Shame is a harsh slavemaster. Shame wraps itself around our minds and our hearts and convinces us that, not only are we bad people who don't deserve acceptance or who don't measure up, but also that we can't ever be set free from it. We become convinced that this feeling of self-doubt and unworthiness is just going to be part of our lives from now on. But Jesus came to set us free from the lie that says we're not worth it. He came to accept us where we are and make us into what He has in mind for us. So how do I experience that? Is there something I need to do in order to take hold of that freedom?

Shame is such a powerful emotion. It goes beyond just a sense of guilt or remorse for past mistakes. Shame leads me to believe, not just that I did something bad, but that I am a bad person. That kind of perspective can be devastating to my sense of self-worth. But Jesus came into our world to conquer the things that keep us separated from God, including our shame. So how do I recognize if shame is something that is impacting my attitude and actions? And how do I allow Jesus to defeat and remove feelings of shame from my mind and heart?

The pursuit of happiness is one of the "rights" outlined in the Declaration of Independence. It's a concept that permeates our culture even today - pursue happiness...search for and find what makes you happy. But is being happy truly the goal in life? Is that what God wants for me? To just make sure that I'm happy? Scripture seems to indicate that God calls us to choose something even greater than happiness. God calls us to choose joy. But aren't joy and happiness the same thing? If they're not, how do I know the difference? And how do I make sure that I'm moving beyond pursuing happiness to taking hold of joy?

The Bible consistently calls God's people to experience joy. Over and over different authors in scripture talk about rejoicing and celebrating God's blessings and God's presence...and that's a good thing! But sometimes I don't feel very joyful. There are days when I'm hurting or I'm tired or I've lost something or someone that meant a lot to me - there are days when I'm just sad. But is that wrong? Does it make me a bad Christian if I have feelings of sadness? How do I keep my moments of sadness from taking over my thoughts and controlling my actions?

There are seemingly countless phobias that affect millions of people worldwide. There are constantly fear and anxiety-inducing situations many of us deal with on a regular basis. Then we read scriptures that say "do not fear" and "don't be afraid," and we feel guilty because we actually are afraid. So is it wrong to feel anxious? Is it wrong to feel fear? And what do I do when it seems like, instead of conquering my fear, my fear is conquering me?

Recent surveys indicate that a majority of Americans believe the country is angrier now than a generation ago. We seem to allow our angry feelings to influence our words and our actions than maybe people in our culture used to. But anger is just a natural emotion, isn't it? Don't I have the right to get angry about things that really bother me? While most of our feelings are natural responses to circumstances around us, allowing strong emotions (like anger) to take control of our thoughts and actions can lead to a whole bunch of problems. So how do I get better at navigating my feelings when someone makes me angry?

Studies have shown how important it is for human beings to have a sense of belonging, to have a community that they feel like they're a part of. This makes sense because from the very beginning, God designed us for relationships. We're supposed to have connections with others; we're supposed to have a sense of community with each other, especially those of us who are followers of Jesus. But this need for connection goes beyond just an innate desire to have relationships with others. We are actually challenged by God to have connections, not just with Him, but with each other. It's not just a recommendation; it's a calling.

40% of Americans say they feel a deep sense of peace on at least a weekly basis. Yet the United States ranks in the top 5 of most stressed countries in the world. We seem to be a people who crave peace yet find difficulty in achieving it. But peace is something that scripture says Jesus came to give and something that God calls His followers to. So how do I find God's peace, and how do I get better at sharing that peace with others?