Our guest today is Scarlet Hiltibidal. Scarlet is a very professional wife and mother to her family in Middle Tennessee. She loves sign language with her daughters, nachos by herself, writing for her friends, and dreaming of being a famous chef while spilling the cheese dust from the macaroni box on the kitchen counter and using it anyway. She treasures the freedom of resting in the work of Jesus and hopes to help others rest as well. She is the author of the just released, Afraid of All the Things: Tornadoes, Cancer, Adoption, and Other Stuff You Need the Gospel For.

Questions:

* What was it like growing up, as you say, “in the green room” of SNL and other national TV shows? How has it shaped your adult life?

* What prompted you to write your first book, Afraid of All the Things? Who did you write it for?

* When do you first remember being crippled by fear and anxiety? What was it like and how did it shape your childhood?

* When did you first learn to hold the gospel up to your fears, and how did that change things?

* How do your fears and anxiety play out as a small group leader? What advice would you give small group leaders on overcoming their fears, and at the same time, helping their small group members work through their own?

* Do you still struggle with fear and anxiety, and what do you do to combat it?

* What are your hopes for readers after they finish the book?

Quotes:

You have to force yourself to live in the light.

I was afraid that people would not accept me if they knew about all of my flaws.

I grew up hearing the gospel, but I thought I needed Jesus to die to save me–but I better do a really good job of being a Christian.

“Am I good enough” caused an underlying panic all of the time.

The gospel is for every moment.

Resources mentioned:

www.afraidofallthethings.com

The Group Answers Podcast is a weekly show designed to resource, train, and encourage small group leaders. Each episode considers current trends and resources as well as timeless truths and methods of discipleship. It is hosted by Brian Daniel, a Bible study and discipleship expert in Lifeway’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at Lifeway and author of Small Groups for the Rest of Us.