue

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spreading hope and mental wellness through faith.

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So until next time, stay grounded in grace and

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peace in a world that is filled with uncertainty.

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God bless.