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God's Peace vs Your Anxiety: A Faith-Based Guide to Making Life's Biggest Decisions
49 Plays14 days ago
In this soul-stirring episode, Mandi opens up about facing major life transitions as her husband retires from military service after 20 years. She shares how previous seasons of upheaval prepared her for making difficult decisions today, and why slowing down to listen for God's guidance is essential for discernment. Learn powerful strategies for determining if you're following God's will or your own desires, why peace (not anxiety) is the ultimate confirmation, and how to break free from contentment that's actually stagnation. Whether you're considering a career change, relationship shift, or simply feel stuck in a hamster wheel of routine, this episode offers biblical wisdom for finding clarity amidst confusion. Discover why those uncomfortable nudges might be divine redirection, and how putting others before yourself can transform your decision-making process.
And as always, remember:
YOU ARE STRONG.
YOU ARE CAPABLE.
YOU ARE WORTHY.
I love you and I’m ENDLESSLY rooting for you!
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Transcript
Intro
Introduction & Call for Engagement
00:00:57
Pamela Rivet
Hi, and welcome back to the Finding My Best Self podcast. I am Mandy St. Germain. I'm doing a solo episode today. wanted to first, before we begin, ask if you would leave us a review. We love to hear feedback on different topics you would like to hear or just how you are enjoying the podcast.
00:01:16
Pamela Rivet
We definitely look at the reviews. We want to improve the podcast as much as possible. So definitely show us some love. And if you haven't yet, follow us on Instagram and TikTok because we definitely like to post clips and you can kind get before the scenes look at the next week's
Reflections on Birthdays and Aging
00:01:33
Pamela Rivet
episode. So first off, happy middle of April. I just had a birthday, so I am definitely feeling the love today, but also feeling the love that it is my last year in my 30s. So if you feel that with me, definitely feel let me know. I still feel like I'm 21, but my body on the other hand, you know, feels like it's already 50.
Decisions & Discernment
00:01:56
Pamela Rivet
But anyways, today's episode, I really wanted to kind of dive into decisions and discernment and that anxiousness that comes around it. I know in previous episodes, Pam and I kind of, you know, hit on some heavy topics that both of us were feeling.
00:02:15
Pamela Rivet
But wanted today to kind of be Just some tips on doing that because that's literally what I've been living But also I feel like I've done that the last 10 years.
00:02:27
Pamela Rivet
And so it gets heavy because, you know, we always feel like we want to make the right decisions or we want to know that we're going in the right direction.
Military Life Lessons
00:02:36
Pamela Rivet
And sometimes that's easier said than done.
00:02:39
Pamela Rivet
Definitely whenever it comes to big life decisions, If you don't know my backstory, my husband's been in the military for 20 years and it was definitely always decision making.
00:02:51
Pamela Rivet
We had to always make big life decisions. And so I feel like that prepared me for the things that I'm currently going through. And so it was just changing, you know, jobs, locations, all of that. It was always heavy. And so I had to learn different skills in order to push myself and to really get out of my comfort zone because when I'm, you before we met, I was just in my hometown going to college, you know, doing my thing, but that lifestyle really pushed me outside of my comfort zone. And I am more grateful for it now than ever because the things that God has shown and provided for me and is pushing me to do, there would be no way I would have been prepared for that if I wouldn't have had these life experiences.
Personal Growth through Trials
00:03:36
Pamela Rivet
So isn't it funny that you can kind of look back and see all the different, I don't want to say trials, but all the different things that you might have gone through in your life.
00:03:46
Pamela Rivet
And then you realize what those were for later on, because it's definitely one of those times that you can look back and reflect and say, now I get it. You know, now I get Do we wish we wouldn't have that discernment whenever we're going through it? Absolutely. That would make life so much easier if we could see the big picture. But,
00:04:04
Pamela Rivet
I'm kind of glad we don't because at those times it builds that grit, that character, the stamina and perseverance that we need in order to get
Decision-Making Process
00:04:13
Pamela Rivet
through life. So just whenever it comes to decisions or big life choices that you have to make, or even just choices in general, it really comes down to that discernment, you know, sitting with thinking it through,
00:04:30
Pamela Rivet
If you were anything like me in the past, I was very much oh yeah, that looks great. Or, oh yeah, this is what I need to be doing. And I would just jump to it. But that wasn't always the best decisions that I made. The ones that were more, had the most longevity were the ones that I sat with.
00:04:47
Pamela Rivet
And so obviously as a faithful woman, I sit and pray on it. I need to know that I'm doing God's will for my life and living out my purpose. And so part of that was, you know, sitting and praying and to really be still and listen.
00:05:05
Pamela Rivet
And what happened in that is that everything else had to be kind of shut off. I had to slow down because as much as I thought I was praying on it and thought that I was giving it the time that it needed, wasn't because was still doing the hustle and bustle.
Aligning with Peace & Guidance
00:05:21
Pamela Rivet
was running around
00:05:23
Pamela Rivet
I wasn't being still. And so God kind of showed me through series of events what I needed to do in order to slow down to really hear what he was trying to tell me. And so I feel like sometimes that's easier said than done because, I mean, a mom of mom and stepmom to four girls.
00:05:42
Pamela Rivet
And so obviously to sit and be still and have quietness is very hard. I'm up in the morning doing this podcast before my children are awake. and praying that they stay awake, I mean, stay asleep, because they can walk in here at any moment.
00:05:58
Pamela Rivet
But that's life, right? Like, we are constantly interrupted, constantly distracted by things. And so if we don't set time away to really be still and to listen, then we're not going to have that.
00:06:10
Pamela Rivet
And so it is easier said than done. But at the same time, what that means is, is to really sit down and think, Are my choices, my habits, my direction that I'm putting myself in, the places, the people, are they aligning with the things that I'm trying to decide on?
Recognizing Life Change Signs
00:06:26
Pamela Rivet
So for me, that looked like, you know, is the people I'm around, the situations I put myself in, the things that I am doing, the choices either to my body or my daily tasks, is that aligning with what am?
00:06:45
Pamela Rivet
want and see for my future. Because I do feel like we have those little winks from God that say, you know, you're really good at this, or you really should be doing this. Or you kind of feel that kind of strain whenever you're in certain situations, because then you're like, oh, well, this doesn't feel right anymore. Or this doesn't, you know, just doesn't give you that satisfaction that it did before. And that's okay, because it's okay to change and to shift, because that's what God's purpose for us work, you know, is, is to live life enjoyably, to have peace.
00:07:17
Pamela Rivet
And a lot of the times we don't have that peace anymore. Whenever those things, those doors are closing, we often push through that. Like, you know, I don't, it's fine. I'll make it through. I'll push through.
00:07:30
Pamela Rivet
But really, Those are all those signs from God that literally tell you it's time to move on.
Peace in Transitions
00:07:35
Pamela Rivet
It's time. And don't get me wrong. Sometimes those are very hard because then you're looking you're like, but love this. I want this.
00:07:43
Pamela Rivet
This is what I've always done. You know, you get into like those contentment stages and then you're struggling through that when really life should be a lot more peaceful.
00:07:55
Pamela Rivet
And that word peace is like something to really hold on to because That peace is what you should feel every single day. If it's, you know, it says in here, and actually pulled out my Bible today where I could read it for you. It says, do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and that peace of God will transcend all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
00:08:24
Pamela Rivet
Like, That's it. Don't be anxious. All understanding is not for us to understand. It's for us to have that peace because anything else, if it's not coming from God, is not going to be peaceful. And it's just one of those things that it's time to transition and time to move out of.
Contentment & Avoiding Burnout
00:08:43
Pamela Rivet
those phases of life. That's why you hear, know, this is the season, this is the season I'm in because it's not meant to be forever. I feel like as women, especially we get into those contentment stages because we're expected to do or, or continue to do things that we've always done.
00:09:03
Pamela Rivet
And as a mother, that's a hundred percent true. I mean, we are lot of the times the oiled machine that keeps everything going. But at the same time, if we are constantly burning ourselves out, that's whenever we need to make some shifts.
00:09:19
Pamela Rivet
And I know everyone's situation is different. You may not have the flexibility to go and do whole new career or shift into a hobby that you love and give it, you know, 100% your time. But even hour day.
00:09:32
Pamela Rivet
Doing something that fuels you is what's going to help you pull out of that contentment stage. Because I guarantee you, if you are anything like me and you find yourself in the kind of hamster wheel of life, you know, and you feel like you're doing the same thing day in, day out, day in and day out, you're going to burn yourself
Career Decisions & Growth
00:09:53
Pamela Rivet
out.
00:09:54
Pamela Rivet
And you're not truly giving yourself that... that will that God is giving you to do the things that you, that you're meant to do.
00:10:04
Pamela Rivet
And that could be being a mother. I mean, for the longest time, that was my calling. I was, you know, a stay at home mom or working mom, uh, while my husband was on deployments or, you know, at trainings and things like that.
00:10:17
Pamela Rivet
And now that I'm on the other side of that, he retired in December. Those things have shifted and that's been a big life decision or life you know, season for us because he is home now and don't have to do all those things. And I have help.
00:10:32
Pamela Rivet
And that was a little hard at first to kind of sink in because was so used to doing it myself. I didn't need help. And what was happening though, is I was burning the candle on both ends and wasn't doing what God was pushing me to do.
00:10:48
Pamela Rivet
I had went back into the workplace And really strived at my positions. And it's one of those decisions that you have to look at, you know, the crossroads, you know, am I supposed to go down this path or this path?
00:11:02
Pamela Rivet
And don't make those decisions on your own. You can reach out and you can ask. ask and you, and you, it says it in the Bible, ask and you shall receive. It's one of those things that you don't have to make decisions on your own. And honestly, I wouldn't even recommend it because lot of times when we make those decisions ourselves, that's whenever, do what we want and not what we are being called to do. And that's whenever that anxiousness, stress, all of that comes about because that's not necessarily where you're supposed to be.
00:11:33
Pamela Rivet
who you're supposed to be around, what you're supposed to be doing, and you feel that strain.
Discerning Life's Call
00:11:38
Pamela Rivet
So if you're kind of in that life, you know, you're not sure which way to go, or you just feel like you know you have calling and a purpose on your life, but you're not sure what that looks like, you just need to be still to pray with it and get that discernment. It's one of those things where you can kind of put yourself in different situations because they also say that in the Bible that you know, don't stay content in one lane, put yourself out there. If you fail, least you tried. And I feel like that's the hardest thing because we don't want to fail. We don't want to get into something and say, oh man, you know, now everyone's going to judge me because this isn't, you know, this did, this isn't successful.
00:12:19
Pamela Rivet
Well, guess what? The same thing goes the other way. If you never put yourself out there, you're never going to know what you could have even done. And you could be you know, missing the whole calling that you had on your life because you just, just didn't try.
00:12:33
Pamela Rivet
And know it's scary. Trust me, I've done it thousand times, but I have always been that person that will at least try. will give it my all. I will do what I can, but then whenever I feel like it's time, it's time to move on.
00:12:47
Pamela Rivet
And that's such a hard thing to do because we get stuck in, I'm going to go to our careers. We get stuck in our careers and we're like, okay, I've been at the same job for 10 years and, you know, I'm pretty good at it.
00:12:59
Pamela Rivet
I love the people I work with or you may not. And then you just feel stuck though. And you feel like, oh, well, you know, financially I need this or, you know, I've been here so long, so I can't quit now.
00:13:12
Pamela Rivet
But at the same time, if you feel that like thing deep down, that's kind of urging you to try something else. And you can even do this while you're still at your job, right? kind of just start to look into it, start to pray on it, start to ask, is that something that you should pursue?
00:13:28
Pamela Rivet
Because 99% of the time, that's your calling and that's where you're supposed to be. And even though it's scary and it may not make sense and you are trying to decide what that looks like in your life, everything will work out if that is what's meant to be.
Trusting God's Path
00:13:45
Pamela Rivet
And I always say that. It doesn't hurt to try.
00:13:48
Pamela Rivet
But then if the door closes, then guess what? The door was not meant for me to walk through. And it's one of those things that it's so hard for us to really kind of sit with and understand, but it's not for our understanding.
00:14:02
Pamela Rivet
He is going to give you everything that you need in order to understand it along the way. And that's something that we had talked about last week with just having that lamp to my feet, light of my path.
00:14:13
Pamela Rivet
Like let him light your path. You don't have to know the answers. You don't have to know the beginning, middle and end. Those are all things that will come with time. And then you will look back and say, that's why this happened the way that it did.
00:14:26
Pamela Rivet
it's also one of those things that with decisions and just life choices in general, that we really have to step outside of ourself and look
Living a Life of Service
00:14:35
Pamela Rivet
around.
00:14:36
Pamela Rivet
What are we doing that is helping others? Because that is something that we were brought here to do, right? We are here to shed our light, our love, and to be helpful to one another.
00:14:47
Pamela Rivet
So a lot of the times if we're making decisions in life, it's all about us. And I love Joyce Meyer. If you don't know, a huge fan. And she's always like, what about me? What about me? And it's literally that phrase.
00:15:01
Pamela Rivet
It's not about you. It's about other people and how we can serve and how we can show and walk more like Jesus. What is that going to look like? What are the things that I'm doing in my daily life and the decisions that I'm making that are pushing me to be more like that person?
00:15:17
Pamela Rivet
And so that's really one of those things that we have to sit with and think on because that should be what we're doing every single day.
Praiseworthy Actions & Peace
00:15:25
Pamela Rivet
And so just kind of thinking forward, hope that you kind of using those things in order to move forward with your decisions and life choices and just really knowing that with that discernment, that that's where it's going to push you into be.
00:15:39
Pamela Rivet
And so I just wanted to leave you with this last little verse that I had, Honestly, I was doing my devotional this morning and it popped up and then I just randomly opened my Bible and there it was again. And I just love those little winks because it's truly one of those things that I value the most.
00:15:56
Pamela Rivet
And so it says, whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me, put into practice and God of peace will be with you. every excellence or praiseworthy? Think about such things. So anything that you feel that is excellent or praiseworthy, you need to put that into action. And I feel like that's the hardest thing sometimes for us is to actually put those things into action and do the things that we know we're being called to because that discernment is gonna start to creep up.
00:16:26
Pamela Rivet
And every situation you put yourself in or every decision you go to make, that little hint of resistance, you need to pray on. Because like I said, if anything is coming, it's gonna be peaceful. It's not going to feel anxious or stressed.
00:16:41
Pamela Rivet
And if you do feel anxious or stressed, just know that you need to pray through that and to honestly know that God is not going to be sending you stress. If anything, he's going to be bringing it back and helping you through the tough times.
00:16:56
Pamela Rivet
And everything is going to work out for your good, whether you're in a tough season or you're in the best season of your life.
Community Support & Encouragement
00:17:03
Pamela Rivet
Everything is going to show you a lesson and it's going to continue to help you make those hard decisions and choices And just hope that you know that you're not alone. If you're trying to make a hard decision right now and you're struggling through it, just sit with it.
00:17:19
Pamela Rivet
Sit with it. Talk to someone that you know that you kind of have that relationship with to have those deep conversations because we all need people like that. And if you don't have that, reach out to us. We will definitely be that person for you.
00:17:32
Pamela Rivet
We do want this to be a community. And so we would love to hear from y'all and kind of, you know, have that rapport. And just know that you're not alone, whether you are, you know, someone listening in that for the first time, just know that we are here every single week. And we talk about those hard topics that a lot of people don't want to talk about on social media.
00:17:55
Pamela Rivet
So that's why we said, please send in any kind of questions that you have, any topics that you would like to hear, because this is for y'all. We want to help you through the each season of life.
00:18:07
Pamela Rivet
and be able to feel confident doing it. But also just know that we love you and you are capable, worthy, and we're endlessly rooting for you.
00:18:17
Pamela Rivet
I hope that you enjoyed this episode. Please leave us a review if you did, and will see you next time.