There they were night after night; those dishes, waiting for me. That post-dinner mess, with post-lunch mess included, postponed from earlier in the day. Our kitchen lacked the modern convenience of a dishwasher, so it was a chore.
The Lord would be waiting for me there too. He always knew where to find me. But I typically didn’t recognize this.
When my children were small, my only quiet moment seemed to ironically come while washing dishes. Food eaten, vegetables negotiated, and dessert obliged meant that soon after, the cleanup process would repel everyone far from the kitchen.
Our house was busy with four young children. We struggled through a very difficult marriage. Quiet was what I really needed. Good Christians had a quiet time every day, and took time to pray uninterrupted.
I mostly focused on was all that wasn’t. I longed to be better; a better wife, a better mom, a better believer. Failure was all I saw. I had a daily portion of despair with a side of guilt and anxiety.
One night as I worked through the dirty dishes and pans, a Voice spoke to me over my shoulder. It wasn’t audible, but it was unmistakable and startling. It was like a husband standing behind his wife, resting gentle hands on her shoulders, and whispering in her ear. He was the One that I had been seeking, even though I didn’t have a quiet time that morning, like all those other good Christians.
What He spoke to my heart specifically contradicted what I had been told by someone close to me that day. It was something that gave me strength. It was surprising, personal, and healing.
The Holy Spirit is waiting near our messes, literal or figurative. He knows that we need His grace to navigate them. We need His presence. He is not repelled by our situation, He is our way out of it.
In the commotion of raising a family or earning a living these days, everything works against discovering the hidden moments when God is speaking to us, waiting to connect. This is what we must fight. We must guard the desire to discover.
We must keep our spirits open even if our calendars are full.
There have been other such kitchen moments, not when I was expecting but exactly when I needed them. Those mundane things like dishes and driving are times to be quiet and listen.
You never know who might join you.
Jennifer
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What a beautiful post, Jennifer! I have been in this exact same place too–seeing only failure and failing to focus on grace, and have also been happily interrupted by God’s presence and words to my spirit like you…the kitchen is a great place for that! Thank you for this excellent reminder that the Holy Spirit really does know when to speak to our hearts and help us and is always there with us….thank you so much! Merry Christmas! Blessings!
Katy, may you be aware of God’s presence around you more and more!! Blessings & Merry Christmas to you as well!
Oops forgot to login first…. Thanks Katy! 🙂
Thank you so much for the wonderful post today. I too struggle with the difficult marriage, wishing to be a better wife and mother and believer and …well just better. Thank you so much for the reminder that God is near always!
Grace and more grace to you Christena, asking God to encourage your heart today…
Thanks for sharing this…”He is not repelled by our situation, He is our way out of it.”
Your post was a great reminder of how God’s amazing grace is not about who we are but about God’s love for us. And when we relent to that (in even the smallest measure), we can always feel/hear that assurance there waiting to comfort us!
Yes, this is so true Traci, how many years has it taken for me to realize this?! There’s no struggle in relying on His Goodness.
Having a husband that travels is hard on a marriage, along with a houseful of young boys – I need that constant reminder that God is there to hold me in his arms when things get tough. Thank you for your post.
And lots of energy!! Lord, smile on Carrie’s heart today and fill her with Your love.
We are justified by faith (Rom 5.1-5), not by works. Praise God! (Oh, and I love listening while I’ve driving. Those “quiet times” are wonderful :D)
Yes, great reminder Sonika! Many more quiet times for you this coming year…. 🙂
Yes!!!
😀
Sounds a bit familiar! And it reminds me of another writing you did, “For crying out loud”? He knows what we need before we do, and He has the answer that is always in our best interest. I just have to be open to hearing Him when He speaks…however, whenever, or wherever that may be!
Haha does it Darla?! I know He is looking forward to meeting with you 🙂
What a beautiful post! I’ve found this to be oh-so-true.
Awesome , Lauren! Blessings to you!
Great post! I believe a lot of women go through periods of feeling “not good enough”. Even though I have a good marriage there have been times I wondered if I was a good wife–what was wrong with me?
I kept praying and had heart to heart talks with hubby and they both revealed that I am where God wants me to be. I am also the best me I can be for my hubby!
That is really encouraging, Beth! What a great place to be in. 🙂
Thanks for this post…this really hit me today:
**He is not repelled by our situation, He is our way out of it.**
I can know this, but not actually realize what it means…maybe because I’M repelled by my situation, and I can’t totally fathom how differently God sees it…
Thanks for the encouragement!
Muchalone he is looking *past* your situation and His eyes are on YOU! He is inviting you to see yourself the way that He does, and that is my prayer for you today. jc
Hi Jennifer. It is nearly the end of January and I finally got around to reading your post. I am so glad I did. It really ministered to me today. I’m living life at a frantic pace…from the time my feet hit the floor in the morning until the time I fall, completely exhausted, into bed at night. Your words expressed exactly how I feel…the deep desire to be a better wife, a better mother, a better disciple…as well as the guilt. I want to spend quiet time with God every morning like good Christians do, but life gets in the way. Then, I hear that accusing voice, “If you really loved God, you would make Him your top priority and you would wake an hour earlier every morning.” To which I say, “Oh God, I do love you, but I am just SO tired”. Jen, I love your reminder that the Holy Spirit is not repelled by my situation, but is waiting patiently to show me the way out of my stress, anxiety and guilt. That means there actually IS a way out! Your words have encouraged me to keep my heart open and “listen” for a word from the Holy Spirit during the occasional quiet moments throughout my day…like when I am taking a shower, driving to work, preparing dinner, or doing the dishes. I just need to trust that He is waiting for me there and still my mind, so I can “listen” for His words. Love you!