Journal Gently: Spiritual Formation for Christian Women

It's time to practice what I teach and take a break from the podcast to rest and linger together with God. Be sure to stay connected over the summer through my email list. And know there are hundreds of episodes you can go back and listen to in the meantime. Blessings! Kari   >> Imagine Devotional ( Website | Amazon ) >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journa...

Have you ever prayed for God to change your heart… and then realized how much that prayer might actually cost? In this episode, we reflect on a simple liturgy from the Every Moment Holy prayer books and explore what it means to invite God to move in us deeply—not just gently, but completely.  Every Moment Holy Vol I prayer book (affiliate link)   RELATED EPISODES: ·        Episode 170 : 2 Ways to...

God cares about the pace we set for ourselves—not just in our healing or growth, but in our everyday lives. In this episode, we look at three examples from Scripture that give us a glimpse of God's heart toward us. It's a beautiful picture of love and care.   RELATED EPISODES: ·        Episode 189 : When Healing Takes Longer Than You Hoped ·        Episode 131 : Healing in Layers: What Art Taught...

It's garden season, and a recent experience has me thinking about planting and harvesting in my own life. In this episode, I share a pretty eye-opening realization I had before addressing both the good and the bad fruit we might be harvesting in our lives.   RELATED EPISODES: ·        Episode 191 : What Laundry Taught Me About Emotional Overload ·        Episode 149 : What Are You Feeling Possessi...

This season has been full—and it's required me to rethink what faithfulness looks like. In this episode, I'm sharing how I've been learning to simplify, let go of perfection, and focus on what matters most. RELATED EPISODES: ·        Episode 187 : Clarity Comes with Action ·        Episode 182 : Keeping Family a Priority with Danielle Roberts ·        Episode 148 : Don't Vacuum While the Dog's Sle...

Do you ever feel like you're falling behind spiritually? In this episode, we explore how easily faith can turn into something we measure and perform—and why Jesus offers a different invitation. Looking at the story of Martha and Mary, we're reminded that faith was never meant to be something we prove to God, but a relationship we live inside of. If you've been feeling pressure to be a "better Chri...

What if the mistake you regret most hasn't disqualified you from the life God has for you? In this episode, we look at the lie many women quietly believe—that their past means they've missed God's will. If you've been carrying guilt or wondering whether you're allowed to move forward after forgiveness, this reflection offers a different perspective. Your past may shape your story, but it doesn't h...

What would it have felt like to be in the crowd when Jesus fed the five thousand? In this episode, we practice Ignatian imaginative prayer by stepping into the Gospel story from the perspective of someone in the crowd—someone who followed Jesus because they were hungry to hear Him speak. If you're new to imaginative prayer, this episode will gently guide you through the process. And if you'd like...

What does it look like to follow God when addiction has entered your marriage? In this conversation, coach Jennifer Shook shares about the often invisible struggles women face when their husbands battle addiction—how it impacts safety, identity, trust, and the ability to hear God in the midst of constant stress. Together we talk about why so many women suffer in silence, what kinds of support are...

Have you ever felt pressure to have something meaningful to say—to prove you belong? In this episode, we talk about the quiet relief of being present without performing and the sacredness of silence with God. If you're weary of striving, this is an invitation to rest, listen, and simply be held. >> Written Spiritual Direction: A personal rhythm of Scripture, journaling, and listening http://lovedo...

If your thoughts feel scattered and traditional journaling feels hard, this episode is for you. We talk about using mind mapping as a gentle, Spirit-led way to journal through overwhelm, grief, and discernment—creating space for God to meet you right where you are. >> Get Your Personalized Journaling Guide (PDF) http://lovedoesthat.org/journalguide   RELATED EPISODES: ·        Episode 173 : [Writt...

Healing with God is rarely passive—and it's never rushed. In this episode, I'm joined by Heather O'Brien, host of the Heal with God podcast, to talk about what it looks like to participate in healing without striving. We explore hearing God's voice, discerning next steps with wisdom and care, and partnering with God in ways that feel safe, gentle, and grounded.   CONNECT WITH HEATHER O'BRIEN: Heat...

Journaling can feel impossible when you don't know what you're feeling. In this episode, we explore biblical and trauma-informed ways to journal through grief, confusion, and emotional numbness. You'll be invited to start with what you do know, use Scripture and creativity, and trust that God meets you right where you are. >> Get Your Personalized Journaling Guide (PDF) http://lovedoesthat.org/jou...

Many Christian women feel pressure to suppress hard emotions in the name of faith—but God invites honesty. In this episode, we talk about how to sit with difficult feelings without letting them take control, blending biblical wisdom with trauma-informed care. You don't have to fix your feelings to be faithful. >> Written Spiritual Direction: A personal rhythm of Scripture, journaling, and listenin...

Have you ever felt God quietly prompting you to do something—and chosen not to listen? In this episode, we explore what can happen when we ignore God's gentle invitations. With honesty and compassion, we reflect on how God speaks, why His nudges are easy to dismiss, and what the consequences of not responding can look like over time. You're invited into a moment of reflection, a simple journal pro...

Sometimes we know exactly what God is asking us to do—and still struggle to take the next step. In this episode, I share a clip from my session at the Make the Move conference, reflecting on a season when God called me to step away from a ministry role and all the ways I tried to avoid obeying. As you listen, I invite you to consider where you might be hesitating, and to bring that resistance hone...

In this episode, I share the heart behind my revamped offering, Written Spiritual Direction: A 12-Week Pathway—and why spiritual formation is such a powerful form of care. We'll talk about spiritual direction as a proactive practice that builds resilience, trust, discernment, and healthier relationships, not just something we turn to in times of crisis. I'll also explain why this twelve-week pathw...

Grief is often associated with death or obvious loss, but many of us are carrying grief that comes from change . In this episode, we explore how transitions, even good or God-led ones, can stir grief beneath the surface, and why naming it matters for our spiritual and emotional health. If you've felt unsettled, heavy, or emotionally off without a clear reason, this conversation offers language, pe...

Quiet seasons are often supposed to feel peaceful. But sometimes, when life slows down, old memories, emotions, or questions begin to surface—unexpectedly and loudly. In this episode, we talk about why that happens. Not from a place of diagnosis or urgency, but with compassion and curiosity. This is a gentle conversation for anyone who's noticed that when the noise fades, old wounds seem to ask fo...

Have you ever wondered whether you're truly healing, or simply getting better at not thinking about something? In this episode, we explore the subtle, compassionate difference between healing and avoiding—without judgment, pressure, or the assumption that one means failure. If you've ever felt confused by resurfacing emotions, uneasy peace, or resistance to journaling or prayer, this conversation...

Have you ever been in a hard season—and then realized it wasn't just hard, it was stuck? In this episode, we explore the difference between being in a pit and being in a pit pit—those seasons where prayer, journaling, and "doing the right things" don't seem to bring relief the way they once did. This conversation isn't about labeling yourself or rushing toward solutions. It's about noticing what k...

All grief is hard. Yet suicide loss carries with it a stigma that can make it even more challenging to find the healing you're desperate for. In today's episode, I talk with Victoria Myers about her experience with suicide loss and how God met her as she journaled. She shares things like how she and her husband grieved differently, different tools she used as she grieved her loss, and why suicide...

As a new year begins, there's often pressure to decide: set goals, choose a word, figure out what's next. In this episode, we do something slower. Instead of rushing toward clarity or change, we pause to notice what quietly followed us into this year. Not to analyze it. Not to fix it. Simply to become aware—with kindness, honesty, and God's presence. This episode is an invitation to reflect gently...

Have you ever begged God for a clear answer… and instead felt Him nudging you toward something slower, quieter, and a little less concrete? In this episode, we talk about the surprising way God often responds when we're desperate for clarity. If you're waiting, longing, or feeling stuck in the in-between, this gentle conversation will help you recognize the invitations God may be offering you righ...

Ever flip back through an old journal and immediately cringe? You're not the only one.  In this episode, we explore why revisiting past entries can stir up shame—and how to approach those pages with compassion instead of criticism.  If you're carrying regret, embarrassment, or old emotions you're not sure what to do with, this gentle conversation will help you see your past self the way God does....