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 believe Pressing Pause is something we, as females, wives, mothers, grandmothers, caregivers, all of the above, need to do to be what God has created us to be. We are so busy taking care of everyone else that we forget to stop and listen to his ever present voice. We need to remember that the same hand that placed the stars in the sky is the same one, resting on our shoulder, 24/7. Thanks for reminding us!
Pressing Pause is something that I need to do constantly with two boys! Thanks for the reminder!
I definitely need to learn how to press pause especially while I Keep It Shut, Karen Lehman! Beautiful reminder
I try to remember God’s up all night, I shouldn’t be if I give it to him!
Thanks for the encouraging word!
Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. Learning to press pause and enjoy the moment is always hard for us moms. I’m learning to not feel guilty about me time.
Thank you for the encouraging and inspiring emails. Happy Mother’s Day to all!
So good to be reminded that God is always aware of our circumstances and has things under His control.
I really enjoy reading all your devotions. I try to share them with friends also.
The Lord bless you!!!
Reminds me of the old saying ” there is nothing to fear but fear itself” My dad use to say ” there is nothing in the dark that’s not in the light the only difference is you just can’t see it” We may not see what’s coming but God knows all about it! He knows where we are going and He is already there. Love this devotional I needed to be reminded of these beautiful truths.
Yes, remembering that God is in control brings me immeasurable peace and comfort.
The Lord is our security! I love this. Thanks for the beautiful reminder.
Theer’s nothing like the relief of finding what you’re looking for.
I would love this book!
What a great proverb to counter any fear we may have! It’s a keeper to memorize for sure.
Thanks Renee, for such a good word.
Hello, it sounds like a very nice book. I would love to read and learn from it. Thank you for you inspiration.
Renee Schuitemaker
I remember being pregnant, scared out of my mind, I was with my best friend and her daughter. I had prayed before we went shopping for a sign, my “niece”, best friends daughter, ran to be and said, “Aunty Wizzy, wook, wook!” There, this precious two year old, was showing me a sign above the door as we entered, “Do not fear, I am with thee.” Wonder, amazing, and an answer. God was using this little angel to help me find my strength and know that everything was going to be ok!
Love messages of hope!
Just what I needed to hear today. I’ve had trouble sleeping, worrying/fearful of the troubles in my family. I would love this book to read more devotions on being calm in Jesus
You are not alone in your dislike of snakes! I’m right there with you. The perfect devotional for me today. Thank you.
Thank you so much. I get worries and anxious alot. I really need to remember this
Loved reading the devotion with the precious verse from Proverbs. Thanks so much!
Second thing I’ve read referencing snakes tonight!