How to Pray When Anxiety Won't Let Go (A Conversation with Maddie Joy Fisher)
Untangling Prayer with Rachel WojoShow Notes
Have you ever prayed about your anxiety — and still felt anxious? You're not alone, and this week's guest gets it from the inside out. I'm joined by Maddie Joy Fisher, author of Rest and Rely: A 60-Day Devotional to Replace Fear, Anxiety, and Worry with God's Truth. Maddie shares her very personal journey with anxiety — including how it reached a breaking point during the writing of her own book — and how prayer transformed from a rigid practice into an ongoing conversation with God. In this episode you'll discover: Why telling anxious people to "just pray more" can actually backfire — and what to say instead How Maddie's breaking point with anxiety became the very thing that deepened her prayer life What "pray without ceasing" really looks like when your mind won't slow down The difference between knowing Scripture and actually praying it — and how to close that gap One practical thing you can implement today if anxiety is making faith feel like one more place to fail If anxiety has made you feel like you're failing at faith, this conversation is for you. Resources mentioned: Rest and Rely by Maddie Joy Praying the Promises of God Until next time, remember — God sees you, He hears you, and He knows your need. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
More from Untangling Prayer with Rachel Wojo
Does it feel like you’re under attack, and you can’t tell whether it’s the enemy or just a hard week wearing you down? In this episode of Untangling Prayer, Rachel Wojo answers that question from Day 36 of her book, Praying through Life’s Battles. She opens 2 Thessalonians 3:3 and looks at what Paul wrote to a young, persecuted church while he was facing opposition of his own, and why his reminder that the Lord is faithful still gives us solid ground today. Rachel also tells the story of the day the guards her mission team had hired stopped on a remote African road and refused to go any farther, and what happened when she started praising God out loud right there. You’ll discover: Why you don’t have to figure out whether it’s the enemy before you pray How doubt goes after God’s track record, and how praise answers it What Paul’s words about faith and faithfulness meant to believers under pressure A prayer of praise from Day 36 and a battle cry to carry into your week Wherever this week’s battle is coming from, the Lord is faithful, and He is still your defender. Until next time, remember: God sees you, He hears you, and He knows your needs. Resources Mentioned: Praying through Life’s Battles: 90 Days to Strengthen Your Faith: battleprayers.com Praying through Life’s Battles Bible Reading Challenge, Part 2: rachelwojo.com/praying-through-lifes-battles-bible-reading-challenge-part-2 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Have you ever wondered what will happen when you’re the one who needs help someday? If the fear of getting older has been on your mind lately, this episode is for you. Rachel starts with a conversation she had at breakfast during a prayer retreat this past weekend. A woman she had just met told her she’s afraid of losing her independence. From there, Rachel looks at Isaiah 46:4, Day 34 of her book Praying through Life’s Battles, The Way He Cares for You. She talks about what that verse meant for God’s people in Isaiah’s day, shares a few thoughts from Matthew Henry’s commentary, and gives some practical ideas for praying when you’re afraid of growing older. You’ll discover: How to talk to God about your fear of getting older What Isaiah 46 says about the idols of Babylon and the God who carries His people A way to pray Isaiah 46:4 back to God A praise practice you can try this week with a notebook or your prayer journal Rachel hopes this episode encourages you, wherever you are in life right now. Until next time, remember: God sees you, He hears you, and He knows your needs. Resources Mentioned: Praying through Life’s Battles: 90 Days to Strengthen Your Faith (Day 34, The Way He Cares for You): battleprayers.com Isaiah 46:1-4 and Deuteronomy 33:27 Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Is there something in your life you've stopped praying about because it feels dead? In this episode of Untangling Prayer, Rachel Wojo opens Ephesians 2:4-5, Day 32 of Praying through Life's Battles. The passage says God made us alive with Christ even when we were dead. Rachel looks at what it means to pray in the name of Jesus over a marriage, a dream, a friendship, or a faith that has gone cold. She also explains why the power that raised Christ is the same power at work for those who believe. Then she shares how God gave her book One More Step a second chance to reach hurting people through a new video Bible study on RightNow Media. You'll discover: What Ephesians 2 teaches about God moving toward us while we're still dead How to bring a dead situation to Jesus honestly, the way Martha did at Lazarus's tomb Why praying in the name of Jesus puts what feels dead under His authority A simple prayer to pray over whatever you've given up on How God breathed new life into a book written in Rachel's hardest seasons Whatever feels dead to you today, you can still bring it to Jesus by name. Until next time, remember: God sees you, He hears you, and He knows your needs. Resources Mentioned Praying through Life's Battles: battleprayers.com One More Step video Bible study on RightNow Media and the free Leader's Guide: rachelwojo.com/onemorestep Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
If Jesus has already won the victory, why does life still feel like a battle you're losing? If you're still praying about the same prodigal, the same diagnosis, or the same stack of bills, and you're starting to wonder whether something is wrong with your faith, this episode is for you. Rachel opens October's For the Warring series with Deuteronomy 3:22, Day 31 of Praying through Life's Battles, where Moses tells Joshua that the Lord Himself will fight for him. She talks about why struggling doesn't mean God has lost and how praising Jesus becomes a weapon in the middle of the fight. She also shares how God provided for her daughter Tris's wedding through layer after layer of provision, including one opportunity He had placed on her calendar eighteen months earlier. You'll discover: What Moses told Joshua before the battles began, and why it still matters for yours Why struggling isn't a sign that you've missed the victory How Paul and Silas praised God before anything changed A simple way to begin your prayers with praise when you don't feel like it How God prepared provision for a family wedding long before it was needed Whatever you're fighting today, the Lord your God Himself will fight for you. Until next time, remember: God sees you, He hears you, and He knows your needs. Resources Mentioned: Praying through Life's Battles: battleprayers.com Free Bible Reading Challenge, Part 2: For the Warring (begins October 1) https://rachelwojo.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Tired of being sick? Not just tired from the pain, but tired of praying about it? If you're living with chronic pain, a diagnosis you're still trying to understand, depression or anxiety that won't lift, or a recovery that's taking far longer than you thought it would, this episode is for you. Rachel talks about how to keep praying when your body won't cooperate and you're worn out from fighting the same battle, and she shares the story of her friend Keri, who is counting small, daily answers to prayer during a long recovery from back surgery. In this episode, you'll discover: - Why naming your battle specifically changes the way you pray - What 2 Corinthians 4:16 means when it says we are renewed day by day - Why Paul calling our troubles "light and momentary" isn't a dismissal of your pain - How to notice the small, daily answers to prayer you might be missing - A simple prayer you can pray today for the battle in your body Whether you were diagnosed last week or you're years into something that hasn't let up, this episode will remind you that God is at work in you, one day at a time. Resources Mentioned: - The Pray Through It Battle Plan, free digital guide - battleprayers.com - Praying through Life's Battles: 90 Days to Strengthen Your Faith - battleprayers.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.