This is an excerpt from Chelsey DeMatteis’s new devotional for busy moms, Mercy in the Margin.
And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. Mark 1:35
The house is quiet, still, and peaceful. I hear nothing more than the coffee pot brewing the most glorious smell, the gas flame warming up my pancake pan, and the cat meowing at my feet, ready for her day to start quietly, too. You see, there is a longing in the heart of every mother I’ve met who finds herself in the throes of the “little” years or in the busyness of the “big” years. It’s made up of an intense desire to be alone in the quiet while simultaneously wanting to be with her people.
This stillness, which is often seen as a gift and surprise as I have a house of early risers, invites me to remember God’s desire to meet me here and Jesus’ example of how He lived this out while journeying on this side of heaven. On these still, quiet mornings, even if not often, I can breathe a little deeper, sit longer, and lean into the stirrings of His Spirit. It is as if the early morning hours offer a better vantage point for me; perhaps it’s because the toys are not yet scattered, and the morning rush has yet to commence. But most of all, I think it’s because God made certain to weave a need to be with Him – alone – in the depths of our hearts.
As I make my way to my cozy brown chair with the soft cream blanket (or oftentimes, to other less picturesque places in my house as you’ll see in forthcoming stories!) I grab my Bible and journal that never get put away (and there is a good reason for that). I open the Word, let my heart sink deep into the truths God has given me that day, and I relish in the margin of the morning, even if only for a moment.
No other part of my day looks like this. All the rest of the hours look much like someone needing something or to be somewhere, and what a blessing it is meet those needs. But, somewhere between the sun rising and the sun setting, my heart needed to find the place to do just this – be with Jesus. If He made this a priority, then I needed to, also.
What I’ve found, though, is it has been the intense desire to be alone that led me to carve out this special part of my day, even if only for a few moments, and even if every now and then someone else has made their way down the steps to cuddle up next to me. I have tasted and seen for myself the benefit and blessing of being still, and alone with Jesus.
From setting aside this time, I’ve found a profound peace that can only come from being alone with the Lord. I’ve been able to soak in His grace which in turn makes me a more grace-filled and grace-giving mother. I’ve been filled with a joy that finally overflows my cup. Best of all, I’ve seen God’s mercy. Mercy in the moments that encompass my life, and probably your life, too: Mundane and holy. Messy and purposeful. Full of mystery and full of deposits into eternity.
We hope you enjoyged this excerpt from Chelsey DeMatteis’s new devotional for busy moms, Mercy in the Margin. For more on how to stay in Scripture when life is busy, check out this post.
About Chelsey DeMatteis
Chelsey DeMatteis is a wife, mother, and woman on fire for Jesus. She is a devotional writer for Lifeway’s Journey Magazine, Salem Media, and YouVersion. She hosts the Living with Less Podcast and is the author of More of Him, Less of Me: Living a Christ-Centered Life in a Me-Centered World and A Thrill of Hope. Chelsey resides in the Midwest with her husband and their two children.
