<p>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.</p> <p>This podcast covers topics like:</p> <p>⭐️ How to Overcome Fear<br>⭐️ Biblical Strategies for Overcoming Fear and Anxiety<br>⭐️ Powerful Steps to Fight Anxiety<br>⭐️ Finding God Faithful in Hard Seasons<br>⭐️ Courage to Wait on God</p> <p>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!</p>
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
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?
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“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:
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
Connect with Christy Osborne:
Find Carol McCracken:
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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:
Find Jennifer Slattery:
Subscribe to her free newsletter
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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:
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
Find Rachel Britton:
Find Carol McCracken:
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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:
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
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:
Resource referenced:
Download this episodes free companion guide here.
Connect with Melissa Spoelstra:
Find Carol McCracken:
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:
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
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.
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:
Find Jennifer Slattery:
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:
Scripture discussed:
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:
Find Jennifer Slattery:
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?
Find Dawn Cazedessus:
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Subscribe to her free newsletter
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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:
Connect with Mary DeMuth:
Find Carol McCracken:
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.