Do you find yourself avoiding something important — not because you don’t care, but because fear rises in your body every time you think about it?

Even when we know we’re safe, fear can linger in our nervous system. Our body tightens. Our breath shortens. And instead of moving forward, we quietly push the fear away — carrying the stress on our own.

In today’s episode, Bonnie shares a deeply personal story about facing a long-held fear not by pushing herself to be brave, but by allowing care and God’s presence to meet her where fear lived in her body.

This episode introduces a Soft Soul Glow-Up — learning how to face fear with gentleness and care instead of pressure and self-reliance. You’ll discover why fear doesn’t mean you lack faith, how the body heals through presence and connection, and a simple soul care practice to help you face something you may be avoiding — without doing it alone.

Key Takeaways
Why fear doesn’t mean you lack faith — it often means your body learned to protect you
How choosing care over pushing creates space for peace and healing
Why the nervous system calms through connection, not logic alone
A gentle soul care practice to help you face fear without forcing yourself through

Breath Prayer
Inhale: When I am afraid…
Exhale: I put my trust in You.

Scripture
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.” Psalm 56:3
 

→ Take Bonnie's Soul Care Courses:


Breathe Rest with Jesus:
A Loving Course to Create Wellness Rhythms of Peace with God’s Promises

Register at https://thebonniegray.com/soulcareschool-breatherest/

Breathe Joy with Jesus:
Create Happy Wellness Rhythms to Cultivate Joy with God's Promises
Register at https://thebonniegray.com/soulcareschool/

Praying the Psalms for Wellness:
A Life-giving 8-Week Wellness Course to Release Stress, Renew Peace & Find Rest for Your Hear
Register at https://thebonniegray.com/soulcareschool-prayingpsalms/


Lent Wellness Study (Seasonal Offering)

A 6-Week Healing Renewal For Your Heart With Jesus in His Love
Register at https://thebonniegray.com/soulcareschool-lent/

→ Take the FREE Soul Care Quiz at soulcarequiz.comGet your personal wellness assessment and learn which area of soul care you need most.

→  Eucalyptus Shower Steamers for instant calm at Bonnie's Soul Care Store

Join the Soul Care Newsletter:
https://thebonniegray.com/subscribe

Watch YouTube Devotionals:
https://youtube.com/thebonniegray

Bestselling Books by Bonnie:
https://amzn.to/3NpVYQd

Follow Bonnie on Instagram & Facebook:
@thebonniegray

Do you find yourself avoiding something important &mdash; not because you don&rsquo;t care, but because fear rises in your body every time you think about it?
Even when we know we&rsquo;re safe, fear can linger in our nervous system. Our body tightens. Our breath shortens. And instead of moving forward, we quietly push the fear away &mdash; carrying the stress on our own.
In today&rsquo;s episode, Bonnie shares a deeply personal story about facing a long-held fear not by pushing herself to be brave, but by allowing care and God&rsquo;s presence to meet her where fear lived in her body.
This episode introduces a Soft Soul Glow-Up &mdash; learning how to face fear with gentleness and care instead of pressure and self-reliance. You&rsquo;ll discover why fear doesn&rsquo;t mean you lack faith, how the body heals through presence and connection, and a simple soul care practice to help you face something you may be avoiding &mdash; without doing it alone.
Key Takeaways Why fear doesn&rsquo;t mean you lack faith &mdash; it often means your body learned to protect you How choosing care over pushing creates space for peace and healing Why the nervous system calms through connection, not logic alone A gentle soul care practice to help you face fear without forcing yourself through Breath Prayer Inhale: When I am afraid&hellip; Exhale: I put my trust in You. Scripture &ldquo;When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.&rdquo; Psalm 56:3 &nbsp;
&rarr;&nbsp;Take Bonnie's Soul Care Courses:
 Breathe Rest with Jesus: A Loving Course to Create Wellness Rhythms of Peace with God&rsquo;s Promises
Register at&nbsp;<a href="https://thebonniegray.com/soulcareschool-breatherest/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thebonniegray.com/soulcareschool-breatherest/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1769435007243000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3lkBD3xZhu1rH9ABiZUC6m">https://thebonniegray.com/soulcareschool-breatherest/</a>
Breathe Joy with Jesus: Create&nbsp;Happy Wellness Rhythms to Cultivate Joy with God's Promises Register at&nbsp;<a href="https://thebonniegray.com/soulcareschool/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thebonniegray.com/soulcareschool/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1769435007243000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0E6oJhigREQUPIXucKJBRW">https://thebonniegray.com/soulcareschool/</a> Praying the Psalms for Wellness: A Life-giving 8-Week Wellness Course to Release Stress, Renew Peace &amp; Find Rest for Your Hear Register at&nbsp;<a href="https://thebonniegray.com/soulcareschool-prayingpsalms/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thebonniegray.com/soulcareschool-prayingpsalms/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1769435007243000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0R3ejv8kHE9kZMWnlQquid">https://thebonniegray.com/soulcareschool-prayingpsalms/</a>
 Lent Wellness Study (Seasonal Offering)
A 6-Week Healing Renewal For Your Heart With Jesus in His Love Register at&nbsp;<a href="https://thebonniegray.com/soulcareschool-lent/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thebonniegray.com/soulcareschool-lent/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1769435007243000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1o3KxNfIWc_dfwV9141X7f">https://thebonniegray.com/soulcareschool-lent/</a>
&rarr; Take the FREE Soul Care Quiz&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="http://soulcarequiz.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://soulcarequiz.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1769435007243000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3kzKxY1GzIl-xrwVB5xbe4">soulcarequiz.com</a>Get your personal wellness assessment and learn which area of soul care you need most.
&rarr;&nbsp; Eucalyptus Shower Steamers for instant calm at&nbsp;<a href="https://amzn.to/488VVBI" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://amzn.to/488VVBI&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1769435007243000&amp;usg=AOvVaw39lQUQYtaf9LwWt4pOTt3I">Bonnie's Soul Care Store</a>
Join the Soul Care Newsletter: <a href="https://thebonniegray.com/subscribe" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thebonniegray.com/subscribe&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1769435007243000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1ePXFEg8kSvHmVzHrf-LZp">https://thebonniegray.com/subscribe</a> Watch YouTube Devotionals: <a href="https://youtube.com/thebonniegray">https://youtube.com/thebonniegray</a>
Bestselling Books by Bonnie: <a href="https://amzn.to/3NpVYQd" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://amzn.to/3NpVYQd&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1769435007243000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0msbft-RPKPdYG9sTZYiUy">https://amzn.to/3NpVYQd</a> Follow Bonnie on Instagram &amp; Facebook: @thebonniegray

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/thebonniegray
Facebook: https://facebook.com/thebonniegray
Her site: http://www.thebonniegray.com

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 &amp; Anxiety 🌸 How to Say No to Fear &amp; Yes to God PLUS What's the Difference Between Secular &amp; 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, &amp; Get the Sleep Your Body Needs 🌸 The Antidote to Stress &amp; Fatigue + The Surprising Causes – Plus Raising Stress-Resilient Kids
FOLLOW BONNIE: Instagram: <a href="https://instagram.com/thebonniegray">https://instagram.com/thebonniegray</a> Facebook: <a href="https://facebook.com/thebonniegray">https://facebook.com/thebonniegray</a> Her site: <a href="http://www.thebonniegray.com/">http://www.thebonniegray.com</a>

Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast 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,...

Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast

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: 
Ways to Eliminate Anxiety & Cast Your Cares on God 
Tips to Break Free from Stress, Worry & Anxiety
Recommendations on How to Say No to Fear & Yes to God
Ways to Raise Stress-Resilient Kids
Mental Health Benefits of Stories of Stories & Activities 
Surprising Ways to Stop Overthinking
Tips to Improve Your Mood During the Day & Get the Sleep Your Body Needs
The Difference Between Secular & Biblical Meditation
The Difference Between Burnout & God Stretching You
The Antidote to Stress & Fatigue + The Surprising Causes 

FOLLOW BONNIE:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebonniegray
Facebook: https://facebook.com/thebonniegray
Her site: http://www.thebonniegray.com 

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: 
<ul>
<li>Ways to Eliminate Anxiety &amp; Cast Your Cares on God </li>
<li>Tips to Break Free from Stress, Worry &amp; Anxiety</li>
<li>Recommendations on How to Say No to Fear &amp; Yes to God</li>
<li>Ways to Raise Stress-Resilient Kids</li>
<li>Mental Health Benefits of Stories of Stories &amp; Activities </li>
<li>Surprising Ways to Stop Overthinking</li>
<li>Tips to Improve Your Mood During the Day &amp; Get the Sleep Your Body Needs</li>
<li>The Difference Between Secular &amp; Biblical Meditation</li>
<li>The Difference Between Burnout &amp; God Stretching You</li>
<li>The Antidote to Stress &amp; Fatigue + The Surprising Causes </li>
</ul>
FOLLOW BONNIE: Instagram: <a href="https://instagram.com/thebonniegray">https://instagram.com/thebonniegray</a> Facebook: <a href="https://facebook.com/thebonniegray">https://facebook.com/thebonniegray</a> Her site: <a href="http://www.thebonniegray.com/">http://www.thebonniegray.com </a>

Soft Soul Glow-Up: Facing Fear with Care Instead of Pushing Through #197

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/f205b39f-5ed4-4a4c-a90f-b3dd00e29ddf/transcript