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What inspired you to write Take Heart? What mes- sage do you hope your reader hears? I noticed that the moments I struggle with anxious thoughts the most are also when I pray and look to God more for peace. It prompted the question, "what if?" Instead of trying to deny or stuff down my anxious thoughts, what if they became the place I draw closer to God and others? I believe our anxious thoughts can become our invitation to recognize our weakness and grab hold of God's grace for us, moment by moment, in our real-time struggle. I wanted to share this encour- agement with others that find themselves in the same place. What do we do with the "mental tug-of-war" (as you describe in your book) between our anxious thoughts and God's promises? We can let go of the rope! As we identify how anxious thoughts are a rabbit hole of lies, we squeeze our eyes shut, let go, and fall into His grace. In response to every lie that tugs at our consciousness, we point to Jesus, whose truth anchors us to a greater reality instead of resisting or fighting back with human reasoning. But as anxious thoughts come a-knockin', get ready to go into battle, because they are devilish little things that will try hard to get us swept up in their lies and to forget God's truth. We can find strength and strategy as we store God's Word in our hearts, equipping us to resist the devil with God's truth, just as Jesus did in the wilderness. Also, we surround ourselves with other believers who can pray for us and remind us of God's promises and who we are in Jesus. What daily rhythms can help soothe our anxious thoughts? I have accepted that I am the kind of package that needs to be stamped "handle with care." There are physical and spiritual things in my life that need tending to be the healthiest version of myself. I have to pay attention to things like getting enough sleep, avoiding too much caffeine and alcohol, and getting enough exercise. These things greatly influence my state of mind. I also need to tend to my soul daily. I feel better when I spend time every day in God's Word and prayer and reach out to others regularly for meaningful connection and encouragement. What have you learned about God through your experiences with anxiety? God isn't fragile or easily offended by my humanness. He can handle all of me, and His forgiveness and grace are real for me, even when I don't feel it. What would you say to the anxious Christian frustrated that they haven't been able to "overcome" or "get past" weeks, months, o r ye a rs of n a gg i n g anxiety? You are not your anxiety. Your anxiety is an intruder and not your identity in Christ. But even as you grab hold of every bit of G o d ' s truth and know that you know it, you may lack the strength today to face the monsters in your mind. I want you to know that I get it. From my experience, I understand that you can't just grit your teeth, think "feel good" thoughts, and overcome your anxiety. Instead, it's a gentle pro- cess, led by the Holy Spirit and ideally done with the help of other believers. Remember, God celebrates our baby steps, and His voice is never harsh or condemning. Also, I have benefited from Christian therapy and med- ication over the years, which are tools God provides to help us. If your anxiety is interfering with everyday life, I recommend you talk to a medical professional to see how they can help you. Statistically as a nation, we're more anxious than ever before. How can we best walk with—and serve—our anxious neighbor? We can let our neighbors see that we struggle, too. Allowing others to see our imperfection is a gift that invites God's grace to shine between us. When we're real, our neighbor will say, "Oh, so this life is really hard for you too? I thought I was the only one." In the raw and honest places, our neighbors can see that life is tough for us too, but our hope in God is genuine and life-giving. God's strength in our weakness is not just the theology of the cross but a framework for our relationships. • Lindsay Hausch, Take Heart: God's Comfort for Anxious Thoughts (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2021). Do you struggle with anxiety or anxious thoughts? See how God provides comfort and guidance for overcoming anxious thoughts in His Word with author Lindsay Hausch. Find this title and others in this issue at cph.org. TAKE HEART: GOD'S COMFORT FOR ANXIOUS THOUGHTS Lutheran Life 17

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