Discover The Rachel Effect:
A Spiritual
Unraveling
of the Real You
Author Bio
Lauren McNeely has appreciated the value of the written word since her youth. She enjoyed drafting poems to help process the world around her as a young girl to then writing in her daily prayer journal to do the same and writing a children’s book to commemorate her nieces’ first birthday. Using words to express a feeling or new insight has been a helpful resource throughout the years.
Lauren has a ravenous curiosity and her favorite question to Jesus in their prayer time is “why?” Her love of writing and the desire to know what is on the heart and mind of God has never left her short of topics to write about. She enjoys sharing these revelations with anyone who will listen but mostly with her amazing husband Eric. She is also quickly learning that her two-year-old son Ari has the same inquisitive nature and shares in his mommy’s love of the question, why?!
The Rachel Effect invites you to a personal journey of faith,
helping you unravel your God-given identity through relatable stories
and spiritual revelations.
From the Cocoon to Flight:
Embracing Transformation
Have you ever thought about how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly? I know, it’s been used a million times as an example of change, but stay with me for a second. What amazes me is that a caterpillar doesn’t just grow wings one day and call it a transformation. Nope! It literally dissolves inside the cocoon before becoming something completely new. I feel like that sometimes, like I’m “stuck” in the middle of that gooey mess, waiting to figure out what comes next.
It’s weird, isn’t it? That space where you’re not quite who you used to be, but you’re also not the person you think you should be yet. And the “in-between” that took us in, can sometimes feel so frustrating. We might pray for answers, for guidance, but most of the time, it feels like we’re in a holding pattern, like God’s got us in this waiting room with no explanation.
In The Rachel Effect, I talk a lot about this—about the tension of becoming who God wants us to be. It’s not some neat and tidy process. It’s messy, uncomfortable, and, let’s be real, it can be so painful sometimes. Just like the caterpillar has to completely break down before it turns into a butterfly, we have to let go of old versions of ourselves—the ones that we thought were supposed to have it all figured out. That’s where the real change happens.
And here’s the thing: that time of waiting? Believe me, it’s not wasted. If you take a moment to realize, it’s actually where God does some of His best work for us. We are only human and sometimes we don’t always see it that way because we’re too focused on where we want to be, instead of where we are. But maybe, just maybe, this stage that feels like you’re stuck is actually a place where God is prepping you for something new.
Learning to Fly
Another thing I admire about butterflies—they don’t just pop out of the cocoon and fly right away. They’ve got to wait, letting their wings dry before they take off. And isn’t that so much like life? After a tough season, we’re eager to move forward, but sometimes God calls us to pause. Those waiting moments can feel like the hardest part, but they’re where God does His best work, preparing us for what’s next.
If you feel stuck, like you’re in one of those “drying wings” moments, take heart—God is not done with you. He’s working, shaping, and getting you ready to fly.
Unraveled, a free 30-day devotional, is designed for these in-between times. Paired with
The Rachel Effect, it offers practical, faith-filled tools to overcome self-doubt, comparison, and the
feeling of never being enough. Through scripture and reflection, this devotional will help you embrace who you are in Christ, trust God’s timing, and step into the life He’s preparing for you. Start your journey with
Unraveled and The Rachel Effect today—because the transformation God has planned for you is worth the wait.