Just in time for Mother’s Day weekend, I’ve invited my friend Karen Ehman to share a devotional with us from her new book, Pressing Pause: 100 Quiet Moments for Moms to Meet with Jesus. We’re also giving away TWO COPIES of the book and one beautiful bracelet. Keeping reading to find out more.
As a little girl I loved being outdoors. I could often be found playing kickball with the neighborhood kids or riding my bike around the block. I liked to splash in puddles and jump in piles of leaves. There was one aspect, however, about being outside that I didn’t particularly care for: the critters.
Spiders were scary … dogs terrifying. And I couldn’t even bear the thought of snakes.
My intense fear of these creatures often kept me from fully engaging in play.
Unfortunately, even when I didn’t encounter creepy-crawlies outdoors, they occasionally wound up in my dreams at night. I would have the same reoccurring nightmare of snakes slithering toward me while I stood frozen, unable to run away. When I would wake up, I would be in a panic, heart wildly beating, palms sweating. I never thought my fears would go away until the one summer when I had no other choice.
The summer I turned 20, I took a job at a nature center teaching four-year-olds. It didn’t cross my mind that keeping company with critters would be a part of my duties. I had to capture insects to examine and release, scoop tadpoles to study pond life, and even hold the snakes that were kept in glass tanks in the main building.
Although everything in me wanted to run away, there were little eyes on me. So, I whispered a prayer for strength, pushed past my fears, and made those kids think I was a critter-lovin’ instructor whose calm demeanor (and lack of screaming!) showed them there was nothing to fear. If their teacher wasn’t freaking out, why should they?
Even though I worked through my fear that summer, as an adult now, I’m still tempted to “freak out” with fear. My imagination concocts all sorts of scenarios peppered with dread and doom. Sometimes I can’t shake fear as I try to fall asleep.
But I have come to trust this perspective-shifting truth: God is not worried. He’s not in heaven wringing His hands, wondering just how everything will eventually turn out. He is in control. He is loving.
God longs to use the circumstances of our lives to mold our mind, craft our character, and chase away the fears that threaten to slither in, paralyzing us and rendering us ineffective.
Ever the patient and wise teacher, if He isn’t freaking out, why should we?
Proverbs 3:24-26a is a sweet promise to us…
Now that passage doesn’t promise that we won’t ever encounter sudden disasters in life. But it does reassure us that we have no need to fear them. Why? Because the Lord—our gracious and wise teacher—is our security. He will be there to comfort and to guide as He teaches us the lessons we need to learn.
With God as our security, we can have calm in our present.
With God as our security, we can face the future without fear. And we can share this confidence we gain to inspire others, helping to keep them from unnecessary fret and worry.
Why it even helps me deal with little critters that get inside my house without squirming.
Well . . . without squirming too much.
Enter to Win
We are giving away two Pressing Pause devotionals and a beautiful bracelet from Fashion & Compassion. Written by my dear friends Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk, Pressing Pause: 100 Quiet Moments to Meet with Jesus offers us a calm way to start our day, to refresh ourselves in Christ and drink deeply of His presence so we are ready to pour out love, time, and energy into the people who matter most!
These 100 encouraging devotions for moms has helped me start each day with Scripture, drawing on God’s power, soaking up His Word, and learning practical ways to love and 
serve my family more like Christ each day. And one of my favorite features is the set of questions and optional journaling or notes area at the end of each day’s devotional.
Just a few minutes each day can help you center your heart and mind on what God has for you as His beloved daughter. So resist the rush. Halt the hustle. Press pause and find some calm in the chaos.
TO ENTER TO WIN simply click “Share Your Thoughts” below today’s post and do just that. Your comment will be your entry into the drawing! Two winners will be chosen and contacted on Monday, May 9th.
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I love this reminder to “Be still and KNOW that I am God…”; and “Don’t let your ❤️ be troubled”….thanks friends!
Thank you for your words today. It was such a good reminder that God is in control and I don’t have to be. I want to trust in him completely.
Would love the encouraging moments I encourage a group of women everyday this would come in handy thanks.
Of course, I would like to win! I still have fears of those crawly creatures. If we do not watch it, worry will take control and that is not good! That is a great devotional!!
Oh WOW~ How MUCH I needed this reminder that GOD is not afraid and He’s in control!! I truly (sad to admit) live so fearful of almost anything and everything regarding my kids. I know this is NOT what God wants for me or for THEM, yet I struggle sooooo badly with just letting GO and letting God have them 100% Its something I’ve prayed about over and over and still just feel so bound by. I want to be free of this completely paralyzing emotion. I am afraid it’s affecting THEIR life and the way they will one day parent their own children. I want to feel that freedom that comes living in pure PEACE. Thank you for your prayers and for this reminder today!!
It’s so difficult sometimes to turn over our fears and worries. Thanks for the reminder that God’s always got up in his arms!
I was particularly touched by the notion that the verse in Proverbs 3 didn’t say sudden disasters would not occur in our lives. It said don’t be afraid of them. Just as Romans 8:28 doesn’t say bad things won’t happen; it does say that everything (bad or good–my own emphasis) would WORK OUT for the good of those (here comes the qualifier) who love the LORD. I’ve never lost everything to a flood or a fire or an earthquake but I was struck by some of those people who were victims being interviewed on the news about their loss. I understand that it was all they had, but my own heart knows that stuff is just stuff and what a witness we could have if, WHEN we go through trials (James) we remember what an opportunity we have to witness for Christ. Mama always said that my life might be the only Bible some people read.
I picked up Renee’s book A Confident Heart and am really moved at how much I am relating to her message (which I am still reading). My parents divorced when I was 5 and Mom’s second marriage was very scary. I didn’t grow up with my Dad (he also raised another family) and that left a huge vacuum. My efforts to follow the Lord have resulted in a gross misunderstanding of the Gospel for many years, which impacted my husband and children, and for myself ongoing struggling with depression., Now I am seeing light in the Lord instead of Him not being ever pleased with me. A kind woman helped me pray through a particularly difficult memory, and asking the Lord for a greater filling of His Holy Spirit, which now I can see I can do with other memories and issues. 2 of my 3 children, however have walked away from the Lord at this time, and are in grievous circumstances. I couldn’t be enough for anyone in my family, though I tried with everything I had, and no one understood the struggles. Now I am trusting Jesus to redeem and be enough…condemnation is lifting to rest, trust, and peace in the midst of the deep trials. Your book has been encouraging me.
What perfect timing for this. I just looked at my calendar and realized the speech that my son volunteered me for school about my job is next week! I haven known for a month. The closer it gets the more nervous I get and start to question myself why I agreed 🙂 But I realize that this is actually what I want to get involved in my line of work, educating the public. I survived speech class, for this moment. I have survived intense training, for this moment. I am going to talk about what I love. About my calling. So why am I so afraid?!?! I will definitely keep the verse mentioned above, Proverbs 3:24-26a, in mind for the next week.
Thank you Renee. I love your inspiration. I love this story. I too am afraid of snakes & spiders.
Happy mother’s day!!
This couldn’t be more on time or target with me personally. Worry, fear, dread.. these are all words that are frequent in my mind and ones that cause me a great deal of inability to focus, and the inability to fully step out in faith and trusting in God. It would be wonderful to have this devotional as a gentle nudge and reminder that God is always along side me no matter what I face that may cause those feelings. The world is quick to offer panic, chaos, and confusion but in those moments with Jesus he always offers a peace that can’t be bought with money. If I don’t win this is something that will make a gift list for my birthday or Christmas for sure!
Thank you for sharing today. Happy Mother’s day everyone…
What a great reminder! Thanks! 🙂
Thanks so much for this timely truth! Would love a copy of the book – thanks!
I always enjoy your devotionals Renee! Thank you!
I just ordered a copy of Karen’s book to use as a giveaway on my website (Pausing to See God Clearly). It is just wonderful and I am convinced many women will connect with her words.
That said, I would love to win a copy for me 🙂
I am also trusting the Lord thru circumstances……
Beautiful!
Happy mothers day to you all!
That’s really thkiinng of the highest order
we eat foods with so much preservatives now unlike back then that when we die our bodies will be preserved for hundreds of years:) When I think of canned food or processed foods it kind of creeps me out.
What a great inspiring message!! Thank you!
I am not a spider or snake kind of girl.either. I would love to get the book to read then pass on to someone else to learn too. I have a friend who is a busy mom aND she has been such end encouragement to me that I would like to give her something to encourage her. Thank you for this opportunity.
Working on pausing