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In today’s episode, Carol is joined by author and Bible teacher Melissa Spoelstra for a powerful conversation about fear, spiritual warfare, and the God who reigns over both heaven and earth. Drawing from her new Bible study, Melissa helps us understand why the Bible talks about angels—not so that we’ll become preoccupied with supernatural beings, but so our view of God will grow larger, stronger, and more hope-filled.

Together, Carol and Melissa explore what Scripture reveals about the unseen spiritual realm: angelic hosts, messengers, cherubim and seraphim, fallen angels, and even Satan. But more importantly, they highlight the character of the God who commands the angel armies, sets boundaries on evil, strengthens His servants through suffering, and offers refuge in moments of fear.

This episode gently but boldly addresses questions many believers wrestle with:
• What battles am I facing that I can’t see?
• How do I fight fear without becoming fearful of spiritual warfare?
• Why does God allow testing, and where is He when life feels heavy?
• How do angels reveal God’s heart, His protection, and His authority?

Through practical insight and biblical clarity, Melissa reminds us that although our battles are real, our God is sovereign, present, and victorious. We don’t fix our eyes on angels—we fix our eyes on the God who created them. And in doing so, we find the hope and courage we need for whatever we’re facing right now.

Whether you’re wrestling with anxiety, fear of the unknown, spiritual attack, or simply longing to understand God’s supernatural care more deeply, this conversation will breathe peace and truth into your soul.

Key Scriptures Discussed

• 2 Kings 6 – Elisha’s servant sees the chariots of fire
  • Hebrews 1 – Angels as ministering spirits
  • Psalm 91 – God’s promise of protection
  • Ephesians 6 – Our battle against spiritual forces
  • Luke 2 – God sends an angel to outcasts
  • Revelation – Angels in worship and judgment

Themes Covered✓ Spiritual warfare without fear
✓ God’s sovereignty over heaven and earth
✓ Discernment, deception, and truth
✓ How angels reveal God’s character
✓ The limits God places on Satan

Discussion/Reflective Questions:

1. Where in your life right now does fear feel louder than your confidence in God’s reign—and what does remembering the spiritual realm change for you?
2. Which aspect of God’s character, revealed through the ministry of angels, brought you the most comfort or clarity today?
3. How have you sensed spiritual warfare in your thoughts, relationships, or emotions recently—and what truth about God’s authority helps you fight back?
4. What lies or subtle deceptions tend to trigger anxiety for you, and how can Scripture help you recognize and counter them?
5. When have you felt strengthened, protected, or supported by God in a way that you couldn’t fully explain? What did that reveal about His presence?
6. What one step can you take this week to shift your focus away from fear of the enemy and toward a greater trust in the God who rules over everything?

Resource referenced:

Angels - Bible Study Book for Women with Video Access: Finding Hope in God Who Reigns over Heaven and Earth

Download this episodes free companion guide here.

Connect with Melissa Spoelstra:

On her website

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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.

(Scroll down for resources, including a link to a free downloadable resource.)

So many of our deepest anxieties come not from circumstances—but from people we love. Broken trust. Emotional betrayal. Confusing mixed signals. Fear of being hurt again. In this episode, Jennifer Slattery talks with Matthew and Joanna Rapsmith and therapist Dan Drake about why relational wounds cut so deeply, how they affect our nervous system and emotional health, and how God compassionately leads us toward healing, safety, and renewed connection.

Whether you’re trying to heal a relationship, rebuilding trust after betrayal, or carrying hidden wounds you’re afraid to name, today’s conversation offers compassionate truth and practical guidance to help you breathe again.

You’ll Learn

• Why relational pain can feel overwhelming

• How betrayal and fear impact the brain and nervous system

• Why emotional safety is essential for healing

• What emotional intelligence really looks like in relationships

• How to unlearn unhealthy coping responses

• What to do if you’re willing to heal—but the other person isn’t

• How God meets us in relational heartbreak and restores hope

Key Themes

• Honesty and truth-telling
• Emotional and relational safety
• Healing from shame and fear
• Restoring trust
• Christ-centered restoration
• Personal healing even when relationships don’t rebuild

This Episode Is For You If…

✔️ You’ve experienced betrayal or broken trust
✔️ You long for connection but fear being hurt again
✔️ You struggle with anxiety in relationships
✔️ You want emotional maturity and healing
✔️ You desire hope, clarity, and Christ-centered encouragement

Resource referenced: Building True Intimacy: Creating a connection that stands the test of time by Dan Drake, Joanna Raabsmith and Matthew Raabsmith.

Faith Over Fear podcast episode: Does Conflict Make You Anxious? Practical Steps to Increased Relational Peace

Free Downloadable Resource: Healing for Painful Relationships

Connect with Joanna and Matthew Raabsmith on their ministry website

Connect with Dan Drake and learn more about his and the Raabsmith's work on the Intimacy Pyramid website.

Find Jennifer Slattery:

On her website

Instagram

Facebook

Amazon

Subscribe to her free newsletter

Discussion/Reflective Questions:

1. When have you felt the most emotionally unsafe in a relationship, and how did your body and heart respond?
2. What story do you tend to tell yourself when conflict happens—“I’m failing,” “I’m unlovable,” “They’ll hurt me,” etc.?
3. Where might unhealed past experiences be shaping how you see and react to present relationships?
4. What would emotional safety look like for you? What boundaries, support, or healing might God be inviting you toward?
5. Where do you sense God calling you to honesty—either with yourself, Him, or someone else?
6. If your current relational or emotional patterns remain the same, where might they lead you? What could healing change?
7. How does it encourage you to know that God does not shame your pain—but meets you in it with compassion and restoration?

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

Do you feel emotionally overwhelmed—like you’re carrying more than you can handle and one more hardship or problem might break you? Have stress, anxiety, or burnout caused you to react in ways that don’t feel like you?

In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Jennifer Slattery and Carol McCracken talk honestly about emotional overwhelm, emotional capacity, and why prolonged stress and hardship can push even faithful, capable people past their limits. Through personal stories of caregiving, trauma triggers, disrupted sleep, ministry pressure, and relational strain, they explain why “pushing through” often leads to exhaustion, shame, and broken connections.

Turning to Scripture, they explore the life of David—a man after God’s own heart—who also experienced seasons of intense fear, grief, and emotional overload. His story shows us that overwhelm is not a spiritual failure and that God meets us with grace, not condemnation, when we’re in survival mode. 

This conversation offers biblical encouragement and practical tools to help you recognize when your emotional capacity is maxed out, calm anxiety throughout the day, reduce unnecessary stress, and reconnect with Christ’s presence in the middle of overwhelming seasons.

If you’ve been feeling worn down, reactive, or ashamed of how you’ve been coping, this episode will remind you: you’re not weak, you’re human—and you’re not alone.

Download a free resource designed to help you experience the peace of Christ in Your Most Emotionally Overwhelming Seasons.

Reflective/Discussion Questions:

• Where do you currently feel emotionally overloaded?
  What circumstances, responsibilities, or unresolved stressors might be adding weight to your “emotional bridge”?

• How do you typically respond when your emotional capacity is exceeded?
  Do you tend to withdraw, lash out, numb, overwork, or push through—and what has that response cost you?

• What stood out to you about David’s responses to overwhelm?
  How does his honesty with God challenge or free you in the way you pray, lament, or express emotion?

• Are there stressors in your life that could be reduced, paused, or removed—at least temporarily?
  What might it look like to honor your limits instead of judging them?

• What helps calm your body and mind throughout the day?
  Which practices—movement, rest, prayer, breathing, joy, community—might God be inviting you to return to or begin?

• Is there an area where shame has followed your past reactions to stress?
  How does this episode reshape your understanding of God’s grace toward you in survival seasons?

Find Carol McCracken:

On her website 

On Facebook

On Instagram

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.

If the holidays leave you overwhelmed, overstretched, or anxious, you’re not alone. In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Jennifer Slattery and guest Kelly Hall unpack the story of Mary and Martha to reveal practical, grace-filled ways to reduce holiday stress, avoid codependent patterns, set healthy boundaries, and re-center on what matters most. Whether you’re navigating grief, family tension, perfectionism, or people-pleasing, this conversation offers gentle guidance to help you enter Christmas with more calm, clarity, and joy.

You’ll learn how to:

• Recognize your emotional capacity
• Resist the pressure to meet everyone’s expectations
• Simplify your celebrations
• Experience deeper peace by staying aligned with Jesus rather than holiday chaos

Scripture discussed:

Luke 10,  Mark 1:35-39

Resources Recommended: Courageous Faith by Kelly Hall, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life by Joanna Weaver

Free Bible Reading Plan: "Embracing Your True Self: Living in Your Christ-Centered Identity"

Free Resource: Practical Steps to Reduced Anxiety and Overwhelm This Christmas

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

Discussion/Reflective Question:

1. What resonated with you most in this episode

2. Where do I feel the most pressure during the holiday season—and whose expectations are driving that pressure?

3. What signs tell me I’m reaching or exceeding my emotional capacity? How can I respond with grace rather than reacting from overwhelm?

4. In what situations do I tend to “Martha”—trying to control people or outcomes rather than pausing to sit at Jesus’ feet?

5. Where might I be slipping into codependent behavior (fixing, appeasing, rescuing) instead of allowing others to own their emotions?

6. What boundaries do I need to set this holiday season to protect peace, joy, and emotional/spiritual health?

7. What one simple shift could help me keep “the most important thing” at the center of my celebrations?

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

In this inspiring conversation, Jennifer Slattery and guest Dawn Cazedessus explore how God heals the generational wounds, shame, and limiting beliefs to create a life of influence, purpose, and freedom. Dawn shares her journey from a trailer park in rural Louisiana to leading thousands as a CEO and regional director. Her story reveals how early adversity shaped her work ethic—but also how God transformed survival-driven striving into purposeful, Spirit-led leadership.

Listeners will hear Dawn’s vulnerable reflections on her positive and challenging childhood influences, scarcity versus abundant mindsets, and the emotional work required to renew her thinking and embrace her true Christ-centered identity. She speaks honestly about the discomfort of stepping into unfamiliar environments, the power of God-given hope, and the role of community in healing. Together, Jennifer and Dawn unpack how Scripture, neuroplasticity, and intentional growth plans help us move from “trailer park thinking” to the abundance mindset God desires for His children.

Whether you’re navigating hardship, battling internal lies, or longing to step into God’s purpose for your life, this episode offers practical wisdom, biblical encouragement, and life-changing hope.

Resource Referenced: Trailer Park CEO: 12 Leadership Cornerstones to Become a Godly Woman of Influence – A Diverse Leadership Tool Kit for Christian Women in Business by Dawn Cazedessus

Discussion/Reflective Questions:

1. Dawn shared how leaving the trailer park immediately didn't remove her "trailer park thinking". Where do you feel free externally but still stuck mentally or emotionally?

2. What limiting belief from your past most affects how you see yourself today? What does the truth of Scripture say regarding that belief?

3. What recurring thought patterns in your life need to be held up to God’s truth?

4. When have you felt uncomfortable entering a new environment or opportunity? What helped (or could help) you stay present and keep moving forward?

5. Who in your life models the kind of thinking, stability, or faith you want to grow into? What are some ways you can actively learn from them?

6. What situations trigger a scarcity mindset for you?
   What would it look like to adopt an “included” or abundance mindset based on Ephesians 3:20?

7. Dawn said Jesus was the first Person she could fully trust. How has trusting—or struggling to trust—God shaped your own story of growth?

8. What's one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?

Find Dawn Cazedessus:

On Instagram

On Facebook

Follow her writing 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.

 Faith Over Fear Episode Summary

Guest: Mary DeMuth
 Topic: The Freedom of Surrender: 40 Devotions to Let Go and Live Free

What if the peace you’re craving isn’t found in control, but in letting go? In this episode, Carol McCracken talks with author and speaker Mary DeMuth about her new devotional The Freedom of Surrender. Together, they explore what it means to release the hidden parts of our lives—our past, our relationships, our daily struggles, and our deepest worries—to a God who can handle them better than we can.

Mary shares how surrender became a life-changing spiritual practice, one that moves us from striving and fear into trust and rest. She offers honest insights about how to identify areas of resistance, what healthy surrender looks like, and why God often meets us most powerfully when we finally stop trying to manage everything ourselves.

Whether you’re carrying regret, trying to fix relationships, or simply exhausted from worry, this conversation reminds you that freedom begins where self-reliance ends.

Resource Referenced: The Freedom of Surrender: Forty Devotions for a Joyful Life in Christ by Mary DeMuth

Download your free faith-building resource for all November's Faith Over Fear episodes here

Discussion/Reflection Questions:

1. When you hear the word surrender, what emotions rise up first—fear, relief, resistance, or trust?
2. Mary talks about surrendering our inner life—our thoughts, wounds, and private battles. Which part of your inner life might God be inviting you to release today?
3. How can you tell when you’ve picked something back up that you once laid down before God?
4. What’s one relationship where you sense God asking you to trust His timing and work rather than your own effort?
5. Mary reminds us that surrender and freedom are connected. What would “living free” look like for you this week?
6. Which Scripture verse helps anchor your heart when surrender feels scary or uncertain?

Connect with Mary DeMuth:

On her website

On Facebook

On Instagram

Find her writing 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.

Do long waiting seasons leave you feeling anxious, disoriented and discouraged, particularly when they involve something for which you deeply long? Obviously, we can't "hurry" God along or "force His hand," but we can learn to wait in a way that strengthens our faith, deepens our relational intimacy with Christ, and prepares us for the very good plans He's forged uniquely for each of us. In this episode, Dove Award nominee, singer/songwriter Jamie Jangochian shares how God used her long battle with Lyme disease to bring about growth and reveal the new dreams He had for her. She also shares how to recognize the lies that hold us back, find inner healing through our interaction with Christ, and view our waiting seasons not as disappointments but divine appointments that prepare us for our next assignments.

Resource Referenced: Sacred Surrender: The Practice of Waiting Well with God

Reflective/Discussion Questions:

1. What resonated with you most in this episodes?
2. Why might God use waiting seasons to grow us, our faith, and our relationship with Him?
3. What do you typically find most challenging when it comes to waiting well?
4. When have you endured a waiting season that caused you to question God's goodness or His plans for you?
5. How did God use that situation to deepen your faith, clarify or expand your calling, or bring soul-deep healing?
6. Which of God's character traits can increase your faith during waiting seasons?
7. What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?

Connect with Jamie Jamgochian:

On her website

On Instagram

On Facebook

Follow her music on Spotify

Follow her writing 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.

When faith and mental health collide, many believers feel caught between shame and silence. In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Carol McCracken talks with Chris Morris, author of Resilient and Redeemed: Lessons about Suicidality and Depression from the Psych Ward. Chris shares his raw and redemptive story of battling depression, walking through a crisis of faith, and discovering that God’s grace meets us even in the darkest places. Together, they explore how to dismantle harmful theology, find freedom through honesty, and experience hope that outlasts despair.

Resource Discussed: Resilient and Redeemed: Lessons about Suicidality and Depression from the Psych Ward

Discussion/Reflective Questions:

1. Chris talked about trying to “power through by sheer will” before realizing something had to change. When have you reached the end of your own strength and discovered the freedom of surrender?
2. Many people tie their identity to productivity or performance. How has God been reshaping your understanding of worth apart from what you do?
3. Chris described a “crisis of faith,” not a loss of faith. What’s the difference for you—and how have moments of doubt actually deepened your faith journey?
4. What are some “theological traps” you’ve encountered—beliefs that sounded spiritual but actually created fear, guilt, or shame rather than freedom?
5. Chris’s friends later asked, “Why didn’t you tell me?” Who in your life could you safely open up to about your struggles, and what would it take to start that conversation?
6. Paul’s story of the “thorn in the flesh” reminded Chris that God’s grace is enough, even when healing looks different than we hoped. How does that truth speak to your current season of pain or waiting?
7. What is one practical step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this podcast episode?

 

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

People often say, "Don't talk about religion and politics in polite company," and for good reason. These types of discussions tend to hit our deepest values. Yet, Jesus also told us to share the gospel to the ends of the earth. We want to live lives of impact, to obey Christ's command to bring His light to the darkest corners of the earth, and to see our family, friends and loved ones transformed by grace. But many of us have ample reasons to experience fear and anxiety when engaging in spiritual conversations. (Or any tense discussion with those who view the world, and issues, differently)

As a result, we might find ourselves either shrinking back in self-protection or getting sucked into arguments that quickly devolve and turn ugly. Both responses challenge our ability to fulfill the greatest call Jesus gave us–to share the gospel with those who don’t yet know Christ. In this episode, host Jennifer Slattery speaks with apologist, pastor and church planter Dave Montoya on all the reasons these conversations feel so difficult and have the potential to turn so hostile, how to analyze our unique triggers, and create more fulfilling and fruitful discussions with those who hold a vastly different view of our world than we do. (While Jennifer and Dave's discussion center on the gospel, they believe you'll find the tips shared helpful in most challenging and uncomfortable conversations.)

Discussion/Reflective Question:

1. What resonated with you most in this episode?
2. When it comes to discussing big truths with those with whom you disagree, do you most frequently tend to get sucked into a tense argument or try to avoid the discussion, and why do you think this might be?
3. Consider a "truth discussion" when you became reactive or withdrawn. What factors might have impacted your reaction?
4. How difficult do you find it to see commonalities between yourself and those with whom you disagree on issues about which you feel deeply passionate, and why do you think this is?
5. According to Dave Montoya, we should approach anger with caution. Why did he suggest this, and how do you feel regarding his perspective?
6. What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?

Connect with Dave Montoya on his church's website

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.

In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Carol talks with pastor and author Terry Crist about his new book, Now You Can Stop Running. Together, they unpack what it means to stop fleeing from pain, purpose, or even God—and instead face what’s been chasing us with courage and grace. Terry shares his own story of reaching a breaking point when he could no longer outrun what God wanted to heal, revealing that running often masks deeper fears of rejection, failure, or being truly known.

Through candid conversation, Terry and Carol explore the connection between honesty, healing, and spiritual rootedness. They discuss how facing our inner struggles can restore connection with ourselves, others, and God—and how spiritual practices like solitude, Scripture reflection, and prayer can ground us when we feel the urge to escape.

If you’ve ever found yourself avoiding hard conversations, hiding behind busyness, or believing you don’t deserve to rest, this episode will help you recognize the subtle ways you might be running—and offer practical tools to stop, stay, and be fully present to God’s transforming grace.

Resource Referenced: Now You Can Stop Running: Finding the Rest Your Soul Desperately Needs

1. What are some ways you might be running from pain, purpose, or vulnerability in your own life—perhaps without realizing it?
2. When have you felt God gently calling you to stop running and face something hard? What happened when you did?
3. What fear tends to drive your fleeing behaviors—fear of failure, rejection, being known, or something else?
4. How might slowing down and telling yourself the truth—about your emotions, motives, or needs—open the door to healing?
5. Which spiritual practices (solitude, journaling, Scripture, community) help you stay grounded when you want to escape?
6. Do you believe you’re worthy of rest and belonging? What would change if you lived like that truth was real?
7. What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?

Find Terry Crist:

On his website

On Instagram

Follow his 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.