How do we find peace, sanity and safety in the midst of the chaos in our lives as working moms?
I recognize this feeling... I have been here before. My friends and I call it spinning or spiralling...the racing thoughts. Most of which I can't put my finger on. They are going by so fast that they are just quick images or words that make my chest feel tight and kind of make me feel like I want to cry. Let's see if I can give you an idea.
- My adult daughter is getting sick so often... I wonder if I have any remedies to offer?
- My dog won't stop licking and scratching her paw pads - do I need to do something about that?
- I have to respond to the unanswered email if I am taking part in the project or not.
- I need to outline the history of the maternity home project to date for the Board.
- That closet has a broken bottle shattered on the floor amongst all the dust and junk.
- We need to organize the extended family gathering for a late Thanksgiving.
- I need to manage my money better.
- We are out of salt.
- I think I may have hurt her feelings when I rushed past her so quick in the store.
- Did I answer dad's text?
- The floor feels gritty beneath my feet. When will I have time to vacuum?
- Why can't I catch a deep breath?
- I have split ends. I need a trim.
- I wonder if I have been a good enough mom... I worry I haven't been. I could have done better.
- I need to call CRA back to talk about the taxes I owe. Will I get in trouble?
- I still haven't processed all the garden produce.
- My foot is aching. How long will this pain last?
- on and on and on...
I feel like I have more to manage than I can manage.
I didn't used to know where to turn. I grew up as a Christian. I accepted Christ into my heart, receiving His forgiveness as a little girl. I loved Jesus, but I only feel like I have been getting to know Him the past few years.
It always amazes me how it takes deep dark valleys and piles of tears to bring us to seeking that peace that passes understanding.
Anyone else longing for a little "peace that passes understanding"? (Philippians 4:7)
Friends, we were never meant to do it all! While I haven't discovered a way to snap my fingers and call on a host of angels to step in and start taking care of the dogs paws, my daughter's illness, my broken glass in the closet, picking up the groceries for me.... AND I haven't figured out how to do it all... I HAVE experienced the peace that passes understanding.
Psalm 23 is a favorite passage of mine. I didn't used to appreciate it in the same way as I do now.
In 2001, when I was getting married (for the first time) I had asked my dad last minute if he would read some scripture. We had a Justice of the Peace officiating the wedding and I wanted a little piece of the wedding to mention something about my faith, even though I was not really walking in my faith at the time. I still wanted that dear, old comfort of His word. So my dad got up at the front during the wedding and he started to read Psalm 23. Up to that point, I had considered that Psalm to be the FUNERAL Psalm! "yay though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..." I didn't consider it a WEDDING Psalm! What was he thinking??
I knew dad was caught off guard by my "quickly sprung on everyone" wedding, but I was shocked my adored, gentle dad would have the nerve to make such a passive-aggressive move! I thought he was insinuating that me marrying this man at this time was like a funeral for me. Talk about spinning and spiralling inside! I was only 23 at the time and I had not yet realized the deep comfort, help and beautiful sense of being carried and loved by Jesus that this Psalm offered to me on any given day, not just at a funeral.
I laugh now at the thought that my dad was pulling some manipulative move when I had never known him to manipulate before. It is amazing the things we realize as we mature.
I find such healing comfort in going through Psalm 23 verse by verse. I pause as I read each verse and just sit there, asking the Holy Spirit to give me revelation insight of what this verse means for me in this moment. I picture what is happening in the verse and what it means.
As you read what I wrote below this, I encourage you to take a deep, relaxing breath and sit still for a moment as you read. May it help you today - especially if you are finding yourself spinning and spiralling a little with all you are facing.
(This is taken from the New Living Testament)
“The Lord is my shepherd, I have all that I need” (some versions say “I shall not want”)
To me this means I have a Shepherd who is watching over me. I don't need to wish any longer that someone would step in and do the adulting for a change. My Good Shepherd is doing the adulting, I just need to be His sheep in His pasture, trusting, protected, and taken care of. Even when there are dangers, disappointments and terrible things in my world, my Good Shepherd is taking care of me and He is providing all that I need.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I have all that I need” (some versions say “I shall not want”)
To me this means I have a Shepherd who is watching over me. I don't need to wish any longer that someone would step in and do the adulting for a change. My Good Shepherd is doing the adulting, I just need to be His sheep in His pasture, trusting, protected, and taken care of. Even when there are dangers, disappointments and terrible things in my world, my Good Shepherd is taking care of me and He is providing all that I need.
I can trust Him. Even if it looks awful and scary and disappointing and overwhelming and unfair, the Good Shepherd has me.
“He lets me rest in green meadows."
Even in the chaos of the world, when I am with my Shepherd, He is giving me this sweet rest in my soul in green meadows. I hear the chirps of the birds, feel the warmth of the sun, smell the fresh meadow grass, hear the buzz of the bees, feel the gentle breeze on my skin and I rest in the green meadow in my soul with my Good Shepherd. I feel the peace of this beautiful, comforting place He has for me in the midst of it all.
“He lets me rest in green meadows."
Even in the chaos of the world, when I am with my Shepherd, He is giving me this sweet rest in my soul in green meadows. I hear the chirps of the birds, feel the warmth of the sun, smell the fresh meadow grass, hear the buzz of the bees, feel the gentle breeze on my skin and I rest in the green meadow in my soul with my Good Shepherd. I feel the peace of this beautiful, comforting place He has for me in the midst of it all.
"He leads me beside peaceful streams”
He is leading me. I just need to follow Him. In my parenting, my job, my housework, my volunteering, my cooking - He is leading me and it is right beside a peaceful stream. It is NOT my chaos as I follow His leading it. It is calm, quiet, soothing next to that stream as I see Him ahead of me and I hold His hand. The chaos may be around me, in a tangle of confusing brush right next to that stream, but the chaos is not in me, touching me, or harming me because I am following as my Good Shepherd leads me.
“He renews my strength” (some versions say “He restores my soul”)
When I am depleted, sad, dejected, drained… He is renewing my strength. I CAN go forth because even when the circumstances tell me one thing, my Shepherd is renewing my strength and I am going to be ok. I can rest in Him. He is building me back up.
“He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name”
Where do I go now? Where will I end up? My Shepherd is guiding me and He is God Almighty. He knows the right path I should take and He guides me there as I hold onto Him, even in the dark. One step at a time. I don't know the destination. I just know He has me on the right path because He is bringing honor to His name. He is not going to let His name be smeared out of my story. I can trust Him.
“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid for You are close beside me.”
“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid for You are close beside me.”
I am untouchable. Nothing can touch me unless it’s part of God’s master plan for me, His beloved sheep. He will not let me be destroyed. Even if it looks like I might be destroyed. He is holding me through the valley.
“Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me”
He is going to beat the heck out of anyone who tries to destroy me. I am safe. He will knock anything out of the way or keep it at bay because I am His child. He is protecting and guarding me like a good shepherd does. He can also use that staff to pull in whatever provisions He knows I need. I take comfort in His loving protection and comfort of me.
“You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies”
I see my enemies coming. The pressures of life. The people who want to hurt me. The massive disappointments, the brokenness, the overwhelm… I see it all there. They are staring me down. And my Shepherd has prepared a beautiful feast for me and I get to eat it in safety as my enemies watch!! I am being not only sustained, strengthened and nourished by the food, I get to do it with my Shepherd demonstrating His all powerful and loving care of me in front of my enemies.
“Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me”
He is going to beat the heck out of anyone who tries to destroy me. I am safe. He will knock anything out of the way or keep it at bay because I am His child. He is protecting and guarding me like a good shepherd does. He can also use that staff to pull in whatever provisions He knows I need. I take comfort in His loving protection and comfort of me.
“You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies”
I see my enemies coming. The pressures of life. The people who want to hurt me. The massive disappointments, the brokenness, the overwhelm… I see it all there. They are staring me down. And my Shepherd has prepared a beautiful feast for me and I get to eat it in safety as my enemies watch!! I am being not only sustained, strengthened and nourished by the food, I get to do it with my Shepherd demonstrating His all powerful and loving care of me in front of my enemies.
“You honor me by anointing my head with oil, my cup overflows with blessings. Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life and I will life in the house of the Lord forever.”
I am His precious, beloved one. He anoints me by equipping, qualifying and validating me for everything He calls me to today.
He is giving me supernatural empowering even in terrible circumstances. He is calling me into the purposes He created me for. He is giving me more blessings than I can even realize! I am being pursued with such a strong love and only goodness. Everything else dims in the face of His love and goodness. And this is not just for today. It is for ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE. No one and nothing can take me away from the house of the Lord.
I cannot go through that exercise, slowly, verse by verse without encountering profound peace and victory, superseding the circumstances of my life. The chaos dims and fades away as I rest in the truth that Jesus is loving, guiding, holding and protecting me through all the crazy. The crazy is no match for Him!
Now I can carry on and just do one thing at a time, trusting that it is enough for now, because I am so very loved and I have the peace that passes understanding. Bless you.
If you find it challenging to get into the headspace of being ready for quiet time, you can download my free "Quiet Your Mind" tip sheet. Calm your environment, calm your senses, harness your thoughts and communing with the Lord.
I am saying a prayer for you as you read this. Please reach out if you would like to talk with me more about this blog post and/or Jesus.
Below, are a few things that I enjoy using in my quiet time with the Lord as I grow closer to Him. We don't NEED any of them. They are extras and they are just handy little tools that are nice to have. The main things you NEED are God's Word (the Bible) and some time to be quiet in prayer and reading His Word and a heart willing to be transformed and renewed.
If you click on my affiliates/advertisers links, I am going to receive a tiny commission at no extra charge to you. The products that I advertise are ones I believe in.
Journals to write favorite verses, insights the Lord gives me, prayer requests, to do lists as things come to mind and I need to get them out of my head onto paper so I can get back to focussing on my quiet time.
Bible highlighters that don't smear, smudge, bleed or go through the page so you can highlight the verses that come to life in your soul as you read or verses you would like to memorize. Order Bible Highlighters
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This is a book that helped me journey through some of the stuff that had been keeping me broken and stuck in patterns. This book led me through Bible verses, truths and tools that helped me heal in my soul, through Jesus Christ. My quiet time became a lot more intimate and connected once I allowed the Lord to clean out some of those wounds in my soul. Order Soul Care Book 
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