Faith Over Fear

Why do difficult relationships trigger so much fear, frustration and anxiety? In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Carol McCracken sits down with Bible teacher and author Kathy Howard to discuss how walking with the Holy Spirit transforms the way we handle conflict, misunderstandings and relational tension. Together, they explore why our instinct is often self-protection, how to trust God when conflict remains unresolved and what it looks like to pursue biblical peace without avoiding hard conversations. If you've ever wished you could take back words spoken in frustration or find greater calm in difficult relationships, this episode offers practical encouragement and biblical wisdom. In This Episode, you'll hear: Why fear and self-protection often drive our reactions How spiritual preparation changes the way we handle conflict Practical ways to slow down during difficult conversations The difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking and more ... Scripture discussed or referenced:  Galatians 5:22–23, James 1:19–20, Ephesians 5:21, 1 Corinthians 8:13, Romans 12:16–19, Philippians 4:2, Philemon, Galatians 2:11–15 Find Kathy Howard: On her website On Facebook On Instagram 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 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 When have I experienced a season where God felt silent? What thoughts about Him surfaced during that time? What story is my current struggle telling me about God—and how does that compare with what Scripture reveals about His character? Like Peter in John 6, where else am I tempted to turn when faith feels difficult? What helps me return to Christ? How have I seen God’s faithfulness in the past that I can intentionally remember in this season? Am I allowing myself space to process disappointment or spiritual hurt, or am I trying to move forward too quickly? 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 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 Where have you noticed your past quietly shaping how you trust, react, or connect in your current relationships? What relational lie have you been believing about yourself that may have formed in an earlier season of pain or misunderstanding? When you feel anxious or controlling in a relationship, what deeper fear might be underneath that reaction? Who in your life feels emotionally safe—and what makes that environment different from others? What repeated pattern keeps surfacing in your relationships, and what part of your story might be driving it? 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.

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: Where have I confused loving people with trusting them equally? Which relationships currently strengthen my walk with Christ—and which leave me spiritually drained? Do I have a small circle of safe, reciprocal friendships where I can be fully known and prayed for? What boundaries might God be inviting me to set so I can love others from a healthy place rather than from exhaustion or fear? When I’ve experienced relational hurt, have I brought that pain honestly before Jesus for healing and wisdom? Who are the voices currently shaping my thinking, emotions, and spiritual direction—and are they aligned with God’s truth? 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.

If you’ve prayed for peace but still feel anxious, overwhelmed, or discouraged, you’re not alone—and you’re not failing spiritually. In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Jennifer Slattery is joined by Jamie Hampton, co-host of the Praying Christian Women podcast, for a compassionate and honest conversation about anxiety, prayer, and God’s peace. Jamie shares a season of debilitating anxiety and what that taught her. Together, she and Jennifer explore what Scripture—especially Philippians 4—really teaches about anxiety, why peace is often a process rather than an instant fix, and how God meets us in our physical, emotional, and spiritual realities. This conversation is for anyone who loves God but feels confused, exhausted, or ashamed by persistent anxiety—and longs for a gentler, grace-filled way forward. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why anxiety is rarely just spiritual—and why that matters What Philippians 4 does not mean about “being anxious” How praise and prayer can calm both the heart and nervous system Why honest, unfiltered prayer leads to deeper freedom Practical ways to interrupt anxious spirals with compassion How God’s peace grows through presence, not pressure Scriptures Referenced: Philippians 4:4–9 1 Peter 5:7 Download this episode's free companion guide HERE. Resources Referenced: She Prays Like a Girl: Discover the Joy and Power of Praying Like You (and no one else!) So Much More Scripture Meditation (podcast) Hearing Heart Biblical Meditation App Featured Guest: Jamie Hampton, Christian author and co-host of the Praying Christian Women podcast, shares vulnerably from her own journey through anxiety and healing.  NOTE: if you enjoyed this episode, visit Jamie and Alana's podcast Praying Women to hear Jennifer's conversation with Jamie on their show. Find it HERE.  Encouragement for Listeners: If prayer hasn’t taken your anxiety away, that doesn’t mean God is distant or disappointed or that your prayer practice isn't helping. God gradually cultivates peace in your soul as you walk with Him. Reflective Questions: When anxiety rises, what assumptions do I tend to make about myself or my faith? Are there physical, emotional, or situational factors contributing to my anxiety that I may have overlooked? What does it feel like to hear that God’s peace is often a process rather than an instant result? When prayer feels difficult, what gentle ways might help me orient my heart toward God? Are there fears or questions I’ve been hesitant to bring honestly to God? What might it look like to release those to Him? Which one small practice from this episode—praise, journaling, or honest prayer—feels most accessible to try this week? Connect with Jamie Hampton: On her and her cohosts website On Instagram On Facebook 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.