To The Parent In Pursuit of Peace

To the parent in pursuit of peace,

I know what you’re thinking...

“Oh great, another step-by-step article on how to make my home look like an illusion of peace when inside we are living in complete and utter chaos with a splash of day-old applesauce and stale goldfish crumbs on top.”

Wrong.

Though many times our hearts ache for the peace we were created for,  that’s not the life we’re living in the day-to-day if we’re being honest.

We have to fight for peace.

We have to cultivate peace in the walls of our home.

We have to be in the pursuit of not peace the world offers,

but our true Prince of Peace.

As a mother of two toddlers, you better believe I daily stumble and surrender to moments of absolute chaos that leave me almost in a catatonic state of mayhem.

Maybe you can relate?

As parents, somedays, (most days) we may even feel like we would rather lay in bed than face the day. There are schedules,  loads of laundry, stacks of dishes, children arguing, the dog who also needs to be walked, school papers that need to be signed, and dinner that needs to be cooked. 

So then, how do you keep peace in your world of chaos as a parent, whether you work in the home, out of the home, or both?

Fight to pursue it.

You can keep the peace by cultivating a culture of it within the walls of your home.

Even in seasons of utter chaos, we have peace when we pause and reflect on the word of God, and cling to His promises of peace.

“I listen carefully to what God the LORD is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people. But let them not return to their foolish ways.” -Psalm 85:8

The LORD gives His people strength; the LORD blesses His people with peace. - Psalm 29:11

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. -John 14:27

These are true, tangible promises spoken to us, for whatever season we are in to bring refreshment to our weary souls.

God promises peace to the restless.

Peace in the chaos.

Peace in the tantrums.

Peace in the storm, and also, peace on the rare days of stillness.

But one of the greatest wars on our peace is parents weariness.

Weariness caused by worry, and restlessness.

So when our thoughts feel overwhelming, our circumstances uneasy, God’s solution to this is to give us peace. When we reflect in His word, 

When we pause in his presence,

in pursuit of not just peace, 

but a PERSON. 

The Prince of Peace, Jesus.

While peace may not always feel immediate, the Person, the peacemaker, the giver of peace is always in our midst. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for being the peacemaker of my weary soul. For calming the storms in my life and bringing stillness to my storms through my act of surrender. I pray that you will daily remind me of these promises in your word that bring me back to a place of peace. Help me to cultivate peace within the walls of my home, and set the atmosphere for my family. In Jesus name, Amen.