Finding Our Footing in the Quiet Places

When God Meets Us in the Middle of Ordinary Life

Scriptures for Today

Psalm 25:14–15 (NLT)

“The LORD is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant. My eyes are always on the LORD, for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)

“Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”

Hebrews 6:10 (KJV)

“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

Romans 13:10 (KJV)

“Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Colossians 3:15 (NLT)

“And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”

Finding Our Footing in the Quiet Places

Welcome to my table, my friends! Pull up a chair, and let's talk about something we all struggle with from time to time.

Life doesn't always cooperate with our plans, does it? We have things to do, people to help, places to go, and a whole list of things we'd like to accomplish. Then life steps in, rearranges everything, and leaves us wondering what happened to our day!

Sometimes we get frustrated with ourselves. Sometimes we get frustrated with our circumstances. And sometimes, if we're being completely honest, we get frustrated with the people and situations we cannot control.

Ross and I know a little something about that.

Ross is still very uncomfortable with his back, and the longer his recovery takes, the more frustrated he gets with all the things he isn't able to do. He's always been a man of action. Sitting still while his body refuses to cooperate is not exactly his idea of a good time!

I understand that frustration. When you're used to doing things, helping people, and keeping busy, being forced to slow down can feel like you're being held back from the very things that make you feel useful.

But here's something God keeps reminding me: Our worth is not measured by how much we accomplish in a day.

Sometimes our greatest act of faith is doing what we can. Other times, it's allowing God to teach us how to wait.

And waiting? Well, that's a lesson most of us would rather skip!

1. The Safe Place of God's Presence

Psalm 25:14–15

“The LORD is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant. My eyes are always on the LORD, for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.”

Have you ever felt as though your feet were caught in a snare? Maybe it was worry, a mountain of responsibilities, financial pressure, a difficult relationship, or a situation you couldn't seem to fix no matter how hard you tried.

Sometimes the snare isn't even something another person has done to us. Sometimes it's our own expectations of what life should look like.

We want to be productive. We want to help. We want to take care of our families. We want to make a difference. And when circumstances prevent us from doing those things, we can feel as though we're losing our footing.

But look at where the Psalmist directs our attention. He keeps his eyes on the Lord.

The Hebrew word yare means to fear or revere God. This isn't about being terrified of Him. It's about recognizing who He is, honoring Him, and trusting His wisdom above our own.

Another important Hebrew word is berit, meaning covenant. God's covenant reminds us of His faithful relationship with His people.

We may not know what tomorrow holds, but we can trust the One who holds tomorrow.

I think about all the twists and turns Ross and I have experienced throughout our marriage. We have had seasons when we could see the road ahead and seasons when we couldn't see past the next step. There have been times when we had plenty and times when we wondered how we would make it through.

Yet here we are.

God hasn't promised that every road will be easy, but we have learned that we don't have to walk it alone.

Sometimes He removes the obstacle. Sometimes He gives us the strength to walk through it. And sometimes He teaches us to wait while He works in ways we cannot yet see.

We don't have to understand every step when we know the One who is leading us.

2. God's Grace Is Enough for Today

2 Corinthians 12:9

“Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”

Oh, how we need this reminder!

We live in a world that celebrates being busy. We admire people who accomplish great things, keep going when they're exhausted, and somehow manage to do ten things at once.

But what happens when our bodies say, “Not today”?

What happens when illness, pain, age, exhaustion, or circumstances force us to slow down?

Does that mean we've become less valuable?

Absolutely not!

The Greek word charis means grace, favor, or a freely given gift. God's grace isn't a paycheck we earn for doing enough good things. It is His gift to us, meeting us where we are.

The Greek word dynamis means power or might. In this passage, Paul reminds us that God's power is not limited by our weakness.

Notice that God didn't tell Paul to become stronger before he could receive grace. He told him that His grace was sufficient right in the middle of his weakness.

That means we don't have to wait until we're feeling better, have everything organized, or finally get our lives together before we can experience God's presence.

Ross may not be able to accomplish all the things he'd like to do right now, but his worth hasn't changed. His years of serving others still matter. His love for our family still matters. And even in this difficult season, God is still at work.

I have to remind myself of that, too. Sometimes I want to fix everything, help everyone, and get every little thing accomplished. Then I remember that I am human, not a one-woman rescue squad!

We can do our part, but we cannot do God's part.

So, if today finds you tired, discouraged, hurting, or feeling as though you aren't accomplishing enough, take a breath.

You don't have to prove your worth to God.

His grace is sufficient for the day you're living, not just the day you wish you were having.

3. God Never Forgets a Labor of Love

Hebrews 6:10

“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

Now, this Scripture really speaks to my heart because serving others has been such a big part of our lives.

I remember back in 1981. We had three children, a big house, plenty of expensive bills, and sometimes it was a struggle to keep food in the house.

When Ross heard about JoAnn Pike and her Good Shepherd Food Ministry, he didn't sit around wondering whether he should help. He went and helped!

That's Ross. If there's something that needs doing, he wants to find a way to do it.

Years later, after we left Lewiston, he continued finding food cupboards where he could volunteer. And in helping those ministries, he helped our family, too.

Oh, how our kids loved those Barber Foods Chicken Cordon Bleu meals from Portland! Ross was so excited when he managed to get a 40-pound box each month. Forty pounds of chicken, folks! That's a lot of chicken! LOL.

It was a blessing to our family, and it was a reminder that sometimes the same ministry through which we serve others becomes a ministry that serves us.

Today, volunteering at the food cupboard is still a staple in our lives. We unload delivery trucks, stock shelves, and two Saturdays each month, Ross and I open the pantry from 9 a.m. until noon to serve our community.

We help people shop, share recipe ideas, and figure out how to stretch their groceries into meals that will last.

Recently, I made three gallons of bean soup, and it disappeared in about 30 minutes! Our director is going to print my recipe, scaled down to one gallon, so we can put together homemade soup kits for people to take home.

That makes me happy, and I know it makes Ross happy, too. We love finding ways to help people do a little more with what they have.

The Greek word ergon means work or deed, while kopos means labor involving effort, toil, or weariness. And agape means love that seeks the good of another.

Put those ideas together, and we get a beautiful picture of serving others with love, even when it takes effort.

But here's the part I want us to remember: God doesn't only see the big things.

He sees the soup you make for someone who is hungry. He sees the groceries you share. He sees the ride you give, the phone call you make, the child you encourage, and the extra five minutes you spend listening to someone who needs a friend.

He sees the things nobody applauds.

And He sees the person who has spent a lifetime serving others but now needs someone to serve them.

That last part is important, isn't it?

Sometimes we are the ones carrying the load. Sometimes we are the ones who need a helping hand. Both are part of living in God's family.

Receiving help doesn't erase the good we've done, and needing help doesn't make us a burden.

God has not forgotten your labor of love.

4. Love Is More Than a Feeling

Romans 13:10

“Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

I love how practical this Scripture is.

We can talk about love all day long, but eventually love has to get up, put on its shoes, and do something!

The Greek word agape describes a self-giving love that seeks the good of others. It isn't merely a warm feeling. It shows itself in the choices we make and the way we treat people.

Yesterday was one of those days when I was reminded that love often arrives through ordinary people doing ordinary things.

After posting my devotion, I received a call from a dear church sister, Terry. She was heading to Houlton and offered to pick up a bag of cat litter for me.

What a blessing she is! Terry serves people in our church, our community, and even the surrounding communities. She is one of those people who seems to find ways to help wherever she goes.

Then I received another call. A friend needed someone to sit with him for a few hours while his dog was being taken to an emergency veterinary clinic about 90 minutes away.

I gladly went to keep him company.

His dad blessed me with a little cash afterward, and suddenly, some of the things we needed to accomplish today looked a little easier.

I'll be able to get gas, pick up about 24 gallons of water from our church because we still don't have a well, and head to Houlton for more cat litter and cat food.

We also have Ross's $80 monthly insurance flex-card benefit to use toward food, and I have $40 in Walmart gift cards that Ross and I earned through playing games on our phones over the past five weeks.

Yay! We feel as though we're sitting pretty well right now!

Now, please don't misunderstand me. We still have challenges, and Ross is still hurting. I would gladly trade every bit of that good news for a day when he wasn't in so much pain.

But yesterday reminded me of something beautiful: God often provides through people who are simply willing to love their neighbors.

Terry didn't need to make a grand announcement about her kindness. She just offered to help.

I didn't need to make a big production out of keeping a friend company. I just went.

And somewhere in those simple exchanges, needs were met, encouragement was shared, and love became something we could actually see.

We don't always know how God will use us. Sometimes we are the ones delivering the blessing, and sometimes we are the ones standing there with our hands open, receiving it.

Both are holy opportunities.

What if we stopped asking, “How much can I accomplish today?” and started asking, “How can I show love with what I have today?”

That question can change the way we live.

5. Let Christ's Peace Have the Final Say

Colossians 3:15

“And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”

Now, I need to be honest with you. I am thankful for all the blessings that showed up yesterday, but I would be even more thankful if Ross's body would stop spazzing out and causing him so much pain!

We can be grateful and still wish something were different.

We can trust God and still have difficult days.

We can recognize His goodness without pretending that everything is wonderful.

Faith doesn't require us to deny reality. It invites us to bring reality to God.

The Greek word eirēnē means peace. Biblical peace is more than a quiet room or a day when nothing goes wrong. It points us toward wholeness, harmony, and a settled trust in God.

Another important Greek word is brabeuō, which means to act as an umpire or to arbitrate. It helps explain Paul's instruction to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.

Think about an umpire in a game. When there's a disagreement, someone has to make the call.

Our minds can get pretty noisy when life doesn't go the way we planned. Worry starts making calls. Frustration makes calls. Fear starts shouting from the sidelines.

But we can learn to pause and ask, “What is Christ's peace teaching me to do next?”

Sometimes the answer is to keep going.

Sometimes it's to ask for help.

Sometimes it's to sit down, rest, and let someone else take care of things for a while.

And sometimes, as difficult as it may be, the answer is to wait.

That is especially important for Ross right now. I pray his medication begins helping him soon, and I want him to have relief from this pain. But while we wait for improvement, we can still recognize the blessings God has placed around us.

We have people who care. We have a church family. We have opportunities to serve. We have food, water to collect, animals to care for, and a God who remains faithful through every season.

We can be thankful for those things without minimizing the pain we're facing.

That is what I want to practice: gratitude without pretending, faith without demanding that everything happen on my schedule, and love that continues even when life gets uncomfortable.

And if you're in a difficult season, I hope you'll practice it with me.

You don't need to manufacture a happy feeling. Just begin by noticing one small evidence of God's goodness today.

Then notice another.

Let gratitude remind your heart that pain is real, but it isn't the whole story.

A Little Something to Think About

Friends, before we leave our table today, let's take a few moments to consider how these Scriptures fit into our own lives.

1. Where are you struggling to let go of control?

Is there something you keep trying to fix that may require patience, prayer, or help from someone else?

2. When was the last time someone showed you unexpected kindness?

Did you recognize it as a blessing? Is there someone you could encourage in the same way?

3. What is one small labor of love you can offer today?

It doesn't have to cost money. A phone call, a listening ear, a meal, a helping hand, or a kind word can make a difference.

Your little assignment for today: Write down three blessings, no matter how small. Then choose one person you can bless with whatever time, talent, encouragement, or resources you have available.

And if you are the one who needs help today, let someone bless you, too.

Remember, my friends, you don't have to carry every load by yourself.

Let's Pray Together

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for meeting us in the middle of our ordinary, sometimes messy lives. Thank You that we don't have to be perfect, productive, or strong every moment to be loved by You.

Lord, You know the frustrations we carry when our plans fall apart. You know the pain we experience when our bodies won't cooperate, when our responsibilities feel overwhelming, and when we long to do more than we are able to do.

I pray for Ross today. Please ease his pain, help his medication provide relief, and give him patience and peace while his body recovers. Help him remember that his worth is not measured by how much he can accomplish. Remind him that the years he has spent serving others are precious to You, and that he is just as valuable when he needs rest.

Please bless Terry and everyone who quietly serves others in our churches and communities. Bless the volunteers, caregivers, food cupboard workers, and all those who give from what they have, even when they don't have much to spare.

Thank You for the people who show up when we need them. Thank You for unexpected provisions, for groceries, for water, for the kindness of friends, and for the opportunities You give us to encourage someone else.

Teach us to receive Your grace without feeling we must earn it. Help us to serve without needing recognition, rest without guilt, and trust You when we cannot see the next step.

May Your peace guide our decisions, Your love shape our actions, and Your goodness remind us to remain thankful even when life is difficult.

Help us find our footing in Your presence today.

In the precious name of Jesus, our Savior and Lord, we pray.

Amen.

The Lord's Prayer (KJV)

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.

Amen.

BELIEVE, OBEY, BE BLESSED AMEN BOBBA! ❤️

Remember, my friends: God sees you, God loves you, and God has not forgotten the work of love you do. You don't have to accomplish everything today to make today count.

Sometimes the greatest blessing is found in what we give.

Sometimes it is found in what we receive.

And sometimes, it is found in learning to be still long enough to recognize that God is with us in both.

Love and blessings from our table to yours,

Love, Penny ❤️

#GODISGOOD #FAITH #Devotional