10/15/2025
Be Still
by Mentor Mom Dawn Hennessy
It is hard to describe a mother’s life as ever still. There is always something that needs to be done, never ending laundry, dishes, and children that need around the clock care, so how do we ever learn to simply be still?
God’s word tells us, “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
In one of our breakout sessions at the women’s conference, Patti Jones encouraged us to pray without ceasing as scripture tells, which is through everything! We pray while we change diapers, clean up spilled messes, and run errands. I love this because some of my best talks with God are actually while I am doing something else. Some of my best talks with my closest friends and children usually happen while we are out walking or doing something actively together.
Although I love praying throughout my day, I struggled with that combination of busyness, prayer time, and simply being still. Am I really learning to be still if I talk to God always on the move?
In the book A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller, he describes that as we learn to pray more and grow in God more, our lives will actually become busier, but that is not to be equated with the stillness that God provides. Paul Miller says, “If we love people and have the power to help, then we are going to be busy. Learning to pray doesn’t offer us a less busy life; it offers us a less busy heart. In the midst of outer busyness, we can develop an inner quiet because we are less hectic on the inside.”
I love this because it is a reminder that kingdom work never stops. God gives us jobs to glorify Him and being a mom is one of the greatest jobs He could ever give us, and it doesn’t ever stop! This does not mean we don’t sometimes need the quiet. Even in the middle of a very busy ministry, Jesus took time to escape the crushing crowds and chaos to recharge in a quiet alone time. Even if we sneak away for quiet time, it won’t offer us stillness if our minds are still in chaos.
We are only truly still when we allow God to take control of our lives, and He provides a stillness, a peace that only He is able in the midst of the outward appearance of a chaotic life.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
It is ok to pray while doing things. It is okay to pray while sitting, but neither is being still until we learn to accept the complete peace only He gives us in every circumstance. Only God can control the chaos in our minds and calm our hearts. My prayer for each of us is that we let God’s peace rule in our lives no matter what the chaos is around us.
