Bure offered that anxiety often boils down to a “lack of control,” even though she admits she doesn’t worry all that much. When tempted, she goes to Scripture, including Philippians 4:6-7 and Matthew 6:34.
People often run to the Bible in times of struggle. Simons mentioned that Scripture is helpful in all seasons—including the high points of life. Simons said it’s like “putting a deposit of God’s Word in your heart.” In the tougher seasons, people can draw from and recall these verses already embraced.
Podcast listener Christine asked, “How do we stop the anxiety in our minds?”
Simons said, “It’s hard to complain and be grateful at the same time.” She encouraged women to find things to be grateful for—even in, and especially in, the stressful times of life.
Bure said that she often takes some time alone when she’s having a bad day. This provides her time to take a deep breath, reassess the situation, and begin again.
Ruth Chou Simons Created ‘New Genre’ of Art-Filled Bible Study
Simons, a mom of six boys, spent much of her adult years nurturing and chasing down her littles. As they’ve grown, she’s come into a blending of watercolor art and Scripture study.
“My first book came out in 2017, and I think it was kind of a new genre then to pair watercolor art with meditations or Scriptural writings that helped us understand God’s Word,” Simons said.
Her first book, “GraceLaced: Discovering Timeless Truths Through Seasons of the Heart,” set the tone for her approach to impacting women through words and art. She has since written dozens of books, most accompanied by watercolor images.
“I was never into Bible journaling,” admitted Simons. However, painting gave her a visual way to process and capture God’s truths and life’s circumstances.
She has also written a couple of Bible studies, complete with video sessions, for women. “TruthFilled” covers “the practice of preaching to yourself through every season.” For women going through a season of waiting or wanting, “Now and Not Yet” dives deep into biblical accounts of waiting on God.
“I think I was really wanting to not just make things pretty, but to be like, ‘How do we slow down and adorn the gospel?'” explained Simons.
