The Being Formed Podcast

In this episode, Adam Ormord sits down with Kyle Strobel for a spacious and deeply pastoral conversation about seasons of spiritual dryness and the steady work of God when it feels like we've been abandoned.

Kyle is the coauthor, along with John Coe, of the newly released book When God Seems Distant. Together, they explore a reality many Christians experience but rarely feel permission to name: what happens when prayer feels empty, spiritual disciplines stop “working,” and God seems strangely distant.

Rather than offering techniques to fix or push through these seasons, this conversation invites listeners to consider a surprising possibility, that spiritual dryness is not a failure of faith, but often a deeper work of formation.

In this episode, we explore:

Why many Christians are unprepared for seasons of dryness and desolation

How “trying harder” can actually get in the way of genuine transformation

What God may be doing when effort, willpower, and habit modification fall short

The concept of spiritual development and why later seasons of faith often feel confusing and disorienting

How Scripture and the Christian tradition speak honestly about God’s intentions for our faith formation

Kyle closes the episode with a prayer for those currently walking through a season when God feels distant. If you find yourself in a desert season in your spiritual life, this episode is an invitation not to fix yourself or rush to the other side, but to trust that God is present and at work even in the desolate places.

If this conversation is hitting close to home for you, please consider purchasing Kyle Strobel's and John Coe's brand new book, "When God Feels Distant," on Amazon. Also, reach out to one of the Spiritual Directors at LifePoint Resources. We are here to help you navigate all the seasons of your life, including desert seasons, with God.

About Kyle Strobel
Kyle Strobel is a theologian, author, and professor (Talbot School of Theology, Biola University) who has spent decades teaching and writing about Christian spiritual formation and life with God. His work bridges deep theological reflection with the lived experience of following Christ over the long haul.

About Adam Ormord
Adam Ormord is a spiritual director, retreat leader, and the president of LifePoint Resources. He hosts The Being Formed Podcast, a space for deep conversations about Christian spiritual formation, soul care, spiritual direction, and life with God.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

In this episode of The Being Formed Podcast, Adam Ormord is joined by Todd Spencer, a spiritual director, coach, and retreat guide whose ministry centers on caring for leaders in need of fresh sources of life.

Todd shares his journey into spiritual direction, the heart behind Headwaters of Hope, and his conviction that deep rest—sometimes as simple as long, unhurried sleep—is often the first step toward healing and renewal.

This conversation is an invitation to slow down, return to the Source, and rediscover hope at the headwaters of our lives.

In this episode, Todd and Adam explore:

Todd’s journey into spiritual direction and coaching

The story and meaning behind the name Headwaters of Hope

Why rest—real rest—is essential for leaders and caregivers

What happens when leaders finally slow down enough to listen

The role of retreats in returning people to God, to themselves, and to what truly matters

Learn more: https://www.headwatersofhope.org

Read Todd's Article: Headwaters of Hope (published in Presence Journal, September 2023)

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

What if discipleship was less about learning more information about God and more about learning how to live with God?

In this episode of The Being Formed Podcast, Adam Ormord sits down with Debbie Swindoll — founder of Grafted Life Ministries and the Christ-Centered Spiritual Directors Association (CSDA). Together, they explore the difference between information-based discipleship and true spiritual formation that leads to transformation into Christlikeness.

Debbie shares her heart for the church, her concerns about the current state of discipleship, and her hope for a more relational, Spirit-led approach to formation. The conversation weaves together theology, lived experience, and pastoral wisdom, inviting listeners to reflect on their own journey of life with God.

They also celebrate CSDA’s 15-year journey — a global community of over 1,000 spiritual directors committed to Christ-centered spiritual direction, shared theological grounding, and ethical practice through a common code of conduct.

This episode is a gentle yet clarifying invitation: to slow down, to notice God’s presence, and to allow transformation to emerge from relationship rather than effort.

In This Episode, We Explore

The difference between knowing about God and living life with God

Why many discipleship models struggle to produce lasting transformation

How spiritual formation offers a more faithful and sustainable path

Debbie’s group study, Life With God, and how churches are using it

The vision and impact of the Christ-Centered Spiritual Directors Association (CSDA)

Why theological grounding and community matter deeply for spiritual directors

Where Debbie finds hope for the future of the church

The practices that continue to form Debbie’s own life with God

Learn More

Grafted Life Ministries: https://www.graftedlife.org

Christ-Centered Spiritual Directors Association (CSDA): https://www.graftedlife.org/csda/home/

Life With God study by Debbie Swindoll (available via Grafted Life)

Closing Reflection
This conversation invites us to reconsider what we mean by discipleship — not as mastery of content, but as apprentices participating in a shared life with God. May it encourage you to listen more deeply, trust the slow work of the Spirit, and remain open to the ongoing formation happening in you.

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

In this episode of The Being Formed Podcast, Adam Ormord (Founder of LifePoint Resources) is joined by author and ministry leader, Angie Day Peters, for a reflective conversation about spiritual freedom and transformation.

Centered on Angie’s book, Rooted Revolution: Embracing the Mess and the Mystery, this episode explores what happens when Jesus returns to the center of our lives—and how that re-centering opens the way for freedom in our relationship with Christ, within ourselves, and with others.

Special Bonus: At the 24:20 mark of the conversation, Adam shares his own prayer called “Somewhere in the Middle.” Be sure to listen to this part of the episode as a gentle reminder to return to what matters most.

We reflect on:

Why Jesus must be at the center of our churches and our formation

How freedom flows from a rooted life in Christ

Returning to love, presence, and wholeness

The mess and the mystery of relational community

Rooted Revolution: Embracing the Mess and the Mystery by Angie Day Peters (Purchase on Amazon)

Learn more and connect with Angie at Unedited Life.

#BeingFormedPodcast #LifePointResources #SpiritualFormation #SoulCare #RootedRevolution #UneditedLife #AngieDayPeters #SomewhereInTheMiddle #AdamOrmord

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.

Episode Summary
In this episode, Adam sits down with Stephen W. Smith, author and founder of The Potter’s Inn and a long-time voice in the world of soul care. Steve shares about his new book of poetry, Greening, and the inner awakening he’s been experiencing in recent years. Together, Adam and Steve explore the role of poetry in spiritual formation, the journey of discovering one’s true self, and the ongoing invitation to live from a deep heart.

About Stephen W. Smith

Author of many books on spiritual formation, soul care, and leadership health

Founder (with his wife Gwen) of The Potter’s Inn, a ministry that profoundly influenced Adam’s own life and the formation of LifePoint Resources

Longtime retreat leader and spiritual guide

Writes regularly on Substack

Resources Mentioned

Greening: Poems in the Unfolding of Our Lives
Stephen W. Smith (Purchase Hardcover and Kindle on Amazon)

Potter's Inn (PottersInn.com)

Steve’s Substack (Read and engage with Steve's latest work)

Key Themes

How poetry opens the heart to God in unique ways

Navigating seasons of transition and inner resurgence

The spiritual symbolism of pilgrimage

The urgent need for slowness in our chaotic world

The Being Formed Podcast is a soul care ministry of LifePoint Resources.