Why A Quiet Heart?
I know that there are some who believe that a blog’s focus should be somewhat narrow, well-defined, and fit easily into a particular niche.
I am not one of them!
My life is not neatly compartmentalized into the “sacred” and the “secular.” And, neither is my blog.
I prefer to view my life, and all that it entails, as a comprehensive unified whole, assigned and appointed specifically for me. In other words, I believe that God has called me to live out multiple roles and responsibilities simultaneously. I am a pastor’s wife, a homemaker, a homeschooler, and a mommy…among other things. Each is interconnected, overlapping, and touched by the others.
While it may be busy, my life is far from complicated. And, it is infinitely simplified by viewing each responsibility, blessing, and trial as coming from the wise and loving hand of my Heavenly Father.
“Lord, You have assigned my portion and my cup, and have made my lot secure.” ~Psalm 16:5 (NIV)
When I began blogging, in 2006, I saw it as little more than an online scrapbook – a central location for updates and pictures, as we anticipated some significant changes to our life and our family. I never expected that anyone outside our immediate families, and a small circle of close (real-life) friends would read it!
Shortly after I started my blog, we were thrilled to discover that we were expecting our second child. The joy of that discovery was short-lived, when the pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. For most of that year I pretended (badly) to be happy. But, inwardly I was fighting a losing battle against bitterness and disappointment, as month after month, the answer was, once again, “No.” And, I found myself locked in a vicious cycle of entitlement (I thought I deserved more, or better, than what I had been given) and self-pity (because I did not receive what I so desperately wanted, and thought I deserved).
“…You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” ~Job 2:10
But, I slowly began to realize that my husband, my daughter, and my very life are all undeserved gifts and blessings from the sovereign hand of God. As a sinner, all I deserved – all any of us deserve – was death and eternal punishment in Hell. Regardless of how “unfair” my life, or my circumstances may seem, the truth is that I am not getting less than I deserve. Because of God’s grace and mercy, everything I have – or don’t have – is infinitely more than I deserve!
That was the turning point for me. From that point forward, I wanted this blog to be different. I did not want to be just another exhausted, whiney, mommy-blogger. I wanted to challenge women (single or married, moms of many, one, or none) to view their life, their roles, their trials, and their blessings through the lens of Scripture.
This blog is a glimpse into my ordinary, imperfect, but abundant life…as I challenge others, and myself, to recognize God’s undeserved grace, mercy, and sovereign care in every area of life, the big unexpected blessings, the difficult trials, and especially in the little, often overlooked, everyday moments.
“You have said, ‘Seek my face.’ My heart says to you, ‘Your face, Lord, do I seek.’” ~Psalm 27:8
The title of my blog comes from a quote by my favorite author, Elisabeth Elliot:
“A quiet heart is content with what God gives. It is enough. All is grace.”
Amidst the chaos of all that clamors for my attention, my prayer and desire is that I would have a quiet heart. One that is passionately obedient to God’s Word, and joyfully content in whatever roles, responsibilities, blessings, and trials that my Heavenly Father, in His infinite love and wisdom, has seen fit to give me, because truly, it is enough.
All is grace.
One Response to Why A Quiet Heart?
May God bless your efforts on this blog. You are right that we need to get over our natural blindness to God’s goodness and come to the understanding that we don’t deserve anything but His holy justice which in our condition would leave us right where you said: Hell. He alone can work this healing of our eyes. PRAISE GOD! He promised to finish what He starts! *_*
Jessica