Grab your Bible and turn to Matthew 6:25 and join Dave and Bethlie as they discuss Overcoming Anxiety.

Understanding anxiety

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern in the U.S., affecting over 40 million adults (19.1%) annually, with roughly 31% of adults experiencing an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. Females are more likely to be affected (23.4%) compared to males (14.3%)

Key Anxiety Statistics

• Prevalence: Nearly 1 in 3 adolescents (ages 13-18) will experience an anxiety disorder.
• Adult Prevalence: Around 19.1% of U.S. adults aged 18+ have an anxiety disorder, with 22.8% of those cases classified as serious impairment.
• Types:
• • Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Affects 6.8 million U.S. adults (2.7% prevalence).
  • Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD): Affects 15 million adults, typically beginning at age 13.
  • Panic Disorder: Affects 6 million adults.
• Gender Differences: Women are twice as likely to be affected by anxiety disorders than men.
• Treatment: Only 43.2% of people with Generalized Anxiety Disorder receive treatment.
• Impact: Approximately 70% of adults feel anxious about the state of the world, including economy, personal health, and new technologies.

1. The effects of anxiety
   1. Ulcers
   2. Loss of joy
   3. Inability to cope
   4. Failure to trust God (sometimes is a cause; other times is an effect)
   5. Failure to overcome
      1. Often rooted in the belief that this is just the way I am
      2. Or the believe that I can't overcome it

1. The greek word that is used
   1. "Merimnao"
   2. To divide, part, rip, tear apart

Jesus taught about anxiety

• it is often a part of our lives
• it should not be a part of our lives
• it should be put away
• it should be overcome

Dave and Bethlie continue their series in identifying biblical steps for climbing out of the darkness that depression can bring. From confessing sin and getting right with God, to listing your responsibilities, avoiding pity parties, and anchoring yourself in the truth of Scripture, we know God's Word is powerful enough to help you overcome. Just as David continually brought himself back to the truth of who God is in the midst of his own pain, so can you. If God is real and His Word is true — and it is — you can overcome depression!

1. You can recognize a failing solution when the depression become cyclical
   1. Discouragement is normal to live
   2. Depression occurs when I handle discouragements and failures in a wrong way
   3. Stay focused on duties
      1. If discouragement separates us from our duties, it will always lead to depression
      2. You MUST continue to perform your duties and meet your obligations
   1. Around and around in depression
   2. Cf. 2 Corinthians 4:8
   3. Recognize the truth about what is happening
   4. Understand the difference in discouragement and depression

Steps to take:

1. Confess sin
2. List responsibilities
   1. Pity parties
   2. Gripe sessions
   3. complaining
   1. Your family
   2. Your home
   3. Your job
   4. Avoid all the negatives
3. Get to work doing them

Some truths about depression:

1. Some things are necessary in overcoming depression:
   1. You have to know God personally and intimately
   2. You have to desire to please God by doing what He says
   3. You have to obey God regardless of how you feel
2. Some are more susceptible to depression
   1. It is especially a problem for those who are responsible to set and keep their own schedule
   2. It is especially a problem for those who don't have a schedule
   3. Those who have a schedule (from a boss or workplace) have less of an issue with depression
      1. Self-control is strengthened by their schedule
      2. Self-discipline is set for them already
3. Some things naturally lead towards depression
   1. A setback
      1. Sickness
      2. Disappointment
      3. Failure
      4. Guilt
   2. A tendency to follow feelings rather than to pursue obligations
   3. A willingness to participate in pit-parties or to continually focus on self
4. Nothing but obedience to God and His Word can overcome depression
   1. Ignoring it won't work
   2. Anti-depressants won't work
   3. Substance abuse won't work

Is your marriage struggling? In Part 2 of this series Overcoming A Bad Marriage, Dave and Bethlie share biblical steps for overcoming a bad marriage and restoring what God intended for your relationship.

1. 1. Learn to love again
      1. Define it
         1. Love and feelings are not the same thing
         2. Love is about pleasing God
         3. Love is being willing to give another whatever it is that they need because you know it is what God commands you to do.
      2. Biblicize it
         1. Ephesians 5:25 Husbands love your wives as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her
         2. Older women teach the younger women to love their husbands
         3. Love your neighbor
            1. Your spouse is your closest neighbor so you have to love them
         4. Matthew 5:44. Love your enemy
            1. The lowest level of love
   2. Determine to please God
      1. Get very close to Him
         1. James 4:8
         2. The closer you are to God the healthier you will be
         3. The closer you are to God the stronger you will be
      2. Honor God in the decisions you make and your marriage will be amazing
   3. Take steps to love
      1. Learn to give.
         1. John 3:16
         2. Gal 2:20
         3. Proverbs 25:21
      2. Learn to forgive
         1. Forgiveness promises not to use another's wrongdoings against them in the future
         2. Forgiveness promises not to talk to other people about another's wrongdoings
         3. Forgiveness promises not to dwell on the other's wrongdoings
      3. Learn to meet each other's needs

Join Dave and Bethlie as they continue this overcoming series with this first in a two part series about Ovecoming A Bad Marriage.

Part 1

1. What is a bad marriage?
   1. Typically marriages don't start badly
      1. We meet
      2. We talk
      3. We spend time together
      4. We "fall in love"
      5. We propose
      6. We make plans
      7. We get married.
   2. Marriage can become bad
      1. It happens in a process of time
      2. We don't love each other anymore
      3. We aren't compatible
      4. We are miserable
      5. We allow hurt feelings to become BIG problems
      6. We allow little things to become bigger things
2. What do you do about it?
   1. Remember your vows
      1. For better or for worse
      2. A verbal commitment to honor God and His Word
         1. Divorce is only permitted in a few select cases
         2. Divorce is rarely the best option
         3. Divorce opens the door to more divorce
   2. Repent at the thought of ending it

Happy Valentine's week!

Join Dave and Bethlie as they discuss how love overcomes!

Every marriage faces misunderstandings, but it's how we handle them that determines whether our relationship thrives or struggles. In this episode of Keeping It Young, Dave and Bethlie share practical, biblical wisdom on overcoming misunderstandings in marriage before they grow into bigger problems.

Learn how to approach difficult conversations with humility and kindness, share your needs in ways your spouse can receive them, and present issues without tearing down your spouse. Dave and Bethlie discuss the difference between minor miscommunications and deeper misunderstandings that need addressing.

Whether you're newlyweds or have been married for decades, this episode provides actionable application for maintaining intimacy, avoiding resentment, and growing together as co-laborers in Christ.

What You'll Learn:

• The difference between simple miscommunications and destructive misunderstandings
• How to approach issues with humility, kindness, and grace
• Why making demands always leads to failure in marriage
• How to share needs in a way your spouse can process
• Practical communication strategies for husbands and wives
• The spiritual foundation for overcoming relational challenges
  
  Episode Notes:

1. What do we mean by misunderstandings?
   1. Desires that aren't met
   2. Issues that won't go away
   3. Failure to meet each others needs
2. How do you overcome them?
   1. Approach issues in a right way
      1. Recognize the value of humility and kindness
         1. allows us to be vulnerable
         2. allows us to develop intimacy (even if it is small)
      2. Recognize that making demands equal failure
         1. These usually are accusations that are selfish
         2. They build walls rather than intimacy
   2. Share your needs in the way that your spouse processes
      1. Have a right motivation
         1. That your spouse will grow spiritually and have God's blessings
      2. Use a right presentation
         1. Don't belittle
         2. Be honest but build
            1. A husband especially needs this:
               1. I know you are better than this
         3. For a wife -
            1. don't process everything with him
            2. plan how to be kind and to the point
         4. For a husband
            1. Be kind and loving in your words
            2. Ask her to pray about the matter
            3. Share it with her and ask her to consider it and talk about it later
            4. Don't be frustrated by her processing
   3. Determine to grow (prefereably together)
      1. Know you you are in Christ
      2. Know who your spouse is in Christ
      3. Know that your are co-laborers for Christ
         1. You are in this together
         2. Pray for and help each other

Dave and Bethlie wrap up this first section of the Overcoming series focused on the subject of anger. We're also celebrating and praising the Lord for our 300th episode!

1. What do you do with a child who has a tendency to anger
   1. Correct them
      1. Punishment - Every time anger has to be confronted with a negative consequence
      2. We recommend a spanking - every time
   2. Teach them
      1. keep it simple
      2. This is wrong
      3. This is how you should respond
   3. Disciple them
      1. Your child will need the power of God's Word and God's Spirit
      2. Your child will need to walk with God
   4. Model for them
      1. You must do right first
      2. You must learn to have peace in your heart
      3. You have to model right responses to irritations and issues and life itself