Advertise on podcast: Journal Gently: Healing with God through quiet reflection, honest conversations, and gentle journaling

*A little update, my friend: This will be the last episode of Journal Gently for now. I'm not sure whether this is a pause or a more permanent goodbye, but I'm grateful you've been here, listening and making space to encounter God in His Word. Thank you for being part of this little corner of the world.   What happens when we hold similar Bible stories next to each other? In this episode, we'll look at the feeding of the 5,000 and the feeding of the 4,000. As we notice what's the same and what's different, we may discover details—and glimpses of God—we've missed before.   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 209: [Imaginative Prayer] Hungry for Jesus: The Feeding of the Five Thousand ·       Episode 183: [Bible Journal Session] How Do You Need to Be Restored? ·       Episode 174: Entering Into Scripture Through Imaginative Prayer ______   >> Book Kari as a speaker for your next event: http://karibartkus.com/speaking   >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://karibartkus.com/journalingworkshop   >> Imagine Devotional (Website | Amazon)

Hard feelings like disappointment, anger, bitterness, and betrayal can be difficult to know what to do with. In this episode, we'll explore how journaling can give those feelings a safe place to be honest before God—without rushing toward resolution or pretending everything is okay. You'll also find a few practical prompts for bringing what hurts into the presence of God with honesty, gentleness, and hope.   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 147: The Flip-Out Rule in Journaling ·       Episode 177: Grieving Decisions You Don't Want to Make: A Conversation with Lauren Black ·       Episode 178: Exploring Our Stories One Piece at a Time ______   >> Book Kari as a speaker for your next event: http://karibartkus.com/speaking   >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://karibartkus.com/journalingworkshop   >> Imagine Devotional (Website | Amazon)

When life gets hard, it can be difficult to remember what brings us comfort. So why not make a list now? In this short episode, I'm inviting you to create your own "comfort list"—simple things, people, and places you can turn to when you're overwhelmed, grieving, anxious, sick, or lonely.   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 170: 2 Ways to Journal When You Can't Find the Words ·       Episode 164: 3 Key Lessons for Journaling in Difficult Seasons ·       Episode 135: Identifying Signs You're Not Doing Well (And What You Can Do About It) ______   >> Book Kari as a speaker for your next event: http://karibartkus.com/speaking   >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://karibartkus.com/journalingworkshop   >> Imagine Devotional (Website | Amazon)

We often talk about God speaking in a still, small voice—but what if that isn't the whole story? Scripture gives us plenty of examples of God speaking and moving through wind, fire, thunder, earthquakes, and other unexpected ways. In this episode, we'll explore what that means for the way we listen for God today—and how we can become more attentive without putting Him in a box.   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 201: Ways We Ignore God's Leading ·       Episode 194: When God Gives Invitations Instead of Answers ·       Episode 184: Could This Be Why You're Not Hearing from God? ______   >> Book Kari as a speaker for your next event: http://karibartkus.com/speaking   >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://karibartkus.com/journalingworkshop   >> Imagine Devotional (Website | Amazon)

What do you reach for when you're still hurting and want some gentle guidance for the journey? In this episode, I'm sharing three books I recommend for walking through suffering, healing with God, and making space to process what you've been through. Each one offers something a little different—and all three invite you to take the next step without rushing the process.   RESOURCES: (affiliate links) ·       Depression and Anxiety ·       Growing After Trauma ·       Respite Retreat ·       Gritty Faith Magazine (2026) ·       Journal Gently program   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 100: [Book Recommendation] Sensible Shoes Series by Sharon Garlough Brown ·       Episode 105: [Book Recommendation] Every Moment Holy by Douglas Kaine McKelvey ·       Episode 114: [Book Recommendation] The Powerful Purpose of Introverts by Holley Gerth ·       Episode 120: [Book Recommendation] Invitation to Retreat by Ruth Haley Barton ______   >> Book Kari as a speaker for your next event: http://karibartkus.com/speaking   >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://karibartkus.com/journalingworkshop   >> Imagine Devotional (Website | Amazon)

What if you're not ready to let go? Maybe you're still grieving, still angry, still hoping, or simply not sure what releasing something would mean. In this episode, we'll consider the difference between being invited to let go and being pressured to move on—and what it might look like to bring our unfinished hearts honestly to God.   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 210: God's Grace for the Roads You Regret ·       Episode 203: How to Sit with Hard Feelings Without Letting Them Take Over ·       Episode 198: How to Tell the Difference Between Healing and Avoiding ______   >> Book Kari as a speaker for your next event: http://karibartkus.com/speaking   >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://karibartkus.com/journalingworkshop   >> Imagine Devotional (Website | Amazon)

What if you didn't have to figure anything out today? What if you could simply listen? In this episode, I'm inviting you into a quiet, prayerful time of listening to Scripture. You'll hear the same passage three times, with space between each reading to notice what God might be highlighting—or simply to rest and receive His love.   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 209: [Imaginative Prayer] Hungry for Jesus: The Feeding of the Five Thousand ·       Episode 183: [Bible Journal Session] How Do You Need to Be Restored? ·       Bonus Episode 19: [Scripture Reading] The Good Shepherd (Ezekiel 34, Psalm 23, John 10) ·       Bonus Episode 11: [Imaginative Prayer] Jesus, Have Mercy ______   >> Book Kari as a speaker for your next event: http://karibartkus.com/speaking   >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://karibartkus.com/journalingworkshop    >> Imagine Devotional (Website | Amazon)   Music by DappyTKeys

What do you do when something feels a little off? It can be tempting to dismiss it, explain it away, or simply move on. But sometimes, paying attention is the first step toward understanding what's really going on. In this episode, I'm sharing a surprising lesson I learned from my dog about noticing the unusual, getting curious, and bringing our questions to God—especially when we're healing. Plus, I'll share a few journal prompts to help you slow down and listen.   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 191: What Laundry Taught Me About Emotional Overload ·       Episode 149: What Are You Feeling Possessive Of? ·       Episode 65: Learn to Linger with What Provokes You _____   >> Book Kari as a speaker for your next event: http://karibartkus.com/speaking   >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://karibartkus.com/journalingworkshop   >> Imagine Devotional (Website | Amazon)

What if we didn't just read beautiful words, but actually carried them with us? In this episode, I'm sharing how my attempt to memorize a poem led me to a simple practice of collecting, lingering over, and memorizing words that speak to our hearts. Plus, I'll share a few journal prompts to help you discover the words God may be inviting you to carry in this season.   >> Journal Gently: An 8-week guided journaling experience for women who feel the weight of unspoken grief, lingering hurt, or emotional exhaustion http://karibartkus.com/journalgently   Book: Every Moment Holy: Volume I (Amazon affiliate link)   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 170: 2 Ways to Journal When You Can't Find the Words ·       Episode 153: Can 5 Minutes Journaling Really Make a Difference? ·       Episode 143: Start Noticing What You Enjoy ______ >> Book Kari as a speaker for your next event: http://karibartkus.com/speaking   >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://karibartkus.com/journalingworkshop   >> Imagine Devotional (Website | Amazon)

Healing rarely happens all at once. More often, it comes through small steps we almost miss. In this episode, I share the story of a little gosling that reminded me of God's gentle presence in our own seasons of healing and growth. Together, we'll reflect on where we can see evidence of God's quiet work in our lives—even when we're not yet where we hope to be.   >> Journal Gently: An 8-week guided journaling experience for women who feel the weight of unspoken grief, lingering hurt, or emotional exhaustion http://karibartkus.com/journalgently   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 205: Participating in Our Healing: A Conversation with Heather O'Brien ·       Episode 189: When Healing Takes Longer Than You Hoped ·       Episode 178: Exploring Our Stories One Piece at a Time ______   >> Book Kari as a speaker for your next event: http://karibartkus.com/speaking   >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://karibartkus.com/journalingworkshop   >> Imagine Devotional (Website | Amazon)

What happens when God invites you to slow down instead of striving? In this first episode back after my summer break, I share a personal story about stepping away, rediscovering the joy of reading, and unexpectedly encountering God through both silence and a fiction series. Along the way, I reflect on how God gently led me into a deeper place of healing—and why that has deepened the direction of this podcast. This marks the beginning of a new season of Journal Gently, where we'll pursue deeper conversations, guided listening prayer, imaginative encounters with Scripture, and gentle journal prompts designed to help you notice God's presence in your everyday life.   >> Journal Gently: An 8-week guided journaling experience for women who feel the weight of unspoken grief, lingering hurt, or emotional exhaustion http://karibartkus.com/journalgently   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 180: How to Journal Through a Book (Plus Summer Reading Recommendations) ·       Episode 194: When God Gives Invitations Instead of Answers ______ >> Book Kari as a speaker for your next event: http://karibartkus.com/speaking    >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://karibartkus.com/journalingworkshop    >> Imagine Devotional (Website | Amazon)

I'm taking a brief break from my summer break to share a conversation I didn't want you to miss. Today I'm joined by Heather O'Brien, author of Heal with God, to talk about her story, what led her to write the book, and why healing with God is often much gentler than we expect. Together, we explore the importance of building a strong foundation in our relationship with God before focusing on our healing, as well as the step-by-step journey of learning to walk with Him through our pain. Whether you're navigating grief, trauma, or simply longing to experience God's presence in a deeper way, I hope this conversation encourages you to take your next gentle step with Him.   CONNECT WITH HEATHER O'BRIEN: Heather O'Brien is a prophetic healing coach, Bible teacher, and host of the Heal with God Podcast, ranked in the top 2.5% globally. She helps Christians who love Jesus but still feel emotionally stuck learn how to hear God clearly and heal with Him deeply. Through her signature Heal With God Roadmap, Heather brings practical, Spirit-led tools that break anxiety, fear, trauma, and confusion—releasing believers into confidence, clarity, and lasting peace. ·       Heal with God book (affiliate link) ·       Website ·       Free Monthly Workshop   RELATED EPISODES: ·       Episode 205: Participating in Our Healing: A Conversation with Heather O'Brien ·       Episode 184: Could This Be Why You're Not Hearing from God? ·       Episode 194: When God Gives Invitations Instead of Answers ______ >> Imagine Devotional (Website | Amazon) >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop >> Book Kari as a speaker for your next event: http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

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 journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop >> Book Kari as a speaker for your next event: http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

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 Journal When You Can't Find the Words ·       Episode 184: Could This Be Why You're Not Hearing from God? ·       Episode 194: When God Gives Invitations Instead of Answers ______ >> Imagine Devotional (Website | Amazon) >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop >> Book Kari as a speaker for your next event: http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

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 Me About Grief ·       Episode 166: God in the Midst of the Storm: A Devotional Reading of Mark 6:45-52 ______ >> Imagine Devotional (Website | Amazon) >> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop >> Book Kari as a speaker for your next event: http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking