Are you already worrying about early mornings, school schedules, lunches, homework, and getting everyone out the door?

Does the end of summer leave you feeling anxious, emotional, or overwhelmed—even when nothing is actually wrong?

How can you prepare your family for back to school without spending the rest of August mentally rehearsing everything that could go wrong?

In today’s episode, we’re talking about the “August Blues” and why back-to-school transitions can feel especially hard when you’re already an anxious mom. I’m sharing a powerful reminder from one of our listeners, the psychology behind anticipatory anxiety, and how to stop mentally living in September while you’re still in August.

In this episode, we talk about:

⭐️ Why your nervous system can feel the back-to-school transition before school even begins

⭐️ How anticipatory anxiety causes anxious moms to mentally “time travel” into September

⭐️ The difference between healthy preparation and trying to control every unknown

⭐️ Why anxiety tends to focus on everything that could go wrong—and how to intentionally notice what could go right

⭐️ How Matthew 6:34 and Philippians 4:8 can help you stay grounded in today

⭐️ The 3-Anchor Back-to-School Reset: gradually shifting sleep, creating a night-before reset, and building margin into your mornings

⭐️ A simple “What I’m Worried About vs. What I’m Looking Forward To” exercise to help you enjoy the rest of summer while trusting God with the school year ahead

Contact Rachel:

Email: [email protected]

Listen on Apple Podcasts

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Next Steps:

Step 1: Follow the show so you don’t miss new episodes every Monday and Thursday.

Step 2: Leave a five-star written review on Apple Podcasts.

Step 3: Share this episode with a mom who is already worrying about the school-year transition and needs permission to enjoy the rest of summer.

Related Episodes:

40 | Feeling Anxious About Summer Break? 4 Simple Rhythms to Help Christian Moms Find Peace

9 | Stop Overthinking and Start Living Anchored: Finding Peace in the Present

Xoxo,

Keywords: back-to-school anxiety, anxious moms, back-to-school routines, school anxiety, Christian moms, mom anxiety, anticipatory anxiety, end-of-summer anxiety, August Blues, school morning routine, Christian motherhood, stop worrying, anxiety and faith, biblical anxiety help, motherhood overwhelm

Have you ever felt like being a “good Christian woman” means doing more, serving more, and somehow keeping it all together?

Do you ever compare yourself to the Proverbs 31 woman or other women in the Bible and wonder why faithfulness feels so heavy?

What if God is not asking you to copy another woman’s calling, but to walk with Him as the woman He created you to be?

In today’s episode, we are talking about the pressure anxious Christian moms can feel to perform biblical womanhood. After stumbling across a Facebook post about a woman who tried so hard to be the Proverbs 31 woman that she ran herself into the ground, I started asking a deeper question: “Lord, who did You actually make me to be?”

That question led me to create and take my own “Which Woman of the Bible Are You?” quiz. In this episode, I’m sharing what that revealed about my strengths, sensitivity, honest prayer, and the freedom that comes when we stop trying to force ourselves into someone else’s calling.

In this episode, we talk about:

⭐️ Why Proverbs 31 was never meant to become a pressure-filled checklist for Christian moms

⭐️ How anxiety can twist biblical womanhood into striving, comparison, and guilt

⭐️ The question that can help you discern God’s voice from outside pressure

⭐️ Why your sensitivity, loyalty, service, courage, discernment, or leadership may be part of your God-given wiring

⭐️ How women like Hannah, Ruth, Mary, Martha, Esther, Deborah, Abigail, and Anna reflect different kinds of faithfulness

⭐️ Why God is not grading your motherhood based on another woman’s assignment

⭐️ Three real-life application steps to help you release pressure and walk in peace as the woman God made you to be

Mother of the Bible quiz link:

Get the free full reflection guide based on your Mother of the Bible results here:

Contact Rachel:

Email: [email protected]

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Become a Faith Over Anxiety Email Insider:

SIGN UP HERE!

Next Steps:

Step 1: Follow the show so you don’t miss new episodes every Monday and Thursday.

Step 2: Leave a five-star written review on Apple Podcasts.

Step 3: Share this episode with a Christian mom who feels like she is constantly trying to do more, be more, and prove she is faithful enough.

Related Episodes:

When Anxiety Makes You Feel Like a Bad Mom (What God Is Actually Forming in You)

Why You Still Feel Anxious as a Christian (Even When You Trust God)

Xoxo,

Keywords: Proverbs 31 woman, biblical womanhood, Christian mom anxiety, anxious Christian moms, stop striving, Christian motherhood, Bible women, women of the Bible, faith-based encouragement, motherhood anxiety, Christian podcast for moms, finding peace in motherhood, biblical encouragement for moms

Are you feeling anxious about sending your kids back to school?

Do you wish you knew how to pray for your children when worry feels loud?

What if back-to-school anxiety could become an invitation to pray Scripture and experience God’s peace?

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Jodie Berndt, bestselling author of Praying the Scriptures for Your Children, speaker, Bible study teacher, host of Mom Life Unscripted with Jodie & Friends, wife, mom of four adult children, and grandma to eight grandkids.

We’re talking about how prayer helps moms trade panic for peace, why praying Scripture is such a powerful tool for confident parenting, and how we can release the pressure to control every outcome while still being intentional, loving, and involved moms.

If you’ve been carrying quiet worries about your child’s school year, friendships, emotions, anxiety, safety, or future, this episode will remind you that you do not have to carry those concerns alone. You can bring every fear to God and learn to pray His Word over your children with confidence and peace.

In this episode, we talk about:

⭐️ How prayer helps anxious moms trade panic for peace

⭐️ Why praying Scripture over your children is so powerful

⭐️ What to do when you don’t know what to pray

⭐️ How Scripture gives you words when anxiety feels loud

⭐️ What happens when children see their parents praying in real-life moments

⭐️ How prayer helps moms release control while still parenting intentionally

⭐️ Specific Scripture-based prayers moms can pray over their children as they head back to school

Connect with Jodie Berndt:

Learn more about Jodie, her books, Bible studies, speaking, and resources:

Website: www.jodieberndt.com

Instagram: @jodie_berndt

YouTube: Mom Life Unscripted with Jodie & Friends

Books by Jodie: Praying the Scriptures for Your Children and the Praying the Scriptures series for teens, adult children, marriage, and life

Book Mentioned in This Conversation:

Mom Set Free: Find Relief from the Pressure to Get It All Right by Jeannie Cunnion

Disclosure: As an Amazon Influencer, I may earn from qualifying purchases when you use my book links, at no extra cost to you.

Get 12 free prayers for back to school

Contact Rachel:

Email: [email protected]

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Become a Faith Over Anxiety Email Insider:

SIGN UP HERE!

Next Steps:

Step 1: Follow the show so you don’t miss new episodes every Monday and Thursday

Step 2: Leave a five-star written review on Apple Podcasts

Step 3: Share this episode with a mom who is feeling anxious about the back-to-school season and wants to pray over her children with more peace and confidence

Related Episodes:

Intrusive Thoughts in Motherhood: Why They Happen and How to Cope

Fear of the Future: Learning to Trust God with the Unknown

Xoxo,

Keywords: back to school prayers, praying Scripture over your children, anxious mom, Christian mom anxiety, prayer for children, back to school anxiety, biblical parenting, praying for your kids, Christian motherhood

Have you ever wondered whether grief is supposed to feel different after so many years?

Do you carry guilt over something you wish you had done differently before losing someone you love?

Has loss made it harder for you to trust God or feel safe loving the people in your life?

In today’s episode, I’m sharing the story of my little sister, Kristen, as I reflect on 18 years without her. I’ll introduce you to the funny, loving, bossy, full-of-life girl she was, while also sharing honestly about the grief, anger, guilt, anxiety, and family responsibilities I carried after her death.

This is a reflective and hope-filled conversation about how grief changes over time, why healing does not mean forgetting, and how God stays close—even when we are angry, afraid, or struggling to trust Him.

In this episode, we talk about:

⭐️ The funny memories that capture Kristen’s personality, laughter, and light

⭐️ How losing a sibling can change your faith and sense of safety

⭐️ The guilt and “what if” thoughts that can follow an unexpected loss

⭐️ How Kristen’s death contributed to my fear of losing my husband and daughters

⭐️ Why I stepped into a caregiver role instead of fully processing my grief

⭐️ How a church grief group helped me feel less alone and begin healing

⭐️ What God has taught me about grief, purpose, trust, and His constant presence

Contact Rachel:

Email: [email protected]

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Become a Faith Over Anxiety Email Insider:

SIGN UP HERE!

Next Steps:

Step 1: Follow the show so you don’t miss new episodes every Monday and Thursday

Step 2: Leave a five-star written review on Apple Podcasts

Step 3: Share this episode with a woman who is grieving a sibling or carrying guilt, fear, or unanswered questions after losing someone she loves

Related Episodes:

Fear of the Future: Learning to Trust God with the Unknown

Letting Go of the Past: What Lot’s Wife Teaches About Anxiety and Regret

Xoxo,

Keywords: grieving a sibling, sibling loss, grief and faith, Christian grief, losing a sister, grief recovery, healing after loss, trusting God after loss, grief guilt, survivor guilt, fear of losing loved ones, anxiety after loss, biblical encouragement for grief, Christian moms with anxiety, God’s presence in grief, long-term grief, complicated grief, healing over time

Does your body feel exhausted at bedtime, but your mind suddenly feels wide awake?

Do you find yourself replaying conversations, worrying about your children, or mentally preparing for tomorrow when you should be sleeping?

Do you wish you had a practical, faith-based bedtime routine that could calm your racing thoughts without becoming another overwhelming thing to do perfectly?

Nighttime anxiety does not mean you are weak, broken, or failing to trust God.

After spending the entire day caring for everyone, solving problems, making decisions, and keeping track of all the details, bedtime may be the first quiet moment your mind has had to notice everything it has been carrying.

In today’s episode, we are talking about why anxiety often feels worse at night and how to use a simple four-step Momsomnia Reset to help your brain, body, and nervous system prepare for rest.

⭐️ Why anxiety and racing thoughts can feel louder when the house becomes quiet

⭐️ How cognitive arousal keeps your brain planning, reviewing, and problem-solving at bedtime

⭐️ Using a mental dump to move unfinished tasks and worries out of your head

⭐️ Creating a somatic transition to help your body release the tension of mom mode

⭐️ Reducing sensory stimulation from screens, noise, light, and your environment

⭐️ Using a heating pad, longer exhales, and a physical book for in-bed grounding

⭐️ What to do when you have been lying awake and anxious for around 20 minutes

Email: [email protected]

Podcast: www.faithoveranxietyformoms.com/podcast

Become a Faith Over Anxiety Email Insider:

Step 1: Follow the show so you don’t miss new episodes every Monday and Thursday.

Step 2: Leave a five-star written review on Apple Podcasts

Step 3: Share this episode with a friend

When Anxious Thoughts Won't Stop: Finding God's Peace in Psalm 94:19

How to Calm Anxiety: A Faith-Based Nervous System Reset Using Polyvagal Theory

Xoxo, Rachel 💜

Keywords: nighttime anxiety, racing thoughts, anxiety before bed, sleep anxiety, calm your mind, nervous system regulation, biblical bedtime routine, Christian moms, faith-based anxiety, insomnia for moms, Christian anxiety podcast

Have you ever looked back and realized God carried you through something you never thought you'd survive?

Have you forgotten just how faithful He's been in the middle of your anxiety?

What if remembering God's faithfulness could help you trust Him with whatever you're facing today?

Today we're celebrating 50 episodes of Faith Over Anxiety for Moms by looking back at one simple but powerful phrase from 1 Samuel 7:12: "Thus far the Lord has helped us."

Instead of celebrating a number, we're celebrating the God who has faithfully walked with us through every fear, every tear, every anxious thought, and every season of motherhood.

In this special episode, you'll hear heartfelt questions and powerful testimonies from listeners, along with biblical encouragement for anxious Christian moms who need hope, peace, and a reminder that they are never walking alone.

⭐️ Why sharing your story can become part of your healing journey

⭐️ The Bible verse that carried me through one of the hardest seasons of my life

⭐️ How to start reading the Bible without feeling overwhelmed

⭐️ My simple Bible study process using context, repeated words, and Hebrew & Greek word meanings

⭐️ Why you don't need a "perfect quiet time" to spend time with God

⭐️ How to let go of what you can't control and trust God one day at a time

⭐️ The connection between anxiety, hypervigilance, and surrender

⭐️ Powerful listener testimonies of God's faithfulness through postpartum anxiety, panic attacks, addiction, grief, and unexpected provision.

⭐️ How building your own "Ebenezer" can help you remember God's faithfulness when anxiety makes you forget

✝️ 1 Samuel 7:12

✝️ Psalm 34:18

💜 Join the Faith Over Anxiety Email Insider List

🎙️ Leave a question or testimony for a future episode

📖 Favorite Bible Studies - The Daily Grace Co.

As an Amazon Influencer, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

📧 Questions, prayer requests, or just want to say hi?

🎧 Why You Feel Far from God (and How to Recognize His Presence in Hard Seasons)

🎧 How to Trust God in Anxiety When Fear of the Unknown Steals Your Peace as a Christian Mom

Would you take 60 seconds to leave a written review on Apple Podcasts? 

Your review helps more anxious Christian moms discover the show and find biblical hope, practical tools, and encouragement for motherhood.

And if someone came to mind while listening, share this episode with her. 

You never know how God might use it to remind another mama that "Thus far the Lord has helped us."

Xoxo Rachel 💜

Have you ever felt so overwhelmed that you just wanted to escape for a minute?

Do you ever feel like your mind is racing, your body is tense, and everything feels like too much?

What if Psalm 55 could show you how to bring the real version of your anxiety to God instead of carrying it alone?

In today’s episode, we are walking through Psalm 55 and talking about what David teaches us when anxiety, overwhelm, hurt, and the desire to run away feel real.

This psalm is such a comfort for the anxious Christian mom because David does not pretend he is fine. He brings God the honest version of what he is feeling — the fear, the trembling, the restlessness, the betrayal, and the heaviness.

If you have been carrying anxiety, mental load, relationship hurt, motherhood overwhelm, or the feeling that you just want a break from it all, this episode will remind you that God is not overwhelmed by what overwhelms you.

In this episode, we talk about:

⭐️ Why Psalm 55 is a prayer of honest overwhelm

⭐️ What David’s desire to “fly away and be at rest” teaches us about anxiety

⭐️ How anxiety can show up in both your mind and your nervous system

⭐️ Why naming your emotions can help calm your body

⭐️ What it means to cast your cares on the Lord

⭐️ How God sustains you even when the situation is not instantly fixed

⭐️ A simple real-life practice for releasing what feels too heavy to carry

Be Part of my 50th Episode 🎉

Have a question you’d love for me to answer on the podcast?

You can ask about faith, anxiety, motherhood, intrusive thoughts, prayer, nervous system tools, behind-the-scenes podcasting, share your God story or anything else you’ve wanted to ask me.

You can also share a short testimony of how this podcast has encouraged you, helped you feel less alone, or reminded you of God’s peace.

👉 Leave a Voice Message for Episode 50

Prefer to email me instead?

Send your question or testimony to [email protected]

Your voice message, question, or testimony may be shared in episode 50.

Contact Rachel:

Contact -> [email protected]

Podcast -> www.faithoveranxietyformoms.com/podcast

Become a Faith Over Anxiety Email Insider -> SIGN UP HERE!

Next Steps:

Step 1: Follow the show so you don’t miss new episodes every Monday & Thursday

Step 2: Sign up for the weekly Faith Over Anxiety Newsletter

Step 3: Leave a 5 star written review on Apple Podcasts

Related Episodes

Episode 3: Mental Load & Overwhelm: Why Moms Feel Anxious and Exhausted

Episode 4: Six Real-Life Ways I Stop an Anxiety Spiral (That Actually Work)

Xoxo, Rachel 💜

Keywords: Anxiety, overwhelm, Psalm 55, Christian mom, anxious mom, cast your cares, motherhood anxiety, nervous system, Bible study, finding peace.

Do you ever feel like you’re the only Christian mom struggling with anxiety?

Do you ever wish you had more peace, encouragement, and faith-filled support in the middle of motherhood?

What if God uses worship, biblical community, and small rhythms of faith to remind your anxious heart that you are not alone?

In this episode, we talk about:

⭐️ Why anxiety can make your world feel small and lonely

⭐️ How worship helps shift your focus from fear back to God

⭐️ Why Christian community matters for anxious moms

⭐️ How God uses His Word, His people, and His presence to encourage us

⭐️ The psychology of anxiety and why our brains can get stuck scanning for danger

⭐️ How Scripture reminds us to lift our eyes to the Lord when fear feels loud

⭐️ Why your kids do not need a perfect mom, but a mom who points them to Jesus

⭐️ Simple faith rhythms you can create in your home this week

⭐️ How worship music, prayer, Scripture, and encouragement can help bring peace into ordinary mom life

Be Part of my 50th Episode 🎉

Have a question you’d love for me to answer on the podcast?

You can ask about faith, anxiety, motherhood, intrusive thoughts, prayer, nervous system tools, behind-the-scenes podcasting, share your God story or anything else you’ve wanted to ask me.

You can also share a short testimony of how this podcast has encouraged you, helped you feel less alone, or reminded you of God’s peace.

👉 Leave a Voice Message for Episode 50 HERE

Prefer to email me instead?

Send your question or testimony to [email protected]

Your voice message, question, or testimony may be shared in episode 50.

By leaving a voice message, you’re giving me permission to possibly share your message or a short clip of it on the podcast.

Contact Rachel:

Contact -> [email protected]

Podcast -> www.faithoveranxietyformoms.com/podcast

Become a Faith Over Anxiety Email Insider -> SIGN UP HERE!

Next Steps:

Step 1: Follow the show so you don’t miss new episodes every Monday & Thursday

Step 2: Sign up for the weekly Faith Over Anxiety Newsletter HERE

Step 3: Leave a 5 star written review on Apple Podcasts

Related Episodes

Episode 44: Do Small Acts of Faith Matter? How Christian Moms Can Trust God With Anxiety and Obedience

Episode 16: Why You Still Feel Anxious as a Christian (Even When You Trust God)

Xoxo, Rachel 💜

Keywords: anxiety, Christian moms, peace, anxious mom, biblical encouragement, motherhood anxiety, faith over fear, Christian motherhood, anxiety Bible verses, worship, prayer, nervous system tools, anxious thoughts, God’s peace, faith-based anxiety help, Christian community, overwhelmed mom, mom anxiety, biblical truth, peace in motherhood

Do you ever sit down to read your Bible, but your mind is already racing through the laundry, the school forms, the dinner plan, the appointments, the snacks, and all the things you forgot to do?

Maybe you truly want to spend time with God, but Bible study feels hard to stay consistent with in this season of motherhood. And then the guilt creeps in — “I should be doing more. I should be waking up earlier. I should be better at this.”

Mama, this episode is going to feel like a deep breath.

Today I’m joined by Alaine Jacobs, wife, mom of three, Bible study enthusiast, and host of the Bible Study for Busy Moms podcast. After years of struggling to stay consistent with Bible study in the middle of motherhood, Alaine discovered that connecting with God does not have to look like a perfect 5 a.m. quiet time.

In this episode, we talk about:

⭐️ Why so many Christian moms feel guilty or distracted during Bible study

⭐️ The unrealistic expectations that can keep moms stuck

⭐️ The difference between conviction and condemnation

⭐️ What a realistic, grace-filled relationship with God can look like in a busy season of motherhood

⭐️ Simple ways to connect with God when your mind won’t slow down

⭐️ How to build Bible study rhythms that fit your real mom life

⭐️ Why time with God does not have to be perfect to be powerful

Be Part of my 50th Episode 🎉

Have a question you’d love for me to answer on the podcast?

You can ask about faith, anxiety, motherhood, intrusive thoughts, prayer, nervous system tools, behind-the-scenes podcasting, share your God story or anything else you’ve wanted to ask me.

You can also share a short testimony of how this podcast has encouraged you, helped you feel less alone, or reminded you of God’s peace.

👉 Leave a Voice Message for Episode 50 - HERE

Prefer to email me instead?

Send your question or testimony to [email protected]

Your voice message, question, or testimony may be shared in episode 50.

*By leaving a voice message, you’re giving me permission to possibly share your message or a short clip of it on the podcast.*

Contact Alaine:

Join Alaine’s Facebook Group HERE

Email: [email protected]

Alaine mentioned the book Soundtracks by Jon Acuff as a helpful resource for noticing and changing the thoughts we repeat in our minds.

You can check it out HERE

Disclosure: As an Amazon Influencer, I may earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

Contact Rachel:

Contact -> [email protected]

Podcast -> www.faithoveranxietyformoms.com/podcast

Become a Faith Over Anxiety Email Insider -> SIGN UP HERE!

Next Steps:

Step 1: Follow the show so you don’t miss new episodes every Monday & Thursday

Step 2: Sign up for the weekly Faith Over Anxiety Newsletter HERE

Step 3: Leave a 5 star written review on Apple Podcasts

Related Episodes

Episode 11: How to Hear God’s Voice When Anxiety Is Loud (A Biblical Guide for Moms)

Episode 35: Why You Feel Far From God When You’re Anxious: How Attachment Styles Affect Your Faith

Xoxo, Rachel 💜

Keywords: Bible study for busy moms, anxious moms, Christian mom anxiety, Bible study, quiet time, connect with God, distracted during Bible study, prayer, motherhood, mom guilt, Christian moms, faith over anxiety, biblical encouragement, overwhelmed mom, spiritual rhythms, time with God