If the holidays leave you overwhelmed, overstretched, or anxious, you’re not alone. In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Jennifer Slattery and guest Kelly Hall unpack the story of Mary and Martha to reveal practical, grace-filled ways to reduce holiday stress, avoid codependent patterns, set healthy boundaries, and re-center on what matters most. Whether you’re navigating grief, family tension, perfectionism, or people-pleasing, this conversation offers gentle guidance to help you enter Christmas with more calm, clarity, and joy.

You’ll learn how to:
Recognize your emotional capacity
Resist the pressure to meet everyone’s expectations
Simplify your celebrations
Experience deeper peace by staying aligned with Jesus rather than holiday chaos

Scripture discussed:

Luke 10,  Mark 1:35-39

Resources Recommended: Courageous Faith by Kelly Hall, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Lifeby Joanna Weaver

Free Bible Reading Plan: "Embracing Your True Self: Living in Your Christ-Centered Identity"

Free Resource: Practical Steps to Reduced Anxiety and Overwhelm This Christmas

Find Kelly Hall:

On her website

Instagram

Facebook

Unshakable Hope Podcast

Find Jennifer Slattery:

On her website

Instagram

Facebook

Amazon

Subscribe to her free newsletter

Discussion/Reflective Question:


What resonated with you most in this episode


Where do I feel the most pressure during the holiday season—and whose expectations are driving that pressure?


What signs tell me I’m reaching or exceeding my emotional capacity? How can I respond with grace rather than reacting from overwhelm?


In what situations do I tend to “Martha”—trying to control people or outcomes rather than pausing to sit at Jesus’ feet?


Where might I be slipping into codependent behavior (fixing, appeasing, rescuing) instead of allowing others to own their emotions?


What boundaries do I need to set this holiday season to protect peace, joy, and emotional/spiritual health?


What one simple shift could help me keep “the most important thing” at the center of my celebrations?

If the holidays leave you overwhelmed, overstretched, or anxious, you&rsquo;re not alone. In this episode of Faith Over Fear, Jennifer Slattery and guest Kelly Hall unpack the story of Mary and Martha to reveal practical, grace-filled ways to reduce holiday stress, avoid codependent patterns, set healthy boundaries, and re-center on what matters most. Whether you&rsquo;re navigating grief, family tension, perfectionism, or people-pleasing, this conversation offers gentle guidance to help you enter Christmas with more calm, clarity, and joy.
You&rsquo;ll learn how to:
<ul>
<li data-start="1077" data-end="1484">Recognize your emotional capacity</li>
<li data-start="1077" data-end="1484">Resist the pressure to meet everyone&rsquo;s expectations</li>
<li data-start="1077" data-end="1484">Simplify your celebrations</li>
<li data-start="1077" data-end="1484">Experience deeper peace by staying aligned with Jesus rather than holiday chaos</li>
</ul>
Scripture discussed:
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2010&amp;version=NIV">Luke 10, &nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%201%3A35-39&amp;version=NIV">Mark 1:35-39</a>
Resources Recommended: <a href="https://kellyhall.org/resources/">Courageous Faith by Kelly Hall</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Having-Mary-Heart-Martha-World-ebook/dp/B000SEHC18/">Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life </a>by <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Joanna-Weaver/e/B001H6O7SM/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1">Joanna Weaver</a>
Free Bible Reading Plan: "<a href="https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/62069">Embracing Your True Self: Living in Your Christ-Centered Identity</a>"
Free Resource: <a href="https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com/downloads/practical-steps-to-reduced-anxiety-and-overwhelm-this-christmas/">Practical Steps to Reduced Anxiety and Overwhelm This Christmas</a>
Find Kelly Hall:
<a href="https://kellyhall.org/">On her website</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/kelly.marie.hall/">Instagram</a>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068456268192">Facebook</a>
<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unshakable-hope-podcast/id1677662341">Unshakable Hope Podcast</a>
Find Jennifer Slattery:
<a href="http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com">On her website</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/">Instagram</a>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083247680572">Facebook</a>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00JKQ4ZTW">Amazon</a>
<a href="https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/s5w7a8https://preview.mailerlite.com/l0d0u3z7a0">Subscribe to her free newsletter</a>
Discussion/Reflective Question:
<ol>
<li data-start="2180" data-end="2298">
What resonated with you most in this episode
</li>
<li data-start="2180" data-end="2298">
Where do I feel the most pressure during the holiday season&mdash;and whose expectations are driving that pressure?
</li>
<li data-start="2299" data-end="2441">
What signs tell me I&rsquo;m reaching or exceeding my emotional capacity? How can I respond with grace rather than reacting from overwhelm?
</li>
<li data-start="2442" data-end="2571">
In what situations do I tend to &ldquo;Martha&rdquo;&mdash;trying to control people or outcomes rather than pausing to sit at Jesus&rsquo; feet?
</li>
<li data-start="2572" data-end="2712">
Where might I be slipping into codependent behavior (fixing, appeasing, rescuing) instead of allowing others to own their emotions?
</li>
<li data-start="2713" data-end="2829">
What boundaries do I need to set this holiday season to protect peace, joy, and emotional/spiritual health?
</li>
<li data-start="2830" data-end="2938">
What one simple shift could help me keep &ldquo;the most important thing&rdquo; at the center of my celebrations?
</li>
</ol>

Life is too short and God has too much for us to do for any of us to live enslaved. Jesus promised His followers would experience filled to overflowing life, a life characterized by joy, peace, and spiritual and emotional vitality. And yet, we daily make decisions based on fear, not faith. In Faith Over Fear, author and speaker Jennifer Slattery helps us see different areas of life where fear has a foothold, and how our identity as children of God can help us move from fear to faithful, bold living.

This podcast covers topics like:

⭐️ How to Overcome Fear
⭐️ Biblical Strategies for Overcoming Fear and Anxiety
⭐️ Powerful Steps to Fight Anxiety
⭐️ Finding God Faithful in Hard Seasons
⭐️ Courage to Wait on God

Jesus has more planned for us than we could imagine and He’s fully committed to perfecting that which concerns us. Fear holds us back, but His perfect love has the power to cast out all fear!

Life is too short and God has too much for us to do for any of us to live enslaved. Jesus promised His followers would experience filled to overflowing life, a life characterized by joy, peace, and spiritual and emotional vitality. And yet, we daily make decisions based on fear, not faith. In Faith Over Fear, author and speaker Jennifer Slattery helps us see different areas of life where fear has a foothold, and how our identity as children of God can help us move from fear to faithful, bold living.
This podcast covers topics like:
⭐️ How to Overcome Fear ⭐️ Biblical Strategies for Overcoming Fear and Anxiety ⭐️ Powerful Steps to Fight Anxiety ⭐️ Finding God Faithful in Hard Seasons ⭐️ Courage to Wait on God
Jesus has more planned for us than we could imagine and He’s fully committed to perfecting that which concerns us. Fear holds us back, but His perfect love has the power to cast out all fear!

Life is too short and God has too much for us to do for any of us to live enslaved. Jesus promised His followers would experience filled to overflowing life, a life characterized by joy, peace, and spiritual and emotional vitality. And yet, we daily...

Faith Over Fear

Anxiety and Stress Threatening Your Christmas? Practical Steps to Find Holiday Peace

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/a1c8e516-5239-406d-a0bf-b3ae00291a58/transcript

Advertisement