Christmas Courage: Overcoming Intrusive Thoughts

Julie Fillinger • December 9, 2025

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Overcoming Intrusive Thoughts

Welcome Back to Christmas Courage. I look around and see people trying to get into the Christmas Spirit, but honestly this is not the most wonderful time of the year for everyone. Those suffering heartache can’t muster the strength to put on a brave front. I have been there and so have many of you. 

So, this month, every Tuesday before Christmas, I want to share with you some Christmas Courage. But I am not going to do it alone. I am going to be interviewing guests that wrote blogs in the series we published this past Summer called Sunlit Stories .  

It was a big hit! And as it turns out, these guest authors shared some vulnerable moments that have real application for encouraging us at Christmas. Today we will be talking about Overcoming intrusive Thoughts.  

My Little Sister  

And I have my little Sister in Christ with me here in the studio!  Please welcome Katie McGee!   

When Katie was just out of high school, she was looking for a spiritual mentor and somehow ended up with me. I didn’t know what I was doing, but she came out to my house and just got right into it. She was so inquisitive about God and His Word. I had to limit her to five questions a week, so I had time to look up the answers.  

Now, she is the mom of 3 beautiful children, teaching English at Wallace State’s Oneonta campus, singing lead for her cover band – The Overtones , and helping lead worship at our church! We also started a girl band, Altar Song , that sings at our women’s ministry events. 

Podcast Interview  

Katie wrote a blog that posted on my website and went out to my subscribers on July 1 st , Overcoming Intrusive Thoughts. After this blog posted, when I was out and about, a couple of different people told me how helpful sharing her story was to them. 

Below is a list of the interview questions from today’s podcast. I hope you will be enriched as you listen and read along. 

  1. Would you be willing to recount a vivid memory you have about an intrusive thought? 
  2. How has your struggle continued? 
  3. How can we better understand intrusive thinking? 
  4. What do you think is the impact of technology on anxiety? 
  5. Why is the Sunday School answer – faith in Jesus Christ – the correct answer? 
  6. How can intrusive thoughts be a blessing? 
  7. Why is saying, “just have faith in God” easier said than done? 
  8. How do you find peace through your faith? 
  9. What would you say to someone whose intrusive thoughts threaten to rob their Christmas joy? 

In Closing  

I want to thank Katie for coming in. I know the listeners are more encouraged this Christmas because of her willingness to share her story. When we are willing to share our stories, it helps others feel like they are not alone. And it gives them real courage for their journey.  

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