🌿 Return: Your Truest Self

Prayers and Practices for the Scattered and Stressed

I see you. Day after day, you show up, trying to hold it all together.

But sometimes, if you’re really honest, a question lingers in the corners of your soul: Is this all there is? Or maybe it’s: Is this all I am?

These are overwhelming times. And it’s easy to get swept up, to feel like we’re losing ourselves in the waves.

If you’re feeling a little lost, take heart: The truest version of you—the one made and held in perfect love—hasn’t gone anywhere. You don’t need to work your way to belovedness. You don’t need to prove your worth.

The One who has been with you all along is with you still, whispering that your truest self reflects the very image of God.

You just need to return home.

An Invitation for You

As I look around at the fragments of 2025, I’m more convinced than ever that we need intentional, nuanced spaces to explore art, faith, and culture together.

If you’re feeling weary or worn out, aching for light to break through the fragments of your life, I couldn’t recommend the upcoming 2025 Breath and Clay gathering enough.

I only partner with organizations I align with, and I’m genuinely proud to link up with The Breath and The Clay to share about this year’s upcoming conference because their work aligns so closely with the themes we explore here together.

This year’s conference features performances from John Mark McMillan (as someone who has seen him perform live, believe me, you want to be there), and keynotes from Kendra Adachi (yes, the Lazy Genuis) and Sho Baraka (such a talented artist—you’ve heard him on our playlists, too).

Writing friends and @liturgiesforparents guest liturgists Justin McRoberts and Amanda Held Opelt will also be there. (What a lineup!) If you are able to get to Winston Salem, North Carolina, March 21-23, I truly don’t think you’ll regret it.

When you grab your tickets, use the referral code KAYLA25. You’ll get a discount and I will get a little something, too!

Through workshops, keynotes, gallery experiences, and performances, you’ll explore various facets of the creative life and how everything—from family to vocation to community—holds the sacred in beautiful, unexpected ways.

FYI: I don’t often feature partnerships, but they allow me to offer readers scholarships. I know financial times can feel tight right now, so please reply to this email if you could use a scholarship for the full Year of Breath version of these newsletters.

What’s Pulling You Away?

Thomas Keating described the false self as the version of you shaped by fear, ego, and the need to prove your worth. The false self is the voice that rises up when life feels overwhelming, whispering that you need to do more, achieve more, or be more to matter.

Your false self thrives on feelings of inadequacy when you compare yourself to others, the pressure to always be productive, and the fear that if you stop striving, everything will fall apart—and you will, too.

Glance at the latest headlines, and you can see the false self everywhere:

• Leaders clinging to power out of fear of losing control.

• Influencers telling us we’re not enough, that we need what they’re selling.

• A culture that measures worth by productivity and perfection.

But the false self shows up closer to home, too:

• Frustration that boils over when your child’s meltdown pushes you past your limits.

• Pressure to appear calm and capable—even when you're falling apart inside.

• Fear that if you slow down, you’ll fall behind—or be forgotten.

But here’s the truth:

You are more than your stress or your striving.

Beneath all the noise is your true self—the part of you that doesn’t need to prove anything because it’s already grounded in God’s love.

What if you thought of the spiritual journey as a homecoming not only with God but with the person you’ve always been meant to be—the one whom God calls beloved?

February Reading Guide

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Unsure what to read this month? Grab this simple reading plan, which points you to a reading from my books for each week of the month. We'll be heading to March soon. Print the PDF or keep it as a "favorite" on your phone!

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Unless You Become Like Little Children…But Which Ones?

I loved reading this essay by Jonny Torrance over at Mockingbird¹, and was surprised and honored to see his reference to To Light Their Way. Definitely worth a read!

Life Won’t Stop Being Chaotic

But.

When you come home to your true self—when you shed the false stories that are so easy to carry and instead believe what Christ says about you—the chaos no longer defines you.

You begin to move through your days with a deeper sense of peace—not because life is easier or the world is less chaotic or unjust, but because you are home and held in the One who gives each breath.

Let your breath be your reminder:

INHALE: In You, O God,
EXHALE: I am my truest self.

And when the noise returns—as it inevitably will—simply pause.

Take a breath.

And come home again.

A Prayer for Believing You Matter

This week’s guest liturgist is the critically acclaimed author (and my dear friend!) @aundikolber, author of the brand new book Take What You Need: Soft Words for Hard Days.

It’s a beautiful collection of quotes for encouragement on your journey toward healing. It’s a gift for the hardest days, reminding you that you are not alone, no matter where you are on your journey to healing.

Aundi Kolber is a licensed professional counselor (MA, LPC). As a trauma survivor, she brings hard-won knowledge about the work of change, the power of redemption, and the beauty of experiencing God with us in our pain.

Year of Breath

In this week’s full Year of Breath edition, we’re exploring what it means to come home to your True Self—the version of you already grounded in God’s love.

Inside, you’ll find breath prayers to guide you through each day of the week, contemplative questions to help you notice where the False Self shows up in daily life, and a simple practice to help you release control and say yes to God’s presence.

You’ll also find an applicable scripture passage and a closing benediction to carry with you as you move through the week, along with a weekly playlist and phone wallpaper.

I’m also sharing some exciting updates on my upcoming book, including ways you can contribute to its creation.

Thank you to everyone who has subscribed to the paid edition—your support makes this newsletter possible!

Breath Prayer

Monday:
INHALE: You are here.