The paradox of weakness | How true faith leads to rest and liberation from burdens

Today, we want to address a topic that is all too familiar to many of us: weariness. Stephanie vulnerably shares her own experience of a recent, literal, physical nervous breakdown, caused by years of chronic pain and the wrongly placed belief that with enough faith, she could do it all. She warns against believing

this lie, which can lead to shame and guilt. True faith is not about relying on our own abilities but placing our trust in God. Understanding our limits can help us truly understand what it means to have faith.This is the first of 6 episodes on rest. Stephanie initially taught keynotes at several distinct events and, surprisingly, the event organizers asked her to speak on the topic of rest. They didn't know they were all asking for the same theme. Stephanie crafted unique talks for each event, and wondered how this serendipitous convergence on the theme of rest might apply to you, our beloved Podcast audience. So, here are the keynotes she gave on the topic of dwelling in the presence of God, and delighting in His glory, as the essence, goal and means of rest. We dive deep into the concept of weariness and how it affects our lives. Did you know that the word "weary" in Greek is closely related to "hard work"? Stephanie shares her personal journey of coming to Jesus for rest. She explains how weariness is not just physical exhaustion but also the accumulation of pain and anxiety. When we allow long-term stress to take hold, it can lead to snapping over small things and narrow our ability to cope with situations or people.Stephanie reminds us that God has infinite strength, and He does not need us to carry the burdens of life in our own strength. Jesus, though He came in weakness, is the fullness of God and has no weakness. We are encouraged to bring our weaknesses to God, as they are the one thing He does not possess.Worry and anxiety often stem from not fully embracing the truth that Jesus is in control. Stephanie shares powerful insights about how distractions like fear, shame, guilt, approval, expectations, and comparison can burden us and rob us of finding true rest. It's a timely message for our culture, where discontent seems to be prevalent.Aside from the wisdom shared, we want to highlight Stephanie's availability for speaking engagements. If you're looking for a dynamic speaker to address various topics related to scripture study and seasonal events, make sure to check out Stephanie's page at gospelspice.com/speaking. Her passion for the gospel shines through in her speaking engagements, inspiring others to explore the rich depths of God's Word.Just as Jesus condemned the Pharisees for putting heavy burdens on others without carrying them themselves, we aim to offer a fresh perspective on Matthew 11, where Jesus invites us to come to Him for rest.Scripture challenges us to take this invitation to rest seriously. We pray that the Holy Spirit will bring transformative rest into your life. Our desire is for you to experience the peace and freedom that comes from surrendering your burdens to Jesus.If you're currently facing restlessness, discontent, or anxiety, don't fret or worry. Remember that God is in control, and He is not surprised by whatever challenges you face. Trust in Him and find rest in His love and provision.Experience the peace and presence of Jesus like never before, by walking in His footsteps on this virtual, highly personable tour of first-century Israel! Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.DATES | anytime!LOCATION | Online! Life is busy, and full of worry, anxiety, and stress. What if what we needed was a solid reminder of Jesus’ very real presence in our lives? What if walking in His footsteps for a few weeks might prove the cure to our endless challenges, so that we may view our life as He does?It’s said that a visit to Israel will forever change your experience of Scripture. That statement is right. But more than that, it will forever change your experience of Jesus.Here at Gospel Spice, our goal is to know Jesus more. It means deepening our theology, for sure, but what about discovering the little things Jesus enjoyed? Think of your best friends, or deeply loved ones. You know their favorite color, food, and scent. Not because it’s life-changing, but because it is about intimacy, and knowing one another well. So, how about discovering one of Jesus’ favorite childhood smells, or the Galilee skyline He woke up to every morning? It may not alter your theology, but it will help you know Him more.Do you need a full measure of His peace and comfort? Do you need to be reminded of His love for you? Do you need His guidance to navigate your life right now? Stephanie just returned from the Holy Land and invites you to walk in the footsteps of Jesus on this virtual tour of first-century Israel from the comfort of your own home. We will be journeying through Scripture together to meet Jesus where He walked, taught, and fellowshipped with His friends in Galilee. We will encounter Him on the Passion walk, from the Upper Room to Golgotha. We will meet Him in the Garden Tomb.So, pack your virtual sandals, along with a very real Bible and pen, to journey through Scripture in the footsteps of Jesus!Sign up today at gospelspice.com/footsteps for all the details.Summer is coming to an end, and busyness returns as the fall season settles upon us. We live in a fast-paced world where rest is elusive, and even frowned upon—especially once summer is over. What if, instead, intentional rest in Christ was the secret to launch a lifetime of delight in God, regardless of seasons? As summer makes way for the busyness of the fall season, Gospel Spice invites you to embrace a lifestyle of rest by experiencing the presence of God amidst your busy life.Do you enjoy Gospel Spice? Then let's deepen our relationship! There are 4 very simple ways to do that, and it would truly mean the world to us. 1- If you’ve enjoyed this episode, you will love receiving our newsletter. It contains value-packed free gifts and rich content each month. It’s at gospelspice.com/signup. There is always something new and exciting happening around here, and I don’t want you to miss out! Sign up at Gospelspice.com/signup2- Did you know Gospel Spice has a YouTube Channel? There’s exclusive content there too. So, join Gospel Spice on YouTube! It's at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice 3- Also please give us a star rating and a comment on your podcast listening app. Your reviews actually really do make a difference to help others discover and experience Gospel Spice. You would be surprised how helpful these are! So please leave a star rating and a review of a sentence or two. Thank you!4- As always, we are praying for you! You can confidentially email us your prayer requests and praise items at the email address contact@gospelspice.com. It is our privilege to pray for you!So, would you please invest 3 to 5 minutes of your time, maybe even right now, to do one (or more!) of the following suggestions:1-      signup on our website for our newsletter to receive gifts you’re going to love - at Gospelspice.com/signup 2-      find us on YouTube, and see what content we’ve put together to help you grow closer to Jesus - at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice3-      rate Gospel Spice on your listening app – it’s one of the easiest ways to share the gospel!4-      and finally, tell us how we can pray for you!Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blogWe are in our Gospel Spice REST series! We invite you to enhance your experience through the REST workbook, which contains listening guides to take notes during each episode, as well as optional bonus questions to reflect on your own or with a friend/group in order to truly enjoy the fullness of REST in Christ. Go to gospelspice.com/rest for all the details. Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!