Hi friend, I hope your week has felt manageable and full of God’s grace. School is already in its second week here in our county, and I can hardly believe how quickly summer slipped away. Everything looks different this year. I got married in December, became a bonus‑mom to an amazing girl, and moved to a new part of Georgia. After nearly two decades of calling Georgia home, the North Georgia mountains feel like a whole new world.
Last summer was full of travel, a new position at work, and long afternoons exploring mountain trails and waterfalls. This summer? A whirlwind of moving boxes, adjusting to a new town, budgeting grocery trips without Publix BOGOs, finding a new church home, and even a spontaneous trip to Dollywood. I nearly started a kitchen fire in our rental cabin and have officially mastered the school drop‑off and pick‑up line. “Exciting” doesn’t quite capture it — learning to trust and honor God through every change does.
Relocating to the mountains has brought a surprising sense of fulfillment. Life feels different here — quieter, slower, more intentional. The town carries a gentle stillness. People greet you with an easy warmth, often wanting nothing more than a smile in return. Bright, orange Tiger Lilies stretch across open fields, rivers wind calmly through the landscape, and wide pastures roll on for miles. It’s breathtaking.
But adjusting hasn’t been simple. I’ve lived most of my life in cities — whether in the Midwest where I grew up or in Atlanta, where I spent the last 20 years. I’m used to fast‑paced living, doing everything quick, fast, and in a hurry. Slowing down feels foreign… and holy.
The mountains have helped me experience the kind of peace the Bible describes — the peace that comes from God, not from circumstances. Scripture is full of reminders about God’s peace, yet many of us rarely experience it the way we need to. Life is busy. The responsibilities of being a wife and mom never stop. School activities, meal prep, breakfast‑lunch‑dinner, grooming the dog, grocery shopping, cleaning, and trying to squeeze in our own personal growth — it’s a lot.
God’s Word encourages us not to worry about all these things but to trust Him with each day. So why do we drift from that trust? Why do we let the weight of life steal the peace only God can give?
I think the answer is simple: we get so busy caring for everyone else that we forget to spend quality time with Jesus. It might be a few quiet minutes before the house wakes up or ten minutes after school drop‑off. But when we neglect time with our Heavenly Father, we eventually feel the absence of peace — and its replacement, stress.
So, here’s my gentle challenge for this week: Spend intentional, quiet time with God each day. Not a rigid schedule. Not a set number of minutes. Just a simple commitment to pause and be with Him.
Start small. Choose what fits your life right now. God’s peace is powerful — it resets us, restores us, and re‑energizes us for what lies ahead. Without it, we fall into constant motion, always running, always catching up, always feeling behind.
Here are a few verses to meditate on as you carve out time with God:
- “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”– Isaiah 26:3
- “Commit your ways to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.” – Proverbs 16:3
- “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” -Matthew 11:28
- “The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.” – Psalm 29:11
- “…And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”- Philippians 4:7
You are seen, you are loved, and you are called- right here in your beautiful, imperfect, everyday life.
Leave a comment