Journal Gently: Spiritual Formation for Christian Women

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 kind of support your heart may be asking for, and releasing the pressure to navigate everything on your own.

>> Is This Still Affecting Me?: A Gentle Reflection Guide

RELATED EPISODES:

· Episode 189: When Healing Takes Longer Than You Hoped

· Episode 135: Identifying Signs You're Not Doing Well (And What You Can Do About It)

· Episode 49: Finding Your Stretcher Bearers: The People Who Can Help Carry You Through a Difficult Season

· Episode 51: Who Can I Trust? Distinguishing Between Safe and Unsafe People When You Need Help

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>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Journal Gently Program: 8 week writing program to start healing from grief and trauma

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

>> Book Kari as a speaker for your next event:

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

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 loss can be extra challenging (though not impossible) to heal from.

Plus, she offers three journaling prompts for anyone experiencing grief from the loss of a loved one.

CONNECT WITH VICTORIA

· Website

· Book: God, You're Fired (Amazon affiliate link)

· Free Curated Resource Booklet

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RELATED EPISODES:

· Episodes 9 and 10: Supporting a Friend Through Grief (And Walking Through It Yourself) with Karen Altizer

· Episode 61: Perceiving God's Presence and Love with Spiritual Director and Author Sharon Garlough Brown

· Episode 102: Sitting with Others in their Grief and Loss with Grief Coach Julie Lynn Ashley

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>> Grief Journal Prompts

http://lovedoesthat.org/griefjournal

>> Journal Gently Program: 8 week writing program to start healing from grief and trauma

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

>> Book Kari as a speaker for your next event:

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

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 on the past year and to listen for what may still be asking for care as you move forward.

>> Is This Still Affecting Me?: A Gentle Reflection Guide

RELATED EPISODES:

· Episode 131: Healing in Layers: What Art Taught Me About Grief

· Episode 65: Learn to Linger with What Provokes You

· Episode 149: What Are You Feeling Possessive Of?

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>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Journal Gently Program: 8 week writing program to start healing from grief and trauma

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

>> Book Kari as a speaker for your next event:

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

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 right now.

RELATED EPISODES:

· Episode 187: Clarity Comes with Action

· Episode 184: Could This Be Why You're Not Hearing from God?

· Episode 181: Does An Open Door Mean God Approves?

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>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Journal Gently Program: 8 week writing program to start healing from grief and trauma

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

>> Book Kari as a speaker for your next event:

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

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. As always, a simple journal prompt is waiting for you at the end.

RELATED EPISODES:

· Episode 167: Why I Trashed My Past Journals--And Deciding If You Should, Too

· Episode 163: Letting God Use Our Wounds: A Conversation with Russell Joyce

· Episode 155: When Talking Doesn't Help

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>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Journal Gently Program: 8 week writing program to start healing from grief and trauma

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

>> Book Kari as a speaker for your next event:

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

If you're an introvert who wants to journal but feels overwhelmed the minute you face a blank page, this episode will feel like a deep exhale.

We'll talk about why the pressure to "do it right" can shut you down—and how a gentler, simpler rhythm can open you back up. You'll walk away with a journal prompt and a practical shift that makes writing feel doable again.

RELATED EPISODES:

· Episode 176: My Biggest Tip for Beating Perfectionism in Journaling

· Episode 146: Introduction to Journaling: Creating Your Own Journaling Routine

· Episode 144: How to Create Both a Short and Long Journaling Routine

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>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Journal Gently Program: 8 week writing program to start healing from grief and trauma

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

>> Book Kari as a speaker for your next event:

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

Ever feel like you're holding more than your heart can handle? In this episode, we explore what happens when life starts to pile up inside us… and the gentle invitation God offers when it does.

If you've been feeling stretched, stuffed, or overwhelmed, this quiet conversation will help you pause, breathe, and bring just one honest thing to Jesus.

RELATED EPISODES:

· Episode 103: 6 Strategies to Manage Overwhelm, Stress, and Change

· Episode 122: Feeling Anxious? Try This 5-Minute Journaling Session

· Episode 139: 3 Truths to Remember During a Difficult Holiday Season

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>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Journal Gently Program: 8 week writing program to start healing from grief and trauma

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

>> Book Kari as a speaker for your next event:

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

Sometimes the things we love most can actually get in the way of connecting with God. In this clip from the Lead Well Conference, I share a personal story about how even journaling—something I teach and cherish—was keeping me from spending time with the Lord the way I really wanted.

If you've ever felt like your "good habits" or spiritual routines are keeping you from truly engaging with God, this episode is for you. I'll walk you through a small shift I made that helped me listen to God more authentically throughout my day—and how you can do the same.

>> Book Kari for your next event:

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

RELATED EPISODES:

· Episode 176: My Biggest Tip for Beating Perfectionism in Journaling

· Episode 144: How to Create Both a Short and Long Journaling Routine

· Episode 76: Have a Hard Time Sensing God's Presence? Go Outside!

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>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Journal Gently Program

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

Two trees. Same kind. Standing side by side—yet one is bare while the other is full of golden leaves. In today's quiet reflection, Kari uses this simple scene from her neighborhood to remind us that healing doesn't happen at the same pace for everyone.

It's easy to look at someone else's joy and wonder why we're still struggling. But God tends to each of our hearts with patience and care, layer by layer. This episode is a gentle invitation to release comparison, trust the pace of your healing, and bring your broken pieces to the One who knows how to restore them.

>> Journal Gently Program

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

RELATED EPISODES:

· Episode 117: Running Away From God: A Devotional Bible Study on Jonah 1

· Episode 122: Feeling Anxious? Try This 5-Minute Journaling Session

· Episode 184: Could This Be Why You're Not Hearing from God?

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>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Speaking

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

Have you ever let fear keep you quiet, hesitant to use a gift you know God has placed inside you?

In this episode, Kari unpacks a familiar verse, 2 Timothy 1:7, and discovers it means something deeper than we often realize. It's not just about overcoming fear in general—it's about refusing to let fear silence the gifts God has given us.

Through Paul's letter to Timothy, we're reminded that God calls us to fan into flame the gifts already within us, using them with power, love, and self-discipline. If you've been feeling restless or discouraged, this gentle reflection will help you rekindle your confidence in what God has entrusted to you.

>> Get your free ticket to Make the Move, a live online conference happening November 20 to help you discern God's direction in your business or ministry.

https://prayforyourbusiness.com

RELATED EPISODES:

· Episode 117: Running Away From God: A Devotional Bible Study on Jonah 1

· Episode 122: Feeling Anxious? Try This 5-Minute Journaling Session

· Episode 184: Could This Be Why You're Not Hearing from God?

______

>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Speaking

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking