JOY IN THE QUIET

If you haven’t heard, it’s BOOK MONTH over here! I am so excited for my first book, Grace Is Enough, to start hitting the shelves or showing up in your mailbox in just two short weeks! Pre-order here so you don’t miss out!

I didn’t know what to expect with a book launch, but let’s just say it’s been a little busier than normal over here. ;) Before I had my girls I was an elementary school teacher, but the last (almost) four years I have called myself a “stay at home mom”. And let’s be honest mamas, that’s more than a full-time job in itself. But now I find myself trying to juggle being fully present for my girls while also not missing any deadlines. I don’t ever want to find myself complaining because it has been such a special season of blessings, but there are times when I miss the quiet. Not the quiet when it comes to noise because come on, with two toddlers over here it’s NEVER quiet. ;) I’m talking about the quiet that comes in the mundane. You know, the quiet that we usually are wishing away.

I love being a stay at home mom. It’s not for everyone, but it is for me. It is a dream come true and I want to cherish everyday I get with these girls.

But that doesn’t mean I haven’t grown restless over doing the same thing day in and day out. That doesn’t mean I haven’t prayed something exciting would come around the corner. That doesn’t mean I haven’t wasted time scrolling on my phone to past the time on those days that just seem to stretch on forever.

I don’t think I’m alone in sometimes wishing those mundane days away or getting stuck in a “what’s next” mentality.

“If I can just into the right college, then I’ll find some real friends and have some real fun.”

“If I just get that job, then I’ll find my purpose.”

“If only I could find the right guy, then I’ll never feel alone.”

“If I have kids, then I’ll feel complete.”

And the list goes on.

But what if, instead of searching for a way out of our current season, we were present in it? What if we thrived in it, what if we took advantage of it? What if we found joy in the quiet?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having big dreams and big goals. Writing a book was a real life dream come true. But I believe the Lord was able to hand me that dream because I finally found peace and joy in the season I was living. I’m not going to toot my own horn and say I was always content in every season, but in the last couple of years I found my joy in those quiet, mundane days.

In the quiet we have the time and space to deeply root ourselves in our identity in Christ. It is in those days that He is preparing us for something if we allow Him. He is strengthening us, molding us, and creating a pure heart within us for His great plans.

In Mark 6, Jesus performs back to back miracles of feeding the five thousand (verses 30-44) and then walking on water (verses 45-56). He and His disciples were in busy seasons and doing big things. But before both miracles, Jesus first encourages the disciples to get some rest and then He ends up taking time to pray on His own as well.

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.  Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. - Mark 6:30-32

Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. - Mark 6:45-46

Jesus knew He needed that time to prepare for what was ahead. He knew He needed that quiet.

And we need that time too.

Don’t wish your quiet season away. Be strengthened by it. And if you’re in the middle of a chaotic season, make time for the quiet! It is in that quiet space you will find renewed energy for your soul.

There is joy to be found in the mundane. The days that seem boring or pointless are preparing you for something more. Your countenance and the way you handle that time will shape how well you handle the exciting and difficult seasons that are surely to come. Find your solid foundation in Christ now. Big things are just around the corner.