Faith Over Fear

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.) R...

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 s...

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 ear...

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...

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...

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 Lindsay Roberts. (Scroll down for discussion.reflective questions.) Resource mentioned: Discover Your True Strength: Choosi...

Most of us would 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 o...

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 fi...

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 o...

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 h...

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/reflec...

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 14:22-3...

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 po...

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: On her website  On Facebook On Instagram Find Jennifer Slattery: On her...

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.)  Bi...

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 Mc...

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 dis...

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 rel...

This episode is for everyone who feels 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 Da...

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...

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 servi...

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 ex...

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 w...

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...

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.) Resou...