YouVersion Logo
Search Icon

Living in OverflowSample

Living in Overflow

DAY 3 OF 3

Failure as a Spiritual Practice

Podcaster, founder, author, musician, and composer — Stephen Roach is a man of many talents. Despite his wide range of interests and endeavors, there’s one overarching theme that unifies them all: the marriage of art and faith. That’s what The Breath & The Clay — a creative arts organization he founded with his wife, Sarah — is all about. Their goal is to help artists encounter God through the creative process; build bridges between art, faith, and culture; and hear from diverse perspectives as they develop skills and build community.

In this interview, Stephen gives us a better look at the daily habits that strengthen his relationship with Jesus.

* * *

At the risk of sounding pseudo-spiritual — and perhaps I should just pop that bubble immediately — sometimes failure is the best spiritual practice I can muster.

As my dear friend and fellow art community leader Corey Frey said to me, sometimes our best offering to God is the desire to offer something.

Our failed attempts are just as much received by God with joy.

But I love silence. I love contemplative prayer. I love repeating a short phrase from Scripture that calls my anxious heart back to the truth of God's love for me. I love to offer worship and pretend that God has forgotten how incredible he is and so I must remind him.

I love the small hours when the house is asleep and I can give myself to seeking His Presence. I love journaling and listening to the gentle voice of God, who speaks me back to life.

—Stephen Roach, host of Makers & Mystics, as told to Rapt Interviews

From tech to art to books to habits,Rapt is an award-winning newsletter for people who want to explore widely, live deeply, and encounter God. We curate an essential selection of ideas and resources that will brighten the next stretch of your spiritual journey.

We do the work. You get the stuff that actually matters. Come see all we have for you! (This includes FREE SWAG, like sample chapters of new releases and bestsellers.)

Day 2

About this Plan

Living in Overflow

Welcome to a collection of devotions that reveal the personal and profound spiritual practices of three dynamic Christian voices. Join Jamie Ivey, Tara Sun, and Stephen Roach as they share how they connect with God in their daily lives, offering insights and inspiration to deepen your own spiritual journey.

More