Have we asked too many questions?

One year on Substack + a prayer prompts PDF

Mar 10, 2025

∙ Paid

In true Valerie fashion, I missed my 1st Substack anniversary1. Womp womp. Now granted, I was sick in bed but I’m kicking myself for not celebrating a little! So although I’m a little late, I thought I’d reflect on the best of Asking Questions over the last year and honestly, just how God was working behind the scenes with me totally clueless.

WHAT I DIDN’T KNOW GOD WAS DOING

It’s always fun to be reminded of things you forget. Like I didn’t remember that I thought and prayed about creating a Substack for a year! Last Christmas Day, I sat reading a book about writing and diving into Substack while the girls played with their new toys and just felt it was time to join! I took a few months to figure out my plan and hone the vision. Now as I sit here post-VMP, I have to say, I’m impressed with God’s attention to detail. This should come as no surprise of course and yet, I’m floored by His generosity and planning. He knew I’d need to separate myself from the VMP brand but in His graciousness, He also allowed me to keep writing and encouraging others on the topic of prayer.

I sit here now thinking, He’s a genius. As if that were ever in question. But I cannot tell you how grateful I am to still get to write in this new season!

WHAT I’M GLAD HE DID

In this 6-month recap post, I shared what God has taught me through our weekly questions:

It’s gotten me curious and less afraid of not knowing the answers right away, knowing I can take it all to God.
It’s helped expand my prayers beyond requests and things I am used to praying by introducing topics and questions that would rarely get the spotlight in my prayers otherwise.
It’s made me more dependent and expectant for God to respond.
It’s created a new habit of inviting God into every aspect of my life, something I’ve long said I wanted but wasn’t sure how to put into practice on a regular basis.

I want to add something else to that.

It’s given me a real picture of what it looks like to ABIDE. This word has always intrigued me. I love the concept but how do I live that out? This has shown me!
I feel less judgy knowing I don’t have all the answers.
I am directing my curiosity to God. I’ve seen staying curious as a defining character of those who walk away from their faith. And I think staying curious can be good if we keep it directed to God. When we expand it to allowing the world to define things, it seems like a gateway to accepting anything and everything.

I would love to hear what you have noticed from asking questions!! Was there a particular post that hit hardest? Or something that the habit of weekly questions has changed in your prayer life?

ON PAYWALLS

Truth be told, I’m still getting used to the idea that I should charge for my writing. I’ve written so much content for free over the last 15 years. How do I suddenly start valuing my writing midway?

I even recently entertained the idea of lifting the paywall so more people could read. I told my husband we’ve only got between 1-2% of our full list getting our Monday questions. So basically, a very small group see the posts I work so hard to create.

But when I mentioned the paywall, my husband reacted so quickly. No way! And before you assume Tyler is focused on the money. If you saw his beat up 22-year-old Civic and hand-me-down wardrobe (from his stylish brother-in-law) you’d know that couldn’t be further from the truth.

You did the paywall for a reason, he reminded me.

Why?

I wanted to write more freely.

I wanted this to be a community.

I wanted to write without trolls.

I wanted you to get the most of it. (And having monetary buy-in often does that).

I have absolutely ZERO desire to go viral.

I just want meet each week with fellow believers who long to go deeper with God and love a creative prompt each week to foster it.

I love this place. I love that it’s intimate (read small). I love that I know the people reading genuinely want to be here.

So the paywall, I hope you don’t see it as a big offensive stop sign (in all honesty, I’ve felt that way before reading) and instead an invitation to join us!

James Clears talks about creating habits and how we need to identify as someone who does something. You don’t run. You’re a runner. You join a running club and that’s further confirmation. You aren’t a dabbler. It changes us. It changes the way we see ourselves and whatever habit we long to create.

So if you’re ready to take things deeper in your prayer life, join us!

And for those that do, you’ll find a bonus PDF below with all the questions we’ve tackled this past year along with 2-4 questions to ask God in prayer. Tuck it in your Bible as a quick little cheat sheet of things to talk to God about that maybe never crossed your mind.

Not ready? Check out some of the best loved post, my favorite post and the sleeper post that I don’t want anyone (especially if you’re in a waiting season) to miss!!