What Is the Meaning of Life?
Can you still trust God when you’re no longer sure what you believe?
— Michael Pratt
What feels like unraveling is often a new beginning.
Hello, I’m Michael
There was a time when my faith felt steady. I enjoyed a quiet confidence in God’s presence that gave me clarity and peace.
Then, without noticing, I started chasing certainty instead of trust. I built walls around my beliefs and defended them fiercely. Then came what some now call faith deconstruction, though I didn’t have a name for it then. Life’s storms came all at once: COVID, living in the war in Ukraine, betrayal, fear. My faith started to unravel.
And in the unraveling, I found something I hadn’t expected. What I lost in rigid systems, I found again in God’s love and living presence: not rules to defend, but a relationship that meets you in the mess, exactly as you are.
If that’s where you are right now, this is the space I write from — and I’d love to walk that road with you.
Hello, I’m Michael
There was a time when my faith felt steady. I enjoyed a quiet confidence in God’s presence that gave me clarity and peace.
Then, without noticing, I started chasing certainty instead of trust. I built walls around my beliefs and defended them fiercely. Then came what some now call faith deconstruction, though I didn’t have a name for it then. Suddenly life’s storms came all at once: COVID, living in the war in Ukraine, betrayal, fear. My faith started to unravel.
I won’t pretend that was easy. It wasn’t. But in the unraveling, I found something I hadn’t expected. What I lost in rigid systems, I found again in God’s love and living presence: not rules to defend, but a relationship that meets you in the mess, exactly as you are.
If you’re in that place right now- questioning what you were taught, wondering if your faith can hold what you’re carrying, or quietly trying to rebuild something that actually lasts— you’re not alone, and you’re not doing anything wrong. This is the space I write from, and I’d love to walk that road with you.
How Can I Abide in Christ Daily?
Jesus described this as abiding in the vine. Why? Because that’s where real love, peace, and grace blossom. The fruit of that abiding shows up in three ways:
Inner Alignment
You will learn practices that help you move into greater trust and wholeness, lived from the inside out. You will discover attentive presence, honest awareness, and deep rest, rather than striving to perform or earn what God freely gives.
Outward Compassion
You will learn to see others through the eyes of love, just as Christ does, when, even at your worst, He loves you more. That is grace, and it’s the grace you’re now free to extend to everyone you meet.
Courageous Participation
Now you will step into the world with presence and purpose, where inner alignment and compassion take shape through action. This is where faith stops being private and becomes visible in how you show up for the person in front of you.
Want to explore what this looks like with someone walking alongside you? That’s exactly what spiritual direction offers.
What Does Spiritual Direction Look Like?
You don’t have to navigate this season of transition and discernment alone — here’s what it looks like to walk it with someone else.
Sacred Space of Listening
You’ll have a calm, grounded space to slow down and speak honestly about your life, regardless of where you are in your faith journey. Together, we listen deeply to your experiences and questions, holding your story with care and without judgment.
Walking Forward with Discernment
This isn’t about fixing you or handing you quick answers. It’s a shared practice, gently attending to what’s emerging in your life and noticing where God may already be at work, so clarity and a deeper sense of purpose can unfold over time, at your own pace.
Stories of Transformation
Words shaped by listening, discernment, and lived experience.
Michael Pratt has been a mentor to me for many years. Our conversations have focused on spiritual growth, deepening my understanding of Jesus, and learning how to follow Him in everyday life. His guidance has helped me take practical steps toward a more mature and grounded faith.
Sergei
Frequently Asked
Questions
Yes. I know what it’s like to carry wounds from faith communities and leaders, often called church hurt or religious trauma. This is a judgment-free space where you won’t be pressured into any belief or practice. Together, we’ll honor your story, your pace, and create room for healing and trust to unfold naturally.
Spiritual direction creates space to listen for God’s presence in your life. Counseling often looks back to heal wounds, and coaching focuses on achieving goals. Spiritual direction is about discernment and trust. You will learn to notice where God is moving in your story and align with it. I don’t give quick fixes; I walk alongside you as a companion on the journey.
Not at all. While my roots are in the Christian tradition, I walk with people from many faith backgrounds, including those who describe themselves as spiritual but not religious, or who feel disconnected from religion yet still long for meaning, purpose, or spiritual depth. What matters most is your openness, not your label.
It depends on your season of life. Some people meet with me for a few sessions during a time of transition; others continue for months or years as part of their ongoing journey. There’s no one-size-fits-all — we’ll discover the rhythm that serves you best.
That’s perfectly okay. You can start by downloading my free e-book and joining my weekly reflections. This is a gentle way to keep exploring at your own pace. When you’re ready for deeper connection, I’ll be here.
Most meetings are online, so it’s easy no matter where you are. When possible, I also offer in-person sessions or group gatherings. The goal is always the same: a safe space where you feel seen, heard, and supported. Ready to keep exploring? Grab the free e-book below to start practicing presence today.
Life is not about arriving at certainty. Life is learning to see differently and remain awake to God’s presence in all things.
Can You Actually Experience God’s Presence Again — Not Just Believe In It?
That question sits at the heart of everything I write. In my e-book, Practicing God’s Presence, I share the story, Scripture, and lived experience that moved me from simply believing to trusting God. I found this shift by practicing it, not by believing my way there. You’ll see how three decades as missionaries in Ukraine, life during war, and a faith rebuilt from the ground up taught me to remain present with God, in seasons when life feels steady and when it doesn’t.
BEFORE YOU GO
Before You Go
Here’s a glimpse of something I recently wrote — you’ll find more reflections like this one on the blog.
-
Exploring Alignment in Beliefs: A Personal Journey
Read the Full Reflection →: Exploring Alignment in Beliefs: A Personal JourneyA Simple Story That Changed How I See Everything It’s interesting how people naturally align with ideas, values, and beliefs about the world and life. Living and working as a career missionary in Ukraine has offered me a front-row seat to this process: how it forms, how it is held together, and what happens when…