Beauty from Brokenness: Finding Healing Through Honest Prayer

Have you ever poured your heart into something, only to watch it fall apart in an instant? That’s exactly what happened to Kia Stephens—author, speaker, and founder of kiastephens.com.

What started as a dream to write a book turned into an unexpected journey of loss, healing, and deep restoration. I recently had the honor of speaking with Kia on the Praying with Victory podcast, and her story moved me in a way I won’t soon forget.

Kia shared how she spent ten years working on her manuscript about father wounds, only to lose it all when her external hard drive crashed. Everything she had labored over was gone. But in that place of devastation, a friend reminded her: “The book is still inside you.” And with that one seed of hope, Kia started a blog, which eventually led her to become the voice of encouragement for countless women facing emotional wounds of their own.

What struck me most about Kia was her raw honesty and unshakable faith. She didn’t sugarcoat the pain. She didn’t pretend healing was easy. Instead, she leaned into prayer—not the tidy, scripted kind, but the vulnerable, “God, I’m a mess” kind.

“God has been my counselor,” Kia said. “When I didn’t have money for therapy, He became my therapist.”

In our conversation, she talked about how we often hide behind churchy phrases and mask our pain with smiles. But God doesn’t ask us to pretend. He invites us to be real. As Kia said, “We lie a lot in church… but when we’re honest about what’s really going on in our hearts, that’s where the power of God can move.”

That truth resonated deeply with me. How often do we approach God with edited versions of our emotions? How often do we think we have to “clean up” before coming into His presence? And yet, it’s in the mess—in the raw, unfiltered honesty—that we find intimacy with our Father.

Kia’s message is simple but profound: Prayer isn’t about performance. It’s about presence. It’s about being with the God who already knows, already sees, and still chooses to love us.

As we prepare for the upcoming Praying with Victory Summit, my prayer is that more women will encounter the freedom that comes from honest prayer—where nothing is hidden, and everything is surrendered.

A Prayer for the Honest Heart

Lord,
Thank You that You are near to the brokenhearted and that You welcome us just as we are. Help us to be honest with You—not to impress You, but to invite You into the deep places of our souls. We lay down our masks, our fears, and our pride. Teach us to pray with vulnerability.
Restore what has been lost. Heal what has been wounded. And give us the courage to believe that You are writing a beautiful story, even from our pain.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen!

You’re Invited: Praying with Victory Summit!

If Kia’s story resonated with you—if you’re longing for a deeper, more honest prayer life—don’t miss the Praying with Victory Summit! You’ll hear from powerful, Spirit-led women like Kia who will help you step into a life of intentional, transformational prayer.

Whether you’re battling disappointment, looking for healing, or just want to grow closer to God, this summit is for you. Sign up today and take the next step toward praying with power, peace, and purpose.

Let’s seek God together—honestly, wholeheartedly, and expectantly!