How to Overcome Fear and Anxiety by Trusting God: Fear is a Liar pt 2

Episode Summary:

If worry, fear, and anxiety have ever left you feeling trapped in a cycle of racing thoughts, worst-case scenarios, and emotional exhaustion, this hope-filled episode offers practical help grounded in both neuroscience and biblical truth.

Drawing from her personal journey through anxiety, cancer, and caregiving, as well as more than 30 years of experience as a clinical neuropsychologist, Dr. Michelle Bengtson reveals how to replace fear with truth, retrain anxious thought patterns, strengthen trust in God, and reclaim the peace Christ promises.

Discover how neuroplasticity supports the renewing of the mind, why anxious thoughts often disguise themselves as perfectionism and control, and practical faith-based strategies for overcoming worry, fear, and anxiety.

Through powerful Scripture, personal testimony, and actionable tools, you'll learn how to cultivate lasting peace, deepen your trust in God, and live with greater confidence, courage, and emotional resilience regardless of your circumstances.

 

Quotables from the episode:

• Anxiety is loud, but it is not, Lord. Fear is intense, but it is not truthful. And you are not powerless against it.
• Your mind is not fixed. Your thought patterns can change. Your emotional responses can heal. Your habits can be retrained.
• When we keep rehearsing fear and anxious thoughts and worry, we strengthen worry, fear, and anxiety. But when we keep rehearsing truth, we strengthen trust.
• You cannot interrupt a lie that you haven't identified. And you cannot replace a thought you've not first noticed.
• This is renewing your mind. This is retraining your inner dialogue. That is what learning to let truth speak louder than fear looks like. But it takes practice.
• You do not have to be perfectly healed to be useful in God's hands. You do not have to have mastered your emotions to walk in obedience.
• Courage is obedience in the presence of fear because you trust the one who goes with you.
• Gratitude is not pretending everything is easy. Gratitude is remembering that God has been faithful before and acknowledging that he will be faithful again.
• A steadfast mind is not a mind that never experiences fear. It is a mind that keeps returning to God.
• So no, you might not stop anxiety from knocking, but you don't have to invite it in. You don't have to sit with it, you don't have to agree with it, and you certainly don't have to become it because you are not powerless, you are not stuck, and you are not alone.

Scripture References:

• Romans 12:2 tells us, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
• Joshua 1:9 says, "Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid and do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
• Romans 10:17 says, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God."
• Philippians 4:6 reminds us to “not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your request to God.”
• Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you."

Recommended Resources: 

• Free Stress-Response Personality Assessment
• Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson
• The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories
• YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms
• Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals
• YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1
• YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2
• Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference
• Revive & Thrive Summit 2
• Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1
• Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2
• Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian  Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.)
• YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip
• Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide
• Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win
• Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award
• Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award
• Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue

 

Social Media Links for Host:

For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at:

Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book  Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails  /  Website  /   Blog  /  Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson)  /  LinkedIn  /  Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple

 

Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson

Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson

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