Mercy's Quiet Places

Tag: god

  • A Work Still in Progress

    A Work Still in Progress

    Philippians 1:6–10

    Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
    Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.

    When Progress Feels Slow

    Some days, spiritual growth feels painfully slow. We try our best to walk faithfully, yet we stumble over the same weaknesses, wrestle with the same doubts, or fall short in the same old areas. Maybe you’ve whispered in prayer, “Lord, am I ever going to get this right?”

    Paul’s words to the Philippians remind us that we are not unfinished because we’ve failed—we are unfinished because God is still working. He hasn’t given up. He hasn’t walked away from the project He began in you. The Artist never abandons His masterpiece.

    When Paul says, “He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ,” he’s reminding us that our growth is God’s ongoing promise. I am a work in progress and a living testimony of His patience, grace, and faithfulness.

    A Story from the Classroom

    As a teacher for 39 years, students have always been a big part of my prayer life. I think often of one of my students, a quiet girl named Emily. She was bright and thoughtful, but easily discouraged. When assignments felt too difficult, she’d sigh and say softly, “I’ll never get this right.”

    I’d remind her gently, “You don’t have to be perfect today; you just have to keep growing. Look how far you have already come! Growth is a process.”

    Over time, I began to notice small changes. Her handwriting grew steadier. Her answers became more complete. She began to lift her head when reading aloud and even encouraged classmates who were struggling. One afternoon, she turned in a paper and said with a shy smile, “I didn’t think I could do it, but I kept trying.”

    That moment stayed with me. Emily didn’t become confident overnight. She grew a little each day because she kept showing up.

    And isn’t that what the Lord calls us to do? Keep showing up. Keep trusting. Keep letting Him work. God is patient with our progress—just as we are patient with our students and children. What matters most isn’t perfection, but persistence. Every small step of obedience, every humble moment of faith, becomes part of His masterpiece in the making.

    The Sculptor’s Hands

    A sculptor was once asked how he created a beautiful lion from a solid block of marble. He smiled and said, “I just chip away everything that doesn’t look like a lion.”

    That’s what God is doing in each of us. Day by day, through joys and hardships, He is gently removing everything that doesn’t look like Christ. Sometimes the chiseling hurts. Sometimes we can’t see the shape of what He’s forming. But the Master Sculptor knows exactly what He’s doing. The blows of His chisel are never random, but they are guided by His love. He truly does LOVE His children.

    Our part is not to resist the shaping, but to trust His steady hand. We can rest knowing that even the hard moments are part of His artistry.

    A Heart That Grows in Love

    “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent.”

    Paul wasn’t praying that their love would simply feel deeper but that it would grow wiser. True spiritual maturity blends compassion with discernment. As we walk with Christ, our love becomes both tender and thoughtful. We learn when to speak and when to listen, when to comfort and when to correct, when to let go and when to hold fast.

    This kind of love requires the Holy Spirit’s daily guidance. It’s the fruit of a heart that’s being transformed—not suddenly, but slowly and beautifully, one obedient moment at a time. The Holy Spirit is there to guide us each day. Talk to Him!

    Growing up an abused child, I have many issues with not thinking I am worth it. I struggle thinking that no one could truly love me. I struggle with feeling like I am a disappointment to God and everyone around me. Yet, God does love me, in fact, He IS LOVE! He loves you and me! He wants to perfect us and use us for His glory!

    Still Becoming

    If you feel today like you’re not where you want to be—remember, neither were the Philippians. Yet Paul (who was in prison himself) wrote to them with joy and confidence because he knew the truth: God finishes what He starts.

    You may not see the full picture yet. You may only see the rough edges. But He sees the finished masterpiece—one that reflects the image of His Son.

    So breathe, friend. Be patient with yourself. The work isn’t done, but it’s being done by the most faithful hands.

    Quiet Reflection

    • What part of my life feels “unfinished” right now?
    • How might God be using this season to shape me into something more like Christ?
    • How can my love “abound more and more in knowledge and judgment” this week?

    Prayer

    Heavenly Father,
    Thank you for the reminder that You are still working in me.
    When I grow weary or discouraged, remind me that I am safely in Your hands. Help me to have love that abounds in wisdom and discernment. Shape me into the likeness of Christ—pure, sincere, and ready for the day of His return. Thank you for your deep love and care for me. Help me to trust you today to refine me and glorify YOU today.
    In Jesus’ name, Amen.

  • Trusting God in the Growth

    Trusting God in the Growth

    When Your Child Struggles: Trust God!

    Every parent knows that ache in the heart when their child struggles. Whether it’s a learning challenge, a broken friendship, a lost opportunity, or a season of discouragement, we instinctively want to step in, fix the problem, and remove the pain. Yet, so often, it’s in those very moments that God is doing His greatest work and not just in our child’s heart, but in ours too.

    We want their paths to be smooth, but God wants their faith to be strong.

    💧 Struggle Is Not Failure — It’s Formation

    God never wastes a struggle. He uses it to shape character, to develop endurance, and to reveal His sufficiency. The book of James reminds us:

    “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
    Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
    But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
    — James 1:2–4 (KJV)

    Struggle is the soil where perseverance grows. When our children wrestle through hard lessons, delayed answers, or unfair moments, they’re learning that life isn’t easy — but that God is faithful.

    Think of a butterfly in its cocoon. Scientists have found that if you help it out too soon, it will never fly. The struggle to push its way out strengthens its wings. Without the struggle, the butterfly remains weak. The same is true for our children. Every trial is teaching them how to use the spiritual “muscles” God has given them. Even the birds are “pushed” out of the nest to face adversity in order to FLY!

    🪻 Middle School: The Growing Years

    For many families, middle school can feel like the hardest stretch. Tears, friendship drama, insecurity, changing emotions, and shifting identities, hard classes and more all collide in one tender, confusing season. Parents often want to rush in and rescue their child from the awkwardness and pain. It is always someone else’s fault! But this season is not a sign that something is wrong; it’s evidence that something is growing.

    These middle school years are the soil where empathy, resilience, and faith are formed. The child who struggles to fit in is learning what real belonging means. The student who cries over a friendship loss is learning compassion for others who hurt. The one who feels different is learning that their worth doesn’t depend on the world’s acceptance, but on God’s unchanging love.

    This is sacred ground for parenting — not rescuing, but walking beside.
    Don’t rush to fix every problem. Instead, pray with them, listen to them, and remind them that God is using every tear and trial to shape the adult they will become.

    “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
    — Philippians 1:6 (KJV)

    The goal isn’t to keep them from the storm but to help them find Jesus in it. One day, you’ll look back and realize this season wasn’t about keeping them safe — it was about watching them grow stronger.

    🌾 Bible Stories of Strength Born in Struggle

    The pages of Scripture are filled with young lives shaped by hardship:

    • Joseph was sold by his brothers, falsely accused, and forgotten in prison , but God was training him to lead a nation and save his family. (Genesis 37–50)
    • David faced lions, bears, and a giant long before he ever wore a crown, but God used those lonely pastures and dangerous battles to prepare his heart for the throne. (1 Samuel 17)
    • Daniel was taken from his home and placed in a pagan culture, but God strengthened him, and he resolved to remain faithful. He built courage that would later help him stand firm in a lions’ den. (Daniel 1–6)
    • Even Jesus, as a child, “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” (Luke 2:52) His growth came through obedience, patience, and waiting for His appointed time.

    None of these stories would have unfolded without struggle. The very hardships that seemed painful were the instruments of God’s preparation.

    When We Want to Rescue

    Our parental instinct to protect is good as it’s born from love. Sometimes, however, our protecting can turn into preventing. Our rescue is keeping our children from the lessons only God can teach through challenge.

    When we rescue too quickly, we may rob them of resilience. When we pray instead of panic, we invite God into their growing process. The truth is, God loves our children more than we do, and He knows exactly how to use both joy and hardship to shape their hearts for His purposes.

    “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
    — Romans 8:28 (KJV)

    The word “all” includes their struggles, their disappointments, and even their mistakes. Don’t rescue, but do let God work in their hearts and teach them grit and resilience. Teach them to do HARD THINGS even when it’s HARD!

    Trusting the Gardener

    Our children are like tender plants in God’s garden. He knows when to prune, when to water, and when to let the sun scorch just a bit to deepen their roots. Our role isn’t to control their growth but to nurture faith, pray continually, and trust the Gardener.

    “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season.”
    — Psalm 1:3 (KJV)

    Their fruit will come in its season. Not ours. Not theirs. But God’s.

    💕 Encouragement for the Waiting Parent

    If your child is struggling right now… academically, emotionally, or spiritually; take heart. This is not the end of their story. You may not see the full purpose yet, but God is planting something deep. One day, you’ll look back and see that this season grew perseverance, empathy, and maturity that could never have come through ease. Pray with them and encourage them!

    Keep praying. Keep trusting. Keep cheering them on quietly, with eyes fixed on the One who writes their story better than we ever could.

    Because one day, your child won’t just overcome a struggle, they’ll thank God for the struggle and what it taught them.

    Prayer

    Heavenly Father,
    Thank You for loving our children even more than we do. When they struggle, help us to trust You more deeply and to remember that their challenges are opportunities for growth. Teach them perseverance, strengthen their faith, and use every difficulty to draw them closer to You.
    Help us rest in Your promises, knowing You are faithful to complete the good work You’ve begun in their lives.
    In Jesus’ name, Amen.

  • Finding Joy in Everyday Moments

    Finding Joy in Everyday Moments

    “This is the day that the Lord has made; we will

    rejoice and be glad in it.” — Psalm 118:24

    Some days don’t come wrapped in ribbons of excitement or grand achievement. Most of our days—especially as moms—come in the small, ordinary moments: folding laundry, packing lunches, helping with homework, or cleaning crumbs off the floor for what feels like the hundredth time.

    But it’s in these quiet, often unnoticed moments that God hides His sweetest joys.

    When Joy Looks Like a Messy Kitchen

    I remember a day when my kitchen looked like a tornado had spun through it. Pancake batter splattered on the counter, a trail of syrup footprints leading to the fridge, and laughter echoing from my little ones as they proudly declared themselves “chefs.”
    My first instinct was frustration—but in that messy, sticky chaos, the Lord whispered:

    “Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10
    I realized those syrup footprints were evidence of life, love, and laughter in my home. Joy wasn’t waiting for me at the end of a perfect day, but it was right there in the imperfect one.

    When Joy Looks Like Waiting

    Sometimes, joy isn’t loud or instant. It’s quiet. It’s what blooms in the waiting.
    Like the time I prayed for weeks that my teenage daughter would open up to me again. One night, as I sat folding laundry, she came in, plopped down on the bed, and began to talk. We laughed, we cried, and I silently thanked God.

    “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.” — Psalm 126:5
    That night was a small miracle. God had been working in the quiet, in the in-between.

    When Joy Looks Like Ordinary Faithfulness

    There’s joy in faithfulness! That is just showing up again and again, even when no one notices. God sees every small act of love:

    • The mom who stays up late praying for her child.
    • The woman who serves her family without complaint.
    • The one who holds on to hope when her heart feels weary.

    “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” — Galatians 6:9

    Joy isn’t just a feeling as it’s a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). It grows quietly when we abide in Him, even on days that feel monotonous or heavy.

    Choosing Joy Daily

    Joy doesn’t always come naturally; it’s a choice. Every morning, we can choose gratitude over grumbling, peace over panic, and praise over perfection.

    “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.”

    Philippians 4:4


    “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

    I’ve learned that joy often looks like:

    • A quiet cup of coffee before the house wakes up.
    • The sound of a child’s laughter drifting from another room.
    • A simple prayer answered in a small, unexpected way.
    • A moment of stillness where you sense His presence and think, He’s here.

    The Small Moments Are the Holy Moments

    When we learn to see God’s hand in the little things, the ordinary becomes sacred.

    “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

    1 Corinthians 10:31

    Maybe joy isn’t found in doing more, but in noticing more—seeing the beauty that’s already woven into our everyday lives.


    Lord, help us slow down enough to see You in the small moments. Remind us that joy is not something we must chase but something You freely give when we rest in You. May our hearts find delight in the quiet, the ordinary, and the overlooked. Amen.

  • When Busy Becomes a Burden

    When Busy Becomes a Burden

    Finding God in the Quiet We Often Miss

    Still Moments!

    In a world that celebrates hustle and hurry, our hearts quietly whisper for rest. This reflection invites us to slow down, breathe deeply, and rediscover the gentle presence of God in life’s still moments.

    Psalm 46:10

    “Be still, and know that I am God.”

    Be still!

    🌿 When Busy Becomes a Burden

    There’s a word that slips so easily off our tongues these days—busy.

    “How have you been?”
    “Oh, busy!”

    We say it like it’s a badge of honor, but sometimes it’s really a quiet confession. Beneath that word often lies weariness, distraction, and the ache of a soul longing to breathe again.

    The truth is, busy isn’t always bad. Work can be good. Serving others is good. But when busy crowds out beauty, and the noise of our schedules drowns out the whisper of God’s voice, something precious is lost.

    🌸 The Still Small Voice

    Elijah didn’t find God in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire.
    He found Him in the still small voice (1 Kings 19:11–12).

    That’s where God still speaks—quietly. Gently. Faithfully.
    But to hear Him, we have to pause long enough to listen.

    In our hurry, we often miss the holy.
    The holy moment when our child asks a heart question.
    The holy pause between one task and the next.
    The holy whisper of Scripture that could have calmed our hearts—if only we had opened the Word instead of another app.

    ☕ Finding God in the Pause

    Maybe God isn’t asking us to clear the calendar.
    Maybe He’s simply asking us to clear a moment.

    A few quiet minutes in the morning before the house wakes.
    A verse whispered over dishes in the sink.
    A slow walk where the breeze becomes a prayer.

    When we make room for Him, even for a moment, He fills it with peace.

    🌼 A Gentle Reminder

    You don’t have to do it all.
    You don’t have to be everything to everyone.
    You just have to be still long enough to let Him remind you who He is—and whose you are.

    “Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10

    So today, let’s trade busy for being.
    Let’s choose margin over motion, presence over performance, and stillness over striving.

    Because in the quiet, mercy meets us—and that’s where we find Him.

    🌿 Reflection Prompt

    Take five minutes today to sit in silence.
    Ask the Lord: “Where have I been too busy to notice You?”
    Listen for His answer. Then thank Him for meeting you in the stillness.

    Janeal Lischke's avatar

    Janeal Lischke