Faith Over Fear

Anxiety and Prayer: Understanding How God Leads us to Peace

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.

Money Anxiety ? Hope for the Financially Insecure

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 Free companion resource 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? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

When Wine Becomes a Crutch: Freedom from Alcohol's Grip

“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: Why alcohol (or other numbing habits) often function as a solution, not the real problem What surfaces emotionally and spiritually when numbing is removed How grief, fatigue, and long-buried feelings often point to unmet needs—not personal failure The lies that grow louder in silence—and how awareness and Scripture can interrupt them with grace Where Jesus meets us most clearly when we feel exposed, weary, and emotionally honest How joy can return—not as escape, but as presence, embodiment, and safety 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 Where in my life have I been using something—even something socially acceptable—to soften, numb, or survive instead of truly rest? If I’m honest, what emotions do I work hardest to avoid feeling—and why might those emotions feel unsafe to me? Have I been interpreting my exhaustion as failure, when it may actually be information about my soul’s needs? What lies get loud for me when life slows down or distractions are removed—and how do those lies shape my sense of identity? How has my definition of joy been shaped by escape rather than presence—and what quieter forms of joy might God be inviting me to notice? What would it look like to believe I can feel deeply and be safe with God—right here, not after I “fix” myself? Connect with Christy Osborne: On her website On Instagram On Facebook Find her work 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.

Fear You've Angered or Disappointed God?

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: On Instagram 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.

Bonus Episode: Prayer Anxiety? Finding God in the Fear, Ambiguity and Silence

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: Rachel, a person of deep sorrow Leah, a person overlooked Jochebed, a person in the background Sarah, a person who doubted 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 Which part of prayer feels hardest for you right now—finding the words, believing God hears you, or trusting Him with the outcome? Why? When you think of praying bold prayers, what emotion rises first—fear, excitement, skepticism, or hope? What might God be inviting you to explore in that? Is there a biblical woman’s story (Rachel, Leah, Jochebed) that mirrors a season you’re in? What does her journey teach you about God’s character? In what ways have fear, disappointment, or past pain shaped the way you pray—or the way you avoid praying? Rachel talks about being honest in prayer, even messy or raw. What would it look like to tell God the truth about something you’ve been holding back? Where do you sense God inviting you to trust Him more deeply—not someday, but today—as you learn to pray more naturally? Find Rachel Britton: 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.