Faith Over Fear

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 her latest release When Secrets Come Calling, the various losses her characters grieve, how God meets them in their pain, and how He longs to heal us as well. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.) Books mentioned: When Secrets Come Calling, The Paths We Walk: Trails, The Paths We Walk: Bridges.  Find Felicia Ferguson: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Subscribe to her free newsletter Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group  Discussion/Reflective Questions: What resonated with you most in this episode? What movies or novels have impacted you most and why? What is it about stories that they have such a capacity to so deeply touch us? Why is it important to allow ourselves to grieve our losses? What are some things that might cause "ongoing" grief, and how can we grieve those well? How might remembering God's steadfast love help us in our grief? What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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/reflective questions.) Resource mentioned: Sometimes I Forget: 60 Reminders of Hope for Your Hard Days Find Julie Sunne: On her website On Facebook On Instagram On Amazon Find Carol McCracken: On her website  On Facebook On Instagram Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group  What resonated with you most in this episode? What attribute of God do you find most encouraging in your present season and why? When do you most tend to become self-reliant? How does it feel to know that God doesn't need but rather invites you to partner with Him? When you find yourself feeling impatient, what anxieties and fears most fuel that impatience? How can focusing on what God wants to do in us help us endure uncomfortable seasons well? What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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 14:22-33 and the God who remains present in life's most intense storms. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.) Resource mentioned: Courageous Faith: Discover the 7 Keys to Living Courageously in Life's AdventuresFind Kelly Hall:On her websiteInstagramFacebookUnshakable Hope Podcast Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Subscribe to her free newsletter Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group  Discussion/Reflective Questions: What resonated with you most in this episode? How do you feel when you hear Scripture promising God will never leave or forsake you? What are some ways you remind yourself of God's presence? How can cultivating anticipation for the good God will do in our lives increase our resiliency to endure hard and frightening seasons?  When have you wrestled with God, and what were the results? In what ways has God used a frightening time to increase your faith and deepen your understanding of Him? What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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 podcast Kelly Hall and Jennifer Slattery talk about Scripture they turn to when they feel afraid. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.) Biblical passages discussed: Deuteronomy 31; Exodus 33-34; Joshua 2 Resource mentioned: Courageous Faith: Discover the 7 Keys to Living Courageously in Life's Adventures Find Kelly Hall: On her website Instagram Facebook Unshakable Hope Podcast Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Subscribe to her free newsletter Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group  Discussion/Reflective questions: What resonated with you most in this episode? How might you have felt, had you been among the Israelites when Moses explained that he would not longer be leading them? What does it mean to recognize God as our true leader? What do you find most comforting when you consider God's promise to always go with you? Why is it important to prioritize God's presence over His blessings, and how might doing so actually help to decrease our anxiety and fear? How can knowing God's tender heart as our Father help increase our confidence to follow Him wholeheartedly? What struck you most when Jennifer and Kelly discussed Rahab's response to evidence of God's power compared to how her countrymen responded? What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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 website Instagram Facebook Amazon Subscribe to her free newsletter Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group  Discussion/reflective Questions What resonated with you most in this episode? When do you tend to hear God most clearly? When do you find it most challenging to discern God's voice? How or why might hatred toward others dull our spiritual hearing? How or why might selfishness and the sins that stem from this hinder our spiritual hearing? According to Jesus, who would hear His voice, and what does it mean to be among those people?  What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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.)  Bible passage discussed: 1 Samuel 1 Find Carol McCracken: On her website  On Facebook On Instagram Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Subscribe to her free newsletter Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group  Discussion/Reflective Questions: What resonated with you most in this episode? When have you sensed God asking you to, in essence, release a loved one into His care? What did this look like? Why is it important to recognize God's heart for our loved ones and His power to care for them? When have you seen someone's refusal to entrust a loved one to Christ (also known as trying to fix things themselves) led to increased dysfunction or harm? What would you have found most challenging, had you been Samuel's mom? Consider your typical actions with, and in regard to, your loved ones. How consistently are you modeling clinging to God above all? What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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 McCracken: On her website  On Facebook On Instagram Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Subscribe to her free newsletter Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group  Discussion/reflective questions: What resonated with you most in this episode? When have you sensed God asking you to remain in a difficult situation in which you felt targeted because of your faith? What might it look like to display a quiet strength in tense situations? Why is it important to recognize the power available to us through the Holy Spirit? What are some ways you seek strength and courage through the Holy Spirit? What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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 discussed: Psalm 139 Find Carol McCracken: On her website  On Facebook On Instagram Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Subscribe to her free newsletter Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group  Discussion/reflective questions: What resonated with you most in this episode? What thoughts and/or emotions arise when you reflect upon God's full knowledge of and deep love for you? What are some ways you regain a sense of calm when anxiety begins to take hold? Why is it important to have various tools to practice when we feel anxious and afraid? What's the difference between feeling anxious and feeling stuck in our anxiety? In what ways have you, or could you, invite God's perspective on your fear or anxiety?  How can naming, but not judging, our emotions help us to manage them? What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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 relationship with God with that same mindset. That is why practicing confession can be so freeing. In naming our sins, big and small, and asking for forgiveness (which we've already received), we are also learning to practice what Jennifer refers to as a perpetual "clean-slate" existence. In this episode, hosts Jennifer Slattery and Carol McCracken launch a 5-part series on bold prayers with a discussion of words uttered by ancient Isreal's 2nd king, a man God referred to as someone after His own heart. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.) (Bible passage discussed: Psalm 19) Find Carol McCracken: On her website  On Facebook On Instagram Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Subscribe to her free newsletter Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group  Discussion/reflective questions: What resonated with you most in this episode? Why might it be helpful to begin one's prayers proclaiming the power, vastness, and goodness of God? What thoughts or emotions typical arise when you think of the spiritual practice of confession? Why is it important to remain cognizant of God's abundant grace while practicing confession? How can practicing confession help us experience God's grace on a deeper level? (Not earn it, but experience what He's already given us.) How might practicing confession help one live with more self-awareness? What is one action step God might be inviting you to take, having listened to this episode?   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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 Day. In this episode, she shares how God brought her from grief, to healing, and now, to celebration–not for the pain she experienced, but for what He is building and has built in her life today.  (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.) Resource Mentioned: "the Soul Care Quiz" Connect with Bonnie Gray: On her website Facebook Instagram YouTube Her podcast: Breathe: The Stress Less Podcast Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Subscribe to her free newsletter Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group  Discussion/reflective questions: What resonated with you most in this episode? What emotions tend to arise for you around Mother's Day? How would you describe your relationship with you mom? How difficult is it for you to view your mother and your relationship with her "honestly"?  What are some ways you do or have allowed yourself to grieve the mother you don't have? How is God rewriting your story and breaking dysfunctional patterns? What is one thing God might be asking you to do having listened to this podcast?            Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.