Welcome back to Hope in the Fire, the podcast for Christian women healing from trauma and rebuilding their lives through spiritual, emotional, mental, physical, and nutritional wellness.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about Christian stress management for women and how to experience true peace when life feels overwhelming.

If last week we discussed courage overcoming fear, this week we’re addressing something just as powerful — stress.

Because if fear tries to freeze you… Stress tries to control you.

From overthinking small decisions (like worrying for weeks about whether your daughter’s ears are even) to navigating major life choices about parenting, business, or mental health — stress can quietly take over your body and mind.

But peace is possible.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

• Why stress often stems from perceived unmet needs
• How the nervous system responds to uncertainty
• The connection between trauma and control
• Why overthinking and perfectionism increase anxiety
• How to calm your body during stress
• The difference between self-reliance and surrender
• Practical faith-based tools for managing stress
• How identity in Christ stabilizes emotional overwhelm

Christian Stress & Anxiety: What’s Really Happening?

When you feel overwhelmed, your brain interprets uncertainty as a threat. Your nervous system activates, your heart rate increases, and your thoughts accelerate.

For many women — especially those who experienced childhood trauma — control becomes a coping strategy.

But control does not create lasting peace.

Trust does.

True peace doesn’t come from managing every detail. It comes from surrendering what was never yours to carry.

Who This Episode Is For:

This episode is for the woman who:

• Feels overwhelmed by daily responsibilities
• Struggles with anxiety or low-level depression
• Tends to overthink or micromanage
• Carries the pressure to “hold everything together”
• Desires faith-based tools for emotional regulation
• Wants Christian coaching for stress and clarity

Rooted & Risen Coaching

If you’re realizing stress and control are patterns in your life — not just temporary feelings — you don’t have to navigate it alone.

In my Rooted & Risen coaching sessions, we:

• Identify stress triggers and trauma responses
• Uncover limiting beliefs
• Reconnect you to your identity in Christ
• Create actionable steps for lasting peace
• Help you move from pressure to purpose

You were not created to live in constant overwhelm.

You were created to live rooted in truth and risen in freedom.

👉 Book your Rooted & Rising session here

>>Grab a set of “My Identity In Christ” reflection cards.

Identity In Christ Cards-Teal

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>> Download my free 5 Steps to Becoming An Overcomer

>> Visit https://lesliechermak.com/work-with-leslie/ for more support.

>> I’ll meet you in your inbox on Fridays! https://lesliechermak.myflodesk.com/newsletter

>> Visit the Website: https://lesliechermak.com/

In today’s episode Leslie talks about how courage involves acting upon your desire, despite the fear. The enemy would love for you to stay stuck in fear.

Fear of what others will say.

Fear that no one loves you.

Fear that you are not good enough.

How can we change this? By understanding that courage involves recognizing its connection to our brain’s response to fear. By understanding your journey, you can create a courageous response plan tailored to your current challenges.

Leslie gives you 3 steps to overcome the challenging areas that hold you back;

1. Know who you are.
2. Know who God is.
3. Replace the lies with truth.

Leslie invites you to book a Root and Risen Coaching Session with her. She helps you identity the challenge areas that are holding you back.

In her words, “First we dig deep to uncover the lies and replace them with truth. Then we would come up with a way you would like to implement what you learned about combating the challenge areas. Then we create actionable steps that work for you and I teach you 12 life areas that I believe with all my heart, that if you engage in private coaching with me, we will break through the fear and stress and you are going to see progress.” Book a session by clicking the link below.

Scripture: Philippians 4:8

🔗 Connect with Me:

👉 Schedule a Rooted & Risen Coaching Session.

>>Grab a set of “My Identity In Christ” reflection cards.

Identity In Christ Cards-Teal

Identity In Christ Cards-Mauve

>> Download my free 5 Steps to Becoming An Overcomer

>> Visit https://lesliechermak.com/work-with-leslie/ for more support.

>> I’ll meet you in your inbox on Fridays! https://lesliechermak.myflodesk.com/newsletter

>> Visit the Website: https://lesliechermak.com/

In today’s episode, Leslie explores:

• The difference between coping and true resilience
• Why resilience is not self-reliance
• How trauma, perfectionism, and dopamine keep women stuck
• Why interruptions often come right before growth
• How to return to rhythm after emotional, spiritual, or physical disruption

In today’s episode of Hope in the Fire, Leslie opens her heart to share her personal adoption story and the profound spiritual truth of being adopted into the family of God through Jesus Christ.

Drawing from Ephesians 1:4–5, Leslie explains how adoption isn’t just a legal process—it’s a divine act of love. For women who have experienced childhood sexual abuse, questions of belonging, worth, and identity often run deep. Trauma can leave lasting wounds marked by shame, secrecy, fear, and broken trust.

Through her own story—being adopted as an infant, experiencing abuse later in life, and ultimately finding healing through Christ—Leslie offers hope to women who feel disconnected or unloved. She shares how surrendering her life to Jesus became a turning point, allowing her to experience forgiveness, restoration, and true belonging.

This episode gently reminds listeners that no matter what their past holds, God chose them in love and invites them into His family—where healing, grace, and community are possible.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What the Bible says about adoption and identity in Christ
• How childhood abuse can impact belonging and trust
• Why spiritual adoption matters for trauma survivors
• Three practical steps to begin your healing journey today
• How faith, community, and Scripture support long-term healing

Resources & Next Steps:

If you’re longing for clarity, healing, or support, Leslie would love to walk alongside you. 👉 Schedule a CLARITY COACHING CALL.

>>Grab your set of “My Identity In Christ” reflection cards.https://lesliechermak.myflodesk.com/identitycards

🔗 Connect with Me: >> Visit https://lesliechermak.com/work-with-leslie/ for more support.

>> I’ll meet you in your inbox on Fridays! https://lesliechermak.myflodesk.com/newsletter

>> Visit the Website: https://lesliechermak.com/