We all have those certain relationships that create more tension and anxiety than joy. Sometimes, this occurs with individuals we can't avoid; other times we're prayerfully trying to figure out how to heal relational tension and experience deeper and more fulfilling connections with those who mean a great deal to us but with whom, for various reasons, we experience ongoing conflict. In this episode, host Jennifer Slattery and guest and Bible teacher Carol McLeod discuss truths recorded in Colossians that, when applied, can help us experience more peace, and less conflict and anxiety, in our most difficult or confusing relationships. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)

Resource referenced: Overflowing: Living Abundantly in a Broken Culture

Find Carol McLeod:

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Find Jennifer Slattery:

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Discussion/Reflective Questions:

1. What resonated with you most in this episode?
2. In what relationships do you most need Christ's perfect wisdom?
3. What are some ways you can grow in Christ-led wisdom?
4. What are some promises recorded in Scripture that can increase your hope in regard to your most challenging relationships?
5. How might it be helpful to prayerfully consider the full extent of our emotions when others hurt us as part of our forgiveness process?
6. What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?

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

Depression is a complex issue that often has numerous causes or contributing factors. In this episode, Dr. Len Lantz, a psychiatrist known for working with clients suffering from treatment resistant depression, shares why it's important to receive an accurate diagnosis and practical ways one can dial down their depression while pursuing freedom. (Scroll down for reflective/discussion questions.)

Resources mentioned:

UnJoy: Hope and Help for 7 Million Christians With Depression by Dr. Len Lantz (Please note: read ch 12 with caution and insight and support from a mental health professional)

Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think by by Dennis Greenberger and Christine A. Padesky

Find Dr. Len Lantz on his website

Find his articles on ThePsychiatryResource.com

Follow him on Facebook and LinkedIn

Reflective/Discussion Questions:

1. What most stood out to you in this episode?
2. How would you describe your current level or experience of joy?
3. Consider your thoughts. In what ways do they tend to pull toward negativity?
4. How might thought balancing help you develop and/or maintain a more positive outlook?
5. How might it be helpful to remember that self-care tools require perseverance?
6. Who can you reach out to for support in your current season?
7. What is one action step God might be encouraging you to take having listened to this episode?

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

While sometimes depression hits without any known or perceivable cause, other times it stems from, or is exacerbated by overwhelming circumstances and situations involving those we love. But while we can't always control the things that impact our emotions, there are helpful things we can choose. In this episode, hosts Jennifer Slattery and Carol McCracken talk with therapist Stefanie Rowe about some of depressions roots and why it's important to seek help sooner rather than later. Bible passage discussed: 1 Kings 19 (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)

Sermons referenced in this episode (presented by Stefanie):

How to Navigate Depression

Helped, Hugged, Heard

Link to the mug mentioned in this episode: https://thehappygivers.com/collections/its-ok-collection

Find Stefanie Rowe:

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Find Carol McCracken:

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Find Jennifer Slattery:

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Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group

Discussion/Reflective Questions:

1. What resonated with you most in this episode?
2. In what ways might your current circumstances feel overwhelming?
3. How might your level of emotional involvement in other people's problems impact your current mental state?
4. How does it feel to know that godly people like Mother Teresa and the Old Testament prophet Elijah experienced depression?
5. How does it feel to know that God moves close to you in your pain (even if you can't "feel" His presence)?
6. As depression thrives in isolation, and also tends to pull us to isolate ourselves further: what is one way you can connect with others this week?
7. Who is one person in whom you can find support when you feel depressed?
8. What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?

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

Many people fear death and the process of dying. This can lead to enslaving behaviors like obsessively following health trends, avoiding airplanes, or losing the ability to think of much else when our loved ones travel. But God doesn't want us to live in fear and has provided numerous truths in Scripture to assure us of His presence in our every moment, including when we pass from this present earth, and of the joy that awaits us in paradise. In this episode, hosts Carol McCracken and Jennifer Slattery discuss some of the underlying causes for our fear of death and biblical truths that can help us view our eternal future with anticipation rather than fear. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions)

Bible passages referenced: Luke 8:40-45; Acts 7:40-55; Romans 8:31-29; 2 Samuel 12:15-23; Isaiah 7:16

Book referenced: In Light of Eternity: Perspectives on Heaven by Randy Alcorn

Find Carol McCracken:

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Find Jennifer Slattery:

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Amazon

Subscribe to her free newsletter

Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group

Discussion/Reflective Questions:

1. What resonated with you most in this episode?
2. What most frightens or unsettles you when you think of death?
3. Which of God's unchanging character traits can speak to those fears?
4. What might God be communicating to you through the passage about Stephen, the first Christ-follower killed for his faith?
5. What might God be communicating to you through His assurance of His love in Romans 8?
6. What might God be communicating to you through Jesus' statement to the repentant thief on the cross?
7. What is one action step He might want you to take having listened to this episode?

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

The late Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones once wrote, "The worst thing that can happen to a man is to succeed before he's ready." We've probably all heard of or read stories of fallen faith leaders to understand the truth in that statement. Considering this, what if our greatest setbacks and disappointments in pursuit of our God-given dreams are actually evidence of His love and grace? When doctors told Bay Turner that, due to his cut vocal cords, that he might never sing again, he felt into a dark and angry place. But God used that season of intense pain to bring about incredible beauty, as He's promised to do for all of us (Rom. 8:28). (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)

Song referenced: "Brand New"

Find Bay Turner:

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Find Jennifer Slattery:

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Discussion/Reflective Questions:

1. What resonated with you most in this episode?
2. Who in your life most inspired, or inspires, you to live for Jesus?
3. When you feel angry or in pain, are you most apt to turn to Jesus or withdraw from Him, and what most impacts your tendencies?
4. When has God used a setback or painful season to deepen your faith and intimacy with Him?
5. Why is the strength of our character so important when it comes to maintaining the strength to carry God-given dreams?
6. What are some ways you intentionally connect with Christ?
7. What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?

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

Does the back-to-school year fill you with anxiety? Are you concerned about your child's safety, peer relationships, and relationships with their teachers? Releasing our kids into someone else's care and entrusting their education to someone you may not know much about other than their name can feel unsettling. But our discomfort can also provide an opportunity to develop greater faith as we rely more consistently on Christ and see Him care for our precious kids. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)

Resource referenced: Cultivating Deeper Connections in a Lonely World

Find Becky Harling:

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Find Carol McCracken:

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Discussion/reflective questions:

1. What resonated with you most in this episode?
2. What most concerns you when you think about the upcoming school year?
3. How have your concerns impacted your prayer life?
4. What verses most speak to your anxieties and fears?
5. What is one truth regarding God's character that comforts you in your anxiety and fear?
6. How strong is your support system?
7. If your support system (with other praying and faith-filled moms) isn't as strong as you'd like, what are some steps you can take to build a stronger support system?
8. What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?

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

God doesn't ask us to don a strong persona when our knees feel ready to give way. But He does invite us to reach for His perfect strength, to experience that strength, especially in the face of grief and fear. Join host Carol McCracken and author, speaker, and television host Lindsay Roberts. (Scroll down for discussion.reflective questions.)

Resource mentioned: Discover Your True Strength: Choosing to Thrive in the Midst of Life's Challenges

Find Lindsay Roberts:

On her ministry website

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Amazon

Find Carol McCracken:

On her website

On Facebook

On Instagram

Discussion/Reflective Questions:

1. What resonated with you most in this episode?
2. What does it mean to cling to God?
3. What might it mean to cling to His strength?
4. Why is it important to recognize that He gives us the mind of Chriist?
5. What might it look like to choose truth when afraid?
6. Why is it important to recognize when our thoughts venture from truth?
7. What is one action step God might be asking you to take, having listened to this episode?

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

Most of us would rather avoid suffering entirely. Yet, we're also aware of the butterfly analogy which tells us that beauty often comes through intense struggle. How can turning towards, rather than from, our pain result in beauty, and how can we find Christ in our pain. Join Jennifer Slattery as she talks with Dr. Curt Thompson on suffering, the formation of hope, and experiencing Jesus through our connection with others. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.)

Resource referenced: The Deepest Place: Suffering and the Formation of Hope

Find Dr. Thompson:

On his website

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Being Known Podcast

Find Jennifer Slattery:

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Subscribe to her free newsletter

Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group

Discussion/Reflective Questions:

1. What resonated with you most in this episode?
2. How would you define shame?
3. In what ways might your parents difficulty in attending to their own story have created within you a sense of shame?
4. When have you felt valued and loved?
5. How might past experiences with shame have impacted how you interpret Scripture?
6. What might it mean not to allow shame to dictate the conversation?
7. What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode?

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