Being Present in the New Year Marti Wibbels, MS, LMHC A new year is a little bit like welcoming guests to our homes. We can choose to embrace 2022 with anticipation or live in persistent stress. Three times, Psalm 37 repeats God’s pattern for stress reduction: do not fret. “Fret” in the Old English means…

Moving from the Old to a New Year Marti Wibbels, MS, LMHC Have you ever noticed when people say, “Happy New Year,” they almost immediately begin talking about something “old”—from political problems and economic woes to health or family concerns? I’m not suggesting we ignore legitimate concerns but that we learn to manage them. Then…

Remembering What Matters Marti Wibbels, MS, LMHC Have you ever noticed how often God says, “remember”? To Moses, God said, …remember, I am GOD (Numbers 3:41, MSG). To us, Therefore, remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called ‘the uncircumcision’ by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh…

Being Thankful for Our Ravens Marti Wibbels, MS, LMHC This Tuesday morning (November 16th) was my monthly opportunity to discuss mental health issues on Mornings with Eric and Brigitte on Moody Radio South Florida (89.3 FM). To build a healthy perspective, we considered Being Thankful for Our Ravens, noticing how God used an unclean bird,…

From Womb to Tomb Marti Wibbels, MS, LMHC Throughout the world, Job’s story is synonymous with suffering. When his suffering seemed to be at its worst—he’d lost everything, from his livestock to his servants and all of his sons and daughters, he said, Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The…

Surviving a Plague, a Torn Tendon, and Other Trauma Marti Wibbels, MS, LMHC The coronavirus pandemic hit our world without warning, catapulting us into places none of us could have imagined. Even though we’re experiencing the global plague in different ways, everyone has now experienced trauma! Perhaps all trauma survivors can begin to feel safe…

How to Manage Panic Attacks Marti Wibbels, MS, LMHC Last week, Moody Radio South Florida interviewed me about this concern. The topic is worth repeating, because people throughout the world are struggling with increasing anxiety, depression, and panic attacks, along with other emotional health concerns, thrusting the world into what’s now being referred to as…

Moving from Stress to Rest Marti Wibbels, MS, LMHC How do we move from doubts to peace, from stress to rest? How can we live as new creations in a world filled with despair? We need to remember the character of God and the design of His Church! God said, I have loved you with…

Living Beyond Clouds Marti Wibbels, MS, LMHC Today, when someone mentions the “cloud,” it’s usually referring to a place to store data. The “cloud” we’re considering here has nothing to do with technology. Oswald Chambers said “clouds are always connected with God. Clouds are those sorrows or sufferings or providences, within or without our personal…

Perspective Marti Wibbels, MS, LMHC Have you ever thought you were headed in the right direction, only to discover you were going the wrong way? That’s what happened to my husband Alan and me during a trip to Southern California. Using frequent flyer miles, we were traveling the circuitous route—through San Francisco. Because our inbound…