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.

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?

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.