When Relationships Hurt: Finding Healing, Safety, and Hope in Christ

When God seems silent, especially during painful or frightening seasons, we might wonder if He's distant, disappointed in us or simply doesn't care. And when anxiety fills our minds with worst-case scenarios, sensing His presence can feel even more difficult. In this episode of Faith Over Fear, author and speaker Judy Dunagan shares how God met her during a season of intense fear and reminded her of His constant presence and care. Judy and Jennifer also discuss practical ways to quiet anxious thoughts, recognize God's presence and continue seeking Him when He seems silent. Discover how Scripture, worship and honest prayer can help you remain confident in God's love, even when you can't see or hear Him at work. Want to help shape the future of the show? Join Jennifer's volunteer content planning team! Scripture discussed: Mark 4:35–41, Mark 6:31, Psalm 91, Psalm 23, Psalm 13, Philippians 4:6–7, Hebrews 4:16, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Romans 8:26–27, Romans 8:34, Hebrews 13:5 Resource referenced: The Loudest Roar: Living in the Unshakable Victory of Christ Catch Jennifer's previous conversation with Judy in the episode titled, "Living Victoriously in Seasons of Overwhelm" Find Judy Dunagan: On her website (Scroll down on her homepage to download her free prayer guide.) Instagram Facebook Amazon Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Subscribe to her free newsletter

Have you ever worried you misheard God or that one wrong decision could take you outside His will? Maybe you're facing several good options, struggling to know which direction to take or stuck in an exhausting cycle of second-guessing. Bible teacher and author Erica Wiggenhorn joins Jennifer Slattery to share a personal experience of seeking God's direction during a painful family season and what she learned about His grace. They also explore how God redirected the apostle Paul and what his experience teaches us about moving forward with confidence, even when we're uncertain. Discover how to grow more confident in recognizing God's voice, why closed doors don't necessarily mean you've made a mistake and how to trust His leading when circumstances become confusing or frightening. Jennifer and Erica discuss practical ways to approach Scripture, recognize the Holy Spirit's guidance and find peace during seasons of waiting. Gain encouragement to release the pressure of getting every decision right and trust God's faithfulness to lead you as you pursue Him. Resource referenced: Loving Your Wayward Child: A Christian Guide to Stand in Faith and Build Connection When Their Choices Break Your Heart by Erica Wiggenhorn Scriptures discussed: Acts 8–9, Acts 16:6–10, Philippians (book referenced), John 10:10, Romans 12:1–2, Psalm 139:5, Psalm 139:23–24, John 16:12–13, Matthew 6:34, Matthew 14:22–33, Matthew 28:20. Catch Erica and Jennifer's previous conversation on Living a Courageously Unexplainable Life HERE. Connect with Erica Wiggenhorn: On her website On Instagram On Facebook Follow her on Amazon Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Subscribe to her free newsletter

Does it ever seem like God is silent when you're most desperate to hear from Him? Does it seem like others hear Him more easily than you? Do you worry you’re doing something wrong or that the silence you sense means He's upset with you for something? In this episode, author and speaker Susie Larson shares from her painful seasons of unanswered prayer and her relentless persistence when she sought healing for chronic lyme disease and sensed God "thundering" a reply in her chest. She explores how we can recognize God’s voice, respond when He seems silent and move from a transactional relationship to knowing His heart. Susie and Jennifer also discuss the different ways God communicates, how fear and comparison can complicate our ability to hear Him and what we can do when we’ve sought God but still don’t sense His direction. Hear how knowing God’s character, remaining grounded in Scripture and learning to live loved can help us experience greater intimacy with Him. Scripture Referenced: Psalm 103:1–12; Psalm 139:23–24; James 4:7–8; John 10:27; Jeremiah 33:3; Deuteronomy 29:29; Matthew 16:13–23; Ephesians 2:8–9; John 3:16; Colossians 1:13; 2 Corinthians 10:12 Resource mentioned: More Than You Can Imagine: What God Does When You Trust Him by Susie Larson Connect with Susie Larson: 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

Have you ever wondered why God can feel distant even when you genuinely love Him and want a close relationship with Him? Past experiences of rejection, emotional distance or unmet needs can affect how we relate to others—and how we experience our relationship with God. Jennifer Slattery talks with author, speaker and Anglican priest Reverend Summer Joy Gross about attachment, anxiety and the fears that can leave us questioning whether God is truly attentive, responsive and engaged with us. Summer shares how understanding attachment helped her recognize some of the fears beneath her own people-pleasing and anxiety and how God has been leading her toward greater security in His love. Together, she and Jennifer discuss the pressure to approach God correctly, why we don't have to chase Him or earn deeper connection with Him and how healing often occurs slowly, one encounter with God at a time. Discover how you can bring your full, messy self to God, receive His compassionate presence and increasingly experience the secure, unchanging love of the One who continually draws near. Scripture discussed or referenced: Ezekiel 36:26; Psalm 46:10; Luke 15:3–7, 11–32; Psalms (David’s laments); Mark 10:13–16; Philippians 1:6; Isaiah 51:14 Resource referenced: Emmanuel Promise: Discovering the Security of a Life Held by God by Summer Joy Gross Find Summer Joy Gross: On her website On Instagram On Facebook 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.

What do we do with regret when we can’t go back and make things right? Sanctus Real lead singer Dustin Lolli joins Jennifer Slattery to share the grief, regrets and Holy Spirit-led lessons he learned through and after his father’s unexpected death and Dustin’s painful realization that unresolved hurt had created distance in their relationship. He discusses the complicated intersection of grief, regret and self-protection and what God has taught him about what he calls “defiant faith”: choosing the way of Jesus even when our emotions, circumstances or culture pull us in another direction. Dustin also shares the hope he discovered as God began using his regret to change how he loves and responds to others. While we may not always get the opportunity to repair what happened in the past, God can give us opportunities to live differently moving forward. Through his songs “The War I’m In,” “Make a Way” and “Days Like These,” Dustin reminds us that healing is often a process, our pain doesn’t have to dictate our future and Jesus remains our source of hope when circumstances cannot be changed. He also shares what’s ahead for Sanctus Real as the band becomes increasingly intentional about ministry, family and using their music and stories to point people toward Jesus. Songs discussed: "The War I'm In", "Make a Way", "Days Like These" Scripture referenced or discussed: John 13:3–5, Matthew 5:39–41, Matthew 16:25, Romans 8:28 Find Dustin Lolli: On Sanctus Real's YouTube channel On Facebook On Instagram Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Subscribe to her free newsletter