Oct. 6, 2025

How to Stop Anxious Thoughts at Night: A Practical Christian Approach

Show Notes

How to Stop Anxious Thoughts at Night: A Practical Christian Approach

Episode Description

Do anxious thoughts keep you awake at 3 AM? Does your brain replay worst-case scenarios on repeat? You're not broken—your brain is just stuck in worry ruts. In this episode, I share a powerful coaching tool called a thought download, combined with biblical truth about God as your refuge, that will help you see your anxious thoughts clearly and start creating new neural pathways through God's Word.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

What thought ruts are and how they keep you stuck in worry patterns
The neuroscience behind anxious thinking (and why it's not your fault)
A 4-step thought download tool to get racing thoughts out of your head
How God's Word literally rewires your brain to create new pathways
Why El Shaddai (God Almighty) is your refuge when thoughts feel overwhelming
The connection between thoughts, feelings, and actions (the creation cycle)

Episode Highlights:

[02:00] The Target story: How a simple mistake during COVID sent me into a catastrophic worry spiral

[04:30] Understanding thought ruts: Why your brain keeps traveling down the same anxious pathways

[06:00] Meet El Shaddai: The name of God that means "God Almighty and Sufficient"

[07:30] The 4-step thought download tool that helps you process anxious thoughts

[12:00] How to create new neural pathways through Scripture meditation

The 4-Step Thought Download Tool:

Set your timer for 10 minutes - Create a container for your thoughts
Write continuously without stopping - Pour out everything, even the ugly thoughts
Remember who's with you - El Shaddai holds space for your tangled thoughts
Notice the patterns - What ruts do you see? Control? Worry? Shame?

Key Scripture Referenced:

Psalm 91:1-2 - "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty"
Philippians 4:6-7 - God's peace guards our hearts and minds when we pray instead of worry
2 Corinthians 12:9 - "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness"