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:

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Find Jennifer Slattery:

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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:

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On YouTube

Follow her writing on Amazon

Connect with Carol McCracken:

On her website 

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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

Instagram

Facebook

Amazon

Subscribe to her free newsletter

Reflective Questions

1. When have I experienced a season where God felt silent? What thoughts about Him surfaced during that time?
2. What story is my current struggle telling me about God—and how does that compare with what Scripture reveals about His character?
3. Like Peter in John 6, where else am I tempted to turn when faith feels difficult? What helps me return to Christ?
4. How have I seen God’s faithfulness in the past that I can intentionally remember in this season?
5. Am I allowing myself space to process disappointment or spiritual hurt, or am I trying to move forward too quickly?
6. 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

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.

(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

Instagram

Facebook

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:

1. Where in my life have I been tempted to believe that pain means God is distant?
2. When have I experienced God’s strength most clearly in a season of weakness?
3. What illusion of control might God be gently loosening in my life right now?
4. How has a past hardship shaped the way I show up for others who are hurting?
5. What truth about God do I need to hold onto when my circumstances don’t change?
6. 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:

1. Have you ever experienced a season when circumstances made you feel as if God had abandoned you? What emotions surfaced during that time?
2. Looking back, can you identify ways God may have been present in that situation—even if you didn’t recognize it at the time?
3. 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?
4. When fear or uncertainty rises, what truths from Scripture help anchor your heart?
5. 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?
6. Is there a situation in your life right now where you’re struggling to trust God’s purposes?
7. 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

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 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

1. Where have you noticed your past quietly shaping how you trust, react, or connect in your current relationships?
2. What relational lie have you been believing about yourself that may have formed in an earlier season of pain or misunderstanding?
3. When you feel anxious or controlling in a relationship, what deeper fear might be underneath that reaction?
4. Who in your life feels emotionally safe—and what makes that environment different from others?
5. What repeated pattern keeps surfacing in your relationships, and what part of your story might be driving it?
6. 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:

1. When do you feel the strongest pressure to please others—and what fears tend to drive that response?
2. How has your past (family, church, relationships, or trauma) shaped your current boundaries or lack of them?
3. What lies about your identity or worth have fueled anxiety or people-pleasing in your life?
4. Where might resentment or emotional exhaustion be signaling a need for healthier limits?
5. What would it look like to anchor your sense of safety and worth in God rather than others’ approval?
6. 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)?
7. Who are the safe people in your life that can support your healing and growth?
8. 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

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.

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:

1. Where have I confused loving people with trusting them equally?

2. Which relationships currently strengthen my walk with Christ—and which leave me spiritually drained?

3. Do I have a small circle of safe, reciprocal friendships where I can be fully known and prayed for?

4. What boundaries might God be inviting me to set so I can love others from a healthy place rather than from exhaustion or fear?

5. When I’ve experienced relational hurt, have I brought that pain honestly before Jesus for healing and wisdom?

6. Who are the voices currently shaping my thinking, emotions, and spiritual direction—and are they aligned with God’s truth?

7. 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.