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How to Help Anxious Kids: Max Lucado on Parenting, Faith, and Finding Peace [Ep 556]
Don't Mom Alone Podcast
01/19/26
•40m
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Are we living in the most anxious generation ever? In this powerful and hope-filled conversation, Max Lucado joins us to talk about anxiety, mental health, and the unseen struggles so many kids and teens are facing today—and what parents can do about it.
With constant access to phones, social media, and nonstop information, anxiety often shows up sideways in our kids through anger, withdrawal, or fear. Max explains what’s happening in the brain, why anxiety feels like an alarm that never shuts off, and how parents can become a soft place to land when emotions run high.
We also talk about the importance of parents addressing anxiety in their own lives, how worry steals joy and peace, and why our presence (not perfection) is what God desires most. Max shares encouragement for praying parents, reminding us that Jesus never turned away a parent who asked for help for their child. Here is some of what we cover:
- Why today’s kids are facing unprecedented levels of anxiety
- The physical and emotional toll of chronic worry
- Why a parent’s physical presence matters more than we realize
- Max Lucado’s personal faith journey and what God taught him about presence over performance
- Instagram: Max Lucado (@maxlucado)
- Facebook: Max Lucado
- Website: Max Lucado
Links Mentioned:
- Calm Thoughts for Kids: 90 devotions for Anxious Days
- Tame Your Thoughts: By Max Lucado
- Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado
- Hermie Series–Buzby and the Grumble Bees
- **SIGN UP to Join Heather and Megan at Pro Love Saturday for Embrace Grace
- Life Empowered by the Holy Spirit :: Max Lucado [Ep 381]
- You Are Never Alone :: Max Lucado [Ep 298]
- From Overwhelmed to Anchored: Replacing the Lies of Motherhood with God’s Truth :: Erica Gwynn [Ep 544]
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Previous Episode
My friend and Sidetracked podcast co-host, Cynthia Yanof, joins me to discuss her new book, How’d I Miss That?
Cynthia shares hilarious and poignant stories about family and kids that help uncover deeper truths—reminding us that God has a plan, and there’s no formula for this parenting journey. We often stress over things that feel big at the moment, like preschool registration or making the “right” sports team, but what really matters is having an eternal perspective—focusing on who our kids are becoming at 25 and who we are becoming as parents. In this episode, we talk about:
- How to pray audacious, faith-filled prayers over our kids
- Trusting the process, even when it doesn’t make sense in the moment
- Why not all friendships are meant for every season of parenting—and being intentional about your inner circle
- And we wrap up with some fun hosting tips from Cynthia
Connect with Cynthia Yanof:
- Instagram: Cynthia Wilkinson Yanof (@cynthiayanof)
- Website: Cynthia Yanof
Links Mentioned:
- How’d I Miss That?: By Cynthia Yanof
- Sidetracked - Podcast - Apple Podcasts
- Draw the Circle: By Mark Batterson
- Pre-order Cynthia’s book and then fill out this form to join us LIVE on Jan 27th at 7:30 pm CST
Related Episodes:
- The Goal Isn’t Happy Children :: Cynthia Yanof – Summer of Mentorship – Wk 6 [Ep 419]
- The Unicorn That is Adult Friendship :: Cynthia Yanof – Summer of Mentorship – Wk 3 [Ep 416]
- Raising Kids Who Can Stand Alone :: Cynthia Yanof -Summer of Mentorship-Wk 2 [Ep 415]
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Next Episode
*Republishing our most downloaded episodes, one a month this year*
Whether you’ve been married for a few years or are approaching a milestone anniversary, a healthy marriage takes intentional work. Marriage isn’t built in the big, dramatic moments, but in thousands of small habits and daily interactions that over time lead to either a God-honoring, joy-filled relationship—or one marked by strain and self-focus.
Author and speaker Paul David Tripp joins me to talk about how those everyday habits shape our marriages and how to identify the ones that need to be uprooted. Drawing from nearly 50 years of marriage, Paul helps us see our relationships through the lens of the gospel.
“A biblical view of marriage is a sinner married to a sinner in a fallen world—but with a faithful God. That means we can’t coast. There are things in each of us that threaten our marriage, and we need God’s grace every day.”
My hope is that this conversation encourages you to re-engage your marriage with renewed faith and confidence in what God can do.
What we talk about:
- How marriages are shaped by thousands of small moments
- Why daily habits matter more than big moments
- Identifying healthy and harmful marriage habits
- How sin turns us inward—and why marriage is a covenant of community
- Confession, forgiveness, and navigating conflict
- Unity vs. uniformity in marriage
- The role of the fruit of the Spirit in a thriving marriage
- Why isolation harms marriage and community helps heal it
- Instagram: Paul David Tripp (@paultrippquotes)
- Facebook: Paul David Tripp
- Website: PaulTripp.com | Pastor. Author. Conference Speaker.
Links Mentioned:
- Marriage: 6 Gospel Commitments Every Couple Needs to Make by Paul David Tripp
Related Episodes:
- Hope for the Hopeless Marriage :: Kathy Bush [Ep 453]
- Building Strong Marriages :: Kimberly Beam Holmes [Ep 374]
- Rebuilding from an Abusive Marriage :: Jeni B [Ep 246]
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