Many people know God is loving and kind—but struggle to feel or trust that love in their most wounded places. For those impacted by trauma, religious abuse, legalism, or deep loss, God can feel distant, harsh, or unsafe.

In this moving conversation, host Jennifer Slattery sits down with author Sherri Hughes Gregg to explore how Jesus consistently reveals Himself as tender, compassionate, and near to the brokenhearted. Drawing from Sherri’s book The Compassionate Christ, her personal journey through divorce and cancer, and powerful Gospel narratives—including the leper, the grieving widow, and the Samaritan woman—this episode gently challenges fear-based views of God and invites listeners into healing truth.

Together, Jennifer and Sherri model how we can wrestle respectfully with Scripture, release shame-laden interpretations, and encounter Christ as He truly is: the One who comforts, restores dignity, and brings beauty from ashes.

Resource referenced: The Compassionate Christ: Draw Near to the Risen Savior (A 31-Day Devotional Retelling of Stories from the Life of Jesus) 

Discussion/Reflective Questions:


When you think about God’s posture toward you, what emotions surface most easily—fear, comfort, suspicion, hope? Why do you think that is?


How have past experiences (family, church culture, trauma, or suffering) shaped the way you interpret Jesus’ actions and words in Scripture?


Which Gospel story mentioned in this episode—the leper, the widow, or the Samaritan woman—do you most relate to right now? What about it resonates with your current season?


Are there moments when suffering or disappointment has caused old fears or shame-based beliefs about God to resurface? How have you responded to those thoughts?


What would it look like to intentionally observe how Jesus interacts with wounded people in the Gospels, without filtering His actions through fear or self-condemnation?


Where might God be inviting you to receive comfort before resolution—to trust His nearness even while you wait for healing or answers?


What is one lie about God’s character you feel prompted to gently release—and one truth about His compassion you want to sit with this week?

Connect with Sherri Hughes Gregg:

On Instagram

On Amazon

Find Jennifer Slattery:

On her website

Instagram

Facebook

Amazon

Subscribe to her free newsletter

Many people know God is loving and kind&mdash;but struggle to feel or trust that love in their most wounded places. For those impacted by trauma, religious abuse, legalism, or deep loss, God can feel distant, harsh, or unsafe.
In this moving conversation, host Jennifer Slattery sits down with author&nbsp;Sherri Hughes Gregg to explore how Jesus consistently reveals Himself as tender, compassionate, and near to the brokenhearted. Drawing from Sherri&rsquo;s book The Compassionate Christ, her personal journey through divorce and cancer, and powerful Gospel narratives&mdash;including the leper, the grieving widow, and the Samaritan woman&mdash;this episode gently challenges fear-based views of God and invites listeners into healing truth.
Together, Jennifer and Sherri model how we can wrestle respectfully with Scripture, release shame-laden interpretations, and encounter Christ as He truly is: the One who comforts, restores dignity, and brings beauty from ashes.
Resource referenced: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Compassionate-Christ-Draw-Risen-Savior/dp/1400253349">The Compassionate Christ: Draw Near to the Risen Savior (A 31-Day Devotional Retelling of Stories from the Life of Jesus)</a>&nbsp;
Discussion/Reflective Questions:
<ol>
<li data-start="1721" data-end="1864">
When you think about God&rsquo;s posture toward you, what emotions surface most easily&mdash;fear, comfort, suspicion, hope? Why do you think that is?
</li>
<li data-start="1865" data-end="2010">
How have past experiences (family, church culture, trauma, or suffering) shaped the way you interpret Jesus&rsquo; actions and words in Scripture?
</li>
<li data-start="2011" data-end="2188">
Which Gospel story mentioned in this episode&mdash;the leper, the widow, or the Samaritan woman&mdash;do you most relate to right now? What about it resonates with your current season?
</li>
<li data-start="2189" data-end="2354">
Are there moments when suffering or disappointment has caused old fears or shame-based beliefs about God to resurface? How have you responded to those thoughts?
</li>
<li data-start="2355" data-end="2529">
What would it look like to intentionally observe how Jesus interacts with wounded people in the Gospels, without filtering His actions through fear or self-condemnation?
</li>
<li data-start="2530" data-end="2671">
Where might God be inviting you to receive comfort before resolution&mdash;to trust His nearness even while you wait for healing or answers?
</li>
<li data-start="2672" data-end="2815">
What is one lie about God&rsquo;s character you feel prompted to gently release&mdash;and one truth about His compassion you want to sit with this week?
</li>
</ol>
Connect with Sherri Hughes Gregg:
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/sherri_gragg/?hl=en">On Instagram</a>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sherri-Hughes-Gragg/author/B0FXXT8HRP?ccs_id=08a0f8c4-aeba-4060-8871-9bde075ff341">On Amazon</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/s5w7a8">Subscribe to her free newsletter</a>

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

When God Feels Harsh or Distant: Gaining Peace Through Christ's Compassion

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/19fde4b6-2c00-4411-99e7-b3d1002fd77b/transcript