Many believers feel torn between loving others and protecting their hearts. We’re taught to include everyone, forgive quickly, and keep our doors open—but Scripture also calls us to wisdom and discernment in who we allow to shape our thinking, emotions, and spiritual direction.

In this conversation, we explore the difference between loving people and trusting them equally—and why healthy boundaries aren’t unloving, but deeply biblical.

Author Becky Harling joins us to unpack what emotionally healthy, Christ-centered friendships look like, how to recognize unsafe relational patterns, and how to heal when relationships wound us. Together, we examine how grounding our identity in Jesus frees us to love generously without becoming drained, resentful, or spiritually pulled off course.

This episode provides clarity on:

• why loving everyone doesn’t mean giving everyone equal access to your heart

• how to identify safe, reciprocal friendships

• warning signs of codependency, control, gossip, and emotional imbalance

• how prayer shapes wise relational decisions

• what loyalty and long-term friendship look like in a Christ-centered life

• how to set boundaries without becoming guarded or cynical

• steps toward healing after relational hurt

Resource referenced: Friend-Wise: Practical Ideas for Richer Relationships

Discussion/Reflective Questions:

1. Where have I confused loving people with trusting them equally?

2. Which relationships currently strengthen my walk with Christ—and which leave me spiritually drained?

3. Do I have a small circle of safe, reciprocal friendships where I can be fully known and prayed for?

4. What boundaries might God be inviting me to set so I can love others from a healthy place rather than from exhaustion or fear?

5. When I’ve experienced relational hurt, have I brought that pain honestly before Jesus for healing and wisdom?

6. Who are the voices currently shaping my thinking, emotions, and spiritual direction—and are they aligned with God’s truth?

7. What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?

Connect with Becky Harling:

On her website

On Instagram

On Facebook

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.

When headlines, social media, and everyday stress collide, anxiety can easily take over. In this episode, Jennifer Slattery and Carol McCracken explore why our minds and bodies respond so strongly to cultural chaos—and how God gently leads us back to peace.

Download the free companion guide for this episode here: Finding Peace in a Chaotic World: A Faith-Based Guide to Quieting Anxiety and Re-centering Your Heart

You’ll hear:

• how stress and overstimulation affect the brain

• why anxious thoughts spiral so quickly

• practical grounding tools rooted in faith

• how Jesus modeled withdrawal and reconnection with the Father

• why joy, Scripture, and community strengthen emotional resilience

If you’ve felt overwhelmed lately, this conversation will remind you: you’re not broken—and you’re not alone. God meets us right where we are and leads us toward calm, clarity, and renewed trust.

Scripture referenced in this episode:

Proverbs 3:5–6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Isaiah 26:3–4
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You… The Lord Himself is the Rock eternal.”

Psalm 46:1–2
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…”

Psalm 91:1–4
God as refuge, shelter, and covering.

Isaiah 41:10
“Do not fear, for I am with you… I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Colossians 3:15
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…”

Gospel accounts of Jesus withdrawing to pray
(Mark 1:35-39; Luke 5:15-16; Luke 6:12)

Reflective Questions:

Use these for journaling, small groups, or personal reflection.

1. When I feel overwhelmed, what tends to trigger my anxiety most—noise, conflict, social media, uncertainty, or something else?

2. What physical signs tell me I’m becoming dysregulated or stressed (sleep disruption, tension, racing thoughts, irritability)?

3. Which grounding practice helps me reconnect with God most easily—breathing, Scripture, silence, journaling, nature, prayer, or community?

4. Where might God be inviting me to “withdraw” from input right now so I can hear His voice more clearly?

5. What truth from Scripture do I need to return to when my thoughts begin to spiral?

6. What is one small step I can take this week to pursue peace intentionally instead of waiting for my circumstances to change?

If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend who may be feeling overwhelmed. And don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review—it helps others find hope and practical help when they need it most.

Find Carol McCracken:

On her website

On Facebook

On Instagram

Find Jennifer Slattery:

On her website

Instagram

Facebook

Amazon

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