The Pace of Grace with Kim Avery

Kim Avery

For those who are weary of trying harder and working longer, always leveling up and then doubling down, digging in and then tapping out, this is your set-aside space where we're learning to live and work at the pace of grace. With practical tools and simple steps, The Pace of Grace is here to help you make the most important part of your life, permeate all of your life. Your host is Kim Avery, a counselor, coach, spiritual director, and the author of The Prayer Powered Entrepreneur: 31 Days to Building Your Business with Less Stress and More Joy.

  1. 1D AGO

    When Our Problems Are Big... God Is Bigger, Still

    What happens when our minds rush ahead into a future that hasn't arrived yet, quietly leaving God out of the picture? In this episode, I reflect on a powerful scene from The Shack that has stayed with me for over a decade. It's a moment that captures something many of us do without realizing it: we imagine a future filled with fear, loss, or overwhelm and then ask our bodies and souls to carry that weight as if it were already real. This conversation explores what I call future-tripping and how it affects our faith, our nervous systems, and our ability to receive the grace God is offering us right now. In this episode, we explore: What future-tripping is and why so many of us are unintentionally good at it How imagined futures can activate real fear in our bodies Why our nervous systems react the same way to imagined threats as real ones Simple ways to return to the here and now when your mind runs ahead *** 💡Today's Big Idea:  Faith doesn't deny big problems. It trusts a bigger God. ⚡️Today's Small Step: When you notice yourself future-tripping this week, pause and gently return to the present moment: Name one thing you can see One thing you can feel One thing you can hear   **** LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: 🌿The Pace of Grace Community 🌿 Slow down. Breathe deep. Grow in grace. Join a community of like-minded believers who are committed to living and working at God's pace—without the hustle, hurry, or overwhelm. Inside, you'll find encouragement, practical tools, and a sacred space to pause, reflect, and realign with what matters most. ✨ Monthly live gatherings ✨ Prayer, support, and connection ✨ Simple practices to nurture your soul No long-term commitment—just a gentle invitation to step into a rhythm of grace. Join today for only $10/month! [www.paceofgrace.com/community]   👍 Follow, rate, and review The Pace of Grace Podcast on Apple or Spotify   **** LET'S CONNECT: Find me on Facebook  @kavery Find me on Instagram @CoachKimAvery

    16 min
  2. FEB 10

    Permission to Play: Enjoying Life Without Earning It

    What if enjoying your life isn't a distraction from faithfulness, but part of how faithfulness actually works? Many of us can stop working, at least technically, and still feel uneasy when we do. Rest might be allowed, but enjoyment can feel suspect. Somewhere along the way, joy started feeling like something that needs to be justified, earned, or explained. This reflection offers a gentler way forward. Instead of adding more effort or another spiritual task, it invites you to notice the goodness already present and to receive it without guilt. Play, delight, and enjoyment aren't extras for when everything is finished. They're part of how we stay human, open, and able to receive grace. Tune in to explore: Why stopping work isn't the same as actually feeling rested The difference between collapse, distraction, and restoration How we accidentally turn play into another thing to manage Why ordinary, unproductive joy is often the most renewing How enjoyment can soften us and make us more available to God   💡Today's Big Idea: You already have permission to play. Use it. ⚡️Today's Small Step: Notice one small joy today and let yourself enjoy it without earning it.    **** LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE:  🌳 Grace Breaks: 50 Ways to Connect with God During Your Busy Day 🌳 Busy days can leave us running on empty, but even brief pauses can make a lasting difference. Neuroscience shows that intentional moments of rest and connection help reset our minds, reduce stress, and refuel our spirits.   Grace Breaks offers 50 simple, soul-refreshing ways to connect with God in as little as five minutes. Inside, you'll discover: Quick, practical ideas to refuel you Scriptures, neuroscience tips, and Scriptural prompts 50 beautifully designed printable cards to create your own Grace Breaks jar for daily inspiration Give yourself permission to pause and reconnect with the God who carries you, even on your busiest days.  www.PaceOfGrace.com/free    👍 Follow, rate, and review The Pace of Grace Podcast on Apple or Spotify   **** LET'S CONNECT: Find me on Facebook @kavery Find me on Instagram @CoachKimAvery

    15 min
  3. FEB 3

    Beloved: Still Learning to Receive

    Have you ever known God loves you… and yet felt like that love hasn't fully landed? You believe it. You teach it. You reassure others with it. But somewhere deep down, it still feels hard to receive. In this episode, we explore why that gap exists and why it may have far less to do with your faith and far more to do with safety. Using a simple story from my early marriage, a children's book illustration, Jesus' words about the vine and the branches, and a gentle look at how our nervous systems are wired, we uncover why love can be offered freely and still not reach the places where it's meant to transform us. This conversation is especially for those who are faithful, sincere, and tired of trying harder to feel what they already know is true.   💡Today's Big Idea: Belovedness isn't achieved. It's received. ⚡️Today's Small Step: Thank God for one small way you felt held today. **** LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE:   🌿The Pace of Grace Community 🌿 Slow down. Breathe deep. Grow in grace. Join a community of like-minded believers who are committed to living and working at God's pace—without the hustle, hurry, or overwhelm. Inside, you'll find encouragement, practical tools, and a sacred space to pause, reflect, and realign with what matters most. ✨ Monthly live gatherings ✨ Prayer, support, and connection ✨ Simple practices to nurture your soul No long-term commitment—just a gentle invitation to step into a rhythm of grace. Join today for only $10/month! [www.paceofgrace.com/community]   👍 Follow, rate, and review The Pace of Grace Podcast on Apple or Spotify   **** LET'S CONNECT: Find me on Facebook @kavery Find me on Instagram @CoachKimAvery

    16 min
  4. JAN 27

    The Next Small Yes: Gritty Grace Stories (Lilias Trotter)

    What do you do when a door closes right as something good is finally beginning to grow? When the breakthrough you prayed for feels fragile, or the next step is anything but obvious. In today's episode, we step into a hard, holy moment from the life of Lilias Trotter. A woman who followed Jesus across continents, cultures, and countless closed doors. Not with grand strategies or dramatic pivots, but with quiet courage and one small yes at a time. This episode is part of an occasional series where I share a snapshot from the life of a faithful follower of Jesus. Not because their lives were easy or impressive by worldly standards, but because they show us what faithfulness really looks like in the long middle. Much of today's story comes from the beautiful biography A Passion for the Impossible by Miriam Rockness. In this episode, we explore: Why faithfulness is often lived out in waiting, disappointment, and daily obedience What to do when a good door closes and you are left without a clear plan How Lilias learned to pray, pivot, and persevere without rushing past grief Why small, creative acts of obedience can carry the gospel farther than we expect How God often works through what is humbler, simpler, and more accessible than our original plans   💡Today's Big Idea: Faithfulness lives in the next small yes. ⚡️Today's Small Step:  Ask, "Lord, what's one small way forward today?"   **** LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Book: A Passion for the Impossible by Miriam Rockness 🌿The Pace of Grace Community 🌿 Slow down. Breathe deep. Grow in grace. Join a community of like-minded believers who are committed to living and working at God's pace—without the hustle, hurry, or overwhelm. Inside, you'll find encouragement, practical tools, and a sacred space to pause, reflect, and realign with what matters most. ✨ Monthly live gatherings ✨ Prayer, support, and connection ✨ Simple practices to nurture your soul No long-term commitment—just a gentle invitation to step into a rhythm of grace. Join today for only $10/month! [www.paceofgrace.com/community]   👍 Follow, rate, and review The Pace of Grace Podcast on Apple or Spotify   **** LET'S CONNECT: Find me on Facebook  @kavery Find me on Instagram @CoachKimAvery

    15 min
  5. JAN 20

    God Is the Goal, Not the Finish Line

    We live in a world that prizes speed, outcomes, and measurable success. Even in our faith, it's easy to chase good and God-honoring goals so hard that we quietly lose the God who gave them. In this episode, we explore what happens when the finish line replaces the relationship and how Jesus invites us back to a slower, more present way of living with Him. Through personal stories, Scripture, and the way Jesus moved through the world, this conversation offers a gentle reordering. Not a call to abandon goals, but an invitation to pursue them with God instead of for Him — so the fruit of the Spirit has room to grow again. *** In this episode, you'll discover: Why good goals can quietly take God's place without us realizing it How hurry narrows our awareness and makes it harder to experience God What Jesus' unhurried life teaches us about presence and trust Two simple prayers to help you stay rooted in God throughout your day How to pursue meaningful work without losing your soul along the way   💡Today's Big Idea: God is always the Goal. ⚡️Today's Small Step: Two anchoring prayers: "Jesus, help me see You here" and "God, take care of there."   **** LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: ☀️ Practice the Presence of God—50+ Ways to Enjoy God All Day ☀️  If you would like some ideas for ways to live within your God-given limits and still enjoy His presence all day long, download your free guide, Practice the Presence of God—50+ Ways to Enjoy God All Day. It's full of gentle, grace-paced ideas to help you stay connected with Him right in the middle of real life. www.paceofgrace.com/free  👍 Follow, rate, and review The Pace of Grace Podcast on Apple or Spotify   *** LET'S CONNECT: Find me on Facebook @kavery Find me on Instagram @CoachKimAvery

    14 min
  6. JAN 13

    The Art of Vine Making with Bette Dickinson

    What if the most meaningful growth in your life and ministry happens not when you produce more, but when you slow down enough to be tended by God? In this episode, we explore a gentler, more sustainable way of living and serving as Bette Dickinson joins us to talk about what we can learn from the vineyard and the rhythm Jesus describes in John 15. You will hear how flourishing actually works, why rest is not optional for spiritual health, how to recognize the season you are truly in, and how your unique story and wiring shape the kind of fruit only your life can offer. Bette's insights offer hope for anyone who feels stretched thin, weary from productivity expectations, or unsure how to step off the treadmill without losing momentum. *** Key Takeaways • Fruitfulness grows from rootedness, not overextension • Dormant seasons are necessary and purposeful, not signs of failure • God uses your story, personality, gifts, and limits to shape a unique "flavor" of ministry • Rest is an act of trust that makes long-term impact possible • You can begin with one small step toward margin, even if a full reset feels out of reach *** 💡Today's Big Idea: Flourishing comes from the steady, relational way God tends your life, not from constant output or pressure to be "on" all the time. ⚡️Today's Small Step: Choose one small, realistic place to build in rest or margin this week and honor it as part of your spiritual formation.   **** LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Learn more about Bette Dickinson at www.theartofvinemaking.com.  👍 Follow, rate, and review The Pace of Grace Podcast on Apple or Spotify   *** LET'S CONNECT: Find me on Facebook @kavery Find me on Instagram @CoachKimAvery

    32 min
  7. JAN 6

    Why Did God Plant Me Here?

    What if the goodness you're longing for is already growing right where you are? This episode explores why God places us in certain seasons and how to recognize the quiet grace that's already at work in your actual life, not the imagined one you wish you were living.  If you've ever wondered whether you're in the right place or wished your circumstances felt easier or more "ideal," this conversation will help you breathe, slow down, and see your days through a kinder lens. You'll learn how God brings growth in ordinary places, how to stop fighting the season you're in, and how to cooperate with the gentle work He's already doing beneath the surface. *** Reflection Questions Take one of these questions into prayer this week and simply notice what rises to your awareness. Lord, what are You already doing here that You want me to notice? What is one small reason You want me in this season? How can I cooperate with the quiet work You are doing right now? What is one small thing I can plant that would bless others? While I am rooted here, how can I enjoy You this week? *** 💡Today's Big Idea: You are planted on purpose. Right here. Right now. And God is doing more in this soil than you can see. ⚡️Today's Small Step: Pick one reflection question and carry it with you through the day.   **** LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: If you'd like a simple way to stay aware of God in the ordinary moments of your week, you can download the Practice the Presence of God guide here: www.PaceOfGrace.com/free.  👍 Follow, rate, and review The Pace of Grace Podcast on Apple or Spotify   **** LET'S CONNECT: Find me on Facebook @kavery Find me on Instagram @CoachKimAvery

    15 min
  8. 11/25/2025

    What to Keep, What to Release

    Do you ever feel like you are carrying more than you were meant to hold? This episode is for the places where the weight shows up in your life. The extra roles, expectations, and commitments that once served you but now quietly drain you.    We'll talk about why releasing is so hard even when it is right, what is happening in the brain when we cling to what no longer fits, and how God leads us into freedom without shame or fear.   If you have felt a nudge to live lighter, slower, or closer to God but aren't sure where to start, this conversation will offer guidance, relief, and a gentle next step as the year draws to a close.   You will hear: • Why the brain resists letting go even when God is inviting it • How over-responsibility and identity keep us overloaded • The neuroscience behind why doing more feels safer than doing less • How abiding in God rewires us for peace, trust, and change   💡Today's Big Idea: Releasing is not failure, it is faith. ⚡️Today's Small Step: Sign up to join us for the FREE Year of Overflowing Grace Vision Retreat at www.paceofgrace.com/2026.   **** LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Virtual Vision Retreat: A Year of Overflowing Grace December 16th, 2025, join us for a free, virtual vision retreat. A guided space to begin next year with God at the center instead of your calendar Together we will: • Prayerfully imagine what it could look like to live with God instead of merely working for Him • Sketch out a rhythm for 2026 that protects intimacy over activity • Learn what it means to work from rest instead of crashing into rest • Listen for God's gentle invitation to abide in your belovedness • Begin the year quieted, grounded, and companioned instead of hurried and alone A gentle on-ramp into a year of living and working at the pace of grace. Reserve your spot at: www.paceofgrace.com/2026. **** LET'S CONNECT:  Find me on Facebook@kavery Find me on Instagram @CoachKimAvery

    17 min
5
out of 5
37 Ratings

About

For those who are weary of trying harder and working longer, always leveling up and then doubling down, digging in and then tapping out, this is your set-aside space where we're learning to live and work at the pace of grace. With practical tools and simple steps, The Pace of Grace is here to help you make the most important part of your life, permeate all of your life. Your host is Kim Avery, a counselor, coach, spiritual director, and the author of The Prayer Powered Entrepreneur: 31 Days to Building Your Business with Less Stress and More Joy.

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