✨ The Sacred Pause: A 5-Day Audio Retreat If you need a place to exhale after Christmas, join me for ‘The Sacred Pause,’ a 5-day audio retreat starting December 26th. For just $9, we will trade the hustle for a holy hush—Click here for more information
Dear friend,
If you’re reading this, you’ve been part of something sacred. You’ve shown up—day after day—to meet God in the quiet. You’ve paused, breathed, and listened. You’ve let His Word sink into your heart. That’s no small thing.
Today, as we close out the year, I’m also closing this chapter of Gentle Pathways. This isn’t a decision I’ve made lightly. After much prayer and honest conversation with God, I realize that my life is shifting. My work with PraiseWalker is growing in beautiful and demanding ways. My commitments to the Order of Imago Christi and the Order of the Mustard Seed are deepening. My work with my local church’s prayer ministry is expanding. And I’m hearing God’s clear invitation: focus.
I can’t do everything well. And I don’t want to do this halfway.
What This Means
Gentle Pathways has been a daily rhythm for us both, for 455 days without a break, and I’m so grateful for every moment we’ve shared. But it’s time to make space for what’s next—for you and for me.
This doesn’t mean I’m disappearing. It means I’m focusing my energy where God is calling me most clearly right now: into the deep work of spiritual formation, contemplative practice, and the ancient-future rhythms that help us live prayerfully in a chaotic world.
Where to Find Me
If you’ve loved our time together here, I’d be honored to have you continue the journey with me at PraiseWalker. Here’s what you’ll find there:
My free weekly newsletter, PraiseWalker – where I share reflections, practices, and resources for living a contemplative life
A special Lenten daily devotional series – coming this spring (February-April 2026). It will have the same spirit as Gentle Pathways but will dive deeper into the themes of the Lenten journey.
Tools, courses, and resources for prayer, spiritual formation, and walking with God in everyday life. You can access those here.
Coaching and spiritual direction – if you’d like more personal guidance on your journey. More information here.
You can also email me anytime at darlene@praisewalker.com. I’d love to hear from you.
A Benediction for You
As you step into this new year, my prayer is that you carry the stillness with you. That you remember: you are loved, you are known, you are held. You don’t have to strive or perform or prove your worth. You can simply be.
The gentle pathways we’ve walked together don’t end here. They continue in every quiet moment you create, every breath you take in God’s presence, every time you choose to pause and listen.
Thank you for walking with me. Thank you for trusting me with your mornings, your quiet spaces, your sacred time. It has been an honor and a gift.
May the Wild Goose—the Spirit of God—surprise you with His presence in the quiet moments of the year ahead.
With deep gratitude and blessing,
Darlene Hull
PraiseWalker.com
darlene@praisewalker.com
Show Notes:
Gentle Pathways: Teach Us to Number
Church Season:
Christmas Season
Colour: White
Lectionary Day: Wednesday after First Sunday after Christmas
This week’s Collect:
Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, kindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Lectionary Readings:
Passage:
Psalm 90:12 (NLT) “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.”
Reflection Theme:
This devotional explores Moses’ prayer on the last day of the year—recognizing life’s brevity leads not to fear but to wisdom about what truly matters.
Journaling Questions:
Looking back at this year, what did you spend time on that truly mattered?
What did the brevity of life teach you this year that you want to carry forward?
If you fully believed life is brief, what would you do differently in the coming year?
Collect of Grace:
Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
🌸 If today’s devotional blessed you, consider sharing this episode with a friend or family member who might also need a moment of quiet connection with God today. 🌸
✨ The Sacred Pause: A 5-Day Audio Retreat If you need a place to exhale after Christmas, join me for ‘The Sacred Pause,’ a 5-day audio retreat starting December 26th., we will trade the hustle for a holy hush—find the link in the show notes.
Hi, I’m Darlene Hull, a Certified Mental Health, Human Flourishing, and Insight Coach specializing in trauma, recovery, and resilience, who guides Christian women to structural peace. Drawing on years of contemplative practice, spiritual direction, and the rich heritage of Celtic Christian wisdom, Darlene’s focus is simple: dismantling the exhaustion of spiritual performance and leading clients into the stable rest (Menuchah) secured by Christ’s finished work.
Darlene is a partner in the Order of Imago Christi and a vowed member of the Order of the Mustard Seed (OMS). She works as a Spiritual Formation Coach and Christian Life Coach from her home in Calgary, Alberta.
When not writing or coaching, Darlene rounds out her life with long walks, voracious reading, endless cups of strong tea, and a ridiculous amount of laughter.
Cover Photo: Taran Hull
Photo by Lisá Yakurím on Pexels
Background music: Shakib Hasan (Pixabay Music Attribution)
All Biblical quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
