Posts by Ryan Briscoe

“If a man would speak without any present study, he must usually study much. This is a paradox perhaps, but its explanation lies upon the surface. If I am a miller, and I have a sack brought to my door, and am asked to fill that sack with good fine flour within the next five…

When Your Child Threatens Suicide: A Guide for Parents Over the years, many parents have shared their struggles with me about a terrifying and difficult scenario: their child threatening suicide. For many, it feels less like a genuine cry for help and more like a manipulation tactic—a way to get something they want. But, even…

Anxiety is a common experience, yet it can feel overwhelming and confusing. It’s essential to understand what anxiety is and how we can respond to it from both a psychological and biblical perspective. 1. Anxiety as an Internal State At its core, anxiety is an internal state triggered by perceived danger or threat. When we…

I remember years ago talking with a mom who asked me directly: “So, why is my daughter depressed? I can’t see what she has to be depressed about?” Thinking that she really wanted an answer, I told her, “Honestly, I think it’s primarily due to how often she’s on her phone and social media.” The…

Warning Signs Most teens who go on to attempt or commit suicide give warning signs; rarely is it totally out of the blue. Therefore, it is very important to know what these warnings signs are. Here are three common warning signs: 1.) Deepening depression, especially when accompanied with hopelessness. While it is normal for teens…

What ever brawls are in the streetThere should be peace at home;Where sisters dwell and brothers meetQuarrels shou’d never come.Birds in their little nests agree;And `tis a shameful sight,When children of one familyFall out, and chide, and fight. Hard names at first, and threatening words,That are but noisy breath,May grow to clubs and naked swords,To…

The following self-assessment is from David Murray’s book Reset. While it is geared towards pastors and others in ministry, it applies well to any vocation. It is best to go through this list with someone you trust — close friend, spouse, etc. — and give yourself a check up. If you find yourself agreeing with…

This is an imagined scenario of what I might say to a young client, say, around 6 or 7 years old, but also similar to what a parent might say to their own child of similar age who may be struggling with some problem. “Kids come to see me because they have some problem they…

“I heard of a man who said that he did not like to prejudice his boy, so he would not say anything to him about Religion. The devil, however, was quite willing to prejudice the lad, so very early in life he learned to swear, although his father had a foolish and wicked objection to…

A wise saying has it that “Of making many books there is no end,” and this can definitely be applied to parenting books. With all the thousands of parenting books out there, it’s a good rule of thumb to pay attention to what seems common to them all – to what keeps popping up. Perhaps…