Faith Over Fear

What do we do when God feels silent and life unfolds in ways we never expected?
In this honest conversation, Jennifer Slattery and Bible teacher Courtney Reissig explore what it looks like to hold onto faith in seasons of disappointment, disillusionment, and deep uncertainty. When prayers feel unanswered and circumstances challenge what we believe about God, it’s easy to question His goodness, His presence, and His plan.
Together, Jennifer and Courtney discuss how hardship can shake our expectations without undoing our faith—and how, like Peter, we can continue returning to Christ, trusting that He alone holds the words of eternal life.
Download this episodes free companion guide HERE. Scroll down for reflective questions.
Resource referenced: Someone to Believe In: Embracing the Savior Who Stays the Same When Everything Else Changes by Courtney Reissig
📖 Scriptures Discussed
John 6:66–68 – When others walked away, Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
John 11:1–44 – Jesus’ interaction with Mary and Martha after Lazarus’ death reveals both His compassion and His power over life and death
John 14:18 – “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
John 16:33 – “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Romans 8:37–39 – Nothing—not hardship, loss, or uncertainty—can separate us from God’s love in Christ
John 10:11 – Jesus is the Good Shepherd who remains trustworthy when earthly leaders fail
Connect with Courtney Reissig:
on her website
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Find Jennifer Slattery:
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Subscribe to her free newsletter
Reflective Questions
When have I experienced a season where God felt silent? What thoughts about Him surfaced during that time?
What story is my current struggle telling me about God—and how does that compare with what Scripture reveals about His character?
Like Peter in John 6, where else am I tempted to turn when faith feels difficult? What helps me return to Christ?
How have I seen God’s faithfulness in the past that I can intentionally remember in this season?
Am I allowing myself space to process disappointment or spiritual hurt, or am I trying to move forward too quickly?
What is one small, practical way I can turn toward Jesus this week, even if my faith feels weak?
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In seasons of deep pain, unanswered questions, and emotional exhaustion, hope can feel distant—or risky to embrace. In this powerful conversation, Jennifer Slattery sits down with author and speaker Kirby Kelly to explore what it looks like to hold onto hope when life feels overwhelming.
Drawing from her personal story of loss, addiction in her family, and long-term suffering, Kirby shares how God met her in her darkest moments and gradually transformed her understanding of hope—not as a feeling or personality trait, but as a posture and daily practice rooted in Christ.
Together, they discuss how to trust God when circumstances don’t change, how Scripture renews our thinking, and how God uses every season—painful or joyful—to bring redemption.
If you’ve been struggling to believe God is good, or wondering how to keep going when you feel worn down, this episode will gently guide you back to the unchanging character of the God of hope.
Resource referenced: The Fabric of Hope: How God Weaves Redemption into Every Season by Kirby Kelly
📖 Scripture Discussed
Romans 15:13 – God as the source of hope, joy, and peace
Psalm 139:5 – God’s nearness and protection (“You hem me in…”)
Genesis 37–50 – Joseph’s story of suffering and redemption
Job (selected passages) – Trusting God without having answers
2 Corinthians 12:7–10 – Paul’s “thorn” and God’s sustaining grace
Galatians 5:22–23 – Fruit of the Spirit (joy and peace)
Matthew 11:28–30 – Jesus invites the weary to find rest
Reflection Questions:
Where in your life does hope feel difficult—or risky—to embrace right now?
Have you been placing your hope in a circumstance instead of in God’s character?
What past situation can you look back on and clearly see God’s faithfulness?
How might regularly reading Scripture begin to renew your thinking in this season?
When you feel overwhelmed, what would it look like to pause and intentionally turn toward God’s presence?
Which aspect of God—His promises, presence, patterns, or person—do you most need to anchor yourself in today?
What is one action step God is inviting you to take having listened to this episode?
Connect with Kirby Kelly:
On her website
On Instagram
On Facebook
On YouTube
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.

(Scroll down to share your thoughts on future episodes!)
In this powerful episode of Faith Over Fear, Carol sits down with Chad Roberts to confront one of the most painful lies we believe in suffering: If God loved me, He would stop this. Even more deeply, many of us quietly wrestle with the fear that suffering means God has abandoned us.
Through Chad’s personal story of losing his sight, this conversation gently but firmly reframes that lie with truth: God’s presence is not measured by our comfort. Instead of standing at a distance, He steps into our pain—and never leaves.
Together, Carol and Chad explore how suffering can distort our view of God and whisper dangerous lies about His character. Rooted in Scripture, they walk through the stories of Joseph, Job, and ultimately Jesus, reminding us that while God may not always provide explanations, He always offers His presence. The cross becomes the clearest picture of this truth—not a removal of suffering, but redemption through it.
This episode also unpacks what it means to develop unshakable confidence in God—not confidence in outcomes, but in His character. Chad offers practical insight into what “suffering well” looks like in everyday moments and how to guard your heart against bitterness when life doesn’t go as planned.
For those walking alongside someone in pain, this conversation provides compassionate guidance on what to say—and what not to say—encouraging listeners to replace empty platitudes with meaningful presence.
If you’re in a season of pain, disappointment, or questioning where God is, this episode offers a steady reminder: you are not alone, and your suffering is not a sign of God’s absence—but an invitation to experience His nearness in a deeper way.
Resource referenced: Blind Faith: Seeing God Through Darkness by Chad Roberts
Biblical verses and passages discussed:
Psalm 118:24
James 1:2
Mark 11:22
Psalm 23:2
Jeremiah 2:13
2 Corinthians 4:17
1 Peter 4:19
Isaiah 40:31
Connect with Chad Roberts:
On his website
On Instagram
On Facebook
Follow his work on Amazon
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Reflective Questions:
When you’re in a difficult season, what thoughts do you tend to believe about God—and are they rooted in truth or in fear?

Have you ever equated God’s love with your level of comfort? How might that belief be shaping your faith right now?

What would it look like for you to shift from trusting outcomes to trusting God’s character?

In what ways might God be inviting you to experience His presence in your current struggle rather than removing it?

How do you typically respond to others who are suffering—and how can you grow in offering presence instead of quick answers?

What is one simple, grounding practice you can begin this week to stay anchored in truth when suffering feels overwhelming?

We’d love your input on something we're praying through.As we plan our next mini-series for Faith Over Fear, we want to speak into what you’re actually walking through—not just what we think might help.If you have 30 seconds, would you take our quick poll on Spotify? Your responses will guide the conversations we create. Take our poll HERE!
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Main idea: Connecting with Christ through biblical truth when anxiety, fear and overwhelm hit.
When your thoughts won’t slow down—when one worry turns into another and then another—it can feel impossible to find peace. You try to pray, reason, or fix it, but your mind keeps circling back to the same fear.
In today’s episode, Jennifer and Carol talk about what’s really happening in those spirals and how Scripture helps us interrupt them—not by suppressing anxiety, but by redirecting our thoughts toward truth.
Through a deeply personal conversation about health uncertainty, sleepless nights, and “what if” thinking, they explore how God meets us in our anxiety and teaches us to anchor our minds in His character and promises.
You’ll learn why anxious thoughts feel so believable, how to recognize the stories you’re telling yourself, and how to begin retraining your mind—one thought at a time.
Because peace doesn’t come from controlling outcomes.It grows where God’s truth takes root.
Download our free When Fear Strikes: 7-Day Reset for Anxious Hearts HERE.
(Scroll down for the reflective questions.)
💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Why anxiety often starts with believable but untrue assumptions
How “what if” thinking pulls us deeper into fear
What it really means to “take every thought captive”
Why suppressing anxiety can make it worse
How to practice the “truth pause” when fear rises
Simple, practical ways to retrain your mind using Scripture
How God uses truth, presence, and time to increase your peace
📖 Key Scriptures:
Psalm 56:3–4 — “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You…”
Romans 12:2 — “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind”
Isaiah 26:3 — “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on You”
1 Peter 5:7 — “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you”
Psalm 62:5–8 — “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone…”
Find Carol McCracken:
On her website
On Facebook
On Instagram
Find Jennifer Slattery:
On her website
Instagram
Facebook
Amazon
Subscribe to her free newsletter
Reflective Questions:
When my thoughts begin to spiral, what “what if” scenarios do I tend to believe most quickly?
What assumptions am I currently making that may not be rooted in truth?
Which truth about God’s character do I most need to anchor to right now?
When anxiety rises, do I tend to suppress it, fix it, or bring it to God?
What would it look like for me to practice a “truth pause” this week in a small, everyday stressor?
What one Scripture could I carry with me this week to counter a recurring fear?
How has God proven His faithfulness to me in the past—and how might that strengthen me today?
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

When pain enters our lives, most of us immediately ask both “Why is this happening?” and “Where is God in this?” In this episode, we explore the lie that suffering means God is distant—and the truth that weakness and pain may be the very places where His presence and power become most real.
Through the lens of Tracking God in Your Life and the biblical stories of Paul, Job, Ruth, and Naomi, this conversation reframes suffering as more than disruption. Pain reveals what we truly believe about God, exposes our illusion of control, and invites us into deeper dependence, community, and spiritual maturity. Rather than rushing to fix, manage, or spiritualize hardship, we consider what it looks like to allow weakness to be weakness—and to encounter God’s sufficiency there.
We talk about trusting God without full explanations and recognizing how personal pain can become a pathway to ministering to others. Weakness, loss, and uncertainty often become the soil where empathy, calling, and belonging take root.
Listeners will be encouraged to begin “tracking God” in their own lives—watching for His presence not only in moments of relief, but in the middle of struggle. Even when suffering remains, God is still at work, forming resilient faith and shaping stories that carry hope for others.
Resource referenced: Tracking God in Your Life: How to See God's Work in Your Past, Experience His Presence, and Trust Him with Your Future Kindle Editionby Laurie Polich Short
Additional (free) resource you might find helpful: When Fear Strikes: a 7-Day Reset for Anxious Hearts
Reflective Questions:
Where in my life have I been tempted to believe that pain means God is distant?
When have I experienced God’s strength most clearly in a season of weakness?
What illusion of control might God be gently loosening in my life right now?
How has a past hardship shaped the way I show up for others who are hurting?
What truth about God do I need to hold onto when my circumstances don’t change?
If my pain is an invitation, not just an interruption, what might God be inviting me to notice, trust, or step into today?
Connect with Laurie Polich Short:
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.