Show notes

In 'Words of Wisdom 134: On the Paradox of Crisis', Josh explores the four main stages of life—chaos, crisis, healing, and flourishing. He discusses how people often live in a cycle of chaos and crisis, lacking hope and resilience. Josh explains that escaping this turmoil usually involves enduring a difficult crisis, characterized by intense pain and suffering, which can either lead to deeper darkness or become an opportunity for radical transformation and spiritual awakening. He emphasizes the importance of seeking skilled discipleship and surrendering to God during a crisis. Quotes from Lorenzo Scupoli and John Cassian are used to underscore the concept of spiritual warfare and returning to God. Reflective questions are provided to help listeners identify areas of chaos and crisis in their lives and encourage them to turn to God for guidance.

00:00 Navigating Life's Stages: From Chaos to Flourishing

01:03 The Paradox of Crisis: A Path to Transformation

01:43 Embracing the Crisis for Spiritual Awakening

02:37 The Power of Discipleship and Surrender

03:11 Finding Opportunity in Adversity

03:26 Inspirational Quotes to Guide You

04:03 Self-Reflection: Questions for Personal Growth

04:38 A Final Word of Encouragement

About Josh Kalsbeek, LMFT

• As a Psychoherapist Josh helps people overcome their greatest struggles.

•Founder and CEO of Great Oaks Collective, and it's flagship program Overcome, a 10-Week virtual Intensive Outpatient Program for Christian couples experiencing sexual betrayal and addiction. www.greatoakscollective.com. 

• Sign up to receive Josh's weekly email newsletter, Words of Wisdom. ​

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Links

Read the full episode here.

Lorenzo Scupoli (16th century priest), ​Unseen Warfare​

John Cassian (5th century monk), ​The Conferences​

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Support this podcast by buying a book through one of the links above.

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Words of Wisdom 134 On the Paradox of Crisis It can be helpful to

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think about life in different stages.

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Many people live in a seemingly

constant state of chaos or crisis.

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They can't seem to rise above

their pain and difficulties.

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They lack hope, resilience,

and depth of character.

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The four main stages of life

could be thought of as chaos,

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crisis, healing, and flourishing.

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When you're living in chaos,

you can't see clearly.

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You don't know which way is up,

and you rarely experience peace.

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But life doesn't need to remain

full of chaos and despair, however.

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The way to break through the deep chaos of

addiction, childhood wounds, or entrenched

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sin typically is anything but pleasant.

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To escape the hell of chaos, it seems

we often must experience a crisis.

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The great marker of the crisis

stage is intense pain and suffering.

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The crisis stage is when all or part

of your sin comes into the light.

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It's when your evil deeds are exposed.

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It's when you finally face trauma or

suffering that you've been avoiding and

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your attempts at control are shattered.

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You are in crisis when the consequences

of your actions catch up with you and you

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begin to see the devastation everywhere.

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You are in crisis when your

marriage is on the brink.

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You are in crisis when you can't sleep

at night because you are plagued with

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guilt and shame for your behaviors.

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The paradox of crisis is that it

can either lead you into a deeper

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darkness, into more chaos, or it can

be the necessary suffering to lead

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you into the light of flourishing.

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Your pain is an incredible opportunity.

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Finally, you have the chance to fully

face your pain and shame, accept the

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reality you've been running from,

and surrender yourself fully to God.

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Crisis, as difficult as it is,

truly is an opportunity for you to

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experience radical transformation.

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The crisis you are in is an

opportunity for spiritual awakening.

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While you're breaking down, you have the

chance to let the suffering purify you.

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You can experience powerful breakthroughs

in this season of your life as

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you move from crisis into healing.

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The key lies in whether you will

take new action, a different

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approach than you have in the past.

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You must commit unwaveringly to the

support of skilled discipleship.

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If you don't get help, if you don't seek

the support of skilled discipleship, you

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will likely fall back into further chaos.

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Without surrendering to God and seeking

discipleship your crisis will only

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become more proof of your enslavement

to your sin and the strongholds

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that have a stranglehold over you.

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There is always opportunity

in chaos and in crisis.

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Regardless of the challenge you

are currently facing, ask yourself,

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and pray to God with this question,

"what is the opportunity here?"

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Quotes.

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"The unseen warfare is the most

difficult, the most strenuous, the

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most painful, the most crucial.

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It is there that the decisive

battle is lost or won."

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By the 16th century priest Lorenzo

Scupoli, in the book Unseen Warfare.

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"If you find that you have wandered

away from the shelter of God, lead your

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heart back to him quietly and simply."

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By the 5th century monk John Cassian,

in his book The Conferences.

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Questions.

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In what areas of my life do I feel like

I'm living in a state of chaos or crisis?

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What are the root causes of this turmoil?

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What unseen warfare am I engaged in?

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In what ways do I need to

surrender more fully to God?

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What might it look like for me to turn to

Him in the midst of my current struggles?

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Use these questions as a journal prompt

and to guide your prayers this week.

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End note.

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In your darkest moments, there

is always a doorway to peace.

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Live wisely, josh