How to live in joy and peace

I see you, sweet friend. Hiding behind the couch with that last piece of cake. It’s okay. I won’t tell your kids, I promise. As long as you don’t tell mine. Truth be told, that last piece of cake is sometimes less like a mere combination of pantry ingredients and more like an exotic vacation. I take a bite and suddenly I’m sitting on a bench in a park in Paris, gazing at the freshly bloomed cherry blossom trees at sunset. Cue the kids to come racing in at this exact moment yelling, “I want a bite! No me first! You already had two pieces this morning!” Goodbye Paris. Hello reality and 3 children begging for my one slice of heaven.

Aren’t we all looking for that little piece of sanity in our day? Something that will take away all the whining, complaining, question asking, and exhaustion, even just for a moment.

When my oldest was a baby, my saving-grace was nap-time. Not just for her, but for me also! As soon as I gave birth to her, I became an official stay at home mom, a career that was totally new to me. This was a huge blessing and an answer to prayer, and also an exhausting task. I had no idea before becoming a mom just how demanding the job truly is. I had been a nanny for years prior to this, but nothing had truly prepared me for the fact that I would now be waiting hand-and-foot on a tiny human who would be attached to my side for 99% of her waking hours. I found myself drained at the end of every day, and was desperate for some relief. Well, I found that relief in a big, fat nap every afternoon around 2 pm. It was a struggle to make it through the morning, but what sweet relief it was to hit the lights and find comfort in that cold, soft pillow right after lunchtime. But as beautiful and drool-worthy as those naps were, I would awake and go right back into the grind of motherhood, still feeling the weight of my calling.

It’s funny how the things we run to for a little relief, often only last for a few minutes, hours if we’re lucky, and then we’re brought back to the demands of our position. We eat that last piece of cake and then are thrown back into the whirlwind of the afternoon plans of running kids to and from practice, cooking dinner, and getting everyone to bed.

2 minutes of peace. 2 minutes of joy. 2 minutes of rest.

Gone.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have something that lasts a little longer? Wouldn’t it be nice to feel that patience, joy, and peace throughout the day, instead of hopping in and out of them like a tourist in a taxi?

There’s hope for us, friend! No wait, more than hope. There’s a promise! In John 15:5 Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Did you catch that? YOU WILL bear much fruit. If we remain in him throughout our busy day, if we choose to abide in him, and if our hearts are surrendered towards him, we will bear much fruit.

What’s this fruit we speak of? The fruits of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 “ But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control...”

Sound like something you can use? Me too. Abiding in Jesus is going to be the best decision you make as a mom. I guarantee it. Don’t wait another day, friend, this piece of cake is unlike anything you’ve ever tasted.

Oh but just to clear the air, it’s still totally okay to that last piece of cake, and maybe even hide it from your kids.

Ready to get started? Learn how to spend more time with Jesus in your already crammed day and then take the challenge.