Quiet & Grace
Week 1
I would have loved to have this out to you sooner, and through this lesson learned, I’ve realized I cannot be Wonder Woman like I envision I am. My family and I had a wonderful, relaxing Christmas and an eventful New Year. This year has already shown me a lesson in patience, and that God’s timing is not always aligned with a calendar.
I truly enjoyed the 25 Days Till Christmas Calendar with you, and I look forward to many more devotions together in the coming year. I had every intention to use my time between Christmas and the New Year to write our January devotionals, but God had other plans.
A delay only shows that I am human and in fact NOT Wonder Woman, where imperfections will occur, haha…so without further delay, may we begin our journey together in 2026?
God’s Schedule
God’s timing is not ours; we must know that His timing is perfect and flawless. It’s our expectations and timelines that lead to disappointment, because we set ourselves up with a false narrative that God follows our schedule.
Hebrews 13:8 reminds us of this important fact:
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
God doesn’t change, but we do; we grow at different rates, through different seasons, and ages. I’ve tried those New Year resolutions of purging the house, getting rid of clutter, dusting every nook and cranny, buying all those containers to reorganize the clutter I didn’t part with, and so on. I’ve tried it all, and one thing I have realized is that this should be a time to be still; this helps set purpose and not performance.
Being Still Is Taking Action
With spring around the corner, we will start itching to get back outside, refresh our yards, and perhaps plan our garden. But the season we are in now is the one we should focus on. It’s great to have the feeling of refreshment and a new start, but we are still in the stillness of winter. Let us take a lesson from nature and be still ourselves. We aren’t in a hurry; we shouldn’t feel pressured to perform certain tasks just because our calendar has changed. Let us take this time to reflect, be still, and be in the calming presence of the Lord.
Taking a new approach this year, to be calm, reflect, and have more time in my schedule with God than a long to-do list that seems overwhelming and unachievable, is fulfilling. It’s great to plan ahead, but let us not overlook today while worrying about tomorrow, and instead enjoy what we currently have.
"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Matthew 6:34
There is a beautiful song titled “Many Things About Tomorrow” that we sing in service. Here are the lyrics. I encourage you to find it and listen to it; I’m sure it can be found on various websites.
I Don’t Know About Tomorrow,
I Just Live From Day To Day.
I Don’t Borrow From It’s Sunshine,
For It’s Skies May Turn To Gray.
I Don’t Worry Over The Future,
For I Know What Jesus Said,
And Today I’ll Walk Beside Him,
For He Knows What Is Ahead.
Many Things About Tomorrow,
I Don’t Seem To Understand;
But I Know Who Holds Tomorrow,
And I Know Who Holds My Hand.
Every Step Is Getting Brighter,
As The Golden Stairs I Climb;
Every Burden’s Getting Lighter;
Every Cloud Is Silver Lined.
There The Sun Is Always Shining,
There No Tear Will Dim The Eyes,
At The Ending Of The Rainbow,
Where The Mountains Touch The Sky.
I Don’t Know About Tomorrow,
It May Bring Me Poverty;
But The One Who Feeds The Sparrow,
Is The One Who Stands By Me.
And The Path That Be My Portion,
May Be Through The Flame Or Flood,
But His Presence Goes Before Me,
And I’m Covered With His Blood
Graceful with Purpose
So as we step into this week, may we remember to have grace with ourselves, be patient, kind, and forgiving. We are not meant to be at every event, occasion, nor are we meant to meet every societal expectation placed upon us. Let us be honest and listen deeper to what we need right now in the season we are in.
If you haven’t ever journaled, I encourage you to do so. This would be a great time to pour out all your thoughts, concerns, dreams, and even the things that are out of our control. Write it all out, pen to paper! We live in a digital world, but there’s something about getting pen to paper that is deeply satisfying, and it’s as if the words and thoughts are released. Be honest, this is for you and nobody else. If we aren’t honest with ourselves, then how can we humbly approach the throne of God?
Some things that can help you reflect on this first week:
What are some things I want to work on within myself? What steps can I take to achieve those goals?
Looking back over 2024, where have I grown spiritually? What would I like to continue to work on?
Are there past burdens that I am still carrying now from last year? Are these things that I can release, mentally and spiritually? Label them, write them down, and imagine putting them in a small boat to sail away and never to return.
How can I intentionally make more time in my schedule to be with God, to be still, and give Him my full, undivided attention?
Verse to memorize:
“Be still and know that I am God…” Psalm 46:10
Next week, we’ll reflect on what it means to be still before God, leaning into His presence rather than our plans—guided by His Word and the quiet of the season.
