The Story Behind: Steady My Heart, Ground My Soul

Not long after my sister passed away, I found myself driving to a coffee shop in the middle of nowhere. I can’t quite remember what prompted it, but I knew I needed space to meet with Jesus and to step outside the heaviness of my normal surroundings.

I had visited the shop once before with a friend who was out of town, and something about returning there felt right. Familiar, but not too familiar. It was almost like a blank page.

I spent some time journaling, maybe read a scripture or two, and then I pulled out my iPad. Before I knew it, I was writing down prayers and promises - simple truths that my soul desperately needed to hear. Phrases like, "Bring Him all the praise you know," and, "Even if not, He is still good." They weren’t polished or even profound. But they were honest. And they were enough.

As I kept writing, a phrase came to me that felt different than the rest: "Steady my heart, ground my soul."

It stopped me. It felt like something deep inside had finally been named. That small prayer unlocked a sense of calm, clarity, and hope.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but something meaningful was happening. I thought I was just trying to get through the day, to find some footing in the middle of grief. But God was gently guiding me into healing through creativity, through words, and through prayer.

That moment sparked what I now see as my creative fingerprint. For the first time, drawing, writing, and creating didn’t feel like something I needed to get right. There was no pressure. There wasn’t a standard to achieve or a grade I was aiming for. It was just a place for my grief and prayers to land.

It wasn’t beautiful because it was perfect. It was beautiful because it was true.

And that truth led me closer to Jesus.

That space (both physical and spiritual) changed me. I don’t think my life would look the same today if I hadn’t followed that quiet pull to step outside of my routine and into something unfamiliar. Ironically, the unfamiliar felt like the safest place to be.

Recently, I found myself needing those same words again.

After a long and overwhelming week, I could tell I wasn’t doing well. I was exhausted. I was becoming critical of myself and of others. My thoughts were spiraling. “Just ignore it.” “Push through.” “You don’t need anyone.” I found myself trying to protect myself, but I knew these weren’t real solutions.

So, while driving in silence, I prayed aloud: "God, I’m just so empty right now. This isn’t how I want to be. Help."

And there it was again: steady my heart, ground my soul.

Those familiar words met me right where I was. And once again, they helped me exhale.

This time, they weren’t about grief. They were about humility and about coming back to my center. It was about remembering that I don’t have to carry everything.

I don’t know if those words will mean something to you the way they did to me. But I do know this: when we bring our honest selves to God, He meets us. Not with shame or disappointment, but with gentleness, with presence, with hope.

If you've ever wondered what truth the Lord might be speaking to you, or what prayer He’s offering for you to carry, this might be your moment to ask.

So here’s my invitation to you:

What’s the prayer stirring in your heart right now? What are the words that God might be giving you to carry in this season?

Spend some time talking to Him and asking Him. Tell Him what you’re struggling with and ask Him to speak truth into it. Write it all down. Say them out loud. Let the truths become a part of your day. It really is that simple. 

Sometimes, it’s these simple moments where the deepest healing begins.