Latest Blog Articles & Podcast Episodes
Restlessness in Marriage Often Begins With Pride David M. Tyler, PhD. Featured Excerpt Many marriages remain restless not merely because problems exist, but because pride quietly shapes how those problems are approached. Pride resists correction, protects self-interest, magnifies offenses, and continually fights to preserve personal vindication rather than pursue humility, gentleness, and peace. Some marriages appear locked in a constant cycle of frustration, emotional distance, defensiveness, and unresolved conflict. Conversations repeatedly return to the same arguments. Tension settles into the relationship. Over time, both individuals often become emotionally exhausted, yet true peace continues to feel distant. In many cases, couples [...]
Why Humility Is Essential for Peace in Marriage David M. Tyler, PhD. Featured Excerpt Many couples desire peace in marriage while resisting the humility necessary to produce it. Scripture repeatedly connects peace, unity, gentleness, and rest to a heart that is willing to yield, listen, repent, forgive, and place self-interest beneath love for another. Marriage often reveals what is happening within the heart. Some relationships become increasingly marked by tension, defensiveness, emotional distance, frustration, or unresolved conflict. In many cases, both individuals genuinely want relief from the unrest, yet the relationship continues to feel strained and unsettled. Couples frequently search [...]
When Nothing Seems to Change: How to Stay Faithful Without Losing Hope David M. Tyler, PhD. Featured Excerpt: When visible progress seems absent, discouragement can quietly grow. Scripture reminds believers that God is often working beneath the surface, calling His people to remain faithful and hopeful even when change appears slow. There are seasons in the Christian life when change seems painfully slow. A husband may pray for years for a struggling marriage. A parent may labor faithfully with a rebellious child. Someone battling a persistent temptation may wonder whether any real progress is being made. A discouraged believer may [...]
Why Many Marriages Never Find Rest David M Tyler, PhD. Featured Excerpt Many marriages appear busy, strained, and emotionally exhausted not because problems exist, but because the relationship never truly settles into humility, gentleness, and peace. Scripture points to a kind of rest that is deeper than the absence of conflict. It is connected to the attitude of the heart. Many couples spend years trying to solve problems in their marriage, yet still feel emotionally exhausted. Tension remains close to the surface. Conversations become strained. Conflicts repeat themselves. Even when outward issues temporarily improve, the relationship often never feels settled. [...]
Hope That Is Steady, Not Situational David M. Tyler, PhD. Featured Excerpt Hope that rises and falls with circumstances is unstable. Scripture presents a different kind of hope, one that remains steady because it is rooted in truth, not outcomes. This kind of hope does not ignore difficulty, but interprets it differently. When Hope Feels Unstable Many people describe hope as something that comes and goes. When things improve, hope returns.When difficulties increase, hope fades. This reveals something important: Hope is often tied to circumstances. • If things change → hope increases• If things do not → hope weakens This creates instability. [...]
When a Child Refuses to Obey: What Scripture Calls Parents to Do David M. Tyler, PhD Featured Excerpt When a child refuses to obey, the issue is rarely just defiance in the moment. What appears as resistance is often the visible expression of deeper patterns forming in the heart. Scripture calls parents not only to correct behavior, but to understand and shepherd what is driving it. When Disobedience Becomes Clear Most parents eventually face moments when a child simply refuses to obey. Instructions are given, but ignored. Correction is applied, but resisted. What may begin as occasional reluctance can develop [...]
When a Child Refuses to Obey: What Scripture Calls Parents to Do Biblical ParentingDavid M. Tyler, PhD. Featured Excerpt When a child refuses to obey, the issue is not merely defiance in the moment, it is a heart response to authority. What appears as resistance is often the visible expression of deeper desires and priorities. Scripture directs parents beyond surface correction to address what is shaping the child’s response from within. When Refusal Becomes a Pattern Most parents eventually face moments when a child simply refuses to obey. The instruction is clear. The expectation is known. But the response is resistance. [...]
Responding to Discouragement with Renewed Thinking Biblical CounselingDavid M. Tyler, PhD. Featured Excerpt Discouragement does not begin in circumstances, it begins in how those circumstances are interpreted. Scripture calls believers not simply to endure difficulty, but to be transformed in how they think. Real change begins when the mind is renewed according to truth. When Discouragement Persists Many people assume discouragement is caused by what is happening around them. Difficult circumstances. Ongoing struggles. Unmet expectations. While these are real, Scripture directs attention somewhere deeper. Discouragement is sustained not merely by circumstances, but by how those circumstances are interpreted. Two people may face the [...]
How to Help an Angry Child: A Biblical Counseling Approach Helping an angry child begins with understanding the heart behind the behavior. This article explains a biblical approach to anger in children and how parents can guide real change. Many of these patterns begin subtly, long before they become obvious. Patterns like anger in children are often not isolated but connected to broader issues in how the heart responds to instruction and authority. This is similar to what we see in other areas of parenting, such as early resistance or delayed obedience that often go unnoticed at first. David M. [...]
Why Children Lie: What Scripture Reveals David M. Tyler, PhD. Featured Excerpt Children do not begin lying suddenly or without cause. Lying develops as part of a pattern in the heart. What appears as a behavior problem is often the outward expression of deeper desires, fears, and beliefs. Understanding why children lie helps parents address more than words, it helps them shepherd the heart. Lying rarely develops in isolation. As explained in What Causes Teenage Rebellion: Why It Is Rarely Sudden. Children lie for reasons that are deeply connected to the condition of the heart. While situations vary, several patterns [...]
What Parents Often Miss Before Rebellion Becomes Visible Early Signs of Rebellion in Children David M. Tyler, PhD. Featured Excerpt Teenage rebellion rarely begins with open defiance. More often, it is preceded by small patterns that are easy to overlook. What appears sudden in adolescence is often the result of compromises that have been quietly tolerated over time. Recognizing these early signs helps parents respond with wisdom before problems become entrenched. Early Signs of Rebellion in Children Parents Often Miss After recognizing that rebellion is rarely sudden, the next step is understanding what parents often miss along the way. Most [...]
What Causes Teenage Rebellion? Why It Is Rarely Sudden David M. Tyler, PhD. Featured Excerpt Teenage rebellion often feels like it appears overnight, but Scripture teaches that it usually develops slowly over time. What surfaces in adolescence is often the fruit of long-standing desires, beliefs, and influences that have been shaping the heart. Understanding the causes of adolescent rebellion helps parents respond with biblical clarity rather than panic. Many parents eventually ask, “What causes teenage rebellion?” Others wonder why a son or daughter who once seemed cooperative has become argumentative, secretive, or resistant to authority. The answer is rarely found in [...]
How Can Parents Hold Authority Without Panic? | Biblical Parenting David M. Tyler, PhD. When authority is challenged, parents often respond by either tightening control or pulling away. Scripture calls parents to a steadier path, one that holds authority with clarity, consistency, and trust in God rather than fear. Biblical authority is not maintained through panic or withdrawal, but through faithful, patient leadership over time. Holding Authority Without Panic or Withdrawal Few things test parents more than having their authority challenged. When children resist instruction, argue openly, or dismiss parental guidance, parents often feel exposed and uncertain. In those moments, [...]
When Fear Begins to Drive Parenting Decisions Fear in parenting often appears as urgency or pressure, yet Scripture calls parents to lead with wisdom, patience, and trust in God. Fear often enters parenting quietly, shaping decisions before parents realize it has taken control. When fear becomes the primary guide, clarity gives way to urgency and reactions replace wisdom. Scripture helps parents recognize when fear is influencing their decisions and calls them back to trust, steadiness, and purposeful authority. Fear is a powerful motivator. In parenting, it often enters subtly, especially when conflict escalates or the future feels uncertain. Parents may not [...]
When Parenting Feels Like a Crisis David M. Tyler, PhD. In the previous articles, we examined how discouragement reshapes belief and expectation. Discouragement rarely remains confined to private thought. When pressure increases, it reshapes how we interpret responsibility, authority, and outcomes. Nowhere is this more evident than in parenting, where urgency can distort judgment and fear begins to drive decisions. When Parenting Feels Like a Crisis There are moments in parenting when everything feels urgent. Conflict escalates, authority is challenged, and what once seemed manageable now feels fragile. Often the circumstances themselves have not changed dramatically, but the interpretation has. [...]
Depression and Discouragement: Clarifying Biblical Categories David M. Tyler, PhD. Part 4 of a series on discouragement and biblical interpretation. Series: Understanding Discouragement This article is part of a series examining discouragement from a biblical counseling perspective. Part 1 – Discouragement and the Slow Loss of Hope Part 2 – Why Discouragement Is Often a Spiritual Battle Part 3 – Why Change Often Feels Slow Even When God Is at Work Part 4 – Depression and Discouragement: Clarifying Biblical Categories What is the difference between discouragement and depression in the Bible? Scripture describes discouragement as a weakening of [...]
Why Change Often Feels Slow Even When God Is at Work by David M. Tyler, PhD Part 3 of a series on discouragement and biblical interpretation. Series: Understanding Discouragement This article is part of a series examining discouragement from a biblical counseling perspective. Part 1 – Discouragement and the Slow Loss of Hope Part 2 – Why Discouragement Is Often a Spiritual Battle Part 3 – Why Change Often Feels Slow Even When God Is at Work Part 4 – Depression and Discouragement: Clarifying Biblical Categories Why does biblical change often feel slow? Biblical change often feels slow because growth [...]
Recognizing Spiritual Discouragement: Why It Is Often a Spiritual Battle by David M. Tyler, PhD. Part 2 of a series on discouragement and biblical interpretation. Series: Understanding Discouragement This article is part of a series examining discouragement from a biblical counseling perspective. Part 1 – Discouragement and the Slow Loss of HopePart 2 – Recognizing Spiritual Discouragement: Why It Is Often a Spiritual BattlePart 3 – Why Change Often Feels Slow Even When God Is at WorkPart 4 – Depression and Discouragement: Clarifying Biblical Categories What is spiritual discouragement? Spiritual discouragement occurs when difficulty begins to influence what we believe [...]
Discouragement: The Slow Loss of Hope David M Tyler, PhD Part 1 of a series on discouragement and biblical interpretation. Series: Understanding Discouragement This article is part of a series examining discouragement from a biblical counseling perspective. Part 1 – Discouragement and the Slow Loss of Hope Part 2 – Why Discouragement Is Often a Spiritual Battle Part 3 – Why Change Often Feels Slow Even When God Is at Work Part 4 – Depression and Discouragement: Clarifying Biblical Categories What is discouragement according to the Bible? Discouragement in Scripture is a gradual weakening of hope and spiritual resolve [...]
Indecision Is a Decision: Why Delay Is Never Neutral By David M. Tyler, PhD Over the years, I have counseled many people who knew what they needed to do but could not bring themselves to do it. They would say, “I need more time.” Or, “I just want to be certain.” Sometimes they were waiting for peace. Sometimes they wanted another opinion. Sometimes they hoped circumstances would change so that the decision would become easier. There are certainly times when waiting is wise. Scripture commends careful thought, prayer, wise counsel, and discernment. We should not confuse impulsiveness with faith. But there [...]
Featured Excerpt Modern culture treats desire as identity and impulse as authority. Scripture makes a crucial distinction modern psychology rejects: the body influences behavior, but it does not define the self. Jesus calls His followers not to express every impulse, but to rule them in obedience to God. Man and the Idea of Self-Expression The True Self, Sin, and the Gospel Answer to Self-Expression Part 2 David M Tyler, PhD This article continues the argument developed in Part 1, Man and the Idea of Self-Expression, where I examine how modern culture treats desire as identity and impulse as authority, [...]
Man and the Idea of Self-Expression A Biblical Critique of a Popular Philosophy Part 1 By David M Tyler, PhD Featured Excerpt Self-expression did not begin with psychology. It began with the serpent’s lie that obedience to God is suppression and self-assertion is freedom. Introduction Modern culture praises self-expression as essential to mental health, authenticity, and personal freedom. To suppress one’s desires is said to be harmful, even immoral. But Scripture tells a very different story. The Bible traces the idea of self-expression not to human flourishing, but to human rebellion. To understand the danger of this philosophy, we must [...]
📌 Featured Excerpt Are men and women equal in the Bible?Scripture answers clearly: yes. Men and women are equal in dignity, value, and standing before God because both are created in His image. At the same time, Scripture teaches that God created men and women different by design and gave them distinct responsibilities. Biblical equality does not require sameness. Are Men and Women Equal in the Bible? A Clear Answer from Scripture Are men and women equal in the Bible?Scripture answers clearly: both are created in the image of God, equally valued, and essential to His design. For a deeper [...]
✅ FEATURED EXCERPT In a culture drowning in confusion and contradiction, Christians must learn to think clearly. This article explains the three basic laws of logic, shows how they reflect God’s character, and demonstrates why clear thinking is essential for biblical counseling, discipleship, and everyday Christian living. Understanding the Laws of Logic: A Biblical Guide to Clear Thinking in a Confused World by David M Tyler, PhD Clear thinking seems to be in short supply today. Feelings often override facts. Personal experience is treated as greater than truth. Culture tells us that everyone can “create their own reality,” and anyone [...]
Is Compatibility Important in Marriage? By David M Tyler, PhD Introduction: A Popular but Misleading Idea Modern marriage advice often centers on the idea of compatibility. People are told to look for someone who shares their interests, personality type, education, background, or emotional temperament. The assumption is simple: if two people are naturally compatible, the marriage will be harmonious. But Scripture paints a very different picture. While studies may show that people of similar economic, social, or educational backgrounds tend to get along more easily, these external similarities are not what make a marriage biblical, or lasting. In fact, some [...]
