I have a confession. After spending the last few episodes talking about pain and learning to pay attention to what I need, I had to actually live it.

And it wasn’t nearly as easy as I made it sound.

I found myself dealing with a situation I couldn’t fix, couldn’t control, and honestly just wanted to be over. I was frustrated. I was angry. I was anxious. But what surprised me most was that I felt ashamed for feeling any of it. Somewhere along the way, I had picked up this idea that if I really trusted God, I shouldn’t be anxious. I should just pray, believe His Word, and be okay.

But what I’m learning is that both things can be true. I can trust God and still be concerned. I can know He is good and still be disappointed with what’s happening. I can have faith and still have feelings.

So this episode is me living out what I’ve been sharing with you. No pretending. No rushing past what hurts to get to “God is good.” Just learning that God is good even when I’m hurt, even when I’m frustrated, and even when I don’t know how things are going to work out.

You're right. I left out the Life Work, which we've been consistently including. And the transcript gives us exactly what it should be: identifying one place where you've been ashamed to admit what you actually feel.

Life Work:

Think about one area of your life where you’ve been afraid to face what you really feel because you’ve told yourself you shouldn’t feel that way.

Just choose one.

Maybe you’re angry. Maybe you’re disappointed. Maybe you’re anxious, sad, frustrated, or afraid.

Instead of judging it or trying to make yourself feel something different, acknowledge it. Be honest with yourself about what you feel, and then be honest with God about it.

You don’t have to pretend with Him. And you don’t have to be ashamed of what you feel.