Find Peace: A 5-Day Plan For Momsنموونە

Emily sat in her armchair, curled up with her Bible, a cup of coffee balanced precariously on her knee and a peaceful smile on her face. She couldn’t have gotten up if she tried; she was surrounded by a slew of young children, a pile of toys, and the dog.

He’s looking at me with angry eyes!

Well, she stole my imaginary sword!

Who cares? It’s imaginary!

Then give it back! Mooooooom!

Waaaaaaaa!

Woof!

It wasn’t that long ago that Emily was flat-out overwhelmed over her day-to-day responsibilities. The noise rattled the windows, she was constantly refereeing squabbles, and she desperately wanted a nap—and that was all before the breakfast dishes reached the sink.

With three kids under the age of five and a supportive but busy husband, she woke up before the sun and found herself hitting the pillow very late at night, only to be up a few hours later to feed the baby. She daily walked that knife-edge between gratitude for her many blessings and the bleary-eyed feeling of, “Who am I and how did I get here?”

One Sunday after church, Emily bumped into her pastor. When he asked how things were going, she was honest. She was running on empty. And with her young kids, the never-ending sicknesses, the new baby, and a major lack of sleep, she had no ability to fill her tank with a private worship time with God.

Her pastor smiled. “Emily, your whole life right now is worship. In this season you are like a drink offering poured out before the Lord. What you’re doing matters, and God sees it. He sees you. He accepts you. He loves you right where you are in the middle of the chaos.”

Emily had tears in her eyes. In the midst of this busy, frenetic season—the hours spent worrying and fretting and literally sweating her way through the day—her heart’s desire was to connect with the God of peace. She realized she had been waiting for the perfect quiet moment to worship Him. But there was not going to be the “perfect” quiet time in this season!

Emily’s pastor encouraged her to change her perspective—to set aside the idea of a quiet time and instead commit to having some “loud time” with the Lord every day. Her children could sit and play at her feet while she read the Bible. She could tell them she would be right here, but that she needed time with God. Let them see her faithfully digging into the Word, her pastor said. Let them see her praying.

Most of all, her pastor encouraged her not to get frustrated or feel like a failure when she was interrupted to fix a Lego creation, change a diaper, or settle a dispute.

The Lord sees you, and your whole life is worship.

Ladies, can we take a collective sigh of relief as we release the burden of creating the perfect worship environment to connect with God? Our lives will never be interruption-free, especially when young children are circling our feet or when things are so busy at work we don’t know which end is up. God knows what life is like. There will be seasons of quiet and space. And there will be seasons of noise, and crying, and laughter, and little feet running the halls. God sees us in all of it. He loves us in our chaos just as we love our little people in theirs—and far more.

God promises that as we pour ourselves out in this way, He will strengthen us and make us like a vibrant garden; one rich from being watered and cultivated by the Prince of Peace; one rich enough to endlessly pour out to others what He is pouring into us.

PRAYER

Lord, I want my spirit to long for You, yet I confess that my best intentions are sometimes hijacked by chaos. And, if I’m honest, sometimes set aside in favor of other priorities. Lord, help me to connect with You whenever and wherever You call to me. Help me to turn my thoughts to You even in the midst of the noise and listen for Your voice. And help me to hear and follow You always. Amen.