Noticing God at the Well of Community with Kathy Tuan-MacLean
Parenthood—and life—rarely unfolds the way we expect.
Whether we are raising children or not, we all experience complexity, messiness, and insecurity in our relationship with ourselves, others, and God. Though for parents, the exhaustion of sleepless nights, the weight of providing for a family, and the loneliness of navigating “mom culture” come as unique challenges.
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With these challenges bringing us to the end of ourselves, we all feel the temptation to hide our true selves, struggles, and insecurities. Simultaneously, it can be challenging to find a welcoming community to share our raw struggles with.
How can we cultivate honest and vulnerable friendships that will receive our whole selves and hardships with nonjudgmental company, encouragement, and prayer? And how does God desire to meet us in these pain points?
In this episode, host Jay Y. Kim sits down with Kathy Tuan-MacLean (PhD, Northwestern), spiritual director, mother of three, and co-author of the Bible study Moms at the Well. As the national faculty ministry director for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, she draws from over three decades of experience in guiding students and faculty in spiritual formation.
Together, they explore the isolating challenges of motherhood, the judgment that often pervades “mom culture,” and the silent weight of shame many women carry alone. Tuan-MacLean encourages us to locate the every day “wells” of community and creative spiritual practices that open us up to experience God personally and alongside others. They also discuss everyday practices, like breath prayers and silence, that can help us take “little sips” from God’s living water.
If you feel exhausted, unseen, or stretched beyond your limits, this conversation will help you notice and believe that God hears you, sees you, and desires to meet you right where you are.
This episode highlights the following themes:
✅ The paradox of strength becoming a barrier to experiencing God's grace
✅ Experiencing God
