We’ve all heard the phrase "be strong," but what happens when strength becomes a mask we use to hide our weariness, pain, and grief? In this episode of The NEXT Podcast, host Jay Cookingham dives deep into the heavy, unspoken burden of carrying a "tough face”.

Drawing from his own visceral experience standing in a receiving line for over two hours at his late wife Christine's memorial service, where he found himself comforting others instead of being comforted.

If you've ever felt the pressure to hold it all together while breaking inside, this episode offers grace-filled permission to drop the badge of honor of false strength. Jay shares practical, pastoral steps for evaluating your responsibilities, setting healthy boundaries, and transferring the weight off your shoulders onto Jesus. Because true strength isn't about pretending to be unbreakable, it’s about relying on His power in our weakness.

Find out more about me here: www.jaycookingham.com

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Music by Paul Grimsland

You can buy my grief devotional, NEXT: Lamentations and Devotions, here: https://a.co/d/07sA61P5