Finding God’s Peace in a Week of Tragedy: How to Quiet Negativity and Fear #180
This past week, the news has been heavy and unsettling. In the wake of tragedy and fearful headlines, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and weighed down by negativity. But you don’t have to stay stuck in fear. In this week’s episode, Bonnie shares how to break free from negativity’s grip and discover how God renews your mind with peace. Through scripture, science, and soul care practices, you’ll learn how to quiet the noise, recognize the small new beginnings God is planting in your life, and take one step that brings clarity, calm, and hope. Friend, you don’t need to figure out the whole picture. You just need one faithful step—and the reminder that God’s power shines through you, even in jars of clay. Key Takeaways:Why negativity bias makes painful news cling to us more than positive experiences How focusing on meaningful, positive action rewires your brain for peace and resilience What Jesus’ parable of building a tower teaches us about releasing and rebuilding with Him Why you are called to be Christ’s ambassador in this generation A simple soul care practice: take one small step toward the “tower” God is building in your life Breath Prayer: Inhale: We have this treasure in jars of clay… Exhale: to show this surpassing power is from God Scripture:“Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” – 2 Corinthians 4:7–9 Gen Z Leads Church Attendance Articles & Reserach:https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/09/study-gen-z-leads-church-attendance-average/https://www.barna.com/research/young-adults-lead-resurgence-in-church-attendance/ → Take the FREE Soul Care Quiz at soulcarequiz.comGet your free personal wellness assessment and learn which area of wellness you need most. Join NEW Wellness Course: Breathe Joy with Jesus: Creating Happy Healthy Habits with God's Promises Register at mysoulcareschool.com Connect with Bonnie: Bestselling Books by Bonnie:https://amzn.to/3NpVYQd Join the Soul Care Newsletter:https://thebonniegray.com/subscribe Watch Weekly YouTube Devotionals:https://youtube.com/thebonniegray Follow Bonnie on Instagram & Facebook:@thebonniegray Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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Strong & Courageous: How to Embrace New Transitions with God #179
Fall is a season of change — kids head back to school, leaves begin to turn, and new routines take shape. But while transitions can be exciting, they can also stir up anxiety. What do I let go of? Where do I go next? Will God really be with me in this new land? In this week’s episode, Bonnie shares a tender story from her own life — launching one son into college, preparing another for his final years at home, and sensing God’s invitation to step into a new season for herself. Through scripture, science, and soul care, she explores how to face transitions not with fear, but with courage and peace. Friend, you don’t need the whole map. You just need one word, one small step, and the reminder that God goes ahead of you. Key Takeaways: Why transitions trigger stress in the brain (even good ones)How naming your season lowers stress and increases resilienceWhy courage doesn’t mean no fear — it means walking hand in hand with GodA personal story of breaking generational patterns and stepping into a Jubilee seasonA simple soul care practice to help you name and embrace your new seasonBreath Prayer:Inhale: You go ahead of me, Lord…Exhale: I am never alone. Scripture:“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or in dread of them, for the Lord your God is the One going with you. He will not desert you or abandon you… The Lord is the one who is going ahead of you; He will be with you. Do not fear and do not be dismayed.” – Joshua 1:6, 8 → Take the FREE Soul Care Quiz at soulcarequiz.comGet your free personal wellness assessment and learn which area of wellness you need most. Join NEW Wellness Course: Breathe Joy with Jesus: Creating Happy Healthy Habits with God's Promises Register at mysoulcareschool.com Connect with Bonnie: Bestselling Books by Bonnie:https://amzn.to/3NpVYQd Join the Soul Care Newsletter:https://thebonniegray.com/subscribe Watch Weekly YouTube Devotionals:https://youtube.com/thebonniegray Follow Bonnie on Instagram & Facebook:@thebonniegray Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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A Fresh Look: How Style & Color Can Refresh Your Spirit #178
Have you ever noticed how wearing something new, or adding a pop of color, can instantly lift your mood? Science shows that what you wear isn’t just functional — it can actually change how you feel, boost your mindset, and spark renewal from the inside out.Yet many women hesitate to give themselves this kind of attention, telling themselves it’s “unnecessary” or “shallow.” But friend, nurturing yourself with beauty and refreshment is not frivolous. It’s soul care.In this final episode of our Summer Soul Glow Up series, you’ll discover the psychology of why style and color affect your emotions, how even small wardrobe refreshes can lighten your inner load, and a soul care practice to invite God’s newness into your daily life.I’ll also share a fun and meaningful story about taking my son Caleb back-to-school shopping — and how one small wardrobe refresh unexpectedly led to one of the biggest changes in his school routine.Key Takeaways: The science of enclothed cognition — how what you wear impacts your mindset Research on color therapy and why certain colors lift mood and calm stress Why giving yourself attention isn’t shallow — it’s sacred A personal story of how a simple wardrobe refresh led to a lighter load and unexpected joy A soul care practice to refresh one item this week and invite God’s newness into your lifeBreath Prayer:Inhale: You are doing a new thingExhale: You are making a wayScripture:"See, I am doing a new thing; now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Is. 43:19 → Take the FREE Soul Care Quiz at soulcarequiz.comGet your free personal wellness assessment and learn which area of wellness you need most. Join NEW Wellness Course: Breathe Joy with Jesus: Creating Happy, Healthy Habits with God's Promises Register at mysoulcareschool.com Connect with Bonnie:Bestselling Books by Bonnie:https://amzn.to/3NpVYQdJoin the Soul Care Newsletter:https://thebonniegray.com/subscribeWatch Weekly YouTube Devotionals:https://youtube.com/thebonniegray Follow Bonnie on Instagram & Facebook:@thebonniegray Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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Joy While You Heal: Moving from Survivor Stress Mode to Beloved Rest Mode #177
Have you ever felt like you’re stuck in survivor mode — just trying to get through the day, pushing past your own needs, and wondering if joy will ever really come?So many women believe they must wait until they’re “healed enough” or “whole enough” before joy is possible. But friend, joy isn’t the end result of healing. Joy is part of the healing. In this episode, you’ll discover how neuroscience and Scripture show us that even the smallest joys — a laugh, a sweet moment, or something as simple as a s’more by the fire — can begin to rewire your heart from survival into belovedness. I’ll share a tender personal story of how God used a summer evening with my kids to show me it’s never too late for joy, and how choosing joy — even in the middle of tears — is a sacred step of healing. Key Takeaways: Why small joys help rewire your brain out of survival mode How “false safety mechanisms” from trauma silence your desires — and how to break free Why Jesus invites you to taste joy even before you’re fully healed A personal story of how a simple summer night with my boys became a moment of healing joy A practical soul care practice to take one small joy step this week Breath Prayer: Inhale: Those who sow in tears Exhale: will reap with shouts of joy Scripture: “Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy.” Psalm 126:6 Join NEW Wellness Course: Breathe Joy with Jesus: Creating Happy Healthy Habits with God's Promises Register at mysoulcareschool.com → Take the FREE Soul Care Quiz at soulcarequiz.comGet your free personal wellness assessment and learn which area of wellness you need most. Connect with Bonnie: Bestselling Books by Bonnie:https://amzn.to/3NpVYQd Join the Soul Care Newsletter:https://thebonniegray.com/subscribe Watch Weekly YouTube Devotionals:https://youtube.com/thebonniegray Follow Bonnie on Instagram & Facebook:@thebonniegray Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
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Beating the Blahs & Finding Joy in Learning Something New — with Grammy-Nominated Violinist Joseph Christianson #176
Do you ever find yourself feeling stuck — when your days all start to look and feel the same? One of the hidden stressors we often overlook is emotional stagnation. When our brains aren’t being challenged with fresh experiences, our emotional well-being dips — to stress or low mood. In this special episode, I sit down with Grammy-nominated violinist and teacher Joseph Christianson to explore the soul care power of music and learning something new. In this episode, you’ll learn:Why learning something new can help you break out of emotional stagnation and feel more joyHow music combines creativity, mindfulness, and joy to refresh your spiritA simple technique from Joseph to overcome perfectionism and embrace learning with joyA practical soul care challenge to boost your joy Breath Prayer: Inhale: I will sing a new song to youExhale: I will make music to you Scripture: “I will sing a new song to you, O God; I will make music to you.” Ps.144:9 Special Gift from Joseph: Try a FREE violin lesson with Joseph! → https://www.josephviolin.com/teaching Watch the interview with Joseph https://youtube.com/@thebonniegray?feature=shared Join NEW Wellness Course: Breathe Joy with Jesus: Creating Happy Healthy Rhythms with God's Promises Register at mysoulcareschool.com → Take the FREE Soul Care Quiz at soulcarequiz.comGet your free personal wellness assessment and learn which area of wellness you need most. Connect with Bonnie: Bestselling Books by Bonnie:https://amzn.to/3NpVYQd Join the Soul Care Newsletter:https://thebonniegray.com/subscribeWatch Weekly YouTube Devotionals:https://youtube.com/thebonniegrayFollow Bonnie on Instagram & Facebook:@thebonniegray Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast hosted by Christian author Bonnie Gray is dedicated to refreshing your soul with rest and sparking joy, so you can feel God’s love and peace. We'll walk you through scientific, scripture-backed methods of restoring calm, in order to help you stress less, take better care of yourself, and create new rhythms to rest in daily life.
Here are some topics covered in this podcast:
🌸 Feeling Anxious? Cast Your Cares on God Because He Cares For You🌸 3 Ways to Break Free from Stress, Worry & Anxiety🌸 How to Say No to Fear & Yes to God PLUS What's the Difference Between Secular & Biblical Meditation?🌸 Is It Burnout Or Is God Stretching You? 4 Signs to Know the Difference PLUS 4 Mental Health Benefits of Stories🌸 3 Surprising Ways to Stop Overthinking, Improve Your Mood During the Day, & Get the Sleep Your Body Needs🌸 The Antidote to Stress & Fatigue + The Surprising Causes – Plus Raising Stress-Resilient Kids
FOLLOW BONNIE:Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebonniegrayFacebook: https://facebook.com/thebonniegrayHer site: http://www.thebonniegray.com
New Zealand