About the Author

Jen encourages women to embrace both the beauty and bedlam of their everyday lives at BeautyandBedlam.com. A popular speaker, worship leader, and author of Just Open the Door: How One Invitation Can Change a Generation, Jen lives in North Carolina with her husband, five children, and a sofa for anyone...

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. Jen,
    For so many women (people), we need to hear this message. God doesn’t call all of us to monumental, world changing, leadership roles, but He does call us to be the voice for change and for Truth right in our little corner of the world. A word well spoken to someone who needs encouragement makes the heavens rejoice just as much as a sinner saved. I believe God celebrates all acts of worship and obedience no matter how grand or how small. After having two knee surgeries…my act of worship is simply praising God when I am able to go for a walk with my husband and our dogs. Not earth shattering…but I still believe it’s music to His ears.
    Wonderful post Jen!!
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

    • And you do it amazingly well. If there’s one incourage friend that I think of as the Master encourager, it’s you. 🙂

  2. Thank you for this post, Jen. I’m always amazed at how all women I know, whatever stage of life they may be in, have a deep sense that they (we) are not doing enough. There always seems to be the next thing to which we need to aim. The greatest peace I’ve found in my life has been in doing the next thing, NOW. It’s really the one thing I can do… even when I dream for the things to come.

    • Yes, yes, exactly this, Devi.

      It grieves my heart when there’s the constant feeling, and while I understand that pull because I’ve surely been there at different times, we believe that lie. We KNOW the truth and you’ve hit it right on the head.

  3. Love this! I used to really battle over my “calling” and it having to be some huge dramatic shift in my life but our calling is to use the gifts God has given us right where He has us! 🙂

    • Yes, I think at sometime, we all struggle with that because we listen to everyone else making it out to be some BIG HUGE platform type thing, but it’s not. We are right where we are together, my friend. 🙂

  4. Thank you for this timely post. I’ve been struggling to find contentment in my two part-time jobs and find myself longing for a full-time job closer to home. I love what I do, but feel there’s so much untapped potential and get depressed thinking about what I’m missing.

    Please pray that Paul’s “secret of contentment”, which you so delicately eluded to, truly sinks in because I’ve been sounding like the father who doubted Jesus saying, ” if you can ” help us.

    Blessings.

    • Carol,
      Father,

      Help Carol find that secret contentment! Lead her to a full-time job, if it’s your will! Help her to realize she is doing acts of worship in her two part-time jobs! Bless her financially! Shower her with grace, mercy and love!!

      • Yes, thank you, Carol, for going right to the source of our true contentment. xoxo

  5. Thank you Jen for your words of encouragement! I’ve began considering homeschooling my children next year, but the voice in my head says, “now you’ll never get to work outside of your home…no one will know you, at least not for another 14 years! Bwaaahaaa!” I know it’s all nonsense, but those thoughts come and go making it a little more difficult in seeking what I should do. But as you’ve said, “No gifting or calling is greater than another when I am in His will.”

    • LaToya,
      Teaching your children is one of the most sacred of all jobs. You are educating the next generation of “God workers”. It is important and God will be proud of you for doing that monumental task! Your children will be the better for it and that is what’s important!
      Father,
      Help LaToya see that homeschooling her children is a calling you want for her. Shower her with the knowledge to do the job well and raise and educate smart young people! Take away any notions it not being enough, never be known, thoughts of the evil one! Encourage her on this journey!
      AMEN!

  6. Jennifer,
    Thank you for a most timely post! The world tells us we must dream big, reach for the sky, and be super rich and famous to “make it” and be successful! We hear of missionaries who go abroad and do great things for God and wonder why not me? Shouldn’t I be doing that?
    This statement sums it all up: We are in God’s will when we are doing what He called us to do at this very moment. Now my calling is to care for my aging dad. I go see him 3X week and make sure he is ok and comfortable. May not seem like much, but to dad it means the world!
    Blessings 🙂

    • I can think of no higher calling. Wow, when scripture says to honor your father and mother, so many assume it’s something for only young kids to follow. You are truly showing the REAL meaning of doing the holy work He’s called. Later, You will never regret that time.

  7. Oh, Jen, I want to get in my car and drive the hour and a half to your house right now. I need some porch time with you.

  8. Such a lovely post and always needed for all of us, at all times of our life. I struggle with feeling like I’ve “done enough” and your words of encouragement were so right on for my day today…. I love the quote by Martin Luther King, Jr…. Thank you!