After staying up late, writing out what I wanted to talk about with the doctors regarding a possible surgery for my son, I lurched tiredly down the stairs. My feet stepped off the bottom and landed with a squish. Oh no, why is there a puddle in my living room! Instantly awake, I surveyed the downstairs and realized our family now had an indoor wading pool. I soon found the culprit. Something burst in our dishwasher, and water was flowing out liberally. Oh, and why was the paint strangely bubbled on the ceiling over by the dryer? There was a different leak from our upstairs shower! I went to shut off the water under the sink but discovered that the shut off valve didn’t work. Then I tried the valve at the water heater.  That didn’t work either. And to top off the drama, it turned out the main shut off to the house also failed.  We must now actively bail water until an emergency plumber can show up. . .and it’s the weekend. None are available. 

This season of life has been a challenge. My son has been ill and under medical care. Our house got flooded, major repairs are needed, and we will likely need to relocate for several months. A pastor friend advised, “Just curl up in a ball and have a good cry.” While taking time to grieve is healthy, the Bible also says to have joy in trials.

“When it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up in you the power of endurance. And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.”

James 1:2-4 TPT

How do I get there? It is easier said than done as I am a natural worrier. Controlling my stressful and worrisome thoughts is a challenge. I must remind myself of how the brain works in order to put into practice “taking every thought captive.”

“We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought.”

2 Corinthians 10:5 TPT

The paths in the brain we most often use become highways that the brain automatically takes whenever life is challenging. I have some large highways for worry that the brain likes to travel. And telling myself to “stop worrying” doesn’t work. That makes it worse because it still puts the word “worry” in my brain, and that makes the worry highway stronger. This is why trying to resist through willpower often fails. Focusing on a negative behavior, even in the context of trying to avoid it, can strengthen that negative behavior. 

Instead, I need to change my focus. I must deliberately turn my brain away from the negative and focus on the positive to build up some strong brain pathways for hope and faith. If I repeat this enough, hope and faith will become the large highway that my brain will automatically turn to, and the worry highway will weaken. Old pathways are worn and easy to tread. You must continually choose a new path before it becomes the easier one to walk.

So in between tossing out each new bucket of water, I am telling myself, “While this situation is stressful, it is also an opportunity for God to show up. I can look forward in faith and hopeful expectation for that moment. Until things change, I will remember that God is good, and God will sustain me.  God has done so in the past. God will help me walk through this valley until things turn around.” Each time I repeat this, I am building a new highway in the brain, one that can replace the worry highway. I am directing myself into something new and healthy instead of endlessly wrestling with the old ways of thinking! 

Sometimes, rough emotions get so strong that it is hard to form words in your brain. How can I make a new path in my brain when outside circumstances are bombarding me with the message that God is not good and does not care for my situation, and I am so overwhelmed it is hard to think! This is when I turn to images. Jesus says in Matthew 6:25-27 that God takes care of the birds and flowers, so how much more will God take care of you! Through practice, I have trained my brain to bring up a large, full-color image of a lily or a sparrow when I am tempted to obsess over some stressful thing. This image, representing God’s loving care, becomes a giant stop sign for me in my head, blocking those destructive thoughts and emotions. 

It is easy for Christians to have faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection that brings salvation, but it is much harder to practice the daily faith that God is good, God keeps promises, God cares for me, and I do not need to worry. So, I recommend practicing brain change, telling yourself when things are stormy, “This is an opportunity for God to show up. I can replace stress with faithful, hopeful expectation.” This isn’t blind optimism or wishful thinking; it is learning to grow in confidence in God’s promises in the Bible and remembering how God has faithfully provided in the past and that God will continue to do so in the future. We must constantly remind ourselves of and memorize God’s promises.

“Do not yield to fear, for I am always near. Never turn your gaze from me, for I am your faithful God. I will infuse you with my strength and help you in every situation.  I will hold you firmly with my victorious right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10 TPT

Will my son be ok? I don’t know, but prospects are good.  Is the house fixed? The shut off valves are replaced so I can at least stop bailing water, and now it is a matter of figuring out repairs and a likely relocation of the family for several months. Things remain in process, but I remain in hopeful expectation, waiting on the Lord.

“But those who entwine their hearts with Yahweh will experience divine strength. They will rise up on soaring wings and fly like eagles, run their races without growing weary, and walk through life without giving up.”

Isaiah 40:31 TPT

When we think of self-improvement, our minds often turn to dieting, exercise, or productivity hacks. But without understanding how the mind works, these improvements are unlikely to stick.

In The Brain Change Program, Dr. Alan Weissenbacher merges neuroscience with biblical wisdom and leads you through his six-step program to achieve lasting, meaningful change. He shares actionable, lifelong strategies and tools to help you

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• redesign your prayer life, 
• guide yourself into right thinking, and
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