Anchor yourself in God’s presence — not your pace.

“You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you.” (Isaiah 26:3, CSB)

There’s something about this time of year that can feel like you’re caught in a raging current. Spring bursts onto the scene. The calendar fills in. The pace picks up. And before you realize it, life starts moving faster than your heart can keep up. The quiet moments disappear. The pressure builds. And even the things that used to feel life-giving — like prayer, Scripture, worship — can start to feel out of reach.

But because of your generosity, women all over the world are finding their way back.

She might be a mom sitting in her car after school drop-off, gripping the steering wheel and trying not to cry before the next thing begins. She might be lying awake at 2 a.m., replaying the same fears on a loop. She might be carrying grief no one sees, anxiety she can’t explain, or a heaviness that makes even simple days feel exhausting.

She wants to draw close to God. She really does. But when she tries to pray, her mind goes blank. The words won’t come. She doesn’t know what to say — and she’s afraid that means something is wrong with her faith.

She might just need a reminder that she isn’t failing … she’s just weary.

And your faithful support helps remind her of that truth right when she needs it most — in every Encouragement for Today devotion, every Therapy & Theology podcast episode, every First 5 study guide that points her back to Scripture. Not with shallow encouragement. Not with quick fixes. But with the steady, unchanging Truth of God’s Word.

One moment at a time, she’s remembering what’s still true: God is near. God is steady. And His presence can calm what life has made chaotic. That’s what this quarter is all about.

Together, we’re helping women steady their hearts — not by adding more pressure or telling them to try harder but by inviting them to anchor themselves in God’s presence, not their pace. Because here’s what we’ve seen again and again: When a woman gets rooted in Scripture, she’s building her life on something that won’t shift. Even when the diagnosis comes. Even when the marriage feels fragile. Even when the fear won’t loosen its grip.

This is what your generosity is making possible.

All over the world, women are finding the words to pray again. Racing thoughts are being quieted by Scripture. And weary hearts are realizing something powerful: They don’t have to hold everything together — because God is holding them.

And He’s holding on to you too.

Rachel’s Story

You might recognize Rachel’s story — because in some way, it’s probably been yours too.

It was a typical Thursday night, and she was lying in bed exhausted, staring at the ceiling while her mind raced through everything waiting for her tomorrow. The house was quiet. The day was done. But her thoughts wouldn’t stop spinning. She replayed conversations. Worried about her kids. Felt the weight of responsibilities pressing in.

And then it hit her.

She hadn’t prayed … not really … in days.

“I used to know how to talk to God,” she admitted to a friend the next afternoon. “But now I feel like I’m bad at it. Like my mind is so loud, I can’t even find the words to begin.”

Her friend sent her a link to an episode of The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast on YouTube.

“Just check this out,” she said. “It’s called 'Watch This if You Feel Bad at Praying.' I think it’ll help.”

Rachel almost didn’t click play. She didn’t need another spiritual pep talk. And honestly, the title felt a little too accurate.

But later that evening, while folding laundry, she opened the video.

The first few minutes stopped her in her tracks.

Kaley Olson sat down with a few friends for an honest conversation about prayer — not the polished kind but the everyday kind. The kind that includes fears, worries, awkward moments, and whispered pleas for help. They opened their Bibles, shared real stories, and reminded listeners that prayer doesn’t have to sound perfect to be powerful.

That’s me, Rachel thought. She had been treating prayer like something she was failing at … instead of something she was invited into.

For the first time in weeks, Rachel felt her shoulders relax. The episode didn’t shame her for feeling stuck — it met her there. It reminded her that prayer isn’t a performance. It’s a conversation with a God who already knows what we’re carrying.

And then someone said something that stayed with her long after the video ended:

“Prayer might not be as complicated as we make it.”

A few months later, Rachel’s life looks different. Not perfect but steadier. She still has full days. She still gets overwhelmed sometimes. But now she knows where to go when anxiety starts creeping in. She goes back to the Word. She prays honest prayers. And every single time, God meets her there.

“I used to think peace would come when life slowed down, but now I know peace comes when I anchor myself in God’s presence.”

— Rachel, The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast Listener

Come Close to Jesus: What to Pray When You Need the Lord to Still Your Thoughts, Calm Your Heart, and Guide Your Way

For so many women, prayer is the first thing to slip when life gets overwhelming.

Not because they don’t love God.
Not because they don’t want to draw close.

But because their thoughts are racing, their emotions are heavy, and the words won’t come.

They sit down with the best intentions … and feel stuck.

That’s why Lysa TerKeurst wrote her brand-new prayer book, Come Close to Jesus — a Scripture-rich resource created for the woman who wants to pray but doesn’t know where to begin. The woman who feels anxious. The woman who feels distracted. The woman who’s carrying more than she can explain.

Inside these pages, women are finding what their hearts have been longing for:

• Scripture-shaped prayers for real-life struggle.

• Biblical Truth to calm anxious thoughts.

• Encouragement to draw near to God — even when life feels messy.

• A steady reminder that God is present and He is enough.

This book isn’t about “saying the right thing.”

It’s about helping women return to the One who steadies their hearts.

And because of your generosity, women around the world are receiving this kind of help right when they need it most — not as a quick fix but as a firm foundation.

When a woman opens Come Close to Jesus, she’s not just reading words on a page.

She’s discovering that God meets her in the middle of her overwhelming life.

He stills her thoughts with Scripture.
He calms her heart with His presence.
And He guides her one prayer at a time.

This is what your partnership makes possible.

Quiet moments are becoming holy ones. And women who felt too overwhelmed to pray are finding the words again — through the unchanging Truth of God’s Word.

Your Impact in Action

Because of your “yes,” women everywhere are encountering the steadying Truth of God’s Word.

Meet Angel

Calling is what compelled me to attend She Speaks. Community is what connected me to new friends and mentors. Experts in their craft captivated me and brought clarity. And the Christ-centered focus confirmed my conviction to conquer fear and create messages of hope.

I flew to Charlotte on July 23, 2025 — my 56th birthday (yes, I’m just two days younger than Lysa TerKeurst!). I came alone, with a sense of wonder about what God had in store for me that weekend. From the instant connections I made on the shuttle to the hotel, to meeting women in line at check-in, to sharing meals with precious friends on the same journey of obedience to the Lord’s call — the impact was deep and long-lasting.

But the moment that changed everything for me came during the closing session.

I listened as the speaker challenged us to respond as Mary did: with brave obedience and full surrender. It was the perfect message to close out the weekend — and I wish I could tell you I felt strong and ready in that moment.

But I didn’t.

I was tired — physically and mentally. And I could feel the weight of my swirling thoughts bubbling up, as if the enemy was targeting me directly. What hit me was the overwhelming sense that it would just be easier to go home, live out my retirement years hanging out with my hubby and puppy, and call it a day.

No putting myself out there.
No rejection.
No struggle.

And in that moment, I had an encounter with the Lord.

I felt Him lovingly convict and correct me:
Angel, your delayed obedience is disobedience.

Instantly, I knew He was right. And I knew He didn’t call me to live an easy life. He asked me to live a yielded one.

In that moment, my mind and heart shifted. I left She Speaks with renewed hope and a courageous determination to follow Jesus — not because fear disappeared but because God reminded me that obedience is worth it.

That weekend didn’t just encourage me. It changed me.

And it reminded me of something I’ll never forget: When women gather in a space centered on God’s Word, He still moves. He still speaks. He still restores. And He still calls us forward.

That’s why I give to Proverbs 31 Ministries — because I’ve seen firsthand what the Lord can do when women show up, open their hearts, and let Him write the next chapter.

Love and hugs,
Angel

Dear friend,

Have you ever had one of those late night, come-to-Jesus moments where the weight of the day lays heavy across your chest? Maybe you blew up at a loved one, brushed past a moment of connection with a person God put in your path, cried over a hard situation, or just rushed from one thing to the next without stopping to connect with the Lord. Let me be the first to say … I have been there. 

And when your stress is high, thoughts are spiraling, and emotions are tangled, it’s easy to feel like you’re barely surviving. Nothing truly seems steady. 

That’s why I’m so grateful for what God is doing through Proverbs 31 Ministries right now. Because women everywhere are looking for something solid to hold on to — and God’s Word is still the firm foundation it has always been.

And, thanks to you, she’s receiving the solid, biblical resources she so desperately needs to get through another day. 

She’s opening a devotion on a hard morning and realizing she’s not alone. She’s listening to a Therapy & Theology episode and finally has practical tools to help her with what she’s carrying. She’s showing up to Bible study with questions, doubts, and tears … and discovering that God is not afraid of any of it.

Friend, I wish you could see what I get to see — the messages from women who say, “This is exactly what I needed.” The stories of hearts being healed, faith being rebuilt, and hope being restored.

Thank you for being part of that.

Your generosity makes it possible for one more woman to come close to Jesus, open His Word, and remember that even when life feels shaky … He is still steady.

With so much gratitude,
Lysa TerKeurst

President and Chief Visionary Officer
Proverbs 31 Ministries