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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The right words at the right time. Thank you for sharing ,I truly enjoy reading and rereading each one you send and apply it to my life and have shared with others. I have had a challenging last couple of weeks and when I calm my anxiety and pray Lord search my heart and help me let go of my fears..what a calming He gives. Help me to find the devotional so I so could use.
Okay I’m codenncvi. Let’s put it to action.
Please remember Bro. Lambert he needs our prayers! He has a broken leg and ankle, we know God can take care of this and heal that bone back. we love you bro.Lambert
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I would like to thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I’m hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own blog now. Actually the blogging is spreading its wings fast. Your write up is a great example of it.
2 Samuel 22:33 is my go to verse every time I fear something.
Renee, I would love to share this devotional with my daughter…a single working mom with 3 children…the oldest being medically fragile. I know she finds it challenging to spend time with God and this excerpt gives me a glimpse of hearing God’s Word and living it out in real life. Thx for the opportunity to win! God bless all moms this Mothers day!
What a great book!
I frequently feel like my life would be a lot easier if I could turn off my brain so I wouldn’t be paralyzed by anxiety and negativity! Of course, I can’t do that, but I can turn to God and rely on Him to change my thoughts or help me overcome them. This devotional was a great reminder of that fact. I’d love to read more!
I pray for inner strength that only God can help me with. I pray that God will help me find the time to grow in him.
The power to heal without medication is through God. I would love to win this book!
A month ago I noticed a lump on my toddlers neck but didn’t think much of it. I pointed it out to my husband tonight and he said it’s getting bigger and to call the doctor. Of course their office was closed and of course I googled ‘lump on neck’. I’ve spent the past three hours crying off and on and am so scared. My spiritual gift is faith and I’m terrified of being tested. Please pray for my baby.
Praying for you and your baby. Praying it’s just a swollen lymph node and nothing to be concerned about. In Jesus Name, amen!!
Thanks Renee and Karen for the giveaway. It sounds like the perfect one for this weekend on Mother’s Day. I can so identify with fears. I was fearful of so many things growing up and still have fears to this day. I want to honor God by trusting Him with all my fears. My husband has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and my life is starting to fill up with so many uncertainties. That old saying that what doesn’t kill us will make us strong. I want to be strong in the Lord and resist the devil. He has no place in my life now or forever. God bless you all. I pray for that inner strength that only God can give us.
this would be a lovely gift for my daughter Breanne who is pregnant with her first child. she is a worrier and i hope this would bring her calming thoughts that all will be well.
I would love to win a book and read more devotions like this one ~ inspiring! 🙂
Wow! ,I can really relate. As a little girl, I too was fearful of critters, dogs and especially snakes. I not only had bad dreams about those, but I also would often wake up and see a strange figure in my room which would paralyze me, heart beating out of my chest, sweat pouring down my brow. I would lay motionless for at least an hour, until I got up the courage to look and see if the figure was still there. They were always gone. I am very thankful I outgrew those fears, but being a grown-up and Mom raises different fears. Knowing God is always with me has helped to calm my fears.
I want to Press Pause!
Being mindful of His promises brings peace. thank you so much…..
I would love to win a copy of this book. I am a homeschool mom, and I also work part time at our town library. Between this and just taking care of my family, I am always looking for great devotionals to inspire me. Thank you, Renee, for your inspirational thoughts.
Please pray for me since you have overcome your fear of “squirming” things. I don’t fear much, I know God is with me. I’ve know the Lord intimately for more than 37 years, but still I cannot overcome my fear of these “squirmy” things. Please pray. On a happier note, I love reading, studying, and sharing God’s word, in any way, shape or form. I always pass along my devotionals and bible studies when I’m finished… that is, if they’re not too marked up. Then, I usually just buy them a copy for themselves. Thank you for sharing your story; it gives me both hope and encouragement. Blessings!
What a beautiful way to put it! Always calm in the face of children… Being a child of God, I love how His Word speaks to every situation in our lives. Trust in Him and He will always make a way. Thank you for sharing.
Devotionals are a wonderful way to learn more about the Lord Jesus and keep our thoughts focused on Him throughout the day! Enjoy the Proverbs 31 ministries and how they reach out to encourage women everywhere. Mat the Lord bless you!
I am grateful for our Heavenly Father, Who cares about our big AND small fears.
As I read this all I could think of was my fear of snakes. I was a teacher for 40 years and when it was time for snakes to visit, I was either absent or left the room. I cannot imagine how you were able to handle them. I know God is with me but …