Have you ever felt relatively sure God was leading you toward something, only to have it turn out nothing like you expected? Maybe an opportunity disappeared, something you worked hard for failed or you waited so long that you’ve begun wondering whether you heard God correctly or did something to forfeit the call. In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Carol talks with Andy Lee, author of From Failure to Faith, about the difference between God’s call and the expectations we attach to it.

Drawing from Joshua 1:9, Carol and Andy discuss how disappointment, limitations, closed doors and waiting can cause us to question our calling and measure success by results God never promised. You’ll learn how to separate what God actually said from what you assumed He meant, recognize when a change of direction might be needed and how trust Him when the journey looks different than expected. Ultimately, Carol and Andy invite us to consider a better question: What does faithfulness look like from here?

If this episode encouraged you, you might also enjoy: "Courage to 'Do the Thing' with Rebecca George"

Connect with Andy Lee on:

Her website

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Facebook

Follow her work on Amazon

Find Carol McCracken:

On her website

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

When responsibilities pile up and the people and circumstances you care about feel dependent on you, it can be easy to slip from faithful diligence into anxious striving. We work harder, plan further ahead, and try to control outcomes, often without realizing fear is driving our efforts. In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Jennifer Slattery talks with Bible teacher and bestselling author Dr. Tara Dew about the peace available to us when we remember who our Shepherd is and learn to entrust ourselves and those we love to His care.

Drawing from Psalm 23 and insights from her book Overflowing Peace: What God Says About a Peace-Filled Life, Tara shares how understanding the nature and care of our Good Shepherd can help us rest, recognize when fear is fueling our work, and follow God even when we can’t see where He’s leading. Together, she and Jennifer discuss practical ways to shift our focus from what feels dependent on us to God’s faithfulness, provision, and guidance—and why we can trust that the Shepherd who leads us into unfamiliar territory already knows the path ahead.

Resource Referenced: Overflowing Peace: What God Says About a Peace-Filled Life

Scriptures discussed: Psalm 23:1–4, Psalm 131:2, John 10, Isaiah 43:19, Matthew 6:34, Philippians 4:7, Genesis 50:20

Connect with Dr. Tara Dew:
Tara Dew at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Prepare Her / Women’s Initiative
Facebook
Overflowing Peace at Lifeway

Find Jennifer Slattery:
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Amazon
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Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

When life feels uncertain, our minds often race toward worst-case scenarios. But Scripture repeatedly directs our attention away from shifting circumstances and back to the unchanging character of God. In this episode, Jennifer Slattery sits down with theologian Dr. Malcolm Yarnell to explore how God's attributes—His presence, sovereignty, goodness, and faithfulness—provide a secure foundation when fear, suffering, or uncertainty threaten to overwhelm us and practical ways to shift anxious thoughts toward biblical truth.

Scriptures Referenced

• Psalm 139:7–12; Genesis 28:10–22, Genesis 32:22–32, Genesis 50:19–21; Isaiah 46:9–10; John 10:10; Romans 8:18–39, Romans 12:2; John 3:16

Dr. Malcolm B. Yarnell III serves as Research Professor of Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is editor of the Southwestern Journal of Theology. A respected theologian and author, he has written extensively on systematic theology, Baptist doctrine, and the Christian life. His Theology for Every Person series is designed to help believers move beyond intellectual knowledge to a deeper understanding of God that transforms everyday living. Through his teaching and writing, Dr. Yarnell encourages Christians to know God's character more fully and to anchor their faith in the truth of Scripture.

Resources Mentioned:

• Word: Theology for Every Person by Dr. Malcolm B. Yarnell III
• God: Theology for Every Person (Volume 1)
• Spirit: Theology for Every Person (forthcoming)

Connect with Dr. Yarnell:

Pro Gloria Christi (Dr. Malcolm B. Yarnell III)

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Find Jennifer Slattery:

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

Many of us fear that our deepest wounds will permanently define us and we'll never again experience joy. A betrayal. A divorce. A devastating loss. A season that changed everything.

We wonder:

• Will I ever be okay again?
• Will I ever trust again?
• Will I always carry this pain?

In this honest conversation, Carol sits down with her pastor, Jim Kinder, to discuss what healing really looks like and how to live from an identity rooted in Christ instead of an identity rooted in pain.

Jim shares his personal story of walking through betrayal, seeking counseling, leaning on men in his faith community, and ultimately experiencing restoration, a healthy marriage and renewed purpose.

Together, they explore why what is temporary should never define what is eternal.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Why our worst experiences don't define us
• How betrayal can distort our identity
• The role healthy community plays in healing
• What healing does and doesn't look like
• How counseling and spiritual growth work together
• How to recognize when you're moving from surviving to healing
• Building healthy relationships after painful experiences
• Practical ways to avoid bitterness
• The first thing someone needs to hear after experiencing betrayal

Find Jim Kinder at Orange Beach Church

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.

Life feels okay. So why do you still feel overwhelmed?

Maybe you're constantly on edge. Maybe your body won't relax. Maybe you find yourself carrying the weight of heartbreaking headlines, other people's pain, or experiences you thought you'd already moved past.

If you've ever wondered why you feel exhausted even when nothing seems "wrong," this conversation will help you understand what may be happening beneath the surface.

In this episode, Jennifer's cohost, Carol McCracken, sits down with Rebecca Taguma of the Trauma Healing Institute to discuss why overwhelming experiences affect our minds, bodies, and faith, practical ways to calm our nervous system, and how God gently leads us toward healing—one step at a time.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why you can feel overwhelmed even when life seems okay
• What trauma really is—and why it affects us more deeply than we realize
• Practical ways to calm your body when anxiety rises
• How safe relationships and biblical practices can support healing
• Why you don't have to carry your pain alone

Guest: Rebecca Taguma
Executive Director of Restoring Hope Ministry, Trauma Healing Institute (American Bible Society)

Bible Passages Discussed

• Genesis 2:18
• Psalm 42:1
• Psalm 46:10
• Psalm 34 (lament)
• Job 33:4

Connect with Rebecca Taguma

Trauma Healing Institute

Trauma Healing Basics (Free Resources)

Trauma Healing Institute on LinkedIn

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.

What do you do when someone who hurt you never apologizes, never changes, or never acknowledges the pain they caused?

For many of us, that's where forgiveness becomes most difficult. We know we're supposed to forgive, but we wrestle with questions like:

• Does forgiveness mean what they did was okay?
• Do I have to reconcile with someone who continues to hurt me?
• How do I let go when the wound still feels fresh?
• Is it possible to find peace if the relationship is never restored?

In this final episode of our Relational Peace: Loving Others Without Losing Yourself series, Carol sits down with board-certified clinical neuropsychologist and fellow podcaster Dr. Michelle Bengtson to explore one of the most misunderstood topics in the Christian life: forgiveness.

Together, they discuss how unforgiveness often keeps us emotionally tethered to our pain and why forgiveness is about reclaiming freedom not excusing someone's behavior. If you've been carrying bitterness, disappointment, resentment, or unresolved hurt, this conversation offers biblical wisdom, practical tools, and hope that peace is possible even when circumstances never change.

Other episodes in this series:

How to Know if Your Difficult Relationship is Toxic

Healthy Boundaries for Compassionate People

How to Stop Letting Conflict Control Your Emotions

How to Know if Your Difficult Relationship is Toxic

Connect with Dr. Michelle Bengtson:

On her website

On Instagram

On Facebook

Follow her 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.

What do you do when the assignment God places before you feels far bigger than your strength? Whether you're facing a difficult conversation, an overwhelming season, a ministry opportunity, or a step of obedience that feels impossible, fear can convince you that everything depends on you. But Scripture paints a very different picture. God never calls us to rely on our own sufficiency. He invites us to know Him more deeply and trust that He will provide everything we need for every assignment He gives.

In this episode, Jennifer welcomes author and Bible teacher Grace Fox to explore four powerful names of God that strengthen us when fear threatens to hold us back. Through the stories of Abraham, Naaman, Jeremiah and others, they discuss how God equips His servants, brings healing to the areas that keep us stuck, remains present in life's chaos and faithfully sustains us every step of the journey. If you've been hesitant to move forward because the road ahead feels uncertain, this conversation will encourage you to focus less on your fear and more on the faithful God who goes with you.

Resource referenced: Names of God: Growing Strong: Devotional Study with Video Access

Scriptures Discussed:

• Genesis 15:2–6 — Abraham calls God Adonai while waiting for God's promised son.
• Matthew 25:14–30 — The Parable of the Talents and trusting the Master's character.
• 2 Kings 5:1–19 — Naaman's healing and the obedience that precedes restoration.
• Genesis 1:1–2 — The Spirit of God hovering over the waters in creation.
• Lamentations 3:22–23 — God's mercies are new every morning; great is His faithfulness.
• Luke 15:11–32 — The Parable of the Prodigal Son and the Father's faithful welcome.
• 2 Corinthians 12:9 — God's power made perfect in weakness (referenced in the closing encouragement).
• Hebrews 10:24 — Encouraging one another toward love and good works (closing challenge).

Connect with Grace Fox:

On her website

On Instagram

On Facebook

Follow her work 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.

Sometimes relationships remain painfully stuck despite our prayers, countless conversations, forgiveness and every effort to make things better. When someone we love continues in unhealthy patterns, we can find ourselves replaying every interaction, questioning our decisions and wondering if we simply haven't tried or prayed hard enough. Or, we might question our perspective, wondering if we're being overly sensitive and simply need to offer more grace. Yet, we still hurt and our anxiety remains.

In this episode, Jennifer Slattery and neuropsychologist Dr. Michelle Bengtson explore how to accept difficult realities without losing hope, recognize unhealthy relational patterns, establish wise boundaries and guard our hearts against bitterness while remaining open to God's work. Together, they discuss the difference between reconciliation and responsibility, why forgiveness frees our own souls and how we can experience lasting peace even when someone we love chooses not to change.

Scriptures Discussed

• Romans 12:18, John 13, Matthew 18:21–22, James 1:5, Matthew 5:44, Ephesians 4:31–32

Dr. Michelle Bengtson book: Sacred Scars: Resting in God's Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted

Additional resources mentioned:

Dr. Michelle Bengtson's episode on betrayal and rejection: How to Break Free from Shame and Embrace Who God Says You Are

How to Overcome Rejection and Abandonment with God's Love

Connect with Dr. Michelle Bengtson:

On her website

On Instagram

On Facebook

Follow her work 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.