God formed you carefully—every part of you. In this episode of Draw Near, Kara leads you through a guided visualization meditation designed to quiet the noise and open you to the depth of God’s love for you.

This reflection is especially for anyone who struggles to see themselves as wholly good and loved... those who can appreciate their strengths but wrestle with their weaknesses, insecurities, or parts they wish were different. This meditation gently invites you to see yourself through God’s eyes and to receive yourself with the same love God offers.

Drawn directly from the Surrender Journal we wrote and offer through our shop, this prayer experience is meant to be returned to again and again—especially in moments of self-doubt, comparison, or discouragement.

Find a quiet place, take a deep breath, and allow God to remind you: you are deeply known, carefully created, and lovingly held.

Questions to reflect on before you begin:

The Surrender Journal:

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If we truly believe Jesus is Lord, then his words matter… even the ones that challenge us. In this week’s conversation, we reflect on Luke 6:46: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” Jesus does not rebuke here, but invites each of us personally to reflect on teachings, words from God, or passages of Scripture we truly believe. Let's also allow it to be an invitation to ask: which of Jesus's words and teachings have I forgotten or discarded because they are difficult.

All of us have places where obedience feels costly or inconvenient. Yet Jesus never calls us to follow him on our own strength. Let's also look at what he does to help us?

Throughout the episode, we also explore:

Book Fred and/or Kara to speak by visiting the Draw Near "booking page."

Click here to become a patron! Patrons are essentially "sponsors" and co-producers or Draw Near as it could not happen without them.

Who are "Fred and Kara?" Find out by visiting our home page.

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In a world that often tells us to stay guarded, what does it really mean to live with an open heart? In this episode, we explore the beauty and the cost of “wearing your heart on your sleeve,” and why Jesus shows us a better way than self-protection. If you’ve ever wondered whether vulnerability is worth it, or feared that loving deeply will only get you hurt, this conversation is for you. Come be encouraged to live with authenticity, courage, and Christ-like love.

Book Fred and/or Kara to speak by visiting the Draw Near "booking page."

Click here to become a patron! Patrons are essentially "sponsors" and co-producers or Draw Near as it could not happen without them.

Who are "Fred and Kara?" Find out by visiting our home page.

Like our podcast? Hit that “subscribe” button AND the notification button/bell to know when new episodes are posted! Give us a rating! Leave a review! Tell your friends! Even more, pray for us!

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In this classic Draw Near episode, we revisit a heartfelt conversation with our friend Sr. Fidelis Marie about what it really means to love one another well — not in theory, but in the daily decisions that shape our relationships and communities. If you’ve ever wrestled with empathy, boundaries, or how to grow in authentic charity, this episode will encourage and challenge you in all the right ways.

In this episode, we explore:

How to tell the difference between healthy venting and harmful gossip

Why it’s so easy to expect empathy but harder to give it

How our wounds, assumptions, and interior habits shape the way we treat others

What it looks like to approach relationships with intentionality, vulnerability, and authentic love

Whether our culture is slowly training us to stop seeing one another as human beings

Why evaluating intentions — our own and others’ — matters for spiritual growth

Join us for a conversation that keeps unfolding long after the episode ends. This is one worth returning to — and we’re glad to share it with you again.

Book Fred and/or Kara to speak by visiting the Draw Near "booking page."

Click here to become a patron! Patrons are essentially "sponsors" and co-producers or Draw Near as it could not happen without them.

Who are "Fred and Kara?" Find out by visiting our home page.

Like our podcast? Hit that “subscribe” button AND the notification button/bell to know when new episodes are posted! Give us a rating! Leave a review! Tell your friends! Even more, pray for us!

Draw Near Theme © Fred Shellabarger & Kara Kardell

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Sometimes, we all just need a friend day! Grab your favorite drink and join us today for our much needed friend day chat. In this relaxed episode of Draw Near, let's cut throught the stresses and weariness. Fred and Kara catch up, asking each other questions that spark joy, honesty, and laughter. Want to join us?

Help us grow by following the Draw Near podcast on your favorite platform.

Book Fred and/or Kara to speak by visiting the Draw Near "booking page."

Click here to become a patron! Patrons are essentially "sponsors" and co-producers or Draw Near as it could not happen without them.

Who are "Fred and Kara?" Find out by visiting our home page.

Like our podcast? Hit that “subscribe” button AND the notification button/bell to know when new episodes are posted! Give us a rating! Leave a review! Tell your friends! Even more, pray for us!

Draw Near Theme © Fred Shellabarger & Kara Kardell

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There’s an honest difference between "looking" holy and "living" a holy life. Reflecting on Luke 18:9–14, Fred and Kara explore how pride and comparison creep into our hearts, why appearances are not what God looks at, and how one's heart is truly the measure holiness. Looking beyond all you do for God, what does your heart look like?

Let's dive into how pride can creep into our prayer life, how comparison blinds us to grace, and why holiness is not something we achieve but an interior posture of the heart.

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Book Fred and/or Kara to speak by visiting the Draw Near "booking page."

Click here to become a patron! Patrons are essentially "sponsors" and co-producers or Draw Near as it could not happen without them.

Who are "Fred and Kara?" Find out by visiting our home page.

Like our podcast? Hit that “subscribe” button AND the notification button/bell to know when new episodes are posted! Give us a rating! Leave a review! Tell your friends! Even more, pray for us!

Draw Near Theme © Fred Shellabarger & Kara Kardell

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Imagine Jesus stopping everything just to find you and heal you. That’s exactly what happens in the story of the hemorrhaging woman. In this Lectio Divine episode, Fred and Kara pray with this passage and reflect on the woman's need to "touch" Jesus and how her circumstances during 12 years of suffering would have led to her "desperate" faith. In addition to spiritual themes, this episode also talks about Jesus' initiative to seek the woman and invite her out of her hiding place of shame and into healing.

Book Fred and/or Kara to speak by visiting the Draw Near "booking page."

Click here to become a patron! Patrons are essentially "sponsors" and co-producers or Draw Near as it could not happen without them.

Who are "Fred and Kara?" Find out by visiting our home page.

Like our podcast? Hit that “subscribe” button AND the notification button/bell to know when new episodes are posted! Give us a rating! Leave a review! Tell your friends! Even more, pray for us!

Draw Near Theme © Fred Shellabarger & Kara Kardell

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In this episode, we’re giving you a peek behind the curtain with real-life updates and our unfiltered takes on everything from reality shows and parish bingos to social media, smartphones, and DIY projects. We even get serious for a moment about how we use technology, faith, and the “thoughts and prayers” culture online.

If you’ve ever wondered what we’re like when the mics aren’t scripted—this one’s for you. Fun, honest, and a little unpredictable, this episode mixes laughter with reflection on living faith in everyday life.

Writing projects mentioned:

Book Fred and/or Kara to speak by visiting the Draw Near "booking page."

Click here to become a patron! Patrons are essentially "sponsors" and co-producers or Draw Near as it could not happen without them.

Who are "Fred and Kara?" Find out by visiting our home page.

Like our podcast? Hit that “subscribe” button AND the notification button/bell to know when new episodes are posted! Give us a rating! Leave a review! Tell your friends! Even more, pray for us!

Draw Near Theme © Fred Shellabarger & Kara Kardell

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What does it mean to actually surrender to God?... and how do we begin to do it? There are seasons when God feels silent, when prayers go unanswered, or when our hearts wrestle with waiting. In those moments, surrender can sound like a nice idea but feel nearly impossible. So, where do we begin?

To continue your journey to total surrender to God, check out The Surrender Journal on the Draw Near Shop. It shares 30 uniquely crafted meditation exercises that will bring you to a place of surrender.

Reflection Questions from this episode:

Book Fred and/or Kara to speak by visiting the Draw Near "booking page."

Click here to become a patron! Patrons are essentially "sponsors" and co-producers or Draw Near as it could not happen without them.

Who are "Fred and Kara?" Find out by visiting our home page.

Like our podcast? Hit that “subscribe” button AND the notification button/bell to know when new episodes are posted! Give us a rating! Leave a review! Tell your friends! Even more, pray for us!

Draw Near Theme © Fred Shellabarger & Kara Kardell

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Imagine building a thriving career, only to hear a call so strong you can’t ignore it. That’s exactly what happened to Rob “Mr. Theology” Reynolds and Shevin McCullough. In this episode, the founders of Studio 316 share how they traded corporate success for a life of ministry—and how they’re using creativity and media to lead kids to Christ.

Book Fred and/or Kara to speak by visiting the Draw Near "booking page."

Click here to become a patron! Patrons are essentially "sponsors" and co-producers or Draw Near as it could not happen without them.

Who are "Fred and Kara?" Find out by visiting our home page.

Like our podcast? Hit that “subscribe” button AND the notification button/bell to know when new episodes are posted! Give us a rating! Leave a review! Tell your friends! Even more, pray for us!

Draw Near Theme © Fred Shellabarger & Kara Kardell

Support Draw Near