Faith Over Fear

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 o...

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 ful...

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 Pra...

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 fo...

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...

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 m...

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...

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 h...

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 S...

  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 passage...

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 actua...

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...

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...

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 te...

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 spe...

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...

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...

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 w...

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 Thomps...

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...

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 Ep...

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 dependen...

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 Koz...

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 thi...

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 eve...