Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

10 Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, will be exalted in the earth.

I’m a homeschooling mom of five kids and a pastor’s wife. This means I live in a fishbowl. Everyone watches me, and most criticize me. No, not to my face. But do I look stupid? Wait. Don’t answer that. Forget I asked that, okay? 🙂 I know what people say…it gets back around eventually. It may not be, and probably isn’t, their exact words. But it gets around. It gets distressing. Oh, and guilt! Wow! Do I know about guilt! I often think, “Why don’t I do that?” “I’m such a bad mom because I don’t do that!” “Oh, wow, I blew it there!” And so the guilt mounts.

Criticism + fatigue + guilt = a very distressed me.

These verses today reminded me that when the criticisms come, when the storms of life are raging, He is my refuge and strength. I run to Him! How? By praying and studying His Word!

Then, I get still. This is the hardest part for me. I want to fix the problem. I want to do something. But He wants me to relax and rest in Him. He will handle the critics. He will give me rest. He takes away the guilt by reminding me that I must not compare myself to others. I must do what HE wants ME to do.

HE + ME = PEACE!

I have a lot to do today: Groceries, house work, budgeting, homeschooling…oh and I have to go to the doctor for my horrible asthma. I usually have to wait a long time at the doctor’s office, which stresses me. But, I won’t let it bother me today! I’m planning to just be still, to wait, to rest.

These verses reminded me of a song with wonderful words. I hope you like them, too.

Stand by me (stand by me);