Can you love God without losing yourself?

If you've ever felt like faith required you to shrink, suppress, or self-loathe your way to holiness, this episode is for you. Writer and storyteller Kristen LaValley joins us to talk about her book Growing Up Saved, offering a refreshing, honest path through spiritual formation gone wrong. From reimagining what belonging looks like after church hurt, to understanding your spiritual nervous system, to discovering the concept of pronoia — the belief that God is conspiring for your good — this conversation is full of hard-won wisdom for anyone navigating faith after pain.

You’ll also hear about:

• how spiritual self-loathing often masquerades as faithfulness, and what it takes to reclaim an identity rooted in being beloved rather than broken
• how Kristen rebuilt her capacity for community by starting outside of church and letting her nervous system slowly relearn what safety feels like
• the concept of the "spiritual nervous system" — learning to recognize your faith triggers without turning them into a moral verdict on yourself or others.

Guest Spotlight ✨

Kristen LaValley is a writer and storyteller whose words offer a refreshing perspective on faith and spirituality and resonate with those who carry tension in their faith. She offers insights that intersect doubt and belief, hope and suffering, beauty and heartache. With a deep love for the Christian faith and a willingness to explore its complexities, Kristen’s writing offers nuanced conversations that challenge readers to think deeply and wrestle with important questions. Kristen lives in Massachusetts with her husband, Zach, and their five children.

Links & Resources 🔗

Website | Instagram | Substack | Facebook

• Growing Up Saved by Kristen LaValley | Amazon | Bookshop

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