Faith Over Fear: Recent Episodes
LifeAudio
Life is too short and God has too much for us to do for any of us to live enslaved. Jesus promised His followers would experience filled to overflowing life, a life characterized by joy, peace, and spiritual and emotional vitality. And yet, we daily make decisions based on fear, not faith. In Faith Over Fear, author and speaker Jennifer Slattery helps us see different areas of life where fear has a foothold, and how our identity as children of God can help us move from fear to faithful, bold living.
Jesus has more planned for us than we could imagine and He’s fully committed to perfecting that which concerns us. Fear holds us back, but His perfect love has the power to cast out all fear!
When responsibilities pile up and the people and circumstances you care about feel dependent on you, it can be easy to slip from faithful diligence into anxious striving. We work harder, plan further ahead, and try to control outcomes, often without realizing fear is driving our efforts. In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Jennifer Slattery talks with Bible teacher and bestselling author Dr. Tara Dew about the peace available to us when we remember who our Shepherd is and learn to entrust ourselves and those we love to His care.
Drawing from Psalm 23 and insights from her book Overflowing Peace: What God Says About a Peace-Filled Life, Tara shares how understanding the nature and care of our Good Shepherd can help us rest, recognize when fear is fueling our work, and follow God even when we can’t see where He’s leading. Together, she and Jennifer discuss practical ways to shift our focus from what feels dependent on us to God’s faithfulness, provision, and guidance—and why we can trust that the Shepherd who leads us into unfamiliar territory already knows the path ahead.
Resource Referenced: Overflowing Peace: What God Says About a Peace-Filled Life
Scriptures discussed: Psalm 23:1–4, Psalm 131:2, John 10, Isaiah 43:19, Matthew 6:34, Philippians 4:7, Genesis 50:20
Connect with Dr. Tara Dew:
Tara Dew at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Prepare Her / Women’s Initiative
Facebook
Overflowing Peace at Lifeway
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Instagram
Facebook
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
When life feels uncertain, our minds often race toward worst-case scenarios. But Scripture repeatedly directs our attention away from shifting circumstances and back to the unchanging character of God. In this episode, Jennifer Slattery sits down with theologian Dr. Malcolm Yarnell to explore how God's attributes—His presence, sovereignty, goodness, and faithfulness—provide a secure foundation when fear, suffering, or uncertainty threaten to overwhelm us and practical ways to shift anxious thoughts toward biblical truth.
Scriptures Referenced
- Psalm 139:7–12; Genesis 28:10–22, Genesis 32:22–32, Genesis 50:19–21; Isaiah 46:9–10; John 10:10; Romans 8:18–39, Romans 12:2; John 3:16
Dr. Malcolm B. Yarnell III serves as Research Professor of Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is editor of the Southwestern Journal of Theology. A respected theologian and author, he has written extensively on systematic theology, Baptist doctrine, and the Christian life. His Theology for Every Person series is designed to help believers move beyond intellectual knowledge to a deeper understanding of God that transforms everyday living. Through his teaching and writing, Dr. Yarnell encourages Christians to know God's character more fully and to anchor their faith in the truth of Scripture.
Resources Mentioned:
- Word: Theology for Every Person by Dr. Malcolm B. Yarnell III
- God: Theology for Every Person (Volume 1)
- Spirit: Theology for Every Person (forthcoming)
Connect with Dr. Yarnell:
Pro Gloria Christi (Dr. Malcolm B. Yarnell III)
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Many of us fear that our deepest wounds will permanently define us and we'll never again experience joy. A betrayal. A divorce. A devastating loss. A season that changed everything.
We wonder:
- Will I ever be okay again?
- Will I ever trust again?
- Will I always carry this pain?
In this honest conversation, Carol sits down with her pastor, Jim Kinder, to discuss what healing really looks like and how to live from an identity rooted in Christ instead of an identity rooted in pain.
Jim shares his personal story of walking through betrayal, seeking counseling, leaning on men in his faith community, and ultimately experiencing restoration, a healthy marriage and renewed purpose.
Together, they explore why what is temporary should never define what is eternal.
In This Episode, We Discuss:
- Why our worst experiences don't define us
- How betrayal can distort our identity
- The role healthy community plays in healing
- What healing does and doesn't look like
- How counseling and spiritual growth work together
- How to recognize when you're moving from surviving to healing
- Building healthy relationships after painful experiences
- Practical ways to avoid bitterness
- The first thing someone needs to hear after experiencing betrayal
Find Jim Kinder at Orange Beach Church
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Life feels okay. So why do you still feel overwhelmed?
Maybe you're constantly on edge. Maybe your body won't relax. Maybe you find yourself carrying the weight of heartbreaking headlines, other people's pain, or experiences you thought you'd already moved past.
If you've ever wondered why you feel exhausted even when nothing seems "wrong," this conversation will help you understand what may be happening beneath the surface.
In this episode, Jennifer's cohost, Carol McCracken, sits down with Rebecca Taguma of the Trauma Healing Institute to discuss why overwhelming experiences affect our minds, bodies, and faith, practical ways to calm our nervous system, and how God gently leads us toward healing—one step at a time.
In this episode, you'll discover:
- Why you can feel overwhelmed even when life seems okay
- What trauma really is—and why it affects us more deeply than we realize
- Practical ways to calm your body when anxiety rises
- How safe relationships and biblical practices can support healing
- Why you don't have to carry your pain alone
Guest: Rebecca Taguma
Executive Director of Restoring Hope Ministry, Trauma Healing Institute (American Bible Society)
Bible Passages Discussed
- Genesis 2:18
- Psalm 42:1
- Psalm 46:10
- Psalm 34 (lament)
- Job 33:4
Connect with Rebecca Taguma
Trauma Healing Institute
Trauma Healing Basics (Free Resources)
Trauma Healing Institute on LinkedIn
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
What do you do when someone who hurt you never apologizes, never changes, or never acknowledges the pain they caused?
For many of us, that's where forgiveness becomes most difficult. We know we're supposed to forgive, but we wrestle with questions like:
- Does forgiveness mean what they did was okay?
- Do I have to reconcile with someone who continues to hurt me?
- How do I let go when the wound still feels fresh?
- Is it possible to find peace if the relationship is never restored?
In this final episode of our Relational Peace: Loving Others Without Losing Yourself series, Carol sits down with board-certified clinical neuropsychologist and fellow podcaster Dr. Michelle Bengtson to explore one of the most misunderstood topics in the Christian life: forgiveness.
Together, they discuss how unforgiveness often keeps us emotionally tethered to our pain and why forgiveness is about reclaiming freedom not excusing someone's behavior. If you've been carrying bitterness, disappointment, resentment, or unresolved hurt, this conversation offers biblical wisdom, practical tools, and hope that peace is possible even when circumstances never change.
Other episodes in this series:
How to Know if Your Difficult Relationship is Toxic
Healthy Boundaries for Compassionate People
How to Stop Letting Conflict Control Your Emotions
How to Know if Your Difficult Relationship is Toxic
Connect with Dr. Michelle Bengtson:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Follow her work on Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
What do you do when the assignment God places before you feels far bigger than your strength? Whether you're facing a difficult conversation, an overwhelming season, a ministry opportunity, or a step of obedience that feels impossible, fear can convince you that everything depends on you. But Scripture paints a very different picture. God never calls us to rely on our own sufficiency. He invites us to know Him more deeply and trust that He will provide everything we need for every assignment He gives.
In this episode, Jennifer welcomes author and Bible teacher Grace Fox to explore four powerful names of God that strengthen us when fear threatens to hold us back. Through the stories of Abraham, Naaman, Jeremiah and others, they discuss how God equips His servants, brings healing to the areas that keep us stuck, remains present in life's chaos and faithfully sustains us every step of the journey. If you've been hesitant to move forward because the road ahead feels uncertain, this conversation will encourage you to focus less on your fear and more on the faithful God who goes with you.
Resource referenced: Names of God: Growing Strong: Devotional Study with Video Access
Scriptures Discussed:
- Genesis 15:2–6 — Abraham calls God Adonai while waiting for God's promised son.
- Matthew 25:14–30 — The Parable of the Talents and trusting the Master's character.
- 2 Kings 5:1–19 — Naaman's healing and the obedience that precedes restoration.
- Genesis 1:1–2 — The Spirit of God hovering over the waters in creation.
- Lamentations 3:22–23 — God's mercies are new every morning; great is His faithfulness.
- Luke 15:11–32 — The Parable of the Prodigal Son and the Father's faithful welcome.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 — God's power made perfect in weakness (referenced in the closing encouragement).
- Hebrews 10:24 — Encouraging one another toward love and good works (closing challenge).
Connect with Grace Fox:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Follow her work on Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Sometimes relationships remain painfully stuck despite our prayers, countless conversations, forgiveness and every effort to make things better. When someone we love continues in unhealthy patterns, we can find ourselves replaying every interaction, questioning our decisions and wondering if we simply haven't tried or prayed hard enough. Or, we might question our perspective, wondering if we're being overly sensitive and simply need to offer more grace. Yet, we still hurt and our anxiety remains.
In this episode, Jennifer Slattery and neuropsychologist Dr. Michelle Bengtson explore how to accept difficult realities without losing hope, recognize unhealthy relational patterns, establish wise boundaries and guard our hearts against bitterness while remaining open to God's work. Together, they discuss the difference between reconciliation and responsibility, why forgiveness frees our own souls and how we can experience lasting peace even when someone we love chooses not to change.
Scriptures Discussed
- Romans 12:18, John 13, Matthew 18:21–22, James 1:5, Matthew 5:44, Ephesians 4:31–32
Dr. Michelle Bengtson book: Sacred Scars: Resting in God's Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted
Additional resources mentioned:
Dr. Michelle Bengtson's episode on betrayal and rejection: How to Break Free from Shame and Embrace Who God Says You Are
How to Overcome Rejection and Abandonment with God's Love
Connect with Dr. Michelle Bengtson:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Follow her work on Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Why do difficult relationships trigger so much fear, frustration and anxiety? In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Carol McCracken sits down with Bible teacher and author Kathy Howard to discuss how walking with the Holy Spirit transforms the way we handle conflict, misunderstandings and relational tension.
Together, they explore why our instinct is often self-protection, how to trust God when conflict remains unresolved and what it looks like to pursue biblical peace without avoiding hard conversations. If you've ever wished you could take back words spoken in frustration or find greater calm in difficult relationships, this episode offers practical encouragement and biblical wisdom.
In This Episode, you'll hear:
- Why fear and self-protection often drive our reactions
- How spiritual preparation changes the way we handle conflict
- Practical ways to slow down during difficult conversations
- The difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking
- and more ...
Scripture discussed or referenced:
Galatians 5:22–23, James 1:19–20, Ephesians 5:21, 1 Corinthians 8:13, Romans 12:16–19, Philippians 4:2, Philemon, Galatians 2:11–15
Find Kathy Howard:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
On Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Some relationships leave us feeling anxious, emotionally drained and unsure how to move forward. We want to love well, extend grace and remain faithful to God's call, yet we often find ourselves carrying burdens that were never ours to bear. In this episode, Jennifer Slattery sits down with pastor, author and biblical counselor Brad Hambrick to discuss what healthy boundaries are, what they aren't and why establishing them can feel so difficult—especially for compassionate people.
Together, they explore the difference between sacrificial love and self-neglect, how to recognize unhealthy relational patterns, why boundaries are ultimately an issue of stewardship and what Scripture teaches about navigating difficult relationships with wisdom and grace. If you've ever struggled with guilt, fear of disappointing others or uncertainty about when to step back, this conversation will provide practical guidance and biblical encouragement.
Scripture referenced or discussed: Matthew 7:3–5; John 2:24-25; Romans 13:1–4; Philippians 2:5–8; Philippians 1:6
Connect with Pastor Brad Hambrick:
On his website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
In this opening episode of our new Faith Over Fear series, Relational Peace: Loving Others Without Losing Yourself, Carol sits down with Bible teacher and author Becky Harling for an honest conversation about the subtle ways we lose ourselves inside relationships. Together, they explore how fear, people-pleasing, overfunctioning, and the pressure to keep everyone happy can quietly erode our peace, identity, and emotional health. Becky shares practical wisdom on boundaries, friendship, emotional dependency, and how Jesus modeled deep love without losing Himself in the process. If you’ve ever felt exhausted from carrying everyone else’s emotions or guilty for needing rest, this episode offers biblical encouragement and practical next steps toward healthier, Christ-centered relationships.
In This Episode, learn:
- Why people-pleasing is often fear in disguise
- The difference between healthy love and self-erasure
- How Jesus modeled boundaries and emotional health
- Signs you may be losing yourself in relationships
- Why Christian women and men especially struggle with overextending
- What healthy friendships actually look like
- Practical tools for saying no without guilt
- How to love others without carrying their emotional weight
Scripture References
- Mark 1:35–38
- Proverbs 4:23
- John 2:24
- Ephesians 2:10
Key Takeaway
Healthy relationships are not built on fear, guilt, or emotional exhaustion. They’re built on truth, grace, wisdom, honesty, and an identity firmly rooted in Christ.
Find Becky Harling:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
On Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Jennifer Slattery welcomes Christian counselor and author Dr. Kris Reece for a candid conversation about toxic relationships, manipulation, people-pleasing, and the confusion many believers experience when love becomes unhealthy and emotionally draining. Dr. Kris shares insights from her experience in a narcissistic marriage and as a clinician and explains why unhealthy relationship patterns can be difficult to recognize, especially for those who have spent years trying to earn approval, keep the peace, or carry responsibility for others.
Together, Jennifer and Kris explore what Scripture teaches about guarding our hearts, setting healthy boundaries, and identifying fear-driven motivations. Listeners will learn how to discern the difference between Christ-led love and unhealthy self-sacrifice, find freedom from people-pleasing, and pursue relationships marked by wisdom, peace, and truth.
Resource Discussed: Breaking the Narcissist's Grip: A Christian’s Guide to Cutting the Strings of Manipulation, Setting Boundaries That Stick, and Reclaiming Your Life From Takers by Kris Reece (Author)
Scriptures Discussed
- Psalm 34:18
- Proverbs 4:23
- 2 Timothy 3:1–5
- 2 Corinthians 10:5
- 1 John 4:18
- 2 Corinthians 9:7
- Matthew 5:37
- Galatians 1:10
- Psalm 139:23–24
Connect with Dr. Kris Reece:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
On YouTube
Follow her work on Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Without God's perfect love, we cannot be free from condemnation and the bondage that we all face here on earth. But with God, we can live life and live it abundantly. Before knowing the Lord, Marina was living in bondage. Hear Marina’s incredible testimony and the ways God is using her story now as she serves in the Samaritan’s Purse Germany office. This episode was created by Samaritan's Purse and is part of their On the Ground with Samaritan's Purse podcast content, shared with permission.
Resources:
- Listen to “Fighting Spiritual Battles: Human Trafficking in Berlin,” to hear more about Alabaster Jar and how God is transforming hearts amid spiritual darkness.
Marina Nobiling, director of national programs at the Samaritan’s Purse Germany office, shed light on the current cultural and spiritual climate of Germany and talked about the ongoing Samaritan’s Purse projects in the country. There is an immense need for the Gospel to be preached in Germany and for Bible-believing churches to step up and lead.
“We want to stand for the Gospel. We want to stand for Jesus … And we want to show in our programs and projects what it's like to be with Him; to be living with Jesus.” – Marina Nobiling
Before coming to Christ, Marina said she was not merely neutral towards God, she was an enemy. Marina was in bondage—she battled an eating disorder and anxiety for years to the point of planning to take her own life. But when Marina had an encounter with the Lord, everything changed.
“And I had a voice in my head: ‘I want you to live. And you can do it with my help’ … It was beyond any doubt clear. That's Jesus. My whole life I had the wrong thinking. That's not true. God exists.” – Marina Nobiling
Marina went from believing that the Gospel was an old superstition to knocking on the door of the nearest church, asking to be baptized. She was on fire for God. Marina now takes this compassion to the streets of Berlin, ministering to women who are trapped in prostitution. She remembers what it was like to be in bondage and desires for others like her to be free; to be transformed by the love of Christ.
Life can be hard, and Marina still struggles, but she has something to turn to that cannot be shaken: God’s Word. Marina created a “first aid kit” with Psalms and Scriptures that speak to her when she is fighting lies or feeling weighed down by fears. Her favorite verse, Isaiah 43:1, reminds her that she belongs to the Lord—nothing can take that away.
“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.’” – Isaiah 43:1, ESV
If you’d like to keep up to date with more stories from On the Ground, please visit SamaritansPurse.org.
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In this episode of the Faith Over Fear podcast, host Carol McCracken and guest Dr. Marcus Warner discuss how anxiety often points to deeper wounds, fear-based beliefs and unmet needs for connection rather than simply "weak faith." Dr. Warner explains how past pain, isolation, distorted thinking and spiritual struggles can fuel cycles of fear and overthinking, while also offering practical tools to help listeners better understand what their anxiety may be revealing.
Together, they explore practical ways to calm the body, renew the mind and strengthen connection with God and others during seasons of distress. Listeners will gain insight into replacing fear-filled thoughts with truth, recognizing emotional triggers, building resilience and developing healthier responses to anxiety over time. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by panic, uncertainty or recurring what-if thoughts, this conversation offers biblical encouragement and practical next steps toward greater peace and healing.
Resource Referenced: Understanding the Wounded Heart by Dr. Marcus Warner
Find Dr. Marcus Warner's ministry at/on:
the Deeper Walk International website
YouTube
Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
If this episode encouraged you, you might gain additional encouragement from Jennifer's conversation with Dr. Warner regarding his book, Breakthrough. Find that episode titled "When You Feel Stuck and Need a Breakthrough" HERE.
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
What happens when grief, stress, distraction, and emotional exhaustion leave you feeling spiritually numb?
In this episode of the Faith Over Fear podcast, Jennifer Slattery talks with pastor and author Tara Beth Leach about how daily connection with Christ helps us remain grounded during overwhelming seasons. Tara shares the deeply personal story behind her book, The Great Morning Revolution, including the grief of losing her father, caring for her mother through dementia, leaving ministry in California, and the spiritual awakening God brought through that difficult wilderness season.
Together, Jennifer and Tara discuss:
- Why anxiety and distraction often shape our days before we realize it
- The spiritual impact of constantly consuming news, social media, and notifications
- How daily time with God renews our minds and anchors us in truth
- What Scripture teaches about wilderness seasons and dependence on God
- Why spiritual practices should remain flexible rather than legalistic
- How Christians can resist cultural formation and develop a kingdom mindset instead
- The difference between building earthly kingdoms and living for God’s kingdom
This conversation offers practical encouragement for anyone feeling emotionally depleted, spiritually distracted, or overwhelmed by life’s demands.
Scriptures Referenced
- Exodus 14
- Lamentations 3:22–23
- Romans 12:1–2
- Ephesians 5:13–14
- Psalm 23
- Philippians 2
- Mark 1
- 1 Samuel
Resource Mentioned
- The Great Morning Revolution by Tara Beth Leach
Connect with Tara Beth Leach
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Follow her work on Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
What happens when a respected Bible teacher’s hidden struggle finally comes to light?
In this special feed drop episode from Love Life Sober, Carol McCracken shares the deeply personal story behind a season she hid for years: increasing dependence on alcohol while navigating parenting stress, marital strain, shame, and emotional exhaustion.
From the outside, Carol appeared to have everything together. Inside, she was unraveling.
After an arrest forced her secret into the open, Carol found herself confronting painful truths about control, identity, fear, and the parts of her heart she had never fully surrendered to God. What followed became a story of grace, healing, freedom from alcohol, and an unexpected journey of restoration.
Whether or not alcohol has been part of your story, this conversation speaks to anyone who has:
- hidden struggles behind a polished image
- felt trapped by shame
- feared being “found out”
- tried to manage pain through unhealthy coping mechanisms
- wondered if God could still redeem what feels broken
In this episode, Carol and Christy discuss:
- the emotional roots beneath destructive coping patterns
- the shame many Christians carry in silence
- surrendering control to God
- how healing often begins with honesty
- why freedom rarely happens overnight
- the difference between knowing truth in your head and believing it in your heart
- God’s ability to restore what once seemed beyond repair
Connect with Christy Osborne:
On the Love Life Sober Podcast
On her website
On Instagram
Connect with Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Scripture Referenced
- Romans 8:38–39
- Luke 10:38–42
- Lamentations 3:22–23
If This Episode Encouraged You
Share this episode with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe to Faith Over Fear for more conversations that help you move from fear and striving toward freedom and deeper trust in Christ.
For additional support, download this free resource: Freedom from numbing: Breaking Alcohol’s grip
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
We've probably all walked into a room and felt unseen, out of place, or excluded. Those experiences can cut deep and leave us feeling alone in the very place where everyone else seems connected with friends. In this episode, Jennifer talks with Dr. Heather Holleman to explore how powerful truths in Ephesians helps us reframes those painful experiences and related insecurities. Together, they unpack what it means to be chosen, included, and seated with Christ and how those realities speak directly into anxiety, comparison, and loneliness. Drawing from Scripture and personal story, this conversation invites listeners to move from striving for belonging to resting in the secure place they already occupy with Jesus.
They also discuss the impact of the narratives we carry, what Dr. Holleman calls “shadow stories”, and how replacing those with God’s biblical truth fosters healing and transformation. Through practices like expressive writing and sharing personal “Savior stories,” listeners will discover practical ways to process pain, renew their thinking, and step into their God-given purpose. This episode ultimately shifts the focus from isolation to mission, reminding us that we are not only included in Christ but also sent to reflect Him in a world longing for connection.
Resources referenced:
Included in Christ: Living A New Story from Ephesians (A Bible Study) by Dr. Heather Holleman
"Embracing Your True Self: Living in Your Christ-Centered Identity" Bible reading plan (on the YouVersion Bible app)
Connect with Dr. Heather Holleman:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
When someone you love is in recovery, the pressure can feel overwhelming. You want to say and do the right thing, hoping to prevent a setback, yet beneath that is a quiet fear that you might make things worse. In this episode, Carol talks with Caroline Beidler, author of When You Love Someone in Recovery, about how to walk alongside someone without losing yourself, addressing the tension many families feel between wanting to help and fearing they might hurt.
Caroline reframes a powerful truth: God never asked you to control someone else’s healing. He invites you to love faithfully, set wise boundaries, and trust Him with what you cannot control. If you’ve been carrying guilt or living with ongoing fear, this conversation brings clarity on support versus enabling—and the freedom to love without trying to control the outcome.
Resource discussed: When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide to Understanding Addiction by Caroline Beidler
Connect with Caroline Beidler:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Follow her writing on Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
This is a two-part message.
When our worst fears become reality, faith can feel fragile and disoriented. In this episode, Jennifer Slattery sits down with Vaneetha Risner and Angela Mackey to explore how trust in God is rebuilt—not through changed circumstances, but through a deeper awareness of His presence. Vaneetha shares her journey through devastating loss, disability, and abandonment, and how God met her in the place she feared most. Rather than offering quick relief, He revealed something stronger: that His presence is a more secure foundation than any outcome she once depended on.
Angela brings a complementary perspective through her “what if to even if” story, rooted in the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Walking through profound grief and physical trauma, she wrestled with God honestly and discovered that faith is not the absence of questions but the willingness to cling to Him in the fire. Together, these conversations reframe suffering—not as evidence of God’s absence, but as an invitation to encounter His nearness, deepen trust, and anchor hope in His unchanging character rather than fragile outcomes.
Scripture Discussed
- Psalm 27:13
- Isaiah 29:13
- Exodus 3-4
- Daniel 1–3
Resource Referenced: This Was Never The Plan:Walking with God through the Heartache of Divorce by Vaneetha Risner
Connect with Vaneetha:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Follow her work on Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
In this honest and hope-filled conversation, worship leader and author Myshel Wilkins shares her journey through 8 miscarriages and the spiritual battle that followed. In the midst of grief, anger, and unanswered questions, she faced a defining choice: allow her pain to distort her view of God or anchor herself in what she knew to be true. With vulnerability and clarity, Michelle unpacks how intentionally defining God’s character became the turning point that sustained her faith, protected her heart from despair, and kept the enemy from stealing her calling.
Together, we explore how suffering can either pull us away from God or draw us into deeper intimacy with and effectiveness for Him.
Scripture referenced:
- James 1:2–5
- Isaiah 61:3
Resource discussed: Arise, Shine, and Conquer: 40 Days of Courage for Women – Listen to God’s Voice and Find Victory by Myshel Wilkins
Connect with Myshel Wilkins:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Follow her work on Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Why do we still struggle with anxiety—even when we’re praying, trusting God, and trying to move forward in faith? In this episode of Faith Over Fear, we explore why ongoing anxiety isn’t a sign of weak faith but often an invitation to deeper dependence on Christ. Through honest conversation and lived experience, you’ll hear how trauma, stress, and biology impact our thoughts and emotions, along with simple, Christ-centered tools to help calm your body, interrupt spiraling thoughts, and stay present with God in real time. From breath prayers and grounding techniques to practicing “micro-moments” of awareness throughout the day, this episode offers a practical, grace-filled approach to managing anxiety while reminding you that you’re not alone—God meets you right in the middle of the struggle, and that’s often where healing begins.
Connect with Kristin Faith Evans:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
On YouTube
Follow her writing on Amazon
Connect with Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
What do we do when God feels silent and life unfolds in ways we never expected?
In this honest conversation, Jennifer Slattery and Bible teacher Courtney Reissig explore what it looks like to hold onto faith in seasons of disappointment, disillusionment, and deep uncertainty. When prayers feel unanswered and circumstances challenge what we believe about God, it’s easy to question His goodness, His presence, and His plan.
Together, Jennifer and Courtney discuss how hardship can shake our expectations without undoing our faith—and how, like Peter, we can continue returning to Christ, trusting that He alone holds the words of eternal life.
Download this episodes free companion guide HERE. Scroll down for reflective questions.
Resource referenced: Someone to Believe In: Embracing the Savior Who Stays the Same When Everything Else Changes by Courtney Reissig
📖 Scriptures Discussed
- John 6:66–68 – When others walked away, Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
- John 11:1–44 – Jesus’ interaction with Mary and Martha after Lazarus’ death reveals both His compassion and His power over life and death
- John 14:18 – “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
- John 16:33 – “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
- Romans 8:37–39 – Nothing—not hardship, loss, or uncertainty—can separate us from God’s love in Christ
- John 10:11 – Jesus is the Good Shepherd who remains trustworthy when earthly leaders fail
Connect with Courtney Reissig:
on her website
On Instagram
Follow her work on Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Reflective Questions
- When have I experienced a season where God felt silent? What thoughts about Him surfaced during that time?
- What story is my current struggle telling me about God—and how does that compare with what Scripture reveals about His character?
- Like Peter in John 6, where else am I tempted to turn when faith feels difficult? What helps me return to Christ?
- How have I seen God’s faithfulness in the past that I can intentionally remember in this season?
- Am I allowing myself space to process disappointment or spiritual hurt, or am I trying to move forward too quickly?
- What is one small, practical way I can turn toward Jesus this week, even if my faith feels weak?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
In seasons of deep pain, unanswered questions, and emotional exhaustion, hope can feel distant—or risky to embrace. In this powerful conversation, Jennifer Slattery sits down with author and speaker Kirby Kelly to explore what it looks like to hold onto hope when life feels overwhelming.
Drawing from her personal story of loss, addiction in her family, and long-term suffering, Kirby shares how God met her in her darkest moments and gradually transformed her understanding of hope—not as a feeling or personality trait, but as a posture and daily practice rooted in Christ.
Together, they discuss how to trust God when circumstances don’t change, how Scripture renews our thinking, and how God uses every season—painful or joyful—to bring redemption.
If you’ve been struggling to believe God is good, or wondering how to keep going when you feel worn down, this episode will gently guide you back to the unchanging character of the God of hope.
Resource referenced: The Fabric of Hope: How God Weaves Redemption into Every Season by Kirby Kelly
📖 Scripture Discussed
- Romans 15:13 – God as the source of hope, joy, and peace
- Psalm 139:5 – God’s nearness and protection (“You hem me in…”)
- Genesis 37–50 – Joseph’s story of suffering and redemption
- Job (selected passages) – Trusting God without having answers
- 2 Corinthians 12:7–10 – Paul’s “thorn” and God’s sustaining grace
- Galatians 5:22–23 – Fruit of the Spirit (joy and peace)
- Matthew 11:28–30 – Jesus invites the weary to find rest
Reflection Questions:
- Where in your life does hope feel difficult—or risky—to embrace right now?
- Have you been placing your hope in a circumstance instead of in God’s character?
- What past situation can you look back on and clearly see God’s faithfulness?
- How might regularly reading Scripture begin to renew your thinking in this season?
- When you feel overwhelmed, what would it look like to pause and intentionally turn toward God’s presence?
- Which aspect of God—His promises, presence, patterns, or person—do you most need to anchor yourself in today?
- What is one action step God is inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Connect with Kirby Kelly:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
On YouTube
Follow her work on Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
(Scroll down to share your thoughts on future episodes!)
In this powerful episode of Faith Over Fear, Carol sits down with Chad Roberts to confront one of the most painful lies we believe in suffering: If God loved me, He would stop this. Even more deeply, many of us quietly wrestle with the fear that suffering means God has abandoned us.
Through Chad’s personal story of losing his sight, this conversation gently but firmly reframes that lie with truth: God’s presence is not measured by our comfort. Instead of standing at a distance, He steps into our pain—and never leaves.
Together, Carol and Chad explore how suffering can distort our view of God and whisper dangerous lies about His character. Rooted in Scripture, they walk through the stories of Joseph, Job, and ultimately Jesus, reminding us that while God may not always provide explanations, He always offers His presence. The cross becomes the clearest picture of this truth—not a removal of suffering, but redemption through it.
This episode also unpacks what it means to develop unshakable confidence in God—not confidence in outcomes, but in His character. Chad offers practical insight into what “suffering well” looks like in everyday moments and how to guard your heart against bitterness when life doesn’t go as planned.
For those walking alongside someone in pain, this conversation provides compassionate guidance on what to say—and what not to say—encouraging listeners to replace empty platitudes with meaningful presence.
If you’re in a season of pain, disappointment, or questioning where God is, this episode offers a steady reminder: you are not alone, and your suffering is not a sign of God’s absence—but an invitation to experience His nearness in a deeper way.
Resource referenced: Blind Faith: Seeing God Through Darkness by Chad Roberts
Biblical verses and passages discussed:
- Psalm 118:24
- James 1:2
- Mark 11:22
- Psalm 23:2
- Jeremiah 2:13
- 2 Corinthians 4:17
- 1 Peter 4:19
- Isaiah 40:31
Connect with Chad Roberts:
On his website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Follow his work on Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Reflective Questions:
- When you’re in a difficult season, what thoughts do you tend to believe about God—and are they rooted in truth or in fear?
- Have you ever equated God’s love with your level of comfort? How might that belief be shaping your faith right now?
- What would it look like for you to shift from trusting outcomes to trusting God’s character?
- In what ways might God be inviting you to experience His presence in your current struggle rather than removing it?
- How do you typically respond to others who are suffering—and how can you grow in offering presence instead of quick answers?
- What is one simple, grounding practice you can begin this week to stay anchored in truth when suffering feels overwhelming?
We’d love your input on something we're praying through.As we plan our next mini-series for Faith Over Fear, we want to speak into what you’re actually walking through—not just what we think might help.If you have 30 seconds, would you take our quick poll on Spotify? Your responses will guide the conversations we create. Take our poll HERE!
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Main idea: Connecting with Christ through biblical truth when anxiety, fear and overwhelm hit.
When your thoughts won’t slow down—when one worry turns into another and then another—it can feel impossible to find peace. You try to pray, reason, or fix it, but your mind keeps circling back to the same fear.
In today’s episode, Jennifer and Carol talk about what’s really happening in those spirals and how Scripture helps us interrupt them—not by suppressing anxiety, but by redirecting our thoughts toward truth.
Through a deeply personal conversation about health uncertainty, sleepless nights, and “what if” thinking, they explore how God meets us in our anxiety and teaches us to anchor our minds in His character and promises.
You’ll learn why anxious thoughts feel so believable, how to recognize the stories you’re telling yourself, and how to begin retraining your mind—one thought at a time.
Because peace doesn’t come from controlling outcomes.
It grows where God’s truth takes root.
Download our free When Fear Strikes: 7-Day Reset for Anxious Hearts HERE.
(Scroll down for the reflective questions.)
💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
- Why anxiety often starts with believable but untrue assumptions
- How “what if” thinking pulls us deeper into fear
- What it really means to “take every thought captive”
- Why suppressing anxiety can make it worse
- How to practice the “truth pause” when fear rises
- Simple, practical ways to retrain your mind using Scripture
- How God uses truth, presence, and time to increase your peace
📖 Key Scriptures:
- Psalm 56:3–4 — “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You…”
- Romans 12:2 — “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind”
- Isaiah 26:3 — “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on You”
- 1 Peter 5:7 — “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you”
- Psalm 62:5–8 — “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone…”
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Reflective Questions:
- When my thoughts begin to spiral, what “what if” scenarios do I tend to believe most quickly?
- What assumptions am I currently making that may not be rooted in truth?
- Which truth about God’s character do I most need to anchor to right now?
- When anxiety rises, do I tend to suppress it, fix it, or bring it to God?
- What would it look like for me to practice a “truth pause” this week in a small, everyday stressor?
- What one Scripture could I carry with me this week to counter a recurring fear?
- How has God proven His faithfulness to me in the past—and how might that strengthen me today?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
When pain enters our lives, most of us immediately ask both “Why is this happening?” and “Where is God in this?” In this episode, we explore the lie that suffering means God is distant—and the truth that weakness and pain may be the very places where His presence and power become most real.
Through the lens of Tracking God in Your Life and the biblical stories of Paul, Job, Ruth, and Naomi, this conversation reframes suffering as more than disruption. Pain reveals what we truly believe about God, exposes our illusion of control, and invites us into deeper dependence, community, and spiritual maturity. Rather than rushing to fix, manage, or spiritualize hardship, we consider what it looks like to allow weakness to be weakness—and to encounter God’s sufficiency there.
We talk about trusting God without full explanations and recognizing how personal pain can become a pathway to ministering to others. Weakness, loss, and uncertainty often become the soil where empathy, calling, and belonging take root.
Listeners will be encouraged to begin “tracking God” in their own lives—watching for His presence not only in moments of relief, but in the middle of struggle. Even when suffering remains, God is still at work, forming resilient faith and shaping stories that carry hope for others.
Resource referenced: Tracking God in Your Life: How to See God's Work in Your Past, Experience His Presence, and Trust Him with Your Future Kindle Editionby Laurie Polich Short
Additional (free) resource you might find helpful: When Fear Strikes: a 7-Day Reset for Anxious Hearts
Reflective Questions:
- Where in my life have I been tempted to believe that pain means God is distant?
- When have I experienced God’s strength most clearly in a season of weakness?
- What illusion of control might God be gently loosening in my life right now?
- How has a past hardship shaped the way I show up for others who are hurting?
- What truth about God do I need to hold onto when my circumstances don’t change?
- If my pain is an invitation, not just an interruption, what might God be inviting me to notice, trust, or step into today?
Connect with Laurie Polich Short:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Follow her work on Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
What do you do when life takes a devastating turn and God doesn't seem to be helping you?
In today’s episode of Faith Over Fear, Jennifer Slattery sits down with retired Air Force brigadier general, chaplain, pastor, and author Bob Page to talk about trusting God in seasons of hardship and uncertainty.
Bob shares the powerful story of a life-threatening accident that left him in intensive care while his young family faced an uncertain future. To outside observers, it might have looked as if God had abandoned them. But as Bob reflects on that season, he now sees unmistakable evidence of God’s presence and provision—from a nurse who comforted his injured daughter to unexpected financial provision that sustained his family.
Through decades of ministry and personal experience, Bob has learned a profound truth: even when we cannot see or understand God’s ways, we can trust His heart.
In this conversation, Jennifer and Bob discuss:
- Why hardship does not mean God has abandoned us
- How to speak honestly with God about fear, anger, and confusion
- The importance of remembering God’s faithfulness in the past
- How God uses painful seasons to shape our purpose
- Practical steps to help retrain our minds to see God’s presence
Drawing from Scripture, personal stories, and insights from Bob’s book God Is Still for You: 10 Reasons You Can Be Sure When Life Is Hard, this episode offers encouragement for anyone walking through difficult circumstances and uncertainty.
Key Scripture Mentioned
Psalm 121:1–2
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Proverbs 3:5–6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…”
Psalm 9:10
“Those who know your name trust in you…”
Lamentations 3:21–23
“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed…”
In This Episode You'll Learn:
- Why feeling abandoned by God is a common experience during hardship
- How honest prayer can deepen your relationship with God
- Why remembering God’s faithfulness strengthens faith
- How God often prepares us through experiences that seem like detours
- Practical ways to speak truth to fear
Resource referenced: God Is Still For You: Ten Reasons You Can Be Sure Even When Life Is Hard by Bob Page
Additional (free) resource you might find helpful: When Fear Strikes: a 7-Day Reset for Anxious Hearts
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- Have you ever experienced a season when circumstances made you feel as if God had abandoned you? What emotions surfaced during that time?
- Looking back, can you identify ways God may have been present in that situation—even if you didn’t recognize it at the time?
- Bob talked about the importance of remembering God’s past faithfulness.
What are two or three moments in your life when you clearly saw God provide or guide you? - When fear or uncertainty rises, what truths from Scripture help anchor your heart?
- Bob encouraged listeners to speak honestly with God about their emotions.
What might it look like for you to bring your fears or frustrations openly before Him? - Is there a situation in your life right now where you’re struggling to trust God’s purposes?
- How might your perspective shift if you asked God to help you see that situation through the eyes of faith?
Connect with Bob Page On his website
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
In this honest and hope-filled conversation, Carol sits down with Mary DeMuth to explore how our past quietly shapes the way we show up in relationships—and how God can rewrite those patterns.
Together, they name a powerful lie many listeners carry: My past defines my relationships—I’ll keep repeating it. Early wounds, misunderstandings, disorienting seasons, and environments we didn’t choose often create internal narratives about trust, safety, control, and worth. Over time, those narratives influence how we react, who we let close, and how we protect ourselves. Fear and anxiety frequently grow out of these unresolved relational stories.
Mary shares how reflection becomes the first step toward transformation. By mapping our story—identifying key characters, inciting incidents, pain points, and the “muddled middle”—we begin to notice patterns instead of being ruled by them. Disorientation can become an invitation to find God as our true safety. What once fueled control and self-reliance can instead become a doorway to surrender and healing.
The conversation moves from awareness to action. What does it look like to walk differently? Mary explains how boundaries reduce anxiety, how emotionally safe community fosters healing, and how understanding our story shifts us from reaction to intention. When we recognize how old narratives drive current responses, we can pause, invite God in, and choose new patterns.
The episode closes with a practical next step: notice one relationship pattern you keep repeating, ask what part of your past is shaping it, and invite God into that moment before you respond.
Your past may explain you—but it does not define you. God is still writing your story, and He specializes in redemption, even in the places that feel most stuck. You are not too patterned, too wounded, or too late. You are being restoried.
Resource referenced: Restory Your Life: How Jesus Reframes Your Past, Rewrites Your Present, and Redefines Your Future
Additional (free) resource you might find helpful: When Fear Strikes: a 7-Day Reset for Anxious Hearts
Listener Reflective Questions
- Where have you noticed your past quietly shaping how you trust, react, or connect in your current relationships?
- What relational lie have you been believing about yourself that may have formed in an earlier season of pain or misunderstanding?
- When you feel anxious or controlling in a relationship, what deeper fear might be underneath that reaction?
- Who in your life feels emotionally safe—and what makes that environment different from others?
- What repeated pattern keeps surfacing in your relationships, and what part of your story might be driving it?
- If you believed God could truly restory your past, how might you show up differently in one relationship this week?
Connect with Mary DeMuth:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Do you lie awake replaying conversations… wishing you’d said no instead of yes?
Do you feel responsible for everyone else’s happiness and so bogged down by other's expectations that you've lost your sense of self? Are your relationships filled with more takers than givers? Do friendships tend to bring you more anxiety than joy?
If so, Jennifer Slattery's conversation with author and podcast host Jennifer Renee Watson will encourage you.
In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Jennifer Slattery sits down with author and speaker Jennifer Renee Watson to unpack the emotional roots of people-pleasing, codependency, and the deep fear of not being “enough” or "doing enough." Together, they explore how trauma, anxiety, and unhealthy relationship patterns can shape our identity—and how God leads us toward healing, clarity, and freedom.
Jennifer Watson shares her personal story of growing up in instability, navigating ministry pressures, and learning—one fumbling step at a time—how to set boundaries, recognize harmful patterns, and rediscover her voice. This conversation offers practical encouragement for anyone struggling with approval-seeking, emotional exhaustion, relational confusion, or the pressure to always keep others happy.
You’ll learn why people-pleasing often grows from survival patterns, how resentment can signal deeper wounds, and why healing takes time, support, and truth. Most importantly, you’ll be reminded that your worth isn’t defined by others’ approval—but by God’s steady love and presence.
This episode is for you if you:
- Struggle to say no without guilt
- Feel drained by relationships or expectations
- Carry anxiety about disappointing others
- Want healthier boundaries rooted in faith
- Long to rediscover your identity and confidence in Christ
Resource referenced: What If You're Doing Better Than You Think?: Finding Courage and Confidence When Life Gets Messy
Additional (free) resource you might find helpful: When Fear Strikes: a 7-Day Reset for Anxious Hearts
Key truth to hold onto:
[God] is your constant source of stability; he abundantly provides safety and great wisdom (Isaiah 33:6, NET)
Next step: Pay attention to your yeses and nos this week. Notice what drives them—and invite God into the healing process.
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- When do you feel the strongest pressure to please others—and what fears tend to drive that response?
- How has your past (family, church, relationships, or trauma) shaped your current boundaries or lack of them?
- What lies about your identity or worth have fueled anxiety or people-pleasing in your life?
- Where might resentment or emotional exhaustion be signaling a need for healthier limits?
- What would it look like to anchor your sense of safety and worth in God rather than others’ approval?
- What is one small, practical step you can take this week to honor your emotional and spiritual health (a boundary, a conversation, a pause before saying yes)?
- Who are the safe people in your life that can support your healing and growth?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Connect with Jennifer Renee Watson:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Follow her writing on Amazon
Check out the podcast she cohosts with two other speakers, "More Than Small Talk"
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Many believers feel torn between loving others and protecting their hearts. We’re taught to include everyone, forgive quickly, and keep our doors open—but Scripture also calls us to wisdom and discernment in who we allow to shape our thinking, emotions, and spiritual direction.
In this conversation, we explore the difference between loving people and trusting them equally—and why healthy boundaries aren’t unloving, but deeply biblical.
Author Becky Harling joins us to unpack what emotionally healthy, Christ-centered friendships look like, how to recognize unsafe relational patterns, and how to heal when relationships wound us. Together, we examine how grounding our identity in Jesus frees us to love generously without becoming drained, resentful, or spiritually pulled off course.
This episode provides clarity on:
- why loving everyone doesn’t mean giving everyone equal access to your heart
- how to identify safe, reciprocal friendships
- warning signs of codependency, control, gossip, and emotional imbalance
- how prayer shapes wise relational decisions
- what loyalty and long-term friendship look like in a Christ-centered life
- how to set boundaries without becoming guarded or cynical
- steps toward healing after relational hurt
Resource referenced: Friend-Wise: Practical Ideas for Richer Relationships
Additional (free) resource you might find helpful: When Fear Strikes: a 7-Day Reset for Anxious Hearts
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- Where have I confused loving people with trusting them equally?
- Which relationships currently strengthen my walk with Christ—and which leave me spiritually drained?
- Do I have a small circle of safe, reciprocal friendships where I can be fully known and prayed for?
- What boundaries might God be inviting me to set so I can love others from a healthy place rather than from exhaustion or fear?
- When I’ve experienced relational hurt, have I brought that pain honestly before Jesus for healing and wisdom?
- Who are the voices currently shaping my thinking, emotions, and spiritual direction—and are they aligned with God’s truth?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Connect with Becky Harling:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
When headlines, social media, and everyday stress collide, anxiety can easily take over. In this episode, Jennifer Slattery and Carol McCracken explore why our minds and bodies respond so strongly to cultural chaos—and how God gently leads us back to peace.
Download the free companion guide for this episode here: Finding Peace in a Chaotic World: A Faith-Based Guide to Quieting Anxiety and Re-centering Your Heart
Additional (free) resource you might find helpful: When Fear Strikes: a 7-Day Reset for Anxious Hearts
You’ll hear:
- how stress and overstimulation affect the brain
- why anxious thoughts spiral so quickly
- practical grounding tools rooted in faith
- how Jesus modeled withdrawal and reconnection with the Father
- why joy, Scripture, and community strengthen emotional resilience
If you’ve felt overwhelmed lately, this conversation will remind you: you’re not broken—and you’re not alone. God meets us right where we are and leads us toward calm, clarity, and renewed trust.
Scripture referenced in this episode:
Proverbs 3:5–6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Isaiah 26:3–4
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You… The Lord Himself is the Rock eternal.”
Psalm 46:1–2
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…”
Psalm 91:1–4
God as refuge, shelter, and covering.
Isaiah 41:10
“Do not fear, for I am with you… I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Colossians 3:15
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…”
Gospel accounts of Jesus withdrawing to pray
(Mark 1:35-39; Luke 5:15-16; Luke 6:12)
Reflective Questions:
Use these for journaling, small groups, or personal reflection.
- When I feel overwhelmed, what tends to trigger my anxiety most—noise, conflict, social media, uncertainty, or something else?
- What physical signs tell me I’m becoming dysregulated or stressed (sleep disruption, tension, racing thoughts, irritability)?
- Which grounding practice helps me reconnect with God most easily—breathing, Scripture, silence, journaling, nature, prayer, or community?
- Where might God be inviting me to “withdraw” from input right now so I can hear His voice more clearly?
- What truth from Scripture do I need to return to when my thoughts begin to spiral?
- What is one small step I can take this week to pursue peace intentionally instead of waiting for my circumstances to change?
If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend who may be feeling overwhelmed. And don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review—it helps others find hope and practical help when they need it most.
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
If you’ve prayed for peace but still feel anxious, overwhelmed, or discouraged, you’re not alone—and you’re not failing spiritually.
In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Jennifer Slattery is joined by Jamie Hampton, co-host of the Praying Christian Women podcast, for a compassionate and honest conversation about anxiety, prayer, and God’s peace. Jamie shares a season of debilitating anxiety and what that taught her. Together, she and Jennifer explore what Scripture—especially Philippians 4—really teaches about anxiety, why peace is often a process rather than an instant fix, and how God meets us in our physical, emotional, and spiritual realities.
This conversation is for anyone who loves God but feels confused, exhausted, or ashamed by persistent anxiety—and longs for a gentler, grace-filled way forward.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
- Why anxiety is rarely just spiritual—and why that matters
- What Philippians 4 does not mean about “being anxious”
- How praise and prayer can calm both the heart and nervous system
- Why honest, unfiltered prayer leads to deeper freedom
- Practical ways to interrupt anxious spirals with compassion
- How God’s peace grows through presence, not pressure
Scriptures Referenced:
- Philippians 4:4–9
- 1 Peter 5:7
Download this episode's free companion guide HERE.
Resources Referenced: She Prays Like a Girl: Discover the Joy and Power of Praying Like You (and no one else!)
So Much More Scripture Meditation (podcast)
Hearing Heart Biblical Meditation App
Featured Guest:
Jamie Hampton, Christian author and co-host of the Praying Christian Women podcast, shares vulnerably from her own journey through anxiety and healing.
NOTE: if you enjoyed this episode, visit Jamie and Alana's podcast Praying Women to hear Jennifer's conversation with Jamie on their show. Find it HERE.
Encouragement for Listeners:
If prayer hasn’t taken your anxiety away, that doesn’t mean God is distant or disappointed or that your prayer practice isn't helping. God gradually cultivates peace in your soul as you walk with Him.
Reflective Questions:
- When anxiety rises, what assumptions do I tend to make about myself or my faith?
- Are there physical, emotional, or situational factors contributing to my anxiety that I may have overlooked?
- What does it feel like to hear that God’s peace is often a process rather than an instant result?
- When prayer feels difficult, what gentle ways might help me orient my heart toward God?
- Are there fears or questions I’ve been hesitant to bring honestly to God? What might it look like to release those to Him?
- Which one small practice from this episode—praise, journaling, or honest prayer—feels most accessible to try this week?
Connect with Jamie Hampton:
On her and her cohosts website
On Instagram
On Facebook
On Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Do you lie awake at night worried about money?
If financial stress has left you feeling anxious, ashamed, or trapped, this episode will encourage you and help alleviate some of your fear.
In today’s Faith Over Fear conversation, host Jennifer Slattery sits down with Todd Moore, Director of Education at Trinity Debt Management, to talk honestly about financial fear, scarcity mindsets, and the emotional weight money struggles carry—especially in today’s economy.
Todd shares his powerful story of growing up with scarcity, accumulating debt as a first-generation college student, and eventually discovering that financial hardship doesn’t define your future. Together, Jennifer and Todd explore why money anxiety impacts our sense of safety, how past trauma can intensify present fear, and why struggling financially is far more common—and far less shameful—than many realize.
You’ll also hear practical, grace-filled encouragement for anyone who feels overwhelmed or stuck, including:
- Why financial hardship doesn’t mean you’ve failed
- How fear affects the brain—and why support matters
- Small, doable steps you can take right now to regain clarity
- How God’s compassion meets us in seasons of financial uncertainty
- Why asking for help can be the turning point toward freedom
If you’re facing job loss, debt, rising expenses, or lingering fear rooted in past instability, this episode offers both biblical reassurance and practical hope.
Resources Mentioned:
- Trinity Debt Management: https://www.trinitycredit.org
- Free companion resource
You are not alone. You are not stuck. And God is still leading you toward freedom.
This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. “Whether we’re helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments, Trinity has the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548. https://trinitycredit.org/
Reflective Questions (For Show Notes, Companion Guide, or Journaling)
- What emotions surface when you think about your finances right now—fear, shame, exhaustion, or uncertainty?
How might God be inviting you to bring those emotions honestly to Him? - Can you identify any past experiences (childhood scarcity, instability, job loss, homelessness, or debt) that may be fueling your current financial anxiety?
How does recognizing this change the way you view yourself? - Where have you been tempted to believe that your financial situation defines your worth, faith, or future?
What truth from Scripture counters that belief? - What would it look like to stop facing financial stress alone?
Who might God be inviting you to reach out to for support, guidance, or education? - What is one small, manageable step you could take this week to move toward clarity rather than avoidance?
(Tracking expenses, making a call, praying honestly, or asking for help.) - How does this conversation reshape your understanding of God’s compassion and provision—not just for today, but for the future He sees and prepares you for?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
“When You’re Not Out of Control—Just Tired of Surviving”
In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Carol sits down with Christy Osborne, author of Love Life Sober, for an honest, compassionate conversation about exhaustion, emotional numbness, and the quiet ways many women cope just to get through the day.
This isn’t a conversation about hitting rock bottom or losing control. It’s about the woman who looks “fine” on the outside—but feels tired, flat, and disconnected from joy on the inside.
Christy shares her personal journey through an alcohol fast—not as a self-improvement project, but as a brave act of curiosity and care. (Download the free companion guide for this episode here.)
Together, Carol and Christy explore:
- Why alcohol (or other numbing habits) often function as a solution, not the real problem
- What surfaces emotionally and spiritually when numbing is removed
- How grief, fatigue, and long-buried feelings often point to unmet needs—not personal failure
- The lies that grow louder in silence—and how awareness and Scripture can interrupt them with grace
- Where Jesus meets us most clearly when we feel exposed, weary, and emotionally honest
- How joy can return—not as escape, but as presence, embodiment, and safety
If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not out of control—I’m just so tired,” this episode is for you.
Resource referenced: Love Life Sober: A 40-Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind
Listener Reflective Questions
- Where in my life have I been using something—even something socially acceptable—to soften, numb, or survive instead of truly rest?
- If I’m honest, what emotions do I work hardest to avoid feeling—and why might those emotions feel unsafe to me?
- Have I been interpreting my exhaustion as failure, when it may actually be information about my soul’s needs?
- What lies get loud for me when life slows down or distractions are removed—and how do those lies shape my sense of identity?
- How has my definition of joy been shaped by escape rather than presence—and what quieter forms of joy might God be inviting me to notice?
- What would it look like to believe I can feel deeply and be safe with God—right here, not after I “fix” myself?
Connect with Christy Osborne:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Find her work on Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Many people know God is loving and kind—but struggle to feel or trust that love in their most wounded places. For those impacted by trauma, religious abuse, legalism, or deep loss, God can feel distant, harsh, or unsafe.
In this moving conversation, host Jennifer Slattery sits down with author Sherri Hughes Gregg to explore how Jesus consistently reveals Himself as tender, compassionate, and near to the brokenhearted. Drawing from Sherri’s book The Compassionate Christ, her personal journey through divorce and cancer, and powerful Gospel narratives—including the leper, the grieving widow, and the Samaritan woman—this episode gently challenges fear-based views of God and invites listeners into healing truth.
Together, Jennifer and Sherri model how we can wrestle respectfully with Scripture, release shame-laden interpretations, and encounter Christ as He truly is: the One who comforts, restores dignity, and brings beauty from ashes.
Download this episode's free companion guide with Scripture and journal prompts here.
Resource referenced: The Compassionate Christ: Draw Near to the Risen Savior (A 31-Day Devotional Retelling of Stories from the Life of Jesus)
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- When you think about God’s posture toward you, what emotions surface most easily—fear, comfort, suspicion, hope? Why do you think that is?
- How have past experiences (family, church culture, trauma, or suffering) shaped the way you interpret Jesus’ actions and words in Scripture?
- Which Gospel story mentioned in this episode—the leper, the widow, or the Samaritan woman—do you most relate to right now? What about it resonates with your current season?
- Are there moments when suffering or disappointment has caused old fears or shame-based beliefs about God to resurface? How have you responded to those thoughts?
- What would it look like to intentionally observe how Jesus interacts with wounded people in the Gospels, without filtering His actions through fear or self-condemnation?
- Where might God be inviting you to receive comfort before resolution—to trust His nearness even while you wait for healing or answers?
- What is one lie about God’s character you feel prompted to gently release—and one truth about His compassion you want to sit with this week?
Connect with Sherri Hughes Gregg:
On Instagram
On Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Do you struggle with prayer—what to say, how to say it, and whether God will respond? Does God ever feel distant or silent when you cry out to Him? In this episode, guest Rachel Britton shares why prayer often feels difficult, especially when we feel fearful, disappointed, or anxious, and she explains how simple, guided prayers can help us open our hearts wider to the Lord.
(Download this episodes free companion guide here.)
Together, Carol and Rachel explore what we can learn from biblical women who prayed through some of Scripture’s most painful and complicated moments:
- Rachel, a person of deep sorrow
- Leah, a person overlooked
- Jochebed, a person in the background
- Sarah, a person who doubted
Their lives reveal that God hears those of us who feel unseen, afraid, or unsure. Through their stories, Rachel invites us to grow in confidence—not by having perfect words, but by remembering we are perfectly loved.
Resource referenced: Pray Naturally: Finding Your Spiritual Confidence as a Woman Loved by God by Rachel Britton
Reflective/Discussion Questions
- Which part of prayer feels hardest for you right now—finding the words, believing God hears you, or trusting Him with the outcome? Why?
- When you think of praying bold prayers, what emotion rises first—fear, excitement, skepticism, or hope? What might God be inviting you to explore in that?
- Is there a biblical woman’s story (Rachel, Leah, Jochebed) that mirrors a season you’re in? What does her journey teach you about God’s character?
- In what ways have fear, disappointment, or past pain shaped the way you pray—or the way you avoid praying?
- Rachel talks about being honest in prayer, even messy or raw. What would it look like to tell God the truth about something you’ve been holding back?
- Where do you sense God inviting you to trust Him more deeply—not someday, but today—as you learn to pray more naturally?
Find Rachel Britton:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
When anxiety tightens your chest and fear whispers that you’re alone, knowing who God is can steady your heart. In this deeply comforting conversation, Jennifer Slattery sits down with author and ministry leader Grace Fox to explore how the names of God reveal His nearness, power, and peace—especially in seasons of uncertainty, trauma, and unanswered prayer.
Grace shares how understanding God as Yahweh Shalom, Abba Father, Yahweh Roi (the Lord my Shepherd), and the God who is Light can reshape how we walk through hardship. From cultivating daily time with God in busy seasons to experiencing supernatural peace in the middle of a medical crisis, this episode gently reminds listeners that fear is not a sign of failed faith—but often a signal that we were never meant to carry our burdens alone.
In this episode, guest Grace Fox shares practical tools to quiet anxious thoughts, anchor themselves in truth, and learn how God often reveals His heart most clearly in life’s darkest caves. (Scroll down to download a free companion guide designed to help you process this episodes content more deeply and for more information on today's guest, Grace Fox.)
Key Topics Covered in today's episode:
- Why fear doesn’t mean you’ve disappointed God
- How the names of God reveal His character and care
- Finding peace while still “in process”
- God as Father for those wounded by earthly relationships
- How God brings light and beauty even in dark seasons
- Practical steps to experience peace amid chaos
Resource Referenced: Names of God: Knowing Peace: Devotional Study with Video Access (Names of God Devotional Studies Book 2) by Grace Fox
Download this episodes free companion guide HERE.
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- When anxiety rises, what does your first response tend to be—problem-solving, worrying, withdrawing, or turning toward God?
- Which name of God discussed in this episode resonates most deeply with your current season, and why?
- How might viewing God as a perfect Father challenge or heal wounds shaped by imperfect human relationships?
- Where do you feel like you’re “in process” right now, tempted to believe you should be further along?
- What would it look like to ask, “God, what do You want to teach me here?” instead of “Why is this happening?”
- Are there areas of chaos in your life where you need to invite God’s light to bring clarity or order?
- How might intentionally renewing your mind change the way you experience fear or uncertainty this week?
Connect with Grace Fox:
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
(Scroll down to download a free companion guide designed to help you more deeply process this episodes content.)
In today’s episode, Carol is joined by author and Bible teacher Melissa Spoelstra for a powerful conversation about fear, spiritual warfare, and the God who reigns over both heaven and earth. Drawing from her new Bible study, Melissa helps us understand why the Bible talks about angels—not so that we’ll become preoccupied with supernatural beings, but so our view of God will grow larger, stronger, and more hope-filled.
Together, Carol and Melissa explore what Scripture reveals about the unseen spiritual realm: angelic hosts, messengers, cherubim and seraphim, fallen angels, and even Satan. But more importantly, they highlight the character of the God who commands the angel armies, sets boundaries on evil, strengthens His servants through suffering, and offers refuge in moments of fear.
This episode gently but boldly addresses questions many believers wrestle with:
• What battles am I facing that I can’t see? • How do I fight fear without becoming fearful of spiritual warfare? • Why does God allow testing, and where is He when life feels heavy? • How do angels reveal God’s heart, His protection, and His authority?
Through practical insight and biblical clarity, Melissa reminds us that although our battles are real, our God is sovereign, present, and victorious. We don’t fix our eyes on angels—we fix our eyes on the God who created them. And in doing so, we find the hope and courage we need for whatever we’re facing right now.
Whether you’re wrestling with anxiety, fear of the unknown, spiritual attack, or simply longing to understand God’s supernatural care more deeply, this conversation will breathe peace and truth into your soul.
Key Scriptures Discussed
- 2 Kings 6 – Elisha’s servant sees the chariots of fire
• Hebrews 1 – Angels as ministering spirits
• Psalm 91 – God’s promise of protection
• Ephesians 6 – Our battle against spiritual forces
• Luke 2 – God sends an angel to outcasts
• Revelation – Angels in worship and judgment
Themes Covered✓ Spiritual warfare without fear
✓ God’s sovereignty over heaven and earth
✓ Discernment, deception, and truth
✓ How angels reveal God’s character
✓ The limits God places on Satan
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- Where in your life right now does fear feel louder than your confidence in God’s reign—and what does remembering the spiritual realm change for you?
- Which aspect of God’s character, revealed through the ministry of angels, brought you the most comfort or clarity today?
- How have you sensed spiritual warfare in your thoughts, relationships, or emotions recently—and what truth about God’s authority helps you fight back?
- What lies or subtle deceptions tend to trigger anxiety for you, and how can Scripture help you recognize and counter them?
- When have you felt strengthened, protected, or supported by God in a way that you couldn’t fully explain? What did that reveal about His presence?
- What one step can you take this week to shift your focus away from fear of the enemy and toward a greater trust in the God who rules over everything?
Resource referenced:
Angels - Bible Study Book for Women with Video Access: Finding Hope in God Who Reigns over Heaven and Earth
Download this episodes free companion guide here.
Connect with Melissa Spoelstra:
On her website
On Facebook
On Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
(Scroll down for resources, including a link to a free downloadable resource.)
So many of our deepest anxieties come not from circumstances—but from people we love. Broken trust. Emotional betrayal. Confusing mixed signals. Fear of being hurt again. In this episode, Jennifer Slattery talks with Matthew and Joanna Rapsmith and therapist Dan Drake about why relational wounds cut so deeply, how they affect our nervous system and emotional health, and how God compassionately leads us toward healing, safety, and renewed connection.
Whether you’re trying to heal a relationship, rebuilding trust after betrayal, or carrying hidden wounds you’re afraid to name, today’s conversation offers compassionate truth and practical guidance to help you breathe again.
You’ll Learn
- Why relational pain can feel overwhelming
- How betrayal and fear impact the brain and nervous system
- Why emotional safety is essential for healing
- What emotional intelligence really looks like in relationships
- How to unlearn unhealthy coping responses
- What to do if you’re willing to heal—but the other person isn’t
- How God meets us in relational heartbreak and restores hope
Key Themes
• Honesty and truth-telling
• Emotional and relational safety
• Healing from shame and fear
• Restoring trust
• Christ-centered restoration
• Personal healing even when relationships don’t rebuild
This Episode Is For You If…
✔️ You’ve experienced betrayal or broken trust
✔️ You long for connection but fear being hurt again
✔️ You struggle with anxiety in relationships
✔️ You want emotional maturity and healing
✔️ You desire hope, clarity, and Christ-centered encouragement
Resource referenced: Building True Intimacy: Creating a connection that stands the test of time by Dan Drake, Joanna Raabsmith and Matthew Raabsmith.
Faith Over Fear podcast episode: Does Conflict Make You Anxious? Practical Steps to Increased Relational Peace
Free Downloadable Resource: Healing for Painful Relationships
Connect with Joanna and Matthew Raabsmith on their ministry website
Connect with Dan Drake and learn more about his and the Raabsmith's work on the Intimacy Pyramid website.
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- When have you felt the most emotionally unsafe in a relationship, and how did your body and heart respond?
- What story do you tend to tell yourself when conflict happens—“I’m failing,” “I’m unlovable,” “They’ll hurt me,” etc.?
- Where might unhealed past experiences be shaping how you see and react to present relationships?
- What would emotional safety look like for you? What boundaries, support, or healing might God be inviting you toward?
- Where do you sense God calling you to honesty—either with yourself, Him, or someone else?
- If your current relational or emotional patterns remain the same, where might they lead you? What could healing change?
- How does it encourage you to know that God does not shame your pain—but meets you in it with compassion and restoration?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Do you feel emotionally overwhelmed—like you’re carrying more than you can handle and one more hardship or problem might break you? Have stress, anxiety, or burnout caused you to react in ways that don’t feel like you?
In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Jennifer Slattery and Carol McCracken talk honestly about emotional overwhelm, emotional capacity, and why prolonged stress and hardship can push even faithful, capable people past their limits. Through personal stories of caregiving, trauma triggers, disrupted sleep, ministry pressure, and relational strain, they explain why “pushing through” often leads to exhaustion, shame, and broken connections.
Turning to Scripture, they explore the life of David—a man after God’s own heart—who also experienced seasons of intense fear, grief, and emotional overload. His story shows us that overwhelm is not a spiritual failure and that God meets us with grace, not condemnation, when we’re in survival mode.
This conversation offers biblical encouragement and practical tools to help you recognize when your emotional capacity is maxed out, calm anxiety throughout the day, reduce unnecessary stress, and reconnect with Christ’s presence in the middle of overwhelming seasons.
If you’ve been feeling worn down, reactive, or ashamed of how you’ve been coping, this episode will remind you: you’re not weak, you’re human—and you’re not alone.
Download a free resource designed to help you experience the peace of Christ in Your Most Emotionally Overwhelming Seasons.
Reflective/Discussion Questions:
- Where do you currently feel emotionally overloaded?
What circumstances, responsibilities, or unresolved stressors might be adding weight to your “emotional bridge”? - How do you typically respond when your emotional capacity is exceeded?
Do you tend to withdraw, lash out, numb, overwork, or push through—and what has that response cost you? - What stood out to you about David’s responses to overwhelm?
How does his honesty with God challenge or free you in the way you pray, lament, or express emotion? - Are there stressors in your life that could be reduced, paused, or removed—at least temporarily?
What might it look like to honor your limits instead of judging them? - What helps calm your body and mind throughout the day?
Which practices—movement, rest, prayer, breathing, joy, community—might God be inviting you to return to or begin? - Is there an area where shame has followed your past reactions to stress?
How does this episode reshape your understanding of God’s grace toward you in survival seasons?
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
If the holidays leave you overwhelmed, overstretched, or anxious, you’re not alone. In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Jennifer Slattery and guest Kelly Hall unpack the story of Mary and Martha to reveal practical, grace-filled ways to reduce holiday stress, avoid codependent patterns, set healthy boundaries, and re-center on what matters most. Whether you’re navigating grief, family tension, perfectionism, or people-pleasing, this conversation offers gentle guidance to help you enter Christmas with more calm, clarity, and joy.
You’ll learn how to:
- Recognize your emotional capacity
- Resist the pressure to meet everyone’s expectations
- Simplify your celebrations
- Experience deeper peace by staying aligned with Jesus rather than holiday chaos
Scripture discussed:
Luke 10, Mark 1:35-39
Resources Recommended: Courageous Faith by Kelly Hall, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life by Joanna Weaver
Free Bible Reading Plan: "Embracing Your True Self: Living in Your Christ-Centered Identity"
Free Resource: Practical Steps to Reduced Anxiety and Overwhelm This Christmas
Find Kelly Hall:
On her website
Unshakable Hope Podcast
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discussion/Reflective Question:
- What resonated with you most in this episode
- Where do I feel the most pressure during the holiday season—and whose expectations are driving that pressure?
- What signs tell me I’m reaching or exceeding my emotional capacity? How can I respond with grace rather than reacting from overwhelm?
- In what situations do I tend to “Martha”—trying to control people or outcomes rather than pausing to sit at Jesus’ feet?
- Where might I be slipping into codependent behavior (fixing, appeasing, rescuing) instead of allowing others to own their emotions?
- What boundaries do I need to set this holiday season to protect peace, joy, and emotional/spiritual health?
- What one simple shift could help me keep “the most important thing” at the center of my celebrations?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
In this inspiring conversation, Jennifer Slattery and guest Dawn Cazedessus explore how God heals the generational wounds, shame, and limiting beliefs to create a life of influence, purpose, and freedom. Dawn shares her journey from a trailer park in rural Louisiana to leading thousands as a CEO and regional director. Her story reveals how early adversity shaped her work ethic—but also how God transformed survival-driven striving into purposeful, Spirit-led leadership.
Listeners will hear Dawn’s vulnerable reflections on her positive and challenging childhood influences, scarcity versus abundant mindsets, and the emotional work required to renew her thinking and embrace her true Christ-centered identity. She speaks honestly about the discomfort of stepping into unfamiliar environments, the power of God-given hope, and the role of community in healing. Together, Jennifer and Dawn unpack how Scripture, neuroplasticity, and intentional growth plans help us move from “trailer park thinking” to the abundance mindset God desires for His children.
Whether you’re navigating hardship, battling internal lies, or longing to step into God’s purpose for your life, this episode offers practical wisdom, biblical encouragement, and life-changing hope.
Resource Referenced: Trailer Park CEO: 12 Leadership Cornerstones to Become a Godly Woman of Influence – A Diverse Leadership Tool Kit for Christian Women in Business by Dawn Cazedessus
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- Dawn shared how leaving the trailer park immediately didn't remove her "trailer park thinking". Where do you feel free externally but still stuck mentally or emotionally?
- What limiting belief from your past most affects how you see yourself today? What does the truth of Scripture say regarding that belief?
- What recurring thought patterns in your life need to be held up to God’s truth?
- When have you felt uncomfortable entering a new environment or opportunity? What helped (or could help) you stay present and keep moving forward?
- Who in your life models the kind of thinking, stability, or faith you want to grow into? What are some ways you can actively learn from them?
- What situations trigger a scarcity mindset for you?
What would it look like to adopt an “included” or abundance mindset based on Ephesians 3:20? - Dawn said Jesus was the first Person she could fully trust.How has trusting—or struggling to trust—God shaped your own story of growth?
- What's one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Find Dawn Cazedessus:
On Instagram
On Facebook
Follow her writing on Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Faith Over Fear Episode Summary
Guest: Mary DeMuth
Topic: The Freedom of Surrender: 40 Devotions to Let Go and Live Free
What if the peace you’re craving isn’t found in control, but in letting go? In this episode, Carol McCracken talks with author and speaker Mary DeMuth about her new devotional The Freedom of Surrender. Together, they explore what it means to release the hidden parts of our lives—our past, our relationships, our daily struggles, and our deepest worries—to a God who can handle them better than we can.
Mary shares how surrender became a life-changing spiritual practice, one that moves us from striving and fear into trust and rest. She offers honest insights about how to identify areas of resistance, what healthy surrender looks like, and why God often meets us most powerfully when we finally stop trying to manage everything ourselves.
Whether you’re carrying regret, trying to fix relationships, or simply exhausted from worry, this conversation reminds you that freedom begins where self-reliance ends.
Resource Referenced: The Freedom of Surrender: Forty Devotions for a Joyful Life in Christ by Mary DeMuth
Download your free faith-building resource for all November's Faith Over Fear episodes here
Discussion/Reflection Questions:
- When you hear the word surrender, what emotions rise up first—fear, relief, resistance, or trust?
- Mary talks about surrendering our inner life—our thoughts, wounds, and private battles. Which part of your inner life might God be inviting you to release today?
- How can you tell when you’ve picked something back up that you once laid down before God?
- What’s one relationship where you sense God asking you to trust His timing and work rather than your own effort?
- Mary reminds us that surrender and freedom are connected. What would “living free” look like for you this week?
- Which Scripture verse helps anchor your heart when surrender feels scary or uncertain?
Connect with Mary DeMuth:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find her writing on Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Do long waiting seasons leave you feeling anxious, disoriented and discouraged, particularly when they involve something for which you deeply long? Obviously, we can't "hurry" God along or "force His hand," but we can learn to wait in a way that strengthens our faith, deepens our relational intimacy with Christ, and prepares us for the very good plans He's forged uniquely for each of us. In this episode, Dove Award nominee, singer/songwriter Jamie Jangochian shares how God used her long battle with Lyme disease to bring about growth and reveal the new dreams He had for her. She also shares how to recognize the lies that hold us back, find inner healing through our interaction with Christ, and view our waiting seasons not as disappointments but divine appointments that prepare us for our next assignments.
Resource Referenced: Sacred Surrender: The Practice of Waiting Well with God
Reflective/Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episodes?
- Why might God use waiting seasons to grow us, our faith, and our relationship with Him?
- What do you typically find most challenging when it comes to waiting well?
- When have you endured a waiting season that caused you to question God's goodness or His plans for you?
- How did God use that situation to deepen your faith, clarify or expand your calling, or bring soul-deep healing?
- Which of God's character traits can increase your faith during waiting seasons?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Connect with Jamie Jamgochian:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Follow her music on Spotify
Follow her writing on Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
When faith and mental health collide, many believers feel caught between shame and silence. In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Carol McCracken talks with Chris Morris, author of Resilient and Redeemed: Lessons about Suicidality and Depression from the Psych Ward. Chris shares his raw and redemptive story of battling depression, walking through a crisis of faith, and discovering that God’s grace meets us even in the darkest places. Together, they explore how to dismantle harmful theology, find freedom through honesty, and experience hope that outlasts despair.
Resource Discussed: Resilient and Redeemed: Lessons about Suicidality and Depression from the Psych Ward
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- Chris talked about trying to “power through by sheer will” before realizing something had to change. When have you reached the end of your own strength and discovered the freedom of surrender?
- Many people tie their identity to productivity or performance. How has God been reshaping your understanding of worth apart from what you do?
- Chris described a “crisis of faith,” not a loss of faith. What’s the difference for you—and how have moments of doubt actually deepened your faith journey?
- What are some “theological traps” you’ve encountered—beliefs that sounded spiritual but actually created fear, guilt, or shame rather than freedom?
- Chris’s friends later asked, “Why didn’t you tell me?” Who in your life could you safely open up to about your struggles, and what would it take to start that conversation?
- Paul’s story of the “thorn in the flesh” reminded Chris that God’s grace is enough, even when healing looks different than we hoped. How does that truth speak to your current season of pain or waiting?
- What is one practical step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this podcast episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
People often say, "Don't talk about religion and politics in polite company," and for good reason. These types of discussions tend to hit our deepest values. Yet, Jesus also told us to share the gospel to the ends of the earth. We want to live lives of impact, to obey Christ's command to bring His light to the darkest corners of the earth, and to see our family, friends and loved ones transformed by grace. But many of us have ample reasons to experience fear and anxiety when engaging in spiritual conversations. (Or any tense discussion with those who view the world, and issues, differently)
As a result, we might find ourselves either shrinking back in self-protection or getting sucked into arguments that quickly devolve and turn ugly. Both responses challenge our ability to fulfill the greatest call Jesus gave us–to share the gospel with those who don’t yet know Christ. In this episode, host Jennifer Slattery speaks with apologist, pastor and church planter Dave Montoya on all the reasons these conversations feel so difficult and have the potential to turn so hostile, how to analyze our unique triggers, and create more fulfilling and fruitful discussions with those who hold a vastly different view of our world than we do. (While Jennifer and Dave's discussion center on the gospel, they believe you'll find the tips shared helpful in most challenging and uncomfortable conversations.)
Discussion/Reflective Question:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- When it comes to discussing big truths with those with whom you disagree, do you most frequently tend to get sucked into a tense argument or try to avoid the discussion, and why do you think this might be?
- Consider a "truth discussion" when you became reactive or withdrawn. What factors might have impacted your reaction?
- How difficult do you find it to see commonalities between yourself and those with whom you disagree on issues about which you feel deeply passionate, and why do you think this is?
- According to Dave Montoya, we should approach anger with caution. Why did he suggest this, and how do you feel regarding his perspective?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Connect with Dave Montoya on his church's website
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Carol talks with pastor and author Terry Crist about his new book, Now You Can Stop Running. Together, they unpack what it means to stop fleeing from pain, purpose, or even God—and instead face what’s been chasing us with courage and grace. Terry shares his own story of reaching a breaking point when he could no longer outrun what God wanted to heal, revealing that running often masks deeper fears of rejection, failure, or being truly known.
Through candid conversation, Terry and Carol explore the connection between honesty, healing, and spiritual rootedness. They discuss how facing our inner struggles can restore connection with ourselves, others, and God—and how spiritual practices like solitude, Scripture reflection, and prayer can ground us when we feel the urge to escape.
If you’ve ever found yourself avoiding hard conversations, hiding behind busyness, or believing you don’t deserve to rest, this episode will help you recognize the subtle ways you might be running—and offer practical tools to stop, stay, and be fully present to God’s transforming grace.
Resource Referenced: Now You Can Stop Running: Finding the Rest Your Soul Desperately Needs
- What are some ways you might be running from pain, purpose, or vulnerability in your own life—perhaps without realizing it?
- When have you felt God gently calling you to stop running and face something hard? What happened when you did?
- What fear tends to drive your fleeing behaviors—fear of failure, rejection, being known, or something else?
- How might slowing down and telling yourself the truth—about your emotions, motives, or needs—open the door to healing?
- Which spiritual practices (solitude, journaling, Scripture, community) help you stay grounded when you want to escape?
- Do you believe you’re worthy of rest and belonging? What would change if you lived like that truth was real?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Find Terry Crist:
On his website
On Instagram
Follow his work on Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Jonathon M. Seidl joins Carol McCracken to share his powerful story of recovery, identity, and hope from his book Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic. Jonathon opens up about the lies he believed, the role shame played in keeping him stuck, and how redefining alcoholism as a “misordered relationship” helped him name the problem honestly. He talks candidly about faith struggles and the importance of recognizing that while our mistakes describe us, they do not define us. Listeners will be encouraged by Jonathon’s reminder that freedom in Christ doesn’t mean perfection—it means learning to run to the One who redeems us, even in our weakest moments.
Resource referenced: Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic: A Candid Conversation on Drinking, Addiction, and How to Break Free
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- Jonathon says, “our mistakes describe us, but they don’t define us.” How do you see that truth reflected in your own life story?
- He describes alcoholism as “a misordered relationship with alcohol.” What other misordered relationships—whether with food, work, approval, or something else—might we need to name honestly?
- Jonathon admitted that the only drink he could say no to was the first one. What does that statement reveal about the nature of temptation, and how can it apply to other struggles we face?
- How has shame kept you stuck at times, and what practical steps help you break free from its grip?
- Identity is a central theme in recovery. How have you learned—or how are you learning—to root your identity in Christ rather than in mistakes, achievements, or struggles?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Connect with Jon Seidl
On his website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Subscribe to His podcast, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Can grief and joy co-exist? Can families rediscover their joy after experiencing unthinkable tragedy? When our pain feels so intense we struggle to breath, we might fear we don't have the strength to carry on, the Lord comes beside us and speaks truth and love into our wounded souls. Amber Smith, wife to country music singer Granger Smith, experienced this in a profound way when she and her husband lost their precious toddler son in a tragic drowning accident. Their son's death could've shattered their marriage and their family. But because of God and His grace prior, during, and since that time, their relationship not only survived, but came out stronger. In this episode she shares how Christ carried them through and enabled them to heal and experience renewed joy.
Resource referenced: Girl on the Bathroom Floor: Held Together When Everything is Falling Apart
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- Looking back over seasons of your life prior to periods of hardship, in what ways might God have been strengthening and depositing truth into your soul to help you get through your dark season?
- When has God used a difficult season to draw you closer to friends, family, or a spouse?
- When has God used a difficult season to reveal His character, tenderness, and heart for you?
- What truth do you (or can you) hold onto during difficult seasons?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Connect with Amber Smith:
On Instagram
Follow her work on Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Carol McCracken welcomes Debbie D’Souza to discuss The Dragon’s Prophecy, a timely new film exploring how ancient biblical battles echo in today’s conflicts in the Middle East. Debbie shares what initially struck her about the film’s message, how she has learned to navigate the tension between fear and faith when it comes to prophecy, and what encouragement she offers to those feeling anxious about world events. Together, Carol and Debbie explore what it means to resist evil without becoming evil, the importance of naming sin without demonizing people, and how American Christians can respond to this moment in history in ways that are rooted in prayer, faithfulness, and hope rather than politics.
Disclaimer: In this episode, our guest briefly discusses the Gaza/Israeli conflict, particularly from an Israeli perspective. We at Faith Over Fear recognize both sides have experienced cruelty and harm at the hands of the other, as is often the case with long-standing conflicts. We do not condone or endorse violence, nor is this episode an endorsement for such. Rather, it is a guest sharing her perspective related to the conflict and biblical threads she sees woven through it. If today's episode upsets you, please don't hesitate to reach out to Jennifer through her website JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com
From the Dragon Prophesy website: Creators "bring history, current events and bible prophecy together in a stunning and original film to illustrate the true meaning of October 7, anti-Semitism, terrorism, and the hidden forces that battle endlessly for the ultimate prize, which is the human soul – your soul. The film ends with an inspiring call to action to Jews and Christians to return to their roots and stand up for good and resist evil." In theaters on October 8th and streamed through Salem on October 9th.
Watch the movie trailer HERE.
Find out more HERE.
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- When you hear about prophecy in Scripture, do you respond more with curiosity, fear, or faith—and why?
- How do you personally discern the difference between healthy vigilance and anxiety when following world events?
- In your daily life, what does it mean to resist evil without letting bitterness or anger take root in your own heart?
- How can you practice compassion for people caught in conflict while still standing firm against sin and injustice?
- What role do you believe prayer plays in how believers engage with unfolding global events?
- How might you faithfully respond to these times in ways that go beyond political opinions?
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Join the Faith Over Fear podcast private group HERE.
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
You may have heard people say, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." We've probably all witnessed times when this hasn't been the case. If we belong to and have entrusted our lives to Jesus, however, we can know with certainty that He will indeed use our most difficult and painful seasons to deepen our faith and intimacy with Him. In this episode, Jennifer Slattery introduces you to a powerful episode from another Life Audio podcast host, Sarah Young from Jesus Calling and two individuals who endured soul-crushing seasons that could've destroyed their faith. Praise God, by His grace, that's not His story. This episode is for everyone desperately clinging to hope during hardship and all those who love to hear and celebrate life stories that reveal the tender, faithful care and love of Christ.
Listen to more of Jesus Calling here and join us next week to hear Carol McCracken's faith-building conversation with Terry Crist author of Now You canStop Running. Make sure to let us know in the review section of your podcast app what you thought of our last two feed drops––would you be open to hearing more the next time Carol and I take a brief break, or would you prefer we still with our regular programming. Go in grace and the love and power of Christ, my friend!
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Many of us, at times, feel unknown, unloved, and unseen. Perhaps you were raised by emotionally disengaged parents, experienced a significant painful rejection in your adult years, or are battling self-condemnation related to past regrets and mistakes. Regardless of why we, at times, struggle to see ourselves beloved and worthy of love, we all need to know and experience the incomprehensible, unconditional, and never-ending love of God. In this episode, we're sharing a powerful biblical reflection from another LifeAudio host, Bonnie Gray, host of the Breathe: Stress Less podcast. Enjoy, and may this episode be one you can return to again and again, whenever you need the reminder that you are indeed seen, known and deeply loved.
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- When do you msot struggle to feel seen, known and loved?
- How did it hit you when Bonnie suggested acknowledging that we're fearfully made (Psalm 139) is actually an act of worship?
- How might reflecting regularly and deeply on God's heart for you help you heal from some of your past rejection or pain due to emotional reject?
- What is one truth you can hold tight to from this episode, and how will you do so?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Connect with Bonnie Gray:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Subscribe to her podcast
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Carol sits down with pastor and author Kyle Idleman to talk about the battle in our minds. Kyle reminds us that our thoughts often lie to us—and if we don’t learn to take them captive, they can spiral into fear, shame, or hopelessness. Together, we discuss how to trace our fears back to root lies, discern truth from deception, and recognize the difference between conviction and condemnation. Kyle shares practical tools to challenge toxic thoughts, the role of Scripture as our weapon, and what it looks like to win small daily victories that lead to lasting transformation.
Whether you’re new to the idea of spiritual warfare in the mind or you’ve wrestled with strongholds for years, this conversation will encourage you that change is possible. With God’s Word, you’re not just managing your thoughts—you’re renewing them.
Resource referenced: Every Thought Captive: Calm the Mental Chaos That Keeps You Stuck, Drains Your Hope, and Holds You Back by Kyle Idleman
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What lie have you believed about yourself or your circumstances that God is inviting you to confront?
- When anxious thoughts spiral, what first step could you take to trace them back to a root lie?
- How can you recognize when a thought that “sounds wise” is actually pulling you away from God’s truth?
- What practice could help you decide which thoughts deserve “a seat at the table” in your mind—and which don’t?
- Which Scripture has most powerfully reshaped your thinking, and how can you internalize it more deeply?
- Where do you need to move from simply managing thoughts to actually renewing your mind with God’s truth?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Find Kyle Idleman:
On his website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Follow his work on Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Carol sits down with pastor and author Robert J. Morgan to discuss his newest release, God Hasn’t Forgotten You. Together, we explore how God uses our past to shape us, how to find courage when His providence feels slow, and why delays and disappointments may be God’s way of preparing us for what’s next. Morgan shares biblical examples, such as those of Zechariah and Elizabeth, as well as practical ways to break free from fear’s grip, and offers encouragement for those who feel sidelined or irrelevant. Listeners will walk away with renewed confidence that God governs every detail of their story—and that He hasn’t forgotten them.
Resource referenced: God Hasn't Forgotten You: 24 Remarkable Ways God Is Working in You and Through You by Robert J. Morgan
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- When you think about your past, are there areas where you’ve allowed regret or shame to imprison you rather than letting Christ use those experiences to develop you?
- What does it look like for you to trust God’s providence at “the day-to-day speed” when His timing feels painfully slow?
- How can being honest about your spiritual struggles (with yourself, God, or trusted friends) help weaken fear’s grip in your life?
- Zechariah and Elizabeth waited for years without answers—how might their story encourage you in a season of delay or disappointment?
- Where do you most struggle with fear of irrelevance—age, missed opportunities, or comparison—and how might God be preparing you for usefulness even now?
- What is one small, practical step you could take this week to live as though God truly hasn’t forgotten you?
Connect with Robert J. Morgan:
On his website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Follow his work on Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
We've probably all embarked on a diet, workout schedule, or other new habit only to land in previous negative patterns. We might beat ourselves up, thinking we simply lack self-control. But what if there's something else going on--something related to our brain's wiring? And what if our choices today have the power to rewire our brain off self-destructive and self-defeating thoughts and actions and onto those that are life-giving? In this episode, host Jennifer Slattery talks with Dr. Alan Weissenbacher on our brains' capacity to rewire itself, replacing maladaptive programming with that which helps us thrive?
Resource Referenced: The Brain Change: 6 Steps to Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life by Dr. Alan Weissenbacher
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What most resonated with you in this episode?
- How have you seen the things mentioned in today's podcast revealed in your life?
- When you consider your typical day, what do you most invest in: the neural pathways you don't want or those that lead to increased peace and life?
- What is one win you experienced in the past couple weeks you can celebrate and thus reinforce?
- How might or could you apply our understanding of our brain's ability to change help you in your current goals?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
There are few experiences more painful than relational betrayal. But what happens when that betrayal becomes public and costs you your home and faith community? That was precisely what Toni Collier experienced when she not only experienced betrayal in her marriage but the people in her church, those she heavily invested in, ghosted her during her time of pain. But despite the pain she experienced, she also encountered the grace of God through the loving support of those who knew her, saw her, and stood beside her in her season of intense pain. This experience reiterated to her the importance of finding safe and support community upon whom one can depend. This episode is for everyone who feels alone in their pain and finds themselves in desperate need of a friend.
Resource referenced: Don't Try This Alone: How to Build Deep Community When You Want to Hide from Your Pain
Discussion/reflective questions:
- What most resonated with you in this episode?
- How easy or difficult do you find it to share your pain and struggles with others, and why is this so?
- When have you experienced strength and comfort through others?
- How might, or how has, allowing others to see our struggle helped you feel less alone?
- Why might it be important to process our pain with the understanding that redemption is always on the way?
- When and how have you seen God bring redemption from or through your pain?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Find Toni Collier:
On her website
YouTube
Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
If you experience chronic depression, anxiety, and pain, you likely dream of what life might look like, were you to find effective treatment and ongoing symptom relief. You may even fear your current challenge will last forever. But what if there was a drug-free way to experience significant and lasting relief? Is that even possible? According to Tom Kerber, founder and president of SunPowerLED, for many people, the answer is yes. Listen to learn about a powerful technology he believes God led him to develop, how this has helped him and his wife personally, along with examples of others who are experiencing flourishing life for the first time in years, if not decades.
Find out more, read about the science behind the product and research conducted:
At SunPowerLED.com
SunPowerLED's YouTube Channel
Watch testimonial videos HERE.
And follow me on social media to hear my ongoing journey using the SuperPalm device for pain relief!
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What most resonated with you in this episode?
- What is your experience of or knowledge related to infared or near infared technology?
- When are you most apt to project today's challenge onto your future?
- Why might it be important to hold tight to hope?
- What would you day and life look like, were you to experience healing?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
In this episode of Faith Over Fear, we discuss negative overthinking—how it hijacks our brain’s alarm system, fuels anxiety, and challenges our ability to problem solve and see truth. You’ll learn practical, biblical ways to break free from spiraling thoughts—like grounding techniques to return to the present moment, identifying and replacing toxic thought patterns, and prayer. Packed with tools you can start using today, this episode will help you calm your mind, strengthen your faith, and trust God’s presence and provision in your most uncertain or stressful seasons. (Find our free printable resource for easy-to-practice techniques demonstrated to decrease anxiety and increase peace HERE.)
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- When are you most prone to overthinking?
- Are you aware of any thought patterns you can begin to change. If so, what are these?
- How might this increase your anxiety?
- What practical step mentioned in this episode most intrigues or inspires you and why?
- How might focusing on God's goodness and promises help you replace negative thought patterns with faith-affirming truth?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
In this powerful and hope-filled episode, Nicole C. Mullen joins us to talk about choosing faith over fear—even when the path forward feels broken. With raw honesty, she shares her story of walking through an abusive marriage, the courage it took to say "enough," and how God met her with redemption, grace, and purpose.
- We also explore:
How fear must be addressed before faith can take root - What we can learn about suffering when doing all the “right things” from Job
- What Rahab can teach us about courage
- Why God still uses us—even after detours and mistakes
- How to walk by faith when sight isn’t an option
- Breaking free from shame, guilt, and fear
Whether you're in a season of struggle, change, or healing, this conversation will remind you: You haven’t missed your moment. God can still get you where you need to be.
Resource Referenced: It's Never Wrong to Do the Right Thing
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- Where in your life might fear be holding you back from stepping into faith?
- What would it look like to move forward even if you can’t yet see the full path?
- Have you ever felt like you’ve missed your chance or messed up too much for God to use you?
- How might Nicole’s story challenge or encourage that belief?
- What does it mean to you that God can reroute your life and still get you “there on time”?
- Can you think of a past detour that led to unexpected blessing?
- Is there a situation in your life where you sense God prompting you to initiate change
- What fears are keeping you stuck—and what might courage look like today?
- When have you chosen obedience to God, even when it cost you something? What helped you stay faithful in that moment?
- What shame or guilt are you still carrying that God wants to set you free from?
- What truth from Scripture can you begin to speak over that area of your life?
Find Nicole C. Mullen:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Find her content on Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Do you long for more peace and self-control and less fear and regret as you navigate life's challenges and hardships? In this episode, we explore how the Beatitudes and Jesus’ instructions for kingdom living offer a powerful blueprint for thriving in today’s anxious and chaotic world. When we align our lives with Christ’s teachings and depend on His strength and wisdom, we experience lasting peace, greater emotional resilience, and freedom from fear. Even in seasons of deep pain or uncertainty, Jesus draws near to comfort us—then equips us comfort to others. Because of Him, we can live with the confidence that we’ve been made right with God, positioned to receive His favor, and invited to experience the blessings of His kingdom.
Resource referenced: "Deep Rooted Bible Study" Series.
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- In what ways has, or can, increased dependence on Christ lead to greater peace?
- What are some ways you intentionally rely on Christ's strength in difficult times?
- When have you sensed God comforting you with His compassion during painful seasons?
- What are your thoughts or feelings when you hear that, through your faith in Christ, you are currently living under God's favor?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this podcast?
Find Kathy Howard:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
On Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Do you ever feel like you’re just trying to keep your head above water—and your faith is barely treading with you? In today’s episode of Faith Over Fear, Carol talks with author and podcast host Tara Sun about her new book Overbooked and Overwhelmed: How to Keep Up with God When You're Just Trying to Keep Up with Life.
Together, they tackle the spiritual fatigue so many of us feel when life won’t slow down. They explore what it looks like to develop real spiritual resilience—not after the burnout, but in the middle of it. Tara shares her own journey of choosing presence over performance, why slowing down can actually be an act of courage, and how even small spiritual rhythms can ground us in God’s peace when everything feels urgent.
Whether your faith feels stuck, stretched, or straight-up silent, this conversation will remind you that God isn’t asking you to do more—He’s inviting you to be with Him, right where you are.
Discussion Questions:
- Tara talks about feeling spiritually stuck—how can we tell if that “stuckness” is from circumstances or from a deeper spiritual disconnect?
- What does it look like to bring God into our chaos, instead of waiting for quiet to meet Him?
- How might someone begin to untangle a life driven by expectations instead of convictions?
- What fear-based “yeses” might be hiding behind our overbooked calendars—and how can we trade them for faith-filled choices?
- How can spiritual resilience grow during burnout, rather than waiting for rest to begin healing?
- What is one small spiritual rhythm you could commit to this week, even in your busiest season?
Connect with Tara Sun:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Find her content on Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
When we're anxious and afraid, we often ask God to remove our figurative storms. But He offers us something even better–Himself. He is our strong tower, our impenetrable fortress able to carry us through our worst crisis. As Psalm 46:1 states, He is our ever-present help in times of trouble, and our God is for us, always. In this episode, host Jennifer Slattery and guest Becky Harling discuss the truths stated and implied in Proverbs 18:10, which states, The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe (NIV).
Bible passages discussed: John 6, Psalm 91, Proverbs 18:10, Psalm 46:1
Resource referenced: Who Do You Say That I AM?: A Fresh Encounter for Deeper Faith
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- What are some ways God has shown Himself faithful in your past?
- How might reflecting on His past faithfulness help to reduce your fear and anxiety during today's difficulties?
- What comes to mind when you think of God as your strong tower?
- Why might God provide so many visuals in Scripture to reveal unchanging truths?
- What's one action step He might be inviting you to take having listened to this podcast?
Find Becky Harling at:
Beckyharling.com/
Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
We all have a God-given need to feel valued, significant, and as if our life matters. While Scripture tells us that God has important, kingdom-focused plans for each of us, it can be hard to recognize this when life feels routine and monotonous. How can we live fulfilled in the "daily grind" of going to work, raising families, and managing all our other necessary and seemingly mundane tasks? In this episode, hosts Jennifer Slattery and Carol McCracken discuss the importance of listening for God's direction, remaining faithful to what He's calling us to do, and finding our value in Him, not our performance. Discussing King David, King Saul, and the Old Testament prophet Elisha, they remind listeners that God won't waste their gifts or experiences. He uses everything to mold us into men and women ready and prepared to do His will, and there's beauty in that.
Prevous podcast episode referenced: "Courageously Used by God No Matter What"
Scripture discussed: Ephesians 5:17, 1 Samuel 9-10, 1 Kings 19:19-21
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What most resonate with you in this episode?
- What are some ways you actively seek to hear from God?
- How do you sense God is leading you in your current season?
- How content do you feel in your role(s)? If you feel relatively content, what enables you to feel this way? If you struggle with discontentment, why do you feel this is?
- What is one action step that God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Most, if not all, of us would much rather avoid conflict. Often, this stems from times when we've handled disagreements poorly or have watched others do so. But conflict avoidance tends to lead to increased anxiety and relational dysfunction. What if there's a healthier, God-honoring way to manage conflict that leads to greater relational fulfillment, decreased stress, and no regret?
Resource referenced: Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life: A Biblical Guide for Communicating Thoughts, Feelings, and Opinions with Grace, Truth, and Zero Regret by Donna Jones (Visit her website to take a free quiz to determine your dominant conflict style and to learn about her book Seek.)
In this episode:
- Learn why most of us find conflict intimidating
- The most important ingredient to handling conflict well
- The best way to begin difficult discussions
- How you might be handing someone else the keys to your peace and what to do about it
- and more!
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- How do you tend to feel about conflict, and what do you think contributes to this?
- When have you seen someone handle conflict well?
- What most challenges your ability to listen to someone else's perspective when you're hurt or upset?
- How do you feel knowing God values your relationships even more than you do?
- What is one actions step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Connect with Donna Jones:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Follow her writing on Amazon
Connect with Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
When life hits us with numerous hardships, we may wonder, Where is God in all of this? How do we keep hoping when our strength is gone, our prayers feel unanswered, and our hearts feel weary?
In this episode, we’ll talk about how to maintain hope—even when your circumstances don’t change. We’ll explore:
✅ How to wrestle with God and why this is important
✅ How to keep praying for relief while also accepting what is
✅ What our pain can teach us regarding God's goodness, and more.
Resource referenced: Watching for the Morning:90 Devotionals for When Hope Is Hard to Find
Find Vaneetha Rednall Risner:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
On Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- How easy or challenging do you find it to express your feelings unfiltered to God, and why do you feel this is?
- How comfortable do you feel expressing your emotions to God?
- When have you determined a painful time to be a blessing due to the intimacy you experienced with Christ?
- What might it look like, in your current season, to pray with hope for change but also acceptance for what is?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Feeling overwhelmed by stress? You're not alone. Studies show that many U.S. adults, across all age groups, are experiencing stress levels that make it hard to function. In this episode, we explore how to manage stress effectively using practical, science-backed strategies and timeless biblical wisdom. Learn what the Bible says about stress, peace, and hope, and discover how brain science supports healing and resiliency. Listen for practical tools to navigate stress with courage, grace, and faith—while living a more productive, peaceful, and fulfilling life.
Resource discussed: Stress Less: 9 Habits from the Bible and Brain Science to Build Resilience and Reduce Anxiety by Dr. Charles Stone
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- How often do you "think about what you're thinking about" and how might developing this practice help decrease your anxiety and increase your peace?
- In this episode, Dr. Stone described various ways we might respond to stress, using an analogy of a rock, egg, and tennis ball. Which of those objects do you most often resemble, and which would you prefer to resemble?
- How can trust in Christ increase our certainty in uncertainty?
- If you've practiced creating a healthy distance from your emotions without suppressing or denying them, what have you found most helpful in that regard? If you haven't yet practiced this, what is one way you can do so in the future?
- What is one step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
How much loss and how many setbacks can one experience before they call it quits? Or, perhaps more importantly, how can one keep going when anxiety feels overwhelming, naysayers chip away at your confidence, and the road ahead feels vague and unclear? Chris Rohman from Sanctus Real and his band wrestled with these concerns and more when they found themselves at a Crossroads between calling it quits and trusting God to do a new thing, proving the truth in their song titled My God is Still the Same. In this episode, Chris shares how God led him through a season of panic attacks and intense anxiety, losing the band's lead singer and record label, to rising again with the strength, focus, and passion that can only come from the Holy Spirit at work within and through us.
Discussion/Reflective questions:
- What most resonated resonated with you in this episode?
- In this episode, Chris shared the numerous contributing factors to his season of intense anxiety and panic attacks. How might it be helpful, when experiencing anxiety, to consider the mental and emotional weight of all the various stressors, changes, and emotions we experience?
- Chris shared how some of his anxiety may have stemmed from the grief he experienced in losing the band's lead singer. If you experience anxiety, how might unresolved grief (over a person, relationship, dream, etc) be contributing to your inner turmoil?
- Chris also discussed how he had to ignore the voices of naysayers and tune in to the voice of Christ. What might this look like in your life?
- Chris shared how he found the words of a friend during a particularly difficult time encouraging. Who in your life speaks truth into your soul when you feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or discouraged?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this podcast episode?
Find Sanctus Real:
On their website
On spotify
On Instagram
On Facebook
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
In this powerful episode of Faith Over Fear, Justin and Trisha Davis share honest, hard-won wisdom from their book One Choice Away from Change. They open up about the relational cycles that nearly broke their marriage—and the one brave choice that helped transform everything. But this conversation isn’t just for couples. Whether you’re navigating friendships, family dynamics, dating, or your own emotional health, their story offers hope. If you’ve ever felt stuck in old patterns, held back by fear, or unsure how to heal from the past, this episode will help you take that next courageous step—one choice at a time.
Resource Mentioned: One Choice Away from Change: Break the Cycles That Hurt Your Relationships and Hold You Back
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What’s one relational cycle in your life that you now recognize needs to be broken?
- How did the Davises' story challenge or encourage you in your own journey of change and healing?
- What "one choice" stood out to you from the interview as a powerful starting point for transformation?
- Did anything Justin or Trisha shared help you identify fear that’s been holding you back? How might you respond in faith instead?
- How have past wounds shaped the way you show up in relationships—and what might it look like to invite God into that healing process?
- After listening, what’s one step you're willing to take this week to move toward greater emotional and relational health?
Connect with Justin David on Instagram
Connect with Trisha Davis on Instagram
Find their ministry online at Refineus.org
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
We all have a God-given need to belong, but does that mean finding a sphere in which we consistently feel affirmed? We also all long, at some level, to be fully known, but does that mean we must unveil our deepest and most shameful secrets? In this episode, guest Dr. Sandra Dalton-Smith discusses these issues along with uncomfortable but necessary set-up seasons, how our trust in God impacts our journeys, how that trust deepens over time, and the most important step we can take in our growth and confidence in ourselves and our calling.
Resource referenced: Being Fully Known: The Joyful Satisfaction of Beholding, Becoming, and Belonging by Sandra Dalton-Smith
Topics covered:
- The difference between being known and being exposed
- The best way to respond to long "set-up" seasons
- Biblical characters God intentionally trained for greatness
-
How "Beholding" God leads to increased belonging
-
Where in your life do you feel safe to be emotionally honest—and where do you feel the need to hide?
- Are there signs of emotional fatigue showing up in your body, relationships, or spiritual life? How might God be inviting you to rest?
- What fears or past experiences might be holding you back from letting others—or God—truly know you?
- Have you experienced a “set apart” season? Looking back, how did God use that time to shape or strengthen you?
- How does the idea of “belonging” resonate with you right now? Do you feel like you’re striving to fit in, or are you resting in God’s acceptance?
- What might it look like for you to intentionally behold God this week—and how could that impact how you see yourself and others?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Connect with Dr. Sandra Dalton-Smith
On her website
YouTube
Find her books on Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Does joy ever feel risky, like a lovely bonus to an otherwise painful reality, or like something only available when we experience something worth celebrating? What if we make joy not only a regular practice but a powerful weapon in our journey to increased wholeness and emotional freedom? In this episode, counselor, author, and Bible study writer Nicole Zasowski shares how joy impacts our brains, our sense of wellbeing and our trust in Christ.
Resource Referenced: Daring Joy - Bible Study Book with Video Access: What Six Women in the Bible Teach Us About the Power of Celebration When It Feels Risky, Complicated, and Even Impossible by Nicole Zasowski.
Key topics covered:
- Choosing empowered boundaries
- Why it can be hard for certain identity truths to feel true
- How we can steward our pain well
- How to establish rhythms of joy that increase our resiliency, strength, and enhance our relationships.
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- When has it felt daring to choose or embrace joy?
- How might setting "boundaries" in an attempt to change someone else's behavior relinquish your power?
- Consider one of your more challenging relationships. What might an empowered boundary look like in that situation?
- What might it look like in your life and season to institute a rhythm of joy?
- What are your thoughts regarding how Nicole defines joy?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Find Nicole Zasowski:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
We've all got an inner critic who, when listened to, can hinder, if not shatter, our confidence, increase our shame, and challenge our ability to accurately hear the voice of God. In this episode, author and speaker Will "Joy" Acuff shares some practical ways we can decrease our negative self-talk, increase our self-compassion, and learn to recognize when our loving Father is calling us out of shame and into a deeper experience of His grace.
Resource referenced: No Elevator to Everest: Shift from Survive to Thrive through Spirit-Led Self-Awareness by Will Acuff
- What part of today’s conversation resonated most deeply with where you are right now?
- What’s one small step you could take toward Spirit-led self-awareness this week?
- Are there any “old messages” from your inner critic you’ve been rehearsing? What might God want to speak over you instead?
- How might your imagination be part of your spiritual renewal? What would it look like to get curious instead of critical?
- Who in your life needs to hear this message today—and how can you share it with grace?
- How have stress and busyness shaped your view of God—and what might change if you gave yourself permission to slow down and simply be with Him?
Find Will Acuff:
On his website
On Instagram
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
One of the most encouraging truths in Scripture is God's promise to speak to and guide His children. But how can we know when whether or not the nudge we perceive truly comes from God, and how should we respond to periods of divine silence? Can we "miss" His will? In this episode, Reverend Jessica VanRoekel joins Jennifer Slattery to discuss these questions and more, speaking comfort and encouragement for those struggling to discern God's voice while offering suggestions as to how to increase one's spiritual sensitivity.
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- How can maintaining a pure heart help one hear God more clearly?
- When have you heard God speak during a time of worship?
- Jessica emphasized the importance of practice in hearing God's voice. What are some ways you currently practice hearing from God?
- Jessica and Jennifer also suggested that God often repeats Himself to help us recognize His verse. When has this been true for you?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Find Jessica VanRoekel:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Have you ever feared your doubts, especially if they relate to your faith? How about a reassuring reminder that you aren’t alone. What if your doubt holds potential to create the faith you’re worried may be slipping away? Niki Hardy invites you to experience rest in the middle of your fear, doubt, anger, or confusion.
Resource referenced: God, Can We Chat? A Daringly Honest Guide to Growing Closer to God, One Doubt at a Time
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonates with you most in this episode?
- When have you had a time when you have struggled with questions that were building up in a challenging time you were experiencing?
- Have you ever been ashamed of your doubts? Why?
- How do you personally know if you are hearing God’s voice?
- Have you ever wallowed in doubt? Describe how it felt, if you have.
- When you think about bringing your doubts to God, what anxiety or fears do you struggle with?
- What is what action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Find Niki Harding:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
On her podcast Chemo Chair Prayers
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Sometimes, when we look at our world, it seems as if evil is winning. Such thinking has the potential to sideline us and leave us feeling defeated. Scripture, however, assures us of three unshakable truths: All the forces of darkness combined will not and cannot extinguish God's light, His children bring His light with them into every encounter, and He will empower the willing heart to dramatically impact our world for generations to come. In this episode, join host Jennifer Slattery as she talks with Dr. Romney Ruder, president of Lifeline Global Ministries, who God is using, along with his ministry, to radically transform some of the "hardest" hearts in the United States while breaking generational patterns of trauma and incarceration that leave wounded children at significant risk for future incarceration. What if the next revival breaks out in our prisons? How might this change at risk families and youth, our communities, and our nation?
(Scroll down for discussion questions.)
Find out more about Lifeline Global Ministries, including how to get involved on their website.
Follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- How familiar are you with prison ministries?
- Did anything Dr. Ruder shared surprise you, and if so, how?
- What does the impact the gospel is having in United States' prisons reveal regarding God's heart?
- How can engaging in ministry to the broken help increase one's sense of hope in today's challenging climate?
- How can engaging in ministry in such places increase one's intimacy with Christ?
- How might God be inviting you, your family, and/or your faith community to join Him in what He is doing to transform families broken by generational sin, dysfunction, and incarceration?
- What is one action step He might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
When we experience trauma, our world can feel shaky and our future uncertain. We might fear we'll never again experience joy and peace. But Jesus promised all of His followers thriving life, and has the power to heal the most wounded places in our soul. In this episode, join Jennifer Slattery as she speaks with guest, therapist, and sexual trauma survivor Lisa Saruga on how trauma effects the brain and steps survivors can take to not just survive their trauma, but experience more of the thriving life for which they were created.
Resource referenced: The Trauma Tree by Lisa Saruga
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- Why might it be challenging to recognize and acknowledge when we've experienced trauma?
- How might it be helpful to recognize our emotional triggers as the result of trauma suffered?
- How has, or might, journaling help you process through challenging emotions and experiences?
- Why might it be helpful to journal your emotions AND biblical truth?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Connect with Lisa Saruga:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
On Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Have you ever felt afraid of being judged by others? Maybe growing up, you were labeled as shy, awkward, or simply different. Those words can linger, shaping how we show up in the world. But what if we chose to stop judging ourselves and others—and instead, saw people for who they truly are? It's time to break free from people-pleasing and step into your authentic self.
Resource referenced: The Wallflower That Bloomed: Finding Your Place at the Lunch Table of Life
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonates with you most in this episode?
- When have you had a time when you have felt fully known, accepted, and appreciated for the unique qualities that make you who you are?
- When have you experienced a time you didn’t want to feel? Why?
- Describe a person that displays authenticity to you.
- What does people-pleasing mean to you?
- What message of hope could you take away regarding your relationship with God, even if you aren’t completely “fixed”?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Find Cally Logan:
On her website
On Instagram
On Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
When our world feels chaotic and uncertain, it's easy to become overwhelmed with our circumstances or fears. In that place, we might temporarily forget the love, power, and presence of our God. Scripture tells us our enemy, the devil, roams about like a roaring lion, but as today's guest reminds us, our God has the loudest roar. He reigns victorious in ever situation, including those that leave us anxious and afraid.
Resources referenced: The Loudest Roar: Living in the Unshakable Victory of Christ by Judy Dunagan
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- What situations most provoke your anxiety or fear?
- How does knowing that Jesus overcame the world, including death and the grave, help bring you comfort?
- How has, or how might, memorizing Scripture help you gain increased peace during times of fear?
- What most encouraged you when Judy read Psalm 91?
- What is one step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Find Judy Dunagan:
On her website (Scroll down on her homepage to download her free prayer guide.)
Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Scripture assures us, God does not want us to live enslaved to fear, weighed down by stress, and overpowered by personal weakness. Christ promised us joy, peace, and inexpressible freedom. He also promised to give us the power to experience each of those supernatural gifts. In this episode, prolific speaker Max Lucado shares a time when, attempting to carry his ministry in his own strength, the burden became nearly crippling and how he found fresh hope and strength through the Holy Spirit.
Resource referenced: Help is Here: Finding Fresh Strength and Purpose in the Power of the Holy Spirit
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- What first comes to mind when you think of the Holy Spirit?
- When have you experienced increased exhaustion and/or anxiety from relying on yourself rather than surrendering to and relying on the Holy Spirit?
- How would you describe a Spirit-led life?
- How does/can living Spirit-led decrease our anxiety?
- How might God be calling you to share His “living water” with weary and burdened souls you encounter this week?
- What is one truth you can reflect on this week to more fully experience the Holy Spirit’s power and peace?
Find Max Lucado at:
https://maxlucado.com/
https://www.facebook.com/maxlucado
https://www.instagram.com/maxlucado/
Find Jennifer at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.instagram.com/avapennington3/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083247680572
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Have you ever felt like life has passed you by? When you look back on your pivotal moments, do you feel unseen and overlooked? You are not alone. This universal feeling is normal, but it doesn’t have to stick to you.
Resource referenced: The Most Overlooked Women of the Bible: What Their Stories Teach Us about Being Seen and Heard (The Women of the Bible) by Mary DeMuth
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonates with you most in this episode?
- How has a time when you have felt overlooked motivated you into action?
- When have you experienced a time when community has reminded you that you are not alone in your first response of grumbling and complaining?
- How has someone motivated you to act when they maintained their faith in the middle of adversity?
- What does it mean when you hear age is not a limitation in the Kingdom of God–in fact, it’s a benefit?
- What message of hope could you take away regarding your own worth and visibility, especially if you feel overlooked in your community?
Connect with Mary DeMuth:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
On her Amazon Author Page
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
There is little more painful than when an adult child decides they no longer want to have a relationship with a parent. Sometimes, we sense the fracture coming but aren't sure how to stop the destruction. For others, their son or daughter's desire to cut contact feels unexpected and without provocation. Things may feel so tense, we fear there's no hope for reconciliation. But no situation, relationship, or individual is beyond God's transformative, healing grace. In this episode, mental health professional, speaker and author Gina Berkemeier returns to talk with host Jennifer Slattery on signs a fracture might be coming, how we can avoid adding to our child's pain and the distance developing between us, how to respond when they accuse us of something we don't remember doing, and more.
Resource referenced: Generations Deep: Unmasking Inherited Dysfunction and Trauma to Rewrite Our Stories Through Faith and Therapy
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- Where would you currently place your relationship(s) with your adult child(ren)––becoming steadily healthier, tense and potentially on the verse of fracture, or nonexistent?
- How do you tend to react when your adult child tells you something you did hurt them?
- If you've become defensive, what unhealed wounds and/or insecurities might have impacted your reaction?
- In what ways might estrangement or relational dysfunction be generational in your family?
- What are some ways you are actively working on (or have you worked on) becoming your healthiest self?
- When you become aware or think of parenting mistakes, what are some ways you resist falling into shame?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Connect with Gina Birkemeier:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Follow her on Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Have a topic you'd like us to discuss? Contact Jennifer through her website to suggest a focus for an upcoming episode.
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Deciding to go "no contact" can be one of the most painful and confusing decision we make, especially when it involves people in our family of origin. This can feel even more difficult for those taught "hyper-grace" at the expense of health and truth. In this episode, mental health professional, author, and speaker Gina Birkemeir shares insights on how we can heal from learned shame, differentiate between uncomfortable versus unsafe relationships, how to express boundaries clearly, and why these issues are so important to our well-being and our ability to live for Christ.
Resource referenced: Generations Deep: Unmasking Inherited Dysfunction and Trauma to Rewrite Our Stories Through Faith and Therapy
Discussion/reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- How would you differentiate between an uncomfortable versus an unsafe relationship?
- Why might it be beneficial, to your mental health and sense of identity, not to make decisions out of anger?
- What are some steps you can take to work through your anger in regard to a relationship so that you can set boundaries from a place of calm wisdom?
- Who in your life can act like an "emotional cushion" before and after difficult conversations with challenging people?
- In what ways can shame be learned (or, in what ways has your upbringing created within you learned shame)?
- What is one action step you can take having listened to this episode?
Connect with Gina Birkemeier:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Follow her on Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
God understands that we live in a world that often feels frightening and overwhelming, but He doesn't want us to become enslaved by fear. But neither does He expect us to simply will ourselves into a state of peace and inner calm. Instead, He with each verse in which He says, "Do not be afraid", He provides important truths that enable us to live with the courage and confidence of a well-cared for child of God, which is precisely who we are. In this episode hosts Carol McCracken and Jennifer Slattery discuss verses from the Old and New Testament in which God tells us not to be afraid, why He says we have no cause for fear, and how we can apply these truths to our lives when we feel anxious and afraid. (Scripture discussed: Deuteronomy 31, 33:12, 34, James 1:5, John 14:1-27.)
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- Had you been Joshua, what aspects of your assignment might you have found most challenging or intimidating, and why?
- How might Joshua's time following Moses have helped prepare him for his leadership role after Moses passed?
- What does God's repetition in the verses discussed (Do not fear; I'll go with you; I won't leave you ...) reveal regarding His heart?
- What does it mean to you in your current circumstances that God Almighty is with you?
- What are some ways you intentionally try to "get out of your head" when you feel your anxiety escalating?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
How can we maintain faith when our economy always seems so unstable? How can we hold tight to God's promises when enduring long seasons of unemployment or when our financial situation feels outside of our control? Join hosts Carol McCracken and Jennifer Slattery as they discuss a passage in Scripture that demonstrates God's ability to provide and how He uses our needs to deepen our faith and relational intimacy with Him. (Scripture referenced or discussed: 1 Kings 17, Proverbs 14:1, Philippians 4:19)
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- What most surprised or intrigued you regarding how God provided for Elijah and the widow?
- What does this reveal regarding His character, ways, or heart?
- How can recognizing our needs draw us closer to Christ?
- What might it look like to turn to and rely on God during your current season?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Maybe you sensed God calling you to pursue a dream and you began with passion and focus. But then you experienced numerous difficulties and setbacks and started to doubt if you heard God correctly or He ever plans to bring fruit to your obedience. If so, you'll relate to Kristi Wood's story and will gain encouragement through how God met her in her disappointment and doubt.
Grab Kristi Wood's free prayer guide here: https://kristiwoods.net/podcast-download/
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- When did you first sense God calling you to pursue a divinely-orchestrated dream?
- Why might it be important, as we progress toward our goals, to ask God to purify our souls from pride and selfishness?
- What might God be teaching or training in you in your waiting season?
- In what ways are you, or have you been, tempted to diminish your gift(s)?
- In what way(s) is God using you, or calling you, to add beauty or order to our world?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this podcast?
Connect with Kristi Woods:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Connect with Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Most, if not all, of us recognize, at a soul-level, that we need deep and lasting companionship. When we're weathering difficult relationships, longing for a relationship we haven't yet experienced, or have experienced developmental trauma, our pain and insecurities can make us fear we'll end up alone and lonely. In this episode, singer/songwriter and actress Rebecca St. James and her film producer husband share their emotional struggle during singlehood, how trauma and pain has shaped them individually and affected their marriage, and how their faith in God's goodness carried them through their most difficult seasons.
Book mentioned: Lasting Ever: Faith, Music, Family, and Being Found by True Love by Rebecca St. James and Cubbie Fink
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- How content are you with your current relationships?
- How might your upbringing have impacted your view of relationships?
- How does or has your view of God impacted how you weather painful seasons?
- Have you considered how "unfinished business" related to wounds you've experienced impact your present relationships? And if so, what steps are you taking, or have you taken, to pursue increased health?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Find Rebecca St. James:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
On Spotify
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Have you ever thought of yourself as a hope- giver, commissioned to tell God’s story? Do you ever feel weary, defeated or terrified? How do we arise in hope and awaken hope in others? (Scripture referenced: Judges 4:4-9, Judges 5: 6-7)
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonates with you most in this episode?
- How has a time when hope faded motivated you or someone you know into action?
- When have you experienced a time when community has reminded you that you are not responsible for God’s plan all by yourself?
- How has someone motivated you to act when your hope had become suffocated in the face of insurmountable odds?
- What does it mean to take hope into your hands?
- What does the term hope-giver mean to you?
Find Angela Donadio:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
On YouTube
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
How has insecurity impacted your dreams and your calling? Do you ever feel like a fraud, you don't deserve your position or role, or compelled to prove your competency? These are signs of "imposter syndrome", a common struggle with the power to sabotage our lives and relationships. (Scripture referenced: Exodus 2-4, 32-33; Deuteronomy 34:10-12; 1 Samuel 9-10, 13, 18; Isaiah 41:10.)
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonates with you most in this episode?
- How has, or might, imposter syndrome caused you to compare yourself with others?
- How had, or might, imposter syndrome caused you to prove your competency by powering up or shield yourself by withdrawing?
- Why might God routinely call His children into arenas for which they feel ill-prepared?
- How has your relationship with Christ impacted your confidence?
- What is one action step He might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Find Kelly Hall:
On her website
Unshakable Hope Podcast
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
The church is supposed to be a safe place where we can experience healing, grow, and encounter God. Sadly, for many people, this hasn't been the case. Unfortunately, they've experienced deep soul-wounds in a religious environment. Join host Jennifer Slattery as she talks with author, speaker and pastor Sam Ranier on the impact of church hurt, how to bring our hurts to God, and ways to tell if an environment is safe for us and, if we're parents, for our children as well. (Scripture discussed: Psalm 22-23, Matthew 21:12-13,Mark 11:15-18)
Discussion/Reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- When have you encountered or been in a high hospitality, low security environment?
- What are some signs of such an environment?
- What was your experience?
- In what ways, if any, has your "trust meter" become crooked?
- How comfortable are you bringing your anger to God?
- What is one action step He might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Sermon referenced: When It's Appropriate to Turn Over Tables
Book referenced: Make My Church Safe: A Guide to the Best Practices to Protect Children and Secure Your Congregation from Harm
Connect with Sam Rainer:
On his website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Church Answers
Connect with Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Almost exactly twenty years ago, today’s guest, popular international speaker Carol Kent was thrust into a situation that made her feel as if her world was unraveling. Her son was arrested for murder, revealing just how little control we parents often have over our children’s lives. Though her life felt out of control, she found peace and security through surrender. She discovered God is big enough and strong enough and loving enough to carry her through she did or might someday face.
Group Discussion Questions:
1. What resonated with you most in Carol’s story?
2. When do you most feel out of control?
3. How do you typically respond when life feels out of control?
4. What lies does Satan tend to whisper to you when you feel out of control?
5. Read Romans 8:28-29. What does this passage tell you regarding our most fearful, “out of control” situations?
6. How might your current circumstances point you to heaven?
Resources:
• When I lay My Isaac Down by Carol Kent, released by NavPress: http://urlme.cc/6VQd
• He Holds My Hand by Carol Kent, released by Tyndale Publishers: http://urlme.cc/rVRv
Find Carol Kent:
On her website
the Speak Up for Hope site
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Often, the greatest hindrance to living out our calling comes from internal, rather than external, influences. When our insecurities dominate our lives, we become our biggest limiting factor. If you’re familiar with the Bible, you may recognize, intellectually, that you are a radiant, redeemed, chosen, called and empowered child of God. The question is, how do we let this truth define us and our actions? In this episode, author and speaker Amanda Pittman discusses her latest release Stand in Confidence: From Sinking insecurity to Rising to Your God-Given Identity and shares actionable steps toward growing in courage and confidence.
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
When do you most tend to struggle with feelings of insecurity?
How has insecurity limited your calling?
When has your insecurities caused you to strive and overwork in an area God’s already equipped you for and called you to?
In what areas are you placing your identity in insufficient things (your role/position, relationships, skills …)?
What truth most encourages you and helps build your confidence?
When has a “I should of” or “I could have” mentality hindered your confidence?
When has a human’s rejection negatively affected your view of yourself?
What is one action step God is calling you to take in the next week? (Right this down somewhere prominent to help with follow-through.)
Resources Mentioned: Stand in Confidence: From Sinking in Insecurity to Rising in Your God-Given Identity by Amanda Pittman and Emotional Healing in 3 Easy Steps (The Kingdom of God Made Simple) by Praying Medic
Find Amanda at:
On AmandaPittman.com
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Do you feel stuck in your pain or like you keep falling into the same relational or emotional pits? When your circumstances triggers certain intense emotions, do you find yourself behaving more like a child rather than the Spirit-led adult you know you are? Or do you simply long for increased joy, peace and freedom in your life and interactions? If so, you'll gain encouragement from Jennifer Slattery's conversation with guest Dr. Marcus Warner from Deeper Walk International.
Discussion/Reflective Questions;
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- How would you define emotional maturity?
- What are some ways you currently differentiate what thoughts come from you, which come from your spiritual enemy the devil, and which are from God?
- Consider Dr. Warner's discussion of A-trauma (trauma caused from things we didn't receive). How might A-traumas have negatively impacted your ability to endure stressful situations?
- Pause to reflect on Dr. Marcus Warner's discussion of joy versus fear bonds. Which type of bond tends to influence most of your decisions?
- How do you most tend to relate to God, through a joy bond or fear bond?
- What are some ways, based on what Dr. Marcus Warner shared, that you can increase your joy bond with God?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Resource mentioned: Breakthrough!: 5 Essential Strategies for Freedom, Healing, and Wholeness
Find Dr. Marcus Warner's ministry at/on:
the Deeper Walk International website
YouTube
Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Do you feel anxious when people suggest that we're living in the end times? Do you find verses related to this biblical period confusing? In this episode beloved pastor Max Lucado shares his views and insights regarding God's unfolding, eternal story and our ultimate destination.
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- How might knowing what Scripture teaches regarding the "end times" help alleviate anxiety related to that period?
- If you've trusted in Christ for salvation, how does it feel to know, when your present time on earth ends, you will immediately be in Christ's presence?
- If you've trusted in Christ for salvation, how does it feel to know that you will be judged according to what Christ did for you, not according to the sins you've committed?
- If you haven't yet trusted in Christ for salvation, what are some questions or concerns you want God to address before you are ready to do so?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Resource referenced: What Happens Next: A Traveler’s Guide Through the End of This Age
Find Max Lucado:
On his website
On Instagram
On Facebook
On Amazon
On YouTube
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
One of my favorite names for Christ, especially during the often chaotic holiday season, is Prince of Peace. It reminds us that our peace is found not in our circumstances or the absence of conflict but instead through our relationship with Him. Advent provides a wonderful opportunity to evaluate our schedules, slow down, and connect in a special way with our Savior.
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonates with you most in this episode?
- What are some of your most cherished Christmas memories from your childhood?
- Consider your current schedule. How has anxiety or fear contributed to your busyness?
- What are some ways you experience the sacredness of Christ's birth?
- What is something you can eliminate or simplify this holiday season to make it less hectic and more memorable?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Resource referenced: Glad & Golden Hours: A Companion for Advent and Christmastide:
Find Lanier Ivester:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Many of us tend to judge our most intense or unpleasant emotional responses which only increases their intensity by piling on shame. In this episode, Dr. Allison Cook talks with host Carol McCracken about her latest book, I'm Not Supposed to Feel This Way, how we can gain healthy emotional distance when we feel overwhelmed, and options for dealing with toxic people.
(Check out Faith Over Fear's GodTube Channel: https://www.godtube.com/faith-over-fear/)
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- Consider your inner critique. How might he/she be trying to help, although in an unhelpful way?
- How might recognizing the various moments that comprise your complex emotional system help you feel less consumed by them?
- Consider an area in which you typically feel guilt. Using Dr. Allison's discussion on conditioned guilt as a guide, what emotions might your guilt be masking?
- What is the difference between numbing and self-soothing?
- How might learning to name your emotions without judgement help you become more aware of what is occurring within you?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Resource mentioned: I Shouldn't Feel This Way: Name What’s Hard, Tame Your Guilt, and Transform Self-Sabotage into Brave Action by Dr. Allison Cook
Find Dr. Allison Cook:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
On Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
If you experience chronic pain or chronic illness, you understand how impossible it can feel, at times, to hold tight to hope. On our darkest, most painful nights, we can easily feel alone and abandoned by God. Singer/songwriter Katy Nichole understands. In fact, there was a time when she wasn't sure she wanted to hold on and contemplated taking her life. But God met her in that place with a truth meant for us all.
(Check out Faith Over Fear's GodTube Channel: https://www.godtube.com/faith-over-fear/)
Discussion/reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- When have you most needed to know you remained held by God?
- How did you feel when you heard Katy say that it's okay not to be okay?
- What might it look like in your life to allow yourself, in your pain, to not be okay?
- How did you feel to hear that God has good plans for you? If this is hard to believe, share why.
- What might self-care look like for you?
- How might listing tasks or goals in order of priority help you mange your time and energy level?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Find Katy Nichole:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
On YouTube
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Listen to When I Fall HERE.
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
The stress of the holidays become amplified when we know we'll spend time among dysfunctional people. As Christ-followers, this can elicit questions and confusion. How can we share the light of Christ in a way that feels emotionally safe? Is there a way to reduce the chaos? Carol's guest Pam Farrel believes, often, there is. In this episode, she shares some strategies she's developed in dealing with an alcoholic father and a mother-in-law with significant mental illness. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
(Check out Faith Over Fear's GodTube Channel: https://www.godtube.com/faith-over-fear/)
Related episode: Dealing with Toxic People with Gary Thomas
Find Pam Farrel at:
On her website (Love-Wise)
On Facebook
On Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What most resonated with you in this episode?
- What are some ways you can plan ahead to reduce chaos and stress this holiday season?
- What might an escape plan look like in your circumstances and what scenarios might move you to enact follow that plan?
- What emotions might you need to work through in order to move from bitterness and healing?
- Throughout her discussion, Pam shared how God guided her through her holidays. What is God telling you in regard to how He wants you to engage (or not engage) with certain dysfunctional people this season?
- Sometimes God calls us to love up close, and sometimes He encourages us to love people from a distance. Which most applies to your circumstances, and what might this look like?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
The grace of God and the unwavering love of a praying mom pulled Chad Mattson out of addiction and transformed him into a dad, husband, and musician who now lives to proclaim all the Lord has done. His story speaks hope to those who feel they've fallen too far to start again, those who remain chained to their past mistakes, and who, like Mattson, are learning, perhaps for the first time, to become acquainted with emotions they've suppressed for far too long. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
(Check out Faith Over Fear's GodTube Channel: https://www.godtube.com/faith-over-fear/)
Find Chad Mattson and his band:
On the Unspoken website
Spotify
YouTube
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What most resonated with you in this episode?
- Consider your current social sphere. Do your friends tend to bring out the best in you or tempt you to engage in unhealthy behaviors?
- When has something fun turned into something enslaving?
- Reflect upon some of your current coping mechanism. What might it look like to turn to Jesus when working through difficult emotions?
- What does Chad's story reveal regarding the heart of God?
- What does Chad's story reveal regarding the power of grace?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this podcast?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Do you find yourself battling loneliness and long for deeper connections? Do you struggle going deeper in your current relationships and wonder why tension often invades certain interactions? In this episode, host Carol McCracken talks with author and Bible teacher Becky Harling about our longing to connect, things that can hinder our connections, and practical ways we can build deeper relationships. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resource referenced: Cultivating Deeper Connections in a Lonely World
Find Becky Harling:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Check out her podcast, the Connected Mom
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- When has God used a difficult season to shift or correct your priorities?
- What are some ways you experience a sense of belonging in your relationship with Christ?
- When has envy hurt one of your relationships?
- When has comparison hurt one of your relationships?
- When have you seen celebrating others deepen a relationship?
- What is one action step God might want you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
How do we navigate the loss of those we love and the evil we encounter in this world? How can we choose faith when our hearts ache and we don't have all the answers? In this episode, Brandon Heath shares how he answered those questions after the loss of his parents and a school shooting that hit much too close to home. (Scroll down for discussion/reflection questions.)
Resources referenced: Raising Worry-Free Girls: Helping Your Daughter Feel Braver, Stronger, and Smarter in an Anxious World by Sissy Goff
The Ache, by Brandon Heath
Find Brandon Heath:
On his website
YouTube Music
Spotify
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(I inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- Who might you need to engage in a conversation with so that you can ensure you've left nothing unsaid?
- How might your fear stem from a desire for control, or the belief that you retain control?
- How does it feel to know that God remains close to the brokenhearted?
- What might it look like to live so that you are surprised by difficulties but also not to feel caught off guard by them?
- What is one action step God might want you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Fear and anxiety will come. We'll all face challenges that leave us feeling unsettled and unsure. How can we prepare ourselves to face those challenges well? In this episode, host Carol McCracken talks with Bible teacher Kathy Howard on the benefits available to us in Christ. (Scroll down for discussion questions.)
Find Kathy Howard:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
On Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- How have you seen your love for Christ grow over the past year or decade?
- How does your love for Christ impact your obedience to Him?
- When has personal weakness increased your dependency on Christ, and what was the result?
- What does it mean to you to possess resurrection power within?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
If you've ever watched a loved one endure the pain of depression, you can understand the anxiety, fear and heartache author and comedian Kristina Kuzmic experienced when her son developed depression. Eventually, his mental health deteriorated to the point that she felt compelled to have her son committed to inpatient care. In her recent book, "I Can Fix This" she shares their journey with transparency, the insights she gained along the way, and the steps that helped bring her son to the much healthy place in which he now finds himself. This episode has great value for parents with depressed teenagers but also for anyone trying to love someone well who has depression. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resource references: I Can Fix This: And Other Lies I Told Myself While Parenting My Struggling Child
Find Kristina Kuzmic:
On her website
On YouTube
On Instagram
On Facebook
On Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(I inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- What are some assumptions you've made regarding your loved one's struggle?
- How might setting aside those assumptions increase your ability to be present for them?
- How might viewing your loved one's behavior as communication of a need and expression of pain improve your interactions?
- What might it look like to show up for your loved one?
- In what ways do you practice healthy self-care in challenging, frightening, and painful seasons?
- Who might you be able to reach out to for help and support as you strive to love your loved one well?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
We all have a God-given need to live a life of purpose. While we can engage in numerous honorable tasks, nothing will fulfill us quite like living authentically as God created us, expressing the gifts He's given us, and pursuing the passions He implanted in our souls. In this episode, host Carol McCracken talks with South African writer and pastor Trevor Hudson on how we can discern God's will for our lives and how we can pursue this vital knowledge with anticipation not anxiety. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resource mentioned: In Search of God’s Will: Discerning a Life of Faithfulness and Purpose
Connect with Trevor Hudson:
On the Renovaré website
On Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
(I inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- Waht are some ways you've tried to discern God's will for your life?
- When do you tend to hear God most clearly?
- What might it look like to approach God with open hands?
- What might it look like to hold your relationships with open hands?
- How can/might open-handed living decrease one's (or your) anxiety?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Regardless of how out-of-control our world appears, God still sits on the throne and is working out His life-giving plan. What's more, He wants to use us to bring hope and light to others. Join host Carol McCracken and guest Robert J. Morgan as they discuss principles and truths that enabled first century evangelist Paul to live with bold faith, joy amid painful circumstances and eternal impact and with an ever-deepening relationship with the Lord who empowered Him to thrive, no matter what.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions. Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Resource references: Whatever Happens: How to Stand Firm in Your Faith When the World is Falling Apart
Find Robert J. Morgan
On his website
On Facebook
On Instagram
On Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What most resonated with you in this episode?
- What are some ways you "preach" to yourself when anxious thoughts grow?
- What are some of your favorite promises recorded in Scripture?
- What might it look like to both acknowledge today's challenges while also finding ways to rejoice? What are some truths (biblical promises, God's character, etc.) you can rejoice in?
- What is one verse you might choose to reflect on, memorize, and regularly bring to mind to quiet your anxiety?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Bonus content!
When life feels challenging, or our dreams or something we love feels threatened, our anxiety often tempts us to cling all the more tightly to whatever we fear losing. But after courageously stepping back from music for four years, Mike Donehey, lead singer for 10th Avenue North, discovered the difference between clinging, figuratively, to sifting sand and receiving all God has with open hands. Closed fists might allay our worries temporarily, but they also tend to block us from God's best. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.) (Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)
Find Mike Donehey, his band, and their tour dates on their website
Follow them on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.
Find their music on Spotify.
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- Are you more apt to view God's desire for you in terms of your performance or your presence, and how has this affected your your anxiety?
- What are various ways people tend to resist God's peace in their lives?
- What are some apsects in your life that might most challenge your ability to receive God's peace?
- What area of your life are you holding onto too tightly?
- What might open-handed living look like in your current season?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Every election season seems to grow more unsettling than the previous. This is especially true in a world where AI can create such realistic appearing yet false content. But we can rest in this truth: God retains full control, regardless of who occupies the Oval Office, gets voted into Senate, or sits on the bench of the Supreme Court. As we deepen our knowledge and trust in His unchanging nature, He empowers us to live faith-filled, faithful lives in every season, election included. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Find James Spencer:
On His website
On Instagram
On Facebook
On His Amazon Author Page
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflection Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- Why is it important to seek God's guidance before attempting to right a wrong or "fix" a situation?
- What did James and Jennifer's discussion on the pagan king (Cyrus) who sent God's people back to Jerusalem with abundance reveal regarding God's character and heart?
- How did their discussion on Daniel's actions during his time in exile impact you?
- How can we live faithfully in this generation?
- Why is it important to hold an eternal view of today's circumstances?
- What is one action step God might be encouraging you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
We all have those certain relationships that create more tension and anxiety than joy. Sometimes, this occurs with individuals we can't avoid; other times we're prayerfully trying to figure out how to heal relational tension and experience deeper and more fulfilling connections with those who mean a great deal to us but with whom, for various reasons, we experience ongoing conflict. In this episode, host Jennifer Slattery and guest and Bible teacher Carol McLeod discuss truths recorded in Colossians that, when applied, can help us experience more peace, and less conflict and anxiety, in our most difficult or confusing relationships. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resource referenced: Overflowing: Living Abundantly in a Broken Culture
Find Carol McLeod:
On her website
On Facbook
On Instagram
YouTube
Follow Her On Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- In what relationships do you most need Christ's perfect wisdom?
- What are some ways you can grow in Christ-led wisdom?
- What are some promises recorded in Scripture that can increase your hope in regard to your most challenging relationships?
- How might it be helpful to prayerfully consider the full extent of our emotions when others hurt us as part of our forgiveness process?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Depression is a complex issue that often has numerous causes or contributing factors. In this episode, Dr. Len Lantz, a psychiatrist known for working with clients suffering from treatment resistant depression, shares why it's important to receive an accurate diagnosis and practical ways one can dial down their depression while pursuing freedom. (Scroll down for reflective/discussion questions.)
Resources mentioned:
UnJoy: Hope and Help for 7 Million Christians With Depression by Dr. Len Lantz (Please note: read ch 12 with caution and insight and support from a mental health professional)
Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think by by Dennis Greenberger and Christine A. Padesky
Find Dr. Len Lantz on his website
Find his articles on ThePsychiatryResource.com
Follow him on Facebook and LinkedIn
Reflective/Discussion Questions:
- What most stood out to you in this episode?
- How would you describe your current level or experience of joy?
- Consider your thoughts. In what ways do they tend to pull toward negativity?
- How might thought balancing help you develop and/or maintain a more positive outlook?
- How might it be helpful to remember that self-care tools require perseverance?
- Who can you reach out to for support in your current season?
- What is one action step God might be encouraging you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
While sometimes depression hits without any known or perceivable cause, other times it stems from, or is exacerbated by overwhelming circumstances and situations involving those we love. But while we can't always control the things that impact our emotions, there are helpful things we can choose. In this episode, hosts Jennifer Slattery and Carol McCracken talk with therapist Stefanie Rowe about some of depressions roots and why it's important to seek help sooner rather than later. Bible passage discussed: 1 Kings 19 (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Sermons referenced in this episode (presented by Stefanie):
How to Navigate Depression
Helped, Hugged, Heard
Link to the mug mentioned in this episode: https://thehappygivers.com/collections/its-ok-collection
Find Stefanie Rowe:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- In what ways might your current circumstances feel overwhelming?
- How might your level of emotional involvement in other people's problems impact your current mental state?
- How does it feel to know that godly people like Mother Teresa and the Old Testament prophet Elijah experienced depression?
- How does it feel to know that God moves close to you in your pain (even if you can't "feel" His presence)?
- As depression thrives in isolation, and also tends to pull us to isolate ourselves further: what is one way you can connect with others this week?
- Who is one person in whom you can find support when you feel depressed?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Many people fear death and the process of dying. This can lead to enslaving behaviors like obsessively following health trends, avoiding airplanes, or losing the ability to think of much else when our loved ones travel. But God doesn't want us to live in fear and has provided numerous truths in Scripture to assure us of His presence in our every moment, including when we pass from this present earth, and of the joy that awaits us in paradise. In this episode, hosts Carol McCracken and Jennifer Slattery discuss some of the underlying causes for our fear of death and biblical truths that can help us view our eternal future with anticipation rather than fear. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions)
Bible passages referenced: Luke 8:40-45; Acts 7:40-55; Romans 8:31-29; 2 Samuel 12:15-23; Isaiah 7:16
Book referenced: In Light of Eternity: Perspectives on Heaven by Randy Alcorn
Find Carol McCracken:
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Find Jennifer Slattery:
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Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- What most frightens or unsettles you when you think of death?
- Which of God's unchanging character traits can speak to those fears?
- What might God be communicating to you through the passage about Stephen, the first Christ-follower killed for his faith?
- What might God be communicating to you through His assurance of His love in Romans 8?
- What might God be communicating to you through Jesus' statement to the repentant thief on the cross?
- What is one action step He might want you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
The late Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones once wrote, "The worst thing that can happen to a man is to succeed before he's ready." We've probably all heard of or read stories of fallen faith leaders to understand the truth in that statement. Considering this, what if our greatest setbacks and disappointments in pursuit of our God-given dreams are actually evidence of His love and grace? When doctors told Bay Turner that, due to his cut vocal cords, that he might never sing again, he felt into a dark and angry place. But God used that season of intense pain to bring about incredible beauty, as He's promised to do for all of us (Rom. 8:28). (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Song referenced: "Brand New"
Find Bay Turner:
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Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- Who in your life most inspired, or inspires, you to live for Jesus?
- When you feel angry or in pain, are you most apt to turn to Jesus or withdraw from Him, and what most impacts your tendencies?
- When has God used a setback or painful season to deepen your faith and intimacy with Him?
- Why is the strength of our character so important when it comes to maintaining the strength to carry God-given dreams?
- What are some ways you intentionally connect with Christ?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Does the back-to-school year fill you with anxiety? Are you concerned about your child's safety, peer relationships, and relationships with their teachers? Releasing our kids into someone else's care and entrusting their education to someone you may not know much about other than their name can feel unsettling. But our discomfort can also provide an opportunity to develop greater faith as we rely more consistently on Christ and see Him care for our precious kids. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resource referenced: Cultivating Deeper Connections in a Lonely World
Find Becky Harling:
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Find Carol McCracken:
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Discussion/reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- What most concerns you when you think about the upcoming school year?
- How have your concerns impacted your prayer life?
- What verses most speak to your anxieties and fears?
- What is one truth regarding God's character that comforts you in your anxiety and fear?
- How strong is your support system?
- If your support system (with other praying and faith-filled moms) isn't as strong as you'd like, what are some steps you can take to build a stronger support system?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
God doesn't ask us to don a strong persona when our knees feel ready to give way. But He does invite us to reach for His perfect strength, to experience that strength, especially in the face of grief and fear. Join host Carol McCracken and author, speaker, and television host Lyndsay Roberts. (Scroll down for discussion.reflective questions.)
Resource mentioned: Discover Your True Strength: Choosing to Thrive in the Midst of Life's Challenges
Find Lindsay Roberts:
On her ministry website
Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- What does it mean to cling to God?
- What might it mean to cling to His strength?
- Why is it important to recognize that He gives us the mind of Chriist?
- What might it look like to choose truth when afraid?
- Why is it important to recognize when our thoughts venture from truth?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take, having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Most of us would must rather avoid suffering entirely. Yet, we're also aware of the butterfly analogy which tells us that beauty often comes through intense struggle. How can turning towards, rather than from, our pain result in beauty, and how can we find Christ in our pain. Join Jennifer Slattery as she talks with Dr. Curt Thompson on suffering, the formation of hope, and experiencing Jesus through our connection with others. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resource referenced: The Deepest Place: Suffering and the Formation of Hope
Find Dr. Thompson:
On his website
Being Known Podcast
Find Jennifer Slattery:
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Amazon
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Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- How would you define shame?
- In what ways might your parents difficulty in attending to their own story have created within you a sense of shame?
- When have you felt valued and loved?
- How might past experiences with shame have impacted how you interpret Scripture?
- What might it mean not to allow shame to dictate the conversation?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
We've all experienced pain, and most if not all of us want it to end as quickly as possible. But what do we do when our pain lasts for an extended period of time? What happens when healing doesn't come, or doesn't come according to our time table? What might God be doing in those difficult seasons? Join host Carol McCracken as she talks with author and neuropsychologist Dr. Michelle Bengtson on finding God in our pain. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resources mentioned: Hem of His Garment, Sacred Scars: Resting in God's Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted
Find Michelle Bentson:
On her website
Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
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Discussion/reflective questions:
- What most resonated with you in this episode?
- Think of a time when it felt as if your pain would never end. What made that season most difficult?
- What did God show you during that time?
- What might God be saying to you in your current season?
- Which of God's character traits do you most find comforting when you're in pain?
- What is your experience with lamenting?
- In what ways has God healed you, or how might He currently be healing you?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
When our world feels out of control and uncertain, we need to know there is One who remains unchanging, faithful, and always in control. When we recognize who God is and what that means for our lives, we recognize that we're never alone, never abandoned, and never over-powered, no matter how frightening our circumstances. Join host Jennifer Slattery as she talks with author and speaker Grace Fox on Living Unafraid. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Reference mentioned: Names of God: Living Unafraid: Devotional Study with Video Access (Names of God Devotional Studies Book 1)
Find Grace Fox:
On her website
Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
Find Jennifer Slattery:
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Amazon
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Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- Which of God's character traits do you find most comforting when you feel anxious or afraid?
- What comes to mind when you consider God as Yahweh, the relational, self-sufficient, present Lord?
- What comes to mind when you think of God as your shepherd?
- What feels like a giant in your life currently?
- When might you most need to remember that God is the God of heaven's armies?
- Compare God's power and strength to that of the giant you currently feel. How does doing so help dial down the intensity of your fears?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
We've probably all watched a movie or read a novel that had a profound impact on us and helped us see ourselves, our circumstances, and our struggles in a fresh way. God uses numerous ways to speak to our souls, and stories can reach places within us we might otherwise keep walled off. In this episode, host Jennifer Slattery talks with novelist Felicia Ferguson on some of the themes presented in her latest release When Secrets Come Calling, the various losses her characters grieve, how God meets them in their pain, and how He longs to heal us as well. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Books mentioned: When Secrets Come Calling, The Paths We Walk: Trails, The Paths We Walk: Bridges.
Find Felicia Ferguson:
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Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
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Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- What movies or novels have impacted you most and why?
- What is it about stories that they have such a capacity to so deeply touch us?
- Why is it important to allow ourselves to grieve our losses?
- What are some things that might cause "ongoing" grief, and how can we grieve those well?
- How might remembering God's steadfast love help us in our grief?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Life's struggles can leave us feeling exhausted and discouraged, drawing our focus to all our doubts and anxieties. We might try harder or do our best to run faster, thinking we can somehow keep everything from crashing down around us. But as Carol McCracken discusses with guest Julie Sunne, we aren't meant to carry the full weight of our lives. That's God's job. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resource mentioned: Sometimes I Forget: 60 Reminders of Hope for Your Hard Days
Find Julie Sunne:
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On Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
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Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- What attribute of God do you find most encouraging in your present season and why?
- When do you most tend to become self-reliant?
- How does it feel to know that God doesn't need but rather invites you to partner with Him?
- When you find yourself feeling impatient, what anxieties and fears most fuel that impatience?
- How can focusing on what God wants to do in us help us endure uncomfortable seasons well?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Numerous times in Scripture, God tells us not to be afraid. But He does more than that. He's also provided powerful truths and stories that reveal His faithfulness to bolster our souls to experience increased peace and decreased fear. In this second part of our two-part series on Scriptural Truths to Quiet Fear, guest Kelly Hall and host Jennifer Slattery discuss Deuteronomy 31 and Matthew 14:22-33 and the God who remains present in life's most intense storms. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resource mentioned: Courageous Faith: Discover the 7 Keys to Living Courageously in Life's Adventures
Find Kelly Hall:
On her website
Instagram
Facebook
Unshakable Hope Podcast
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- How do you feel when you hear Scripture promising God will never leave or forsake you?
- What are some ways you remind yourself of God's presence?
- How can cultivating anticipation for the good God will do in our lives increase our resiliency to endure hard and frightening seasons?
- When have you wrestled with God, and what were the results?
- In what ways has God used a frightening time to increase your faith and deepen your understanding of Him?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
The words recorded in Scripture are much more than wise principles upon which to build one's life. And while, reflecting deeply upon them helps to transform our thinking and rewire our brains toward increased peace, these timeless truths do more than that. They contain supernatural power to fight back darkness and fortify our souls. In this episode, Bible teacher and host of the Unshakable Hope podcast Kelly Hall and Jennifer Slattery talk about Scripture they turn to when they feel afraid. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Biblical passages discussed: Deuteronomy 31; Exodus 33-34; Joshua 2
Resource mentioned: Courageous Faith: Discover the 7 Keys to Living Courageously in Life's Adventures
Find Kelly Hall:
On her website
Unshakable Hope Podcast
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- How might you have felt, had you been among the Israelites when Moses explained that he would not longer be leading them?
- What does it mean to recognize God as our true leader?
- What do you find most comforting when you consider God's promise to always go with you?
- Why is it important to prioritize God's presence over His blessings, and how might doing so actually help to decrease our anxiety and fear?
- How can knowing God's tender heart as our Father help increase our confidence to follow Him wholeheartedly?
- What struck you most when Jennifer and Kelly discussed Rahab's response to evidence of God's power compared to how her countrymen responded?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Jesus promised that His followers would recognize His voice. While this is true, there are ways we can dull our spiritual ears and ways in which we can heighten our sensitivity to His still soft voice.
Passages discussed: 1 John 2:11-17; I John 5:13-15
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Find Carol McCracken:
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Find Jennifer Slattery:
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Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Discussion/reflective Questions
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- When do you tend to hear God most clearly?
- When do you find it most challenging to discern God's voice?
- How or why might hatred toward others dull our spiritual hearing?
- How or why might selfishness and the sins that stem from this hinder our spiritual hearing?
- According to Jesus, who would hear His voice, and what does it mean to be among those people?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Many of us might know, intellectually, that God loves our children more than we do, and holds incomprehensible power to care, provide for, and guide them. But our anxious hearts can find it challenging to actually release them into His care, and our minds might find it confusing to know what this looks like in our, and their, day-to-day lives. (Scroll down for discussion/reflection questions.)
Bible passage discussed: 1 Samuel 1
Find Carol McCracken:
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Find Jennifer Slattery:
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Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- When have you sensed God asking you to, in essence, release a loved one into His care? What did this look like?
- Why is it important to recognize God's heart for our loved ones and His power to care for them?
- When have you seen someone's refusal to entrust a loved one to Christ (also known as trying to fix things themselves) led to increased dysfunction or harm?
- What would you have found most challenging, had you been Samuel's mom?
- Consider your typical actions with, and in regard to, your loved ones. How consistently are you modeling clinging to God above all?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Jesus told us to anticipate trouble and warned that His light within us might provoke some people to hatred. No one wants to experience conflict or opposition, but neither must we cower in fear. God promised to give us all we need through the Holy Spirit to boldly stand firm on truth, no matter the situation or who comes against us.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Find Carol McCracken:
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Find Jennifer Slattery:
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Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Discussion/reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- When have you sensed God asking you to remain in a difficult situation in which you felt targeted because of your faith?
- What might it look like to display a quiet strength in tense situations?
- Why is it important to recognize the power available to us through the Holy Spirit?
- What are some ways you seek strength and courage through the Holy Spirit?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Sometimes, anxiety can hit without any recognizable provocation, or our anxiety can feel more intense than the situation warrants. When we find ourselves in that place, we can pray the prayer ancient Israel's second king, David, prayed at the end of Psalm 139, trusting that our God will and is leading us to increased freedom.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Biblical passage discussed: Psalm 139
Find Carol McCracken:
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Find Jennifer Slattery:
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Discussion/reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- What thoughts and/or emotions arise when you reflect upon God's full knowledge of and deep love for you?
- What are some ways you regain a sense of calm when anxiety begins to take hold?
- Why is it important to have various tools to practice when we feel anxious and afraid?
- What's the difference between feeling anxious and feeling stuck in our anxiety?
- In what ways have you, or could you, invite God's perspective on your fear or anxiety?
- How can naming, but not judging, our emotions help us to manage them?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
There's often a difference between receiving the all-sufficient grace granted to us through faith in Christ and living fully, deeply immersed in that grace. Sadly, many of us live consumed with guilt. And, because we live in a punitive culture where we're accustomed to getting called out and punished for our mistakes–and, potentially, seeing them blasted across social media–we can approach our relationship with God with that same mindset. That is why practicing confession can be so freeing. In naming our sins, big and small, and asking for forgiveness (which we've already received), we are also learning to practice what Jennifer refers to as a perpetual "clean-slate" existence. In this episode, hosts Jennifer Slattery and Carol McCracken launch a 5-part series on bold prayers with a discussion of words uttered by ancient Isreal's 2nd king, a man God referred to as someone after His own heart. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
(Bible passage discussed: Psalm 19)
Find Carol McCracken:
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Find Jennifer Slattery:
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Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Discussion/reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- Why might it be helpful to begin one's prayers proclaiming the power, vastness, and goodness of God?
- What thoughts or emotions typical arise when you think of the spiritual practice of confession?
- Why is it important to remain cognizant of God's abundant grace while practicing confession?
- How can practicing confession help us experience God's grace on a deeper level? (Not earn it, but experience what He's already given us.)
- How might practicing confession help one live with more self-awareness?
- What is one action step God might be inviting you to take, having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
This episode is for everyone who feel the ache of longing for a loving and nurturing mother but, for your mental health and healing, have had to create firm boundaries with your mother, potentially even eliminating contact with her entirely. No one makes this decision lightly or without pain. Bonnie Gray understands this grief, and all of the confusing emotions that can surface around Mother's Day. In this episode, she shares how God brought her from grief, to healing, and now, to celebration–not for the pain she experienced, but for what He is building and has built in her life today.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resource Mentioned: "the Soul Care Quiz"
Connect with Bonnie Gray:
On her website
YouTube
Her podcast: Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Discussion/reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- What emotions tend to arise for you around Mother's Day?
- How would you describe your relationship with you mom?
- How difficult is it for you to view your mother and your relationship with her "honestly"?
- What are some ways you do or have allowed yourself to grieve the mother you don't have?
- How is God rewriting your story and breaking dysfunctional patterns?
- What is one thing God might be asking you to do having listened to this podcast?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
We all have seasons of our lives where we wonder if we have purpose and fear we're aimlessly roaming about without clear direction. In those periods, God may seem silent or His direction unclear. This can create intense anxiety and discouragement. But God always has a plan, is always leading us toward His very best, and is always equipping us for the journey that's still ahead. Listen to hear how He did this in King David's life, and in host Carol McCracken's as well.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Jennifer Slattery:
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Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- How would you describe a wilderness season?
- What do you feel makes wilderness seasons so challenging?
- How can wilderness seasons deepen our faith?
- How might reflecting upon God's heart, power, character and promises help us endure wilderness seasons?
- Why is it important to live with integrity in every season?
- What is one action step God might be askign you to take, having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
We all have emotional baggage clogging the suitcases in our souls. Unprocessed pain from childhood and past relationships distorts our perceptions, weakens our trust, and often leads to out-of-proportion reactions. In this episode, relationship coach Dana Che Williams joins Jennifer Slattery to discuss common signs of emotional baggage and ways we can begin to unpack those things that aren't serving us or our relationships.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resources mentioned:
The Best of You by Dr. Allison Cook (Here Jennifer's discussion with Allison here.)
Relationship Connection Quiz (on Dana's Website)
Find Dana Che Williams at:
Her website
YouTube
Rebuilding Us Podcast
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Discussion/reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- What relational patterns have you noticed in your life?
- What relational patterns have you noticed in your family of origin?
- How challenging do you find it to trust others?
- When do you most tend to react strongly? Do you notice a pattern that might point to unprocessed pain?
- When navigating relational challenges might it be helpful to get help from someone with relationship training?
- Why is it important to seek God's wisdom and perspective regarding our behavior and relationships?
- What is one step God might want you to take, having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
It's often easiest to recognize God's faithfulness when life seems to go well or He answers our prayers as we hope. But what about when we endure challenging or frightening seasons? Is He still faithful then? And how can our recognition of His faithfulness quiet our fears and strengthen our faith when we feel anxious or afraid? In this episode, author and speaker Erin H. Warren shares how she's experienced God's faithfulness amidst life's difficulties. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions)
Resources referenced:
Everyday Prayers for FaithFinding Confidence in God No Matter What by Erin H. Warren
Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity by Dr. Sandra Dalton-Smith
Biblical reference (the Israelites at the Red Sea): Exodus 14
How to have a relationship with God
Find Erin H. Warren at:
Her Website
Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
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Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
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Discussion/reflective questions:
- What most resonated with you in this episode?
- What is the most recent "no matter what" situations you've experienced?
- How, if at all, did that time affect your view of God's faithfulness?
- Why is it important to learn and know God's promises recorded in Scripture?
- Consider a time when you felt disillusioned in your faith. How, if at all, did your understanding (or lack) of God's faithfulness affect your emotions?
- What are some of God's promises in which you find the most comfort?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Most often, it’s not the challenges we face external that most hold us back from living out our call. It’s the battle that rages in that has the greatest capacity to derail and defeat us. Our fears, if left unchecked, hinder us from becoming all God created us to be and living the life He died to give us. We all have a God-honoring, life-changing call, one we are uniquely created to fulfill. God will give us all we need to do all He asks and assigns. The question is, will we humbly and courageously accept that assignment? Will we courageously surrender to His plans?
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Resources mentioned:
Courage and Calling by Gordon T. Smith
Unshakeable Unbreakable Joy, a Bible study by Wholly Loved Ministries
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
1. Have you considered how God might want to use you, in your current season?
2. What is a unique passion you hold that God might want to use to bring light and life to our world?
3. What are some fears that tend to hold you back from trying new things or stepping out in faith?
4. Is there an area that God might be calling you to surrender in order to make you freer to serve Him?
5. Consider your current fears. How many of them stem from focusing on your limitations rather than God’s power and provision?
6. Consider your fears in light of the parable Jennifer shared and the “lazy” servant’s perspective—Have you, perhaps unknowingly, assigned false character traits to God? Are you behaving as if He’s distant, uninvolved, or perhaps not powerful enough to save?
7. What is one “next right step” God is calling you to take?
Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
God sees our pain, our fear, and every difficult moment that brought us to this place. More than that, He sees who we're becoming and the beauty and courage He will build deep into our souls. As guest Toni Collier promises, we can trust that, once in our Father's hands, our pain will never be wasted.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resource Mentioned: Unshakable Moxie: Growing a Resilient Faith
Connect with Toni Collier on:
Her website
YouTube
Amazon
Her podcast
Find Jennifer Slattery on:
Her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Discussion/reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- In what ways and areas did you feel like you carried an unhealthy amount of pressure as a child?
- How were you received when you expressed your emotions as a child?
- How have you, now, in your adult past, or as a child, sought validation in self-defeating ways?
- How comfortable do you feel expressing your needs?
- In what ways do you, or are you tempted to, numb your emotions?
- When has using your past pain to help someone else helped increase your healing?
- How did you feel hearing Toni say that God won't waste our pain?
- What is one step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
While one can experience anxiety from numerous causes, not all of them spiritual, there are spiritual practices we can engage in to experience increased peace. In this episode, author and pastor Alan Fadling shares how he once felt mastered by his anxiety but learned, with God's help, how to take steps toward increased and progress freedom.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resource mentioned: A Non-Anxious Life: Experiencing the Peace of God's Presence
Connect with Alan Fadling at:
the Unhurried Living Website
Amazon
His Ministry's Instagram Page
His Instagram Page
His Ministry's Facebook Page
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- When have you felt mastered by anxiety?
- What were your thoughts when Alan said the point of practicing spiritual disciplines wasn't necessarily to experience decreased anxiety?
- What is or has been your experience with spiritual disciplines?
- What are some ways you intentionally notice what you're feeling?
- What are some ways you invite God's perspective on your emotions?
- When have you experienced an experience similar to Alan's in the airport, when he felt his thinking brain going off line?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Have you ever found yourself crumbling from overwhelming stress and the pressure of trying to manage all your responsibilities and other people's expectations? Do you find yourself feeling enslaved not just to your tumultuous emotions but also to ways you've attempted to cope? In this episode, author Angie Haskell encourages us to move past our unhealthy coping mechanisms to experience deep freedom.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions)
Resource mentioned: Sugarcoated: Finding Sweet Release from Cravings that Control Us
Connect with Angie at:
Her website
Amazon
Find Carol McCracken at:
Her website
Discussion/reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- When are you most tempted to turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms?
- What are your "go-to" coping mechanisms when life feels stressed?
- Do those coping mechanisms help you experience true, long term peace, or do they leave you with shame or regret?
- What are some coping mechanisms you learned from your family of origin, and how have they shown up in your life?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
How often has anxiety or fear kept you from accepting a wonderful opportunity? Have you ever looked back on a situation with regret, wishing you'd responded with more courage? As Bible study writer Erica Wiggenhorn assures us in this episode, the good news is that that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can all live courageously unexplainable, and deeply fulfilling, lives.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resource mentioned: An Unexplainable Life: Recovering the Wonder & Devotion of the Early Church
Connect with Erica Wiggenhorn on:
Her website
Connect with Jennifer Slattery on:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- How much had you thought about the Holy Spirit's involvement in your life prior to this episode?
- When has fear hindered you from accepting an opportunity?
- When have you responded to an opportunity with faith, and what was the result?
- How might focusing on obediently stepping where God asks you to today help increase your peace as you wait for His guidance tomorrow?
- Who is one person with whom you can build a prayer-accountability relationship?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Have you ever said to yourself, "My life wasn't supposed to turn out like this"? Have you ever felt similar regarding a relationship or a career? What do we do when it feels as if our circumstances have shattered our dreams and we're not sure what lies ahead? How can we hold tight to faith when our fears tell us that our God's abandoned us on a never-ending painful road? In this episode, Carol McCracken talks with Sarah Frazer, author of "I Didn't Sign up for This" about a time when that was precisely how she felt, and how God met her in that painful place.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Find Sarah Frazer at/on:
Her website
YouTube
Find Carol McCracken at/on:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Discussion/reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- Have you ever expected blessings or life to feel easy because of your past obedience?
- When you go through challenging seasons, what do you most often tend to fear?
- When has God used a difficult season to deepen your understanding of His heart or character?
- When has God used a difficult season to deepen your faith?
- What Scripture(s) do you reflect upon in times of discouragement or fear?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Christian musician, worship leader, songwriter, and painter Jon Reddick is the guest on this special episode from LifeAudio's "The Walk". What may seem like a random start to his story about his lawn lands home with a message that is always relevant. Our Father in heaven loves us so much that his light, beauty, and glory can literally cover over any of the “spots” we’ve allowed to develop.
"The Walk: Devotionals for Worshippers" invites listeners to travel along and learn how God uses the practice of worship to develop in all of us a deep faith with an overflow of joy.
Please follow "The Walk: Devotionals for Worshippers" on Spotify and Apple Podcasts for more inspiring conversations and Christian devotionals!
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Have you ever wondered, if the Holy Spirit lives within me, why do I feel so defeated or overwhelmed? If so, host Jennifer Slattery can relate. This is something she's spent much time contemplating and researching, and in her journey toward increased peace, God has revealed to her some helpful truths, which she longs to share with you. She's invited Bible teacher and international speaker Becky Harling back to help finish part two of the discussion they began last episode on learning to live more deeply in resurrection power.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Find Becky Harling at:
her website
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Discussion/reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- Why is it important to maintain pure hearts focused on elevating Jesus?
- Why might God "oppose" the proud?
- Why might God "give grace" to the humble?
- When have you witnessed someone attempting to use their God-given gifts for personal gain, and what was the result?
- How might our increasing awareness of God's love help us to live increasingly filled.
- What is one action step God might want you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
When hardship hits or we find ourselves facing challenging circumstances, we might feel as if we're ill-prepared for whatever lies ahead. Those struggling with depression or anxiety might worry they'll never experience increased joy and peace. But God doesn't want us to live as if we're defeated because, through Christ, we've been given resurrection power.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resource mentioned: Our Father: A Study of the Lord's Prayer (A 6-Week Bible Study)
Find Becky Harling at:
her website
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Discussion/reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- How might you describe living in resurrection power?
- What most hinders you from living more consistently in that power?
- How might recognizing the power you have in Christ help decrease your anxiety and increase your confidence when facing challenges.
- What might it look like to "let the devil set the agenda" in a particular situation?
- How might recognizing and reflecting upon the perfect plans of God, and His power to bring them to pass, increase your peace when you feel under attack?
- When has your will overshadowed or confused God's will in your life, and what was the result?
- What is one action step God might want you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
The most daunting circumstances feel even darker when we feel as if we've lost hope. Conversely, when we hope through our connection with the God of hope and holding tight to His promises, our faith and strength grows and our faith to endure increases.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Find Rachel Wojo:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Find her books on Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- How would you define biblical hope?
- What are some ways you've intentionally cultivated hope during challenging seasons?
- How can hope help increase our resiliency and decrease our anxiety and fear?
- How do you feel regarding "wrestling" with God?
- What is one truth God has given you over the past year that can help increase your hope during painful circumstances?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
We all have false securities, modern idols, we turn to when life seems uncertain and we feel anxious and afraid. But while these idols might bring comfort in the moment, they only increase our anxiety and fear because because they hinder our ability to rely fully upon the only One, God, with the power to provide, protect, and care for us. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Find Stephanie Rousselle:
On her website
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- As you were listening, did any false securities (idols) come to mind?
- Who or what do you tend to turn to during waiting seasons?
- What truths regarding God's power, character, and promises can provide a more secure foundation than those false securities and false "saviors"?
- How can reflecting upon His heart for you help you find the courage to relinquish your false securities?
- What thoughts or concerns came to mind when Stephanie discussed staying in the wilderness where one feel comfortable verses stepping into the Promised Land, where they feared giants lurked?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
If you experience depression, your world might, at times, feel so dark, it seems no amount of light, love, or logic can break through. And if you've ever heard bad advice, or misquoted Scripture from non-understanding friends, you might also be carrying a heavy burden of shame. But depression isn't sin, laziness, nor something one can simply pray away or "positive think" their way out of. That doesn't mean, however, that the depressed individual is without hope. God wants to bring each of us to a place of increased joy, peace, and freedom. In this episode, Wholly Loved's Teresa Baumbach and Kelly Campbell discuss what depression has looked like for them and the steps God led each of them to take in their recovery journey.
Find Wholly Loved (and Teresa and Kelly):
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions)
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- Do you or someone you love suffer from depression? If so, how can you get help and/or provide support?
- What are your lifelines or anchors you can hold tight to when you are struggling?
- When you are feeling down, what are some verses from scripture that bring you comfort?
- Do you have people in your life that you trust and with whom you can share your struggles? If not, what are some other alternatives for you (i.e. pastoral counselor, professional counselor, support group?)
- Depression, anxiety, and suicide are at an all-time high in our society. How might we share our story of what Jesus has done for us in our lives to offer hope to a hurting world?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
How might you respond if you sensed God asking you to leave a successful and fulfilling career or role to embrace something new, not knowing what that might look like or where He might take you? If you would find yourself wrestling with fear of failure, my conversation with singer/song writer Mack Brock will resonate with you.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions)
Find Mack Brock:
On his website
Spotify
Apple Music
YouTube
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- When have you sensed God calling you to leave something fulfilling or in which you experienced success? What made that challenging?
- When you feel fear of failure rising up, what other fears are tied up in that? (Ex: fear of financial loss, fear of losing someone's respect, etc.)
- How can developing a more secure identity in Christ help decrease one's fear of failure?
- How can deepening our sense of security in Christ, rather than our careers or skills, decrease one's fear of failure?
- In this episode, Mack talked about how God led him to unexpected blessings through simple steps of obedience. When has God done something similar in your life?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
We all have a God-given need to belong. To experience connection and acceptance. To know that we are fully known–at our worst and best–and fully loved. And while this is true for each of us, past wounds and present inner lies can make it hard to fully believe and grasp Christ's unconditional, perfect, all-encompassing and never-ending love. In this episode, Stephanie Rousselle, host of the Gospel Spice podcast, shares how childhood experiences created a fear of not belonging and a distrust toward God. Combined, this made her feel alone and as if she needed to be her own savior. But God patiently, lovingly and gently pursued her and began a deep healing work.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Find Stephanie Rousselle:
On her website
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- How often or consistently do you feel as if you belong?
- When do you most struggle to feel like you belong?
- How has or might wounds you experienced in the past impact your ability for fully receive God's love and the resultant sense of belonging?
- How has or does a fear of not belonging impact how you relate to others?
- In this episode, Stephanie talked about how she asks God to help her trust Him and grow in faith. How often do you or have you done this?
- How might seeking God's help in growing our faith or trust increase your healing?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
We've probably all has seasons that left us fighting to catch our breath–and hold tight to our hope. During those painful periods, we might begin to doubt the heart, power, and goodness of God. In this episode, Susie Larson, childhood trauma survivor, chronic Lyme fighter, and biblically anchored writer answers the question she herself wrestled with: Is God still good when life hurts?
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions)
Resource references: Waking Up to the Goodness of God: 40 Days Toward Healing and Wholeness
Find Susie Larson:
On her website
Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion/reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- What lie does the devil most often use to discourage or intimidate you?
- What truth or truths do, or can, you reflect upon and recite when you feel under attack?
- In this episode, Susie discussed challenging our insecurities. What might this look like for you?
- Susie also talked about how the words we speak physically alter our brain. How can you utilize this information to bolster your faith and decrease your fear?
- Why is it important to contend for God's promises?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take, having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
We have had an amazing year with powerful fear-calming insights from wise and experienced guests. In this episode, we share power clips from five of our most popular episodes: In "Finding God Faithful in Hard seasons" with Kelly Minter, we discussed the call to break patterns of generational dysfunction. Next, we heard from singer and songwriter Colton Dixon on viewing disappointments as divine set-ups, taken from the episode titled "Fighting Fear by Holding onto God's Light". Next, Bonnie Gray, host of the Breathe: Stress Less podcast provided insight on how to recognize and change our automatic response to stress. That episode was titled, "Break the Grip of Anxiety and Worry: What You Can Do to Step Stress".
We then heard Pastor John Meader share about a time when he felt angry and bitter toward God, and how God brought him to a place of trust. That clip came from the episode titled "God's Not Done With you". Last, we heard from one of the most prolific and powerful writers in our time, Max Lucado, on the story of Jacob, known as the deceiver, and how Max relates to this Old Testament biblical character. That episode was titled God Won't Give Up on You". We hope these clips encourage you as you launch into 2024 with godly confidence and hope-filled anticipation.
(Scroll down for discussion questions/reflective questions.)
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in Kelly Minter's discussion regarding patterns of dysfunction?
- How has God changed some of your learned unhealthy patterns and/or attitudes?
- Why is it important to recognize and acknowledge unhealthy patterns learned from our family of origin.
- How can we recognize these patterns through a lens of grace?
- Why it it important to take ownership for our learned behavior?
- How might God be calling you to increased health?
- What resonated with you most in Colton Dixon's discussion regarding "flipping the switch" in how we view setbacks?
- What is one setback or disappointment you can reframe through the lens of God's love, power, and grace? And what does that reframe look like?
- What resonated with you most in Max Lucado's discussion of Jacob, the "weasel"?
- What is one truth you can hold tight to and reflect upon in the year ahead?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Throughout Scripture, we see numerous verses telling us not to fear. Most of these encouragements are followed by a powerful why: because our God is with us, always, and all of His power and goodness accompanies His presence. In this episode we talk about plunging our roots deep into His love, practicing resting in His presence, and gaining strength from that ongoing connection–or as Ephesians 3:19 states, that we "may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions)
Find Ava Pennington:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
When we land in new roles or take on new opportunities, it's normal to feel insecure and ill-prepared. Focusing upon our limitations can cause fear of failure to rise paralyze us. But in those moments, and every moment thereafter, our faithful and all-powerful God invites us to trust in Him to provide all we need to do all He's asked.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- When a new opportunity arises, what are some ways you discern whether or not that opportunity is God-given?
- How might maintaining a practice of worship help increase one's sensitivity to God's voice or "nudges" of His will?
- How do you tend to respond when you find yourself in a new and potentially challenging situations?
- What fears most often arise when you embrace new and difficult assignments or take on unfamiliar roles?
- Consider a past assignment you took on. In what ways did God provide what you need for that role?
- Consider the example of Moses Jennifer and Teresa discussed. How do you feel knowing Moses began afraid and ended well?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
We can't fully embrace all God has for us today or confidently step into the opportunities He's crafting for our future when we cling to the past. Yet, how can we stand strong and confident in that transitional season when we know what God has called us from but don't yet know where our obedience might lead? Those waiting, unknown periods can leave us feeling anxious and insecure, fearing, if we relinquish that thing, we'll lose an important part of who we are. But this is also why transitional seasons can be so healing and faith-building.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions)
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- Think about a time when God asked you to relinquish a major role or activity. What emotions did you wrestle with during that time?
- When has God used a transitional season to reveal that you were clinging to a false identity?
- When has God used a transitional season to deepen your relationship with and trust in Him?
- When thinking about transitional seasons, what aspects of God's character most encourage?
- In this episode, Teresa talked about how God knows us and His plans for us. How does this encourage or comfort you when you consider major transitions?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Our world provides numerous reasons for us to feel uncertain and afraid. But Scripture tells us we have an even greater reason to live courageously. We have an all-powerful, loving, faithful God who watches over us, wants the best for us, and has the power to bring that best to pass. In this episode, Bible teacher Mary DeMuth shares a unique approach to Scripture that has greatly helped her experience decreased fear and increased peace.
(Scroll down for discussion/contemplative questions)
Recommended Resource: 90-Day Bible Reading Challenge: Read the Whole Bible, Change Your Whole Life
Connect with Mary DeMuth:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
On her Amazon Author Page
Connect with Jennifer Slattery:
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion/reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- What most challenges your Bible reading time?
- When you do read Scripture, how does this impact your understanding of God's nature, heart, and plans?
- How can knowing God better help decrease our fears?
- In this episode, Mary DeMuth encourages readers to read Scripture looking for common threads (such as boldness versus fear). What thread might you find most helpful to look for?
- What anxiety-increasing activity could you replace with Bible reading or listening to Scripture through a podcast?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Do all the parties, cookie exchanges, and holiday meals this time of year prick your insecurities and create anxiety? Do you find yourself simultaneously enjoying home-baked treats and calculating how many hours at the gym each bite will cost? More importantly, do you ever long for the day when you don't stress about your body? In our photo-shopped, filtered, social media culture, is that even possible? Faith Over Fear guest Rachael Gilbert, author of Image Restored, says yes and shares her inside out approach to learning to feel comfortable in our skin, whatever shape it encompasses.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resource Mentioned: Image Restored: Tear Down Shame and Insecurity to Experience a Body Image Renovation.
Connect with Rachael Gilbert:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
On her Amazon Author Page
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- What body image messages have you absorbed from your social circle?
- What body image messages have you received from generations before you?
- How often do you put your thoughts "on trial"?
- How often do you check your negative thinking against the truth of Scripture?
- In what ways might a negative body image be impacting your relationships
- How might your life change were you to feel confident in your skin?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take, having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Imagine sitting in a job interview and your prospective boss tells you two things. First, he says the position he wants to hire you for will be challenging and filled with constant opposition. But, second, you will find the assignment incredibly fulfilling–and through it, you'll experience an intimacy with Christ you hadn't prior. Would you take it? As you consider this role, which part of the man's conversation will you reflect on most? As Christ-followers, we're faced with this question daily. Which will we give greatest emphasis–the opposition we'll inevitably face, or the God who stands with us, refines and strengthens us, and makes Himself known to us through it all? In this episode, host Jennifer Slattery speaks with Bible study writer Kathy Howard on the beauty that can come through opposition.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resources mentioned: the Deep Rooted Devotional Series
Find Kathy Howard:
On her website
Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
- What resonated with you most in today's episode?
- What Bible passages do you turn to when you feel overwhelmed?
- How do you tend to interpret opposition: as a sign you are doing something wrong and God is displeased with you, OR, as a normal part of living for Jesus?
- How might viewing opposition as an opportunity to experience Jesus on a deeper level impact your journey?
- What steps might you take to experience God's presence in difficult seasons?
- What can you learn from Paul's response in Acts 16?
- What does it mean to have an eternal focus?
- How can maintaining an eternal focus during seasons of opposition strengthen your soul to remain faithful?
- Pause to image standing before Jesus and hearing Him say, "Well done, My good and faithful servant. You completed all that I assigned to you." (Engage all of your senses for this exercise.)
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
How we respond to opposition today greatly impacts how we’ll respond to the opposition we’ll face tomorrow. Will we become adept at quitting or stronger in perseverance? And when, in a season of weakness and fatigue, we quit—for a time, Scripture assures us it’s never too late to begin again.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resource mentioned: Growing a Joyful Heart: Devotions of Accepting God's Gifts for Abundant Living from Joy Givers Past, Present and Future by Karen Whiting and Pam Farrel
Connect with Karen Whiting:
On her website
On Facebook
On Pinterest
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today's episode?
- What are some truths you can hold on to when facing opposition?
- How are you intentionally increasing your perseverance?
- How might how you have (or have not) processed past "failures" impact your response to today or future opposition?
- Why might it be important to remain anchored in grace (rather than becoming consumed with guilt) when in the rebuilding phase?
- When have you witnessed God rebuilding something that you or others had thought was beyond repair?
- What did that experience reveal regarding God's heart?
- What is one action step God might be encouraging you to take, having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
This is the second episode in a four-part discussion on standing strong amidst opposition. In this episode, Jennifer Slattery and guest Karen Whiting look at two biblical characters (Ezra and Nehemiah) called to a major restoration project, their miraculous beginnings, and how God prepared them for the opposition they'd later face. When we experience opposition, we might feel overwhelmed and unprepared, but often, when we look back, we'll see how God lovingly and faithfully prepared us for this particular season. We can quiet our fears and bolster our faith by reviewing ways we've witnessed His power and by reviewing the truths He's planted into our souls.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Connect with Karen Whiting:
On her website
On Facebook
On Pinterest
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- Had you been in Nehemiah's position, while in Babylon, what might you have found most challenging about the Jerusalem rebuilding assignment?
- When has God called you to leave an area of comfort or prestige to embrace a challenging assignment? What truths emboldened you to obey?
- In this episode, Karen and Jennifer discuss Ezra's miraculous beginning (abundant provision from King Cyrus). When have you experienced a miraculous beginning on a project, and how did that affect your expectations?
- Jennifer and Karen also discussed ways in which Nehemiah's role as a cupbearer might have prepared him to lead the returned exiles during this pivotal time in their nation's history. When have you stepped into a new role for which God had uniquely prepared you?
- How might reflecting upon ways God has helped you in the past increase your strength, perseverance, and courage when facing challenges in the present?
- What is one action step God might be wanting you to take, having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
What happens when we step out in faith in a particular area and others respond to our obedience with open hostility? How can we persevere with courage and love when blindsided by other people's hurtful and unjust actions? In this episode Jennifer speaks with author, speaker, and soul care coach Diana Asaad, a woman who, along with her husband, accepted a pastorate over a church riddled with debt and infested with generational racism. As such, she understands the anxiety that can come when one feels under attack. She shares how to disarm our rising emotions and experience increased peace in Christ.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Find Diana Asaad:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
On Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- When have you encountered hostility toward your obedience in an area or situation?
- When have you encountered hostility due to generational sin?
- What fears and anxieties did that experience create?
- When you feel under attack, to whom do you tend to turn for support?
- What biblical truth has (or can) help to disarm your fears and increase your faith when you feel under attack?
- What is one action step God might be wanting you to take having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Faith Over Fear host Jennifer Slattery is also one of the hosts of the Your Daily Bible Verse podcast. In that podcast, she often discusses passages of Scripture with truths she finds helpful in decreasing her fear and increasing her faith. In this episodes, she shares clips from four of those episodes and on the following chapters of the Bible: Exodus 17, 2 Chronicles 20, 2 Chronicles 32, and Joshua 1.
*Please note, in the recording I refer to Joshua 1 as Joshua 9. This was spoken in error.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective Questions;
- Which of the four Bible verses and passages discussed in this episode most encouraged you and why?
- Reflect upon the passage where God asked Moses to keep his arms raised while Israel engaged in battle and how God used that event to deepen the nation's trust. When have you experienced a time during which you had no choice but to rely upon God? How did this event impact your trust in and relationship with Him?
- Reflect upon the passage in 2 Chronicles 20, written about the time during which the nation of Israel found themselves under the attack of a fierce army. What did God's response reveal regarding His power and authority?
- Continuing with 2 Chronicles 20, what did God's response to King Jehoshapat's prayer reveal regarding His heart?
- How often have you chosen to praise God while afraid, and how did this choice impact you and the intensity of your fears?
- Reflect upon 2 Chronicles 32. Why might Jennifer have chosen to emphasize King Hezekiah's poor mistake (using money from the temple to pay tribute to an enemy nation)?
- How does God's response to King Hezekiah's prayer–after his momentary poor decision–impact you?
- What resonated with you most in Jennifer's Discussion of Joshua 1?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take, having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
For many of us, our greatest fears involve those we love. More specifically, many of us are afraid we will lose those we love. And because our relationships bring us such joy and fulfillment, we're often also afraid, should our worst fear occur, we'll never experience joy again. In this episode, guest Lauren Hostetler, owner of Moe Mountains, shares how the unexpected death of her mother led to deep grief, anger at God, fears related to others in her life, and how God met her in those dark places.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Find Lauren Hostetler:
On Moe Mountain's Instagram
On her personal Instagram page
On the Moe Mountain website
On Moe Mountain's Facebook page
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- What biblical truths did Lauren share that most encourage or comfort you?
- What character traits of God can you reflect upon, the next time you battle fear?
- How does or has time in nature impacted your sense of peace?
- How has or does time in nature deepen your sense of praise or intimacy with Christ?
- Can you think of an instance when you sensed God's comfort during a time of sorrow or fear? If so, when was that, and how did He comfort you?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take based on having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
At some point, we've probably all worried, should we preemptively give God our unconditional yes, He'll ask us to do something terrifying. And with good reason. Jesus told us our obedience would come at a cost. But God has also promised to stay with us for every faith-filled step, to provide for all our needs, and to empower us to do all He asks. More than that, He's promised, one day, we'll look back upon our lives and all God has done and deem every sacrificial moment worth it.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Connect with Dan Emr:
On the Worthwhile Wear Website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Connect with Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Connect with Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- What fear or fears most frequently challenge your obedience?
- When has God used one of your fears to lead you to His strength?
- In this episode, Dan Emr shared a statement a friend made that helped him make a major decision based on faith rather than fear. Who in your life most often encourages you in a similar manner?
- What is one problem/injustice/tragedy that most grieves your soul?
- In what ways might God be inviting you to bring life to that problem/injustice/tragedy?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take, having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Scientists who study the brain have discovered mindfulness' powerful effects in calming fear and anxiety on a neurological level. By practicing staying present and learning to recognize and rest in God's presence, we can rewire our brains to feel calm. In this episode author and clinical psychologist Dr. Irene Kraegel discusses how mindfulness can increase our awareness and connection to God and our ability to manage our most intense emotions. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resource mentioned: The Mindful Christian: Cultivating a Life of Intentionality, Openness, and Faith by Dr. Irene Kraegel
Find Dr. Irene Kraegel:
On her website
On Instagram
On YouTube
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- When you think of Christian mindfulness, what comes to mind?
- What are some ways you practice remaining present in the present?
- What are some ways you orient yourself to God's presence?
- When you sense God's presence, how does this affect your emotions (if at all)?
- Why might it be helpful to understand that it takes time and consistency to experience the benefits of mindfulness?
- What is one action step God might be encouraging you to take, having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Do you have difficulty telling others no? Do you find yourself frequently pushing your needs and desires aside to meet the needs of everyone else? Do you ever struggle to know how to love others as Jesus desires while also setting healthy boundaries? In this episode, Dr. Alison Cook shares biblical wisdom on how we can discover the best of ourselves and how doing so leads to healthier and more fulfilling relationships.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resources mentioned:
The Best of You: Break Free from Painful Patterns, Mend Your Past, and Discover Your True Self in God
Boundaries for the Soul
The Best of You Podcast episode: "Should I turn the Other Cheek? Why It's the Opposite of Being a Doormat"
Find Dr. Allison Cook:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
On Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- How might you answer Dr. Cook's question: What do you want?
- How reciprocal do your relationships tend to be?
- Where might you land on the selfless, self, selfish scale Dr. Cook mentioned?
- How comfortable are you with setting healthy boundaries?
- When do you find it most challenging to set healthy boundaries?
- How can strong, clear boundaries lead to relational health?
- What is one action step God might want you to take, having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
When life feels painful and uncertain, it can be hard to hold tight to our faith. Thankfully, God holds on to us. So long as we seek Him, He will build within us a faith that won't fail. In this episode, author, speaker, and cancer survivor shares insights she learned when her life felt upended. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Reference mentioned: A Faith That Won't Fail: 10 Practices to Build Up Your Faith When Your World Is Falling Apart
Find Michele Cushatt:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
On Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Discussion/reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- Reflect upon a challenging season. What made that season most difficult?
- What doubts and fears tend to arise when you find yourself in a place of crisis or painful season?
- In this episode, Michele emphasized the importance of lamenting. What in your life might you need to lament?
- How might giving yourself permission to lament lead you to increased faith?
- What truth regarding God's character can you reflect upon to fortify your soul?
- What is one action step God might want you to take after having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
We've all done and said things we wish we hadn't. Past poor decisions might even have caused people close to us to reject or abandon us. We might even expect God to do the same, or at the very least, to rescind our call. But as Max Lucado shares in this episode, God doesn't and won't give up on us. He sees us, our weakness and sin included, loves us, and showers us with His grace.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resource referenced: God Never Gives Up on You: What Jacob's Story Teaches Us About Grace, Mercy, and God's Relentless Love Kindle Edition
Connect with Max Lucado:
On his website
Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Discussion/reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- When have (or do) you most struggled to accept God's grace?
- How can reflecting upon the grace God showed to biblical characters such as Jacob help us better understand or accept His grace for us?
- What thoughts came to mind when Max discussed Jacob's general lack of repentance?
- How can an accurate understanding of the gospel help us to more easily accept God's grace when we mess up?
- In what ways does Scripture reveal God's love to be relentless?
- How can the fact that God's love is relentless help you gain increased peace when you feel anxious and/or ashamed?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take based on what you heard in this podcast episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
According to Scripture, you and I have a real, relentless, and destructive spiritual enemy. The devil and his demons want to destroy us and every good thing in our lives that reveal God's goodness. But while the devil is fierce and conniving, our God is greater. He cannot and will not defeat us because in Christ, we have everything we need to stand firm against our enemies greatest attacks. We are far from helpless victims to the forces of darkness. We are called, loved, and empowered children of God, sheltered in His all-encompassing love.
(Scroll down for discussion reflective questions.)
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion/reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- When have you most been aware of the existence of evil?
- What fears and anxieties come to mind when you consider the existence of evil?
- In this episode, Carol and Jennifer spoke of the seemingly unconquerable (from a human perspective) force controlling the demon possessed man. When have you felt your difficulties were "beyond hope"?
- What thoughts and feelings arise when you consider the power and authority Jesus revealed over the "legion" of demons?
- How can remembering the strength of the Holy Spirit within you help to bolster your faith and decrease your fears?
- How can remembering the power of God's love surrounding you help to bolster your faith and decrease your fears?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take, having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Have you ever sensed God asking you to do something you knew some people closest to you wouldn't understand? Maybe you felt called to leave a lucrative career in order to accept a ministry position, to adopt a more frugal lifestyle in order to donate more to missions, or to drastically adjust your schedule in order to free up more time for God and your family, and you're afraid friends or family members will judge you. Perhaps that's how you feel now. In this episodes, Ava and Kelly discuss truths that can help us starve our fear of rejection and increase our confidence to courageously follow Christ, however He leads, even when those actions appear foolish to others.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions?)
Find Ava Pennington:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Kelly Campbell:
WhollyLoved.com
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion/reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in today's episode?
- When has God called you to follow Him even at the risk of being misunderstood?
- How did you respond?
- What truths regarding God's heart and plans for you can you reflect upon the next time you fear others will find your God-led actions foolish?
- How does it feel to know that Jesus' family didn't always understand Him or His purposes?
- What does it mean to you as a follower of Jesus that He views you closer than a biological sister, brother, or mother?
- How are you encouraged to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take, having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Mental health experts say fear of rejection is one of humanity's most common fears. Studies also indicate twelve percent of people in the United States suffer from social anxiety disorder. To put it simply, we all have a God-given need for acceptance, connection, and belonging. This is why it can create such inner angst when we feel dismissed, discounted, and excluded. Unfortunately, not everyone will like us, nor can we stop gossipers and slanderers from spewing their hate. But we can find strength, comfort, and healing in Christ when others wound us with their words. We can learn to anchor ourselves firmly in who we are in Christ and to Christ.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective Questions)
- What most resonated with you in this episode?
- Think of a time when you experienced slander or feared someone had slandered you. What made this most challenging?
- What insecurities, doubts, or questions did you wrestle with?
- How does it feel to know that Jesus, God's perfect Son, experienced slander as well?
- How does it feel to know that God is your defender and avenger?
- How might reflecting on His plans for you and His power to bring those plans to pass decrease your anxiety when others treat you poorly?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take after having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
We've all probably experienced a situation during which we feared others would reject us. Maybe we sense God asking us to reach out to someone those in our close social circle dislikes or holds strong negative feelings against. Or, perhaps we fear someone will reject us because of our faith in Christ. Jesus and the disciples experienced rejection as well, but they also experienced something that helped take the sting out of rejection–intimacy with God the Father.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Find Kimi Miller:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Tami Wittrock:
On her website
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- When was the last time you worried or struggled with what others thought about your choices, thoughts, actions, or beliefs?
- How has fear of rejection hindered your obedience?
- How has fear of rejection hindered your ability to love others freely?
- When you put yourself in this story (Luke 5:29-32), who do you most relate to? (Disciples, Pharisees, tax collectors) Why?
- How might it help to remember that God will never reject you?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take after having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
When we're going through painful, frightening or difficult circumstances for any length of time, or when we feel we've been bombarded by one hardship after enough, we might begin to fear our suffering will never end. But we belong to a God known to shine light into dark seasons and to breath life into those things once deemed dead.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions)
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Find Kelly Campbell:
WhollyLoved.com
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Join one of their upcoming online book discussion groups
Discussion/reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- When have you felt as if your suffering would last forever?
- When have you felt God's comfort, directly from Him or from Him through someone else, during a time of suffering?
- How does it feel to know that someone as godly as John, who was also one of Jesus' relatives, experienced suffering?
- How can reflecting upon God's heart and character help us to gain strength during painful seasons?
- How can reflecting upon the good God has promised awaits us in heaven help us to maintain hope during difficult times?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take, after having listened to this episode?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Is God calling you to follow Him into the unknown? What fears or other obstacles are preventing you from trusting Him as you follow? God wants us to trust Him by developing an intimacy with Him based on who He revealed Himself to be. Join us as we walk through how to apply this truth to our everyday life, as we continue to journey through the Scriptures with Jesus’s disciples. (Scripture passages: John 1:35-51.)
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Register for Arise
Find Ava Pennington on:
Her website
Find Kimi Miller on:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today's episode?
- When has God called you to step into the unknown?
- What fears, doubts, or insecurities did you experience during that time?
- What tends to hinder your trust to follow God into the unknown?
- How might a lack of humility on our part be an obstacle to trusting God?
- In what ways would you like to know God better?
- How has God revealed Himself to you through His Word?
- How does knowing what Jesus did to purchase our salvation help you to trust Him?
- Jesus told His disciples to “come and see”? How might He be encouraging you to “come and see” today?
Additional Resource for more information on the names and attributes of God:
Reflections on the Names of God: 180 Devotions to Know God More Fully by Ava Pennington
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Twice, circumstances could've ended Colton's Dixon's career. First, his record label dropped him, then Covid halted music tours. To some, this might've seemed like an insurmountable challenge, but when fear, doubts, or anxiety came knocking, Colton reminded himself to keep following God, His light. Because he held tight to the promises of which he sings, potentially devastating circumstances actual let to blessing and expansion. In this episode, Colton shares how his faith in God and practice of speaking declarations over himself have kept him grounded in Christ and committed to his calling.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Songs referenced: "Build a Boat" and "My Light"
Connect with Colton Dixon on:
His Website
YouTube
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion/reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- When has a major disappointment caused you to question your future?
- How did God use that disappointment to redirect or grow you?
- Why is it important to view our circumstances through the lens of God's goodness?
- Who in your life can speak hope and truth into your soul when you feel discouraged or uncertain?
- What are some "declarations" you can speak over yourself the next time you feel anxious or discouraged?
- In what ways are you cultivating a deeper relationship with Christ?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take after having listened to this episode?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We believe Jesus meant it when He said that He came to give us a full and beyond our expectations life. Yet, that isn't always our lived experience. Many of us have settled for partial life, either because we believe that's all God has for us, we're afraid to truly let Him into our deepest and most vulnerable places, or we don't understand that life in Christ is a progressive journey that comes as we experience increased healing and grow in our relationship with Him. Today's guest, Karrie Garcia, discusses what it means to live fully alive and free, as God intends.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resource mentioned: Free and Fully Alive: Reclaiming the Story of Who You Were Created to Be
Find Karrie Garcia:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- In what area(s) might you be settling for "partial life"?
- How would you define the fully alive life?
- What do you think most hinders you from experiencing the depth of life Christ desires for you?
- How comfortable are you with allowing yourself to feel the full range of human emotions, including that that feel unpleasant?
- When have you experienced God's presence during an intense emotional season?
- How has wounds, big or small, tempted you to downplay who you truly are?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take after having listened to this episode?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Living in the midwest, with its vibrant falls, bright and flourishing springs, and crystal-white winters, I've come to enjoy the changing seasons. However, I don't always view life from the same perspective and find myself reluctant to release situations, experiences, roles, or opportunities. But like today's guest shares, we must release what God is leading us from in order to receive, with open hands, all He has planned for us. While our the unknown might feel frightening, we can trust that our God is good, faithful, loving, and ever-present through it all.
(Scroll down for reflective/discussion questions.)
Resource mentioned: Flourish: Finding Purpose in the Unknown and Unexpected Seasons of Life by Grace Wabuke Klein
Find Grace Wabuke Klein at/on:
her Amazon Author Page
her Website
Find Jennifer Slattery at/on:
her Amazon Author Page
her Website
Discussion/reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in today's episode?
- Consider a time when you waited for something for which you deeply longed. What emotions, questions, and/or doubts arose during that time?
- Did that experience impact your relationship with God in any way, and if so how?
- Did that experience lead to increased self-awareness in any way, and if so, how?
- Consider a time when you sensed God asking you to release something you felt reluctant to release. What made releasing that thing so challenging?
- What were the results of that experience?
- What are some indications that God might be asking us to release something?
- Is there something in your life now that God is inviting you to release, and if so, what?
- How can reflecting upon God's goodness increase your faith to take hold of and release as He leads; to live with open hands?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We will all face encounter circumstances that can lead us feeling unsettled, anxious, and insecure, but Scripture promises us that we'll never face a challenge alone. We are always held, protected by and provided for by loving, faithful and perfectly attentive Father God. We are His children, His treasures, and He delights to shower us with His grace and love. In this episode, speaker and Bible teacher Becky Harling shares powerful truths gleaned from what Scripture refers to as the "Lord's Prayer" and how those truths can help combat our fears and increase our faith.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resource mentioned: Our Father: A Study of the Lord's Prayer (A 6-Week Bible Study)
Find Becky Harling:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
On Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Find Wholly Loved
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion/reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- How challenging or easy is it for you to view God the Father as a loving and attentive Father? What helps or challenges this view?
- What emotions or thoughts did Becky's discussion of God weeping with her evoke?
- What are some truths regarding who you are based on your identity as God's adopted child?
- Who in your life do you feel able comfortable allowing to see your truest self?
- Why or how might worship help increase your sense of peace?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take based on this episode?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Some setbacks, poor decisions, or missed opportunities discourage us; others devastate us. We might fear we'll never be able to bounce back from our mistakes or that our time has passed. But today's guest, Pastor Meador, a man who's experienced difficulty and pain, who battled intense anger from which he once worried he'd never break free, and who has witnessed the powerful faithfulness of God speaks assurance to the one who lost their job, who turned left when they should have turned right, who battled self-destructive sins, or who simply have been waiting in their current season for a seemingly impossible length of time–God is not done with you yet!
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resource mentioned: God's Not Done With You
Find John Meador
On his website
On Facebook
On Instagram
On Twitter
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Discussion/reflective questions
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- What biblical character discussed in this episode can you most relate to, and why?
- What are some reasons you have, at times, worried God might be done with you?
- Have you ever tried to "run" from God, and if so, when?
- When has God used a challenging situation or painful experience to grow you and prepare you for a future assignment?
- What character traits can you remind yourself of when you fear He might be done with you?
- Why is it important to wait for God to direct us, rather than operating on our wisdom and timing?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take based on this episode?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In a world that is becoming increasingly disconnected, we crave deep, safe, and healthy relationships. But we've all experienced hurt that can make building those types of connection feel frightening. We might not even know exactly what that kind of relationship looks like. But as we grow closer to Christ and follow His lead, He will help us heal and gain the courage to unveil those places in our soul in which we most crave connection. To live more fully known so that we can experience being more wholly loved.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Find Michelle Lazurek:
On her website
Amazon
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What most resonated with you in this episode?
- What most tends to challenge your ability to connect deeply with others?
- How often do you feel able to live completely as yourself without feeling the need to hide (your opinions, emotions, needs, and desires), withdraw, or self-protect?
- What insecurities and lies tend to pop into your mind when you engage, or think of engaging with, others?
- What might it look like to turn to God when you feel vulnerable or rejected by others?
- What is one area in your life you wish you could feel more fully seen?
- Who is someone you can build a deeper relationship with, and what are some ways you can do that?
See omny.fm/listener for privacy information.
This is a continuation of the discussion Wholly Loved's Michelle Lazurek and Jennifer Slattery began last week on the courage and resiliency we gain through human connection. Neural scientist and psychiatrist Dr. Curt Thompson, who joined us two weeks ago, states, "The human brain can do really hard things for a really long time so long as it doesn't have to do them alone." While we understand, in today's increasingly disconnected and polarized culture, it can be challenging to build deep, healthy relationships, science, Scripture, and human experience tells us doing so is well worth the time, effort, and perseverance required for this level of connection. We are most courageous when we know we are seen, understood, accepted, and loved. (Want to help us encourage and support others who feel unseen and alone? Contact Jennifer at WhollyLoved.com.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Find Michelle:
On her website
Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- Prayerfully consider the depth of some of your closest relationships. How known and accepted do you tend to feel?
- Consider times when you feel reluctant to be vulnerable with others or feel judged and/or rejected by them. How much of those feelings might be connected to rejection or soul-wounds you've experienced in the past?
- When are times when you most long for connection?
- When are times when you most guard yourself against deeper connection, and what does this look like for you?
- When has someone surprised you with their level of care, compassion, or understanding during a time of need or anxiety, and how did this make you feel?
- While it isn't healthy to share all with everyone, it is important that we find "our people"–those who we are comfortable engaging with without withdrawing, pretending, or hiding the most vulnerable parts of ourselves. Who might God be encouraging you to go deeper with?
- What might that type of depth look like in this relationship?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Our world has become increasingly disconnected, where independence is often emphasized. This, and the past wounding that comes from engaging with imperfect people living in a broken world, can make it challenging to build deep, interconnected and interdependent relationships. We might even begin to believe that we can live life alone. But God invites us to find safe, loving people we can connect with, gain strength from, and experience support when circumstances feel hard and uncertain. In this episode, Wholly Loved's Michelle Lazurek and Jennifer Slattery discuss the courage that can come when we know we're not alone.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Find Michelle:
On her website
Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- What are some of the characteristics of healthy relationships?
- How would you describe "interdependency"?
- When do you tend to feel you most need the support of others?
- Who, in addition to God, do you most tend to turn to when you feel overwhelmed or frightened?
- How can (or has) leaning on others during difficulties help (or helped) increase your strength during stressful times?
- How can our living deeply connected with others help us experience God's love on a deeper level?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We all have a God-given and holy desire to be fully known and wholly loved. But while that’s what we all want, what we all need, sadly, past wounds can cause us to withdraw and hide. But this only increases our shame. the God who sees us, knows us, and deeply loves us is, at this moment, relentlessly pursuing us and inviting us on a journey of healing. In this episode, Psychiatrist Dr. Curt Thompson, MD, invites us to experience deep healing and connection through Christ’s relentless love.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions)
Resource mentioned: the Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves by Dr. Curt Thompson
the Being Known Podcast by Dr. Curt Thompson
Find Dr. Curt Thompson:
On His website
Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- Prior to listening to this episode, how might you have described shame?
- Why might it be helpful or important to recognize how we experience shame physiologically?
- How does it feel to know we begin to experience shame as early as fifteen months?
- How often do your thoughts take on a condemning quality?
- In what areas of your life do you most feel unseen?
- What are some ways you allow yourself to be seen by God?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take, having listened to this episode?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Do you ever feel as if you are simultaneously controlled by your eating habits and that your eating habits are controlled by your emotions? Do you find yourself turning to food when stressed, sad, and overwhelmed, then battling guilt and shame later? We live in an often painful and overwhelming world that, sadly, leads many of us to numerous unhealthy coping mechanisms, those we've perhaps, sought solace in for so long, we fear we'll never be able to experience freedom in these areas. Praise God, that's not true! We can break free from self-destructive tendencies that often only lead to increased anxiety and shame, and in this episode, author and recovered food-addict Barb Raveling shares how.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Reference mentioned: Say Goodbye to Emotional Eating: 100 Renewing Exercises to Help You Break Free from the Control of Food
Find Barb Raveling:
Amazon
Her website
Find Jennifer Slattery:
Her website
Amazon
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
(Note: We encourage you to discuss the below in relation to any ineffective coping mechanism you practice, trading your coping method of choice for "foot" or "eating.)
- Was resonated with you most in this podcast episode?
- How often do you cope with difficult emotions or stress through food?
- If often, can you think about when you first began to use food as a coping mechanism and what contributed to this?
- How aware of you are your thoughts before you turn to food or while you're eating for emotional reasons?
- What are the two most frequent lies (if you're aware of them) that most tend to drive your eating?
- Why might it be important to fight our unhelpful coping mechanisms from a thought, rather than behavioral perspective?
- When you use food to cope, how long does your sense of relief typical last, and what do you feel after?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take, having listened to this podcast episode?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Do you wake up anxious first thing in the morning? Does your mind race with thoughts of what you need to get done today and what you failed to do yesterday? If this is a pattern for you, we challenge you to break the morning cycle of worry with prayer!
In this episode preview from Teach Us to Pray, host Christina Patterson shares what to pray in the morning for a worry-free day.
Discover More Episodes of Teach Us to Pray with Christina Patterson:
3 Signs God Is Trying to Get Your Attention: https://apple.co/3pmZYHN / https://spoti.fi/42uBdYS
How to Turn Your Worries into Prayers: https://apple.co/3I4FPgd / https://spoti.fi/3VTyWUO
How to Pray When You Sense God Moving You In a New Direction: https://apple.co/42tOrVJ / https://spoti.fi/3BoBwIJ
Why Prayer Is So Hard: https://apple.co/3pz8jZ9 / https://spoti.fi/3LUNSx9
Follow the Teach Us to Pray Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3NBnXgt
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3NXSghL
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Following after Jesus as He guides, grows and empowers us to become all He created us to be takes courage because He often leads us into new areas where we feel stretched, uncertain, and ill-equipped. In those places, we can respond in one of two ways: we can allow our fears to drive our actions, or we can turn to God, trust in Him, and find strength and courage through our ever-deepening dependence. In this episode, Rebecca George, author of Do the Thing: Gospel Centered Goals, Gumption, and Grace for the Go-Getter Girl shares what God has taught her about moving forward, even when we feel afraid. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resource mentioned:
Do the Thing: Gospel Centered Goals, Gumption, and Grace for the Go-Getter Girl
Find Rebecca George at:
Her website
Amazon
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective questions:
- What are some ways you discern whether or not an idea or pursuit comes from God?
- How often do you tend to discount "small" tasks, opportunities, or roles?
- Why is it important to remain rooted in biblical truth as we pursue our callings or God-driven work?
- How can reflecting upon God's character increase our courage to step forward when we feel hesitant or afraid?
- What are some ways you strengthen yourself with truth when you feel tired or discouraged?
- What does it mean to you that, as a Christ-follower, the Holy Spirit resides in you?
- What might it look like to "partner with God" as you pursue your calling?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take after listening to this podcast?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Most of us feel some level of anxiety during times of transition, especially if we're unsure as to what's ahead. We might allow our discomfort to keep us stuck in the past or trying to rush forward toward what we think or hope is ahead. If you can relate, you'll enjoy this episodes conversation with author and speaker Nicki Koziarz. (Scroll down for Discussion/Reflective questions.)
Find Nicki Koziarz at:
Her website
Amazon
Lessons From the Farm Podcast
Her book: Your New Now: Finding Strength and Wisdom When You Feel Stuck Where You Are
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Amazon
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflective questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- What season of life do you feel you are currently in?
- What do you find challenging about this season?
- In what way is, might God be, teaching and growing you in this season?
- How can remembering God's heart toward you help you gain peace, perseverance, and patience in your current season?
- When have you seen God turn what felt like an "ugly" season into something beautiful?
- What is one action step God might want you to take based on what you learned through this episode?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When many of us learn about acts of evil, we might be tempted to shrink back in fear. However, when Peter Ash, founder of Under the Same Sun heard about the horrific abuses children with albinism suffered due to their disability, he knew he had to do something––even though, having albinism himself, could land him in danger as well. But he wasn't afraid because he knew the God who called him to this seemingly insurmountable assignment would go before him, walk beside, him, and give him everything he needed to advocate for those who, initially, had no voice. Reflecting upon all God has and is doing in and through the albinism community that is bringing God's light into some of the darkest places in our world, inspires us all to live more courageously for Christ.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflection questions.)
Resource mentioned: Free 7-Day Devotional from Under the Same Sun
Find Under the Same Sun:
their website
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflection questions:
- What resonated with you most in today's episode?
- What was your understanding of albinism prior to this episode?
- What thoughts and emotions did you experience upon hearing about some of the ways children with albinism have suffered?
- What most inspires you regarding Peter Ash's story?
- What does Under the Same Sun and the work they are doing reveal regarding our Father's heart?
- Why is prayer such an important aspect in helping these vulnerable children?
- How might God be asking you to get involved in helping to protect and advocate for the vulnerable and persecuted?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When life feels hard and confusing, it's easy to feel alone and unseen. Our dark or challenging circumstances might threaten to steal our hope. In those seasons, we can hold on to this truth: our God is, always has been, and always will be faithful. In this episode, popular Bible teacher Kelly Minter reminds us of God's faithfulness and provides insight regarding how this truth can add hope to even our most painful days.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Resources Mentioned:
Finding God Faithful by Kelly Minter
Encountering God by Kelly Minter
Find Kelly at:
KellyMinter.com
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- Reflect on a challenging season you endured. In what ways can you see His faithfulness during that season?
- How can reflecting upon God's faithfulness to people from Bible times increase our faith and confidence during difficult times?
- What might "the buck stops here" mean for you?
- What's the difference between getting stuck in bitterness and honestly evaluating and learning from our pasts?
- What might it look like for you personally to find your security in Christ?
- How can focusing on God's faithfulness help carry you through times of need?
- What is one step God might be wanting you to take after having listened to this episode?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Some songs convey such depth, they grab, fill, nourish, and strengthen your soul. Brighter Days, by Blessing Offor reminds us that our God is good, loving, faithful, and true–even when our circumstances say otherwise, and He always, always has our best in mind. Believe, also by Blessing Offor, remind us that oftentimes God's version of what's best clashes, at least momentarily, with ours. But as Blessing's life reveals, we can trust that His best for us indeed will be good, even if the journey to that best feels hard, long, and painful.
Find Blessing Offor:
On his website
On Facebook
YouTube
Spotify
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Many of us know the pain that can come from living outside of God's will. We might also have experienced the increased joy, healing, and freedom that comes from a close relationship with Him and following however He leads. And we want our loved ones to avoid our mistakes and experience the same soul-deep wholeness and fulfillment Christ offers. When our desires and doubts lead to fear, however, we're often tempted to respond in one of two counter-productive ways: We become overly pushy and risk creating increased barriers between our loves ones and God, or we lean the other way and don't speak truth when God leads us to do so for fear of pushing them away. Both scenarios often indicate we've taken on responsibilities God never assigned to us.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions)
Find Ava Pennington:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
- What most resonated with you in this episode?
- In relation to your friends or loved ones who don't follow Christ, or who appear to be venturing further from Him, which direction do you tend to lean: pushing them to change or overly-guarding your words for fear of making the situation or your relationship worse?
- What are some ways we can differentiate between sharing out of love and how much is pushing the other person?
- How might our anxiety and fear lead make it challenging to recognize the difference?
- Why is it important to recognize what is and isn't our role and what role belongs to God alone?
- How might reflecting upon God's heart and character help us entrust our loved ones to His care?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take, having listened to this episode.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
At some point, we've probably all wrestled with the fear that God might ask us to do something that we not only don't want to do, but that will feel hard or painful. Maybe we're afraid, if we fully yield our lives to Him, He'll ask us to quit our jobs or move overseas. Or perhaps we fear He'll ask us to give up something we find deeply fulfilling. In those seasons, one question rises to the surface: Can we really trust that God wants us to live our best lives possible, has the power to bring that life about, and will faithfully guide us toward that? Ultimately, can we really believe He is good, even in this, whatever this is?
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Find Jill Eileen Smith:
Amazon
Website
Book mentioned: Daughter of Eden: Eve's Story
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion/reflective questions questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- What surprised you most regarding God's request to Abraham?
- Had you been Abraham, what emotions might you have wrestled with?
- What type of thoughts might have played through your mind as you journeyed to the location God showed you?
- This event recorded in Scripture can help us gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for God the Father sending His Son to die for our sins. What does this account show you in relation to that? What might it reveal regarding God's heart toward you?
- Considering God's heart toward you, as revealed through Christ's death and resurrection (see Matthew 27-28 in the Bible), how might reflecting upon this illustration increase your peace the next time you feel afraid?
- This event recorded in Scripture also reveals God the Son's heart for us as well. The Bible tells us that He willingly chose to die for me and you. How can this knowledge help increase your peace the next time you feel afraid?
- How can remembering God's heart toward you increase your courage when you sense Him asking you to do something difficult or frightening?
- What is one action step He might be asking you to take based on what you heard in this episode?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Even blessings bring change, and change can bring difficulties and uncertainty. Facing the unknown, we may find ourselves slipping toward increased anxiety and fear. In those moments, will we turn to ourselves, feed our fears and doubts with what if scenarios, or hold tight to Christ and His promises?
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
- Have you ever received a blessing from God that didn’t quite look like you thought it would? What happened? How did you handle the situation?
- How can you comfort someone whose life is not going the way they thought it would?
- Can you think of a hard time in your life when, looking back, you can see how God moved?
- How can you find blessings in the hard times of your life?
- When you have to make a hard decision like Abraham did with Ishmael, how can you make sure you’re following God’s will?
- How does God's grace provide a path for redemption in the face of our own mistakes?
- What are the consequences of choosing fear instead of faith when it comes to trusting in God's plan?
Find Jodie Bailey:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Kelly Campbell:
WhollyLoved.com
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What type of mindset makes us vulnerable to chronic stress, anxiety & depression? When you are stressed, what automatic coping mechanisms have you adopted that don’t help, but diminish your wellness? What holds you back from getting the rest that you need when you’re stressed?
In this episode from Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast (another free show from LifeAudio), soul care coach Bonnie shares how to ditch mindsets that keep you stuck in anxiety, worry, and stress and what you can do to stop the stress, when you need it most.
This episode will help you let go of unhealthy thinking patterns and replace them with a healthy biblical mindset to create a new rhythm to stop the stress cycle.
DISCOVER MORE EPISODES OF BREATHE: THE STRESS LESS PODCAST FROM BONNIE GRAY:
- Is Self-Care or Soul-Care Selfish or Unspiritual? - https://apple.co/40lhHxb / https://spoti.fi/3FIg305
- How to Stop Numbing Your Emotions & Stop Negative Self-Talk with Jesus - https://apple.co/405mcvz / https://spoti.fi/3Z2b0hP
- Feeling Anxious? Cast Your Cares on God Because He Cares For You - https://apple.co/3FHsQA5 / https://spoti.fi/3ZWQb8R
LINKS & RESOURCES:
- Take the Soul Care Quiz at soulcarequiz.com– your FREE personal wellness assessment – to learn which areas of wellness you’re missing most to flourish with God’s peace and joy in your life.
- Grab Bonnie’s new book to lower stress, Breathe: 21 Ways to Stress Less & Transform Chaos to Calm
- Join the FREE Breathe Wellness Book Club to tackle for areas of wellbeing: emotional, physical, spiritual, and social wellness at http://thebonniegray.com/breathe.Get 4 LIVE sessions + community support!
- Want scientific articles mentioned in today’s show? Sign up for the FREE Breathe newsletter https://thebonniegray.com/subscribe/
- Get Bonnie’s FREE 7 Prayers & Scriptures to Calm Anxiety here!
FOLLOW BONNIE:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebonniegray
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/thebonniegray
- Website: http://www.thebonniegray.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Have your sins and failures ever seemed greater than God's grace? Have you ever feared that you've done something to forfeit your calling? In this episode, Carol shares a story about a Christ-follower who, in fear, killed someone. But God's grace reached deep into that prison and revealed a calling greater than a murder conviction.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Discussion/Reflection Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- Have you ever feared you did something to forfeit God's call on your life? If so, how?
- What did Jason Kent's story reveal regarding God's heart?
- What did Jason's story reveal regarding God's power?
- What thoughts or emotions arose when Jennifer said that God uses us for His perfect purposes despite our imperfections?
- What did God's response to Abraham's sin reveal regarding His heart?
- What is the significance of God referring to Abraham as a prophet?
- Why might God have had Abraham pray for Abimelech?
- What is one step God might be asking you to take after having listened to this episode?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Have you ever been afraid to ask God for something because you’re afraid of messing up or displeasing God? Or that if you ask, it means you’re not submitted to Him? Or even that asking Him for something may alter His plans? God wants us to develop a holy reverential fear where we are unafraid to approach Him with our deepest concerns and questions. Join us as we walk through how to apply this truth to our everyday life, as we continue to journey through the Scriptures with Abraham. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions)
Find Kimi Miller:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Tami Wittrock:
On her website
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Find out about Wholly Loved's upcoming Radiant Event
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
- How would you describe your understanding of the reverential fear of the Lord?
- Have you ever been hesitant to approach God with your “asks?” Why or why not?
- Why do you think Abraham stopped asking God at 10?
- If you could ask God for anything right now, what would it be?
Step 1 - What is your heart motive behind this ask?
Step 2 - How are you approaching the Father (as a child)?
Step 3 - Pray and ask God what your step is (be still, wait, bold, step, etc.)
Step 4 - Don’t stop asking, but continue to submit to the Father’s will
- What action can you take to grow your reverence (awe, wonder, honor) for God this week?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Have you or someone you love been waiting a long time for God to act in a difficult situation? It’s easy to fall for the lie that God needs our suggestions and help to fulfill His promises to us. But God wants us to know He is El Shaddai, God Almighty, the One who is all-sufficient to fulfill the promises He makes.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions)
Resource mentioned:
Reflections on the Names of God: 180 Devotions to Know God More Fully, by Ava Pennington
Find Ava Pennington:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
(Discussion/reflective questions)
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- In what situation have you been offering God suggestions for how resolve a particular problem?
- How can you stay encouraged to rest in God’s sufficiency to fulfill His promises to you?
- How has God been growing you to be ready to receive His promises in His perfect time?
- What might God be asking you to do as a result of today’s podcast episode?
- Who might God be prompting you to encourage with the assurance His sufficiency to fulfill His promises in their life?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Many of us find it challenging to wait, especially when we're waiting for something we greatly desire or feel greatly affect our lives. But God will often use our waiting seasons to reveal cracks in our faith so that He can lead us to greater freedom and truth; so that He can lead us to increased trust and relational intimacy with Him. Our courage grows when we turn to Him, hold tight to His promises, and remind ourselves, often, of His heart for us. And when we mess up, like Abram did in Genesis 16, God offers us inconceivable grace and the opportunity to begin again.
(Scroll down for discussion/reflection questions.)
Resource mentioned: Reflections on the Names of God: 180 Devotions to Know God More Fully
Find Ava Pennington:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Discussion/Reflection Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today's episode?
- Is there a situation in your life that you are tempted to believe is too big for God to work transform or intervene?
- What doubts tend to pop into your mind during prolonged waiting seasons?
- When have you worsened a situation through your attempts to help God?
- Think back on a time during which you had to wait on God and He responded in a powerful, loving, provisional, or protective way. How did that experience impact your faith?
- What are some truths you can hold tight to during your next waiting season?
- What is one action step God might be asking you take upon hearing this podcast episode?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
During peaceful seasons, do you ever find yourself fearing something will soon go wrong and your reprieve or pleasant circumstances won’t last? Does your fear of what could go wrong keep you from remaining fully present in the moment? Thankfully, our God holds us through our doubts, speaks to our anxieties, and remains faithful to every promise He’s given us in Scripture. (Scroll down for the discussion/reflective questions.)
Find Jodie Bailey:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Kelly Campbell:
WhollyLoved.com
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- Abraham doesn’t “complain” ABOUT God, but he does “complain” TO God. What is the difference in your mind?
- Bible scholar Matthew Henry once said, “God never promises more than He can perform.” Do you believe this is true? How have you seen this in your life?
- When was a time when the only prayer you could think of was, as Kelly said, “Ugh”? What did you do in that moment?
- What was an answer to prayer that wasn’t what you expected it to be, yet you realized it was exactly what you needed?
- Based on Genesis 15, what would you say to a friend who is walking through their own difficult season of waiting?
God often provided a waiting season between the giving of a promise and the fulfilling of that promise. What are some reasons that God might do that? How have you seen that working in your own life?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In the face of life’s uncertainties, even Christians can fall prey to fears that dangers and needs beyond our resources will leave us exposed. But God wants us to know He is El Elyon, the Most High God, greater than any physical or spiritual fears and needs we may have. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions)
Find Ava Pennington:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Kelly Campbell:
WhollyLoved.com
Join Wholly Loved's private "Faith Over Fear" Facebook Group
Join Wholly Loved's private "Wholly Loved Community" Facebook Group
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- When have you needed to trust that the Most High God is bigger than the problem you faced?
- How did you respond in that situation?
- In what ways have you tried to solve a problem apart from depending on God?
- What did you learn about your own limitations?
- How did God respond to your need?
- Abram trusted God both for the battle and for the provision of his material needs. How might you be trusting God in certain areas but not in others?
- What did this situation teach you about your relationship with the Most High God?
- What might your life look like if you committed to immediately bringing your fears about your situation to the Most High God?
- What might God be asking you to do as a result of today’s podcast episode?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We've probably all witnessed arguments and hostility between two individuals who hold vastly different views. Perhaps you grew up in a home where this often occurred. If so, this may have impacted how you view faith and your confidence to share that faith with others. In this episode, popular biblical novelist Mesu Andrews shares how God brought her from a place where she wanted nothing to do with religion to discovering, for herself, Jesus Christ.
Connect with Mesu Andrews:
On her website
Sign up for her newsletter
On Facebook
On Instagram
On Twitter
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Group Discussion Questions:
!. What resonated with you most in today's message?
-
Growing up, what was your view of religion?
-
Have you ever feared your faith would harm your relationships?
-
Have you ever feared your faith would harm those you love?
-
Have you witnessed hostility due to religion? If so, how did this make you feel?
-
Why do you think people can become so hostile or argumentative when it comes to their personal beliefs?
-
How can one's close connection with Christ help to keep them from becoming argumentative and hurtful regarding their beliefs?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sometimes we may make choices for ourselves, looking only at what looks right in the moment, and based on what looks enticing and attractive. We may look at what seem to be our choices and think we have identified the best thing for ourselves. In those moments, we need to remember that God knows what is best for us since He created us and can do immeasurably more than we can think or imagine in fulfilling His promises. Even if we dislike waiting, it may be the very thing God wants us to do in faith.
(Scroll down to find the group discussion questions)
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- Share a time when you decided on something that appeared to be very attractive on the surface.
- What were some of the “lies” that may have accelerated your decisions?
- What have you learned when waiting to make a decision?
- Why do you think what we see with our eyes can be so enticing?
- What was a time you or someone you know unexpectedly received something from God that ended up being better than their proposed solution to a situation?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Do you believe in miracles?
Special host Kathryn Calibeo of the Sparkle Speak podcast stops by to share an exclusive preview of her podcast and one of the interview moments that left her with chills.
DISCOVER MORE EPISODES OF SPARKLE SPEAK:
Missionary & Former Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Gina Sheets: https://apple.co/40ap8aJ
Cancer Survivor Kim Merrefield: https://apple.co/3XSkNqT
Artist Sadie Wilson: https://apple.co/3WLTpK5
Beauty Concierge & Blogger Shauna Garneau: https://apple.co/3wIPjYo
Widow Ruth Anderson: https://apple.co/3HpnKbw
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Sometimes we may look at our circumstances and try to take matters into our own hands, forgetting God’s calling on our lives or His promises for us. In those moments, we take a detour off of the path, a way that is of our own human understanding instead of in his perfect calling. In those moments, it is important for us to remember that we can never get so far away from God that we can’t come back and, although we might take our eyes off of God, He will never take His eyes off of us.
(Scroll down to find the group discussion questions)
Find Jodie Bailey at:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Link to previous episode, when Abraham is called to leave everything to for the Promised Land.
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- How do you feel when you realize that God never takes His eyes off of you?
- When is an example of a time you heard God calling you to do something? How did you respond?
- How does it make you feel to read about Abraham’s mistakes and sins in the book of Genesis then to know that, in Hebrews 11, he is commended for His faith? How can you apply that truth to your life?
- Who can you talk to and pray with about returning to God when you stray?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s one thing to internalize a promise from God, it’s another to make that a public proclamation. When we’re open about our faith and the promises we’re holding onto – especially in a difficult or unknown season – we’re inviting others to experience the goodness and faithfulness of God, too. While it’s not always the easiest step to take, proclaiming our faith publicly has greater impact than we might imagine.
Find Kimi Miller:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Tami Wittrock:
On her website
Find Wholly Loved:
On their website
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group
Group or Personally Reflective Questions:
- When in your life, have you made a public proclamation of faith? How did that impact you and/or those around you?
- Is there an area or season of your where God is asking you to make a public proclamation of faith?
- Is there someone in your life who might be encouraged by your proclamation to stand on God’s promise?
- How can you stay encouraged when all you have is God’s promise to hold onto?
- What have been some faith markers in your life? How did those reassure you to keep holding on?
- What are some ways to express your gratitude for God’s faithfulness? How can praising God encourage you and others along the way?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We've all experienced rejection throughout our lives, including times when we've messed up. We may be accustomed to, and therefore have come to expect, others cutting us off or distancing themselves from us when we sin. We may even assume God will respond to us in a similar way, but this is far from what we see in Scripture. In this episode, Carol and Jennifer discuss a biblical example of a major mess up, how Abram, the man who sinned, responded, how God responded to him, and what this reveals about His heart toward us.
Find Carol McCracken at:
https://www.carolmccracken.com/
https://www.instagram.com/carologlemccracken/
https://www.facebook.com/carol.o.mccracken
http://whollyloved.com/meet-the-team
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083247680572
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- How do you tend to respond after you've sinned? Do you tend to turn to God or distance yourself from Him?
- What have you seen, read, or experienced regarding God's heart that you can remember and reflect on whenever or if ever you fear God's rejection?
- Why is it important to focus on God's character, not our guilt, when attempting to live more deeply connected to and empowered by God?
- 1 John 1:9 tells us that whenever we acknowledge our sins to God, and each time that we do, that He forgives us and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. What are some sins, then, that He forgives us of?
- Considering the use of the word "all" in 1 John 1:9, what sins does God not forgive?
- Again, considering 1 John 1:9 and its discussion of God's purification, what does this mean in terms of our holiness or sinfulness after we turn to God and acknowledge our sin?
- Why might it be important to remember God indeed purifies us from "all" unrighteousness?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take as a result of listening to this podcast.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
There are times in our life when God will ask us to leave everything we find comfortable to step into the unknown with Him. These moments are a lot like “hallway moments” where we’re not exactly sure where or when the next door will open; they are moments that might be full of doubt and hesitancy, but they are essential to our faith. They are the moments that keep us holding onto the One that knows all, even when we don’t.
Find Kimi:
https://kimimiller.com/
https://www.facebook.com/LivingReflectionsMinistry/
https://www.instagram.com/livingreflectionsministry/
Find Tami:
https://www.tamiwittrock.com/
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Support Group
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
Group Discussion Questions:
- Reflect on a “hallway moment” of your life.
- What were some of the lies that maybe prevented you from wanting to step forward?
- What were some truths you discovered about God during that time?
- How have those truths been an encouragement or reminder for you in other times where things felt unknown or uncertain?
- Have you ever shared your “hallway moment” with others? What was their reaction?
- Read Genesis 12:2-3 and underline the seven promises God shared with Abram. How might these also be an inspiration to you?
- Is there any area of your life where God is asking you to step into the unknown? If so, reflect on the steps discussed on today’s episode.
- How has God been faithful in the past?
- How does this encourage you to take that first step?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jesus came to restore everything as it should be. To bring increased health and fulfillment to a hurting, dysfunctional, and broken world. But sometimes our first steps toward the new life Christ calls us to feel scary. What if the change He calls us to damages our current relationships and we end up alone? In this episode, Kelly Campbell and Jennifer Slattery talk about what emotions Abram may have wrestled with when God first called him from the land of his dysfunction and what we can learn from his journey.
(Scroll down to find the group discussion questions)
Find Kelly Campbell and Wholly Loved, at: https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083247680572
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at: WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- In today’s episode, Jennifer talked about living in the “messy middle” where we’re not as unhealthy as we once were but where we also know we have room to grow. Consider your current relationships. Where are you in your journey? In what areas would you like to see increased health?
- When have you felt the need to make a healthy change in a relationship? What was that change, how did you respond, and what were the results?
- Why do you think change, even when we know the change is for our good, can feel so unsettling?
- If you had been Abram, what would you have struggled with most in regard to leaving your homeland?
- Why is it important to remember God’s heart for us when embarking on a challenging or uncertain journey?
- In today’s episode, what did Jennifer say is God’s heart for us? What type of life does He long for us to experience?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When assigned reading in school, did you ever search out the cliff notes? If so, you might appreciate this episode, in which we captured four powerful anxiety-fighting nuggets from our most popular episodes. For those who missed those episodes the first time they dropped, consider these your show notes designed to help you quickly zero in on some actionable steps you can take to decrease your anxiety and increase your peace. For those who caught those courage-bolstering discussions the first time, consider this a reminder as together we progress toward the soul-deep freedom Christ promised.
(Scroll down to find the group discussion questions)
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com/
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083247680572
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion or Personal Journal Questions:
- In the first episode segment, Dr. Neil T. Anderson discussed the imminence and potency of those things that cause fear. Consider something that regularly causes you anxiety. How imminent is that threat? How potent?
- Can you detect the lie fueling that fear? If not, I encourage you to take some time to pray and journal on this. If so, what is the lie?
- What is one truth Scripture provides that counters that lie?
- Consider Cathy Loerzel’s discussion on how we tend to store trauma in our bodies. Why is this important to recognize?
- According to Cathy, how can a dysregulated body affect our relationships and those we love?
- When discussing our “stored” traumas, Dr. Allender encourages us to tend to our stories with wisdom and kindness. What might that look like in your life?
- How does our trust in God and His desire to heal us give us the courage to begin to unpack our stories?
- Why is it important to have an emergency verse?
- What verse can you write on notecards, in your phone, regularly recite, and memorize to serve as your emergency verse to reflect upon the next time anxiety unexpectedly hits?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We can’t force someone to love us or treat us well, but we can guard our peace and joy. In fact, to live the fruit-bearing and gospel-sharing lives that Christ created us for, we must learn when to walk beside and when to walk away.
In this episode, prolific writer Gary Thomas, author of When to Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People, shares insights he learned when studying Christ’s interactions with the various people He encountered.
Find Gary Thomas at:
https://www.garythomas.com
https://www.facebook.com/authorgarythomas
https://www.instagram.com/garythomasbooks/
Resource mentioned: When to Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People: https://amzn.to/3dsPRYR
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Sign up to receive her 30-Day Fighting Fear emails: https://bit.ly/31y43gt
Group Discussion Questions:
- What did you find most helpful in today’s episode and why?
- Did anything Gary said cause you to reevaluate your thoughts on some relational encounters?
- How would you describe the difference between difficult people and toxic people?
- Consider your relationships. Are there people in your life who steal your peace and joy?
- Why is it important to guard your peace and joy?
- Consider a challenging relationship. In what ways do your interactions with that individual make it difficult to love others well?
- In what ways do your interactions with that individual make it challenging to live out your calling?
- What might it look like to leave an interaction mentally?
- How can you show love and compassion while protecting yourself?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Do you find it difficult to rest, whether that involves something as simple as turning off your constantly pinging electronic devices, planning an afternoon out with friends, or engaging in a creative activity? Do all of your uncompleted tasks run through your mind the moment you step away from your desk or a particular responsibility? Sometimes it takes courage to rest. Yet, science also demonstrates, taking regular time for true, restorative rest also increases our courage by actively decreasing our anxiety. In this episode, Wholly Loved’s Kelly Campbell talks with a woman who’s dug deep into the research to discover ways we can all live a little less hustled and bustled and with ever-increasing joy and peace.
(Scroll down to find the group discussion questions)
Find Dr. Sandra Dalton-Smith at:
https://www.drdaltonsmith.com/
https://www.instagram.com/drdaltonsmith/
https://www.facebook.com/DrSaundraDaltonSmith
Take the Rest Quiz at:
https://www.restquiz.com/quiz/rest-quiz-test/
Find Kelly Campbell, and Wholly Loved Ministries, at:
http://WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion or Personal Journal Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- When do you most tend to get defensive?
- In those particular situations, what story are you telling yourself?
- What are some truths you can reflect upon prior to those types of situations or interactions with that particular person?
- Why is it important to recognize that not everyone is a safe person who will be helpful while you are working to heal?
- How did you feel when Tina and Jennifer talked about potentially limiting time with unhealthy family members?
- What were some signs Tina mentioned that can indicate a person is not willing to change?
- How can recognizing this help you find the healthiest level of involvement with an individual more focused on casting blame than moving toward relational health?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take after having listened to today’s content?
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We all have certain reactions that arise when we feel threatened, whether that threat is real or perceived. We have an innate desire to self-protect. If we aren’t aware of these tendencies, however, we may react in ways that pushes others away and therefore reinforce or deepen our hurts and increases our defensive reactions. In this episode, mental health expert Tina Yeager helps us unpack these potentially destructive responses, what triggers them, and how we can respond to our triggers and our reactions in a grace-filled, healthy way. (Contact Tina through her website provided below to find out how to access the free resource she mentioned in today’s episode.)
(Scroll down to find the group discussion questions)
Find Tina Yeager:
https://www.tinayeager.com/books/
https://www.instagram.com/tina.yeager.9/
https://www.facebook.com/tina.yeager.9
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com/
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083247680572
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion or Personal Journal Questions:
1.What resonated with you most in this episode?
2.When do you most tend to get defensive?
3.In those particular situations, what story are you telling yourself?
4.What are some truths you can reflect upon prior to those types of situations or interactions with that particular person?
5.Why is it important to recognize that not everyone is a safe person who will be helpful while you are working to heal?
6.How did you feel when Tina and Jennifer talked about potentially limiting time with unhealthy family members?
7.What were some signs Tina mentioned that can indicate a person is not willing to change?
8.How can recognizing this help you find the healthiest level of involvement with an individual more focused on casting blame than moving toward relational health?
9.What is one action step God might be asking you to take after having listened to today’s content?
You may have heard someone say something to the effect of, “God will use your pain in your future ministry.” This doesn’t necessarily mean He will ask you to launch an organization or create a program within your social sphere or community, although He may. Rather, this stems from God’s promise to use you to comfort others with the same comfort He’s shown. You, whether that means listening with understanding as someone shares their hurts and struggles or walking beside someone seeking increased freedom.
We hope today’s episode speaks to individuals in one of two places in their healing journey: 1) For those still in the thick of pain, hold tight to this—God longs to bring beauty from your pain by first healing you then giving you the strength and desire to help others heal. 2) For those who have experienced some degree of healing, prayerfully consider if God is asking you to walk alongside someone who is hurting or living enslaved. And finally, we hope this episode opens conversation on toxic versus healthy relationships.
(Scroll down to find the group discussion questions)
Find Carolyn Whitney and her ministry:
https://sistersinchristkc.org/our-team
https://www.instagram.com/sistersinchristkc/
https://www.facebook.com/sistersinchristkc
Find Kelly Campbell and Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion Questions:
1.What resonated with you most in this episode?
2.Have you ever felt like you were living in a "glass house" where things looked good from the outside but where circumstances or emotions felt chaotic, unpredictable, or unsafe, or uncertain?
3.When going through challenging or painful circumstances, how easily do you seek support from others, and what do you think impacts this?
4.How would you describe the general health of your support system, and why would you describe it this way?
5.What are some ways we can walk with family and friends through their mental health battles while still maintaining healthy boundaries for ourselves (and our children)?
6.How can healthy connections with others help one heal from traumatic experiences
7.What are some important steps to take when faced with a big transition in your life?
8.What is one action step God might be wanting you to take as a result of listening to this episode?
Learning to be grateful in all circumstances can be challenging, but once we recognize that God is enough, gratitude begins to grow. Through simple practices of rejoicing and praying, we can battle the temptation to believe that God isn’t enough and learn to give thanks in every situation. (Have fear and anxiety-related topics you'd like us to consider covering? Message us through the Wholly Loved website!)
(Scroll down to find the group discussion questions)
Find Kimi:
https://kimimiller.com/
http://whollyloved.com/meet-the-team
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion Questions:
1.What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2.Do you struggle with gratitude?
3.What does rejoicing look like to you? How can you learn to rejoice always?
4.How can you develop, or improve, your listening skills during prayer time?
5.What are some ways you are intentionally filling your mind with truth?
6.When might you most need to remember that God is enough?
7.How has gratitude, or the lack of, shaped your outlook on life?
8.What are some ways you can remind yourself to rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances?
When battling anxiety, fear, and depression, countless people have turned to the Psalms for comfort. In them, we read raw and honest emotion, soul-deep prayers, and about a God who sees, cares, and has the power to lead us to greater freedom. While fighting cancer, guest Becky Harling learned to use praise, often guided by what she read in the psalms, to fight her fear and increase her peace. In this episode, she shared her experiences and the Bible study God prompted her to write: The Extraordinary Power of Praise: A 6-Week Study of the Psalms for the Anxious Heart.
(Scroll down to find the group discussion questions)
Find Becky Harling at:
https://beckyharling.com/
https://www.instagram.com/beckyharling/
https://www.facebook.com/beckyharlingministries
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083247680572
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion Questions:
1.What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2.What Bible passages do you turn when you feel anxious or afraid?
3.How does (or can) praising God in difficult seasons help to decrease our anxiety and increase our peace?
4.What are some ways you remember God’s goodness and love in hard or frightening times?
5.Why is important to understand God’s heart for us when we feel afraid—that He responds to us in love, not anger or frustration?
6.How can prayer deepen your intimacy with Christ?
7.How can memorizing Scripture help you fight anxiety and fear?
8.What is one action step God might be asking you to take, having listened to this podcast episode?
When life feels challenging, uncertain, or painful, it can feel tempting to rely on ourselves—our wisdom, strength, and abilities—rather than yielding and surrendering to Christ. But this rarely, if ever, leads to increased life and peace. Often, it leads to unhealthy coping mechanisms and addictive behaviors. This was precisely what happened with Wholly Loved’s Carol McCracken. Her self-reliance led to alcoholism; she found freedom through surrender and dependence on Christ.
(Scroll down to find the group discussion questions)
Find Carol McCracken at:
https://www.carolmccracken.com/
https://www.instagram.com/carologlemccracken/
https://www.facebook.com/carol.o.mccracken
http://whollyloved.com/meet-the-team
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083247680572
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion Questions:
1.What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2.When are you most tempted to rely on yourself rather than depending on Christ?
3.What makes surrendering to Christ most challenging for you?
4.When has a moment or season of self-reliance led to increased pain or controlling behaviors?
5.What are some unhealthy ways you cope with stress, anxiety, and hardship?
6.What are some alternative and healthy ways you can cope with stress, anxiety, and hardship?
7.What truths can you remind yourself of the next time you feel tempted to rely on yourself rather than turning to Christ?
8.Do you have a community you can honestly express your hurts, fears, and challenges to? If so, how has this helped you grow, endure challenging seasons, and deepen your surrender to Christ?
9.What is one action step God might be asking you to take, having listened to this podcast episode?
Our past affects our present, often in ways we’re not aware of or don’t know how to address. Patterns of dysfunction tend to trickle down from one generation to the next, causing us to hurt others in much the same way in which we were hurt. But God calls us to healing, wholeness, and freedom and has given us tools in Scripture, through our ongoing connection with the Holy Spirit, and through wise Christian counselors to replace harmful behavioral patterns and attitudes with those that are life-giving for us and the generations that follow. In this episode, licensed counselor Gina Birkemeier discusses her book Generations Deep and what God has helped her heal and become an instrument of healing for others, her children especially.
(Scroll down to find the group discussion questions)
Find Gina Birkemeier at:
https://www.generationsdeep.com/
https://www.facebook.com/itsmyoutloudvoice/
https://www.instagram.com/myoutloudvoice/
Find Kelly Campbell and Wholly Loved at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Have a topic suggestion for us? Visit this quick survey:
https://bit.ly/3sc9ueW
Group Discussion Questions:
1.What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2.Gina talked about the importance of renewing our minds. Why is it important to remember this is an ongoing process?
3.Did Gina’s discussion on trauma versus disfunction change your perspective in any way?
4.Can you see any of the dysfunctional behaviors she mentioned, such as manipulation, triangulation, or codependency, present in your family of origin, and if so how?
5.What might it look like to be a safe person for yourself?
6.What might it look like to be a safe person for others?
7.Why is it important to intentionally seek healing from childhood wounds?
8.How can downplaying the pain we experienced growing up hinder our healing, growth, and freedom?
9.What is one action step God might be asking you to take based on this episode?
Faith Over Fear
Episode 126: Building a Faith that Stands P. 2
With Jennifer Slattery and Carol McCracken
Jesus meant it when He promised to give us a life beyond our expectations, and He’s given us numerous tools in Scripture to help us experience the soul deep peace and freedom we crave. Although our battle against anxiety and fear is a journey that requires diligence, intentionality, and perseverance, we aren’t walking this road to freedom alone. He stays with us and will lead us to more secure and courageous footing. In this episode, Jennifer Slattery and Wholly Loved Ministries team member Carol McCracken continue the conversation Jennifer began in the previous episode, looking at additional ways we can fight our fears and increase our faith.
(Scroll down to find the group discussion questions)
Find Carol:
https://www.carolmccracken.com/
https://www.instagram.com/carologlemccracken/
https://www.facebook.com/carol.o.mccracken
http://whollyloved.com/meet-the-team
Find Jennifer at:
http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3VLUO3R
Got a topic suggestion? We’d love to hear from you! Take our quick survey here:
https://bit.ly/3sc9ueW
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion Questions:
1.What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2.In our battle against fear, why is it important to recognize and trust that God indeed is leading us to freedom?
3.How would you describe God’s favor? What might His favor look like in our lives, in relation to our fears?
4.What most tends to hinder you from resting in God’s presence?
5.Can you think of a time when, during a particularly anxious moment, you intentionally connected with God? If so, how did this affect your peace?
6.If you do not currently spend consistent time connecting with God through prayer, Bible reading, worship, or Christian meditation, what change or changes might you need to make in order to do so?
7.Scripture tells us that our all-knowing, all-powerful, loving God is always with us. How can holding tight to and reflecting on this truth help you the next time you feel anxious or afraid?
8.How often do you pray for increased boldness?
9.What is one action step God might be asking you to take in the week ahead based on what you heard in this episode?
When we read certain passages in Scripture telling us not to worry or to be anxious, we may assume courageous faith should come easily. We may think, if only we say the right prayer, recite a particular verse enough times, or muster up enough will power, we’ll find victory over anxiety and fear. And while God does have the power to flood our souls with supernatural peace, most often, He slowly and progressively displaces our anxiety with peace. In this episode, Jennifer Slattery shares concrete steps we can take and powerful truths we can stand on to build, through the power of Christ, a faith that stands—and withstands life’s storms.
(Scroll down to find the group discussion questions)
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
(Contact Jennifer through her website to sign up for her 30-day Faith Over Fear email encouragements.)
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Questions:
1.What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2.How can it be helpful to know that God builds faith into our souls over time?
3.What are some ways we cooperate with God as He builds our faith?
4.What are some ways we might hinder the work of God in us?
5.Why might it be important to recognize our weaknesses in terms of fear?
6.Why is it important to wait and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit before acting in a particular situation?
7.What might it look like to, daily and regularly, to pause for guidance and strength from the Holy Spirit?
8.When we feel afraid, why is it important to seek God’s perspective regarding our situation or fear?
9.What might it look like to seek God’s perspective regarding a particular fear?
10.What is one action step God is asking you to take this week based on what you heard in this episode?
What happens when we're headed in one direction, perhaps even one we that brings us joy, and God redirects us? In those moments, we might find ourselves wrestling with conflicting and uncomfortable emotions. We may even feel as if we've lost our identity. But what if that redirect that feels so unsetting or painful now is actually a major step toward your most fulfilling tomorrow? In this episode, former basket ball player turned podcaster, ministry leader, speaker and justice advocate Josh Dotzler shares how God used a devastating sports injury to completely upend his world and place him a path that led to transformation and incredible impact.
(Scroll down for discussion questions)
Find Josh Dotzler at:
https://www.abideomaha.org/leadership
https://www.instagram.com/joshdotzler/
https://www.facebook.com/JoshDotzlerOmaha
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/influence-2-impact/id1483130712
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com/
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083247680572
Find Wholly Loved’s private Faith Over Fear community here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
1.What resonated with you most in this episode?
2.When has God used a disappointment to redirect you to His will?
3.When you consider potential divine redirects, what fears do you tend to struggle with?
4.What are some of the activities and responsibilities that bring you the most fulfillment?
5.What are some potential ways God might want you to leverage your influence in order to help others?
6.How has God used your faithfulness in an area to bring about fruitfulness?
7.Why is it important to remain connected to a Christ-centered community as we pursue our callings?
8.What is one action step God might be asking you to take based on how He spoke to you through this episode?
If you enjoy listening to Faith Over Fear, we've got another great show that you'll want to add to your playlist. Let us introduce you to How to Study the Bible with Nicole Unice!
In this podcast, pastor and Bible teacher Nicole Unice brings life back to reading the Bible by walking listeners through her Alive Method of Bible study, helping us personally encounter God through his Word by giving us a practical, clear road map for understanding, interpreting and applying Scripture to our lives.
To listen to more episodes of How to Study the Bible, go to https://www.lifeaudio.com/how-to-study-the-bible/episodes.
Jennifer will be back next week with a brand new episode of Faith Over Fear! Thanks for listening.
RESOURCES:
Help, My Bible Is Alive!: https://www.amazon.com/Help-My-Bible-Alive-Understand/dp/1641580216
FOLLOW NICOLE:
Website: https://nicoleunice.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicoleunice
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicole.unice
Mental health experts stress the importance of maintaining a strong support system when battling anxiety and depression. The more we feel known, the more we tend to feel loved. It takes courageous transparency to build the depth of relationships our souls crave. What if we share honestly and others judge or reject us or use our weaknesses against us? In this episode, Josh Lillie, an ordained minister with the Christian and Missionary Alliance, the Executive Assistant of one of the largest churches in Omaha, Nebraska, and one of the hosts of the Your Daily Bible Verse podcast shares how he found the courage to openly share his experience with depression, what challenged that courage, and how he received encouragement through the life of an eighteenth century hymn writer who once had considered himself “mad.”
(Scroll down to find the group discussion questions)
Find Josh Lillie at:
https://www.cccomaha.org/staff
https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/
Find Jennifer at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.instagram.com/avapennington3/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083247680572
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion Questions:
What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
What are your thoughts regarding Jennifer’s statement that one only feels loved to the extent that they feel known?
What are some reasons people might feel reluctant to tell others about their mental health challenges?
What fears, anxieties, or insecurities most challenge your vulnerability?
In what ways can a strong support system help those who suffer from anxiety and depression?
What most resonated with you when you heard Joshua and Jennifer discuss Psalm 22?
How do you feel knowing that someone so anointed as Charles Spurgeon battled depression?
What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?
If you’re a parent, grandparent, guardian, or in some way involved with raising children in today’s rapidly changing world, you may worry about their ability to stand strong amidst all of life’s impending storms. How can you build within them the character and strength that will allow them not only to survive but to thrive. In this episode, Helen Smallbone, “mum” to 7 creative children, including artists for King and Country and Rebecca St. James, shares ways God used her family’s most challenging circumstances to strengthen their bonds, deepen her children’s faith, and increase their resiliency.
(Scroll down to find the group discussion questions)
Find Helen at:
https://www.instagram.com/helensmallbone/
https://www.facebook.com/helenjsmallbone
https://www.amazon.com/Helen-Smallbone/e/B09M2KKNNP
Find the ministry she co-founded at:
https://www.accessmore.com/pd/MumLife-Community
Resource referenced: Behind the Lights: The Extraordinary Adventure of a Mum and Her Family
Find Jennifer at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.instagram.com/avapennington3/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083247680572
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion Questions:
1.What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2.When has God used a time of uncertainty to strengthen your faith?
3.In what ways can times of adversity lead to stronger relationships?
4.Why might hard work serve as an important element in a child’s growth?
5.How can developing and maintaining strong community ties help strengthen your family?
6.How can developing and maintaining strong community ties increase your children’s resiliency?
7.How readily do you seek God’s guidance for day-to-day struggles?
8.How can sheltering our children potentially harm them?
9.What is one action step God might be asking you to take this week based on what you heard in this podcast episode?
For many people, their workplace has become their greatest source of stress and anxiety. This is where they spend the majority of their time and, often, around unpleasant and perhaps unkind people. Due to the impact our employment has on us financially, this is also the one area that has the greatest capacity to impact one's sense of security. In this episode, Dr. Tim Kimmel shares how shifting our views regarding our employment, living in God's grace, and intentionally bringing God's grace into these often highly diverse and potentially tense environments can increase our peace and fulfillment.
Find Dr. Tim Kimmel at:
https://gracebasedfamilies.com/staff/tim-kimmel/
https://www.facebook.com/GraceBasedFamilies
Resource referenced: Grace at Work: The Secret to Getting More From Your Job than a Paycheck
Find Jennifer at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083247680572
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Discussion Questions:
1.What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2.What unrealistic expectations might you hold, regarding your workplace and work relationships?
3.When have realistic yet unmet expectations increased your anxiety or frustration in relation to your work environment?
4.What might it look like to bring grace into your work environment?
5.How can bringing grace into our work environment and relationships create a chain reaction of increased health and peace?
6.How can focusing on Christ’s mission in and for our workplace decrease our anxiety and increase our peace and fulfillment?
7.Based on this episode, what is one action step God might be asking you to take in the next week?
Scripture assures us, God does not want us to live enslaved to fear, weighed down by stress, and overpowered by personal weakness. Christ promised us joy, peace, and inexpressible freedom. He also promised to give us the power to experience each of those supernatural gifts. In this episode, prolific speaker Max Lucado shares a time when, attempting to carry his ministry in his own strength, the burden became nearly crippling and how he found fresh hope and strength through the Holy Spirit.
(Scroll down to find the group discussion questions)
Find Max Lucado at:
https://maxlucado.com/
https://www.facebook.com/maxlucado
https://www.instagram.com/maxlucado/
Resource referenced: Help is Here: Finding Fresh Strength and Purpose in the Power of the Holy Spirit
Find Jennifer at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.instagram.com/avapennington3/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083247680572
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion Questions:
What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
What first comes to mind when you think of the Holy Spirit?
When have you experienced increased exhaustion and/or anxiety from relying on yourself rather than surrendering to and relying on the Holy Spirit?
How would you describe a Spirit-led life?
How does/can living Spirit-led decrease our anxiety?
How would you describe a Spirit-led ministry?
How might God be calling you to share His “living water” with weary and burdened souls you encounter this week?
What is one truth you can reflect on this week to more fully experience the Holy Spirit’s peace?
Often, the greatest hindrance to living out our calling comes from internal, rather than external, influences. When our insecurities dominate our lives, we become our biggest limiting factor. If you’re familiar with the Bible, you may recognize, intellectually, that you are a radiant, redeemed, chosen, called and empowered child of God. The question is, how do we let this truth define us and our actions? In this episode, author and speaker Amanda Pittman discusses her latest release Stand in Confidence: From Sinking insecurity to Rising to Your God-Given Identity and shares actionable steps toward growing in courage and confidence.
(Scroll down to find the group discussion questions)
Find Amanda at:
https://amandaapittman.com/
https://www.facebook.com/amandaapittmann
https://www.instagram.com/amandaapittman/
Find Jennifer at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.instagram.com/avapennington3/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083247680572
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Resource Mentioned: Emotional Healing in 3 Easy Steps (The Kingdom of God Made Simple)
by Praying Medic
Group Discussion Questions:
What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
When do you most tend to struggle with feelings of insecurity?
How has insecurity limited your calling?
When has your insecurities caused you to strive and overwork in an area God’s already equipped you for and called you to?
In what areas are you placing your identity in insufficient things (your role/position, relationships, skills …)?
What truth most encourages you and helps build your confidence?
When has a “I should of” or “I could have” mentality hindered your confidence?
When has a human’s rejection negatively affected your view of yourself?
What is one action step God is calling you to take in the next week? (Right this down somewhere prominent to help with follow-through.)
We’ve probably all had times when life felt so challenging or frightening, or our anxious thoughts too strong, that we struggled to find the words to pray. During those moments, many find it helpful to use prompts or prayer guides. God has provided numerous examples throughout Scripture we can use to direct, deepen, and revitalize our prayer life. These prayers provide additional benefit as well in that they can help us better understand the historical events in which these prayers were offered while revealing a glimpse of God’s heart.
Join Jennifer Slattery and Kelly Cambell in their conversation with Cricket Keeth, author of the Bible study titled "Before the Throne" to hear about two powerful prayers discussed in her latest Bible study and how such prayers can decrease our anxiety and increase our faith and intimacy with Christ.
Find Cricket Keeth at:
https://www.crickettkeeth.com/teaching/
https://www.facebook.com/janene.keeth
https://www.instagram.com/jkeeth52/
Resource mentioned:
Before the Throne: Finding Strength Through Prayer in Difficult Times: https://amzn.to/3e30xRw
Jennifer Slattery at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com/
https://www.facebook.com/jen.pheobus/
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Kelly Campbell at:
https://whollyloved.com/meet-the-team/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Find out about Wholly Loved’s online groups at:
https://whollyloved.com/resources/online-studies/
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
1.What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2.Do you have favorite prayers in Scripture? If so, which one(s) and what encourages you about it/them?
3.Have you used prayers in Scripture as prompts? If so, how did this impact your prayer time? If not, how might doing so impact your prayer time?
4.When have you sensed God asking you to pray for someone who hurt or disappointed you?
a.How did you respond?
5.Think of a time when you have prayed for someone with whom you were experiencing relational conflict. How did your prayers impact your anxiety?
6.What, if anything, did God reveal to you regarding His heart during your prayer time?
7.When you think of the analogy of God as a rock, what comes to mind?
8.What are your thoughts related to trusting God “corner to corner”?
While we’ve all struggled with comparison at one point or another, we don’t have to let it steal our love for one another. Accepting the fact that we are each fearfully and wonderfully made allows us to see the beauty in each other. Admitting to Jesus when we have thoughts of envy, judgment, and pride is the first step in learning to transform our comparison into celebration.
Find Kimi:
https://kimimiller.com/
http://whollyloved.com/meet-the-team
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- Do you struggle with thoughts of comparison that leave you feeling ashamed?
- What do you do with those thoughts?
- What steps can you take to help curb thoughts of comparison?
- In what ways can you celebrate our unique differences?
- How can you begin showing gratitude for your own uniqueness?
- What steps can you take the next time you feel tempted to compare yourself with others?
Our courage to embrace God-led risk tends to decrease when we focus on ourselves or our present circumstances. Our courage grows, however, when we focus on Christ and our next step of obedience. In this two-part episode, Jennifer first speaks with prolific suspense writer DiAnn Mills about a time when her husband lost his job then. In the second half of this episode, Jennifer and her husband Stephen discuss a time when the outcome of his obedience did not turn out as they’d hoped, but why, some seventeen years later, they’d now say everything turned out better than they could’ve imagined.
Find DiAnn Mills at:
https://diannmills.com/
https://www.facebook.com/diannmills
https://www.instagram.com/diannmillsauthor/
Find Jennifer Slatteryat:
http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083247680572
https://www.instagram.com/
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Questions:
1. What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2. When has God used a challenging time to initiate something new or launch a dream?
3. Why is it so important, when embracing God-led risks, to remain connected with people who support us?
4. Why is it important to guard our influences and to be selective regarding who we allow to speak into our lives?
5. Look back over some of your most challenging seasons. What was your perspective of the situation when you were in the middle of it?
6. Has your perspective of that situation changed? If so, how?
7. In what ways has God used a difficult time to transform or heal you?
8. In what ways has He used a challenging time to transform or heal a relationship?
It takes great courage to embrace risk, especially when we feel ill-equipped or unprepared. But God never asks us to tackle hard or frightening circumstances alone. In fact, He encourages us not to, because our greatest strength, wisdom, and purest love are found not within ourselves but rather in Him.
Find Sarah Hamaker at:
https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/
https://www.facebook.com/authorsarahhamaker
https://www.amazon.com/Sarah-Hamaker/e/B002TIARBS%3Fr
Jennifer Slattery at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com/
https://www.facebook.com/jen.pheobus/
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Find out about Wholly Loved’s small groups at:
https://whollyloved.com/resources/online-studies/
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- When has God asked you to step into a new, uncertain, or challenging role you felt ill-equipped for?
- How did you respond?
- What are some ways God has equipped you in the past for difficult situations?
- Consider your convictions. How often or consistently is your agenda consistent with your convictions?
- What are some truths regarding Christ that can help you courageously embrace God-assigned risks?
- When accepting God-ordained risks, why is it important to remember that it was God who assigned the challenge?
- When has your obedience led to spiritual conversations with someone who doesn’t know Christ?
When our world feels out of control, uncertain, painful, and chaotic, it’s easy to feel like a victim of our circumstances or the sinful acts of others. But God wants us to live in courageous victory – the victory Christ already won for us when He died on the cross and rose again. Those who are in Christ, therefore, are always coming from a place of victory. This victory isn’t something we must earn or acquire ourselves but rather, it’s something we receive, hold tight to, and learn to live in.
Find Jennifer at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.instagram.com/avapennington3/
Find Kelly and Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion Questions:
1. What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2. Did Jennifer share truths you weren’t familiar with or had forgotten? If so, what?
3. How do you feel knowing, in Christ, you are more than a conqueror?
4. What in your life might fall under “more?” (Meaning, what are you struggling with in regard to which you want to remember your victory?
5. In today’s episode, Jennifer stated, from Scripture, that all who trust in Christ for salvation are cherished, held, protected, and guided children of God. Which of those truths do you most struggle to believe, and why do you think that is?
6. What are some things your fear has “stolen” from you?
7. In what ways have you fallen into an “orphan” mentality (as if you’re all alone and uncared for)?
8. In what ways might God be working to restore and rebuild you?
9. What is one action step God is calling you to take in the next week? (Right this down somewhere prominent to help with follow-through.)
This world hurts. People mistreat, betray, and abandon us; the economy, at times, sideswipes us; and eventually, our health and vitality will fail. Jesus never promised us a pain-free life. But He did promise to stand with us through every storm, to bring beauty to our greatest hardships, and to one day bring us to a place of eternal rest where sickness, dysfunction, and death won’t exist. In the meantime, we hold tight to His promises, knowing His truth and grace will give us all we need to stand firm even when it feels like our world is spinning out of control.
Find Jennifer at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.instagram.com/avapennington3/
Find Kelly and Wholly Loved Ministries at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion Questions:
1. When enduring hardship, do you ever wonder if God is upset with you? Explain.
2. Why might Jesus have told us to expect hardship?
3. Who are some people you tend to turn to during difficult seasons?
4. How easy or difficult is it for you to turn to Christ in your pain?
5. When, if ever, have you wrestled with God, and what was the result?
6. During challenging seasons, why is it important to know and remind ourselves of God’s heart?
7. When has someone else’s complaints weakened or challenged your faith?
8. What are some ways God has used struggle to grow your character?
9. How has God used times of struggle to shift your priorities?
10. What might God be asking you to do as a result of today’s podcast episode?
Who or what most drives your actions? How much of your calendar is filled with tasks you knew you didn’t have time or energy for, but that you accepted out of fear. Maybe you were afraid you would weaken a relationship, lose someone’s admiration or respect, or make someone upset and forfeit a future opportunity? If you struggle with an unhealthy desire to please others, be encouraged. God wants to help you break free from unhealthy people-pleasing and enable you to experience the fullness of life He has planned for you.
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Questions:
1. What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2. How hard is it for you to tell people no?
3. In what ways have your people-pleasing tendencies challenged your involvement with your family?
4. In what ways have your people-pleasing tendencies challenged your mental health?
5. Are there certain people or situations that most challenge your ability to say no?
6. What are some of the fears that most often lead you to practice unhealthy people-pleasing?
7. What are some truths that can help counter those fears?
8. How might an unhealthy desire to please others hinder your relationship with Christ or your sensitivity to His voice?
9. What is one action step God is asking you to take after having listened to today’s episode?
Jesus told us to expect trouble but He also assured us we have all we need in Him to overcome. He gives us the strength to persevere and uses will use our current challenges, when surrendered to Him, to increase our ability to stand strong tomorrow and get back up when life knocks us down.
Resource mentioned:
Unshakable Unbreakable Joy Bible Study: https://whollyloved.com/product/unshakable-unbreakable-joy-10-week-bible-study/
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Questions:
1. What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2. Think back on past difficulties. In which do you most regret not persevering?
3. What did you learn from that situation/those situations?
4. How did your trust or lack of trust in God impact your resiliency?
5. How has your resiliency increased or decreased over the years?
6. How often do you self-analyze during difficulties in order to become more alert to your personal weaknesses?
7. Who in your life or in Scripture do you most admire, in terms of their resiliency?
8. What is one action step God might be asking you to take this week in order to increase your inner grit?
Everything feels easier when we sense God is guiding us. But what do we do when it seems as if God isn’t responding to our prayers? During periods of divine silence, we might assume that we have done something to make God angry or turn away from us. If we carry shame and unhealed wounds, we might be tempted to view God’s supposed non-response as confirmation of the inner lies that tell us we’re worthless, discardable, or a failure. Our assurance grows, however, when we fill those gaps with truth and remember and reflect upon God’s heart.
In this episode, Jennifer Slattery discusses some of the common assumptions people make during periods of divine silence, what these assumptions reveal, and various truths that can help us stand in the full assurance of God’s grace.
Resource mentioned:
Your Daily Bible Verse podcast, April 5th, 2022:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-daily-bible-verse/id1477482900
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Questions:
1. What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2. Can you share a time when you felt God wasn’t answering your prayers? How did you feel?
3. Did you learn anything through that seemingly silent period?
4. Why is it important to remind ourselves of God’s character and heart toward us?
5. During times of silence, why is it important to reflect on God’s grace?
6. What Scripture passages do you turn to when you wait on God (for answers or intervention)?
7. Is there anything you’re doing, or not doing, on your end that might drown out God’s voice?
8. What are some of the ways God speaks to us? (Name as many as you can think of.)
9. Why is it important that we consistently read our Bibles?
10. What is one action step God is asking you to take after having listened to today’s episode?
We believe Christ meant it when He said that He came to set us free and give us a life characterized by joy and peace. We also believe He will show us precisely how to grab hold of that life. To truly experience all that He promised, we’ll need to address our whole selves—the spiritual, mental, and physical components affecting our anxiety. In this episode, Jennifer Tucker shares a tool that incorporates all three of those interconnected components to decrease our inner angst and increase our peace.
Find Jennifer Tucker:
https://littlehousestudio.net/
https://www.instagram.com/jenn_littlehousestudio/
https://www.facebook.com/TheLittleHouseStudio/
Resources mentioned:
Breath as Prayer by Jennifer Tucker: https://www.amazon.com/Breath-Prayer-Anxiety-Focus-Renew/dp/1400234581
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Questions:
1. What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2. What most challenges your ability to consistently practice self-care?
3. What are some self-care tools you have found helpful in managing your anxiety?
4. How easy or challenging is it for you to acknowledge your mental health challenges?
5. When have you practiced breathing exercises in the past, and how did that affect your sense of peace?
6. What Bible verses most bring you peace, and why?
7. Why might it be effective to pray Scripture?
8. What is one action step God might be asking you to take this week as a way to find increased peace?
It can take a lifetime to discern the best career option for our lives. We all want to feel fulfilled, experience joy, and know that we're able to use our gifts and skills to their full capacity. Humans also have a God-created desire for significance and achievement. When we feel a divine nudge to step forward and to take on new roles or responsibility, many of us wrestle with conflicting emotions. What if we take that step forward and irritate our boss? What if we leave our current employment to work fro another company and regret our decision? What if we're unable to pay our bills? And perhaps worse, what if we remain so paralyzed in fear that we never discover our true potential? In this episode, Career Coach Mary Guirovich shares her story of pursuing then landing her dream job and what God showed her in the process.
Find Mary Guirovich at:
https://www.maryguirovich.com/
https://facebook.com/MyPromotionPlan
https://www.instagram.com/maryguirovich/
Find Jennifer at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com/
https://instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved at:
https://ww.WhollyLoved.com
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Group Discussion Questions:
1. What resonated with your most in today's podcast?
2. How satisfied are you with your career?
3. What scenario best fits your circumstances: you feel stuck in your current career, you sense God leading you in a different direction, or you are trying to discern if and where He might be leading you? Explain.
4. How easily do you recognize your worth in Christ and to Christ?
5. How might growing in your identity in Christ give you the courage to take healthy career risks?
6. How has worldly ideas regarding your worth and significance impacted your goals?
7. When has God used a seemingly mudrance period to prepare you for a later assignment or role?
8. How easily or often do you connect with and rely on the Holy Spirit throughout the day?
9. How might increasing your reliance on the Holy Spirit impact your work, goals, and progress?
10. What is one step God is asking you to take this week?
Life can be painful. And even Christians can carry wounds and brokenness buried deep within us. But God promises wholeness for His children and heals our brokenness. Still, the way He does it isn’t always the way we expect Him to work.
Find Ava:
https://AvaPennington.com
http://whollyloved.com/meet-the-team
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Questions:
1. What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2. When have you needed to be healed of a deep wound that left you feeling broken?
3. How did you respond in that situation?
4. In what ways have you tried to heal yourself?
5. What did you learn about your ability heal your own wounds?
6. What caused you to seek God’s healing of your brokenness?
7. How did God respond to your need?
8. What did this situation teach you about your relationship with God?
9. What might your life look like if you committed to immediately seeking God’s healing when you are wounded?
10.What might God be asking you to do as a result of today’s podcast episode?
11.Who might God be prompting you to tell of His compassion to heal their wounds?
Our world really stinks sometimes. Jesus never promised us an easy and pain free life. To the contrary. He told us to expect trouble, but God also promised our pain wouldn’t last forever and that he’d use our hardships for good. In this episode, Jennifer Slattery talks with stroke survivor Kelly Campbell about the hope that undergirds a spiritually resilient life.
Find Wholly Loved’s free Unshakable Unbreakable Joy Bible study here:
https://whollyloved.com/product/unshakable-unbreakable-joy-free-e-file/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Find out about Wholly Loved’s small groups at:
https://whollyloved.com/resources/online-studies/
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- When have you experienced a time when you felt like your life, as you planned it, was in essence over?
- What truths regarding God’s heart and character helped you hold tight to hope?
- What questions did (or has) your hardship evoked?
- When has a hardship or struggle deepened your relationship with Christ?
- How does (or might) knowing Christ will use your hardship for good effect your perspective?
- When has someone else’s struggle and their response to it deepened your faith or revealed Christ?
- What is one truth you can hold tight to today in order to increase your hope and perseverance?
When we think of God’s promise to provide for us, we often think in terms of physical things like food, clothing, and shelter. But if we search the Bible, we find that He promises us other things as well, things like rest and peace and guidance. When it feels like our needs aren’t being met, we can be still, look around us, and find that God is present and providing, even when it feels like nothing is going the way we think it should.
Find Jodie:
https://jodiebailey.com/
http://whollyloved.com/meet-the-team
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- How have you seen God meet a need in a way you expected?
- How have you seen God meet a need in a way you DIDN’T expect?
- Why is it important not to gauge God’s presence or faithfulness on how we feel?
- What is a way you can remind yourself that God provides for you?
- If you are walking through a “lean” season, stop a moment and look around. What is a way that God is providing for you, one that you may not realize is Him at first?
- How can you meet a need in someone else’s life, no matter how small?
- Where are unexpected places that you see community building in your life?
Sadly, we live in an increasingly disconnected culture where many people are forced to endure the pain of loneliness. Others, perhaps having felt isolated in the past, have developed a strong fear of loneliness. Still others, due to previous wounds, have come to expect rejection and, out of fear of future hurt, remain in emotional hiding. If any of these scenarios resonate with you, be encouraged: God planted the need for connection deep within the human heart, which means He doesn’t want us to live disconnected and He invites us to trust Him to lead us to those with whom we can feel seen, known, and loved.
Find the Ephesians Bible Reading plan at:
https://my.bible.com/reading-plans/25255
Find Wholly Loved at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Find out about Wholly Loved’s small groups at:
https://whollyloved.com/resources/online-studies/
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion Questions:
- When have you felt unknown and unseen?
- Consider your typical interactions. Do you tend to feel rejected or accepted? If you feel rejected, how have past hurts impacted this, if at all?
- When have you felt seen and known?
- How does it feel to know that God cares about your relationships and doesn’t want you to feel alone?
- If you struggle with loneliness, are there places you can go or clubs you can join in order to build connections? If so, where?
- How would you describe the health of your faith community?
- If you cannot go to people, how can you use technology in order to connect with others?
- What are some truths you can remind yourself of the next time you feel unvalued and unseen?
When life feels monotonous or hard, hold tight to this truth: Jesus promised to give us a filled-to-overflowing, beyond expectations life, and we find that life as we live connected and surrendered to Him.
FIND AVA:
https://www.AvaPennington.com
https://www.facebook.com/AvaPennington.AuthorPage
https://www.instagram.com/avapennington3/
CONNECT WITH WHOLLY LOVED MINISTRIES:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- How do you feel when you hear that Jesus came to give you a beyond-expectations life?
- What might that type of life look like?
- When have you most felt alive?
- How would you describe God?
- In what ways might God want you to enjoy life today?
- How can you hold tight to God’s promise of abundant life during difficult times?
- What truths regarding God and His heart toward you most encourage you?
- Why is it important to know that God wants us to experience a full life now, not just when we get to heaven?
Do you sometimes feel as if your life is completely out of control and headed toward a dead end? Do you sometimes feel insignificant and like you’re simply trudging from one monotonous and seemingly irrelevant and unimportant task to the next? If so, hold tight to this: God hand-crafted you for a glorious purpose, one He will lead you to, so long as you seek Him and yield to His will.
(Scroll down to find the group discussion questions)
Follow Jodie:
https://www.jodiebailey.com/
https://www.facebook.com/writerjodiebailey
https://www.instagram.com/authorjodiebailey/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- Based on Jeremiah 29:11, which Jodie read, what type of plans does God have for you?
- Why is it important, in times of chaos and monotony, to trust that God has plans for us?
- How might seeking God’s ultimate purpose for your life help you interpret your challenges today with hope and inspiration?
- Can you share a time when God allowed you to see His purposes in a difficult or disappointing situation or season?
- Can you share a time when God used you to love and comfort someone experiencing a challenge He previously carried you through?
- What are some things you know to be true about God that can strengthen you for your current season and future challenges?
- In this episode, Jodie discussed the nation of Israel’s behavior prior to God’s promise. How does knowing God promised them good after they’d persistently rebelled encourage you in terms of your past mistakes, sins, and failures?
- What is one action step, based on today’s episode, God might be asking you to take this week?
No matter how smart, wise, strategic, or well-educated we are, we will all encounter situations during which we need supernatural guidance. In fact, if we want to experience the rich and satisfying life Christ desires for us, we need His wisdom every moment of every day. Because our wisdom is limited and our perception often faulty, when we rely on ourselves, we’re inevitably setting ourselves up for problems. Thankfully, God provides numerous ways we can discern the best course of action for every situation.
(Scroll down to find the group discussion questions)
Find Ava:
https://www.AvaPennington.com
https://www.facebook.com/AvaPennington.AuthorPage
https://www.instagram.com/avapennington3/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- When have you needed a guide?
- How did you respond in that situation?
- Can you share a time when you chose to rely on yourself, rather than seek God’s guidance? What happened?
- What did you learn about yourself during the times when you overestimated your abilities to guide yourself?
- When have you relied on God’s guidance for you? What was the result?
- What did this situation teach you about God?
- What did this situation teach you about yourself?
- What might your life and day look like if you committed to seeking God’s guidance before moving forward in a decision you’re facing?
- What might God be asking you to do as a result of today’s podcast episode?
While we can’t see God, and we can’t always feel Him, either, He promises to remain present. He’s with us during the hard and the good times, the restful and the frightening times, and He will never leave us. The more we come to trust in this truth, the more confidence and peace we experience overall and in difficult seasons especially.
(Scroll down to find the group discussion questions)
Find Kimi:
https://kimimiller.com/
http://whollyloved.com/meet-the-team
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- Do you normally feel or sense God’s presence? If so, how would you describe this?
- When do you most feel at peace?
- Why is it important not to gauge God’s presence or faithfulness on how we feel?
- What are some ways you are intentionally filling your mind with truth?
- When might you most need to remember that God is present with you?
- What is one way you can remind yourself of God’s presence?
- What does it mean to you when you read or hear Jesus’s statement that He overcame the world?
- How can knowing Christ overcame the world help decrease your anxiety and fears and increase your peace?
If we belong to Jesus, we will find ourselves under attack at some point. But we are far from victims. We can respond to every attack with confidence and from a place of victory because we belong to a victorious God. In this episode, mental health professional Janell Rardon shares her insights on how we can stand strong and confident, even when others act ugly. (Scroll down for group discussion questions)
Find Janell online:
https://www.instagram.com/janellrardon/
https://www.janellrardon.com/
Listen to Janell’s podcast: Today's Heartlift with Janell - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/todays-heartlift-with-janell/id1415401851?mt=2
Find Janell's latest book: Stronger Every Day: 9 Tools for an Emotionally Healthy You - https://www.amazon.com/Stronger-Every-Day-Emotionally-Healthy/dp/080073758X
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
JenniferSlatteryLivesoutLoud
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Catch her other podcast, Your Daily Bible Verse, with cohost Grace Fox:
https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion Questions:
1. What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2. Why is it important to recognize that these attacks can come from both followers of Christ and those who don’t follow Him?
3. Why does it often hurt more when those in our faith communities wound us?
4. Consider a time when you felt as if someone else was attacking you. In what way might this have been caused, at least in part, from their reaction to the light of Christ within you?
5. How often do you view your negative encounters from a spiritual perspective?
6. Why is it important to “do our own work” as Janell phrased it?
7. What does it look like to respond to attacks with a growth mindset?
8. Why is it important to realize God maintains full authority over our lives?
9. What might God be asking you to do as a result of today’s podcast episode?
How do you respond when others attack, slander, or gossip about you? Does that cause your anxiety to rise? Do you worry how that hostile, hateful person might impact others in your social circle? In such situations, it’s normal to feel anxious and unsettled. But we don’t have to allow anyone else’s behavior to steal our joy, peace, precious moments, and effectiveness. We can, by God’s grace, rise up, resting in Him and seeking His perfect wisdom for whatever anyone else throws at us.
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com/
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
https://WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- Think back to a time when you felt under attack. What emotions did that experience trigger?
- What fears did that experience exacerbate?
- Did you find yourself battling with certain insecurities? If so, what were they?
- In what ways did those fears and insecurities reveal falsehoods regarding God (His character, heart, or power)?
- Why is it important to remember that people attacked Jesus?
- How can knowing who we are in Christ and to Christ help us experience peace regardless of how others choose to behave?
- How can focusing on God’s promise of heaven increase our peace during painful experiences today?
- When hurt, why is it important to allow ourselves to wrestle with our emotions and with God?
- Why is it important to seek His guidance regarding how to respond to the hurtful and potentially unjust actions of others?
This week, we're re-airing one of our most popular episodes to date - Jennifer's interview with Philip Yancey!
Philip Yancey’s fire-and-brimstone fundamentalist upbringing temporarily drove him from the church. In this environment, where he learned to play the part, his identity became confused. By the time he reached college, his pain turned to anger and religious mockery, which only led to further rejection. Others viewed him as the rebel, the outcast, the trouble-maker.
But God penetrated the walls he had built around himself, helped him untangle all the falsehoods he’d learned from truth, and set him on a road of healing and freedom. In this episode, Yancey shares his journey, his heart for those who have been deeply hurt in the name of religion, as well as some insights as to how those who haven’t experienced this much trauma can be instruments of healing for those who have.
Find Philip Yancey at:
https://philipyancey.com
https://www.facebook.com/PhilipYancey
https://twitter.com/philipyancey
Find his latest release, a memoir, Where the Light Fell, here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/665644/where-the-light-fell-by-philip-yancey/
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
- What stood out to you most in Yancey’s story?
- When have past hurts hindered your ability to connect with Christ?
- Why is it important to remain alert to the potential hurts beneath a person’s outward, potentially even abrasive, behavior?
- Do you have anyone you can be completely honest with regarding your struggles, questions and doubts?
- What are some ways we might inadvertently shut those with questions or doubts down?
- If you are currently in a faith group, consider the climate. How does (or might) your group members respond if another member expresses questions or doubt?
- In what ways are you currently helping to create safe environments where people can be vulnerable and authentic?
- If you have been hurt by the church, what are your thoughts to Yancey’s statement regarding not allowing broken people to stand between you and God?
- If you currently are part of a faith community, how readily does your group acknowledge and apologize for hurts they have caused (knowing we all cause hurt, whether intentionally or unintentionally)?
- What is one step God is asking you to take after having listened to today’s podcast?
We live in a broken world filled with broken people. Because of this, everyone experiences some level of trauma. Unfortunately, past trauma experiences can greatly impact our lives, perceptions, and interactions in the present. Many of us have become adept at numbing our pain. In order to heal, however, we need to have the courage to unpack and process our trauma stories with truth but also with a great deal of self-kindness. In this episode, Dr. Allender and Cathy Loerzel, coauthors of Redeeming Heartache, released by Zondervan, share some archetype mentalities that often stem from trauma, why it’s so important we learn to order our trauma stories, and how we can grow in greater freedom.
Find Dr. Allender at:
https://theallendercenter.org/about/team/dan-allender/
https://www.amazon.com/Dan-B.-Allender/e/B001HCW4JU
Find Cathy Loerzel at:
https://theallendercenter.org/about/team/cathy-loerzel/
https://www.instagram.com/cathy.loerzel/
Learn more about their book, Redeeming Heartache - https://www.zondervan.com/p/redeeming-heartache/
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
JenniferSlatteryLivesoutLoud
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- What type of thoughts or emotions arose when you heard Dr. Allender’s definition of trauma?
- Consider Cathy Loerzel’s discussion on the three common ways people deal with trauma (to fragment, numb, and isolate). When has this been true for you?
- What do you think it means, in terms of unpacking past wounding, to show oneself kindness?
- Why might it be important for us to acknowledge the brokenness of our world (that our world is not as God intended)?
- How can acknowledging the world’s brokenness help us process past hurts?
- What thoughts or emotions arose when Dr. Allender spoke of false Edens?
- What are some false Edens people might create?
- What are some false Edens you have created?
- What is one action step God might want you to take based on what you heard in today’s episode?
Life doesn’t always play out as we hope. What happens when it feels as if our dreams have been shattered, our prayers unanswered, and God seems to be leading us a direction we fear might lead to disappointment and pain? In this episode, Kristen Clark, from Girl Defined and coauthor of Not Part of the Plan: Trusting God with the Twists and Turns of Your Story, shares her struggles with infertility, how God met her in her pain, and the unexpected direction in which He took her.
Find Kristen online:
https://girldefined.com
https://www.facebook.com/girldefined
https://www.instagram.com/girldefined/
Resource mentioned: Not Part of the Plan: Trusting God with the Twists and Turns of Your Story: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Part-Plan-Trusting-Twists/dp/0801094720/
30 Days Praying the Names of God Resource: http://girldefined.com/god
Find Jennifer online:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook group at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- When you were a youth, what were some expectations you had for your life?
- Why do you think unmet expectations can lead to a crisis of faith?
- Consider a moment or season of disappointment. During that period, were you viewing God’s character through your circumstances or viewing your circumstances through His character? Explain.
- During times of struggle, disappointment, or pain, how often do you reflect or read Bible passages on God’s character?
- Kristen indicated that what we believe about God in the deepest corners of our heart impacts the way we respond to all of life. Why might this be so?
- When we’re hurting, why is it important to remain connected with other believers?
- Kristen shared how God led her and her husband to a new dream they hadn’t previously considered. When has God turned one of your disappointments into a blessing?
- How can our expectations cause us to miss or become resistant to the new things God wants to do in our lives?
- What is one action step God might be wanting you to take this week?
When called to something or particularly challenging, our focus often lands on why we’re ill-equipped, ill-prepared, or on what we feel we lack. But this only causes our insecurities to grow. Self-focus can paralyze us. Choosing to step out in faith, however, to embrace assignments that feel far beyond us, leads to impact and increased intimacy with Christ. Our insufficiency is irrelevant in the hands of our all-sufficient God.
Find Dr. Anderson:
https://www.ficm.org
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Resources Mentioned:
Bondage Breaker
Freedom from Fear: Overcoming Worry and Anxiety
Grab a Fighting Fear with Faith T-shirt Here: https://whollyloved.com/product/faith-over-fear-t-shirt/
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- What were your thoughts regarding Dr. Anderson’s small dog story?
- Consider your battle against fear. In what ways have you allowed the devil to “set the agenda”?
- In what ways can the road to Jesus widen as we learn to rely and focus on Him?
- What might it look like to live in the victory of Christ today?
- Consider some of your fears. In what ways might those fears have been learned?
- Why is it important to find our identity and security in Christ?
- Dr. Anderson said that no one can keep us from becoming the person Christ created us to be. What came to mind when you heard this?
- Why is it important to recognize that our enemy the devil has been disarmed?
Following Jesus isn’t easy. To fully embrace all that He’s called us to, we must relinquish our grip on the life we’ve pursued apart from Him. The more surrendered we are, the more pliable we’ll be to His will. Although this might feel frightening in the moment, the yielded heart leads to life and joy.
Find Kimi:
https://kimimiller.com/
http://whollyloved.com/meet-the-team
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Grab a Fighting Fear with Faith T-shirt Here:
https://whollyloved.com/product/faith-over-fear-t-shirt/
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- What do you think of when you read or hear the Bible passage on “dying to self”?
- What do you find most challenging to surrender?
- What truths regarding God’s heart and character might bolster your courage?
- What’s the difference between giving Jesus “Sunday morning access” to our hearts and honoring Him as our Lord?
- How might living under Jesus’ lordship increase your peace?
- In this episode, Kimi shared a verse where Jesus promised rewards for obedience. What thoughts or emotions did this verse trigger for you?
- How can knowing God will reward our obedience increase our peace, joy, and perseverance today?
- How does or might reflecting on Christ’s sacrificial death increase our desire and courage to surrender to Him?
We all experience times when we feel inadequate and insufficient. In those moments, we can withdraw in self-protection, we can advance forward in self-reliance, or we can yield to and trust in our all-sufficient God. In this episode, Ava Pennington shares a time when God placed her in a position that triggered her insecurities but also that deepened her faith.
https://www.AvaPennington.com
https://www.facebook.com/AvaPennington.AuthorPage
https://www.instagram.com/avapennington3/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Grab a Fighting Fear with Faith T-shirt Here:
https://whollyloved.com/product/faith-over-fear-t-shirt/
Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook support group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- When have you felt insufficient for a particular task? What most made you feel insufficient?
- How did you respond in that situation?
- Can you share a time when a feeling of personal insufficiency caused you to withdraw from a situation or opportunity in self-protection? What happened?
- Can you share a time when your feelings of inadequacy caused you to rely on yourself? What happened?
- What did you learn about yourself during your times of self-reliance or self-protection?
- When have you relied on God’s power perfected in you? What was the result?
- What did this situation teach you about God?
- What might your life and day look like if you focused more on God’s all-sufficiency and less on your weakness?
- What might God be asking you to do as a result of today’s podcast episode?
When called to something or particularly challenging, our focus often lands on why we’re ill-equipped, ill-prepared, or on what we feel we lack. But this only causes our insecurities to grow. Self-focus can paralyze us. Choosing to step out in faith, however, to embrace assignments that feel far beyond us, leads to impact and increased intimacy with Christ. Our insufficiency is irrelevant in the hands of our all-sufficient God.
Find Kimi:
https://kimimiller.com/
http://whollyloved.com/meet-the-team
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Grab a Fighting Fear with Faith T-shirt Here: https://whollyloved.com/product/faith-over-fear-t-shirt/
Group Discussion Questions:
1.What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2.When have you embraced an opportunity or assignment that felt beyond you?
3.What fears or insecurities did that situation trigger?
4.In what ways did you feel insufficient, ill-supplied, or ill-equipped?
5.Were you tempted to rely on yourself? Explain.
6.Share a time when God called you into a challenging situation and gave you all that you needed to perform the task or assignment well.
7.Why might God call us to something that feels beyond our capabilities or resources?
8.What are some ways we can learn to surrender to God more consistently each day?
9.Think of a particularly challenging or tense situation. What might it look like to rely on God’s power and presence in that situation?
Jesus said if we try to save our lives—if we cling to our agendas and plans—we’ll lose it. We can’t fight for control and experience all God has for us. Surrendering to God’s call to follow Him, to yield our lives to Him, can feel frightening at the moment, but it’s the only way to experience the joy, peace, and soul-deep fulfillment Christ offers.
Find Kimi:
https://kimimiller.com/
http://whollyloved.com/meet-the-team
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Grab a Fighting Fear with Faith T-shirt Here: https://whollyloved.com/product/faith-over-fear-t-shirt/
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- Have you heard the gospel before? If so, when?
- What are some reasons people find it hard to surrender their live to Jesus and receive His gift of life?
- What are some words you might use to describe God’s character?
- What comes to mind when you read Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:25 that state, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” (NIV)?
- How would you describe the type of life Christ wants to give us?
7.What are some things you fear losing, should you surrender control of your life to Jesus? Or, if you’ve already trusted in Him for salvation, what were some things of which you struggled to surrender control?
8.In this episode, Kimi shared how her friend’s kindness and “differentness” drew her to Jesus. Is there someone in your life who displays the love and grace of Christ? If so, how does that person impact you?
We can’t live for the moment or for ourselves and build the type of life able to stand strong during difficult times or uncertainty. But if we prioritize our relationship with Christ and regularly read His truth preserved in Scripture, He will build we don’t have to fear the worst floods or storms because He’ll build a firm foundation beneath us.
https://www.AvaPennington.com
https://www.facebook.com/AvaPennington.AuthorPage
https://www.instagram.com/avapennington3/
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Resource mentioned: Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Grab a Fighting Fear with Faith T-shirt Here:
https://whollyloved.com/product/faith-over-fear-t-shirt/
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- What are some things people might try to build their lives upon?
- What are some things you have tried to intentionally build your life upon, and what has been the result?
- Where do you go for wisdom?
- Why is it important to read the Bible for ourselves, and not to solely rely on Bible teachers, preachers, and devotional writers?
- In this episode, Jennifer talked about a verse that referenced the heart instructing us by night. What might this mean?
- In regard to our hearts instructing us, how can regularly reading our Bibles contribute to that?
- Can you think of a time when you received supernatural wisdom from the Bible? If so, please share.
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Mkykta-Dolmatov
We’ve probably all had times when we desperately needed God or assurance from Him but couldn’t feel His presence or hear His voice. In those seasons, we might fear that He’s not listening or isn’t attentive to our cries, but this is far from true. In this episode, Ava Pennington and Jennifer Slattery discuss God’s character, His heart toward us, and His promise to hear us when we cry out to Him.
Follow Ava:
https://www.AvaPennington.com
https://www.facebook.com/AvaPennington.AuthorPage
https://www.instagram.com/avapennington3/
Follow Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Grab a Fighting Fear with Faith T-shirt Here:
https://whollyloved.com/product/faith-over-fear-t-shirt/
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- When have you struggled to believe that God heard or hears you?
- What are some things that might have contributed to your struggle?
- Can you share a time when you felt certain that God did hear you?
- When it comes to our relationship with Christ, why is it important to rely on truth rather than our feelings?
- What are some characteristics of God that assure us of His attentiveness toward us?
- Is there a particular verse or truth you hold tight to and remind yourself of when you feel alone or unheard by God?
- How does knowing all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present God hears you, always, help increase your peace?
- What does it mean to you that God the Father loves you as much as He loves God the Son?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Aleksei Morozov
In our dark and hurting world that is often antagonistic to biblical truth, we might feel tempted to surround ourselves with other Christ-followers and to insulate ourselves from the world. But that isn’t the life to which God calls us. Jesus said that you and I are the light of the world. We’re not meant to be hidden. Instead, God wants us to shine brightly for Him, recognizing that our world needs His life and hope now more than ever.
Find Kimi:
https://kimimiller.com/
http://whollyloved.com/meet-the-team
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Join the Wholly Loved Community Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769
Sign up to receive her 30-Day Fighting Fear emails HERE.
Group Discussion Questions:
1.What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2.What are some ways you’ve witnessed God’s light shining through others?
3.How did you feel when you were around those individuals?
4.What are some ways you believe God’s light shines through you?
5.When do you find it easiest to shine with the light of Christ?
6.When do you find it most challenging to shine God’s light?
7.What type of behavior would you equate to turning on the “flood lights”?
8.In what ways can such behavior prove counter productive?
9.When have you sensed God asking you to walk beside someone else when they felt as if their circumstances were particularly dark?
10.What are some ways you tried to bring light into their dark season?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/drogatnev
We all have an innate desire to belong and to feel as if others “get us.” But Jesus said that His disciples wouldn’t always belong. In fact, sometimes we’d appear quite strange to the watching world. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, when our “odd” or counter-cultural actions are led by Christ, this can be a good thing. Our strangeness can evoke other people’s curiosity, enticing them to come take a closer look at us, our lives, and potentially, the God we serve.
Find Kimi:
https://kimimiller.com/
https://whollyloved.com/meet-the-team
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Sign up to receive her 30-Day Fighting Fear emails HERE.
Group Discussion Questions:
1.What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2.When do you must struggle to feel like you belong, and why do you believe this is?
3.Can you share a time when you felt God calling you to look and act counter culturally? What was the result?
4.When has your desire to belong or gain other people’s acceptance hindered your obedience?
5.Who in your life is strange in a good way, and how does this person impact you?
6.What are some truths that can help you gain increased courage to embrace God-led weirdness?
7.Why is it important to seek to please God above all else?
8.In what way(so) might your life change, were you to prioritize obedience to God above personal popularity or your social standing?
9.What are some of the differences between God-led oddness and pride-driven abrasiveness? How can a person determine which applies to them and their behaviors?
10.Is there anything God might be calling you to do through this episode?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Rudall30
This past year, we’ve tackled our fear of death, how to live more consistently empowered by the Holy Spirit, discussed issues related to significant church hurts with popular and prolific author Philip Yancey and more. In this episode, Jennifer guides listeners through some of Faith Over Fear’s most popular stories and truths to remind us all of what we’ve learned and encourage us to continue advancing toward the freedom Christ promised us.
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Sign up to receive her 30-Day Fighting Fear emails HERE.
Group Discussion Questions:
1.What episode did you find most helpful in 2021 and why?
2.What most encouraged or inspired you in the recap segments Jennifer shared in today’s episode?
3.What are some of your fears related to death?
4.What do you find most encouraging regarding the Scripture passage retelling Stephen’s death?
5.What most challenges your ability to live more dependently on the Holy Spirit?
6.Can you share a time when you attempted to accomplish something God assigned in your own wisdom and power? What was the result?
7.Can you share a time when you relied on the Holy Spirit’s power to accomplish a task God had assigned? What was the result?
8.We’ve probably all experienced church hurt at some point in our lives. Think of a time when this was true for you. What made that period or hurt most painful?
9.How did God help (or, is God helping) you to heal from that?
10.How is God currently teaching you to trust more fully in Him?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Aleksei Morozov
The past few years have reminded us of how little control we truly have. As a result, many of us are entering the Christmas season with apprehension, hyper-alert for that next potential catastrophe. But the Christmas story and Joseph and Mary’s escape to Egypt reminds us of the power, protection, and provision of the God who knows every challenge we will face and who will faithfully perfect and protect His hope-filled plans for us.
Find Ava Pennington at:
https://www.AvaPennington.com
https://www.facebook.com/AvaPennington.AuthorPage
https://www.instagram.com/avapennington3/
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Sign up to receive her 30-Day Fighting Fear emails here: https://bit.ly/31y43gt
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- How does knowing God sees your future bring you peace?
- What are some truths regarding God’s character that assure you of His faithful care?
- Why is it important to cultivate a “listening ear”; to remain sensitive to God’s leading?
- How can our habitual obedience help us avoid future catastrophes?
- Can you think of a time when God went before you and protected you from a potentially harmful situation? If so, share.
- Can you think of a time when God provided provisions before a crisis hit? If so, share.
- What does the historical account surrounding Jesus’s family’s escape to Egypt reveal regarding God’s heart?
- What is one action step God might be calling you to take this week?
Episode Image Credit: Rudall30
Our journey with God begins in faith and is sustained by faith. When He calls us to follow Him, He rarely reveals the full road ahead. Instead, He nudges us to take that first step, inviting us to trust that what’s ahead is good, because He is good. Every surrendered step leads to increased intimacy with and knowledge of our Savior.
Find Ava Pennington at:
https://www.AvaPennington.com
https://www.facebook.com/AvaPennington.AuthorPage
https://www.instagram.com/avapennington3/
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Sign up to receive her 30-Day Fighting Fear emails here: https://bit.ly/31y43gt
Group Discussion Questions:
- What do you most admire about the Magi?
- What are some things you think might have challenged their responsiveness to the Christmas star?
- What does this biblical account reveal regarding God’s heart for us?
- How did their responsiveness lead to increased knowledge of God?
- When have you sensed God calling you to follow Him on a relatively vague road?
- When has your responsiveness to God’s leading increased your intimacy with Him?
- What might it look like to follow God’s leading this Christmas?
- What currently challenges your responsiveness or obedience?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/lukbar
Dealing with Toxic People, with Gary Thomas - Ep. 84
We can’t force someone to love us or treat us well, but we can guard our peace and joy. In fact, to live the fruit bearing and gospel-sharing lives that Christ created us for, we must learn when to walk beside and when to walk away.
In this episode, prolific writer Gary Thomas, author of When to Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People, shares insights he learned when studying Christ’s interactions with the various people He encountered.
Find Gary Thomas at:
https://www.garythomas.com
https://www.facebook.com/authorgarythomas
https://www.instagram.com/garythomasbooks/
Resource mentioned: When to Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People: https://amzn.to/3dsPRYR
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Sign up to receive her 30-Day Fighting Fear emails: https://bit.ly/31y43gt
Group Discussion Questions:
- What did you find most helpful in today’s episode and why?
- Did anything Gary said cause you to reevaluate your thoughts on some relational encounters?
- How would you describe the difference between difficult people and toxic people?
- Consider your relationships. Are there people in your life who steal your peace and joy?
- Why is it important to guard your peace and joy?
- Consider a challenging relationship. In what ways do your interactions with that individual make it difficult to love others well?
- In what ways do your interactions with that individual make it challenging to live out your calling?
- What might it look like to leave an interaction mentally?
- How can you show love and compassion while protecting yourself?
Episode Image Credit: Syuzanna Guseynova
At times, God’s call to love others persistently and sacrificially can feel confusing, especially if the individual we’re reaching out to behaves in unhealthy and hurtful ways. How can we love well, in a way that is healthy and emotionally and mentally safe?
In this episode, Jennifer discusses ways our insecurities and past hurts can pose personal challenges, how God uses those challenges to create increased beauty within us, and the importance of establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries in all our interactions.
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Sign up to receive her 30-Day Fighting Fear emails here: https://bit.ly/3l1eAYs
Resource mentioned: Becoming His Princess Bible Study Video Week One: https://bit.ly/3o5qHFG
Group Discussion Questions:
1.What did you find most helpful in today’s episode and why?
2.How often do you pause to evaluate your reactions to particular people or situations?
3.In what ways have your insecurities or past hurts colored your perception during disagreements or relationally tense moments?
4.Consider someone with whom you often experience difficulty. How much of your ongoing issues might be exacerbated by unresolved hurts from your past?
5.When, if ever, do you find yourself getting sucked into someone else’s drama?
6.What are some ways you can avoid this?
7.How well do you “shake off” rejection?
8.What might healthy boundaries look like in your situation?
9.What do you find most challenging when it comes to establishing or maintaining healthy boundaries?
10.What is one action step you feel God is wanting you to take after having listened to this podcast episode?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/LinaDes
Loving like Jesus commands is challenging, in the best situations. Trying to love those who are a bit rougher around the edges, who respond with defensiveness, or perhaps even reject our attempts can become frustrating and even painful. Often, such experiences trigger our fears and insecurities. What if their ugly behavior triggers ugliness within us? In this episode, which is part one of a two-part conversation, Matt Maciera, the Executive Director of Be Bold Street Ministries, shares how God has given Him the courage, wisdom, and grace to reach out to those enslaved to darkness.
Find Matt’s Ministry:
https://www.beboldstreetministries.org
https://www.facebook.com/BeBoldStreetMinistry
https://www.instagram.com/beboldstreetministry/
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Sign up to receive her 30-Day Fighting Fear emails here: https://bit.ly/3l1eAYs
Group Discussion Questions:
1.What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2.Consider someone in your circle whom you find hard to love. What about them or their behavior do you find most challenging?
3.In what ways does that individual trigger feelings of insecurity?
4.How much of your difficulty, in regard to loving the person referenced in question two stems from your own fears and insecurities?
5.Why is prayer so important in our effort to live and love like Jesus?
6.Why is it important to recognize our propensity to misread situations when we are engaging those who are hard to love?
7.What role does prayer play in your interactions with the person referenced in question 2?
8.How might viewing your interactions as a personal learning experience help decrease your anxiety and increase your courage in relation to loving those who are hard to love?
9.Who is one person God wants you to reach out to this week?
10.What is one specific way you can show God’s love to the individual referenced in question 9?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Tetiana Lazunova
When we recognize how deeply God loves us, we realize we have nothing to fear. The God who is sovereign, all-powerful, and present in our every moment watches over us with the care and attentiveness of a perfect Father.
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Sign up to receive her 30-Day Fighting Fear emails HERE: https://bit.ly/30A1s5x
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- How easily do you receive God’s love?
- When have you most felt loved by God?
- What might it look like to “live loved” on a typical day?
5 In what ways might you misunderstand or hold misconceptions regarding God’s love? - How have your experiences of imperfect love from people distorted your view of God as your loving Father?
- Consider God’s perfect love couples with His sovereignty and power. How does this combination speak to your fears?
- In what ways can “living loved” increase your emotional and spiritual freedom?
- In this episode, Jennifer discussed our tendency to distance ourselves from God when we’re disobedience or have disobeyed. When has this been true for you? What brought you back into a close relationship with Him again?
- How does it feel to know that God watched you with joy?
Image Credit: Getty/Ponomariova Maria
When the storms of life hit, we don’t have to be tossed about. We can stand firm and secure in our steady and faithful anchor Jesus Christ. In this episode, Wholly Loved Jennifer Slattery and Kimi Miller talk about the importance of remaining anchored in Christ, damaging anchors we might try to hold tight to, and how to live with deeper faith and intimacy with Christ.
Find Kimi:
https://kimimiller.com/
http://whollyloved.com/meet-the-team
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
1.What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2.What are some ineffective or damaging anchors you’ve grabbed hold of?
3.What does it mean to make Jesus your anchor?
4.Jesus often uses life’s challenges to deepen our faith. When has this proven true for you?
5.What are some truths you can hold tight to the next time life feels hard or uncertain?
6.Kimi and Jennifer talked about the importance of focusing on our unique race. In what ways do you find this challenging?
7.How can focusing on someone else’s “race” increase a person’s anxiety?
8.Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him and we are to do the same. What are some of the joys God has set before you?
9.Consider the woman with the alabaster jar. Had you been her, what would have made it hard for you to enter the house to see Jesus?
10.What tends to keep you from pursuing Jesus, your anchor?
**We want to let you know that in this episode we discuss child loss. Please listen with discretion if this is a sensitive topic for you.
Most, if not all of us, are pain adverse. Many of us also hold false beliefs regarding suffering. These things and more can add unnecessary burdens, pain, and anxiety to our grief. In our effort to be a “good Christ-follower” we might pull away from God and our faith community, presenting a filtered version of ourselves. But God can handle our most intense emotions. In fact, He wants us to come to Him, to receive His love amid our struggle and His strength able to carry us through our weakest moments.
In this episode, Wholly Loved’s Chaka Heinze shares her journey of mourning her eleven-year-old son, wrestling with God and her faith, and learning to live again.
Find Chaka Heinze at:
https://www.chakaheinze.com
https://morethanyourself.com/decisions-challenge
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- Are you comfortable sharing your most intense emotions with God? Why or why not?
- What thoughts came to mind when Chaka talked about being mad at God?
- Why is it important to turn to God when we’re hurting, confused or angry?
- When have you had someone “rebuke” you for, according to them, not grieving correctly?
- What are your thoughts regarding Chaka’s statement that death was not God’s will for us?
- Why is it important to let God guide us in our grieving process?
- What are some ways trying to rush through our grief might prove damaging?
- Consider a time when you found yourself intensely wrestling with God over something. What was the result of that experience?
- Why is it important to place our hope in heaven rather than a pain-free today?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/SophonK
We’ve endured so much over the past few years, and it has left many of us feeling unsettled, somewhat disoriented, and vulnerable. Our world gives us plenty of reasons to feel afraid, but our faithful, promise-keeping God gives us much more convincing reasons to live with confidence. In this episode, Jennifer Slattery and guest Kristine Brown discuss some of God’s promises that we can hold tight to when we feel afraid.
Find Kristine Brown at:
https://www.kristinebrown.net
https://morethanyourself.com/decisions-challenge
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Resources:
100 of God's Promises for Your Unraveled Heart (free for all who sign up for Kristine’s newsletter at https://www.Kristinebrown.net)
Walking with Rahab: A 5-Day Challenge to Better Decision Making (free 5-Day study)
Unshakable Unbreakable Joy, a 10-week Bible Study from Wholly Loved Ministries
Faith Over Fear Reading Plan on YouVersion Bible App.
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- What are some ways you find and remind yourself of God’s promises?
- What are some of your favorite promises God has made throughout Scripture?
- Why do those promises comfort and encourage you?
- Why is it important to practice “making that mind shift” onto truth as Kristine phrased it?
- What most encouraged you regarding Rahab’s story?
- How do you feel knowing God’s faithfulness is not dependent on yours?
- What is one action step God is asking you to take this week to grow in your reliance on His truth?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Ponomariova Maria
Our world has become increasingly angry, argumentative, and hostile to the gospel and biblical truth. Unfortunately, the church is, in part, to blame; we’ve become more known for what we’re against than for what we are for. But we mustn’t let the hateful misrepresentation of Christ silence our voice. People need the hope and power of Christ now more than ever. In this episode Jennifer Slattery and Ava Pennington discuss ways to increase our courage while simultaneously upping our truth and grace.
Find Ava Pennington at:
https://www.AvaPennington.com
https://www.facebook.com/AvaPennington.AuthorPage
https://www.instagram.com/avapennington3/
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
1.What encouraged you most during today’s episode?
2.What are some emotions you would have struggled with, had you been in Timothy’s position?
3.What emotions arise when you consider initiating spiritual conversations with others?
4.When do you find it most challenging to share your faith?
5.Why is it important to remind ourselves of our calling (whether that’s in a particular role or the general call to share Christ with others) during times of opposition?
6.What are some ways you can “fan” your gift “into flame”?
7.How can asking questions help reduce our listener’s defenses?
8.Why is it important to balance truth with clearly revealed grace?
9.Consider a time when someone came at you with grace-less truth. How did you respond and why?
10.Consider a time when someone spoke truth to you in a gentle and grace-filled way. How did you respond and why?
11.Why is it important to establish a relationship with someone before attempting to speak truth into their life?
12.What is one action step God might be wanting you to take this week?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Ponomariova Maria
What happens when the places God designed to lead us closer to Him, to healing and wholeness, and freedom, become hurtful and toxic? When past hurts create present anxiety that make it challenging for us to enter church buildings, join community groups, and connect with Christ? Unfortunately, many people wrestle with these questions as they try to make sense of God. For those who have been wounded by people in positions of authority, it can be hard to untangle truth from human criticism and God’s character from the false representation of Him.
In this episode, Minister Dawn Gentry, the Executive Director of Adult Ministries at Christ Community Church in Omaha, Nebraska, and Jennifer’s daughter, Ashley Chester, discuss some of the church hurts they’ve experienced and witnessed and how God helped them move toward increased wholeness and gave them the courage to overcome lies spoken into their hearts in order live for Him.
Find Dawn Gentry at:
https://followinggodanyway.com
https://www.facebook.com/dawn.gentry2
https://www.instagram.com/gentry2987/
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Book Dawn mentioned: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- Why do hurts related to faith hurt so deeply?
- When have you been told, in the context of religion, that you’re not enough or that you’re “too much”? How did this make you feel?
- How would you describe a toxic faith group?
- How would you describe a healthy faith group?
- When has a past hurt hindered your ability to attend church, join a group, or connect with God?
- What are some healthy ways group members can respond to another member’s doubts or questions?
- What are some unhealthy responses to someone’s doubts or questions?
- What are some ways a person can begin to separate hurts they’ve experienced from the love of God?
- Why is it important to always remember who we are in Christ?
- What is one action step God is inviting you to take based on today’s episode?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Image_Jungle
**Note to our Listeners! If you love listening to "Faith Over Fear" we want to introduce you to a new LifeAudio podcast we think you'll enjoy: "Reframed: The Power of Perspective." We're dropping the first episode in your feed this morning. If you like it and want to listen to more, just search for "Reframed: The Power of Perspective" in your favorite podcast app.
A.W. Tozer once stated, “What comes to mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” This is the Power of Perspective. Each of us has a unique outlook that shapes our view of God, ourselves, and the world. A perspective is simply a specific viewpoint. Much like a camera, a perspective is built upon a unique frame, focus, and filter. The most powerful aspect of one’s perspective is that it directly orients their thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and behaviors.
The 3 Parts of Our Perspective:
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A Frame - Much like the frame of the camera, our perspective works within the limitations of the knowledge available to us. It’s within this frame we see only what is within our perception, unaware of what is right outside the border.
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A Filter - This is our internal bias. This is made up of our past experiences or our personal values, which greatly influence how we see the world, ourselves, others, and God. Filters significantly impact our perspective, what is seen or not seen.
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A Focus - This is the most important aspect of forming our perspective. It is largely influenced by the messages we have received in the past, our formative experiences. Unfortunately, our perspectives are not always grounded in truth and often fueled by distortion, irrational beliefs, and distortions.
In this first episode of the podcast, Carley shares her own personal journey of faith and her passion for creating connections between biblical theology and the practical steps found in the themes of therapy.
If know our perspectives are often distorted, what do we do? How do we realign our faith and our feelings? This is where reframing our thoughts is so vitally important. Carley unpacks how can we begin to do this in our daily lives.
Follow Carley:
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Iland19
Philip Yancey’s fire-and-brimstone fundamentalist upbringing temporarily drove him from the church. In this environment, where he learned to play the part, his identity became confused. By the time he reached college, his pain turned to anger and religious mockery, which only led to further rejection. Others viewed him as the rebel, the outcast, the trouble-maker.
But God penetrated the walls he had built around himself, helped him untangle all the falsehoods he’d learned from truth, and set him on a road of healing and freedom. In this episode, Yancey shares his journey, his heart for those who have been deeply hurt in the name of religion, as well as some insights as to how those who haven’t experienced this such trauma can be instruments of healing for those who have.
Find Philip Yancey at:
https://philipyancey.com
https://www.facebook.com/PhilipYancey
https://twitter.com/philipyancey
Find his latest release, a memoir, Where the Light Fell, here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/665644/where-the-light-fell-by-philip-yancey/
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
- What stood out to you most in Yancey’s story?
- When have past hurts hindered your ability to connect with Christ?
- Why is it important to remain alert to the potential hurts beneath a person’s outward, potentially even abrasive, behavior?
- Do you have anyone you can be completely honest with regarding your struggles, questions and doubts?
- What are some ways we might inadvertently shut those with questions or doubts down?
- If you are currently in a faith group, consider the climate. How does (or might) your group members respond if another member expresses questions or doubt?
- In what ways are you currently helping to create safe environments where people can be vulnerable and authentic?
- If you have been hurt by the church, what are your thoughts to Yancey’s statement regarding not allowing broken people to stand between you and God?
- If you currently are part of a faith community, how readily does your group acknowledge and apologize for hurts they have caused (knowing we all cause hurt, whether intentionally or unintentionally)?
- What is one step God is asking you to take after having listened to today’s podcast?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Zubada
In this episode, we are countering lies related to mental health.
Unfortunately, many people hold a lot of misunderstandings and misinformation related to mental health. These falsehoods can lead to confusion, cause people from getting the help they need and to feel ashamed when they do get help. In this episode, Jennifer Slattery expels some of the more common lies she’s heard over the years, helping listeners make informed decisions in their freedom journey
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
- What is your experience with mental health professionals?
- Consider your social circle. How many of your friends and family members have sought counseling? How has this affected your view of mental health professionals?
- What lie mentioned in today’s episode do you find most personally inhibiting? Why is this?
- Which point discussed in today’s episode most intrigued you? Why?
- In what ways does God’s interaction with the prophet Elijah encourage you in your struggle?
- How easy or challenging is it/or would it be/for you to tell others you are or have gone to counseling, and why do you think this is?
- What is your next action step regarding your own mental health journey?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Ponomariova_Maria
In our ongoing battle against anxiety and fear, it can be challenging to find resources that are filled with truth and presented from a place of understanding and grace. It can be even more challenging to find biblically sound, heart-safe resources presented from a strong and mature Christ-follower who understands, because they’ve shared similar struggles. This is why books like Grace Fox’s Moving from Fear to Freedom: A Woman’s Guide to Peace in Every Situation are so invaluable.
Written by a career global worker who could’ve easily lost her newborn daughter, Grace knows what it’s like to wrestle with the deep truths of God during times of intense fear. In this interview, she shares one of her most frightening moments to date, how God met her in her fear, and practical ways listeners can move from fear to increased faith and freedom.
Find Grace at:
https://www.gracefox.com/blog
https://www.facebook.com/gracefox.author
https://www.instagram.com/graceloewenfox/
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Podcast episode referenced: Faith Over Fear Episode 63: Finding Peace in the God of Heaven's Armies
Group Discussion Questions:
1. What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2. When do you tend to feel most vulnerable?
3. How do you normally respond when you feel vulnerable?
4. What truths or songs help you remember God’s love, strength, and faithfulness?
5. When had God reminded you of truth or passage during a time of fear?
6. What are some practical ways you remind yourself of God’s goodness, faithfulness, power, and/or sovereignty?
7. What are some practical ways you have or can remind yourself of ways God has cared for you in the past?
8. Why is it important to turn to God when we’re afraid?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Rudzhan Nagiev
The greater the challenge, the greater our need for Holy-Spirit powered living. Life without Him is exhausting and defeating. We cannot live for Christ and do all He’s asked in our own strength. We can, however, do all He’s asked and live with victorious confidence when we remain vitally connected to Him. If we want to experience the supernatural, courageous, and history-making life God calls us to, we’ll need to remain yielded to and dependent on the Holy Spirit within.
Find Kimi:
https://kimimiller.com/
http://whollyloved.com/meet-the-team
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Podcast episode referenced: Faith Over Fear Episode 66: Trusting Our Good Shepherd
Group Discussion Questions:
1. What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2. How often do you tend to rely on your strength rather than seeking the power of the Holy Spirit?
3. Why is it important we rely on the Holy Spirit?
4. What are some ways you can increase your dependence on Him?
5. How does or has pride hindered your reliance on the Holy Spirit?
6. In what ways has or does fear tempt you to rely on yourself?
7. In what ways does the Holy Spirit help us live more effectively for Christ?
8. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us God hasn’t give us a spirit of fear but instead one of power, love, and self-discipline.
a. Why is it important to recognize what is and isn’t from God?
b. Why is it important to rely on God’s power when fighting our fears?
c. In what ways can the gift of self-discipline help you in fighting your fears?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Suksunt Sansawast
God has given us a powerful supernatural gift, a precious Counselor and Friend, able to guide us through any situation, grant us peace in the most challenging circumstances, and lead us from potential dangers. The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, is our ever-present help who gives us everything we need to live as God desires and do all He’s asked. He is speaking, and He invites us to cultivate a listening ear.
This episode’s guest Linda Shepherd is an award-winning author who has written over 35 books, including the best-selling When You Don't Know What to Pray. She’s an internationally recognized speaker and is the founder of Right the Heart ministries, the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.
Find Linda:
https://www.gottopray.com
https://www.facebook.com/LindaEvansShepherdAuthor
https://www.instagram.com/linda_evans_shepherd/
Her book: When You Need to Move a Mountain
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
1. How would you describe the Holy Spirit?
2. How would you describe your interactions with the Holy Spirit?
3. How often or readily do you sense His presence?
4. What are some ways He speaks to us?
5. How do you most tend to hear Him?
6. What are some things that can challenge our ability to hear Him?
7. What are some ways you discern whether or not a thought or impression came from the Holy Spirit?
8. When learning to hear from God, why is it important we read Scripture?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Malte Mueller
When we have the courage to be emotionally honest and evaluate our reactions from a sense of curiosity rather than shame, we’re better able to process everything from a position of love and grace. We all have “the thing” beneath the “thing,” but we also have a gentle loving Savior who invites us to uncover those hurts and false narratives that hold us back and to steadily advance toward greater freedom.
Steve Carter is a pastor, speaker, author, podcast host, and the former lead teaching pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago. He hosts the Craft & Character podcast where he helps people get better at the art of communication while ensuring their character always leads the way. He also cohosts, with NFL players Sam Acho and Trey Burton, the popular Home Team Podcast. His desire is to bring Jesus into every conversation and space he occupies.
Follow Steve:
https://www.stevecarter.org/
https://www.facebook.com/thisinvitationallife
https://www.instagram.com/steveryancarter/
Be sure to check out Steve's book: The Thing Beneath the Thing: What's Hidden Inside (and What God Helps Us Do About It)
Find Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
- How comfortable are you with being emotionally honest?
- Do your typical reactions tend to be rooted in love or shame?
- What might it look like to embrace a sense of curiosity when you behave in ways you wish you hadn’t?
- How does it help you to know God’s focus is on teaching, not condemning, you?
- What are some ways you guard your heart?
- What are some ways you feed your heart?
- What are some ways you remind yourself of your true north?
- How can focusing on your true north help you in challenging situations?
- What is one action step God is asking you to take this coming week to uncover and/or deal with your thing beneath the thing?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Anastasia Usenko
When we’re hurting or facing a difficult or frightening challenge, we can feel vulnerable, isolated, and maybe even abandoned. This sense of aloneness can make everything feel so much harder. But, our confidence and assurance grows when we recognize that God, our Abba Father, is standing beside us, immovable.
He’s everything good that’s missing in all those dads who let their kids down. And He’s everything good displayed by the most honorable and attentive human fathers. This reality, when fully understood and relied on, can quiet our greatest fears.
Follow Jodie:
https://www.jodiebailey.com/
https://www.facebook.com/writerjodiebailey
https://www.instagram.com/authorjodiebailey/
Follow Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode?
- How easy or challenging is it for you to think of God as your Father?
- What does that mean to you when you think of God as Father?
- In what ways might your view of God as Father be distorted?
- In what ways is your view of God as Father accurate?
- When have you sensed God’s presence during a particularly challenging or frightening time?
- Who or what do you tend to turn to most when you feel afraid?
- How can you turn to or rely on God your Father more consistently?
- What is one action step God might be asking you to take in the next week?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Tetiana Garkusha
We often believe that comfort and being comfortable is the ultimate blessing of God. The truth is, the blessing of God is often on the other side of leaving our comfort zones.
God often calls us to unfamiliar places, to embrace risk, and in this become completely dependent on Him. God wants us to experience His grace and power on a deeper level. In those places of uncertainty, our faith is both revealed and grown. That is where we discover Yeshua, our Rescuer, is always faithful and we always have victory in Him.
Follow Jodie:
https://www.jodiebailey.com/
https://www.facebook.com/writerjodiebailey
https://www.instagram.com/authorjodiebailey/
Follow Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
1. What resonated with you most in this episode?
2. How would you define your comfort zone? What areas of your life does it involve?
3. How tightly do you tend to hold onto your comfort zone?
4. Considering your comfort zone, where are you tempted to seek security in things or people other than Christ?
5. Dream: What might God have waiting for you on the other side of your comfort zone?
6. How might your fears be hindering you from experiencing all Christ has for you?
7. When has God moved you into an area or situation where you were forced to rely on Him? And what was the result internally?
8. When you think of Christ as Yeshua, Rescuer or Deliverer, what comes to mind?
9. How does knowing Christ is your Rescuer help quiet your fears?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Christian Horz
Sometimes, when we’re experiencing disappointment and uncertainty, it can be hard to trust that God is truly leading us, or that He’s leading us toward something good.
During those times, God- our Good Shepherd, Jehovah Ra’ah in the Hebrew - invites us to trust His heart and His character. This was the position in which Wholly Loved’s Kimi Miller found herself, when she sensed God calling her to step out of a thriving ministry position. And at first, that transition was super painful, but through it, God reminded her of His heart for her.
Follow Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
- What comes to mind when you think of God as your shepherd?
- What do you think it means when people say He is the good shepherd?
- When has God led you in a direction that felt painful or confusing? What did He show or teach you during that time?
- What might it mean in your current situation or sphere to rest in green pastures?
- Consider your strongest or most frequent anxieties. How many of those come from trying to lead yourself or create your own green pasture?
- Do you ever fear that God will lead you in a bad direction? And if so, where do you think that fear comes from?
- When have you sensed God urging you to rest? What made this difficult?
- Take a moment to read Psalm 23. What aspect of God’s care listed do you find most comforting?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Polar Lights
Do you ever feel like you’re God’s “problem child?” The one who never seems to be getting any better and who continues to struggle with the same sins and setbacks? Do you fear you’re simply too broken or irreparable? When we focus on our weaknesses and failings, we can easily feel overwhelmed and overpowered by sin. But God encourages us to raise our gazes onto Him, the God who heals. He is El Rapha, who heals us from our greatest disease, sin, and empowers us to live fully free.
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website at http://jenniferSlatteryLivesoutLoud
On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
On Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find their ministry at:
https://whollyloved.com/
Find Shellie Arnold:
On her website at https://www.shelliearnold.com/
On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/shellie.arnold.7
And at: https://www.facebook.com/YOURMarriageresources
Group Discussion Questions:
- What most encouraged you in today’s episode?
- Why might Scripture equate sin to a sickness or disease?
- In what ways can you relate to Shellie’s story?
- What is your greatest battle in living as Christ desires?
- Why is it important we focus on Christ in us as we grow in spiritual maturity?
- What does it mean to you that God is El Rapha, the God who heals?
- Why is it important to remember that spiritual healing and growth take time?
- What is one way you can rest more fully in Christ today?
- Is there a step Christ is asking you to take, and if so, what is that?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Yelyzaveta-Matiushenko
When we encounter painful and frightening circumstances, or God calls us to do something difficult, we may feel as if we’re all alone. As if God doesn’t see us, doesn’t understand our struggle, or won’t provide what we need. But as our guest Ava Pennington reminds us, our God doesn’t change. The same God called Jehovah-Jireh in Scripture, the God who provides, can be trusted to provide for us in our times of need as well.
Find Ava Pennington at:
https://www.AvaPennington.com
https://www.facebook.com/AvaPennington.AuthorPage
https://www.instagram.com/avapennington3/
Follow Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Resources:
Daily Reflections in the Names of God by Ava Pennington
Group Discussion Questions:
1.When have you felt alone or unseen by God?
2.What contributed to those feelings?
3.What truths from today’s episode can help counter those feelings?
4.When you consider Christ’s death, for you, what comes to mind?
5.In what ways does the love Christ showed on the cross encourage you in your daily struggles?
6.What does it mean to you that God sees your need and provides in advance?
7.What do you think made it most challenging for Abraham to obey God when He told him to sacrifice his son?
8.What do you think gave Abraham the courage to obey?
9.When has God called you to do something hard or frightening?
10.What did you learn about Him during that situation or event?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/rudall30
The past year and a half left many of us feeling defenseless. We fear loss: of health, of a career, of our stability and way of life. And not just for ourselves, but perhaps even more, for those we love. But while we are powerless to stop catastrophes and setbacks from occurring, we are far from defenseless.
We belong to and are deeply loved by Jehovah-Sabaoth, the God of Heaven’s Armies. In today’s episode, author and international speaker Grace Fox shares a story of a time when fear for her kids stole her peace and left her sleep-deprived, how she found comfort and strength in Jehovah-Sabaoth, and how that taught her to deal with fear.
Find Grace at:
https://www.gracefox.com/blog
https://www.facebook.com/gracefox.author
https://www.instagram.com/graceloewenfox/
Follow Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Resources:
Moving From Fear to Freedom: A Woman's Guide to Peace in Every Situation by Grace Fox
Finding Hope in Crisis: Devotions for Calm and Chaos by Grace Fox
Episode 6 of Faith Over Fear - The Courage to Move Past the Fear of Insignificance
Group Discussion Questions:
1.What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2.When have you most felt defenseless?
3.What does the name Jehovah-Sabaoth, the God of Heaven’s armies, most mean to you?
4.Consider the story of David Goliath. Who do you tend to most resemble from the story?
5.Compare and contrast David with the giant Goliath. In what ways did David appear out-muscled?
6.What might the significance be of David’s use of a slingshot and stone?
7.Who or what did David say he came against Goliath with?
8.Who did David say the battle belonged to?
9.While David may have appeared outmuscled, who truly was outmuscled in this battle?
10.Consider your current fear/fears. How does that fear line up against the God of Heaven’s armies?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Nadzeya_Dzivakova
When we are anxious or when life feels uncertain, many of us strive for control, making ourselves, rather than Christ, Lord of our lives. The problem is, we don’t have perfect wisdom or supreme power. But God does. When we choose to trust our Savior, our Adonai, to be our Lord by following His lead, we’ll experience increased peace and joy, and often, decreased messes.
Host Jennifer Slattery and her husband discovered just how true this was when they found themselves in a seemingly impossible situation where obedience felt hard and risky.
Follow Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
- What does it mean to you when you hear someone talk about Jesus being Lord?
- What’s the difference between stating God is Lord, and living as if He is?
- What are some reasons living under Christ’s Lordship can feel so challenging?
- What are some truths that can make surrendering to Christ as Lord easier?
- Consider the passage Jennifer read regarding the time David spared his enemies life. When have you been in a similar situation where you felt threatened and wanted to take matters into your own hands? How did you respond, and what was the result?
- When have you entrusted a particularly frightening situation to God and seen Him work things out?
- How can surrendering to Christ as Lord help decrease our anxiety?
- How can surrendering to Christ as Lord increase our joy?
- What is one area of your life God would like you to more fully entrust to Him?
- Continuing your thoughts from question 9, what is one step you can take to trust God more fully in that area?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/arata
Numerous Christ followers fear they’re either not truly saved or that they’ve done something to somehow negate God’s grace. Not only do these fears keep us from fully experiencing the freedom and joy Christ died to give us. But it can also cause us to distance ourselves from God, withdraw from religious events or gatherings, or cause us to live as if our salvation depends on us rather than Christ’s finished work on the cross. When doubts regarding our eternal security rise up, may we remember we belong to El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient God who paid for our sin and fulfilled every righteous requirement on our behalf. We don’t have to strive to be enough because Christ in us is more than enough.
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website at http://jenniferSlatteryLivesoutLoud
On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
On Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find their ministry at:
https://whollyloved.com/
Find Shellie Arnold:
On her website at https://www.shelliearnold.com/
On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/shellie.arnold.7
And at: https://www.facebook.com/YOURMarriageresources
Group Discussion Questions:
1.What are some reasons people doubt their salvation?
2.What are some ways this doubt can hinder our relationship with Christ?
3.What are some ways this doubt can hinder our joy?
4.How can doubts regarding one’s eternal security cause them to fall into legalism?
5.How can doubts regarding one’s eternal security cause them to withdraw from church and faith-based groups?
6.How would you describe God’s all-sufficiency?
7.What resonated with you most in this episode?
8.What does God’s all-sufficiency mean to you personally, especially in relation to your fears?
9.What is one truth God wants you to hold on to this week?
God often calls us to step into assignments that are beyond our human capabilities. Each day, He’s inviting us to play an active role in His redemptive mission. When we focus on our limitations, we’ll shrink back. But when we focus on the One who calls us, Yahweh, the Great I Am who always was, is, and forevermore will be humanity’s Self-Revealing Redeemer, we’ll recognize His victory has already been secured. God finishes what He starts.
Follow Jodie:
https://www.jodiebailey.com/
https://www.facebook.com/writerjodiebailey
https://www.instagram.com/authorjodiebailey/
Follow Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
1.What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2.What do you think of when you read God’s revelation that He is the I Am?
3.In what ways do you currently need the I Am to be fully present in your life today?
4.In what area do you feel ill-equipped for?
5.In what way(s) might God be inviting you to become actively involved in His redemptive mission?
6.How does it feel knowing that God doesn’t ask you to be enough but instead to rely on Him, who is enough?
7.What might it look like to rely on God in your current challenge?
8.What are some of the potential dangers of attempting to serve God in our own wisdom and strength?
9.When has time spent with God helped to shift your perspective of a situation?
This is the first episode of a new series we are kicking off – The Names of God Series!
God hand-crafted you and I to live as vivid and beautiful expressions of Elohim, Creator God. The more we step into who God created us to be, fully expressing our true selves, the more God’s nature shines within us. This is precisely why Satan, our spiritual enemy, works so hard to defeat us. He’ll tell us we’re not good enough, will never amount to anything, and would be better off fading into the sea of conformity. But God calls us to courageously step into our unique callings so that others can see His light shining within.
Follow Jodie:
https://www.jodiebailey.com/
https://www.facebook.com/writerjodiebailey
https://www.instagram.com/authorjodiebailey/
Follow Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Suggested Resource:
Faith Over Fear Episode 44: The Courage to Pursue Our Callings
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
- What do you think Scripture means when it says humans were created in God’s image?
- Consider individual people in your social circle or work environment. In what ways can you see God’s nature revealed through them?
- How easily or readily do you see yourself as a beautiful expression of Elohim, your Maker, and why do you think this is?
- Consider the diversity of humanity. Why is this diversity a vital expression of Elohim, our Creator?
- When has someone caused you to discount your unique gifts, interests, or personality?
- Expanding on your answer to question 4; how did that person’s actions impact your ability or desire to live authentically, as God created you to be?
- In what ways are you pursuing or living out those unique passions and gifts God planted in your soul?
- In what ways are you helping others to pursue, grow in, and live out their unique passions and personalities?
- What is one action step God is calling you to take this week to courageously live as His image bearer, as a vibrant expression of Him?
Image Episode Credit: Getty/Ponomariova_Maria
The parts of our story that feel the most devastating or shameful can become those stories God uses to lead others to freedom.
Many times, they directly related to our calling as well. But to share them, we might need to risk vulnerability and rejection. Yet, God’s focus isn’t only on whoever might hear about our struggles and our pasts. He’s focused on bringing us to a place of increased healing and deeper relational connection as well. Shame leads to hiding which leads to more shame and increased isolation. There’s joy and peace in living totally free.
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Suggested Resources:
Becoming His Princess Bible Study by Wholly Loved Ministries
Group Discussion Questions:
1. Why do you think hiding our pasts tends to increase our shame?
2. In what ways can hiding our pasts lead to increased isolation?
3. In what ways can sharing our past with safe people help bring healing?
4. How can a person determine who is safe to share their story with?
5. Think of testimonies shared by others that deeply impacted you. What was it about their story you found most touching, thought-provoking, or inspirational?
6. In what ways does or can our story reveal the power of the gospel?
7. In today’s episode, Jennifer shared how one person’s casual statement regarding children with alcoholic fathers hindered a woman’s willingness to share her story. When has a similar situation affected you in a similar manner?
8. What are some reasons why God might not want us to share certain parts of our story?
9. What are some ways you can create safe spaces for others to share their stories?
10. What is God calling you to do after listening to today’s episode?
Episode Image Credit: getty/MargaretW
Anxiety can feel isolating and defeating. We may think everyone else has it all together and life all figured out. We may think that no one quite experiences something as enslaving as we do. We might even start to identity with our struggles, thinking we’ll never get better, never move toward increased freedom.
If that’s you, then you are precisely the reason Jodie Bailey felt compelled to share her story—because she’s been there. She was the woman who was afraid to leave her house, who felt alone in her struggle, and who desperately prayed for help. Now, standing on freedom’s side of her struggle with Agoraphobia, she has some insights and truths to share.
Follow Jodie:
https://www.jodiebailey.com/
https://www.facebook.com/writerjodiebailey
https://www.instagram.com/authorjodiebailey/
Follow Jennifer:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
- In what ways do you feel alone?
- Who have you been able to share your struggle with?
- Have you taken time to prayerfully consider the root(s) of your anxiety or anxieties? If so, what has God shown you? If not, why?
- Why is it important to recognize that our feelings can lie to us?
- What are some lies your feelings tell you?
- What are some truths that counter those lies?
- What are some ways, other than spiritual, that you’ve sought help for your anxiety?
- In what ways have you expressed or held judgment for your emotions? How has this hindered your journey toward increased freedom?
- In what ways has pride hindered your journey toward increased freedom
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Maljuk
Some of us are working through broken relationships, praying for restoration. Others of us sense underlying tension, desire increased peace and deeper emotional intimacy with a particular loved one but don’t quite know how to proceed. And still others of us simply want to grow and bring increased health into our most precious interactions. Regardless of where you are on that spectrum, we’re certain you’ll learn tools to live and love with intention and grace.
For more on this topic, check out Episode 32: The Courage to Reconcile
Blythe Daniel is a literary agent and marketer with more than 20 years of experience in publishing. She has written for Proverbs 31 Ministries, Focus on the Family, Ann Voskamp, Christian Retailing, and she links bloggers with readers through the agency’s blog network. The daughter of Dr. Helen McIntosh, she lives in Colorado with her husband and three children.
Find Blyth Daniel’s literary agency at https://www.theblythedanielagency.com/
Find her author page at: https://www.ourmendedhearts.com/
Connect with Blyth on:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Blythe’s book:
Mended: Restoring the Hearts of Mothers and Daughters (coauthored by Helen McIntosh)
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Group Discussion Questions:
- Do you have a particular relationship that feels unhealthy, and if so, in what way?
- How alert are you to underlying tension in your relationships?
- How do you typically respond when you sense tension?
- What are some benefits to asking our loved ones how we have hurt them or contributed to relational tension?
- Consider the relationships modeled to you growing up. How have those relationships negatively impacted you and your behaviors today?
- How have some of your past relationships impacted you for the better?
- How often do you pause to honestly evaluate your behavior?
- How often do you pause to prayerfully evaluate the health of your relationships?
- What do you find most challenging when it comes to seeking increased relational health?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/zimmytws
We live in a fast-paced, high-demands culture that constantly tells us to do and be more. As a result, many of us have developed a hurried, high-stress lifestyle. But our minds, souls, and bodies weren’t designed to live on overdrive. If we’re constantly running from one task and responsibility to next, with little to no down time, then we’ll likely see our anxiety levels rise. But there are some easy ways to break this cycle and counter our stress. This, in turn, increased our inner calm.
Award-winning author, inspirational speaker, and life coach, Tina Yeager hosts the Flourish-Meant Podcast and publishes Inkspirations Online, a weekly devotional for writers. Check out Beautiful Warrior: Finding Victory Over the Lies Formed Against You and her courses at Serious Writer Academy.
Follow Tina: TinaYeagar.com
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Group Discussion Questions:
1. How busy is your typical week?
2. How challenging do you find it to truly prioritize your priorities?
3. When was the last time you spent time in nature?
4. When was the last time you engaged in physical activity for more than 10 minutes?
5. What are some ways you regularly destress?
6. How well do you sleep, and how do your sleep patterns affect your stress level?
7. What are some ways you are building human connections?
8. What is one step you plan to take this week to decrease your stress and increase your inner calm?
Image Credit Getty/Nadia Bormotova
My life began to change dramatically once I actively, specifically, consistently and persistently praying against my fears specifically, in faith. That’s when I began to experience miraculous intervention.
The Lord’s Prayer is probably the most often spoken prayer in all of Christendom. Many of us have grown up reciting the words and often do so without thinking. But when we take time to really meditate on these simply yet profound lines spoken by Jesus Himself, we’ll find our faith and intimacy with Him grows while our fears decrease.
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Suggested Resources:
Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? by Philip Yancey
Before Amen: The Power of a Simple Prayer by Max Lucado
Group Discussion Questions:
1. What is your experience with the Lord’s Prayer?
2. What line in the Lord’s prayer do you find particularly thought-provoking or impactful?
3. What images or thoughts come to mind when you think of God as your Father?
4. How does knowing God is completely “other” –outside of time and space—bring you comfort?
5. What are some ways you treat God as “hallowed’ or holy?
6. What are some ways you’ve seen God’s kingdom come into your sphere?
7. What most challenges your ability to say, “Lord, Your will be done in my life?”
8. Is there someone you need to forgive?
9. How might actively working toward a heart of forgiveness help bring you increased freedom?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Overearth
We all want to feel understood. Known and accepted. The problem is, no one will truly understand what it’s like to live with anxiety if they themselves haven’t struggled. So what do we do when we’re craving the support of those who “get us” but don’t feel we’re able to receive what we need? In this episode, Jennifer Slattery takes listeners to the root of this need and shares ways we can identify and grow a healthy support system.
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Resource:
Becoming His Princess Video: Growing in Grace
Becoming His Princess Bible Study
If this topic is helpful, be sure to listen to Episode 15 - The Courage to Fight against Fear
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
1. Who do you most turn to when you need support?
2. How does that person(s) best support you?
3. Consider the health of that relationship. In what ways do you support the other person?
4. What conversations might you need to have in order to deepen the mutual ties of support?
5. Consider your current circle of close friends. Are those friends able to provide the support you need?
6. Consider your desire to be understood. How might a failure to live in your identity in Christ affect your desire?
7. Consider your desire to be understood. In what ways does a failure to recognize your true value affect your desire?
8. How can you anchor deeper in grace?
9. How might living anchored deeper in grace help you feel less alone?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Aleksei Morozov
Few of us enjoy displaying vulnerability, largely because this places us at risk of being hurt. We’ve often learned, through painful experiences, to rely on and protect ourselves. But what if self-reliance and self-protection keep us from our miracle?
Referenced material (on women’s menstruation & Old Testament Laws): https://subspla.sh/xwndcch
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Jodie Bailey at:
https://www.jodiebailey.com/
https://www.facebook.com/writerjodiebailey
https://www.instagram.com/authorjodiebailey/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
1. What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2. How challenging do you find it to reveal vulnerability?
3. What makes revealing vulnerability most challenging?
4. Is there a situation in which you’re afraid to hope for better? If so, share.
5. What does or can make hoping for better difficult?
6. Why is it important we learn when and how to express our vulnerability with others?
7. Why is it important to express our vulnerability with God?
8. If you had been the bleeding woman, what would’ve made it most difficult for you to seek help?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Rudzhan Nagiev
Does the thought of sharing the gospel make your anxiety rise? Do you feel unqualified - because of your past, your knowledge, experience, or status - to tell anyone about Jesus? In a discussion on the Samaritan woman, someone likely considered an outcast in her day, Jennifer Slattery suggests an easy and natural way to share Christ with others.
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
1. What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2. How do you normally feel when you think of sharing the gospel with others?
3. What do you find most challenging when it comes to sharing your faith?
4. Can you share a time when you felt disqualified or discounted due to your past?
5. Can you share a time when you felt disqualified or discounted due to lack of a prestigious role or credentials?
6. How has God called you “out of darkness and into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9)?
7. How comfortable are you with sharing your story?
8. Who do you find it easier to share Christ with - strangers or those close to you, and why do you think this is?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Nadya Ustyuzhantseva
Many times, obedience is hard. Taking steps of faith will feel exponentially harder if we try to go it alone. We all need supportive, encouraging allies who understand our struggle, will point us to Christ, and, when necessary, speak hard truths.
In order to develop relationships to the depth our souls need, we’ll have to risk being vulnerable. But the strength and courage we’ll receive in return will far outweigh the risks.
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Shellie Arnold at:
https://www.shelliearnold.com/
https://www.facebook.com/shellie.arnold.7
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
- Share a time when you felt alone in your obedience or perhaps alone in general. How did your sense of aloneness impact your behavior?
- Who in your life do you most gain support from?
- Healthy relationships speak truth in love. How easy or difficult is it for you to receive constructive feedback?
- When has someone you love challenged you to grow in an area, and how did you respond?
- Strong relationships take effort and intentionality. Mary was willing to walk 80 miles for support. How readily do you embrace inconvenience in order to prioritize relationships?
- Consider your current struggle or call. In what ways has God shown Himself faithful to support and prepare you?
- When has a step of faith forced you to rely on someone else? What was the result, relationally?
- Can you think of a time when God asked you to be an ally for someone? Did you obey?
- Who might God be inviting you into deep friendship with?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Nuthawut Somsuk
Scripture commands us to stand up for the oppressed and to fight for society's most vulnerable. God also wants us to actively advance His light against the world’s darkness.
In this episode, Jennifer Slattery takes a look at a time when evil threatened the line of David, the Messianic line of Christ (2 Chronicles 22-23). But one couple (Jehoiada and Jehosheba) summoned their courage, took a stance, and in so doing, saved an infant king who brought light to his people and helped preserve the line of Christ. May we all, like the courageous woman who surrendered seven long years of her life to protect and nurture this child, give our lives for those things of eternal value knowing when we engage and fight our battles God’s way, He fights on our behalf.
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://www.jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
- Who would you identify as society's most vulnerable?
- In what ways might God be calling you to fight on their behalf?
- What most challenges your obedience to do so?
- In today’s episode, Jennifer talked about how Jehoiada “summoned his courage.” What are some ways you summon your courage?
- In today’s episode, Jennifer talked about the importance of gathering others around us. Who might God be inviting to join you in your current battle?
- How easy is it for you to seek and then wait on God’s timing in your current situation or when He calls you to something?
- What are some ways you can become increasingly strategic in your battle plan?
- Jennifer discussed the importance of remaining alert to God’s promises. What are some biblical promises you can draw strength and courage from?
- What is one action step God is asking you to take this week in order to advance His light?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Ponomariova Maria
When others in positions of authority or influence act poorly, we can feel vulnerable and threatened. What if we work for a reactionary boss who could cause the entire company to go under? Or what if our spouse’s poor choices cost him his job and then our home? We’ve probably all experienced times when we’ve felt as if someone else’s choices have backed us in a corner. Our fear might cause us to lash out, to try to flee, or to freeze and shut down completely. In this episode, Jennifer Slattery and Shellie Arnold unpack a section of Scripture that reveals a better, wiser option.
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Shellie Arnold at:
https://www.shelliearnold.com/
https://www.facebook.com/shellie.arnold.7
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
1. Consider a time when you’ve most felt like a victim to your circumstances or someone else’s reaction. What made it hard to trust God’s care in that situation?
2. In what ways has your past negatively colored your view of God?
3. What are some ways God has shown Himself to be trustworthy and attentive in your life?
4. When has God given you quick, supernatural wisdom for dealing with a difficult situation or person?
5. When you feel threatened, what tends to be your default response: fight, flight, freeze, or trust?
6. Why is it important to pause to seek God’s guidance during times of crisis?
7. Why is it important to seek God’s guidance when dealing with reactionary people?
8. When has someone acted like an Abigail in your life and talked you down from a tense situation?
9. What did that individual do that proved so effective?
10. Why must we base our security in Christ rather than our circumstances or other people’s choices?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Ponomariova Maria
The deeper our roots, the easier it is to develop false identities. We’re mothers or teachers or perhaps Bible study leaders or community volunteers. We can easily lose sight of who we are. Moving can make us feel as if we’re losing ourselves. In this episode, Jennifer and Jodie discuss the major identity challenges Ruth faced, times when we might feel similarly, and how Jesus, our Kinsman Redeemer helps us discover who we truly are and who He’s molding us to be.
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Jodie Bailey at:
https://www.jodiebailey.com/
https://www.facebook.com/writerjodiebailey
https://www.instagram.com/authorjodiebailey/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
1. What are some false identities people tend to adopt?
2. Why do you think we tend to find our identity in things such as status and roles?
3. How can false identities be damaging?
4. When has a life transition threatened your sense of identity?
5. Why is it important that we find our identity in Christ?
6. According to Christ, who are you? (If you’re not sure, read Ephesians 1.)
7. What is one thing you can do this week to remind yourself of who you are in Christ?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Solarseven
Most parents hate to see their kids struggle. It often grieves us to see them experience the pain of failure. But when we rescue them from the consequences of their behavior, become overly critical in our efforts to point them to success, or attempt to shelter them from life’s challenges, we inevitably stunt their growth. We might even raise children who become paralyzed to make decisions and embrace healthy risk.
In this episode, Jennifer Slattery talks with counselor and speaker Brenda Yoder about why and how we can help our children grow through inevitable failures and develop the wings they’ll need to fly into adulthood.
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Brenda Yoder at:
https://brendayoder.com
https://www.facebook.com/brendayoderspeaker/
https://www.instagram.com/brendayoderspeaks/
Find Brenda’s podcast at:
https://brendayoder.com/podcast-2/
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Resources mentioned:
Fledge by Brenda Yoder
The Beautiful Mess Mother-Daughter conference by Wholly Loved Ministries
Group Discussion Questions:
- What are some reasons you find it challenging to allow your child/children to struggle?
- How often is fear of personal failure involved in your response to your child’s failings?
- When has God used struggle and failure to grow you?
- How can remembering how God has grown you strengthen your heart to let your loved ones grow from their failures?
- How can our unwillingness to let our children fail negatively impact their relationship with Christ? Their confidence?
- What are some truths regarding God (His nature, power, or promises) help conquer your fears regarding your children's failures?
- What is one “next right step” God is calling you to take this week?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Zuperia
The more we love someone, the harder we tend to hold on to them. Many times, our pride and anxiety will trick us into seeking our wisdom and strength over God’s, especially when His guidance contradicts common sense. But God is the only One with the power to bring victory in every situation, those challenges our loved ones face as well. We find peace, courage, and victory when we remember this and live in this truth.
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Jodie Bailey at:
https://www.jodiebailey.com/
https://www.facebook.com/writerjodiebailey
https://www.instagram.com/authorjodiebailey/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
1. What stood out to you most in Moses' mom’s situation and/or response?
2. How do you typically respond when you sense your loved one is in danger?
3. What are some ways you seek God’s will when you’re anxious and afraid?
4. What truths regarding God’s character increase your courage to entrust your loved ones to God’s care?
5. Do you normally take time to seek God’s guidance when you sense a loved one is threatened? If so, how does this help? If not, why is this?
6. Why is it important to not only seek God’s guidance but also to give Him time to speak before jumping into a situation?
7. When has your failure to seek God’s guidance in a situation caused problems?
8. How can your commitment to seek God’s guidance, strength, and intervention increase your loved one’s faith during times of crisis?
9. Consider who God used to rescue Moses. What does this tell you about God?
10. Who is God asking you to entrust to His care today, and what is one way you can do this?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Aleksei Naumov
Most often, it’s not the challenges we face external that most hold us back from living out our call. It’s the battle that rages in that has the greatest capacity to derail and defeat us. Our fears, if left unchecked, hinder us from becoming all God created us to be and living the life He died to give us. We all have a God-honoring, life-changing call, one we are uniquely created to fulfill. God will give us all we need to do all He asks and assigns. The question is, will we humbly and courageously accept that assignment? Will we courageously surrender to His plans?
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Resources mentioned:
Courage and Calling by Gordon T. Smith
Unshakeable Unbreakable Joy, a Bible study by Wholly Loved Ministries
Group Discussion Questions:
- Have you considered how God might want to use you, in your current season?
- What is a unique passion you hold that God might want to use to bring light and life to our world?
- What are some fears that tend to hold you back from trying new things or stepping out in faith?
- Is there an area that God might be calling you to surrender in order to make you freer to serve Him?
- Consider your current fears. How many of them stem from focusing on your limitations rather than God’s power and provision?
- Consider your fears in light of the parable Jennifer shared and the “lazy” servant’s perspective—Have you, perhaps unknowingly, assigned false character traits to God? Are you behaving as if He’s distant, uninvolved, or perhaps not powerful enough to save?
- What is one “next right step” God is calling you to take?
God calls as followers of Christ to fight godly battles; to play an active role in the fight for right versus wrong and good versus evil. Each of our battles might look different, but the call is the same: to obey, no matter how difficult or challenging our obedience might feel in the moment.
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find Tara Rye at:
https://audioscripture.org
https://www.cultivatinghearts.org
https://www.facebook.com/tara.rye
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Join the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671
Group Discussion Questions:
- Share or journal on a time when you felt God calling you to engage in a high-stakes situation.
a. What were your fears?
b. What doubts triggered those fears?
c. What truths helped (or could have helped) increase your courage?
d. What character traits of God helped (or could have helped) increase your courage? - Did anyone come alongside you? If so, how did this help you feel more courageous? If not, how did this effect you?
- Is there someone who can act like a Deborah in your life?
- Is there anyone to whom God might be calling you to act like a Deborah?
- How can focusing on ourselves increase our fear?
- How can focusing on God—His character, power, promises and love—help decrease our fear and increase our courage?
- Based on the Deborah-Barak account in the Bible, who brings victory?
- What are some unexpected ways God has brought victory in your life or the lives of those you love?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Photos.com
As parents, our goal is to raise adults emotionally and spiritually mature adults who can navigate challenges with integrity and faith and have learned to rely on and surrender to Christ. We know, intellectually, our children must reach a place of independence, but our hearts might struggle to let go.
In this episode, Wholly Loved’s Shellie Arnold and Jennifer Slattery discuss some of the fears, challenges, and confusion parents face in this journey of releasing and truths that can help us move forward with courage and confidence.
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://www.jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
Find Shellie Arnold at:
https://www.shelliearnold.com/
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Find more on the Wholly Loved Online Mother-Daughter Conference: https://whollyloved.com/conference-info/
Resource: Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens by Paul David Tripp
Group Discussion Questions:
1. In terms of your level of entrusting your kids to Jesus, where are you currently at in your parenting journey?
2. What areas do you feel God has not called you to release?
3. What areas might He be calling you to release?
4. What makes it most challenging to surrender those areas to Christ?
5. In what ways are you training your children (adult, youth, or younger) to turn to Christ for guidance and strength?
6. In what ways might you be inadvertently trying to play a “savior” role in their life or lives?
7. Consider an area you find particularly frightening to release. What messages might your behavior in that area be sending to your children?
8. What people do you turn to for support and wisdom?
9. What hurts might you have caused your children that you need to confess and apologize for?
10. What areas of guilt must you invite God to heal in your heart?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Polar_Lights
Parenting will first test, then strengthen our faith. We will experience confusion, frustrations, heartache, joy, and fear. Many days, this journey will feel like an intense battle, one we’re not certain we can win. In our discouragement, anxieties, and uncertainties, we might be tempted to engage, but regardless of how our kids act or what they claim, they need us to remain fully present and invested.
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://www.jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
https://twitter.com/jenslattery
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Find more on the Wholly Loved Online Mother-Daughter Conference: https://whollyloved.com/conference-info/
Resource: Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens by Paul David Tripp
Group Discussion Questions:
1. What impacted you most in this episode, and why?
2. What tends to make it most challenging for you to remain present and engaged with your kid(s)?
3. What area of parenting feels most challenging?
4. What are some ways you are investing in your spirituality first?
5. What are some of your fears regarding parenting?
6. Where do you tend to go for answers when you feel confused or uncertain?
7. How difficult is it for you to acknowledge when you’ve messed up and asked for your child's or children’s forgiveness?
8. What might it look like to fight for your relationship with you kid(s)?
9. How are you modeling obedience to Christ in your parenting?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Popmarleo
We’ve all, at some point in our lives, reached a place of crisis. A place where we felt alone and maybe frightened God wasn’t going to help. These moments can be deeply frightening, but also deepen our faith.
In this episode, Tara Rye and Jodie Bailey discuss some devastating news Tara received regarding her mother in light of Jesus’ encounter with Mary and Martha after their brother’s death.
Find Jodie Bailey at:
https://www.jodiebailey.com/
https://www.facebook.com/writerjodiebailey
https://www.instagram.com/authorjodiebailey/
Find Tara Rye at:
https://audioscripture.org
https://www.cultivatinghearts.org
https://www.facebook.com/tara.rye
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Group Discussion Questions:
1. Consider a time when you felt like you were in the middle of a crisis. What all were you feeling during that time?
2. What were your feelings or doubts related to God?
3. How did you respond?
4. How did God respond or seem to respond?
5. What, if anything, did you learn regarding God’s character?
6. Looking back over your faith journey, what has most deepened your faith?
7. If you currently are in a place where you’re struggling to believe in God or His care for you, what makes belief most challenging?
8. If you are experiencing challenges to your belief, what are some ways you can bring those doubts, hurts, and fears to God directly?
9. Mary and Martha had to wait for Jesus to show up, and when He did, it appeared as if He arrived too late. What are you waiting on God for now?
10. How does the timing of Jesus’ arrival and the miracle He later performed speak to your fear, hurts, and doubts?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/hanabeni
Many people are afraid of death and numerous issues related to this. But while we will and should grieve death, God doesn’t want us to live, or die, in fear. In this episode, Jennifer Slattery shares biblical truths that can help us transition from this present world and into the eternity Christ prepared for us with confidence and, perhaps, even anticipation.
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Find Wholly Loved at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Recommended Resource: Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings of the Christian Faith by Wayne Grudem
Group Discussion Questions:
1. What resonated with you most in today’s episode?
2. Do you have any fears related Jennifer didn’t mention?
3. In regard to your death-related fears, how probable is it you will experience that fear?
4. Have you accepted God’s free gift of eternal life through faith in Christ?
5. Do you understand what Jennifer shared regarding how one receives salvation?
6. What most comforts you regarding Jesus’ words to the criminal on the cross?
7. How does knowing God will remain with you through physical death and into eternity calm your fears?
8. What are some things you’re most looking forward to in heaven?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Nadzeya_Dzivakova
Fear of rejection can lead to surface level relationships, increased defensive behaviors and fear-based reactions, and loneliness and isolation. Many times, this fear stems from wounds we’ve experienced in our past and the inner lies formed during or directly following hurtful experiences or moments of rejection.
In this episode, Jodie Bailey shares a deep wound in her past and how it impacted her later relationships as she and Jennifer Slattery look at how God responded to a rejected woman in Genesis 29 and what we can learn from this.
Find Jodie Bailey at:
https://www.jodiebailey.com/
https://www.facebook.com/writerjodiebailey
https://www.instagram.com/authorjodiebailey/
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
http:jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Twitter: @jenslattery
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Group Discussion Questions:
1. On a scale of one to ten, how much does fear of rejection hinder your relationships?
2. How does your fear impact your behavior when engaging with new people or acquaintances?
3. What specifically do you fear? (or, to reword, what do you feel about you might lead them to reject you?)
4. How does your fear impact your behavior with those you currently have relationships with?
5. What thoughts regarding these fears play through your mind when you’re in uncomfortable social situations?
6. What is a truth you can focus on to counter that?
7. Is there a wound or are there wounds from your past that impact your fear of rejection today?
8. Is there a past relationship you need to grieve in order to heal in this area?
9. How can focusing on how God sees you help you live with confidence?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/VikiVector
In our rushed, high-stress, high-achieving culture, many of us feel over-worked, over-tired, and spiritually depleted. We know we need to spend more time with Jesus. We want to spend more time with Him. But are we willing to risk disappointing someone or perhaps letting a ball drop in order to simply rest in the presence of our Savior? Sometimes, spending time with Jesus will be the most courageous thing we do all day.
Find Tara at:
https://www.audioscripture.org
https://www.cultivatinghearts.org/
https://www.facebook.com/tara.rye
Find Jennifer at:
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://www.jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Twitter: @jenslattery
Find Wholly Loved at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most during today’s podcast?
- What are some ways you prioritize time with Jesus?
- What makes it most difficult to spend time with Jesus?
- What fears are involved in your challenge to rest in Christ?
- How often do you allow other people’s expectations to steal your time of rest?
- When you do spend time with Jesus, how does that time change your day or perspective?
- When do you feel most connected with Jesus?
- What is one way you can spend time with Jesus this week?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Ponomariova_Maria
With all that has occurred in our world and country, life can feel pretty unsettling. People are buried in bills, some have lost jobs and businesses, and still others fear they may soon lose their jobs. In this episode, Jennifer Slattery and Tara Rye discuss how we can find peace and comfort in our ever-faithful provider.
Find Tara at:
https://www.audioscripture.org
https://www.cultivatinghearts.org/
https://www.facebook.com/tara.rye
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://www.jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Twitter: @jenslattery
Find Wholly Loved at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Group Discussion Questions:
1. What are some potential causes of the increased financial insecurity many are experiencing?
2. Can you relate to these fears, and if so, why?
3. How can temporary challenges help to increase our faith?
4. When has God used a fearful experience to bring you increased freedom?
5. What character traits of God give you assurance when you feel afraid?
6. Can you share a time when God provided for you during a time of need?
7. What are some ways God provides for you now?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Visual-Generation
Loneliness is not the act of being alone but feeling unknown. Many of us feel and fear being alone. But Scripture promises that if we’ve trusted in Christ for salvation, we have been eternally reconciled, brought close, to God. He encamps around us, goes before us, stands behind us and makes His home within us.
In this episode, Jennifer Slattery, Tara Rye, and Shellie Arnold discuss the soul-reaching comfort that comes when we recognize that we will never have to face our hurts and fears alone.
Find Tara at:
https://www.audioscripture.org/
https://www.cultivatinghearts.org/
https://www.facebook.com/tara.rye
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://www.jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Twitter: @jenslattery
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Group Discussion Questions:
1. What resonated with you most in today’s episode, and why?
2. Do you fear being alone?
3. If so, when does that fear most often arise?
4. How do you feel knowing God collects all your tears in a bottle (Ps. 56:8)?
5. What are some truths regarding the character of God that can comfort you when you feel alone?
6. Why must we filter our emotions through the truth of Scripture?
7. Scripture demonstrates God created you and I with a core need for relationship. What does that say regarding His desire to fill that need for us?
8. Sometimes our fear and pain can blind us to God’s hand and all the ways He is caring for us. What are some ways God might be trying to help you feel seen and heard?
9. What are some ways you can remind yourself of God’s presence the next time you fear being alone or feel you are alone?
10. How can God’s presence comfort your fears?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Cosmaa
When life hits hard and we experience deep loss, we may be tempted to suppress or misdirect our emotions. When we do that, we can easily end up stuck. We might even lash out and run from the One who wants to hold it through us. In discussing her “Job-like” experiences, Jodie Bailey shares how God helped her process some heavy grief.
Resource:
Cry of the Soul by Dr. Dan Allender and Tremper Longman
Find Jodie Bailey at:
https://www.jodiebailey.com/
https://www.facebook.com/writerjodiebailey
https://www.instagram.com/authorjodiebailey/
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://www.jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Twitter: @jenslattery
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Group Discussion Questions:
- Do intense emotions, in yourself or expressed by others, make you uncomfortable, and if so, why?
- What might it mean to grieve with Jesus?
- When have you endured what felt like a “Job-like” experience?
- During your time of grief, how did you respond?
- Why do you think people are often afraid of anger?
- When is our anger misplaced?
- When is anger placed accurately?
- In what ways or times might God share our anger?
- In what ways does anger draw out our deepest doubts?
- Why is it important to process our hurts and pain?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Malte Mueller
We all have parts of our past and perhaps even ourselves that we long to hide, but living in hiding only leads to shame and isolation. In this episode, Wholly Loved’s Jennifer Slattery and Tara Rye discuss how God responded to Eve in her moment of shame and what this reveals regarding the love and grace He longs for us to experience.
Contact Jennifer through her website HERE to have her speak at your next women’s event.
Contact Tara through her website HERE to book her for your next women’s event.
Find Tara at:
https//www.cultivatinghearts.org/
https://www.facebook.com/tara.rye
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https//:jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Twitter: @jenslattery
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in today’s episode, and why?
- Is there a behavior, struggle, past sin, or experience you’re tempted to hide?
- When have you experienced rejection due to weakness, sin, or failure?
- Why do you think grace is such a hard concept for many people to grasp?
- How has that experience, or others, impacted your relationship with God or understanding of grace (if indeed it has)?
- How would you describe or explain God’s grace to someone unaccustomed to it?
- Why is it important to our healing and freedom to invite God to probe our hearts?
- Describe a time when you’ve sensed God’s grace.
- What does grace reveal regarding the character of God?
- What is one way you can actively live in grace today?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Ponomariova_Maria
Does the word reconciliation and all the thoughts and images associated with it, make your stomach knot? Are there certain names that immediately come to mind, maybe people who have been weighing heavily on your heart, leaving you with feelings of regret, maybe guilt, maybe even feelings of failure? What if obedience in this area can lead to increased freedom, deep healing, and a beautiful display of the gospel?
In this episode, Jennifer Slattery addresses some of the fears that hinder our obedience in this area and shares truths that can help us move forward.
When light comes, darkness must flee.
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com/
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Find Wholly Loved Ministries at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Group Discussion Questions:
1. Did anything surprise you in this episode?
2. Why or how is forgiveness separate from reconciliation?
3. Why must we not tie our obedience to seek reconciliation to the other person’s response?
4. When you consider initiating reconciliation, what fears arise?
5. When are some times it might be unhealthy or unwise to reconcile?
6. Why is reconciliation so important to Christ?
7. How can following God’s guidance in regard to reconciliation help bring freedom?
8. In what ways can our reconciliation attempts reveal the gospel?
9. What does it mean to see ourselves in our “offender”?
10. What is God calling you to do now or next?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Francesca Bellini
Many people experience increased depression and anxiety during the holidays. This year, with all the changes we’ve endured and the uncertainty and difficulties that come with weathering a global pandemic, many are struggling to grab hold of any semblance of peace.
With a look at that first Christmas when God pierced our dark and hurting world with light, Jennifer Slattery helps listeners honestly evaluate their emotions and find joy and peace in the middle of all they are and may encounter this Christmas.
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
http:jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Twitter: @jenslattery
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Family Discussion Questions (Jennifer encourages listeners to engage their family in conversation regarding emotions and expectations this Christmas):
- What are some things you most enjoy about Christmas?
- What are some traditions you will miss this year?
- What are some things causing you increased anxiety this year?
- How can we empathize with one another’s fears and anxieties, even if they are different than ours?
- How can we empathize with one another’s grief?
- How does empathizing with one another help strengthen our bonds?
- What are some eternal gifts God has given you?
- This holiday season is one way you can deeply experience one of those eternal gifts God has provided?
- What is one way you can make this Christmas special?
- What is one person or situation God might be asking you to surrender to Him?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Irina Ostapenko
Scripture makes it clear: we’re all in a spiritual battle, whether we recognize this or not. The question is, are we living as victims or victors?
In this episode, hosts Tara Rye and Jennifer Slattery speak with Minister Mark Ashton from Christ Community Church in Omaha, Nebraska on how we, God’s children, can approach spiritual battles from a place of victory, knowing we have all we need in Christ to stand firm.
Find Minister Mark Ashton:
On the Christ Community Website: https://www.cccomaha.org/messages
On YouTube
Find all four Revelation guides here: https://www.cccomaha.org/digital-revelation-booklet
Find Tara at:
https//www.cultivatinghearts.org/
https://www.facebook.com/tara.rye
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
http:jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Twitter: @jenslattery
Find Wholly Loved, at:
WhollyLoved.com
Group Discussion Questions:
- What resonated with you most in this episode and why?
- How readily do you recognize the spiritual battle behind challenges and conflict?
- Why is it important to understand the impact all three influences, our sinful behavioral patterns, the effects of living in a broken world, and the spiritual battle around us when responding to difficulties?
- What might it look like to live as a victim in this spiritual battle?
- What might it look like to engage the spiritual battle from a place of victory?
- If you’ve trusted in Christ for salvation, how does the assurance of that salvation strengthen you spiritually?
- What might it look like to “put on” a shield of faith?
- What are some common ways you’ve found yourself under attack spiritually?
- What truths in Scripture can help you fight that recurring battle?
- What are some ways you are intentionally building your belt of truth (growing in truth)?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Malte_Mueller
It can feel tempting to respond to challenges with increased energy. If only we try harder and work longer or faster, than we’d conquer our challenges and whatever is escalating our anxiety. But Scripture tells us peace comes through resting in the One who holds our world in His hands.
In this episode, Jennifer Slattery, Tara Rye, and Tiffany Jones discuss the importance of taking time to simply sit in God’s presence. Learning to rest takes practice and intentionality but it may be one of the greatest ways we can actively fight our fears.
Find Tara at:
https//www.cultivatinghearts.org/
https://www.facebook.com/tara.rye
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://www.jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Twitter: @jenslattery
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Group Discussion Questions:
1. What resonated with you most in today’s episode and why?
2. What tends to be your first response when you feel anxious or face a challenge?
3. What typically makes it challenging to rest?
4. What are some ways you keep your prayer life fresh?
5. When you’re anxious, how often do you ask Jesus to show you what you need most in that moment?
6. What do you tend to think of when you think of a Sabbath?
7. What are some ways you feed your soul?
8. How does or has spending time in nature helped to bring you peace?
9. How does or has spending time in nature helped you experience God?
10. How might seeking help or guidance from a counselor help a person battle their fears?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Malte Mueller
We are all leaders in some capacity, and we are all called to leave a positive impact on our world. This call takes courage as we fully step into our roles, even when we feel ill-equipped and unprepared, knowing not only will God use us to actively flood our spheres with light and life but to grow and transform us as well.
In this episode, Wholly Loved’s podcaster Tara Rye shares her insight and experience as former dean of women at Grace University, an executive coach with Cru, and founder of Cultivating Hearts Ministries.
Recommended:
• Leading with a Limp by Dan Allender
Contact Jennifer through her website HERE to have her speak at your next women’s event.
Contact Tara through her website HERE to book her for your next women’s event.
Find Tara at:
https//www.cultivatinghearts.org/
https://www.facebook.com/tara.rye
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
http:jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Twitter: @jenslattery
Find Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Group Discussion Questions:
- In what areas of your life has God called you to lead?
- What fears tend to hinder your full acceptance of that role?
- What expectations have you placed on yourself that aren’t from God?
- In what ways are you expecting to lead with perfection?
- How might cultivating a growth mindset (rather than desire for perfection) increase your courage and impact?
- How are you cultivating “come alongside” relationships—relationships with one or more individuals you can be completely transparent with?
- In what ways are you surrounding yourself with encouragers?
- How are you trusting God (rather than your efforts) with your call?
When our kids express doubts about their faith and Christianity, many of us begin to feel anxious. We worry their questions might result in complete disbelief and dangerous living. This in turn can trigger some of our fears and insecurities. What if we don’t have the answers they seek? What if they don’t find our answers sufficient? What if religion becomes a wedge that ultimately drives us and our kids apart?
In this episode host Jennifer Slattery speaks with Tom Hinders, a college pastor at one of Omaha, Nebraska’s larger churches to share how we can love our kids well during a time that will likely feel uncomfortable for both them and us.
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://www.JenniferSlatteryLivesoutLoud
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find her ministry, Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Family Discussion Questions:
- When your youth expresses doubts related to the faith, what fears does this most trigger in you?
- What does it mean to listen well?
- Why is it important that we learn to listen well when our children or youth express doubt?
- When has a failure to listen to well-created conversation barriers between you and your child or youth?
- What are some ways you can respond lovingly when your youth broaches a topic you don’t have answers for?
- Why is it important we create a safe environment in which our kids can share how they feel and think honestly?
- Who is your child or student most likely to come to when they have concerns, deep questions, and life challenges?
- Why do you think it’s so common for people to place their faith in Jesus during or following a crisis?
- Why is it important to be quick to apologize and repent when we, the adults, make a mistake or cause our child pain?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Ponomariova_Maria
While prayer may feel like a passive act, it’s actually one of our strongest weapons against anxiety and fear. Through prayer, we enlist the help of our Creator, connect with Christ on a deeper level, and actively experience His power and strength at work within us. In this episode, Jennifer explains the effectiveness of four key prayers and challenges listeners to a 30-day prayer challenge designed to strengthen their faith.
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
JenniferSlatteryLivesoutLoud
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find her ministry, Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Prayer focus:
Week One: God’s glory
Week Two: God’s love
Week Three: The power of gratitude
Week Four: Actively pray against fear
Image Episode Credit: Getty/logolis
We live in constantly changing, seemingly chaotic times where our children are bombarded with more content than their brains can handle. If we feel anxious, we know our kids probably do as well. In this episode, Jennifer shares practical ways we can raise courageous confident kids who turn to Jesus when they’re afraid and find their security and confidence in Him.
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
JenniferSlatteryLivesoutLoud
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Find her ministry, Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Family Discussion Questions:
1. What are some things you most feel afraid of?
2. Why do those things frighten you?
3. What do you normally do when you feel afraid?
4. How easy is it to talk about your fears?
5. (Parents to ask children) Do you feel I listen to you when you are afraid?
6. What truths about God can help you when you feel afraid?
7. What verse gives you the most comfort when you feel afraid?
8. Share a God moment—a time when you believe God worked in a situation for your or someone else’s good.
9. What are some ways, when fear hits, you can shift your thinking off of your fear and onto something that is true?
10. When did you face a fear, and what was the result?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Grandfailure
Today, we wanted to drop a special episode into your feed. Jennifer Slattery's latest podcast is called Thriving with Chronic Illness, and we wanted to make sure you knew about it. So today, we're presenting the first episode: The Stages of Grief and Embracing All God Has For You.
If you or someone you love struggles with chronic illness, we hope this show encourages you to live a thriving life.
To listen to all of the episodes we have out so far, just head over to https://www.lifeaudio.com/thriving-with-chronic-illness/
Episode Image Credit: Episode Image Credit: Getty/bsd555
To fully experience all God has for us, to become all He created us to be, we must obey. Often, obedience feels frightening. Obedience often comes at a cost, but disobedience costs us so much more.
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://www.JenniferSlatteryLivesoutLoud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
https://www.instagram.com/SlatteryJennifer
Find her ministry, Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Group Discussion Questions:
- John Piper suggests disobedience stems from disbelief. What are your thoughts regarding that statement?
- What truths regarding God’s character, power, and presence can strengthen your courage to obey?
- Where do you find it most challenging to obey, and why is that?
- What fears most challenge your obedience?
- What might disobedience cost you?
- What truths can you hold tight to in order to counter those fears?
- Consider someone you know who handles conflict effectively. What makes their actions most effective?
- Consider a time in your past when God called you to obey in an area. Did you obey? What was the outcome of that situation and your obedience or disobedience?
- Sometimes it feels as if our obedience makes situations worse. How can we stand firm on truth and righteousness during those times?
- Pause to pray. Ask God what He wants to say to you regarding your obedience to Him.
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Mykyta Dolmatov
We won’t experience the relational health and intimacy our hearts crave until we learn how to set and maintain healthy boundaries. We’re afraid, if we set boundaries, we’ll hurt those we love, will damage a relationship irreparably, or will cause the other person to retaliate. In this episode, author and counselor Tanya Glazman shares her insights regarding a number of fears many of us face along with tools that can help us move forward in freedom and increased relational health.
Find Tanya Glazman online at:
https://myfathersdaughterministries.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myfathersdaughter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myfathersdaughterministry/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr0j7hOz8THL2wwECRbtSRw
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-fathers-daughter/id1499547998
Suggested Resources:
Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
Thriving With Chronic Illness Podcast: Setting Boundaries Part 1: https://www.lifeaudio.com/thriving-with-chronic-illness/episode-5-setting-boundaries-part-1
Thriving With Chronic Illness Podcast: Setting Boundaries Part 2: https://www.lifeaudio.com/thriving-with-chronic-illness/episode-6-setting-boundaries-part-2
Group Discussion Questions:
- What makes setting and maintaining healthy boundaries most challenging for you?
- When has failure to set boundaries led to relational harm?
- When has failure to set boundaries led you to feel increased emotional distress?
- Love without truth is dangerous. When have you seen this to be true?
- Truth without love is often destructive. When have you seen this to be true?
- Consider a challenging relationship. In what ways, if any, is a lack of truth to blame?
- What is one step God might be asking you to take in that relationship?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Nadia Bormotova
In order to experience the deep freedom Christ desires for us, we must have the courage to feel, and to invite him into that process.
Find Leigh Mackenzie online at:
http://www.thechurchgirlwrites.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChurchGirlWrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechurchgirlwrites/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2Vliq-7j5DBBPtapnZJoUg
Suggested Resources:
Cry of the Soul by Dan Allender and Tremper Longman
Healing the Wounded Heart by Dan Allender and Tremper Longman
Becoming His Princess Bible study by Wholly Loved Ministries
“Waiting Well” video production, by Jennifer Slattery and Wholly Loved Ministries found: https://youtu.be/bFWsTSg9his
“Reclaiming Our Identity,” video production by Jennifer Slattery and Wholly Loved Ministries found: https://youtu.be/RBz-0ZzFXeY
Group Discussion Questions:
- What are some unhealthy ways people attempt to deal with emotional pain?
- What are some unhealthy ways you deal with, or are tempted to deal with, emotional pain?
- Do you have any fears related to past hurts or allowing yourself to feel and grieve? If so, what are they?
- What does it meant to you to “feel with Jesus”?
- Consider some of your “gut reactions”. What are some ways you can invite Jesus to help you investigate those for deeper analysis and healing?
- What might it look like to remain stuck in a past hurt?
- What might it look like to develop a victim mentality when it comes to past hurts?
- In what ways does or can victim mentality hinder our freedom and thus our joy?
- In what ways can seeking help from a mental health professional help facilitate healing?
- What is one action step Jesus is asking you to take based on this podcast episode?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/ilyaliren
Our economy has received numerous hits this past year, leaving many of us unsettled. Many fear they’ll lose their jobs, retirement, or homes. Others are enduring the challenges of unemployment. In a time of financial uncertainty, we need to anchor ourselves in a security that stands immovable. That security is Jesus Christ, our Provider. In this episode, Jennifer shares some ways we can increase our faith to retain peace, no matter the economic climate.
Financial Resources:
Crown Financial Ministries: https://www.crown.org/
Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University: https://www.daveramsey.com/fpu
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://www.JenniferSlatteryLivesoutLoud
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Find her ministry, Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Group Discussion Questions:
- Pause to consider your anxiety related to your finances. What fears are attached? What lies are attached to those fears? What truths counter those lies?
- What tensions do you feel? (Ex: wanting to spend more time with your family and also wanting to increase work hours to provide for them.)
- How do your fears impact your ability to set and maintain healthy boundaries?
- In what ways might God be using your circumstances to grow you?
- Do you believe God is fighting for you? If so, how does it feel to know this? If not, take a moment now to ask Him to help you trust that this is true.
- In what ways has God provided for you in the past?
- When you feel anxious regarding your finances, how often do you pause to remember God’s past provisions?
- Is there anything you can do differently today to create a financially healthier tomorrow? If so, what is that?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Mykyta Dolmatov
Most of us don’t like waiting. The longer we wait, whether that’s for a job, an answer, or perhaps for God to fix a problem, often, the more anxious we feel.
In this episode, Jennifer shares some truths that can help us wait confidently and courageously, knowing that God is loving and faithful and will perfect His plans for us.
Resources on Waiting Courageously:
Becoming His Princess Bible Study: https://whollyloved.com/product/becoming-his-princess-bible-study-print-version/
Becoming His Princess Bible Study, Week Five Video: Waiting Well: https://youtu.be/bFWsTSg9his
Forgotten God by Francis Chan
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
JenniferSlatteryLivesoutLoud
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Find her ministry, Wholly Loved, at:
WhollyLoved.com
Courageous Group Discussion Questions:
1. What are you currently waiting for?
2. In what area do you most struggle to wait on God’s timing?
3. Is fear of failure or disappointment affecting your ability to wait?
4. During waiting periods, who do you tend to turn to first—God or people?
5. Do you believe God wants to guide you?
6. What is God asking you to do today?
7. Has impatience ever led to regret, and if so how?
8. Why is it important to rest in where God has you now?
9. What might God be showing you regarding the condition of your heart during your waiting period?
10. What might it look like to “bloom where you’re planted?”
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Anna Minkina
Our world feels chaotic and uncertainty. With so much changing and beyond our control, many of us are feeling increasingly anxious. But we can stand strong, confident, and courageous, no matter our circumstances, because our world is held by a God who loves us, sees us, is with us, and reigns over all. While life might feel uncertain, in truth it’s not, because God always retains full control. In this episode, author and speaker Jennifer Slattery shares tips and truths able to anchor our souls in hope and faith.
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://www.JenniferSlatteryLivesoutLoud.com
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte.com
Find her ministry, Wholly Loved, at:
https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Group Discussion Questions:
- What in your world currently feels most uncertain?
- What are some truths you can hold tight to when life feels uncertain?
- What qualities of God most bring you comfort?
- What are some ways you can remind yourself of those truths and qualities when you sense anxiety rising?
- When something causes you significant concern, have you considered asking God for assurances? If so, what was the result? If not, is this something you might consider in the future?
- Why might it be helpful to periodically ask God to increase your faith?
- What are some biblical examples of seemingly chaotic circumstances providing backdrops for a great work of God?
- What do you think the psalmist meant in Psalm 16:7 when he said his heart counseled him at night?
- Have you ever fought against your fears through praise?
- Why do you think praise can be such a powerful faith-building tool?
Image Credit: Getty/Malte Mueller
Most of us are conflict-averse, often to our own detriment. Often, when we try to avoid issues, the problem grows. When we learn to hold difficult conversations, following God’s lead, we'll find decreased inner turmoil and increased inner peace.
In this episode, author and speaker Jennifer Slattery shares practical tips to help us grow more confident in our ability to resolve conflicts effectively, in a Christ-honoring manner.
Episode Resources:
1. The Peace Maker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict by Ken Sande
2. Making Peace: A Guide to Overcoming Church Conflict by Jim Van Yperen
3. "7 Things You Need to Know When Talking to Difficult People" by Jennifer Slattery
Fighting Fear Group Discussion Questions:
- How was conflict handled in your home growing up?
- How do you most often respond to conflict?
- Consider someone you know who handles conflict effectively. What makes their actions most effective?
- Why is it so important to give God ample time to search and reveal our hearts prior to initiating hard conversations?
- Why is pride harmful to our relationships and to ourselves?
- What are some ways our faulty perceptions can negatively impact our relationships and discussions?
- What are some behaviors, in relation to hard conversations, God might be asking you to unlearn?
- What are some behaviors, in relation to hard conversations, might you need to learn in order to communicate more effectively?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Malte Mueller
This episode isn’t just for homeschooling moms. We’re talking to all parents about the fears and realities of a school year that is going to look far different than it ever has before.
Whether you’ve been homeschooling for some time or have been thrown into home educating this year, you likely wrestle with insecurities and fears. What if you don’t teach your kids everything they need academically? What if your daily interactions harm your relationship?
In this episode, homeschooling expert Jennifer Henn shares truths, tools, and tips that carried her and her family through nearly two decades of home education.
Find Jennifer Henn online at:
https://www.jenniferhenn.com/
https://www.facebook.com/The-Well-Adjusted-Homeschooler-343613345831777/
Contact her at: Jennifer@JenniferHenn.com
Her book: Take the Mystery Out of Homeschooling: A How-To Guide
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
JenniferSlatteryLivesoutLoud
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Group Discussion Questions:
1.What is one truth presented in this episode that you can hold tight to in the coming year?
2.How prepared do you feel for the year ahead?
3.What fears do you have related to home educating your children?
4.What are you most looking forward to this school year?
5.In what ways can you see God guiding you as a parent/grandparent/guardian?
6.What might it look like to surrender your child’s growth to God?
7.In what ways have you allowed a sense of comparison to increase your anxiety?
8.What are some ways you can more actively live in grace—for yourself and your kids?
9.Why is it important to take a long-term view of our children’s education?
10.How can you use behavioral challenges encountered during your home educating experiences to deepen your relationship with your kids?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Emilija Randjelovic
As followers of Christ, we are His representatives to a hurting and broken world. We’re called to live and love as He did, and Jesus sought out the marginalized and oppressed and called out the oppressor.
In this episode, Jennifer Slattery’s daughter, Ashley Chester, shares her battle against a university’s Student Services of Disabilities Office to see that they were actually enforcing the accommodations they were legally required to honor. Initially, her fight was personal as she fought against abuses of power she experienced. But as she became more connected with other students with disabilities, she realized her battle extended beyond her. While this was a difficult and stressful time, God used it to grow her into a woman of strength and to present her with numerous opportunities she likely wouldn’t have enjoyed otherwise.
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
JenniferSlatteryLivesoutLoud
https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Find her ministry, Wholly Loved, at:
https://whollyloved.com/
Group Discussion Questions:
- What are some injustices or abuses of power God has allowed you to see?
- How do you normally respond when you see abuses of power?
- Is there anyone God might be calling you to advocate for?
- What does godly advocacy look like?
- What are some fears that keep you from advocating for others in a godly way?
- Consider a cause you feel drawn to. How connected are you to the community most affected by that cause?
- Why is relationship important when we advocate?
- What are some ways to advocate for others in a way that speaks honor?
- If you have accepted the call of advocate, how is God growing you through your efforts?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/Malte Mueller
Our fight against fear is an ongoing battle. To be victorious, we need to persevere and keep fighting. Often, we both underestimate AND overestimate our fears. We underestimate them by assuming we’ll have instant victory and not understanding the battle we will face as we advance toward increased freedom. But we also overestimate our fear by assigning our anxious thoughts more power than is warranted. We believe we’re powerless against our anxious thinking and that we’re powerless against the pull. But in Christ, we have victory. We just need to learn to live, more consistently, in the victory Christ already purchased. We need to learn to throw off everything that hinders our freedom and pursuit of our calling.
Find Jennifer at: https://www.jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenslattery
Find her ministry, Wholly Loved, at: https://whollyloved.com/
Group Discussion Questions:
- In what ways is our fight against fear an ongoing battle?
- In what ways are you actively engaging in the fight?
- How does fear shift our focus off of Christ?
- How can focusing on eternity help increase our faith?
- How can focusing on the cross increase our faith?
- What does it mean to live with victory—even while afraid?
- What activities must you cease doing in order to guard or increase your peace?
- How are you filling your heart and mind with truth?
- Why is it important, in our battle against fear, to surround ourselves with faith-warriors?
- How can our peers negatively impact our faith and increase our anxiety level?
The evil of racism has pervaded our world for far too long, and God is calling his children to act. As children of light, empowered by God’s life-giving Spirit, we are called to speak against oppression and abuse and to come alongside those who are hurting. Many of us can feel the weight of grief experienced by our friends of color, but we don’t always know how to help or what to do. In this episode, Wholly Loved Ministries team members Jennifer Slattery and Robrenna Redl discuss ways we can unite together to bring healing and affect true and lasting change.
Resources:
• Be the Bridge: Pursuing God's Heart for Racial Reconciliation by Latasha Morrison
• The Myth of Equality: Uncovering the Roots of Injustice and Privilege by Ken Wytsma
• Oneness Embraced: Reconciliation the Kingdom and How We are Stronger Together by Dr. Tony Evans
• White Awake: An Honest Look at What it Means to Be White by Daniel Hill
• Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America by Michael O Emerson and Christian Smith
• How to be an Anti-racists - Ibram X Kendi
Contact Robrenna through the Wholly Loved website HERE to have her speak to your group on how to be a bridge of reconciliation or to book her for your next women’s event.
Find Robrenna Redl at: https://robrennaredl.wordpress.com/
Group Discussion Questions:
- Why is it important to have diversity within our social and ministry circles?
- What are some ways you’ve seen racism to be systemic?
- How often do you invite others to share their hurts and experiences related to racism?
- How often do you share your stories of hurt related to racism? If you have done this, what has been the response? If you have not shared openly, or as openly as you would desire, why is this?
- What does it mean to “listen well” to someone who is hurting?
- What are some tangible actions you can take to fight racism?
We all have doubts, and often those doubts rise up when life becomes difficult or uncertain. We experience a gap between what we know, or maybe what we’ve been taught, and what our reality seems to be stating. When this occurs, fear tempts us to ignore our doubts or avoid the hard questions. But our doubts, when investigated honestly and with Jesus, can pave the way to certainty and deeper intimacy with Christ.
In this episode, theologian Dave Montoya helps us understand why doubts feel so uncomfortable, how we can address them, and how we can come alongside others who are in places of doubt.
Find Dave’s church at https://www.northstate.church/
Find Jennifer at: https://www.jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenslattery
Find her ministry, Wholly Loved, at: https://whollyloved.com/
Resources Dave Mentions:
The Myth of Certainty: The Reflective Christian and the Risk of Commitment by Daniel Taylor
God in the Dark: The Assurance of Faith Beyond a Shadow of a Doubt by Os Guinness
Doubting: Growing Through the Uncertainties of Faith by Alister McGrath
Group Discussion Questions:
1.How do you tend to respond when doubts arise?
2.How comfortable are you investigating hard questions?
3.When have you wrestled with a period of doubt or with difficult questions, and what was the result?
4.In what ways has honest investigation increased your faith?
5.In what ways does our faith “grow up” and mature?
6.How do you tend to feel when others express doubt?
7.What are some ways you can come alongside those who are doubting?
In 2 Timothy 1:7, Scripture tells us God has not given us a spirit of fear but rather one of power, love, and a sound mind. As Kylie Odetta shares in this episode, this verse provides key truths that can help us gain victory over our fears. Kylie shares how God has helped, and is helping, her to live fully in the freeing gifts He’s given her through grace.
Find Kylie Odetta at: her website |Instagram | Facebook
Find Jennifer at: https://www.jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenslattery
Group Discussion Questions:
1. Do you ever feel as if others wouldn’t understand what you’re experiencing or going through?
2. Do you have someone you can talk to, honestly, regarding your struggle?
3. How often do you intentionally seek out fun activities and ways to laugh?
4. Are you regularly taking in the truth of Scripture?
5. What is one faith-bolstering truth you can intentionally focus on this week?
As we discussed last episode, fear of moral failure and an inability to rest in God’s hinders our effectiveness, freedom, joy, and growth. We’re used to having to achieve in order to prove ourselves and to experiencing rejection when we don’t measure up. Because of this, we may expect God to treat us in a similar way, but whereas others may cast us off, God always welcomes near.
Resources:
Unexpected Love: God’s Heart Revealed Through Conversations to Women, by Julie Coleman
Video: Receiving Grace
Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
Find Julie Coleman at: http://www.JulieColeman.org
Contact Jennifer through her website HERE to have her speak at your next women’s event.
Find Jennifer at: https://www.jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenslattery
Fear of moral failure is the inability to rest in God’s grace, and it hinders growth, joy, and freedom. Past experiences with humans can negatively impact our ability to rest in God’s grace. When we mess up, often others cast us off. But not Jesus. He opened wide His arms and died in order to draw us close.
Resources:
Video: Receiving Grace
Video: Becoming His Princess Week 7: Living in Grace
Becoming His Princess Bible study:
Grab the free ebook in PDF form: http://urlme.cc/2JlD
Kindle form: http://urlme.cc/0zGj
Buy the print copy: http://urlme.cc/GZGA
Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
Contact Jennifer through her website HERE to have her speak at your next women’s event.
Find Jennifer at: https://www.jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenslattery
Group Discussion Questions:
1. How do you normally respond when you sin? Does your sin normally drive you to God or push you from Him? Why do you think this is?
2. Why does God’s grace annihilate both guilt and self-condemnation?
3. What’s the difference between striving and yielding?
4. Think of some way you tend to sin. (Example, acting prideful, lying, etc.) When attempting to move past that sin, what might striving look like?
5. Again, think of some way you tend to sin. When attempting to move past that sin, what might yielding look like?
6. What are some ways you connect with your power source (Christ)?
None of us were born with a fear of failure. But over time, as we learn and grow and live imperfectly, we begin to attach labels to our journeys and mishaps. We call them failures, and over time, we may determine we are as well. Our faulty processing will greatly hinder our progress, growth, and effectiveness, if we let it.
Fear of failure often stems from a very dangerous focus: Making much of ourselves and little of God. But Scripture tells us life—and growth—comes when we die to ourselves so that Christ can live in and through us.
Resources:
Nothing to Prove, by Jennie Allen
Little Women, Big God and Little Faith Big God by Debbie W. Wilson
Give Yourself a Break: The Secrets to God's Rest by Debbie W. Wilson
Find Debbie W. Wilson at: DebbieWWilson.com and on Facebook
Contact Jennifer through her website HERE to have her speak at your next women’s event.
Find Jennifer at: https://www.jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenslattery
Group Discussion Questions:
- What is your definition of failure?
- How do you respond when you fail?
- Have past “failures” impacted your willingness to take on new opportunities?
- Why is it important to measure success based on obedience rather than results?
- How might “dying to ourselves” give us the courage to obey and embrace new opportunities?
We fear being truly known, but we also yearn for the relational intimacy that can only come when we unveil who we truly are. We can either live in hiding, always afraid of being called out, or we can have the courage to live authentically. As we continually step into the light, God reveals every hidden area of darkness within—sin, hurts, shame, not to condemn or shame us but to heal, transform and free us.
Resources:
Becoming His Princess - A seven-week Bible study on the life of Sarai/Sarah (Gen. 12-23).
Unexpected Love by Julie Coleman
Contact Jennifer through her website HERE to have her speak at your next women’s event.
Find Jennifer at: https://www.jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenslattery
Group Discussion Questions:
- How does self-revelation lead to deeper relationships?
- How can fear of exposure hinder relational intimacy?
- Do you have a relationship where you feel fully known and deeply loved?
- In what ways has fear of exposure hindered your relationships in the past?
- What does it mean to you to step into the light?
Psychologists say a growing number of us have developed a fear of missing out. We’re afraid if we don’t respond to that message now, our friends will contact someone else, form stronger relationships with them, and we’ll be excluded. We worry, if we don’t accept that opportunity or say yes to that client, we won’t get that promotion.
In each of these instances, if we dig deep enough, we’ll often discover a core need has been threatened such as the need for purpose, love, security, or belonging. The problem comes when we attempt to meet our needs in our own strength and wisdom. As with any fear, fear of missing out pushes us into self-reliance, which distances us from God and hinders our ability to hear Him and receive His guidance. To overcome, we need to trust in Him, follow Him, and lean on Him.
Resources:
Ask It by Andy Stanley: http://urlme.cc/B0Bl
Contact Jennifer through her website HERE to have her speak at your next women’s event.
Find Jennifer at: https://www.jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenslattery
Group Discussion Questions:
1. What are some ways you’ve seen the fear of missing out present itself in adults’ lives?
2. Pause to consider—what deeper fear, related to a core need, might have been triggered?
3. How does or has FOMO pushed you into striving and self-reliance?
4. How easy is it for you to trust God’s sovereignty in your life?
God created us for a purpose, and our purpose can only be found in Him. Whenever we seek significance apart from Him, we end up feeling incomplete. They cannot fill our core need to find our place in a story that extends far beyond us.
Many of us understand, at least intellectually, that we were created to know Christ and make Him known. But when everyone else seems to be living such glamorous or effective and efficient lives and we feel stuck in the tedium of parenthood or our normal career responsibilities, it’s easy to lose sight of this. In this episode, Jennifer Slattery and Grace Fox discuss truths that can move us from fear of insignificance to a deeply satisfying purpose.
Resources:
The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Timothy Keller
Moving from Fear to Freedom: A Woman's Guide to Peace by Grace Fox.
Wholly Loved Living Loved Conference. (Find information HERE.)
Contact Jennifer through her website HERE to have her speak at your next women’s event.
Contact Grace through her website HERE to book her for your next women’s event.
Find Grace Fox at GraceFox.com
Find her on Facebook HERE.
Group Discussion Questions:
1. Consider your times of striving. What do you think motivates your behavior?
2. In your typical day, whose voice do you give more credence to, God’s or other humans’? Why do you think this is?
3. Why is it important for us to recognize our purpose extends beyond our current roles?
4. How might our expression of our purpose change, based on our seasons or circumstances?
5. How can you live out your purpose to know God and make Him known this week?
A note to our listeners: this episode was recorded before all of the changes in our world due to the coronavirus. And yet, the topic of letting go of control is so necessary for today. Though we don't discuss current events, we hope today's show meets you where you're at. Be well, friends.
Almost exactly twenty years ago, today’s guest, popular international speaker Carol Kent was thrust into a situation that made her feel as if her world was unraveling. Her son was arrested for murder, revealing just how little control we parents often have over our children’s lives. Though her life felt out of control, she found peace and security through surrender. She discovered God is big enough and strong enough and loving enough to carry her through she did or might someday face.
Resources:
• When I lay My Isaac Down by Carol Kent, released by NavPress: http://urlme.cc/6VQd
• He Holds My Hand by Carol Kent, released by Tyndale Publishers: http://urlme.cc/rVRv
Find Carol Kent at https://www.carolkent.org
Find her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorcarolkent/
Find her ministry, Speak Up for Hope: https://speakupforhope.org/
Group Discussion Questions:
1. What resonated with you most in Carol’s story?
2. When do you most feel out of control?
3. How do you typically respond when life feels out of control?
4. What lies does Satan tend to whisper to you when you feel out of control?
5. Read Romans 8:28-29. What does this passage tell you regarding our most fearful, “out of control” situations?
6. How might your current circumstances point you to heaven?
Former pastor Victoria Mejias shares her struggle with multiple sclerosis. Prior to diagnosis, she received satisfaction in feeling as if she could accomplish whatever goals she pursued. But then, mysterious symptoms drove her to the doctor. After a series of tests, she learned she had multiple sclerosis. She was forced to face her fear of weakness. Initially, she wrestled with God, but she’s since discovered the secret to true strength, and that isn’t found within herself. Though outwardly she may appear weak, by God’s grace working in her, she believes she is now stronger than ever.
Resources:
Wholly Loved’s Bible reading plan 30 Days of Emotional Health
Find Victoria at https://www.VictoriaElizabeth.com
Find Jennifer at: https://www.jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenslattery
Find her ministry, Wholly Loved, at: https://www.WhollyLoved.com
Group Discussion Questions:
1. In what ways have you seen our culture over-emphasize outward strength or personal achievement? How can this mentality prove dangerous?
2. What are some areas where fear of weakness might show up?
3. Do you have a fear of appearing or feeling weak, and if so, in what area?
4. When do you most tend to rely on your own strength? How can relying on our own strength distance us from God?
5. When you feel strong, how apt are you to recognize God’s power and presence?
6. When have you most clearly experienced God’s strength revealed through you during a time of weakness? In what ways can weakness draw us closer to God?
Fear of rejection has enslaved many, if not most, of us. This pervasive fear can keep us from embracing new opportunities, leading to isolation and self-protection, and eventually hinders our ability to experience the deep community God desires for us.
In this episode, Debbie Alsdorf (www.debbiealsdorf.com) shares how past hurts can create an ongoing fear of rejection. This can translate to a desire to please others, a need to achieve in order to prove one’s worth, and surface-level relationships. To overcome this, we need to anchor ourselves deeper in God’s love, change our mental narrative, and learn heal from past hurts.
Resources:
It’s Momplicated: Hope and Healing for Imperfect Daughters of Imperfect Mothers by Debbie Alsdorf and Joan Edwards Kay
- Find free videos for each chapter: http://urlme.cc/KA4P
- Find a free study guide: http://urlme.cc/dYzz
- Fear of Rejection Video Part One and Two found on YouTube.
Find Jennifer at: https://www.jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenslattery
Group Discussion Questions:
- How often has fear of rejection or a desire to please others negatively impacted you, your calling, and/or your relationships?
- When you feel a gut reaction rise up, how often do you hit pause to prayerfully evaluate the root of your emotions?
- Consider times when you’ve experienced a fear of rejection? How might your story (past hurts and/or rejections) impact this fear?
- Are you alert to the lies attached to your fear, and if so, what are they?
- What truths regarding your identity in Christ and His love for you most comfort and encourage you?
- What is one thing you can do in the week ahead to experience God’s love for you on a deeper level?
According to statistics, a large number of us struggle with anxiety and depression, but the evangelical community hasn’t always handled issues related to mental illness well.
Jennifer’s daughter, Ashley, joins the discussion today. She shares her struggle with anxiety and depression, and Jennifer shares her experience with OCD. Here’s what else they talk about:
- Discerning the best way to address anxiety, depression & OCD
- Cognitive behavior therapy and why it works
- Self-care tools you can start today
- Finding a good counselor
Resources:
Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado: http://urlme.cc/2Jm6
Find Jennifer at:
https://www.jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenslattery
Find her ministry, Wholly Loved, at: https://www.whollyloved.com
Group Discussion Questions:
1. How comfortable are you discussing mental health issues with your friends, faith community, or peers? What makes this challenging, and what helps make this easier?
2. How would you describe the differences between normal anxiety and anxiety disorder?
3. Have you ever sensed that perhaps your worries were disproportionate to the event that triggered them?
4. Can you share a time when you’ve experienced anxiety that had a spiritual cause?
5. How alert are you to your thoughts?
6. How alert are you to how your thoughts affect your emotions?
7. What are some indications a person’s anxiety might have a medical cause?
8. What are some ways you normally deal with your anxiety? Are these healthy or unhealthy coping mechanisms?
9. In what ways has your anxiety or related condition negatively impacted those you love?
10. Do others feel the need to “manage” your emotions? How might this effect the health of your relationships? How might this affect their mental health?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/nadia_bormotova
In John 17:3, Jesus said, “Now this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent." The original Greek word our Bibles translate as “know” in this verse extends beyond intellectual assent. It’s knowledge gained through personal experience - relationships. This means, the more we come to know God - who He is, what He’s done, and what He’s promised - the more we come alive. When engulfed in our all-powerful, all-knowing, fierce and compassionate love of God, our fears must flee.
Resources:
Courage and Calling by Gordon T. Smith: http://urlme.cc/8Rog
Becoming His Princess Week Four Video found on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GPMiwD6EpM4
Find Jennifer Slattery at:
https://www.jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenSlatte
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenslattery
Find her ministry, Wholly Loved, at: https://www.whollyloved.com
Group Discussion Questions:
1. What do you most tend to be afraid of?
2. How has or does fear hinder you from embracing new opportunities?
3. How has or does fear hinder you from fully surrendering to God?
4. Consider what Jennifer said: Satan continually tries to hinder your effectiveness through defeat, discouragement, deception, and by destroying. Can you share a time when you’ve seen this to be true?
5. What are some things you know to be true about God? (Ex: He’s all-powerful, He’s been faithful to mankind throughout history, etc.)
6. How can meditating on one of the truths mentioned in response to question five help you move from fear to faith?
7. How might praying with thanksgiving help you move from fear to faith?
8. What is one thing you can do this week to grow in your knowledge of who God is, what He’s done, or what He’s promised?
Episode Image Credit: Getty/nadia_bormotova