Anxiety and Prayer: Understanding How God Leads us to Peace

If you’ve prayed for peace but still feel anxious, overwhelmed, or discouraged, you’re not alone—and you’re not failing spiritually.

In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Jennifer Slattery is joined by Jamie Hampton, co-host of the Praying Christian Women podcast, for a compassionate and honest conversation about anxiety, prayer, and God’s peace. Jamie shares a season of debilitating anxiety and what that taught her. Together, she and Jennifer explore what Scripture—especially Philippians 4—really teaches about anxiety, why peace is often a process rather than an instant fix, and how God meets us in our physical, emotional, and spiritual realities.

This conversation is for anyone who loves God but feels confused, exhausted, or ashamed by persistent anxiety—and longs for a gentler, grace-filled way forward.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

Why anxiety is rarely just spiritual—and why that matters
What Philippians 4 does not mean about “being anxious”
How praise and prayer can calm both the heart and nervous system
Why honest, unfiltered prayer leads to deeper freedom
Practical ways to interrupt anxious spirals with compassion
How God’s peace grows through presence, not pressure

Scriptures Referenced:

Philippians 4:4–9
1 Peter 5:7

Download this episode's free companion guide HERE.

Resources Referenced: She Prays Like a Girl: Discover the Joy and Power of Praying Like You (and no one else!)

So Much More Scripture Meditation (podcast)

Hearing Heart Biblical Meditation App

Featured Guest:

Jamie Hampton, Christian author and co-host of the Praying Christian Women podcast, shares vulnerably from her own journey through anxiety and healing.

NOTE: if you enjoyed this episode, visit Jamie and Alana's podcast Praying Women to hear Jennifer's conversation with Jamie on their show. Find it HERE.

Encouragement for Listeners:

If prayer hasn’t taken your anxiety away, that doesn’t mean God is distant or disappointed or that your prayer practice isn't helping. God gradually cultivates peace in your soul as you walk with Him.

Reflective Questions:

When anxiety rises, what assumptions do I tend to make about myself or my faith?
Are there physical, emotional, or situational factors contributing to my anxiety that I may have overlooked?
What does it feel like to hear that God’s peace is often a process rather than an instant result?
When prayer feels difficult, what gentle ways might help me orient my heart toward God?
Are there fears or questions I’ve been hesitant to bring honestly to God? What might it look like to release those to Him?
Which one small practice from this episode—praise, journaling, or honest prayer—feels most accessible to try this week?