Prayers from the Middle

Bria opens a new series on nuance as a discipline. She introduces it as love with depth perception as opposed to an ideal. She shares honestly about ministry and motives and talks a lot about the Pharisees and how Jesus embodies the Law with both holiness and compassion. This episode is a soft landing and a reminder that Jesus sees every tree, every person, and still loves the whole forest. Including you. Themes: Nuance as a spiritual posture Loving ideas vs. loving people Jesus as the embodiment of nuance   Join the discussion: Find the episode transcript and comment thread at www.prayersfromthemiddle.com. Email Bria: [email protected]

In this episode, Bria explores what happens when power looks away - and what happens when love chooses to see. From a quiet moment on a Paris sidewalk to a painful exchange in a recent Judiciary hearing, to the story of the bent-over woman in Luke 13, this episode traces the difference between eyes that restore dignity and eyes that protect themselves. It's an invitation to slow down, notice, and see the people God see, even when it costs us something. Find journal prompts and a list of books and resources to help think through all the stuff we talk about. Connect with Bria at www.prayersfromthemiddle.com

In this episode, I sit down with author, speaker and mental‑health advocate Chris Morris to talk about a moment that changed everything for him. In 2020, during one of the darkest seasons of his life, Chris attempted to end his life. What came next were two conversations - in the psych ward, in the middle of shame, anger, and despair. Chris heard God speak the words he least expected: “I still love you.” Not after he got better or after he pulled himself together. Just right there in the middle of the mess. The next day, his pastor walked in and spoke words that restored dignity instead of demanding performance: “Our church is incomplete without you.” For Chris, those words were life from the dead. So many of us ache for belonging. That’s why this episode and Chris’ story matters. Because two truths thread themselves throughout the episode: You cannot un-earn God’s love. And. There is a place for you inside of God’s family. In this conversation, Chris and I talk about: what it’s like to meet God in the middle of depression and suicidality how spiritual dismissal and “pray more” theology deepen shame why belonging is not earned through performance the power of going first and giving others “the gift of going second” how to discern when a church space is harming your mental health what hope looks like when the season feels endless If you’re in a dark place, or you’ve been carrying the fear that you’re too much, too broken, or too far gone, hear this clearly: you are not alone, and your story is not over. Chris’s honesty is an invitation to breathe again — and to believe that God’s love does not flinch at your darkness. Connect with Chris: www.chrismorriswrites.com Instagram: @ChrisMorriswrites Find journal prompts to go with today's episode: www.prayersfromthemiddle.com

Most of us were taught to tell our testimony as a tidy before-and-after story. Before Jesus I was a mess. Then I met Jesus. Now everything is better. But what happens when that's not your story? In this two-part conversation, author and mental health advocate Chris Morris joins Bria to tell the truth about a life that stayed messy even after he met Jesus. Chris shares his long-term struggle with depression and suicidality and the myths that can sometimes keep the church from offering real help. Together, Bria and Chris explore why the church is so uncomfortable with long-term suffering, how Scripture can sometimes get weaponized against people in pain, and what it looks like to follow Jesus when healing is slow and God feels silent. Chris offers some pure gold and give new ways of seeing God's presence as His goodness even when He feels absent. This episode is for anyone who has wondered why their healing hasn't come yet, why their faith feels messy, or why God feels so far away. It's for those of us in the middle, still wrestling and waiting and strying to make sense of a God who doesn't always move quickly. You belong here! Content note: This episode includes a gentle, non-graphic discussion of suicidal thoughts from Chris' teenage years. Please listen with care and honor what you need. Follow Chris on Instagram: @ChrisMorrisWrites His Tedx Talk is here: http://chrismorriswrites.com/ted It’s about The Power of Deep Listening and is totally worth the listen. Find Chris online here: https://www.chrismorriswrites.com/ Find out about Chris' books here: https://www.chrismorriswrites.com/books/ email Bria with questions, feedback or for journal prompts: [email protected]

This one is for those who grew up learning that following Jesus meant performing for God. If the world feels unsafe right now, you’re not imagining it. And if this is somehow bringing up old fear around God, you’re not the only one trying to make sense of that. This conversation is for the ones who are trying to untangle all of that and still believe that Jesus steps into the middle of real life. In this second part of my conversation with Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Ruth Friend — someone who understands trauma, identity, and spiritual wounds from the inside out — we talk about what happens when your earliest experiences of God were shaped by fear, shame, pressure, or conditional love. Ruth names the things you’ve felt but maybe never had language for: why God feels unsafe and why trust feels dangerous. We talk about what safety actually does to your brain, how to recognize a spiritual community that won’t gaslight you, and why integrity — not performance or perfection — is the only foundation for a relationship with God that doesn’t re-traumatize you. And toward the end, Ruth offers a way to reconnect with God that doesn’t require forcing yourself into someone else’s version of faith but that honors your story, your wiring, and your genuine self. In this episode, you’ll hear: why your body reacts the way it does around God or church how shame rewires your sense of identity what spiritual trauma actually is (and isn’t) how to recognize people and communities that are truly safe a simple, compassionate practice for rebuilding trust with God This episode is not about fixing yourself. It’s about finding a God who is safe enough to be honest with. Connect with Ruth: www.ruthfriend.org — trauma‑informed counseling and resources Get Ruth's journal prompts: www.prayersfromthemiddle.com — If you subscribe, you'll also get weekly journal prompts. Email thoughts and feedback to Bria: [email protected] — questions, stories, or collaboration If this episode feels like oxygen, share it with someone who needs a safe space to find their way back to God without losing themselves again.

Guest: Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Ruth FriendThis episode is a tender, honest, and deeply grounding conversation with Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Ruth Friend. She brings more than two decades of clinical experience—and her own lived story—to the topic of spiritual deconstruction. We talk about what actually happens emotionally when your faith begins to shift, crack, or unravel. Ruth names the stages many people move through, from doubt to the crisis, and then reconstruction. She also speaks candidly about her own journey through trauma, toxic theology, and the surprising ways Jesus met her in the lowest places. If you’ve ever wondered whether your questions make you unsafe, rebellious, or “the problem,” this conversation will feel like a deep breath. Ruth normalizes the psychological process of questioning, explains why doubt is developmentally healthy, and offers a therapist’s insight into how to stay emotionally safe while everything you thought you knew feels like it might be shifting. In this episode we exploreRuth’s personal story of trauma, faith, and early deconstruction Why deconstruction often begins with crisis The emotional stages people commonly experience: doubt, confusion, anxiety, shame, and the “tortured soul” season How reading the red letters can reintroduce you to the real Jesus Why questioning is a normal developmental stage—not rebellion What reconstruction can look like when it’s rooted in honesty and freedom How to stay emotionally safe while your beliefs are changing Why Jesus consistently shows up in the low, unexpected places Key Quotes“Deconstruction isn’t throwing Jesus away. It’s peeling back the layers to find what’s actually true.” “Doubt and confusion are normal emotional stages—not signs that something is wrong with you.” “Jesus was subversive. He always stood with the underdog, the outsider, the overlooked.” “You’re not bad for questioning. You’re human.” If You’re in the Middle of ItYou’re not alone. You’re not broken. You’re not losing faith—you’re searching for what’s true. Subscribe to Thoughts from the Middle for weekly journal promps: www.prayersfromthemiddle.com Email Bria: briannarwasson.com

If you’ve felt overwhelmed by the nonstop news cycle, unsure what you believe anymore, or lonely in your questions about church, faith, or Jesus, this episode is for you. In Episode 14, Bria names the exhaustion so many of us are carrying — the nervous‑system overload, the spiritual confusion, feeling like we're watching the world unravel while trying to hold onto what’s true. Through a week of relentless headlines and a moment of painful honesty, Bria shares how she realized she’d lost sight of the real Jesus in the middle of all the noise. And she invites you into the same reset she’s choosing for 2026: fixing our thoughts on the Jesus who never changes. This episode introduces a new rhythm: HONEST. It's a simple six‑part rhythm to return to whenever the world feels like too much: Hold still. Own your story without shame. No longer pretend. Exhale. Slow down so your soul can catch up. Trust God’s character. If you’re tired, numb, overwhelmed, or longing for a safe place to be honest again, settle in. You’re not alone in the middle — and there’s a way back to the real Jesus. Bria's email: [email protected]

In this final episode of our four‑part series on the image of God, we’re taking a hard, honest look at how the American church has shaped our understanding of evangelism—and how that shaping has quietly distorted the way we see people, ourselves, and even God. For many of us, evangelism has always felt like a strategic, spiritual sales pitch we were supposed to perfect. But what if that weight was never ours to carry in the first place? In this conversation, we explore: how an “us vs. them” mindset took root in evangelical culture why strategy became the center—and why it never belonged there the subtle ways corporate Christianity squeezed the Holy Spirit out of His own job what happens when we stop trying to manage outcomes and start trusting God to introduce Himself how surrender to God reframes personhood, worth, and the way we see every human story This episode is an invitation back to something simpler and far more intimate: a relationship with a God who wants to introduce Himself, who writes every single “once upon a time,” and who doesn’t need our performance. If evangelism has ever felt like pressure, guilt, or a secret agenda, you are not alone. And maybe the Holy Spirit is leading us somewhere gentler, truer, and more honest. Send Bria an email: [email protected] If you’d like to go deeper with some journal prompts, check out www.prayersfromthemiddle.com

This week left my heart in knots — a week of mass shootings, public cruelty, and grief that felt too heavy to hold. I found myself angry, tangled, and unable to find the right words, until I returned again to the prayer that I have found shaping me to my core:“Search me, God… and lead me in the way everlasting.” In this episode, I talk honestly about righteous anger, the kind that rises when leaders dehumanize others — and the other kind, the kind that corrodes the soul. I share what God uncovered in me as I prayed Psalm 139 again, and what it means to honor the image of God in people I’d rather not see as image-bearers at all. If you’ve felt overwhelmed by the world, if your heart feels tight or tangled, this is an invitation to pause, breathe, and let God search you, too. Not to make you “right,” but to make you whole. Join my email list on Substack: www.prayersfromthemiddle.com My email address is: [email protected]

In this second installment of our four-part series on the image of God, Bria explores the profound connection between Genesis and the Declaration of Independence. If every human being is created in God’s likeness, then the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are not privileges—they are woven into our very being. This episode wrestles with the ways we’ve forgotten that truth: in how immigrants are treated, in the exclusion of LGBTQ+ people and women pastors, and in political rhetoric that dehumanizes entire groups. Yet even in the midst of forgetting, the image of God breaks through sometimes in everyday kindnesses like the simple act of recognizing another’s personhood. Through scripture, history, and personal story, Brianna invites us to slow down and remember: denying someone’s rights is denying the very image of God in them. She challenges us to notice those around us who are unseen, to honor their dignity, and to defend their God-given rights. Join us as we ask: what does it mean to live as people who see the image of God—and protect the rights that flow from it?

What really happens to the image of God in us when sin enters the story? In this episode of Prayers from the Middle, Bria wrestles with a teaching many of us grew up hearing—that sin renders humanity worthless. Through Scripture, reflection, and a vivid metaphor of a corrupted photo file, Bria explores whether “worthless” is the right word, or if “corrupted” better captures the truth. You’ll hear how this shift reframes the way we see ourselves, others, and even our ability to love humanity. Bria invites you into a practice: whispering “Image of God” as you encounter people this week, letting that phrase reshape your vision of worth and love. Here's the article she mentioned:  https://bibleproject.com/articles/sin-iniquity-and-transgression-in-the-bible/

Brianna is taking a little breather this week. Even though this is technically Episode 9, it marks 10 weeks in a row of Prayers from the Middle which feels like something worth celebrating! So Bria is stepping back to rest her brain and do a little behind-the-scenes dreaming. She's planning the next 10 episodes where we'll focus on the idea of safe spaces. Like what happened to make so many of us stop feeling safe in the evangelical world we grew up in. She's already got some interviews lined up with a couple of mental health experts who will not disappoint! If you’ve had a favorite moment from these past ten weeks, let Bria know by sending her an email. And if there’s something you’re hoping for in the next ten, let her know that. Her address is: [email protected]

In this continuation of Bria’s conversation with Sarah Bucy Klingler, they dive deep into the ache and awe of spiritual reformation. They name the loneliness of questioning and talk about the courage it takes to pull theological threads. And they discuss the longing for spaces where doubt isn’t dangerous. Sarah shares how seminary became her sanctuary—a place where she could be her full, questioning self without fear. They explore the tipping point when church stopped feeling safe, the cultural forces behind evangelical certainty, and why deconstruction isn’t a curse but a sacred invitation to re-center on Jesus. This episode is for the spiritually homeless and the ones who feel ghosted. It’s for those who wonder if they’re still welcome at the table—and a reminder that Jesus is always bigger than the boxes we build. Find Sarah on Facebook, Instagram, and Substack at Sarah Bucy Klingler Her website is www.sarahbucy.com You can find her writing in the book Jesus Was Not What We Expected But Better Than We Imagined (click the link) Other books mentioned in the episode: The Blue Parakeet by Scot McKnight and Jesus and John Wayne by Kristin Kobes DuMez

What happens when the roles you were handed—pastor’s kid, missionary kid, “good Christian woman”—start to feel like a costume? In this episode, Sarah Bucy Klingler shares her story of spiritual formation, inherited faith, and the slow, painful realization that her gifts didn’t fit the box she was told to live in. We talk about protective suits, people-pleasing, and the ache of shrinking yourself to survive. We explore the moment when faith starts to feel off, the courage to ask dangerous questions, and the pivotal shift that led Sarah to seminary in search of safety, truth, and Jesus. This is a conversation for the ones in the middle—the ones who are unraveling, questioning, and aching to be fully themselves. You’re not alone. And smallness was never the calling. Find the book Sarah helped write Jesus Was Not What We Expected But Better Than We Imagined here's the link Find Sarah on Facebook @Sarah Bucy Klingler, Instagram @Sarah Bucy Klingler, substack @SarahBucyKlingler, https://www.sarahbucy.com

This one’s short. No deep dive, no theological takedown, no poetic lament. Just a pause—and a question. I’ve been naming hard truths, inviting Jesus into the mess, and watching this little podcast grow into something tender and bold. But before I go further, I want to listen. To you. So today, I’m asking for your help. I made a weird, honest, slightly mischievous survey to find out why you listen, what you long for, and who you wish I could interview. It’s not about branding—it’s about belonging. Click the link. Tell me what’s stirring in you. I’ll be listening, and I can't wait to hear from you. Here's the link to the survey: https://forms.gle/XAdJBuE6wmB26JJQA

What does God’s voice actually sound like—and why have so many of us stopped listening for it? In this episode, Brianna shares raw stories of longing, silence, and quiet nudges that just might be divine. She traces how the American Church traded intimacy for formulas and created a culture of its own, turning discipleship into a checklist and revelation into a rulebook. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing all the “right” things but still can’t hear Him… this one’s for you. It’s not a how-to. It’s a holy invitation to get quiet, get honest, and remember that His sheep know His voice. www.PrayersfromtheMiddle.com

We used to trust certain pastors and Christian leaders of institutions to tell us what we should believe. Now we trust our feeds. In this episode, Bria Wasson explores how curated truth, tribal loyalty, and algorithm-driven discipleship have distorted the voice of Jesus in the American church. From Paul’s warning to Timothy about itching ears to Joseph’s unjust silence in Genesis 39, we trace the cost of listening to the loudest voices instead of the truest ones. If you’ve ever felt like the gospel has been replaced by a pep rally—or wondered whether Jesus still speaks through the noise—this one’s for you.

What if God keeps His promises and makes His name known even when sinful people do crappy things? Today, Bria struggles openly with the idea that maybe God was truly glorified and made Himself known at Charlie Kirk's funeral even though hatred and discord were also spoken from the same stage. She talks about God's pattern of faithfulness to always keep His promises even though the brokenness of sinful people seems like it should screw it up. It's not fun, but it sure seems like it's true, so hang on tight, guys! This one's a doozie.

It's Episode 3, and Bria dips her toe into the tricky waters of Christian Nationalism. She talks about the line between love and idolatry and what happens when we try to make America the Kingdom of God. She's been reading through Genesis and keeps seeing this thing we do where we try to keep God’s promises for Him. Where we step in, take over, and try to control what only He can. And lately, she's been wondering if that’s what we’ve done in the American church. If you’re deconstructing, if you’re exhausted, if you’re trying to find Jesus in all of this—I hope you feel safe here. The three books I mentioned are: Jesus and John Wayne by Kristin Kobes DuMez, The Epic of Eden by Sandra L. Richter and Better Ways to Read the Bible by Zach W. Lambert

In this episode, Brianna steps into the MRI machine—literally and spiritually. She talks about the moment she woke up to the reality of hypocrisy felt like it entered her world. It started with a pair of tiny metal feet. She was twelve. They were the size of a ten-week-old fetus, pinned to a brochure that told her what righteousness looked like. She believed it. She debated it. Because Christians love babies with teeny tiny feet. But 1984 was burning. Clinics bombed. Protesters turned violent. And somewhere between a Civics class debate and the headlines in USA Today, she felt the fracture. People were hurting people in the name of protecting life. And she couldn’t make it make sense. If you’ve ever felt the sting of waking up inside your own convictions, this one’s for you. Through confession, metaphor, and scripture, she invites listeners to scan their own convictions and discover the difference between junk food theology and the nourishing truth of Jesus. This is not a political rant. It’s a spiritual reckoning. jVlj4v3unnbMadvUVo8T

We're finally here! And we're going deep. This episode is for those of us who are still standing in the rubble. Who are questioning, but still praying. Who want truth—not because someone told us what to believe, but because it stands up to Jesus. I’m calling Him my line of truth. And I’m inviting you to come with me.

Welcome to Prayers from the Middle. In this episode that's not an episode, Bria invites you in to the middle where it's tangled up with the junk we woke up to in this mess of everyday America. Somewhere in all of that she is holding on to and looking to follow the real Jesus.