This week on the Anchored by the Sword Podcast, I’m joined by Maddie Joy Fischer, whose brand new devotional Rest & Rely: A 60-Day Devotional to Replace Fear, Anxiety, and Worry with God’s Truth releases this Tuesday—and truly, the timing could not be more perfect.

As the holiday season approaches, fear, anxiety, grief, and pressure have a way of rising to the surface. Maddie courageously shares her personal journey with anxiety, insecurity, control, and fear—including her struggle with health anxiety and a lifelong fear of flying—and how God gently led her into a deeper place of surrender, rest, and reliance on Him.

We talk about what it looks like to stop striving in our own strength and learn to live first as daughters, not employees of God. Maddie beautifully unpacks how rest and reliance work together, how healing is often a process, and how God uses even our turbulence to teach us who He truly is.

This conversation is full of truth, tenderness, and hope for anyone who feels overwhelmed, exhausted, anxious, or afraid.

✨ Highlighted Takeaways

• Fear grows when we unknowingly “feed it,” but freedom begins when we starve it with truth.
• Rest isn’t just slowing down—it’s learning to receive God’s grace in the middle of life’s chaos.
• Relying on God means fully casting, not casting and carrying.
• Healing doesn’t always happen instantly—sometimes God teaches us who He is in the process.
• We serve best when we first learn how to simply be daughters at His feet.

This episode is an invitation to lay down striving, pick up surrender, and rediscover the peace that only comes from truly resting and relying on the Lord.

Bio: 

Maddie Joy Fischer is a 26 year old writer, speaker, and worship leader in St.Louis, MO. She is a wife, the oldest of five siblings, and a born and raised Pastor’s kid. She is also an ambassador (writer) for Live Original, Sadie Roberson’s ministry. Maddie’s passion is to point people to Jesus through living a life of surrender. For 10 years, she has shared this passion on her social media platforms with a desire to see people grow in knowledge of God's word, boldness to proclaim it, and love for the One who it’s all about. She continues to take every opportunity she is given to live out the calling God has prepared for her life as He has continues to grow her ministry every step of the way. 

Anchor Verses:

Psalm 23

Psalm 34:8

Proverbs 3:5-6

Connect with Maddie Joy:

Website: https://www.maddieejoy.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/maddiee_joy

FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ABZsv6rrC/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Maddie’s new devotional, Rest & Rely, releases this Tuesday and is available for preorder now. https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9781540904010_rest-rely?fbclid=PAVERFWAOVf-5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAafd-lBETrsmzz4LsKDZ-5qXbT6P95ZP6ryDEmfbYIv2xAJIpAeoFqMks98T9A_aem_IyZGOiS6yxGiohsAiBHLtA

Be sure to grab a copy for yourself—or someone who needs encouragement this season.

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