The Formed Life Podcast

Why does Gen Z feel spiritually stuck—even when they love Jesus? In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Virginia Kujabi sits down with Gen Z leader and college student Virginia Boyd to unpack the hidden struggles many young Christians are facing right now—burnout, performance-based faith, and the quiet tension between culture and conviction. This episode goes beyond surface-level Christianity and exposes what’s really holding this generation back from deep intimacy with God. If you’ve ever felt like your faith turned into a checklist… this conversation will wake something up in you. 🔥 In This Episode, We Talk About: Why Gen Z feels spiritually stuck (even in ministry) The danger of asking: “How close can I get to sin?” Performance vs. presence: breaking free from “doing for God” Spiritual rhythms vs. religious checklists Burnout in young Christian leaders Why prayer and worship are essential for real connection with God How older generations can better support and disciple Gen Z The power of authentic community and vulnerability 💡 Key Takeaway: Spiritual formation isn’t about striving—it’s about abiding. When we stop performing for God and start prioritizing relationship, everything changes. 👤 About Our Guest: Virginia Boyd is a Gen Z college student pursuing biblical studies with a heart for nonprofit work and reaching young people with the love of Jesus. Her passion is to help the next generation experience authentic discipleship—not religion. 🙌 Resources & Mentions: Spiritual rhythms: prayer, worship, silence, community, and more Inspired by themes from Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster Connect more on Instagram @vwear and @theformedlife  Find More Spiritual Formation Resources at https://theformedlife.org/home-page 📣 Share the Episode: Know someone who feels stuck in their faith? Send this episode to a friend—or someone from Gen Z who needs to hear they’re not alone. The Formed Life Podcast community is growing thanks to you!  ⭐️ Leave a Review: Thank you for being part of The Formed Life Podcast Community. If this podcast is encouraging your walk with Jesus, would you take a moment to leave a review? It helps more people discover The Formed Life.  THANK YOU!     

Is Gen Z walking away from God… or from a version of Christianity that doesn’t feel real? In this episode of The Formed Life Podcast, Virginia Kujabi is joined by special guest Virginia Boyd—a 20-year-old college student who is actively serving and discipling young people and enjoying her personal spiritual formation journey.  Together, they explore what’s really happening beneath the surface of Gen Z’s faith. This conversation dives into the tension many young adults feel today—caught between social media comparison, anxiety, and a deep longing for authentic relationship with Jesus. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The biggest misconceptions about Gen Z and Christianity Why social media is shaping (and distorting) faith How comparison and loneliness are impacting young believers What authentic spiritual formation looks like in everyday life Why surrender matters more than striving in your relationship with God How to move from head knowledge to real intimacy with Jesus What Gen Z needs from the Church and spiritual leaders Key Themes Gen Z faith • spiritual formation • anxiety and comparison • authentic Christianity • discipleship • surrender • abiding in Christ • mentorship Scripture References John 15 — Abiding in Christ Luke 10:38-42 — Mary and Martha Quote from This Episode “Gen Z doesn’t need a perfect version of Christianity—they need a real encounter with Jesus.” Listen If You’re: A young adult navigating faith in today’s culture A parent, pastor, or leader wanting to understand Gen Z Struggling with comparison, anxiety, or spiritual inconsistency Longing for a deeper, more authentic relationship with God You have a heart for the Kingdom of God and growing across multiple generations  About The Formed Life Podcast The Formed Life equips followers of Jesus to cultivate a life rooted in relationship with the Trinity, spiritual rhythms, and authentic community—so they can be formed more like Jesus. Connect on Instagram @vwear and @theformed life 

Episode 25: Holy Rebellion — Choosing Gratitude in Suffering (Romans 12:1-2) What if the most powerful act of faith in your hardest season… is gratitude? In this deeply personal and Spirit-led episode of The Formed Life Podcast, Virginia unpacks the concept of holy rebellion—a quiet, surrendered defiance against the patterns of the world. When life feels heavy, uncertain, or stretched, the natural response is often control, complaint, or withdrawal. But what if God is inviting you into something radically different? Holy rebellion is choosing: Gratitude over complaining Trust over control Presence over productivity Surrender over striving Rooted in Romans 12:1-2, this episode explores how renewing your mind and aligning with the Holy Spirit leads to deep transformation—not just behavior modification. Virginia vulnerably shares her own journey through a challenging season and how the declaration “it is well with my soul” became her personal act of holy rebellion. This episode will help you: Understand what holy rebellion means from a biblical perspective Learn how to trust God in difficult seasons Practice gratitude even in suffering (without toxic positivity) Renew your mind through spiritual formation rhythms Discern what God is inviting you into right now You’ll also be guided through reflective questions to help you identify your own holy rebellion in this season. Explore more resources:  https://theformedlife.org/home-page Connect on instagram @vwear and @theformedlife 

In this short episode of The Formed Life Podcast, Virginia introduces a simple spiritual formation practice to help followers of Jesus pause, reflect, and reconnect with their story. Through silence, journaling, and honest reflection, this practice helps you notice where you are in your relationship with God and how your story is unfolding within His greater story of redemption. Take a few minutes after this episode to ask God a powerful question: “Lord, what is my red dot right now?”   spiritual formation Christian spiritual practices Christian reflection practice journaling with God how to hear God’s voice spiritual rhythms Christian mindfulness checking in with your soul Christian journaling prompts spiritual growth for Christians relationship with God Christian discipleship practices

What is the secret to bearing fruit in the Christian life? In this episode of The Formed Life Podcast, we explore Jesus’ words in Gospel of John chapter 15, where He reveals the simple but profound invitation to abide. Virginia shares a tender story from motherhood that beautifully illustrates what it means to remain close to Jesus — not as a strategy, but as relationship. Together we unpack: What “abide” (meno) really means in Scripture Why fruit is not the result of striving The role of pruning in spiritual growth What biblical fruit actually is How obedience flows from love, not for love Practical ways to remain in Jesus daily If you’ve felt spiritually tired, stuck in performance Christianity, or hungry for something deeper — this episode is for you. Connect with me on Instagram @vwear | @theformlife Explore more resources at https://theformedlife.org/home-page  

Hey friend, welcome to the final episode of The Formed Life for 2025! I can hardly believe I’m saying that out loud. As we close out this year together, I wanted to sit down with you for a real, honest, heart-wide-open conversation about the sacred unfolding God has walked me through these past twelve months.   This episode is a slow and spacious year-in-review with God—not a hustle checklist, not a productivity recap, but a holy reflection of the ways the Trinity carried, reshaped, and breathed new life into me. I take you back to January at the Significant Life Retreat in Ramona, California, where the Holy Spirit used powerful teaching on naming your season to shift everything for me. For two years, I had been living in a deep spiritual winter season—one marked by rest, isolation, healing, and quiet with Jesus. And for the first time, I saw that winter not as exile, but as God’s loving kindness.   I also share how taking two tiny “bold actions”—organizing my pantry and then my office (yes, really!)—broke long-held false beliefs and set the stage for an epic year of partnership with the Trinity. From launching my first virtual spiritual formation cohort, to releasing this podcast, to building The Formed Life Foundation, to watching God take this show into 10+ countries, this year has truly felt like dancing with the Trinity.   We talk about spiritual formation, Christian mindfulness, naming the season you’re in, embracing God’s pace, taking messy action, and living in the freedom of His love. And I close with one of my favorite prayers in Scripture—Ephesians 3:14–21—as my blessing over you for the coming year. Friend, thank you for being here. You have made 2025 unforgettable.   🌿 Explore more resources & rhythms: https://theformedlife.org/home-page 📸 Connect with me on Instagram: @vwear | @theformedlife

Hey friend—Merry Christmas Eve, and welcome back to The Formed Life Podcast! Today’s episode is one of my favorites of the whole year because it’s simple, sacred, and so close to my heart. This Christmas Eve reflection is all about tradition, story, and the awe-filled wonder of Jesus coming near.   I start by sharing some of the Christmas rhythms that shaped me growing up—like reading ’Twas the Night Before Christmas and the Luke 2 Christmas story, and the Nat King Cole record my parents played every Christmas morning. I talk a bit about how our childhood stories shape our adult traditions, and how my husband, our son, and I are now creating new rhythms of our own as a family.   Then we turn our hearts toward what this night is really about: the incarnation—Jesus, fully God and fully man, born in Bethlehem, the Light of the World. I read the Luke 2 account from the Jesus Storybook Bible, a version I love because it pulls us into the wonder, miracle, and reality of God becoming flesh.   We sit with the shepherds on the hillside, the bright star, the angels singing, and the holy hush of that stable—letting Scripture lead us into worship. And to close our time, I share a Christmas lullaby that has become meaningful to me as a mom—one I sang even when my son was in the NICU.   This episode is meant to be a quiet space for your soul, a moment to step out of the hurry and back into the heart of the Christmas story—the humility, the history, and the hope.   ✨ Your Invitation This Week Let the wonder of Jesus’ birth settle into your soul tonight. Read Luke 2. Light a candle. Sing a song. Remember Emmanuel—God with us.   🌿 Explore more resources & rhythms: https://theformedlife.org/home-page 📸 Connect with me: @vwear | @theformedlife

Hey friends—welcome back to The Formed Life Podcast!If Christmas feels a little loud this year, you’re not alone. We’re told it’s “the most wonderful time of the year,” but for many of us… it’s also the busiest, heaviest, or most tender. In today’s episode, I’m inviting you into a quieter way—into spiritual rhythms that help us slow down, reconnect with God’s heart, and remember the quiet call to service and generosity.   As I share in the episode, the Advent season is meant to stir holy longing, hope, and deep connection But our calendars get crowded with school programs, office parties, travel, and endless to-dos. Before we know it, the very practices that help anchor our souls—service, generosity, presence, compassion—get pushed out by noise.   So today, we explore two spiritual rhythms that often feel natural at Christmas but are easily swallowed up by the cultural hustle: Service — the kind that simply asks, “Holy Spirit, who needs love right now?” Maybe it’s a widow, a single parent, a friend walking through grief, a family facing illness, or someone spending their first holiday alone Generosity — not the stressed, cultural version of gift-giving, but the Jesus-shaped kind that flows from gratitude and aligns our hearts with the Father’s own cheerful generosity.   We talk about practical ways to pause, pray, and ask the Spirit to spotlight someone to reach out to. And we dig into why generosity forms us—why giving, even in small ways, draws us back into the unhurried heart of God. If you’re longing for a Christmas that feels more like worship than whirlwind, this episode will gently reorient you.   ✨ Your Invitation This Week Pause after the episode. Pray. Ask the Holy Spirit: Who can I serve? Where can I practice generosity? Even one person. One act. One moment of presence.   🌿 Explore more resources & rhythms: https://theformedlife.org/home-page 📸 Connect with me: @vwear | @theformedlife

Hey friend—welcome back to The Formed Life Podcast! Today I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing the story behind The Formed Life Foundation—the heartbeat, the journey, and the holy unraveling that God used to move me from striving to true formation.   In this episode, I walk you through a very real and vulnerable part of my faith story—those early years marked by performance-driven discipleship, “formula Christianity,” and the belief that if I did everything “right,” God had to give me the life I imagined. Maybe you’ve been there too.   I share about that season in my late twenties when my life felt nothing like the plans I had prayed for. It was here that the Holy Spirit gently exposed my misplaced expectations, my entitlement, and my striving, and invited me into Jesus’ words in Matthew 11: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me… and learn the unforced rhythms of grace.”   This episode traces how God led me into a theology of suffering, an experience of Emmanuel, and a relationship shaped by intimacy—not performance. It’s a story of moving from formulas to formation, from checking boxes to being transformed in the presence of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.   I also share how this personal journey—and years of leading spiritual formation groups—shaped the creation of The Formed Life Foundation, a digital on-ramp for Christians who feel stuck, overwhelmed, disappointed, or hungry for deeper connection with God. Inside this course are spiritual rhythms, practices, reflection prompts, Scripture meditations, and an invitation to walk the narrow road with the Trinity.   ✨ Your Invitation This Week If you feel spiritually stuck or weary from striving, pause and ask: What foundation am I standing on? Am I performing… or being formed? Explore The Formed Life Foundation through the link in the show notes.   🌿 Explore more resources & rhythms:  https://theformedlife.org/home-page 📸 Connect with me on Instagram: @vwear | @theformedlife

Hey friends—welcome back to The Formed Life Podcast! Today’s conversation is one that will meet you right where you are, especially if you’re feeling tired, stretched thin, or longing for a little more peace, presence, and spiritual grounding in your home. I’m joined by my dear friend Tricia Sherlin, the hands and heart behind Willow Oak Roots.   Tricia is a former special educator and mental health therapist turned adoring wife, subpar homemaker (her words, not mine!), and homeschooling mama. She creates thoughtful resources for spiritual formation, family discipleship, and intentional faith practices, helping bone-tired, spiritually hungry moms slow down and reconnect with God through simple rhythms and ancient traditions.   In this episode, we dive deep into Advent, talking about how this season invites us to wait, watch, and prepare our hearts for Jesus—not with hustle or pressure, but with holy stillness. Tricia shares how she cultivates rhythms of peace in her home, how to practice presence in a noisy world, and why creating spiritual habits with our kids shapes not only their faith but our own.   We explore what it looks like to build holy rhythms at home—rituals that form us slowly, gently, deeply. Tricia offers practical ideas for families, creative Advent traditions, and encouragement for moms who want to lead their families spiritually but feel overwhelmed.   If you’ve been looking for ways to make your home a place of rest, worship, and connection, this episode will give you hope and soul-breathing space.   ✨ Your Invitation This Week Choose one simple Advent rhythm to practice with your family. Slow down. Light a candle. Read a Scripture. Pray together. Let peace take root.   📘 Resources: Family Advent Guide + PRAYERS in Advent: Lectio Divina Prayer Journal 🌿 Connect with Tricia: @willow.oak.roots | https://payhip.com/WillowOakRoots 🌿 Explore more resources & rhythms:  https://theformedlife.org/home-page 📸 Connect with me: @vwear | @theformedlife

Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® (NIV). Copyright © 1984, by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.   Hey friend—welcome back to The Formed Life Podcast. Today’s episode is a little different, and honestly, one of my favorites. Instead of a conversation or teaching, I’m inviting you to simply slow down, breathe, and let the Word of God wash over your soul as I read Psalm 100, Psalm 103, and Psalm 118.   As we continue reflecting on the theme of gratitude this month, these psalms remind us of who God is—His goodness, His mercy, His compassion, His unfailing love, and His enduring faithfulness through every generation. These passages are some of the richest in Scripture when it comes to worship, thanksgiving, and remembering God’s benefits.   In this episode, I read through each psalm slowly and prayerfully, giving you space to let the truth settle in your heart. Psalm 100 calls us into joyful worship and thanksgiving. Psalm 103 invites us to remember the deep healing, forgiveness, and compassion God offers us. And Psalm 118 reminds us of God’s steadfast love, His salvation, His presence in trouble, and the victory He brings.   These aren’t just words—they’re spiritual formation rhythms, anchoring us in praise, gratitude, and trust. If you’ve been feeling rushed, overwhelmed, or spiritually dry, my prayer is that this Scripture reading becomes a moment of rest and reorientation.   ✨ Your Invitation This Week Let these psalms shape your gratitude. Listen slowly. Pray them. Speak them. Return to them. Let Scripture form the way you see God—and the way you see your life.   🌿 Explore more resources & rhythms:  https://theformedlife.org/home-page 📸 Connect with me: @vwear | @theformedlife

Hey friend—welcome back to The Formed Life Podcast! Today’s episode is a little different—it’s part celebration, part reflection, and all about a spiritual rhythm that has truly shaped my life: gratitude.   We’re four months into this podcast journey, and can I just say… I’m overwhelmed in the best way. When The Formed Life launched, I never imagined it would reach listeners across the globe—and yet, here we are, now being heard in 10 countries! The U.S., the Philippines, Canada, the Cayman Islands, Australia, Singapore, the U.K., Pakistan, Belgium, and The Gambia. What a beautiful picture of God’s kingdom at work across the world.   So first—thank you. Thank you for listening, for sharing, for inviting me into your homes, cars, and morning walks. This episode is my heartfelt “thank you” and a reflection on how gratitude transforms our souls. We explore how gratitude is more than a feeling—it’s a practice. You don’t have to wait until you feel thankful to give thanks. You can start right where you are: writing it, saying it, or sharing it with someone else. Gratitude shifts our focus, opens our spiritual eyes, and helps us recognize God’s fingerprints in every season.   I share a few creative ways to practice gratitude—in conversations, at the dinner table, in community, or even before a big work presentation (yes, I’ve done that!). And as we approach Thanksgiving and the Advent season, I reflect on how gratitude prepares our hearts to receive Jesus afresh.   ✨ Your Invitation This Week Practice gratitude today—write it, say it, share it. Let it shape your soul and open your eyes to God’s goodness. 📸 Connect with me: @vwear | @theformedlife

Hey, friend — can we just take a deep breath together? Before the rush, the shopping lists, the travel plans, and the pressure to make everything perfect… let’s pause. In this episode, I’m talking about something near and dear to my heart — the sacred invitation of Advent.   I share a personal story about how my early years of marriage, motherhood, and even hospital stays reshaped the way I approach Christmas. Somewhere between the chaos and the beauty, I discovered that Advent isn’t just a countdown to Christmas — it’s a call to slow down, to wait well, and to make room for Jesus.   We’ll explore: ✨ What Advent truly means — the dual invitation to remember Christ’s first coming and long for His return. ✨ How our hearts are formed in the waiting through hope, repentance, joy, and peace. ✨ Simple, practical ways to prepare early — not for the sake of doing more, but to free up December for what matters most: presence over perfection. ✨ Why slowing down and creating space can actually deepen our experience of God’s love this season. Whether your tree goes up in November or Christmas Eve, my prayer is that Advent becomes the heartbeat behind all your holiday rhythms — shaping you into a person who resists hurry and embraces holy anticipation.   Let’s make this Christmas different. Let’s prepare Him room. If today’s episode encouraged you, share it with a friend who needs to be reminded that slowing down isn’t falling behind — it’s sacred. Subscribe to The Formed Life for more reflections, and let’s walk through this Advent season together. 🌿   📸 Follow along: @vwear | @theformedlife

🎙️ Episode 14: Echoes of Insight: The Transforming Power of Reflection   There I was, sitting on a flight home after a weekend of speaking, ministry, and deep connection. It was one of those experiences where God moved so clearly and beautifully — truly immeasurably more than I could have asked or imagined. But as I was heading home, I could feel there was something I needed to process… something I didn’t want to rush past.   In this episode, I share how God invited me into a moment of reflection — not just thinking about what happened, but looking with Him at where He was present, what He was forming, and how He was shaping my heart.   We explore: Why reflection is not optional for the spiritual life — it is formational. The difference between replaying events and inviting God to give insight. How slowing down helps us notice God’s love, our growth, and our opportunities to be shaped. Why our culture resists stillness — and why our souls crave it. Biblical invitations to remember, ponder, consider, and call to mind what God has done.   I walk through the exact reflection questions God gave me on that airplane (and they’re yours now, too): What happened? Where did I experience God’s love? Where did I love others? What was hard or where did I struggle? What is beneath that? What do I take with me? (Think differently / repent / take action.) What is still stirring in my soul?   If you want to explore this practice more, I recommend looking into the Ignatian Examen: https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen/the-examen-video/ Reflection is not about perfection — it’s about presence. It’s how we notice the God who is already near.   If this episode encouraged you, share it! And go check out Virginia on Instagram @vwear, find her podcast The Formed Life on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, and grab her book: In Everything Give Thanks → https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Give-Thanks-Transformational-Gratitude/dp/B086Y6J4KG 🎉

Hey friends, welcome back to The Formed Life Podcast! Today we’re continuing a beautiful and honest conversation with my dear friend Katie Hoover—someone I’ve known since our freshman year at Evangel University. Katie is a godly mom, spiritual director, licensed therapist, and serves as the Kids Ministry Director at New Life Church East in Colorado. She’s wise, grounded, and has such a gentle way of inviting us into deeper reflection and healing.   In this part two conversation, we dive into the healing work we can’t skip—that sacred intersection where story, therapy, and spiritual formation meet. Katie and I talk about how unhealed pain can quietly shape our view of God, ourselves, and others—and how the Spirit often leads us back to those tender places, not to shame us, but to bring wholeness.   We unpack how healing is not a quick fix or checklist, but a lifelong rhythm of honesty, courage, and grace. Katie shares insights from her work as a therapist and spiritual director—reminding us that tending to our stories is actually spiritual work. God is present in the remembering, in the naming, and in the gentle re-storying of our lives.   If you’ve ever wondered how therapy and spiritual formation intersect, or if you’re walking through a season of deep healing, this conversation will meet you with empathy and hope.   ✨ Your Invitation This Week Take time this week to reflect: What part of your story might God be inviting you to revisit—with kindness, not condemnation? 📩 Connect with Katie on Substack: katiehoover.substack.com  📸 Follow along: @hoover.katie 📸 Follow along: @vwear | @theformedlife

Hey friends, welcome back to The Formed Life Podcast! Today’s episode is extra special because I get to sit down with one of my dearest friends—someone I’ve known since our freshman year at Evangel University—Katie Hoover. Katie is a godly mom, spiritual director, licensed therapist, and serves as the Kids Ministry Director at New Life Church East in Colorado. She’s one of those people who radiates wisdom, warmth, and grace—and this conversation is such a gift.   In this first part of our two-part conversation, Katie and I talk about what happens when grace interrupts your life—how God meets us in unexpected seasons, gently reorders our priorities, and leads us back to intimacy with Him. Katie shares candidly about her own journey of formation—the beauty and the breaking—and how the Lord used those interruptions to shape her heart in ways she never could’ve orchestrated on her own.   We talk about motherhood, ministry, therapy, and the art of slowing down enough to notice God’s kindness in the middle of real life. There’s laughter, honesty, and a deep sense of God’s presence woven through every moment of this conversation.   If you’ve ever found yourself in a season that didn’t go according to plan—this episode is a gentle reminder that sometimes grace looks like interruption. And when it does, it’s always an invitation to deeper formation.   ✨ Your Invitation This Week Pause and ask: How might grace be interrupting my life right now? What might God be forming in me through it?   📩 Connect with Katie on Substack: katiehoover.substack.com 📸 Follow along: @vwear | @theformedlife

Hey friend—welcome back to The Formed Life Podcast! I’m so glad you’re here today. In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most freeing and foundational truths in the life of a Jesus follower: you don’t have to do it all on your own.   We talk about how spiritual formation isn’t about striving harder, performing better, or perfecting every discipline—it’s about surrender. Real transformation happens when we stop trying to become more like Jesus in our own strength and begin to rely on the Holy Spirit, who actually does the forming work in us.   I share how this truth has reshaped my walk with God—how I’ve moved from exhaustion and striving to resting in partnership with the Spirit. We unpack the beautiful reality that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us, empowering us to love, forgive, and live in freedom.   Throughout the conversation, I walk through what it means to cooperate with the Spirit instead of controlling outcomes—how formation happens not through force, but through friendship. This isn’t about passivity; it’s about learning to move with the Spirit’s rhythm and trusting Him to do what we can’t.   So if you’ve been trying to hold it all together, striving to be “enough,” this episode is your reminder: you were never meant to do it alone. The Spirit is already at work in you, bringing life where you’ve been weary.   ✨ Your Invitation This Week Pause and ask: “Holy Spirit, what are You forming in me today?” Let go of striving—and rest in the One who’s already doing the work. 📸 Let’s connect: @vwear | @theformedlife

Hey friend, welcome back to The Formed Life Podcast! I’m so glad you’re here today. This episode is a tender one because I’m talking about something that I live every single day: parenting beyond my limits.   Parenting is one of the greatest joys of my life, but also one of the most humbling journeys I’ve ever walked. And maybe you feel this too—those moments where you’ve come to the end of yourself and realize, I can’t do this on my own. In this episode, I share about those very moments and how God has been teaching me that parenting isn’t about doing it perfectly, it’s about partnering with the Holy Spirit.   We talk about what it looks like to invite God into the daily rhythms of parenting—into the mess, the joy, the exhaustion, and the wonder. I reflect on personal stories (including a sweet adoption celebration that reminded me of God’s faithfulness), and I unpack how the Spirit equips us when we feel unqualified or overwhelmed.   Instead of chasing the impossible standard of being the “perfect parent,” I explore how spiritual practices like prayer, gratitude, and community create space for us to lean into God’s strength. Parenting becomes less about striving and more about surrender—trusting that the same God who parents us with love and patience is present as we parent our own children.   So whether you’re raising toddlers, teenagers, or praying for your adult kids—this episode is an encouragement to breathe deep and remember: you’re not doing this alone.   ✨ Your Invitation This Week Spend a few minutes reflecting: where in your parenting do you need to stop striving and invite the Spirit to lead?   📸 Let’s stay connected: @vwear | @theformedlife

Hey friend—welcome back to The Formed Life Podcast! I’m so glad you’re here. This episode is one of those heart-to-heart conversations where I share from my own journey of formation and wrestle a bit with something I think many of us struggle with: the temptation to treat spiritual practices like a checklist.   You know what I mean—reading your Bible? ✔️ Prayer? ✔️ Fasting? ✔️ Serving? ✔️ All the “right” things, but sometimes we find ourselves still feeling distant from God. In this episode, I unpack why intimacy with God will always be more important than the checklist.   I share personally about how God has been inviting me into deeper trust and connection—moving from performance into presence. We explore how spiritual disciplines are not the goal in themselves but rather sacred pathways that lead us to God. They’re not about earning favor, they’re about cultivating relationship.   I also talk about the classic book Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster, which has been such a gift in helping me frame these rhythms not as tasks but as invitations. When we approach practices like prayer, study, or fasting as ways to be with God, they transform us from the inside out.   So if you’ve been feeling weighed down or guilty about not “doing enough,” this episode is your gentle reminder: Jesus wants your heart, not your performance.   ✨ Your Invitation This Week Spend time in reflection today. Are you checking off boxes? Or are your spiritual practices pointing you to connection with God? 📘 Resource Mentioned: Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster 📸 Follow along: @vwear | @theformedlife

Episode 7: Church Without the Playbook – Planting during the Pandemic, Pivoting, and Practicing Community with Jake & Michele Smith   Friends, today’s episode is such a gift. I got to sit down in person (yes, in their living room!) with my dear friends Jake and Michele Smith to talk about what it’s really like to plant a church in the middle of a global pandemic. No playbook. No roadmap. Just a whole lot of trust in Jesus and a deep love for people.   We go back to our Evangel University days, so this conversation is personal and joy-filled. Jake and Michele share how they followed God’s call to plant a church in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and what it looked like to pivot creatively when the pandemic flipped everything upside down. From online services to reimagining rhythms of gathering, they open up about the challenges, surprises, and the unexpected ways God showed up.   But more than logistics, this episode is about community and spiritual formation. We dive into how true discipleship happens when people practice presence, vulnerability, and hospitality with each other. Michele reflects beautifully on how the church is not about programs but about people who are learning to be formed into the likeness of Christ together.   And of course, you’ll hear some laughter along the way—because if you know Jake, you know humor is part of the package! This conversation will encourage you, especially if you’ve ever wondered what it means to stay faithful to God’s call when circumstances are uncertain.   🌿 About Jake & Michele Smith Jake and Michele have been faithfully serving in ministry for decades, pouring into communities with wisdom, joy, and authenticity. They live in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where they planted a church rooted in presence, formation, and community.   ✨ Your Invitation This Week Subscribe to The Formed Life Podcast and share this episode with a friend who needs encouragement to keep walking faithfully. 🌐Please visit the website: www.bluffs.church 📸 Connect with me on Instagram: @vwear

Friends, this episode is one you don’t want to miss! I had the absolute joy of sitting down with my dear friend, Justine Nielsen, to talk about what it really means to live a formed life—one where soul, story, and even success are woven together by God’s grace.   Justine’s story is full of depth and beauty. She shares about her journey in spiritual formation—how learning to be present with God has shaped her into a woman marked by love, hospitality, and deep faith. We also talk about the power of story work—how facing our stories with honesty and compassion can actually lead us into freedom and healing. It’s vulnerable, rich, and so needed in today’s world.   And then there’s her unexpected journey into real estate. Yes, you heard that right! From decades of ministry and mentoring to becoming one of the most successful agents in Central Florida, Justine reflects on how God has used her gifts of hospitality, celebration, and creativity in surprising ways. She reminds us that success isn’t just about numbers or accolades—it’s about helping people find home, both physically and spiritually.   Our conversation is tender and inspiring—it’s about being formed in the hidden places, walking with Jesus through every season, and trusting Him to weave even our careers and callings into His bigger story.   🌿 Meet Justine Nielsen Justine has been building a life marked by love, faith, and hospitality. Married to her husband Glen for 30 years and mother of five, she’s invested her life in people through ministry, mentoring, and now real estate. She lives in Orlando, FL, where she celebrates spaces, milestones, and souls with wisdom and joy.   ✨ Let’s Stay Connected Subscribe to The Formed Life Podcast and share this episode with a friend who needs encouragement today. 📸 Instagram: @vwear

Welcome to The Formed Life Podcast. I’m Virginia Wear Kujabi—and today’s episode is a deeply personal and joy-filled conversation with someone who has walked the road of faith for decades: Dr. Bubba Greer.   Bubba has been a friend, mentor, and spiritual father figure in my life. In this episode, we talk about long-haul discipleship, walking with God through every season, and the gift of friendship that stands the test of time. His story is one marked by devotion, legacy, and grace—from serving in the Air Force as a physician, to decades in medicine, to now encouraging others in their walk with Jesus.   We talk about spiritual rhythms, retirement with purpose, and the sacredness of friendship formed through mutual knowing and shared faith.   This episode will bless your soul—and I pray it reminds you that transformation is lifelong, and community matters deeply on the journey.   🕊 Meet Dr. Bubba Greer Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Dr. Greer is a retired USAF Colonel and physician with 21 years of active service. Married to his beloved Peggy for over 57 years, they have three children and seven grandchildren. A man of wisdom, warmth, and wit—his life reflects a deep and lasting faith formed over time. His passions? Faith, family, friends, food, and football. (Geaux Tigers!)   📚 Resource Mentioned Experience Jesus: Discover the Real Presence of Christ by John Eldredge Get the book here   🌿 This Week’s Invitation Reach out to a friend who knows your journey—and you know theirs. Make the extra effort to nourish that connection. Share this episode with them, and celebrate the goodness of long-term friendship.   ✨ Subscribe to The Formed Life Podcast and help others find this sacred space for deeper spiritual formation. 📸 Follow along on Instagram: @vwear

Welcome back to The Formed Life Podcast. I’m Virginia Wear Kujabi—and in today’s episode, we’re slowing down to talk about one of the most countercultural and life-giving practices in the life of faith: silence. If your soul has felt noisy lately… if your pace has felt rushed… if you’ve been longing to actually hear the still, small voice of God—this episode is for you. In this tender teaching, I share stories from my own formation journey and invite you to consider what it means to create intentional space for God to speak. We’ll talk about what silence is (and isn’t), how it forms us, and why the gentle whisper is often where the real transformation begins. This isn’t about escaping your real life—it’s about learning to encounter God right in the middle of it.   🕊 Resources Mentioned: 📘 Invitation to Solitude and Silence by Ruth Haley Barton – Find it here   🌿 Spiritual Practice for the Week: Set aside time to practice silence—no pressure, no perfection. Just be still. Let yourself be known. And afterward? Journal about what stirred in you.   ✨ Subscribe to The Formed Life Podcast and share this episode with someone who’s hungry for a deeper rhythm of grace. 📸 Let’s stay connected on Instagram: @vwear

Befriending God with Tayna Godsey Part 2 (Episode 3)   Welcome back to The Formed Life Podcast. I’m Virginia Wear Kujabi—and you’re joining us for Part 2 of a deep and holy conversation with my friend Tanya Godsey.   In this episode, we continue unpacking Tanya’s beautiful book, Befriending God, and lean into the rhythms and practices that draw us closer to the heart of the Father. We talk honestly about silence and solitude, spiritual formation through story, and what it means to let God meet us in our emotional honesty—without shame or performance.   Tanya shares her own journey, wisdom from spiritual direction, and offers gentle insight into how we can befriend God in our ordinary lives. There’s a richness here—like sitting down with a friend who reminds you that you’re deeply seen and deeply loved.   If your soul has been craving a deeper connection with God—especially in the quiet and hidden places—this conversation will minister to you. So settle in, take a breath, and join us as we explore how to be with God, not just do for Him.   🕊 Guest Info – Tanya Godsey Tanya is a worship artist, speaker, spiritual director, and founder of Redeeming The Story, a nonprofit focused on spiritual renewal. She’s the host of The Unforced Gifts Podcast and the voice behind four beautiful worship albums that stir hearts toward God’s presence.   📘 Order her book Befriending God: Click here 📱 Follow Tanya on Instagram: @taynagodsey   ✨ Subscribe to The Formed Life Podcast and share this episode with a friend who longs for deeper relationship with God. 📸 Follow me on Instagram: @vwear

Hey friend, welcome back to The Formed Life Podcast. I’m your host, Virginia Wear Kujabi—and today, we’re stepping into a truly soul-stirring conversation.   This episode is tender, sacred, and full of holy invitation. I’m joined by the beautiful Tanya Godsey—an artist, worship leader, speaker, spiritual director, and founder of Redeeming The Story. Tanya’s wisdom and intimacy with God run deep, and her new book, Befriending God, invites us into the kind of relationship with the Lord that is real, honest, and deeply restorative.   In this Part 1 conversation, Tanya and I talk about what it actually looks like to walk in friendship with God—beyond performance, beyond pretense. We explore grief, legacy, and the gentle ways God forms us through both beauty and brokenness.   This episode is also lovingly dedicated to my dear friend Jennifer Abeg Grant, who is now with Jesus. Her life embodied a deep, authentic love for God, and I know she would have loved this conversation.   So slow down with me. Light a candle or take this with you on a walk. Let your soul breathe. You’re not just invited to do for God—you’re invited to be with Him.   🕊 Guest Info – Tanya Godsey Tanya is the founder of Redeeming The Story, a nonprofit dedicated to spiritual renewal. She’s also the host of The Unforced Gifts Podcast and the voice behind four albums that usher listeners into God's presence. 📘 Grab her beautiful new book Befriending God: Order here 📱 Follow Tanya on Instagram: @taynagodsey   ✨ Subscribe to The Formed Life Podcast and share this episode with a friend who’s longing for deeper connection with God. 📸 Follow me on Instagram: @vwear

Hey friend, I’m so glad you’re here.   I’m Virginia Wear Kujabi— speaker, author, spiritual director, Biblical teacher and fellow traveler on the narrow road. And this is The Formed Life Podcast.   In this very pilot episode, I’m opening up about the heart behind this space and sharing parts of my own journey that led to launching The Formed Life. This isn’t just another Christian podcast—it’s an invitation into unforced rhythms of grace, a slower pace, and a deeper way of relating with the Trinity.   If you’re feeling spiritually weary, burned out, or simply hungry for more in your relationship with God… you’re in the right place. Together, we’ll explore what it means to become more like Jesus—not through striving, but through sacred rhythms, spiritual intimacy, and a posture of gratitude.   ✨ Whether you’re folding laundry, walking, driving to work, or sitting with your journal and coffee—I pray this first episode meets you where you are and gently reminds you: You’re being formed, even in the quiet, hidden places.   Subscribe to The Formed Life Podcast and share it with a friend. Let’s grow together.   🕊 Follow me on Instagram: @vwear

Welcome to The Formed Life Trailer  I’m Virginia—spiritual director, speaker, and fellow journeyer in this life of faith—and I’m so glad you’re here. The Formed Life Podcast is for followers of Jesus who are tired of surface-level faith and long for something deeper. If you’ve ever felt stuck in performative Christianity, worn out from striving, or simply hungry for more of God… you’re not alone. This space was made with you in mind. In this short trailer episode, I’m sharing a glimpse of what’s to come: soul-stirring conversations, practical spiritual rhythms, and stories that gently remind us—we’re being formed, even when no one sees. Because spiritual formation isn’t about doing more. It’s about becoming more like Jesus, from the inside out. If your soul has been craving unhurried depth, sacred connection, and a fresh rhythm of grace… you’re in the right place. ✨ Subscribe to The Formed Life Podcast and share it with a friend who’s on this journey too. Let’s grow together. Follow along on Instagram: @vwear