Faith Over Fear

What do you do when you genuinely want to follow God's will but aren't certain what He's telling you to do? Maybe you've prayed, sought wise counsel and searched Scripture, yet you're still afraid of making the wrong decision. Or perhaps you believed God was leading you in a particular direction, stepped forward in obedience and encountered unexpected obstacles that left you questioning whether you heard Him correctly.

In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Jennifer Slattery talks with author and Bible teacher Jenny Randle about overcoming the fear of getting God's will wrong and moving forward with confidence even when we lack clarity. Through personal stories and biblical encouragement, they explore how our understanding of God's character influences our decisions, why uncertainty can deepen our relationship with Him and how to recognize His guidance without becoming paralyzed by perfectionism. Jenny also shares practical questions to consider when facing important decisions and reminds us that God remains faithful, even when we don't get everything right.

Resources referenced:

• The Promised Presence: An Introduction to Holy Spirit's Power and Authority (A Journey through Luke and Acts) by Jenny Randle

• Getting to Know God's Voice: Discover the Holy Spirit in Your Everyday Life by Jenny Randle

Scriptures discussed: Genesis 18:16–33 (Abraham's conversation with God), Judges (Israel's recurring cycle of rebellion and rescue), Luke and Acts (the Holy Spirit's ministry)

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When God seems silent, especially during painful or frightening seasons, we might wonder if He's distant, disappointed in us or simply doesn't care. And when anxiety fills our minds with worst-case scenarios, sensing His presence can feel even more difficult. In this episode of Faith Over Fear, author and speaker Judy Dunagan shares how God met her during a season of intense fear and reminded her of His constant presence and care.

Judy and Jennifer also discuss practical ways to quiet anxious thoughts, recognize God's presence and continue seeking Him when He seems silent. Discover how Scripture, worship and honest prayer can help you remain confident in God's love, even when you can't see or hear Him at work.

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Scripture discussed: Mark 4:35–41, Mark 6:31, Psalm 91, Psalm 23, Psalm 13, Philippians 4:6–7, Hebrews 4:16, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Romans 8:26–27, Romans 8:34, Hebrews 13:5

Resource referenced: The Loudest Roar: Living in the Unshakable Victory of Christ

Catch Jennifer's previous conversation with Judy in the episode titled, "Living Victoriously in Seasons of Overwhelm"

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Have you ever worried you misheard God or that one wrong decision could take you outside His will? Maybe you're facing several good options, struggling to know which direction to take or stuck in an exhausting cycle of second-guessing. Bible teacher and author Erica Wiggenhorn joins Jennifer Slattery to share a personal experience of seeking God's direction during a painful family season and what she learned about His grace. They also explore how God redirected the apostle Paul and what his experience teaches us about moving forward with confidence, even when we're uncertain.

Discover how to grow more confident in recognizing God's voice, why closed doors don't necessarily mean you've made a mistake and how to trust His leading when circumstances become confusing or frightening. Jennifer and Erica discuss practical ways to approach Scripture, recognize the Holy Spirit's guidance and find peace during seasons of waiting. Gain encouragement to release the pressure of getting every decision right and trust God's faithfulness to lead you as you pursue Him.

Resource referenced: Loving Your Wayward Child: A Christian Guide to Stand in Faith and Build Connection When Their Choices Break Your Heart

by Erica Wiggenhorn

Scriptures discussed: Acts 8–9, Acts 16:6–10, Philippians (book referenced), John 10:10, Romans 12:1–2, Psalm 139:5, Psalm 139:23–24, John 16:12–13, Matthew 6:34, Matthew 14:22–33, Matthew 28:20.

Catch Erica and Jennifer's previous conversation on Living a Courageously Unexplainable Life  HERE. 

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Does it ever seem like God is silent when you're most desperate to hear from Him? Does it seem like others hear Him more easily than you? Do you worry you’re doing something wrong or that the silence you sense means He's upset with you for something? In this episode, author and speaker Susie Larson shares from her painful seasons of unanswered prayer and her relentless persistence when she sought healing for chronic lyme disease and sensed God "thundering" a reply in her chest. She explores how we can recognize God’s voice, respond when He seems silent and move from a transactional relationship to knowing His heart.

Susie and Jennifer also discuss the different ways God communicates, how fear and comparison can complicate our ability to hear Him and what we can do when we’ve sought God but still don’t sense His direction. Hear how knowing God’s character, remaining grounded in Scripture and learning to live loved can help us experience greater intimacy with Him.

Scripture Referenced: Psalm 103:1–12; Psalm 139:23–24; James 4:7–8; John 10:27; Jeremiah 33:3; Deuteronomy 29:29; Matthew 16:13–23; Ephesians 2:8–9; John 3:16; Colossians 1:13; 2 Corinthians 10:12

Resource mentioned: More Than You Can Imagine: What God Does When You Trust Him by Susie Larson  

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Have you ever wondered why God can feel distant even when you genuinely love Him and want a close relationship with Him? Past experiences of rejection, emotional distance or unmet needs can affect how we relate to others—and how we experience our relationship with God. Jennifer Slattery talks with author, speaker and Anglican priest Reverend Summer Joy Gross about attachment, anxiety and the fears that can leave us questioning whether God is truly attentive, responsive and engaged with us.

Summer shares how understanding attachment helped her recognize some of the fears beneath her own people-pleasing and anxiety and how God has been leading her toward greater security in His love. Together, she and Jennifer discuss the pressure to approach God correctly, why we don't have to chase Him or earn deeper connection with Him and how healing often occurs slowly, one encounter with God at a time. Discover how you can bring your full, messy self to God, receive His compassionate presence and increasingly experience the secure, unchanging love of the One who continually draws near.

Scripture discussed or referenced: Ezekiel 36:26; Psalm 46:10; Luke 15:3–7, 11–32; Psalms (David’s laments); Mark 10:13–16; Philippians 1:6; Isaiah 51:14

Resource referenced: Emmanuel Promise: Discovering the Security of a Life Held by God by Summer Joy Gross

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What do we do with regret when we can’t go back and make things right? Sanctus Real lead singer Dustin Lolli joins Jennifer Slattery to share the grief, regrets and Holy Spirit-led lessons he learned through and after his father’s unexpected death and Dustin’s painful realization that unresolved hurt had created distance in their relationship. He discusses the complicated intersection of grief, regret and self-protection and what God has taught him about what he calls “defiant faith”: choosing the way of Jesus even when our emotions, circumstances or culture pull us in another direction.

Dustin also shares the hope he discovered as God began using his regret to change how he loves and responds to others. While we may not always get the opportunity to repair what happened in the past, God can give us opportunities to live differently moving forward. Through his songs “The War I’m In,” “Make a Way” and “Days Like These,” Dustin reminds us that healing is often a process, our pain doesn’t have to dictate our future and Jesus remains our source of hope when circumstances cannot be changed. He also shares what’s ahead for Sanctus Real as the band becomes increasingly intentional about ministry, family and using their music and stories to point people toward Jesus.

Songs discussed: "The War I'm In", "Make a Way", "Days Like These"

Scripture referenced or discussed: John 13:3–5, Matthew 5:39–41, Matthew 16:25, Romans 8:28

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What do you do when a relationship feels so broken you’re afraid it may never recover? Relational pain can trigger fear, shame and an urgent desire to fix things—reactions that can make already difficult conversations even harder. In this episode, Jennifer talks with pastoral counselor and author Chris Coursey about how God can help us navigate relational fractures with greater peace, clarity and compassion. Chris explains what happens in our brains when pain pushes us into “enemy mode,” why emotional safety is so important and how learning to quiet ourselves and reconnect with God can help us respond as our healthier, relational selves.

Chris also shares practical strategies for helping others feel seen, heard and understood, recognizing when past pain is influencing present conflict and seeking God’s perspective when fear and shame distort our own. For additional encouragement, download Chris’s free Taking Your Relational Temperature resource and check out his book, The Joy Switch: How Your Brain’s Secret Circuit Affects Your Relationships—and How You Can Activate It, which explores how to strengthen your relational brain and remain connected during conflict and stress.

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Free resource: Trusting God with What You Can't Control: 5 Days of Increased Peace

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When we fight for control, it's rarely because we have an insatiable desire to play boss. Most often, fear is driving our behavior—especially when we’ve experienced situations that left us feeling powerless, uncertain and deeply wounded. After those experiences, we naturally want to do whatever we can to avoid landing in a similar crisis or painful spot. And so, we might overthink, try to fix other people or work harder to secure a particular outcome, while believing we’re simply being responsible and caring. So how can we recognize when healthy responsibility has crossed into control?

In this episode, Jennifer Slattery talks with bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst about her latest release, Making Peace with What I Can't Control, and the fears that can drive controlling behavior and how to respond differently. Lysa shares how to distinguish responsibility from control, recognize the role our perceptions play in fear and focus our energy on what we actually can manage. She also discusses trusting God when we don’t understand what He’s allowing, remembering His past faithfulness and releasing outcomes into His capable hands.

Resource referenced: Making Peace with What I Can't Control: Find Relief from the Exhaustion of Overthinking, Trying to Fix Others, and Wanting to Figure It All Out

Free resource: Trusting God with What You Can't Control: 5 Days of Increased Peace

Scriptures referenced: John 16:33; Galatians 5:22–23

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When we experience intense pain and hardship, our view of God can shrink.  When circumstances overwhelm us, prayers seem unanswered and our suffering endures for any length of time, we may fear God isn't actually big enough to handle what we’re facing, or loving enough to do something about it. Singer, songwriter and author Tim Timmons, whose story is shared in MercyMe's Imagine 2, knows what it means to live with those types of questions. After receiving an incurable cancer diagnosis and being given five years to live more than two decades ago, Tim has learned to bring his grief, questions and uncertainty honestly to God.

In this episode, Tim and Jennifer discuss what it looks like to trust a God who is bigger than our understanding and meet Him within the tension of pain and hope. They explore the intimacy that can develop through honest wrestling, why acknowledging grief doesn’t diminish faith and how shifting from “working for God” to joining Him can change the way we approach each day. Wherever life feels confusing or painfully unresolved, God remains present, attentive and at work.

Scripture referenced: Genesis 32:22–32; Matthew 5:44; Matthew 16:24–25; Matthew 22:37–39; Mark 12:30–31; John 5:17; Romans 8:28; Malachi 1:6–14

Resource Referenced: Waking Up Again: A Journey of Grief & Gratitude

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You may know the Bible says God loves you and still struggle to feel His love deep in your soul. Shame, regret, painful relationships and years of experiencing conditional or transactional love can make God’s everlasting, unchanging love difficult to receive. In this special Scripture-focused episode, Jennifer Slattery shares passages that have helped her more fully understand and experience the depth of God’s love.

Through verses from Jeremiah, Ephesians, John, Romans and 1 John, Jennifer explores what Scripture reveals about a love that existed before our failures, remains secure when we stumble and cannot be severed by hardship or suffering. She also invites listeners to take a 30-day Scripture challenge, praying Ephesians 3:16–21 each day and asking God to help His truth reach the wounded, fearful or shame-filled places that have difficulty receiving His love.

Scripture discussed:

Jeremiah 31:3, Ephesians 1:4–5, John 15:9, Romans 8:31–39, Romans 8:1, 1 John 1:9, John 3:16, John 10:10, Ephesians 3:16–21

Find Jennifer's discussion of John 15:9 on the Your Daily Bible Verse HERE.

Let me know what you thought of this bonus episode. If the response warrants, I'll do more of these in the future. (Likely once or twice a month.)

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