Devotional #3- Day 5: Rest in the Shadow
Opening Stillness
Settle in. God invites you to rest, not brace yourself.
Scripture (ESV) English Standard Version
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” - Psalm 91:1
Reflection
Peace doesn’t come from pretending the storm isn’t real. It comes from remembering who is sovereign over it.
God placed eternity in your heart. He knows your fears, your questions, and your weariness. And He invites you - not to panic - but to dwell. To stay close. To rest under His covering.
So get somewhere and sit down, baby.
Be still.
God is working.
Soul Question
What would it look like for you to rest in God’s presence today?
Prayer
God, help me dwell with You instead of worrying ahead. Teach me to rest in Your care and trust Your work.
Closing Invitation
Sit quietly with Psalm 91. Let it steady your breathing and quiet your thoughts.
Devotional #3 - Day 4: What Cannot Be Shaken
Opening Stillness
Breathe deeply. God’s Word still stands.
Scripture (ESV) English Standard Version
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” - Matthew 24:35
Reflection
Building crumble. Reputations crack. Everything that can be shaken eventually will be.
But not the Word of God.
What He said.
What He promised.
What He declared.
When everything else feels unstable, His Word remains untouched and undefeated. It is the anchor beneath our feet when the ground feels uncertain.
Soul Question
What promise of God do you need to hold onto today?
Prayer
Thank You, God, for your unchanging Word. Teach me to anchor my life in what cannot be shaken.
Closing Invitation
Read the verse again slowly. Let it anchor you.
Devotional #3- Day 3: History is Unfolding
Opening Stillness
Let go of urgency. God is not rushed.
Scripture (ESV) English Standard Version
“I am God, and there is no other…declaring the end from the beginning.” - Isaiah 46:9-10 (excerpt)
Reflection
What feels sudden to us has been unfolding all along.
The curtain wasn’t ripped open- it was being raised. Slowly. Deliberately. Scene by scene. Nothing is catching God off guard. What looks like chaos to human eyes is still moving according to a divine timeline.
That truth steadies the soul.
Faith isn’t pretending we don’t see what’s happening. It’s trusting the One who already knows how the story ends.
Soul Question
Where do you need to trust God’s timing instead of fearing the Moment-.?
Prayer
God, help me rest in the truth that You are sovereign. Calm my fears with Your perspective.
Closing Invitation
Picture God holding all of history - past, present, and future - in His hands.
Devotional #3- Day 2: When Love Grows Cold
Opening Stillness
Exhale. You don’t have to carry the weight of the world this morning.
Scripture (ESV) English Standard Version
“And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” - Matthew 24:12
Reflection
Some verses don’t whisper - they chill you.
We look around and see compassion fading, conscience dulled, and ambition louder than humility. It can feel sobering, even heartbreaking, to watch Scripture play out in real time.
But noticing the cold doesn’t mean we surrender to it. God never asked us to fix everything - we are called to remain faithful, tender, and awake.
Soul Question
Where have you felt discouraged by what you see in the world?
Prayer
Lord, guard my heart from growing cold. Keep me soft, even when the world feels hard.
Closing Invitation
Place your hand over your heart and ask God to renew love where it’s grown weary.
Devotional #3-Day 1: Get Somewhere and Sit Down”
Opening Stillness
Take a breath. Let your body settle into this moment. You are safe to pause.
Scripture (ESV) English Standard Version
“Be still, and know that I am God.” - Psalm 46:10
Reflection
As a child, fear used to rise fast - storms on the horizon, imagination running wild. But right in the middle of all that worry, a calm voice would break through: “Get somewhere and sit down. God is working.”
And somehow, that was enough.
Stillness didn’t erase the storm. It reminded the heart who was in charge of it.
Even now, the world can feel loud and unsettling. Headlines blare. Voices compete. Anxiety tries to hurry us along. But the invitation remains the same: stop striving, stop spiraling, and remember -God is still God.
Soul Question
What has been stirring fear or restlessness in you lately?
Prayer
God, slow my thoughts and steady my heart. Help me trust You enough to be still, even when my mind wants to run ahead.
Closing Invitation
Sit quietly for one minute. Let Stillness be an act of trust.
Be Still… Even If You’re Side-Eyeing the News (Faith, Fear, and the Headlines)
I remember as a child being so afraid of storms. I would almost become physically ill the moment I heard my parents announce that the weatherman said there was a storm on the horizon. I’ve always had an active imagination, so my mind would immediately race to the worst of what could happen.
But right in the middle of my thoughts going haywire, one of my parents would calmly say:
“Get somewhere and sit down. God is working.”
And somehow, that was enough.
So that’s what I say to anyone reading this today.
In the midst of all that we wake up to each morning—the headlines, the noise, the uncertainty—be still, and know… God is working.
Every day we wake up to news—and people—that somehow feel worse than the day before. We see elected leaders anxious to slap their names on buildings, plaques, and projects, desperate to preserve who they are in this life. As if concrete could remember them forever. As if brass plates could outlive eternity.
We see others bending to the basest of human desires and unchecked imaginations, after slowly dulling the voice of their own conscience. Compassion has quietly packed its bags. Love has slipped out the back door. And here we are—living in that sobering moment in history where Scripture no longer sounds symbolic, but painfully accurate:
“The love of many has grown cold.”
That verse doesn’t whisper—it chills you straight to the bone.
People seem far more concerned about whether their name is etched into stone than whether it’s written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. But mama has lived long enough to know better. Buildings crumble. Men fall. Reputations crack. And everything that can be shaken—eventually will be.
Everything.
And everyone.
Every day, I cling to the hope that my faith in Jesus will not fail me as I watch mankind say and do things I could never have imagined growing up. There are moments when it feels disorienting—like the world I knew quietly changed while no one rang the alarm.
But now I understand something I didn’t before.
The curtain wasn’t suddenly ripped open.
It was being raised.
Slowly. Deliberately. Each act in history revealed in its appointed time. Scene by scene. Truth by truth. What once hid in the shadows has stepped into the light—not because it suddenly appeared, but because the hour came for it to be seen.
And oddly enough, that realization steadies me.
Because this hasn’t caught God off guard.
History isn’t spiraling—it’s unfolding.
What feels like chaos to us is still moving on a divine timetable. Faith isn’t pretending we don’t see what’s happening; it’s trusting the One who already knows how the story ends.
This heaven and earth we see—touch—fight over—will pass away. The only thing that will remain untouched, unmoved, and undefeated is the Word of God.
What God said.
What God declared.
What God promised.
And one day, every single person will recognize that truth.
Why?
Because God placed eternity in the heart of every human being. Somewhere deep within us, beneath the noise and ambition and self-preservation, we know. We know there is a holy God who exists. A Creator who made us for Himself. A God who loved us enough to send His Son, Jesus, to rescue us—not just from sin, but from the lowest and most self-destructive versions of ourselves.
Heaven made it simple, even when religion tried to complicate it.
It only takes a sincere, heartfelt belief—that Jesus was sent, that He came to save, and that He came for you.
That’s why John the Baptist didn’t hesitate. He didn’t care whether they applauded or rolled their eyes. He had no problem being that voice—crying out truth in the wilderness, whether it was welcomed or ignored.
Truth has never needed a fan club.
And today, I join my voice with his.
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” — Psalm 91:1
Maybe your nerves are all over the place, like mine used to be, as you watch the turmoil of this world unfold. If so, let me gently recommend a healthy dose of Psalm 91. Read it slowly. Sit with it. Let it steady your breathing and quiet your thoughts.
Peace doesn’t come from pretending the storm isn’t real—
it comes from remembering Who is sovereign over it.
So get somewhere and sit down, baby.
Be still.
God is working.
Some of Y’all Are Still Choking on Bones
Growing up in a small town in Arkansas, some of my neighbors loved fishing the lakes and riverbanks. When they visited my parents, they often came bearing edible gifts—crappie, perch, even buffalo fish. My mama would bread and fry those little fish into a nice midday meal.
Those meals are some of my sweetest memories. Not just because the fish was good—but because it always came with a warning from my daddy.
Inevitably, one of us kids would get poked or end up with a tiny bone stuck in our throat. Without missing a beat, Daddy would say,
“Y’all need to learn how to eat fish.”
We’d look at him, confused, waiting on the lesson.
“Eat the meat,” he’d say. “Spit out the bones.”
Now, if you knew my daddy, you knew nothing he said was ever just about what he was talking about. Fish was never really fish. It was friends. Family. Folks. Jobs. Life.
And someone might be wondering—how did we get those bones unstuck when they caught in our throats? Daddy had an answer for that too. He’d calmly say,
“Eat some bread.”
And sure enough, that soft bread would help push the bone on down. Simple. Practical. Effective. Just like most real wisdom.
That little phrase followed me long after I left home. Over time, I realized Daddy was teaching us discernment—how to take what nourishes you from an experience and let go of what might choke you if you hold on too long. And when something does get stuck? Sometimes you don’t panic—you apply something soft, steady, and grounding to help you move forward.
I’ve used that wisdom more times than I can count. It’s one of the main reasons I don’t hold grudges. I glean what I can, learn the lesson, and release the rest. I refuse to chew on bones that don’t feed me.
I’ve watched more than my share of people waste good years of their lives being miserable and bitter over a perceived disservice, betrayal, or broken relationship. They stay focused on what they think they were owed, instead of pausing long enough to discern what they gained—or what they were actually spared from enduring.
Sometimes the loss wasn’t punishment.
Sometimes it was protection.
And sometimes… it was mercy dressed up like disappointment.
I used to teach preschoolers, and one thing I know for sure is that children are little sponges. They soak up everything—good habits, bad habits, and emotional cues we think they aren’t paying attention to. Trust me. They are.
Every morning at drop-off, not just in my classroom but throughout the building, you could hear the chorus of cries as parents left their children in our care. One day it dawned on me: these babies needed to learn how to be good fish eaters early in life.
So I told them I had a BIG JOB for them to do. Their eyes lit up—because children love responsibility almost as much as snacks.
I told them that when their parents dropped them off, they were in charge of giving one hug, one kiss, and one gentle push out the door.
Then we created a classroom mantra:
“Parents always come back.”
I’d ask them questions:
“Do you like your toys?”
“Do you like snacks?”
“Do you like books?”
When they said yes, I explained that parents had to go to work—and school helped make all those good things possible. Would crying make their parents come back faster? No. But being brave helped everybody.
We practiced this every single day. And before long, when a new student joined the class, the children didn’t panic—they coached them.
“It’s okay,” they’d say. “Parents always come back.”
Now that’ll preach.
Some of my coworkers used to ask how I got two- and three-year-olds to walk quietly down the hall to chapel in a straight line, hands neatly behind their backs. I told them the secret wasn’t control—it was purpose.
I explained to the children that the janitor had a big job, too: keeping our walls clean and white. And our job was to help him. So we added another mantra:
“Hands to self.”
And then we practiced.
And practiced.
And practiced some more.
Consistency taught them what chaos never could. Respect became a habit, not a punishment. Responsibility became something they carried with pride.
I believe one of the reasons we see so much insecurity and fractured identity today is because whole generations were never taught resilience. They were never taught how to discern what to hold onto—and what to let go of.
Simply put, some folks were never taught how to eat fish.
Even as adults, we still have to practice character, resilience, and respect. These things don’t magically appear with age. They’re learned, repeated, and chosen daily.
Scripture puts it this way:
“But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
Hebrews 5:14
That word trained matters. Training takes time. Repetition. Intention. And sometimes a little correction when you’re chewing on the wrong thing.
Mama wisdom Reflection:
Not everything that happened to you was meant to stay with you. Some things were lessons, not luggage.
Choose what feeds you.
Put the rest down.
- Mama Wisdom 🐟🍞
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If you’d like to sit with this theme a little longer, the 5-day devotional “The Wisdom of Letting Go,” was written to help you practice this truth day by day.
Devotional #2 - Day 5: Parents Always Come Back
Opening Stillness
Place your hand over your heart.
Take a slow breath.
You are not abandoned in this moment.
Scripture (English Standard Version-ESV)
“The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” - Psalm 121:8
Reflection
There’s a reason those words worked so well with two-and three year olds: Parents always come back.
Little ones don’t need long explanations. They need reassurance. They need consistency. They need truth they can hold onto when emotions run high.
And honestly? So do we.
Life has a way of making us feel dropped off - confused, unsure, watching something familiar walk away. We stand there with tears welling, wondering if this time we’ve been left for good.
But God is a faithful Parent.
He goes to work.
He allows seasons we don’t understand.
He steps out of sight sometimes.
But He always comes back.
Not once has He failed to return.
Not once has He forgotten where He left you.
Not once has your courage gone unnoticed.
Just like those children learned to walk bravely into their day, we are invited to practice trust - not because life is easy, but because God is steady.
We grow up learning how to eat fish, spit out bones, reach for bread…and still, the greatest lesson is this: you are safe enough to let go, because you are loved enough to be found again.
That’ll preach.
Soul Question
Where might God be asking you to trust His return instead of fearing His absence?
Prayer
God, when I feel uncertain, remind me of Your faithfulness. Help me walk forward with courage, trusting that You are near - even when I can’t see You. Teach me to rest in the truth that You always come back. Amen.
Closing Invitation
Carry this truth with you today:
You are not forgotten.
You are not left behind.
You are held.
Devotional #2 - Day 4: Eat Some Bread
Opening Stillness
Take a slow breath in through your nose.
Exhale through your mouth.
Not everything requires force. Some things require softness.
Scripture (English Standard Version- ESV)
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” - Matthew 11:28
Reflection
Sometimes the bone doesn’t come loose right away.
You’ve tried discernment.
You’ve tried release.
And still - something catches.
That’s when Daddy’s voice echoes back with quiet wisdom: “Eat some bread.”
Bread isn’t sharp.
It isn’t aggressive.
It doesn’t argue with the bone.
It simply moves things along.
In life, “bread” looks like grace.
Rest.
Routine.
Prayer that doesn’t demand answers.
Showing up for today without solving tomorrow.
We often think healing must be intense to be effective. But God frequently uses the ordinary - a steady rhythm, a safe space, a trusted voice - to do what striving never could.
Bread reminds us that God is not asking us to choke our way through life. When something gets stuck, He doesn’t shame us for it. He offers nourishment, not pressure.
Jesus called Himself the Bread of Life for a reason. He sustains. He softens. He strengthens - quietly.
You don’t always need a breakthrough. Sometimes you need breakfast.
Soul Question
What does “bread” look like for you in this season?
Prayer
God, thank You for meeting me in the ordinary. When I’m stuck, help me reach for what nourishes instead of forcing what hurts. Teach me to trust Your gentle ways. Amen.
Closing Invitation
Today, choose one simple nourishing act.
Do it slowly. Let God work in the quiet.
Devotional #2-Day 3: Spitting it Out
Opening Stillness
Take a breath.
Unclench your hands.
Release doesn’t have to be dramatic to be real.
Scripture (English Standard Version-ESV)
“Lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” - Hebrews 12:1
Reflection
There comes a moment when discernment has done its work.
You’ve named what fed you.
You’ve identified what hurt you.
And now you’re faced with a quiet decision: Will I keep carrying what no longer belongs to me?
Spitting out the bone isn’t denial. It isn’t minimizing. And it certainly isn’t pretending something didn’t matter.
It’s choosing not to let a sharp piece of the past keep cutting you every time you revisit it.
Some of us confuse holding on with being strong. We believe that replaying the story, rehearsing the wrong, or guarding the wound keeps us safe. But often, it keeps us stuck - running the same emotional loop while life moves on around us.
Release is not an emotional erasure. It’s a boundary.
It says: This part stops here.
You are allowed to let go of what hurt you - even if it shaped you. Even if it taught you something. Even if others never acknowledged it.
Soul Question
What weight are you still carrying that God may be inviting you to lay down?
Prayer
God, I bring You what I’ve been holding onto out of fear, habit, or pain. Give me the strength to release what no longer serves Your purpose in my life. Help me trust that letting go makes room for healing, not loss. Amen.
Closing Invitation
Imagine opening your hands.
Notice what falls away.
You don’t have to chase it.
Your race continues forward.
Devotional #2-Day 2: Separating the Bones
Opening Stillness
Take a slow breath in.
Exhale slowly.
You are allowed to learn without blaming yourself.
Scripture (English Standard Version -ESV)
“But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” - Hebrews 5:14
Reflection
Discernment is a learned skill.
No one sits down to eat fish already knowing where every bone is hidden. You learn by paying attention - by slowing down - by noticing what nourishes you and what wounds you when you swallow too fast.
Some experiences fed you and hurt you.
Some people loved you and disappointed you.
Some seasons strengthened you and cost you everything.
Maturity doesn’t require you to rewrite the story or pretend the bones weren’t there. It simply asks you to separate.
The mistake many of us make is assuming we have to either honor the whole experience or reject it entirely. But wisdom allows for both gratitude and release. You can appreciate what was good without defending what was harmful.
This is what Scripture call training. Not punishment. Not perfection. Practice.
Discernment grows every time you pause long enough to ask, “What part of this can I keep - and what must I let go?
Soul Question
What part of an experience has fed you, even if the whole experience did not?
Prayer
God, train my heart to recognize what is good and life-giving. Help me name what hurt without shame or denial. Give me wisdom to separate from what no longer belongs. Amen.
Closing Invitation
Imagine holding an experience in your hands.
Gently set aside what is sharp. Notice what remains.
That’s the part you’re allowed to keep.
Devotional #2-Day 1-Eat the Meat
Opening Stillness
Take a breath.
Let your jaw unclench. You don’t have to keep working on what already happened.
Scripture (English Standard Version-ESV)
“Test everything; hold fast what is good.” - I Thessalonians 5:21
Reflection
Life will always serve fish with bones.
Conversations. Relationships. Jobs. Seasons. Churches. Friendships. Very few experiences come without something that pokes, disappoints, or lodges itself where it doesn’t belong.
The wisdom isn’t avoiding life altogether. The wisdom is learning how to eat.
Some of us were never taught how to separate nourishment from harm. We replay moments, chew on words, relive losses, and wonder why we feel so emotionally exhausted. But the exhaustion often isn’t from what happened- it’s from what we keep chewing.
There was something good there.
There was something you learned.
There was growth, insight, or protection you didn’t recognize at the time.
And there may also be something that was never meant to stay.
Maturity begins when we ask an honest question: “What here fed me - and what is simply hurting me to hold onto?
Today isn’t about spitting anything out yet. It’s just about noticing what you’re still chewing.
Soul Question
What experience, relationship, or disappointment have you been replaying instead of discerning.
Prayer
God, give me the courage to be honest about what I’m holding onto. Help me recognize what has nourished me - and what no longer does. Teach me discernment without bitterness and awareness without shame. Amen.
Closing Invitation
Sit quietly for one minute.
Picture yourself at a table.
Notice what you’re still chewing- without judgment.
Tomorrow, we’ll learn how to separate the meat from the bones.
“You’re Never Too Old to Start Something New”
Eighteen years ago after my divorce was finalized, my middle and youngest daughters and I began praying about a change. We sensed that God was leading us to leave our hometown — the place where my girls had grown up — and move to Northern Virginia to be closer to my oldest daughter and my grandchildren.
Once we arrived, I found a job working in a preschool, and at the same time, I made the decision to return to college to earn my Bachelor’s degree. It was something I had long dreamed of doing, and when I finally graduated, I felt such deep gratitude — not just for the degree, but for the courage it took to finish what I started.
Shortly after graduation, I was offered a position as an office manager in a completely different city from my daughters. For the first time, I wasn’t living near family — I was on my own, truly living the life of a single woman.
Scary? Absolutely.
Exciting? Totally.
It felt liberating to travel back and forth to see my daughters and grandkids while building a life of my own. The old me might have been too intimidated to even consider taking a job that far from home, but this new chapter stretched me in ways I didn’t expect.
Moving away forced me out of my comfort zone. I learned to enjoy my own company — going to the gym after work, grabbing lunch with coworkers, or taking peaceful evening walks. In those moments, I realized that God was gently showing me something profound: He was enough for this season.
And then came the pandemic. Like so many others, I found myself working from home, separated from loved ones out of caution and care. Yet even in that stillness, God was near. He continued to teach me that new beginnings aren’t just about fresh starts — they’re about trusting Him to meet you wherever you are.
✨ Mama Wisdom Reflection: Life has a way of surprising us — sometimes by choice, sometimes by change. But no matter your age or season, God isn’t done writing your story. Be brave enough to start again, to step out of your comfort zone, and to believe that the best chapters can still be ahead.
Day 5: Grace Still Shows Up
Opening Stillness
Breathe in grace. Breathe out self-judgment.
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”
— Psalm 103:8”
Reflection
Even when we ignore the warning… help still comes.
A fisherman.
A steady hand.
Grace we didn’t earn.
God rescues us not because we listened—but because He loves. He mends what we’ve torn. He lifts us when we’re stuck. And sometimes, He even saves the shoes.
Soul Question
Where have you experienced God’s grace despite your missteps?
Prayer
Thank You, God, for meeting me with mercy. Help me walk forward wiser, humbler, and more attentive to Your voice.
Closing Invitation
Sit in gratitude. Let God’s kindness linger with you today.
Day 4: Beneficial, Not Just Permissible
Opening Stillness
Be still. God’s wisdom is patient.
““I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial.”
— 1 Corinthians 10:23”
Reflection
Not everything we can do is good for us.
God’s boundaries are not about control—they’re about care. He sees the loose rocks we don’t notice. He knows what won’t hold us up. And He loves us enough to say no before we get hurt.
Soul Question
What might God be protecting you from right now?
Prayer
Father, help me trust Your boundaries. Teach me to see Your no as love, not limitation.
Closing Invitation
Picture God standing ahead of you, guarding the path with kindness.
Continue to Day 5
Day 1: Stay on the Bridge
Opening Stillness
Take a breath. Let your shoulders soften. God is not rushing you this morning.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” - Proverbs 3:5 ”
Reflection
Sometimes God’s direction feels almost too simple.
Stay here.
Don’t wander.
This is enough.
The bridge doesn’t look exciting. It doesn’t offer the perfect angle or the better view. But it is solid. It is safe. It is exactly where we were told to be.
And yet, something in us believes there’s always something better just a few steps beyond obedience. So we wander. We step down onto uneven ground, convinced we’ll be careful, convinced we’ll be fine.
Until we’re not.
Soul Question
Where might God be inviting you to stay put today?
Prayer
God, slow my steps. Help me trust that where You’ve placed me is enough. Quiet the part of me that believes I’m missing out. Teach me the peace of staying.
Closing Invitation
Sit quietly for one minute. Imagine yourself standing on solid ground with God beside you.
Day 3: The Pull of “Just a Quick Look”
Opening Stillness
Let go of hurry. God meets you right where you are.
“For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.”
— Romans 7:19”
Reflection
“I’ll just take a quick look.”
It’s rarely the big rebellion that gets us—it’s the small step off the path. The quiet compromise. The belief that we can manage just fine without checking in with God.
We know better. And still… we wander.
Not because we don’t love God—but because we overestimate ourselves.
Soul Question
What “quick look” has been tempting you lately?
Prayer
God, I need You more than I admit. Forgive my shortcuts and my self-reliance. Draw me back to You gently.
Closing Invitation
Read the Scripture again slowly. Let it meet you with honesty, not shame.