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

Instagram

Facebook

Unshakable Hope Podcast

Find Jennifer Slattery:

On her website

Instagram

Facebook

Amazon

Subscribe to her free newsletter

Discussion/Reflective Question:

1. What resonated with you most in this episode

2. Where do I feel the most pressure during the holiday season—and whose expectations are driving that pressure?

3. What signs tell me I’m reaching or exceeding my emotional capacity? How can I respond with grace rather than reacting from overwhelm?

4. In what situations do I tend to “Martha”—trying to control people or outcomes rather than pausing to sit at Jesus’ feet?

5. Where might I be slipping into codependent behavior (fixing, appeasing, rescuing) instead of allowing others to own their emotions?

6. What boundaries do I need to set this holiday season to protect peace, joy, and emotional/spiritual health?

7. 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:

1. 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?

2. What limiting belief from your past most affects how you see yourself today? What does the truth of Scripture say regarding that belief?

3. What recurring thought patterns in your life need to be held up to God’s truth?

4. When have you felt uncomfortable entering a new environment or opportunity? What helped (or could help) you stay present and keep moving forward?

5. 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?

6. 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?

7. 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?

8. 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

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.

 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:

1. When you hear the word surrender, what emotions rise up first—fear, relief, resistance, or trust?
2. 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?
3. How can you tell when you’ve picked something back up that you once laid down before God?
4. What’s one relationship where you sense God asking you to trust His timing and work rather than your own effort?
5. Mary reminds us that surrender and freedom are connected. What would “living free” look like for you this week?
6. 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:

1. What resonated with you most in this episodes?
2. Why might God use waiting seasons to grow us, our faith, and our relationship with Him?
3. What do you typically find most challenging when it comes to waiting well?
4. When have you endured a waiting season that caused you to question God's goodness or His plans for you?
5. How did God use that situation to deepen your faith, clarify or expand your calling, or bring soul-deep healing?
6. Which of God's character traits can increase your faith during waiting seasons?
7. 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

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 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:

1. 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?
2. Many people tie their identity to productivity or performance. How has God been reshaping your understanding of worth apart from what you do?
3. 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?
4. What are some “theological traps” you’ve encountered—beliefs that sounded spiritual but actually created fear, guilt, or shame rather than freedom?
5. 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?
6. 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?
7. 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:

1. What resonated with you most in this episode?
2. 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?
3. Consider a "truth discussion" when you became reactive or withdrawn. What factors might have impacted your reaction?
4. 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?
5. According to Dave Montoya, we should approach anger with caution. Why did he suggest this, and how do you feel regarding his perspective?
6. 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

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.

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

1. What are some ways you might be running from pain, purpose, or vulnerability in your own life—perhaps without realizing it?
2. When have you felt God gently calling you to stop running and face something hard? What happened when you did?
3. What fear tends to drive your fleeing behaviors—fear of failure, rejection, being known, or something else?
4. How might slowing down and telling yourself the truth—about your emotions, motives, or needs—open the door to healing?
5. Which spiritual practices (solitude, journaling, Scripture, community) help you stay grounded when you want to escape?
6. Do you believe you’re worthy of rest and belonging? What would change if you lived like that truth was real?
7. 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:

1. Jonathon says, “our mistakes describe us, but they don’t define us.” How do you see that truth reflected in your own life story?
2. 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?
3. 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?
4. How has shame kept you stuck at times, and what practical steps help you break free from its grip?
5. 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?
6. 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:

1. What resonated with you most in this episode?
2. 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?
3. When has God used a difficult season to draw you closer to friends, family, or a spouse?
4. When has God used a difficult season to reveal His character, tenderness, and heart for you?
5. What truth do you (or can you) hold onto during difficult seasons?
6. 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

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.

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:

1. When you hear about prophecy in Scripture, do you respond more with curiosity, fear, or faith—and why?

2. How do you personally discern the difference between healthy vigilance and anxiety when following world events?

3. In your daily life, what does it mean to resist evil without letting bitterness or anger take root in your own heart?

4. How can you practice compassion for people caught in conflict while still standing firm against sin and injustice?

5. What role do you believe prayer plays in how believers engage with unfolding global events?

6. 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.